Music News

Brett Anderson thinks Suede "rubbed people the wrong way" in the 90s.
The 48-year-old singer - who is gearing up to release the band's next LP 'Night Thoughts' - is proud that his band has always been alternative and he wants to keep pushing artistically with the band
Talking about the band's heyday, he said: "I like that we polarised people's opinion in the 90s. We rubbed people up the wrong way.
"We got booed at the NME Awards when we won Best Band.
"But for every person out there who loved us there was someone out there who hated us.
"I am OK with that and happy for that to continue with this album as it just proves Suede are never anyone's second-favourite band."
And the 'Bloodsports' hitmaker is proud of his band for not following "the herd" and insists he never wants to be just another "heritage band" that just plays their old hits live.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper, he said: "We've never sat with the herd and that is great. We came back. Not as a heritage band but as a current band that has pushed things even further with this new record. I don't see that as a weakness. I think that's pretty commendable."

Imagine Dragons feel 'Smoke + Mirrors' is their most "emotional and vulnerable" album.
The 'Radioactive' hitmakers believe their forthcoming second studio album, which is set for release next month, feels more "real" to perform live than their 2012 debut because it is based on hard-hitting emotional matters they've battled.
Frontman Dan Reynolds said: "It's just a really emotional album and vulnerable. For me, it made it more real every night to be able to get on stage. I didn't feel like I had to perform. It came easier because I was able to get behind the songs and the lyrics because they were real things that I was going through.
"Whereas with 'Night Visions', I wrote that over four years, so sometimes songs didn't feel relevant to me anymore. 'Smoke + Mirrors' just translated particularly well live because of the vulnerability of the album."
And the handsome singer thinks recording 'Smoke + Mirrors' during live sessions makes the album extra "special" because it adds a different "dynamic".
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "This record in particular was a special record to all of us. It translated well live just because it's a really dynamic album. Like, 'Night Visions' was really fun to play live, but I don't feel like it translated as well live as 'Smoke + Mirrors' did, particularly because we tracked a lot of this album live. A lot of the songs were just played as a band in a studio as opposed to 'Night Visions' [where] a lot of it was just kind of put together."
'Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live Concert' comes to Empire Cinemas from March 2, Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1N74TMl

One Direction won't reunite for the BRIT Awards.
The chart-topping group - which includes Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - are currently taking a hiatus and have no plans to appear at the award show, where they are nominated for the British Artist Video of the Year for their single 'Drag Me Down' and British Group.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "BRIT organisers were desperate to get the boys. They told them they could perform whatever they wanted, even a new single, or just turn up for a boozy night out.
"It didn't work though. The lads seem more focused on their own projects now than rejoining their bandmates - even for the biggest night in showbiz."
Meanwhile, Harry is reportedly set to have singing lessons ahead of his solo career.
A source said: "People may find it funny Harry needs singing lessons ahead of a solo career but it's pretty standard practice.
"He's performed well live and can obviously sing but he's smart enough to realise he needs to learn more about how best to develop his vocal skills. He's grounded and professional enough to know he needs to work hard to achieve the success he wants as a solo artist."

Imagine Dragons feel 'Smoke + Mirrors' is their most "emotional and vulnerable" album.
The 'Radioactive' hitmakers believe their forthcoming second studio album, which is set for release next month, feels more "real" to perform live than their 2012 debut because it is based on hard-hitting emotional matters they've battled.
Frontman Dan Reynolds said: "It's just a really emotional album and vulnerable. For me, it made it more real every night to be able to get on stage. I didn't feel like I had to perform. It came easier because I was able to get behind the songs and the lyrics because they were real things that I was going through.
"Whereas with 'Night Visions', I wrote that over four years, so sometimes songs didn't feel relevant to me anymore. 'Smoke + Mirrors' just translated particularly well live because of the vulnerability of the album."
And the handsome singer thinks recording 'Smoke + Mirrors' during live sessions makes the album extra "special" because it adds a different "dynamic".
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "This record in particular was a special record to all of us. It translated well live just because it's a really dynamic album. Like, 'Night Visions' was really fun to play live, but I don't feel like it translated as well live as 'Smoke + Mirrors' did, particularly because we tracked a lot of this album live. A lot of the songs were just played as a band in a studio as opposed to 'Night Visions' [where] a lot of it was just kind of put together."
'Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live Concert' comes to Empire Cinemas from March 2, Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1N74TMl

Nile Rodgers has hailed Laura Mvula "a gift" following the release of their new track 'Overcome'.
The 63-year-old pop legend - who plays guitar on the track released Wednesday (13.01.16) - has declared his "love" for the singer/songwriter in a series of Tweets.
Taking to his Twitter account, he wrote: @lauramvula You are a gift! Nx ... I love you Laura!!!!!!!! (sic)
Nile's praise comes as the 'Green Garden' hitmaker took to Instagram to share how "privileged" she was to finally make music with one of her musical heroes.
Laura, 29, had been keen to hook up with the Chic guitarist for some time to "experiment" mixing their sounds together and the new track is the result of their meeting.
In March of last year, she told BANG Showbiz: "I kept talking about wanting to work with Nile Rodgers, because I think that could be an exciting experiment."
'Overcome' is taken from Laura's much-lauded second studio album, which is yet to be named.
Elsewhere, the Chic legend has revealed his new album will be released at the start of his world tour with Duran Duran, which begins on April 2 in Tampa, Florida.
In response to a fan's question on Twitter, he wrote: "The new album drops at the beginning of the @DuranDuran @CHICorg ft. .@nileroddgers tour (sic)."

Tom Parker has unveiled new solo track 'Lost In Your Love'.
Since The Wanted split the 27-year-old singer has released two songs with guest vocalists but he has now laid his own vocals down, something he was unsure about doing.
However, when he listened back to the demo version of 'Lost In Your Love' he liked the track so much with his voice he decided not to re-record it.
He revealed: "I said from the start I wanted to separate myself as a vocalist and a producer. You have to do that for what you want to achieve. When you've been in a band, if you sing on all your records, you then just become a singer.
"It was one of those things where I sang on it and I kinda thought it sounded pretty good the way it is. It was never my intention to be on it."
The 27-year-old star idolises DJ-and-producer Calvin Harris and admits he'd like to find the same "balance" between using guest singers and his own vocals on his tracks.
He told website Digital Spy: "I think Calvin Harris had a really good balance between it. He would get a lot of feature vocalists, but then occasionally would come onto a track and vocal it himself."
Elsewhere, Tom said he'd always been keen to get into the producing side of music, even when he was The Wanted.
He added: "Don't get me wrong, I love singing. It's a tool I'll always be able to use.
"But when I was in The Wanted, I was always by the producers and engineers asking questions. So when we decided to take a break, I wanted to give this a shot full-time."

Run-D.M.C. will be the first rap act to be honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The duo Joseph 'Run' Simmons and Darryl 'D.M.C.' McDaniels have been selected to receive the accolade at this year's Grammys along with other music legends Earth, Wind & Fire, Ruth Brown, Latin singer Ceila Cruz and Jazz star Herbie Hancock.
Rev Run took to Twitter as soon as he got the call telling him about the prize and was "shocked" because in the 57-year history of the prestigious ceremony not one rap artist has been given the accolade.
On Wednesday (13.01.16), he tweeted: "I just got a call from the Grammys!! They shocked me!! We're the first rappers to get this award!! Shocked! Grateful!. God is good!!! I'm so honored to be a #GRAMMYs Lifetime Achievement Award recipient this year. Thank you to the Recording Academy! (sic)"
Past recipients of the award include, The Beatles, the Bee Gees and Buddy Guy among many others.
The 'Walk This Way' hitmakers were also previously comprised of the late Jason 'Jam Master Jay' Mizell, who passed away in 2002, and the duo are expected to pay tribute to him in their acceptance speech.
The 58th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Monday, February 15, 2016 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Usher's eighth studio album will be called 'Flawed'.
The 'Love In This Club' hitmaker has revealed the title for his follow-up to 2012's 'Looking 4 Myself' in a new Snapchat video where he reveals the name to Daniel Arsham, who is working on the record with the R&B superstar.
In the clip posted on Daniel's Twitter account, he asks Usher: "Alright, what are we working on?"
To which Usher responded: "Something amazingly, incredibly awesome."
And Daniel then asks: "For What?"
And Usher confirmed: " For 'Flawed' my new album. It's coming."
The 37-year-old singer's last update came in September when he revealed he'd been working with Martin Garrix and teased that he's done a lot of collaborative work with various people.
He previously said: "New record is coming great. I've been working on some new music obviously. I've been doing some collaborations. I just brought out Martin Garrix, one of the collaborations that I've had. The album will hopefully be out very soon."
And Usher also said that travelling has been a major influence on the record.
He added: "Please know that every time I travel to a different place, I'm influence by what I am dealing with or what I am looking at, so a song will probably come from this experience."

Keith Urban's music is inspired by his late father.
The 'Making Memories of Us' hitmaker has revealed father Robert, who passed away in December, "pointed him in the direction of Nashville" and country music.
When asked if his dad was instrumental in his chosen music genre, he told The Ellen DeGeneres Show: "Totally. His, well our, record collection was all American country music and that's really what pointed me in the direction of Nashville."
Meanwhile, the 48-year-old singer - who is married to Nicole Kidman - previously revealed that it was his dad who started him out on the "journey" to music success.
He shared: "I remember saying to my dad, 'Oh, what's the single off this album?' And he said, 'I don't know. I haven't heard anything off it.' And I said, 'Well, how do you know it's going to be good?' And he said, 'It's Don Williams.'
"And it hit me in such a way that I thought, 'Oh, I'd love to make records where people know it's going to be solid and they go out and get it.' So I want to thank him for starting me on this journey."