Music News

Alexandra Burke is "rebelling" against the music industry with her new EP.
The 26-year-old singer insists her motivation to record and self-release 'Renegade' was to go "against what people think they know" about her, having self-funded it "completely independently".
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Alexandra said: "'Renegade' means being rebellious, and I'm at a point where I'm quite rebellious, simply because it's all independent, it's all me.
"I wanted to go against what people think they know about me, and I wanted to put out there what my personality is and who I am through my music, so this EP as a whole shows that, and shows who I am."
'Renegade' sounds very different to any of the former 'X Factor' winner's previous hits, like 'Broken Heels' and 'Bad Boys', but Alexandra has said that this new rockier sound is more "true" to who she is as an artist.
She said: "I wanted to be completely independent, and self-funded, and wanted it to be a gift for my fans, but wanted it to be true to who I am. So I went away and made some mood boards, visually and musically, and then literally that's how it came about.
"It was a conscious (effort to be different) in that respect, because I was like, 'this is how I want it to roll and this is how I want it to go', but then at the same time it came out naturally, it all just flowed."
You can go to www.alexandraburkeofficial.com to download Alexandra's EP 'Renegade' for free now.

Charli XCX won't stand in for Sam Smith at the Australian Logie Awards if it's on her day off.
The 'Boom Clap' singer is in Australia performing concerts on the East Coast and is considered to be the ideal replacement for the 'Stay With Me' singer, who can't attend the 57th TV awards show on Sunday. (3.05.15) due to an illness.
Although Charli would "happily" step in for Sam, she won't do it on her day off.
In an interview on the 'Kyle And Jackie O Show' on Australian station KIIS 106.5 FM, , she said: "If it's on my day off then maybe not."
Asked whether her days off are important, she said: "Yes because I never get them."
Sam was forced to cancel his Australian tour and his appearance at the award show, because he had a blood clot on his vocal chords.
The 'Lay Me Down' hitmaker posted a statement online that read: "I have been vocally exhausted for a while now, however, last night in Sydney I had a small hemorrhage on my vocal chords."
Sam, 22, added: 'The doctors have told me I need to fully rest until my vocal cords have healed, otherwise this could become a huge long-term issue. I am so sorry to all who have bought tickets, I truly am. This kills me."

Sir Paul McCartney treated Japanese fans to the first ever performance of The Beatles' song 'Another Girl' on Tuesday night (28.04.15).
The legendary musician performed at Japan's Nippon Budokan 49 years after The Fab Four played the historic venue.
Bringing his 'Out There' tour to the venue he made history in front of 10,000 fans to witness his version of the song that Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon had never played live before.
Before playing 'Another Girl' - from 1965 album Help! - he told the crowd: "We hope we get it right."
Speaking before the gig, he said: "It's very exciting to be returning to the Budokan because it is a very special place and was the first place we played in Japan. There was a lot of controversy at the time but I now know that it is a regular venue for a lot of people. But for me it has a very special place in my memory."
Sir Paul described the concert as "thrilling", he said: "It was sensational and quite emotional remembering the first time and then experiencing this fantastic audience tonight. It was thrilling for us and we think it was probably the best show we did in Japan and it was great to be doing the Budokan 49 years later. It was crazy. We loved it."
The 'Four Five Seconds' guitarist played a set of 28 songs, comprised of Beatles tracks, from his solo career, Wings - who he formed with his former wife Linda.
Meanwhile, the 72-year-old star had another surprise up his sleeve, every person in the audience was given a light up wristband, that transformed the gig-goers into a massive Union Jack flag.
The European leg of the 'Out There' tour starts in London at The O2 on the May 23. It will be Paul's 50th solo concert in London. He's also playing The O2 on the May 24.

Ozzy Osbourne says Black Sabbath's final LP and tour will happen in 2016.
The 66-year-old rocker has confirmed the legendary heavy metal group will bring their career - spanning over 40 years - to an end next year after giving fans one more chance to see them play live.
Speaking at the Monsters of Rock press conference in São Paulo, Brazil, he said: "The plan is that next year (is the) final Black Sabbath tour and album. It could change."
Although Sabbath - also comprised of Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler - are going to stop, Ozzy is going to continue with his solo career because being a musician keeps him feeling "really young".
Ozzy - who is married to Sharon Osbourne - said: "Being in the music business keeps me really young. When you hit 60, people ask, 'Are you gonna retire?' F**k no, man."
The singer also explained the reason why the band have taken so long to make their latest record - the follow-up to 2013's comeback LP '13'.
He explained:"We all live in different countries and some of them want to work and some of them don't want to, I believe."

Mariah Carey's new single is for "whoever's gone through any relationship".
The 45-year-old singer insisted 'Infinity' is not about her estranged husband Nick Cannon but hopes it strikes a chord with anyone who has experienced similar romantic problems.
She said: "I don't feel like it's my personal life. It's written for all the women, or men, or whoever's gone through any type of relationship.
"I'm looking at it as the mantra of 'Infinity' is love yourself... loving yourself first to infinity.
"Then you can love anybody or anything else - your career, your kids, your life.
"It's like someone emancipating themselves. It's like my re-emancipation of Mimi. I wanted everybody to be able to sing along with [me]. It's a big chorus."
However, even if the song was about Nick - the father of her three-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe - she wouldn't admit it.
She added to 'Access Hollywood': "I tend to be more private about my personal life anyway, so even if the song were about someone in particular, I would never say that, because that would be like my own private thought
"We had a bunch of collaborators on that song too."
The 'Hero' hitmaker's 'Mariah #1 to Infinity' Las Vegas residency begins next week, but she won't be doing much partying in the city as she'd rather be at home with her twins.
She said: "I'm not really like a let go and party [person] out here. It's too smoky. The cigarette smoking is like... everybody's smoking here.
"I can't handle it with the cigarette smoke 'cause of the smoke.
"So my idea of fun is like to go home and watch a movie with the kids - like, whatever they feel like watching."

Morrissey has branded crowdfunding a "desperate measure".
The former Smiths frontman has slammed artists who use the platform to raise money to release music, describing it as "insulting" to fans who have already spent cash on albums, merchandise and concert tickets.
He said: "[Crowdfunding] is a desperate measure, and insulting to your audience.
"We have already provided sufficient amounts of money. What is the next thing you're going to ask? Brush our teeth?"
The 55-year-old musician made the comments amid his struggle to find a record label, after he revealed last August he had been dropped by Harvest Records, and admitted he has not had any luck with finding a new company to release his music through.
He explained: "I recently contacted some labels and all have rejected me.
"Pop music lives in the era of marketing which just leads to people with very low levels of competition, it is much easier to get rid of them once six months of fame have evaporated."
The star - who released his 11th solo record 'World Peace Is None Of Your Business' last year - added he isn't bothered about people who criticise him or his views, saying they should continue to do so if it brings them joy.
He told El Pais newspaper: "Many people enjoy writing negative things about me. Which is fine with me. Let them if it makes them happy."

Meghan Trainor found it "terrifying" working with Harry Styles.
The 21-year-old pop star wrote a track with the One Direction heartthrob last year, and while she found it exciting collaborating with the musician, she admitted it was a scary experience because he is so famous.
Recalling the moment she sang a rough demo of the song for the star, she said: "Performing a love song in front of Harry is terrifying, and on top of that I was a little nervous because he was one of the first celebrities I met."
However, the 'All About That Bass' hitmaker - who released her debut album 'Title' earlier this year - confessed the 21-year-old singer's contribution to the track was "incredible".
She continued: "Harry was super talented at writing, and his lyrics were incredible - probably my favourite lyrics in a song. I remember I wrote it at midnight the night before and sent it to my mom. I was so worried he was going to hate it."
Despite revealing it is one of the best tracks she has ever written, the blonde beauty has been left disappointed as no one has chosen to sing the song.
Speaking to Teen Vogue magazine, she added: "It's a cute little number called 'Someday Maybe'. It needs a good home."

John Legend is "always working" with Kanye West.
The 'All of Me' hitmaker is a close friend of the rapper, and revealed he is hoping one of their collaborations will soon be released because they are constantly making music together.
He said: "I would love [to work with him again] too. I worked with him a lot, even on my last album. He was involved in the production on a lot of the songs and he was very influential on the album."
The 36-year-old musician continued to say he is waiting for the "right song" before he decides to release a track with his pal, who has 22-month-old daughter North with wife Kim Kardashian West.
He added: "We still work together, it might not be featured but we still collaborate together on the writing side and the production. We're always working together it's just a matter of us having the right song for us to do it together."
The hunk - who is married to model Chrissy Teigen - also chimed in on the controversy which erupted after the 'All Day' rapper was recently announced as a headline act for Glastonbury Festival, saying he believes audiences are in for a treat at the iconic music event.
He told Capital FM: "Kanye's one of the biggest stars in popular music so I don't see how he doesn't qualify for Glastonbury.
"He puts on a great live show. I think he certainly qualifies."

Sam Smith has cancelled the remaining dates on his sold out Australian tour.
The 22-year-old singer has been diagnosed with a small haemorrhage on his vocal cords after becoming vocally exhausted due to months of concerts around the world and has been advised to rest his voice.
Sam is devastated to have to pull out of the scheduled dates and is "so sorry" to the fans who were looking forward to seeing him perform.
In a statement posted on Facebook page, Sam said: "I am deeply, deeply saddened to tell my Australian fans, I have to cancel my Australian tour. I have been vocally exhausted for a while now however last night in Sydney I had a small haemorrhage on my vocal cords. The doctors have told me I need to fully rest until my vocal cords have healed, otherwise this could become a huge long-term issue, I am so sorry to all who have bought tickets, I truly am. We will be announcing re-arranged dates very shortly. This kills me."
The 'Stay With Me' singer had already played shows in Brisbane and Sydney this week and had sold-out shows in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth to come.
The 'Lay Me Down' star has tour dates around the world locked in until September, and it is not known whether his Japanese dates, due to take place from May 8, will be affected with the singer waiting on further medical assessment.
All ticket holders have been advised to get refunds from the point of purchase and cancelled ticket holders who purchased their tickets from Ticketek and Ticketmaster will be offered a first-purchase option on the new tour, set for December 2015.