Saturday, April 20, 2024

RAYE says ‘evil, manipulative, nasty things happening’ to underpaid songwriters

RAYE has called out the "evil, manipulative, nasty things happening" to struggling songwriters. The 'Ice Cream Man' hitmaker has...
Home Music News

Music News

Justin Bieber’s new music will ‘shock’


Justin Bieber's new music will "shock" people.
The 20-year-old musician is currently working on his first album since 2012's 'Believe', following a turbulent period during which he has had multiple scrapes with the law, and despite the delay, the singer's long-time manager and friend Scooter Braun has promised the new music will please and surprise his fans.
He said: "He's in such an incredible place right now, and he's excited to share where he is with the world next year.
"It will shock some people and make others really happy."
Adding to the promising claims, the 33-year-old talent manager - who welcomed his first son with Yael Cohen on Friday (06.02.15) - told Complex magazine the 'Boyfriend' hitmaker is ready to "be the man people want him to be" with his upcoming album, which will be filled with an "openness about what he's learned in the last year."
New material from the popular musician follows a public apology issued by Justin last month on the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show', which was followed by an online video in which he said he was "nervous" about the public interview.
He said: "I was really nervous, and I think I was nervous because I was afraid of what people are thinking about me right now.
"It's been a minute since I've been in a public appearance and I didn't want to come off arrogant or conceited - or basically how I've been acting the past year or a year and a half.
"Just being young and growing up in this business is hard. Growing up in general is hard."

New Florence + The Machine music revealed


Florence + The Machine have debuted a new song.
The indie pop band - fronted by Florence Welch - has unveiled a new track titled 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful', which is their first new music since their 2011 album 'Ceremonials'.
The track was uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday (10.02.15) along with a video directed by Tabitha Denholm and Vincent Haycock, which shows the 28-year-old singer dancing in an abandoned room with another version of herself.
The video comes a day after the star hosted a private listening party of the band's third studio album at Les Trois Garçons in Shoreditch, London, where she played new tracks including 'Ship To Wreck', 'Caught', 'Delilah' and 'What Kind Of Man' to pals including The xx, Jessie Ware and Daisy Lowe.
Rumours surrounding the imminent announcement of the highly anticipated album were heightened briefly on Tuesday morning (10.02.15) when iTunes briefly posted a banner welcoming fans to pre-order the album, which would allow for an automatic download of the first single, 'What Kind Of Man', although this has since been taken down.
Florence + The Machine will perform at several festivals this summer including Benicàssim in Spain, Rock Werchter in Belgium and South Side Festival in Germany, while they also have odds of 8/1 to headline the prestigious Glastonbury Festival in west England.

Bastille want Rihanna collaboration


Bastille want to collaborate with Rihanna.
The Grammy nominees - Dan Smith, Chris Wood, William Farquarson and Kyle Simmons - admitted they're keen to work with the chart-topping star because of her great looks and incredible stage presence.
William confessed: "I'd like to collaborate with Rihanna for two reasons. The first reason is because she's spectacularly beautiful and the second reason, I'm a firm believer that she's really good. I saw her live during a festival once and she was spectacular. She looks wicked, she dances and she sounds wicked."
Explaining his love for the 'FourFiveSeconds' hitmaker, the 31-year-old musician said it would be difficult to dislike her because she's released so many popular singles during her career, but finds it strange it is not "credible" for rockers like themselves to like her.
He told Ahlanlive.com: "She's brought out hit after hit for the past ten years. People forget that about her. She looks wonderful and it may not be the cool answer or credible, but I like her."
Meanwhile, the 'Pompeii' hitmakers - who are currently working on their second studio album - took the opportunity to hit back at their critics who have previously said they are too "posh" to make music of value
Responding to the accusations, he said: "I love that. It's interesting to see that that's what people see of it. It's unfair to attack someone because they're posh. We're just making music. I guess, if we went to public school and wrote songs about the struggle of growing up on a council estate then it would become hypocritical and people would comment on that too. We're just singing songs about stuff that are interesting to us. I don't think our social background should come in to it."

Beyonce and Jay Z to release joint album?


Beyonce and Jay Z could be set to release a joint album this year.
The couple - who have three-old-daughter Blue Ivy together - are reportedly working on a collaborative album to be released later this year, producer Noel 'Detail' Fisher has hinted.
He shared: "I'm working with a couple of new projects that I don't want to unveil, and then me and Beyonce and Jay are actually doing something together this year."
Beyonce, 33, and Jay, 45, both received a Grammy award for their 2014 collaboration 'Drunk In Love' on the weekend - with Detail receiving his first ever accolade at the annual ceremony for producing the track.
And it now seems he's planning to pursue even more awards by working with the famous couple - who previously collaborated on songs including 'Bonnie and Clyde' and 'Crazy in Love' - again.
He continued: "When you think of Jay and Bey together, you think 'album'. You should already know."
Asked if the record will drop this year, he added to Billboard magazine: "In my imaginary mind, I will work to say it's true."
Beyonce and Jay Z embarked on joint tour last year titled 'On the Run' following the 2013 releases of their respective albums 'Beyonce' and 'Magna Carta... Holy Grail'.
Beyonce's self-titled album was snubbed for the album of the year award at the Grammy's in favour of Beck's 'Morning Phase', resulting in Kanye West ranting about the "disrespectful" decision following the ceremony.

Sam Smith wants Kacey Musgraves duet


Sam Smith wants to work with Kacey Musgraves.
The 'Stay With Me' hitmaker - who scooped four Grammy awards at the weekend - is a big fan of the country singer and would love to make a record with her.
Asked who he wants to collaborate with, he said:"I like Kacey Musgraves, the county singer. She's great. That would be great."
And it seems Kacey is keen to work with the British star.
E! reporter Marc Malkin tweeted: "I love this. @samsmithworld told me he'd love to work with @KaceyMusgraves. Let's make that happen right now. #GRAMMYS", prompting Kacey to reply:
"@marcmalkin @samsmithworld Let's do it!"
Meanwhile, Sam "freaked out" at the Grammy Awards when soul legend Stevie Wonder sang one of his own songs to him backstage.
He said: "I was in my changing room and Stevie Wonder was next to my changing room.
"He asked me to come to his room and I walked in and he started playing my song to me, 'I'm Not the Only One,' and he started singing it to me and I was like what the f**k?
"I just freaked out and got on my phone and filmed a little. It was incredible."

Bob Dylan slams critics


Bob Dylan thinks his music has been unnecessarily picked on by critics.
The 73-year-old musician was named MusiCares Person of the Year at the annual charity gala at Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday (06.02.15) and took the opportunity to scald those who have panned his singing voice during his 30-minute acceptance speech.
He said: "Critics have been giving me a hard time since day one. Critics say I can't sing. I croak. Sound like a frog."
The 'Like a Rolling Stone' hitmaker continued with his rant by saying he has received far more criticism throughout his career than his peers such as Tom Waits, Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen.
He explained: "Why don't critics say that same thing about Tom Waits? Critics say my voice is shot. That I have no voice. Why don't they say those things about Leonard Cohen? Why do I get special treatment? Critics say I can't carry a tune and I talk my way through a song. Really? I've never heard that said about Lou Reed. Why does he get to go scot-free?"
The singer-songwriter later went on to take aim at prominent figures within the music industry Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller whose songs he denounced for being simple and not dealing with important issues.
He added: "I didn't really care what Leiber and Stoller thought of my songs. That was all right that they didn't like 'em, because I never liked their songs either. 'Yakety yak, don't talk back.' 'Charlie Brown is a clown,' 'Baby I'm a hog for you.' Novelty songs. They weren't saying anything serious."

Kanye producing Rihanna’s album


Kanye West is executive producing Rihanna's album.
The 37-year-old musician confirmed he is heavily involved with the making of the Bajan singer's eighth studio record at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last night (08.02.15), having already collaborated with her and Sir Paul McCartney on the first single to be taken from her as-yet untitled record, 'FourFiveSeconds'.
He told E!'s Ryan Seacrest: "I'm executive producing Rihanna's album.
"I played her my album and I said, 'I've done a few songs with Paul McCartney', and she couldn't get past this record - she had to have it on her album."
Despite his involvement in the LP, the star - who has previously produced for Jay Z, Madonna, John Legend and Tyga - admitted he "wasn't sure" when the 26-year-old chart-topper will release the collection.
As well as performing their single at the ceremony, the 'Bound 2' rapper, who married Kim Kardashian West last year, also sang his new single 'Only One' which was inspired by their 19-month-old daughter North West.
Rihanna's hotly anticipated record follows 2012's 'Unapologetic', and is rumoured to feature songs co-written by Calvin Harris, John Newman, Florence Welch, Sia and Kiesza.
While further details of the album have not yet been revealed, the 'We Found Love' hitmaker is also set to release the soundtrack for animated film 'Home' in March.
Meanwhile, Kanye is also expected to release his own solo album later this year after playing it to guests at the iHeartMedia Music Summit in California last month.

Chic and Nile Rodgers to return after 23 years


Chic and Nile Rodgers are to release their first track in 23 years.
The 70s disco band have announced today (09.02.15) that they will launch their new track, 'I'll Be There', at a special show at London's Roundhouse on March 20th.
The legendary musicians will then head to Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester, before ending their UK tour in Birmingham.
Nile said: "Our fans in the UK are some of the greatest in the world so we're really excited to bring them our new single first... and that's why we're coming over to play these live shows next month! See you there!"
The date of the single launch party was specifically chosen by Astrology student, Nile, as it is the day of the Vernal Equinox, when day and night are equal.
The band also chose to begin in London as it is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), where the Equinox starts.
The 'Le Freak (Freak Out)' hitmakers - who are regarded as one of the greatest live music bands - are also expected to drop an album later in the year.
Tickets for the 'I'll Be There' UK tour goes on sale at 9am on Friday 13th on AEGLive.co.uk and AXS.com.

Full Tour Dates:
Fri 20 March London Roundhouse
Sun 22 March Leeds O2 Academy
Mon 23 March Glasgow Academy
Tue 24 March Manchester O2 Apollo
Wed 25 March Birmingham O2 Academy

Lady Gaga ‘so grateful’ for Grammy win


Lady Gaga feels "so grateful" for her Grammy Award.
The 28-year-old picked up a trophy in the Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her record with jazz icon Tony Bennett, 'Cheek to Cheek' at the ceremony in Los Angeles last night (08.02.15) and gushed about the victory on Twitter where she thanked all of their fans.
She wrote: "We WON! @itstonybennett & I are so grateful to win this Grammy together! Thank you to our fans! Benedettos, lil' monsters & @theGrammys!
"I can't believe it WOW this is my 6th Grammy!! I could never do this without amazing fans, always stay true to yourself I love you so much! (sic)"
The 88-year-old crooner - who has won the title 11 times previously - also expressed his gratitude for the win, stating he felt "so proud" to have been commended for the LP, which features various jazz standards.
He shared: "Cheek To Cheek tour is just starting out and @ladygaga and I just won a Grammy together! So proud. (sic)"
As well as picking up the award and performing the title track from their collaborative LP, Lady Gaga congratulated 'Stay With Me' singer Sam Smith who picked up four awards, and Beck who won in the coveted Album of the Year category for 'Morning Phase'.
She said: "I'm so proud of my darling SAM SMITH for all his wins tonight! You deserve everything and more because you are YOU. I was honored to watch!
"BECK! I'm so happy this album is AMAZING!!!! ALBUM OF THE YEAR! (sic)"
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast exclusively on 4Music in the UK at 9pm tonight (09.02.15).

Must Read

Grimes apologises for disastrous Coachella set

Grimes has apologised following her disastrous set at Coachella which left her screaming with frustration. The singer performed at...

Kesha and Reneé Rapp cover Tik Tok and blast P Diddy

Kesha joined Reneé Rapp for a cover of ‘TiK ToK’ at Coachella - and blasted P Diddy in the lyrics.

Olivia Rodrigo makes surprise Coachella appearance with No Doubt

Olivia Rodrigo made a surprise appearance during No Doubt's set at Coachella on Saturday (13.04.24). The 'Vampire' hitmaker was...