LONDON--Former Kula Shaker [ tickets ] frontman Crispian Mills has announced that he aims to release his first solo album and to play live before the end of the year.

In an interview on Kula Shaker's official website, Mills described his album as "heavier and more modern sounding." He added, "The Indian sound is still there because I'm still there. You can't wash that out of your system if you've been into it, some of those sounds especially, but its being used in different ways. I think it's more subtle than before but, you know, once you've heard the overtone created by a Tambora, you can't get that sound with anything else."

Kula Shaker split last September 1999 after Mills (the son of actress Hayley Mills) decided to start a solo career.

Former Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan has since joined ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr's Healers. Kula Shaker's last album "Peasants, Pigs And Astronauts" was released in 1999 and received mixed reviews.