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Anti-folk chanteuse Regina Spektor found a way to push the boundaries of her unconventional sound on her latest effort, Begin to Hope, due June 13th. The singer-songwriter -- who broke out with her 2004 major-label debut Soviet Kitsch (the title a nod to her Russian Jewish roots) -- felt free to improvise and take greater risks. The approach paid off, even roping in a member of former tourmates the Strokes.

"Did I know that I was going to have have him play? No," she says of Nick Valensi. "It was like, 'Well, do we know any really cool guitarists?' And then he came in." The resulting collaboration altered the course of the pop track, the anthemic "Better," taking Spektor's own style down a new road. "That really informed how I sang," she admits.

The freer spirit behind Begin to Hope is also thanks to Spektor's producer, David Kahne (Paul McCartney, the Bangles), whom she met through Valensi and Co. With Kahne's guidance, Spektor found herself tinkering with her compositions, stretching herself to include electric guitar and even drum machines on some songs. "I was able to be more playful because it was such a no-pressure atmosphere," she says. "It was just the two of us, me and David, and we were just working like on an art project. It was the first time when I really let go."