Music News

Azealia Banks views twitter as free therapy.
The outspoken rapper - who has clashed with a number of stars on the social networking site - admits she is more daring about what she says when microblogging than she would be face-to-face.
She said: "Twitter is free therapy. People have said I'm a bigot because I've had a few battles on social media but really I'm not.
"It's just that places like Twitter are like a walk-in therapy suite. You forget yourself.
"I've said things which in real life might have earned me a slap in the face. But actually I am thoughtful and considerate. So, don't let social media turn you into a monster."
Azealia also admitted she always carries "emergency exit money" with her because she never wants to have to rely on a guy for help.
She said: "A woman should always carry at least $75 on her. I've been on so many dates where you think, 'I wish I wasn't a broke b***h putting up with bulls**t from this guy'. All because I didn't have the cab fare home. You need emergency exit money.
"I've had plenty of lean times where I had barely 10 cents to rub together. It's not a nice feeling."

Paul Weller has banned Noel Gallagher from reforming Oasis.
The 'Changingman' hitmaker has warned his pal - who he lives opposite - their friendship will be over if he ever goes back to his former group, which split in 2009, and the 'Ballad of the Mighty I' has taken his threats so seriously, he thinks he would have to move house if the much-speculated reunion actually happened.
Noel said: "He threatens that if I ever go back in Oasis that'll be it between us. He always says, 'You f**ing heard all these f***ing things about your f***ing reunion? And I'm like, 'Yeah I know', and he goes, 'You're not f***ing doing it?' and I'm like, 'No' and he's going, 'Good good good.'
"Basically, if Oasis ever did get back together, which is highly unlikely, I'd have to leave London and move back to Manchester because he'd put my f***ing windows in."
The former Jam singer insists Noel doesn't "need" to return to Oasis because his solo career is going so well and said he is "bored stiff" with bands getting back together for "nostalgia" reasons.
Weller told NME magazine: "Why would he need to? He's flying at the moment. I don't think he needs to.
"There's always exceptions but generally I'm f***ing bored stiff of reunions. I know it's popular with people but I don't get it - I don't get the whole nostalgia thing. It's just become a business hasn't it?"

Clean Bandit are surprised the BRIT Awards are dominated by male artists.
Sam Smith has the most nominations this year with five, while Ed Sheeran and George Ezra both have nods in four categories.
No female artist is up for the Mastercard British Album of the Year prize, the shortlist comprised of Alt-J's 'This Is All Yours', Ed's second LP 'X', George's 'Wanted On Voyage', Royal Blood's self-titled effort and Sam's acclaimed debut 'In The Lonely Hour', and the dance group are surprised at the lack of ladies.
Speaking at the nominations announcement in London on Thursday night (15.01.15), Clean Bandit member Grace Chatto said: "Clean Bandit member Grace Chatto said: "I was kind of surprised because there have been big female singers this year. I wonder why it is. I don't think it's because they're men, is it?"
Her bandmate Milan Neil Amin-Smith added: "Well, I think it has been the year of the white man, which is quite depressing isn't it?
"It seems a bit weird and a problem."
However, Grace thinks the nominations trend could be because of the cyclical nature of music and the time of female artists like Adele and Emeli Sande dominating has passed.
She mused: "Women have ruled for quite a while. It's the men's turn."
Clean Bandit are up for two BRITs, British Group and British Single for their smash hit 'Rather Be' which also featured Jess Glynne.
Despite their objections to the type of nominees up for accolades, the band - also comprised of Jack Patterson and Luke Patterson - are thrilled they have been recognised for their music.
Milan said: "It feels amazing to be nominated, we're over the moon, I've just been bouncing about all day. I can't stop giggling about it."
The BRIT Awards with MasterCard - hosted by Ant & Dec - take place at The O2 in London on February 25 and will feature performances from Taylor Swift, Paloma Faith and Ed as well as many others.
MasterCard is in its 17th year of sponsoring the BRIT Awards and as part of its 2015 BRITs campaign MasterCard is working with a variety of artists to organise Priceless Surprises, giving cardholders unique opportunities to get closer to the artists they love. Visit PricelessSurprises.co.uk for more information on how to get involved.

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.