Music News

Lena Dunham "had to ply" Charli XCX "with a bottle of red wine" for her to become a decent actress.
The 22-year-old singer toured the US with the 'Girls' star's long-term boyfriend Jack Antonoff over the summer, and ahead of the show she needed some help when it came to making some promotional tour videos.
Charli - whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison - told BANG Showbiz: "We actually worked together, me, Lena and Jack, on the tour videos, and I'm like the worst actress in the world, so she had to ply me with a bottle of red wine before I could even do anything."
The 'Break the Rules' hitmaker praised Lena, 29, for her efforts to turn her into a convincing screen star, but said she doesn't think she has the talent to secure a cameo in the next season of the writer's HBO comedy drama series.
Speaking about Lena, she added: "She's great. She's wonderful and so cool, and it was cool working with her on that, but I don't think I'm cut out for acting. Definitely not."

Nick Jonas wants to duet with Jessie Ware.
The 'Jealous' hitmaker met the singer at the BRIT Awards earlier this year and discussed the possibility of working together, and he is really keen to set something in motion.
Asked if there are any British artists he'd like to collaborate with, he said: "Yeah, Jessie Ware actually. I met her at the BRITs and was already a huge fan of her record and we really hit it off and talked about collaborating on something so I'd love to do that."
Nick is also keen to work with 'Purple Rain' hitmaker Prince, but also wants to record with other "modern" artists too.
He said: Prince would be [someone I'd like to work with]. I got to perform with Stevie Wonder at the Grammys with my brothers so that was cool but I think some modern collaborations would be cool.
"The Weeknd is one I'd love to do and work with him, I feel like we have a lot of similarities in the style of our music but also as people we're pretty similar so it'd be great to work with him.
But the 22-year-old star admitted he is open to collaborating with anyone because it's impossible to predict what will happen in the studio.
He added: "I'm always down to collaborate with anybody and see what happens. I think that I'm the kind of person that dives into any situation ready to go and see what can come of it."

Delta Goodrem only "took a second" to get over her feud with Jessie J.
The 31-year-old beauty clashed with the 'Do It Like A Dude' singer this year on the Australian version of 'The Voice' when they disagreed over a contestant's performance - with Delta storming off stage and saying "I'm over this s**t, I give up" - but she's insisted after their spat, she still had "love" for the outspoken Brit.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, she said: "I love our show. I love what she (Jessie) brought to the show ...
I mean obviously, clearly, some of it was..it took a second, at the very start. But you know, not for lack of (care) where it came from. We both cared about the artists. I cared about protecting the artists up there.
"I also believe I want everyone's dreams to come true. Because they've got to walk off that stage. I don't care about the show I care that there is a human being on stage and we are very honoured to sit in our chairs and I'm very thankful for it. Doesn't mean our opinions are always right though.
And Delta was glad her fourth season on the talent contest "rated it's head off" amid the "challenges" that Jessie brought.
She added: "We had to talk out moments, both of us, and that's what we did. But at the end of the day we had a great time making a great show. The show rated it's head off. And I really did celebrate having somebody different next to me. And it challenges me and it challenges her and it challenges all of us. But in a good way."

DJ Ben Pearce thinks success is like "climbing a big mountain."
The Mancunian producer found fame when his catchy track 'What I Might Do' reached number two in the UK dance chart and peaked in the top 10 singles chart in 2013, and despite getting regular slots at Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party, he admits the rise to the summit has been "hard work".
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, the Mancunian producer shared: "I got chucked into it from doing a normal job in a call centre. I kind of got thrown in, like mad touring schedules, so it was a lot, it was hard to get used to. It's kind of like climbing a big mountain and when you get to the top there's a reward but it's hard going... Dealing with the isolation as well, maybe, because you're traveling on your own a lot."
Nevertheless Ben says it is the "the best job" and he's looking forward to playing at Fatboy Slim's Smile High Club in London's Tobacco Dock on January 2, along with 2ManyDJs, Secondcity, Breach and Erol Alkan.
Asked who he likes to bump into at gigs, he said: "So many, like Seth Troxler, and those people you look up to when you're starting out and that you finally meet. They're really nice. It makes it all the more worth while. Everyone is mates, everyone gets together (at gigs) because you usually don't see each other for some time and then you'll all get together at a party or a festival and it's like being back with your old friends again."
Tickets for Smily High Club are available online at www.tickettannoy.com and http://www.residentadvisor.net

Jess Glynne heard Adele's LP '25' being recorded while rehearsing in the studio next door.
The 'Hold My Hand' hitmaker was "in awe" when she got to hear the 'Hello' singer running through her comeback songs in the recording room right next to hers in October and was excited when she heard the finished record a month later.
She said: "My favourite track is 'Water Under The Bridge'.
"We were rehearsing in the same studios not so long ago. I was rehearsing for the MTV EMAs and she was literally next door. I was running outside and in awe just listening. That was the song that caught my ear, and then I got to hear it on the record."
And the 26-year-old singer got to meet Adele, 27, on that day when she was practising for her performance in Milan and said she was "very lovely".
Asked if she got to meet Adele, she said: "Yeah I did actually. It was quite cool. It sounded amazing live. I met her that day and she was very lovely."
Elsewhere, the flame-haired singer - who has cited Amy Winehouse as an influence - has made a touching tribute to the late 'Rehab' singer and said she gave her the "hope and drive" to become a pop star.
She told Digital Spy: "I found it quite sad to see that her team and her family weren't necessarily strong enough to save her.
"But it is what it is, and I still love her. She gave me a lot of hope and drive to do what I wanted to do."

The Libertines' morale has been "fantastic" since Pete Doherty's "meltdown" earlier this year.
The 'Can't Stand Me Now' rockers were forced to cancel two gigs in September after frontman Pete, 36, suffered a panic attack and went missing, but drummer Gary Powell has insisted they're now back on top form.
He told Loaded.co.uk: "Morale in the band has been fantastic ever since.
"Pete's meltdown was about the new album coming out and his sense of self-worth. That was understandable for all of us, as we're all creative.
"We all have egos - we wouldn't make music if we didn't."
Gary's comments come after he blamed Pete's "friends" for his disappearance.
He said previously: "A lot of people are blowing smoke up his a** for no reason whatsoever."
He added: "Peter was shoved in the spotlight. He didn't really want it, let alone warrant it.
"It was that difficult for him to digest as it was for me to read about the fact that one of my closet friends - who still is one of my closet friends - was being pushed around in circumstances that were beyond his control."
The band - which also includes Carl Barat and John Hassall - released their first album in over a decade, 'Anthems For Doomed Youth', in September and are set to embark on a UK arena tour starting next month.

Wizzard won't make another Christmas song.
Frontman Roy Wood thinks it would be "pointless" to try and better his old band's 1973 hit 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' because it's always on the radio during the festive period and that's all people will want to hear.
Asked if he'll make another Christmas tune, he told BANG Showbiz: "It's a bit pointless. Years ago people were saying, 'It is about time you had another Christmas song.' This was a long time ago. I recorded a New Year one and of course the only thing they were playing on the radio was 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'. So it's pointless."
Instead of writing festive tracks, the 69-year-old glam rocker has been working on a new solo album of American cover songs.
He revealed: "Up until now I've always recorded my own material. But I have been having a trawl through some stuff that suits my voice. I'm going to do an album and most of them are American songs. I've designed the artwork and it's going to be that.
Asked when it will be out he added: "Watch this space."

The Beatles will stream their music for the first time on Christmas Eve (24.12.15).
The Fab Four's music will be accessible to listen to via Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, TIDAL, Google Play and Amazon Prime Music from 12.01am local time wherever you are in the world much to the delight of the band's fans.
The decision to no longer boycott the platforms is an Christmas gift for those who have felt the absence of classic tracks such as 'Let It Be', 'Help', 'Something' and 'Get Back' from the top music streaming sites.
Spotify has announced it will give access to 13 remastered studio albums, as well as four essential collections, including 'The Beatles 1962 - 1966', 'The Beatles 1967 - 1970' and 'Past Masters (Volumes 1 & 2)'.
A message posted on the official Beatles website (thebeatles.com) announcing the news read: "Listen to the music the minute Christmas Eve arrives. On December 24 at 12:01am local time - here, there and everywhere - The Beatles' music is available for streaming worldwide via the following nine services ... The Beatles streaming will be LIVE at 00:01 AM YOUR TIME and you can track its progress around the world, from east to west, on the globe here at thebeatles.com.
"HAPPY CRIMBLE, WITH LOVE FROM US TO YOU. (sic)"
The Beatles - which consisted of Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late John Lennon and George Harrison - were one of only a handful of major names not allowing their music to be streamed, but, like AC/DC, Oasis, Pink Floyd and others, they've now changed their mind and have embraced the modern music listening trend.
This year, Taylor Swift made the decision to pull her tracks off of Spotify following the release of her album '1989', while Adele's record-breaking third LP '25' is still not available to stream.

Leon Bridges found Macklemore to be one of the "most genuine" people he's met in music.
The unlikely pair performed their new track 'Kevin' at the American Music Awards last month, which was written by the rapper about his friend who overdosed on prescription pills, and the 'Coming Home' singer was "honoured" to be asked and to have met the musician.
Recalling the collaboration, Leon shared: "Macklemore is one of the nicest, most genuine people that I've met, as far as musicians.
"[His team] flew me out to Seattle, and I didn't know what the vibe was. Basically, the song is saying that we can't put a band-aid on certain medical problems. I don't know too much about his friend, but it's an honour to have been a part of it."
Meanwhile, the in-demand star - who is up for Best R&B album for his debut LP 'Coming Home' at the Grammys in February - has penned a "soulful country-folk" song titled 'So Long' for the closing credits of Will Smith's forthcoming movie 'Concussion' and drew on his personal experience of rejection for the track.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "[People say] I don't deserve to be where I'm at because I haven't been working as long as these other musicians who have been doing it longer. The song is saying that I love where I'm from but maybe I need to leave because I don't feel the love anymore."