Music News

The Libertines are trying to make "surprisingly upbeat" music.
The band - featuring Carl Barat, Pete Doherty, John Hassall and Gary Powell - have started working on new material which will be their first since their second eponymous album in 2004, with Carl admitting although they are hoping to create a positive sound.
He explained: "The Libertines have always been about anthems to doomed youth.
"I'm not entirely sure how happy the new songs will be lyrically, but the message is strong in the new songs. It's doomed youth overcoming hardships with optimism."
However, the 36-year-old co-frontman confessed he is always unsure about the band's plans because they tend to go wrong, with the band's fate partly depending on whether Pete is able to stay off drugs following his month-long stint at a rehabilitation facility in Thailand.
He said: "You can't make plans with The Libertines, because they usually go wrong.
"I'm seeing Pete in Thailand again soon, but everything in the band has to be taken step-by-step. The new album has to be the right record, and we don't want to rush it."
The 'Can't Stand Me Now' rocker is also feeling slightly stressed about the thought of a third album because they have signed a deal with record label Virgin EMI which he is scared they might not deliver on.
Speaking about the record deal, he told February's issue of Loaded magazine: "I'm not thinking about all that pressure.
"That's bonus depression, and I don't need that. It's there in the background and I get the occasional moment of terror, but I try to play it down."
The 250th celebratory issue of Loaded - which features Kasabian on the cover - is available to buy in both print and digital formats now.

Madonna "can't remember" making all her records.
The 56-year-old singer is preparing to release her 13th studio album, 'Rebel Heart', and admits she has released so many LPs throughout her illustrious career she cannot recall the creative process she went through to make all her albums.
She said: "I cannot remember every record-making experience. It feels like there's been too many of them.
"But this ['Rebel Heart'] has been really, really intense ... complicated. Just because there are so many people involved.
"It's like a train that keeps picking up people. And every time someone gets on the train, they add another flavour.
"Then I have to step back and see, OK, how does this all fit into the big picture? So it does seem endless."
But the 'Papa Don't Preach' hitmaker has no problem recalling her fourth studio album 'Like A Prayer', which came with a cover scented with patchouli oils to simulate church incense, because she now "cannot stand" the aroma of the plant species.
She added in an interview with Mojo magazine: "Terrible, terrible perfume. I can't stand it. I don't [like it] any more. It's a tree hugger's smell."

Charli XCX wants to set up a record label like Simon Cowell's -but without the "s**t" music.
The 22-year-old singer has revealed plans to follow in the mogul's footsteps and become the queen of her own music empire but is confident her acts will be better than those signed to the 55 year old's SyCo label.
The brunette beauty said: "I think Simon Cowell's cool.
"I'd love to be in that position. But from the point of view of making music that's not s**t."
The 'Boom Clap' hitmaker - who wrote Icona Pop's double platinum track 'I Love It' in 2012 - admitted she didn't like the idea of penning pop hits she "hated", so travelled to Sweden to record a quick punk album at the beginning of 2014 to get it "out of [her] system".
She told Q magazine: "I couldn't make any pop music because I hated pop music. I just didn't want to think about it I wanted to be free.
"It was a case of getting it out of my system. I felt stuck."
Charli also co-wrote Iggy Azalea's hit 'Fancy' and is currently working on projects for Rita Ora, Gwen Stefani and Rihanna.

Jessie J says Whitney Houston has been the biggest influence on her career. The 26-year-old singer will never forget the emotional impact the late diva's voice had on her and she always returns to Whitney's songs when she is in need of inspiration. ...

Adam Lambert has celebrated his birthday by announcing the name of his third album.
The 'American Idol' runner-up - who is celebrating his 33rd birthday today (30.01.15) - is set to release his latest record later this year and has revealed it will be titled 'The Original High'.
Posting a new image of himself on his Twitter page, he wrote: "Thank you for all the birthday love! Thrilled to announce the title of my upcoming album: The Original High. The album is executive produced by Max Martin and Shellback, with 1st single out in April."
The news was well received by fans of Queen + Adam Lambert, with the hashtag #theoriginalhigh trending worldwide on Twitter within minutes.
Adam confirmed earlier this month that he'd signed with Warner Bros. with Max Martin and Shellback to be executive producers on his latest offer.
The 'Are You Done With Me' singer performed on BBC One on New Year's Eve with Queen and was watched by over 13 million people before embarking on their UK and European tour, which included two shows at The O2 in London and a sell-out gig at Wembley Arena.
Adam will release his first single from 'The Original High' in April.

Wireless Festival will celebrate its 10th birthday with a headline show by Drake.
The annual London-based event - which first took place in 2005 - will return to Finsbury Park for three days of music, including a headline performance from the Canadian rapper on Friday July 3.
Wireless promoter Steve Homer of Live Nation said: "This year we have an incredible line-up for New Look Wireless. We can't wait to bring Drake back to the main stage, along with some of the best artists that span the world of Hip-hop, dance, R&B and UK Garage. This is our 10th Birthday and we're really going to make it one to remember."
The 'Hold On, We're Going Home' hitmaker was forced to pull out of the festival just days before it was set to begin last year after being taken ill, and also cancelled his performance at the event in 2010 when Jay Z, Pink and LCD Soundsystem headlined.
Confirming he does intend to take to the stage at the 2015 event - which is sponsored by British fashion retailer New Look - Drake said he felt "blessed" to be playing at the event, as well as US festivals Coachella and The Governor's Ball.
He wrote on Twitter: "way way way...blessings.
"Wireless, Coachella, and Gov Ball...Blessed. (sic)"
As well as the 28-year-old star, 'Wake Me Up' hitmaker Avicii will headline the event on Saturday July 4 and 47-year-old DJ David Guetta will close the festival on Sunday July 5.
Other confirmed acts include Nicki Minaj, Clean Bandit, Jessie J, Childish Gambino, Gorgon City and Joey Bada$$.
Day tickets for Wireless Festival costing between £62.50 and £69.50 will go on sale at 9am on February 3 from www.wirelessfestival.co.uk.

The full Wireless Festival line-up:

Friday 3rd July - Drake, Labrinth, Nero, Duke Dumont, Joey Bada$$, Fuse ODG, Krept & Konan, ILoveMakonnen, G-Eazy, Little Simz and OCD: Moosh & Twist

Saturday 4th July - Avicii, Kendrick Lamar, Knife Party, Childish Gambino, Gorgon City, Raleigh Ritchie, Indiana, Stormzy

Sunday 5th July - David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Jessie J, Clean Bandit, August Alsina, Wretch 32, Grandmaster Flash, Arrested Development, Logic, George the Poet

Bob Dylan thinks people are "joking" when they compare him to Frank Sinatra.
The 73-year-old singer-songwriter's 36th studio album, 'Shadows in the Night', features a number of songs associated with Sinatra - including 'Autumn Leaves' and 'That Lucky Old Sun' - but Dylan insists the legendary crooner is beyond compare.
Asked whether it's a risk to make records previously sung by Sinatra, he said: "There's nothing risky about making records.
"Comparing me with Frank Sinatra? You must be joking. To be mentioned in the same breath as him must be some sort of high compliment.
"Nobody touches him. Not me or anyone else."
Dylan confessed his new album is "out of step with the current media culture" but dismissed accusations of being "corny".
He told the American Association Of Retired Persons magazine: "These songs, take 'em or leave 'em, if nothing else, are songs of great virtue. That's what they are.
"If they sound trite and corny to somebody, well so much for that.
"But people's lives today are filled on so many levels with vice and the trappings of it. Ambition, greed and selfishness all have to do with vice.
"We see the destruction of human life and the mockery of it, everywhere we look. These songs are anything but that. Romance never does go out of fashion.
"It's radical. Maybe it's out of step with the current media culture."

Jessie J feels "gutted" about her BRIT Awards snub.
The 'Bang Bang' singer - who is dating American musician Luke James - failed to be nominated in any category at the annual ceremony, and admitted she is disappointed at being shunned, despite the success of her third studio album 'Sweet Talker'.
She said: "I was gutted. I would be lying if I said I wasn't."
Although the 26-year-old performer acknowledged she doesn't expect to be adored by everyone, she slammed the ceremony for not supporting alumni from the performing arts institution the BRIT School in London, from which she graduated in 2006 alongside Adele and Leona Lewis.
She explained: "It would be nice if they celebrated people who come out of the BRIT School and become British pop stars.
"It is a matter of opinion and choice. I always say, 'You can't always be on top.' It's not my choice, I can't make people nominate me."
Despite feeling hurt, the former 'The Voice UK' coach - who picked up the Critics' Choice gong at the event in 2011 - praised those who are up for an award, expressing a particular fondness for her female rivals, Ella Henderson and FKA twigs.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I am excited for people who have been nominated.
"FKA twigs is incredible. Ella Henderson, I'm a huge fan of. There are some amazing nominees in there."

Suge Knight has reportedly been involved in a hit-and-run incident.
The Death Row Records co-founder was allegedly behind the wheel of his vehicle when it hit two men, killing a man named Terry Carter - who is believed to have been a friend of Suge's - and injuring 'Training Day' actor Cle 'Bone' Sloane.
Suge's lawyer, James Blatt said: "He was in the process of being physically assaulted by two men and in an effort to escape he unfortunately hit two [other] individuals.
"He was in his car trying to escape.
"We are confident that once the investigation is completed, he will be totally exonerated."
The incident took place shortly before 3pm on Thursday (29.01.15) in the Compton suburb of Los Angeles, where Suge is reported to have got into a fight on the set of a film project.
A movie shoot involving rappers Ice Cube and Dr. Dre is said to have been taking place when Suge - whose real name is Marion Knight - arrived and was asked to leave by security before getting into a fight with two members of the film crew.
According to Los Angeles' ABC7 News, a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said: "There are two victims that were transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries.
"A male adult was pronounced dead at the hospital. The second victim is in an unknown condition."
Suge - who is renowned for launching the careers of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur - is reported to have driven to a fast-food restaurant car park after the row on the film set, with witnesses claiming another argument then took place before the fatal accident.
Police say a red pickup truck hit the men while they were in the car park before the vehicle was later found abandoned.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. John Corina says witnesses they have spoken to so far claim the incident looked like an "intentional act".
He added: "So we're handling it as a homicide."
Mr. Blatt says he's not yet spoken to his client but plans to negotiate with him to surrender.
The 49-year-old star has previously been convicted of armed robbery and assault with a gun and has also served time for violating probation.
Last August he was shot six times at a nightclub in the Californian city and in November he pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge after a photographer accused him of stealing her camera.
He is reportedly facing up to 30 years in prison for the crime because of his prior convictions.