Music News

Charli XCX was "moulting" on Mary J. Blige at the Grammy Awards.
The 'Boom Clap' hitmaker rocked a white Moschino penguin tuxedo to the bash but admitted she had an unfortunate issue with her furry white shawl as it left a trail of fluff over the 'Family Affair' singer, much to her confusion.
She explained: "I was having a lot of outfit drama. My faux fur shawl kept like moulting all over Mary J. Blige so that was a bit, not so cool. She was in front of me and I don't think she could quite figure out where it was coming from though which was good."
The 22-year-old musician was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her featuring spot on Iggy Azalea's hit 'Fancy' at the ceremony, and although she didn't win, she was pleased to see fellow British artist Sam Smith pick up four prizes.
She said: "It was really cool, it was so cool to see Sam win and yeah it was good, I had a fun night and I performed afterwards as well."
However, Charli confessed she had more issues than just her fluffy shawl during the evening, as she couldn't find any food or a toilet at the event, which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
She added: "I needed to pee so bad and I was so hungry and there was nothing.
"There wasn't much finger food but there was a lot of alcohol so that was great."

Rae Morris performed her "favourite gig to date" in London on Thursday (12.02.15).
The talented singer-songwriter played for more than an hour at the concert at Electric Brixton - which came midway through her sold out UK tour - and took to Instagram the following morning to declare the performance the most enjoyable show she had ever done.
Along with a picture from the performance, she wrote: "last night was without doubt my absolute favourite gig to date. electric atmosphere. thank you all for coming. (sic)"
The 21-year-old singer's set lasted for over an hour, where she played piano and sang hits from her recently released debut album 'Unguarded', all while thanking the crowd repeatedly who she seemed shocked had turned up to see her.
Addressing the audience, she said: "It's so strange because just a few years ago London was a very, very alien place to me, I knew like two people. So it's unreal to see all of you people in front of me."
Highlights from her set included her powerful, husky vocals on crowd-pleasing singles 'Closer', 'Do You Even Know?' and 'Under the Shadows', as well as the upbeat Clean Bandit song 'Up Again' on which she features on the collective's album 'New Eyes'.
Continuing her appreciative tone, she ended the show by once again declaring how grateful she is for her rapidly expanding fanbase.
She emotionally stated: "Honestly there's no was I can say this without sounding weird but thank you so much for making this possible I never dreamt I'd play a gig this big."

Rae Morris' set list from Electric Brixton (12.02.15) was as follows:
'Skin'
'Grow'
'This Time'
'Unguarded'
'Closer'
'Don't Go'
'For You'
'Cold'
'Do You Even Know?'
'Morne Fortuné'
'Up Again'
'Love Again'
'Not Knowing'
'Under the Shadows'

Justin Bieber will work with Labrinth on new music.
The 20-year-old popstar has had a turbulent 18 months including several scrapes with the law, but is hoping to relaunch his music career with the help of the London-based singer and producer.
Speaking at Raymond Weil's annual music dinner at Mosaica restaurant in London, the 'Earthquake' hitmaker told BANG Showbiz: "I'm going to be getting in [to the studio] with Paloma Faith next month, and then Jess Glynne, and then Justin Bieber and the list goes on."
Although they are yet to record together, the 26-year-old musician is keen to act as a musical "stylist" to Justin in a bid to discover what type of song would be perfect for his character.
He explained: "I'm kind of like a stylist, when artists say they want to work with me I look at them and I listen to their music and think 'Hmm, what would fit with them,' so I'm in the midst of creating that style for when we work together."
Despite the Canadian singer now getting his life back on track, Labrinth - whose real name is Timothy McKenzie - confessed he felt sympathy for him because he believes fame has become too much for him in the past few years.
He admitted: "I felt sorry for him because he's musically talented, he can play, he can sing, so hopefully he gets the recognition he deserves. I think fame, it's one of those Michael Jackson things, where it becomes bigger than the music sometimes, so hopefully the music will become as important as the fame."
As well as helping the 'Boyfriend' singer with new music, the multi-instrumentalist teased details of his own album which will be the follow-up to 2012's 'Electronic Earth'.
He said: "I'm taking ages [on my album]. Because I produce myself, I literally have like five guys in my brain, it's basically almost done. I'm mad excited about putting it out."

Beatie Wolfe felt inspired by the children who she recorded charity song 'Kids Wish For The World' with.
The singer/songwriter launched a competition on kids' social media platform PopJam - the new project from Moshi Monsters creator Michael Acton Smith - to invite youngsters to submit their hopes for the planet to create lyrics for a reworked version of her track 'Wish'.
Beatie was expecting the kids to be focused on themselves but was pleasantly surprised when she read their wishes and discovered they were focused on what things can make the world better for everyone.
Speaking at the unveiling of the single and video at the Apple Store on Regent Street in London on Thursday night (12.02.15), Beatie said: "I was expecting them (the wishes) to be stuff like, 'I'd like to get a new pair of Nike trainers,' or, 'I wish I had a helicopter.' You know, like, typical 12-year-old boy wishes, actually they were about everyone having enough food, enough water and respecting one another. That was pretty mind-blowing to me. We were expecting maybe a couple of thousand responses because the site was still in the early days, we got 20,000 responses in two days."
From the thousands of submissions, Beatie chose 10 winners who all got to join her in the recording studio and sing their individual wishes and she was very impressed with their singing talents.
She added: "I believe a few of the kids hadn't really sung before and they definitely hadn't been into a recording studio. They did the most sensational job. They were all chosen on the basis of their wish - not their singing voice - so the fact they all sounded like angels was a total bonus."
'Kids Wish for the World' is available via iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers now and is raising money for for children's charities NSPCC's ChildLine and War Child.

Ella Henderson takes advice from Ed Sheeran.
The 19-year-old singer revealed she bumped into the 'Thinking Out Loud' hitmaker on a flight last year, where he gave her invaluable advice on how to cope as a musician with a rocketing fan base.
She explained: "He's very supportive and kind, you know what, he just gave me great advice.
"He just really opened up to me about what it is like in the first year. You know last year for me was very crazy, it happened so fast and it was very unexpected. To have someone to just simply say, 'It's alright, that's ok' and to not feel like you need to stop and look back, you'll have time to do that in your old age. For someone to actually turn round and say that to you, it's nice, especially someone like him who I respect."
The 'Ghosts' singer - who released her debut album 'Chapter One' last year - has been nominated for two BRIT Awards at the much-anticipated ceremony later this month at London's O2 Arena, but has recently been enjoying flying the flag over in the US where fellow musicians Ed and 22-year-old Sam Smith are also gaining recognition.
Speaking on ITV's 'Lorraine', she said: "It feels like a great time to be out there [in the States], there's people doing it like Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran and to be amongst those kind of people it's just fun, I'm enjoying it."

Florence + The Machine have announced their third album, 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'.
The 'You've Got the Love' hitmakers' third studio album will be released on June 1 in the UK, and will follow-up 2011's acclaimed record 'Ceremonials' which spawned hits 'Shake It Out', 'Spectrum' and 'No Light, No Light'.
Confirming the news in a handwritten letter posted on the group's Facebook page, she wrote: "hello all... Very excited to announce my new album 'HOW BIG HOW BLUE HOW BEAUTIFUL' you can watch the video for 'What Kind of Man' today, shot in LA and Merida Mexico by my dear Vincent Haycock so much love, Florence (sic)."
As well as the 11-track LP, the indie pop group fronted by Florence Welch have premiered the first single to be released from the collection which is titled 'What Kind of Man'.
The 'Dog Days Are Over' singers have also been added to the line-up for BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend - Europe's largest free ticketed event - playing the two-day festival's main stage on Saturday 23 May.
Speaking about her excitement for the festival season, frontwoman Florence Welch told the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show: "It's always really nice to play outdoors and see the sky, and elements. They become the special effects."
The event - which will take place in Earlham Park in Norwich - will also feature a set from 'Shake It Off' singer Taylor Swift on Sunday 24 May.
The news comes in the same week the star hosted a private listening party of the album at Les Trois Garçons in Shoreditch, London, which was attended by pals including indie pop band The xx, 'Tough Love' singer Jessie Ware and model Daisy Lowe.
Anticipation for the long-awaited album was heightened on Tuesday (10.02.15) when iTunes prematurely posted a banner welcoming fans to pre-order the collection in order to gain an automatic download of 'What Kind of Man', although this was swiftly taken down.

The tracklisting for 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful' is as follows:
'Ship To Wreck'
'What Kind Of Man'
'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'
'Queen Of Peace'
'Various Storms & Saints'
'Delilah'
'Long & Lost'
'Caught'
'Third Eye'
'St Jude'
'Mother'

Deluxe:
'Hiding'
'Make Up Your Mind'
'Which Witch'
'Third Eye' (demo)
'How Big, How Blue' (demo)

Drake has released a surprise mixtape. The 28-year-old rapper has shocked fans by making the 17-track album 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' available to purchase through iTunes without any prior warning. As well as featuring rapper Lil' Wayne ...

Boy George has been left "heartbroken" by Steve Strange's death.
The Culture Club frontman has paid tribute to his friend following his sudden death from a heart attack aged 55 yesterday (12.02.15).
George - who, prior to finding fame, worked in the cloakroom of Steve's infamous Blitz nightclub - tweeted: "Heartbroken about the death of my friend Steve Strange. So bloody sad. Such a big part of my life!"
Fellow New Romantics Spandau Ballet - who got their big break performing at Blitz - were left "in tears" by the news and dedicated their appearance at the Sanremo festival in Italy to the Visage frontman.
Guitarist Gary Kemp tweeted: "Spandau in tears tonight. We dedicated our performance to Steve Strange. Without him we would never have been here. A maverick to the end."
His brother and bandmate Martin Kemp added: "RIPsteve strange goodbye my dear friend. I will miss you! (sic)"
Singer Kim Wilde is another star saddened by the 'Fade to Grey' hitmaker's death and remembered him as a "family man".
She said in a statement: "I'm so grateful that life brought Steve and I together, he was funny, great company and completely bonkers in the most adorable way.
"He would often call up for a long chat, and always asked after my husband Hal, and our children Harry and Rose.
"Steve was a family man first and often spoke of his beloved family in Wales.
"Steve will be remembered as the most elegant and beautiful of the New Romantics at the beginning of the 80s, and 'Fade To Grey' one of the very best and most influential records of the decade.
"I shall remember him for his humour and generous spirit; he really was a very lovely man."
A number of other 80s icons have also paid tribute to the late star.
Duran Duran frontman, Simon Le Bon, tweeted: "I'm very sad to announce that our friend Steve Strange has died in Egypt today. He was the leading edge of New Romantic. God Bless him."
Billy Idol added: "Very sad to hear of my friend Steve Strange @Stevevisstrange passing, RIP mate.....(sic)."
Steve's band Visage formed in 1979 and became prominent after they released their record 'Fade to Grey' a year later.

Sam Smith wants to inspire gay children "in 400 years" time.
The 'Stay With Me' hitmaker is openly gay and hopes his debut album 'In the Lonely Hour' - which he wrote about the unrequited love he experienced when he fell for a straight man - will comfort people for years to come because it is such a common experience.
He explained: "I'm just trying to make music that stands the test of time. So that, in 400 years, when a little kid who's gay listens to In the Lonely Hour, or my next record, he will be inspired."
As part of his desire to be as honest as possible when it comes to his music, he has also vowed to be a "different type of popstar" who is completely the same in his personal life as he is in the spotlight.
Speaking to Evening Standards magazine, he continued: "I want to be a different type of pop star. I want to be a pop star who's not Photoshopped, who's straight-on human ... Honesty is timeless."
The 22-year-old singer's promise comes days after his debut record was recognised at the Grammy Awards, with the young Brit picking up four awards at the prestigious ceremony, causing sales of the already 5 times platinum album to triple on amazon.co.uk.