Alicia Keys would be Katy B's dream duet, the singer has revealed.

The Lights On star would love to collaborate with the New York singer, who she credits for igniting her musical spark.

"Alicia Keys is my idol, because she made me fall in love with songwriting. I used to play the piano when I was younger but I didn't know why - until I heard her," she admitted.

"I used to play classical stuff, but I didn't listen to classical music and when she came out, I thought, 'Wow, she's amazing'."

But Katy - whose performance at MTV Presents Titanic Sounds will be shown on MTV UK on May 5 - admitted she would probably be starstruck.

"I would like to work with her but I'd probably faint in the studio or bang my head. That could end my career in music so maybe that's not a good idea. But I'd love to do a duet definitely!"

Katy, whose debut album Katy On A Mission won her a nomination for the 2011 Mercury Prize, has already started work on her follow-up.

"I've started working on a new album - it's on its way and will be out later this year," she said.

But she is keeping her cards close to her chest, adding: "It will definitely have the Katy B sound. I hope it shows that I've progressed in some way but still stuck to my roots. That's how I can describe it at the moment."