Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

The former front woman of the group Gossip Beth Ditto, is branching out and releasing her first solo EP. To prove it is on the way she just gave us of what we can expect from the album by dropping the first single “Fire.” She premiered the albums open track today on BBC Radio 1. By looking on the New Zealand iTunes store we can see that the album is set to be released June 16th and will be titled Fake Sugar.

The radio edit that can be heard on Radio 1 is set two minutes while the original cut is set for three minutes on iTunes. The retro rock song sets a “Back Keysish” tone that allows her undeniably powerful vocals to boom. Speaking to BBC Radio 1 Ditto explained, “There wasn’t a genre I had in mind, I just wanted to do stuff that just seemed right and felt right. … I tried to be very uncool.” Despite her own words the 8-second promotional trailer for her album shows Ditto facing away from the camera in a white jacket with embroidered flames before she shoots a hand up to rock to the music. The imagery of the video oozes with cool rocker chick vibes.

Ditto has been something of a prolific icon in the indie rock world, making a splash from not only her ability to rock but her wild personality and strong opinions. Besides her extremely opinionated lyrics about politics and gay rights she also proves her uncompromising ability to be herself in nude photo shoots and large fashion debuts. She was named “coolest person in rock’ by NME. Ditto dropped Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring Collection at Paris Fashion week in 2010. She also writes an advice column for the Guardian and even launched a campaign to ban size 0 from clothing. Her larger than life persona is sure to shine through on her up coming solo EP.

UDPATE (4/7): Beth Ditto has released the video for her single “Fire.” Check it out below: