Christina Aguilera Debuts New Album 'Lotus' at Intimate Industry Party

Getty Images

Listening to an album while the artist who recorded it is feet away can be an awkward experience. Do you clap after each track? How much is too much head-bobbing? Is it rude to get up for a bathroom break? What about the bar?

On the other hand, its the rare opportunity for said artist to truly present their vision -- to talk about each track, how it came together and what the album means as a cohesive collection of thoughts and emotions put to melody and lyrics. It takes a certain showmanship to pull it off -- not only to gather your supporters but to turn an intimate setting into a giant pep rally.

To that end, Christina Aguilera has no trouble saying, Go, me! Its part of the reason shes come to sell tens of millions of albums, win four Grammy Awards and land a well-paying gig as chief celebrity coach on NBCs The Voice. And now, at 31, she readily confesses (even to a room full of journalists, TV bookers and label executives): I'm proud to be the pop star that I am.

PHOTOS:Baring It All With Baby! 10 of Hollywood's Naked Pregnancy Magazine Covers

The proof is in Aguileras fifth proper full-length Lotus (shes released seven albums since her 1999 debut, including a Spanish record and a Christmas collection), which the singer explained at a listening party held at Santa Monicas House of Rock is her full circle moment.

Reteaming for two songs with hitmaker Max Martin, who worked with Aguilera in her early days, and completing the collaboration cycle with fellow Voice stars Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton (both of whom appear on Lotus tracks, though the latter has yet to record his part), she describes the finished product as a labor of love and the latest turn in a long road. Said Aguilera on Wednesday night: I've had radio success, Ive had non-radio successes -- it's all about creativity and expression. Ive learned a lot.

Indeed, you could look at Lotus as giving a nod to each of Aguileras previous albums. Theres the unbridled sexuality of Genie in a Bottle and Dirrty in tracks like Your Body (originally titled F--- Your Body, she revealed of the Maxtina composition); the vulnerability of Beautiful in Sing For Me, what Aguilera calls a true vocalist song; the moodiness of You Lost Me in another Sia composition Blank Page; and the balls-to-the-wall fist-pump of Fighter in the Alex Da Kid-produced big drums sound of Cease Fire.

STORY:Christina Aguilera to Give Keynote Speech at THR and Billboard's Film & TV Music Conference

Im a risk-taker, said Aguilera, citing her 2002 album Stripped as, The first time I was able to be myself [and] peel back all the layers. Back then, s! he added,! I felt so lumped into a stereotype. I came out at a time when there was huge pop explosion -- you had your boy bands and Britney [Spears], supposedly my rival. There was huge media hype and controversy, which always seems to follow me. Its just the way it is.

Lotus symbolizes a rebirth for Aguilera, now a mom to son Max, who explained that she chose the name because, It means the unbreakable flower -- something that stands the test of time.

Its a lofty goal for an album, but looking around at a packed room of music business hitmakers, gatekeepers and influencers -- among them bookers for Chelsea Handler,American Idol and the American Music Awards, and many members of team Xtina, including manager Irving Azoff, RCA Records president Tom Corson, CAA music chief Rob Light, attorney Eric Greenspan, and producer-executive Ron Fair, who first signed Aguilera while she was still in her teens -- and one thing is clear: the enthusiastic applause was the real deal.

Lotus is due out on Nov. 13.

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin