Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer Madonna. It was released on February 22, 1998 by Maverick and Warner Bros. Records. After giving birth to her first child, Lourdes, Madonna started working on the album with producers Babyface and Patrick Leonard. Following failed sessions with them, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer William Orbit. The recording took place over four months and experienced problems with Orbit's hardware arrangement, which would break down, and recording would have to be delayed until they could be repaired.