Canadian rock act Metric has started work on its follow-up to 2005's "Live It Out," and some changes may be afoot, according to singe/-keyboardist Emily Haines.

"I can already see how my work on 'Knives' has affected the direction of the next Metric record, which is cool," Haines tells Billboard.com, referencing her laidback solo album "Knives Don't Have Your Back." "We're making up lots of music in a bit mellower vibe. It's always nice to check yourself, see if you can explore different moods as a writer. But we'll probably do so many songs, who knows how the final record will sound."

Metric spent part of December in a "secret" studio outside of Seattle, and Haines describes the session as "the opening stages of just hanging out somewhere and working on music. It's just writing at this stage."

The group is now on a holiday break, and Haines -- who will spend Christmas in the Mayan Riviera -- begins a North American solo tour on Jan. 4 in Montreal. Metric has some February U.K. dates slated with Bloc Party, and Haines has some more solo shows before the band reconvenes to start working on the album in earnest.

Meanwhile, confirming a previous Billboard.com report, Haines says her other musical concern, Broken Social Scene, is dormant at this point.

"Everyone is making solo records, really," she explains. "I'm real excited to hear what Kevin [Drew] does; I hope it's gonna be like Broken Social Scene with more Kevin, which would be great. But [the band] doesn't have a new record in the works or anything. I think everyone is taking a minute, taking a breath. But I'm sure we'll be back at some point."