Music News

AWOLNATION's Aaron Bruno goes to Steve Perry for advice.
The 36-year-old frontman revealed he has become pals with the Journey icon since rising to prominence as part of the electronic rock group, and also counts Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo as a professional acquaintance.
Speaking to Yahoo about Steve, he said: "He's just this beautiful human being that is still an amazing, caring musical mind, and to have him in my corner and care is incredible. And he's great to go to for advice. I've become acquaintances with Rivers Cuomo and I love Weezer so much, so that's really incredible to me as well. I guess to have these people that I looked up to as a kid just a phone number or text away is absolutely incredible, because I can ask them how they felt when they went through some of the trials and tribulations."
The rocker - who is in the group alongside Drew Stewart, Kenny Carkeet and Isaac Carpenter - performed at Camden's Electric Ballroom in London on Wednesday (01.04.15), where they played tracks from their 2011 debut, 'Megalithic Symphony', as well as new songs from their second album, 'Run', which they released last month.
Opening with their latest record's title track, the 14-song set raced through fan favourites including 'Not Your Fault' and 'Kill Your Heroes'.
After briefly exiting the central London stage, the four-piece group re-emerged for a four track encore, eventually ending with a powerful rendition of their international hit single, 'Sail'.
The band will kick off their tour of North America later this month.

Lorde is struggling to write songs for her new album.
The 18-year-old singer/songwriter is currently working on the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed debut album 'Pure Heroine', released in 2013, but is finding it difficult to write tracks for the collection and moaned about her troubles on Twitter.
In an update, which she has since deleted, she wrote: "today i tried to write a chorus for almost 4 hours i wish that was an april fools joke (sic)."
Although fans haven't been able to enjoy any new music from the 'Royals' hitmaker since her contribution to the 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' soundtrack last year, 'Yellow Flicker Beat', she hinted her future tracks might have a slightly different sound because she has been trying to write a ballad inspired by Bonnie Tyler's 1983 hit, 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'.
Tweeting a pal, she said: "we were actually writing a total eclipse of the heart-inspired jam today (sic)."
The news comes just weeks after Lorde - whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor - started working with her trusted producer, Joel Little, once again, after he confirmed in February they would be heading into the studio together "very soon".
He said: "We're gonna get in the studio again very soon. That's the plan, basically. We're just going to start writing some songs.
"We haven't got some planned out 'this is what it's going to sound like'... I think we're just going to start writing and when it starts to feel right, we'll know that it's right. It's pretty simple really."

Lewis Hamilton is seeking feedback on his music from Pharrell Williams and Drake.
The Formula One racing champion has been teasing the launch of his music career for several months, and has now revealed details about the favourite of his tracks, titled 'J'adore', which he has sought advice on from his musical pals including rapper and producer Timbaland.
He explained: "My best song is called 'J'adore'. It is kind of urban pop and I sing as well.
"I have played it for Pharrell Williams as well as Timbaland and Drake because I want feedback from as many people as possible."
The 30-year-old hunk - who split from on/off girlfriend, 'Don't Hold Your Breath' hitmaker Nicole Scherzinger in February after seven years together - admitted he is using his creative talents to express his feelings and finds it "a really good way of clearing your thoughts".
He continued: "I write my own stuff. I really enjoy the whole creative thing and I've always loved doing it."
However, the racer revealed he only got into making music after he created a recording studio in his home for his former flame.
In an interview on BT Sport, he added: "I actually built the studio in my house for someone else and ended up using it.
"I built it so we could be in the same place all the time ... but now I use it all the time instead."

Taylor Swift has been named the most powerful person in pop.
The 25-year-old singer has beaten off competition from Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Rihanna and Ariana Grande to top this year's The Pop Powerlist for 4Music.
The 'Blank Space' hitmaker has taken home the title - which is decided by a panel of industry experts - thanks to her 55 million followers on Twitter, number one album '1989' and estimated £88 million fortune.
The Powerlist takes into consideration everything from critics opinions to airplay, with previous winners including Adele, Rihanna and Beyonce.
The blonde beauty's close friend Ed took the second spot, with Sam Smith, Rihanna and Ariana Grande, taking the third, fourth and fifth spots respectively.
Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Beyonce, One Direction and Meghan Trainor make up the top ten.
Matt Rennie, Managing Director at The Box Plus Network, said: "The 2015 Pop Powerlist is dominated by female pop icons this year, with Beyoncé, Rihanna and Katy Perry joining Swift in the top ten.
"It's great to see British artists like Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith taking the hot spots, proving the rise in popularity of our home grown talent."
The announcement follows Taylor's recent success at the iHeart Radio Music Awards on Sunday (29.03.15), where she took home the Artist of the Year title, Best Lyrics Award for her hit single 'Blank Space' and the Best Song gong for 'Shake It Off'.

The Pop Powerlist for 4Music 2015 Top 10:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Sam Smith
4. Rihanna
5. Ariana Grande
6. Katy Perry
7. Maroon 5
8. Beyoncé
9. One Direction
10. Meghan Trainor

Plain White T's have described their new album as a "reinvention".
The group - who shot to fame when they topped the charts in 2007 with 'Hey There Delilah' - fought to be freed from their record deal for their new album 'American Nights', which means the LP feels like a "new life".
Frontman Tom Higgenson told BANG Showbiz: "We're independent again for the first time since 2003 so it feels like a reinvention. A new life."
Bass player Mike added: "It also feels like it's our band again, not that it ever wasn't."
The 'Pause' singers - who have partnered with Lipton Ice Tea to create a video for the track, inspired by their Be More Tea campaign - explained self-funding their latest release, which is their seventh studio album, meant they were able to choose how it was created.
Guitarist Dave Tirio said: "The label was great but there were certain times where we didn't have 100 per cent of the say on some things, you inevitably have to please other people which kind of sucks some times."
Tom continued: "So with this album we were able to record exactly what we wanted to record, where we wanted to, with who we wanted to. It was just whatever we wanted to do, we could do it, which made it more fun."
However, the band - which also features guitarist Tim Lopez and drummer De'Mar Hamilton - added it was tough escaping their record deal because it resulted in "drama".
Tom confessed: "We went through a bit of drama with the label trying to get independent again.
"It was stressful because we were trying to fight to get our music back."
Fans can get involved with the #BeMoreTea campaign on Instagram at @liptonicetea, and watch the 'Pause' video on Lipton's YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/vAnChA7HrbU

Nick Minaj's concerts were the most talked about gigs in the UK this month.
The 'Anaconda' hitmaker, who kicked off her 'The Pinkprint' tour in London's O2 Arena last weekend, has topped a new FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] FTSE poll with more people eager to watch her take to the stage than Sting.
The 32-year-old singer came out on top after online ticket marketplace StubHub used Twitter hashtags to rank the hype surrounding upcoming gigs and concerts in the UK throughout April.
Sting, who released his new album, 'Taking Pictures,' earlier this week and is due to kick of his comeback tour next week, came in second place, while 'All About That Base' hitmaker Meghan Trainor came in third ahead of the start of her new tour in Glasgow next Wednesday (08.04.15).
Other artists in the top 10 include former 'X Factor' star Olly Murs, BRITs Critics' Choice winner James Bay, and Welsh rockers Catfish and The Bottlemen.
Commenting on the results, Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Stubhub's General Manager International said: "As we launch the Stubhub FOMO FTSE, it's interesting to see upcoming artists such as Meghan Trainor and British singer-songwriter James Bay already high up the list of the most talked about artists on Twitter.
"From FOMO to JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out), StubHub's fan-focussed service offers people the chance to buy or resell tickets via a safe and secure online marketplace. Plus, the price fans see upfront is the price they pay - no hidden charges."

Complete list of most talked about UK gigs in April:
1. Nicki Minaj
2. Sting
3. Meghan Trainor
4. Olly Murs
5. James Bay
6. Catfish and The Bottlemen
7. The Vaccines
8. Ghostpoet
9. Wolf Alice
10. The Wombats

Sir Paul McCartney's wife was "shocked" by 'All Day'.
The 72-year-old musician has revealed Nancy Shevell - who he wed in 2011 - isn't a fan of his latest track with Kanye West because of his excessive use of offensive language, which the entrepreneur was unaware was still used.
He explained: "I think he mentions the N-word about 40 times. It's controversial, I know, especially with the climate in modern-day America.
"It really shocked Nancy because she'd been to school with a lot of black kids and been immersed in that experience."
However, the former The Beatles star defended the 'Gold Digger' hitmaker by saying he is artistically expressing himself in the controversial track, and doesn't use the word in an offensive way.
He continued: "Whether you like what Kanye does or you don't, he's an artist and it's his prerogative.
"His school of thought is that he's reclaimed the n-word, he's reappropriated it. If you're gonna work with Kanye, you have to accept who he is."
Sir Paul - who has also worked on several other tracks for the 37-year-old rapper's upcoming seventh studio album 'So Help Me God' - added he doesn't believe anyone was surprised by the foul-mouthed track, because the rapper is always stirring controversy, unlike other musicians like 1970s folk singer Gordon Lightfoot.
He told Q Magazine: "It's Kanye, come on - not Gordon Lightfoot."

Noah and the Whale have split up.
The five-piece group - who formed in London in 2006 - have announced they are parting ways.
In a statement to their fans, the band wrote: "Noah and the Whale have decided to call it a day. We have had an incredible eight years together and are immensely grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way."
The band - featuring Charlie Fink, Tom Hobden, Matt Owens, Fred Abbott and Michael Petulla - rose to prominence in 2008 with their folk-pop hit '5 Years Time' from their debut album, 'Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down'.
In subsequent years the group released summer hit 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.' before trialling a heavier sound on their fourth and final album, 'Heart of Nowhere', released in 2013.
In the message, the members thanked their supporters who they said had made "everything possible" during their time together.
The statement continued: "There are too many people to mention in this short message but we would like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to all of our amazing fans, who have supported us so magnificently over the years and made everything possible."
While no details about the members' future projects have been revealed, all of the musicians have set up websites suggesting they will continue to make music as solo artists.

David Duchovny is releasing an album.
The 'X Files' actor is "shocked" he has created 12-track LP 'Hell or Highwater' - which comes on May 12 - but can't wait to share his music with his fans.
He said in a statement: "Making this record is a dream come true, but I never had this dream - it's still a shock when I think about how all this music happened.
"What I do know is that I feel these songs represent the truest expression that I've ever been able to achieve and I look forward to sharing it with everyone."
The 54-year-old star previously compared his music to 'Nightswimming' hitmakers R.E.M..
He said: "I can only compare my music to artists that you know, so it's going to sound like I'm bragging.
"But in my wildest dreams, I would sound like Wilco or R.E.M. I'd put it somewhere in there - if I'm lucky."
And David also insisted he doesn't mind whether anyone buys his record or not.
He said: "Once I started playing music, I started thinking, 'Gee, I should be able to write lyrics.' And I just fell backwards into the whole thing.
"It's just been a real pleasure in my life, regardless of who buys it and what people think of it when it comes out. It's been a lifesaver just to be able to play music, write songs and think about singing songs to friends."