Music News

Conor Maynard says Labrinth is "slow" in the studio.
The pop star has been laying down tracks for his second album for several months and has been working with the 'Beneath Your Beautiful' hitmaker on some songs.
Conor has been working hard to fine tune his music and that couple with Labrinth's quest for perfection has delayed the release of the LP.
Speaking about his next album at the BRIT Awards with MasterCard nominations on Thursday night (15.01.15), the 'Can't Say No' hitmaker said: "I'm going to say it; Labrinth takes forever to finish songs!
Promising his fans the LP is near completion, he added: "I felt like I just needed to step back. I really wanted to step back and think what am I going to do with my second album, rather than thinking I've got a new song and releasing it for the sake of it.
"I wanted to really work hard on the album and make it really good. I've been doing some cool things. It's getting really close to being ready now ... I was 19 when I released the first album and now I'm 22, so I wanted to reinvent what I was for. With the first album it was, 'Oh you're the British Justin Bieber.' So I took that and thought about what I need to do to really mould myself into who I want to be as an artist."
Conor has also been collaborating on songs with Timbaland and Noughties garage sensation Craig David.
The singer admits it was a huge thrill to make music with Craig because he is such a huge fan of his.
Conor said: "I recently had a few sessions with Craig David, he came over to London. I was a massive fan of his growing up so it was so cool to work with him. I feel like 2015 is going to be the year of Craig David, he's working on a lot right now."

Mark Ronson wants to produce a country album.
The 39-year-old musician has revealed he would consider working on a country and western record because he loves the genre, and he also didn't rule out working with The Shires in the near future.
When asked on Chris Evans' BBC Radio 2 show earlier today (16.01.15) by the country/pop duo - who are made up of singer/songwriters Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle - if he would ever consider producing a country album, he replied: "I actually love country and I really think you guys sound great ... so yeah.
"Two great voices in harmony ... nothing more immediate than that."
Mark was impressed when The Shires played their new track 'Friday Night' on the radio show and threw an impromptu version of his latest single 'Uptown Funk' into the middle of their own song.
Following the rendition, he said: "That was awesome."
Crissie said: "It was really exciting to be on Chris' show this morning and chat to Mark, we are big fans.
"Ben cheekily asked him if he would ever produce a country act and he said he loved country music and that we sounded great, so you never know."
Ben added: "We thought it would be fun to segue a cover of Mark's 'Uptown Funk' in the middle of playing our new single 'Friday Night'. Mark said it was 'awesome' so it seemed to go down well."
What's more, The Shires have become the first act to sign to the newly-revived Decca Nashville label, which was originally set up 80 years ago and was home to a host of country superstars including Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.
The Shires' new single 'Friday Night' and debut album 'Brave' will both be released on February 23.

Clean Bandit were "freaking out" after discovering they had been nominated for two BRIT awards.
The 'Rather Be' hitmakers performed at the nomination announcement show last night (15.01.15), but said they might find it hard because they were so shocked to have been shortlisted in the British Group and British Single categories.
The band tweeted: "aaaahh we've been nominated for two whole brits!!! freaking out which is so not ideal cos supposed to perform now but can't stop giggling (sic)."
Milan Neil Amin-Smith also commented on the nominations on his personal account, praising the "geniuses" who entered them into the categories.
He added: "omg no kidding we got nominated for two brits!!!!! ehehehehehe who even votes to decide that what a little bunch of geniuses they r heehee (sic)."
Sam Smith - whose debut LP 'In the Lonely Hour' was the second best selling album in the UK and US in 2014 - suggested he felt extremely emotional after receiving five nominations, posting an image of the categories he was up for on his Instagram, captioning it with a series of crying emojis.
Elsewhere, 'Thinking Out Loud' singer Ed Sheeran said he felt "chuffed" to be up for four awards, while Rita Ora posted online to say she felt proud to be British after her single 'I Will Never Let You Down' was nominated for Best British Video.
Rising pop sensation Charli XCX - whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison - also expressed her shock at being shortlisted in the Best British Video category by simply saying she was "#dead".
Writing on Twitter, she said: "nominated for a Brit Award... #dead (sic)."

Rae Morris wants to collaborate with Chris Martin.
The Coldplay frontman recently revealed he is a fan of the 21-year-old singer, with Rae admitting she was shocked when she found out and would love to work with the 37-year-old musician in the future.
She said: "I was over the moon to hear he likes my music as I am a massive Coldplay fan.
"I'd never turn down that opportunity [to collaborate with him] -- he is one of the most amazing songwriters there is."
However, although she has yet to work with him, the singer-songwriter is currently gearing up to release her first LP 'Unguarded' on January 26, which she is excited for people to hear because she believes it shows how she has changed since she started writing songs four years ago.
She explained: "The album is the story of my growing up and where I've come from. I am excited for people to know about me.
"I've always been a serial diary keeper and I feel like the songs are parts of that. They're a collection of songs that together make it a coming-of-age album."
Nevertheless, the emerging talent admits she feels annoyed she didn't start writing diaries from an earlier age so they would have also influenced the record.
She told The Sun newspaper: "As much as there were tough times, there were also amazing moments. I wish I had started writing a journal when I was even younger as I love the idea of documenting things."

Beyoncé dances to Meghan Trainor's music "every day".
The 'Lips Are Movin' hitmaker recently met the superstar at the Billboard Women in Music Awards and was shocked to hear the 33-year-old singer and her three-year-old daughter Blue Ivy are such fans of her tracks.
Recalling the moment Beyoncé admitted to loving her music, she said: "She came up to me and held my hands and said, 'I love your music. My daughter and I listen to your songs every day and dance to them.'"
The 21-year-old singer - who has been nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys for her breakthrough single 'All About That Bass' - said she was so surprised about the revelation, it felt like her life was "complete."
She continued: "I freaked out.
"I was pretty much complete with life. I was like, 'Oh! That's it, Beyoncé likes my songs. I'm done.'"
The young musician - who is releasing her debut album 'Title' around the world this month - added the moment was particularly special for her because she is also a fan of the star's music, and believes she is "the most talented artist" to have ever lived.
She told 'Access Hollywood': "I didn't believe it.
"It was like a movie in my face. I worship her. I think she's the most talented artist we have ... ever."

James Bay feels proud to be part of the BRITs Critics' Choice winners "crew".
The 'Hold Back The River' hitmaker - who has been handed the BRITs Critics' Choice gong as part of the 2015 BRIT Awards with MasterCard - has revealed that he wants to emulate the success of some of the award's former winners.
When asked how he felt to be part of a group of winners that includes Adele, Florence Welch and Jessie J, he said: "It's amazing to be part of that little crew you know, or feel like that. They've proved themselves and they're as amazing as everyone says.
"I'm going to try and do the same. Adele hasn't congratulated me, if she did that would be nuts!"
The 24-year-old singer/songwriter - who hails from Hertfordshire, south east England - is hoping for success across the pond too.
Speaking on the red carpet at the BRIT Awards with MasterCard nominations show, 'The BRITs Are Coming', where he also performed, he told BANG Showbiz: "American success? Fingers crossed. I think they know about the BRITs from tiny little old England, yeah fine they've got the Grammys, whatever!
"I have a lot to show for this; I guess it points a lot of people in my direction at the moment so I have to use that. And that's my plan so hopefully that will change things for the better and push things forward."
The 2015 BRIT Awards with MasterCard will be held in London on February 25th.

Take That find compiling set lists "difficult".
The 'These Days' trio - Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - have begun preparing for their forthcoming tour, which begins in April, and admit the hardest part of planning their gigs is deciding which songs to perform from their extensive back catalogue.
Howard said: "We've had the tour meeting the other day which is probably our first day back at work this year. We're going over stage design, finalising bits and using some ideas that came about during the writing process from the album and for the way we imagined ourselves performing certain songs live. Then we're looking at set lists which is one of the most difficult things to do."
The group admit their backstage rider has grown much more healthy in recent years - but they still have a "naughty tray" boasting a selection of their favourite chocolate bars.
Speaking to Magic Radio's Jo Parkerson, Gary said: "It's gone from Mars bars to nuts, water to juices and juice machines."
Mark added: "Just loads of kale, loads of dust ... No we still have a little naughty tray that might have some chocolate if we want to have a little boost before we go on.
"I used to love it though. Howard on the last tour used to always fill his dressing gown with little snacks in our breaks that we had."
Listen to the full interview on 24th January from 3pm on Magic Radio across the UK on DAB radio. Head to www.magic.co.uk for more.

Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran and Usher are among the performers at a Stevie Wonder tribute concert next month.
The trio will join the likes of Willie Nelson and Janelle Monae in taking part in 'Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute' at Los Angeles' Nokia Theater on February 10.
Ed - who will also perform at the Grammy Awards on February 8 - said in a statement: "Stevie Wonder is an absolute legend and I am so honored to be a part of this very special night."
Further performers will be announced in the coming days for the concert, which will broadcast on CBS in the US on February 16 and will see the artists selecting and performing a song from the 'Superstition' hitmaker's extensive back catalogue.
Tickets for the concert are on sale now.
Stevie has scooped an incredible 25 Grammy awards throughout his career so awards bosses felt it "fitting" to honour him with the concert.
Neil Portnow, president/CEO of the Recording Academy said in a statement: "Stevie Wonder is a beloved icon whose golden songbook remains one of America's and music's greatest treasures.
"A 25-time Grammy winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, it's only fitting that Music's Biggest Night celebrates this legendary musical genius and pays tribute to his enduring music and legacy."

Nick Mason has branded Spotify "pathetic" for artists.
The Pink Floyd rocker is concerned about the rise in popularity of the streaming service because musicians receive such little revenue from the airplay they receive and thinks it is particularly worrying for unknown artists.
He said: "iTunes is already beginning to look rather passé, and instead it's Spotify that looks like the future. What we need is another two or three billion people using it, then it would make more sense for musicians. At the moment, the pay-out, particularly for unknowns and only slightly-knowns is... pathetic."
While the 70-year-old drummer insists he is happy for Pink Floyd to stream their music online, he wants to offer something more to their fans.
In an interview with GQ, he added: "Pink Floyd is certainly not saying, 'We won't do it like that'. We'll stream, but we'll stream with higher quality audio, and with a lot more video, or other graphic interfaces that will make it part of a fuller entertainment experience."
Nick believes U2's decision to give their latest album, 'Songs of Innocence', free to iTunes users has "backfired" but has made people think more about how they want to access music.
He said: "It's been interesting seeing how badly that went down. Let me be completely clear about my position: if Apple had come to me and said, 'Nick, we want to release your album in exchange for £50m', I couldn't have thought of a better idea...
"This has backfired. It's made everyone think again about how they want their music delivered, given or sold.
"Look, U2 are a great band, and Bono's an extraordinary individual, so this isn't an anti-U2 tirade. But it highlights a vital aspect to the whole idea of music in the 21st century."