Music News

Saint Raymond, Years and Years and George the Poet are amongst acts on the MTV Brand New 2015 shortlist.
The artists have been picked by MTV as the most promising acts for the next 12 months, with other names on the shortlist including Becky Hill, Krept and Konan, James Bay, Melissa Steel, Nothing But Thieves, Sinead Harnett, and Sunset Sons.
Talking at the launch event at London nightclub DSTRKT on Monday (01.12.14), 19-year-old singer Saint Raymond praised his pal Ed Sheeran for inviting him to open the shows on his 'X Tour', and for the 23-year-old star's invaluable advice which helped him move forward with his career.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "One of his big tips for me while I was on this tour was to go out and meet people after the shows and spend time with fans. I think because the way it is now, people buy into you as a person, not just an artist, so I think it's important that you go out and meet people and really get to know them, so you're not just a musician. That's one big piece of advice Ed gave me."
He also explained the 'Thinking Out Loud' singer said he should write songs all the time, because some of his biggest hits have been tracks he wrote when he thought his album was finished.
Talking of his debut record, he said: "I like to say it's done, but I'm scared of saying that. I think I'm just going to carry on writing just in case, you never know. I remember talking to Ed about it and he said he wrote one of his best songs a week before the album went to the press, so I'm always wary of saying it's done."
Public voting to crown the winner of the MTV Brand New 2015 in association with Emporio Armani Diamonds title is now open. The act with the highest number of votes will be announced on January 30 2015.

Gary Barlow has compared Take That's chart battle with Robbie Williams to the feud between Blur and Oasis.
The 43-year-old singer-songwriter has spoken out following the news his band Take That's first album since the departure of both Jason Orange and previously Robbie, 'III', will go up against their bandmates surprise new record 'Under the Radar'.
Referring to the famous Britpop battle between Damon Albarn's Blur and Liam and Noel Gallagher's Oasis, Gary said: "It's like Blur versus Oasis all over again."
However, the former 'X Factor' judge revealed Robbie - who first left Take That in 1995 before rejoining in 2010 and quitting again in 2012 - had told him and his remaining bandmates Mark Owen and Howard Donald about his new album, but failed to mention it would be released on the same day as theirs.
Gary told The Sun newspaper: "I only found out about that on Sunday (30.11.14).
"It's funny, because we have obviously spent a lot of time in the studio with Rob.
"About two years ago he said, 'I've got all these songs and I don't know what to do with them so I'm going to put them on an album one day'.
"So it's not a surprise he's doing it, but it is a surprise it's out this week.
"He played us most of them and there are some cracking songs because whatever Rob writes is good."
Meanwhile, the 'These Days' hitmaker claims both Robbie and Jason will be returning to the band in the future.
He said: "Take That is five people. Exactly when they come back is up to them. That will keep it interesting."

Kasabian think they "deserve" their success.
The 'Eez-Eh' rockers have had a triumphant year which saw them headline the famous Glastonbury festival and play a homecoming gig in Leicester to 50,000 fans and think they are worthy of their achievements because they work so hard.
Frontman Tom Meighan said: "Glastonbury was unbelievable, because we deserved that. We're proud pioneers.
"And there was Leicester as well. We deserve everything we f***ing get.
"We've worked so hard, me and my best friend [guitarist Serge Pizzorno] here, since we were f***ing babies, when we were 17 and we gave our lives to rock 'n' roll. Not many people can say that can they?"
Both Tom and Serge believe their strong bond is the key to the group's success.
Tom said: "I love this guy. He's Pete Townshend. He runs the band. Without him... he's the controller, the leader. He has to keep me in check."
Serge added to Q magazine:" Tom's my other half. Without Tom, I am simply just a man. With Tom, I can do anything. I am a superhero.
"I like to think, romantically, we'll go together, in a blaze of glory. It'll be like a last shoot out."

Fleetwood Mac will headline Isle of Wight Festival 2015.
The five-piece band - featuring Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks - will perform a worldwide 2015 festival exclusive when they close the four-day event on Sunday 14 June.
The multi-Grammy award winners said: "We've always wanted to come to the UK to play The Isle of Wight Festival, and so we are delighted that in 2015, we are finally making it happen! So many of our fellow artists and friends have played at this historic event over the years, and we can't wait to see all of our fans on the island next summer."
Forming in 1967, the 'Go Your Own Way' hitmakers released 17 studio albums during their extensive career, with original member Christine McVie rejoining the band in January for a world tour.
Festival organiser John Giddings admitted he has been chasing the iconic band for several years in an attempt to persuade them to appear at the annual music event.
He said: "It's no secret that Fleetwood Mac have been on my wishlist for The Isle of Wight Festival for some time now, so I'm very pleased and extremely proud to have them headline next year's event. With Christine now back in the band too, it is going to be a momentous occasion, a moment in music history."
In 2014, headline performances came from Kings of Leon, Biffy Clyro and Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Rudimental, Calvin Harris and The 1975 also featuring on the line-up.
The Isle Of Wight Festival 2015 will take place on June 11-14 at Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight. Tickets are on sale 9.00am Friday December 5 from www.isleofwightfestival.com.

Queen + Adam Lambert will perform in London on New Year's Eve (31.12.14).
The 'We Will Rock You' hitmakers are thrilled to be presenting some of their most famous hits at a special show close to Big Ben, both before and after the iconic clock strikes midnight to signal the turning of the year.
Roger Taylor said: "I never imagined we would be around to usher in the year of 2015, what a thrill! We promise you a great night."
Brian May added: "OK - Let's Rock into 2015!"
And Adam has promised the group - whose original frontman Freddie Mercury died in 1991 - will "kick off" the new year "in style".
He said: "Words can't describe how excited I am, we are going to kick off 2015 in style!"
'Queen + Adam Lambert Rock Big Ben Live' will broadcast live on BBC One in the UK and will take place in the build-up to midnight, before continuing after the famous fireworks display along the River Thames.
Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, said: "BBC One will be kicking off 2015 in spectacular style with an exclusive live concert from rock legends Queen and Adam Lambert, I hope you join us for a night to remember!"
Tickets for the special show go on sale tomorrow (02.12.14).

Nile Rodgers is restoring some "lost" CHIC recordings.
The 62-year-old musician was given a number of boxes of tapes he feared were lost forever four years ago, and now he has beaten cancer, he is working hard on recording and reworking the material.
He revealed: "I physically lost our recordings when the studio we'd worked in for years was sold. This felt worse than death...
"In June 20, 2010, a number of boxes showed up at my house filled with tapes I'd thought were lost forever.
"I felt my original CHIC band had one more chance to live. A few months later I was stricken with extremely severe cancer and I said, 'Before I die I'm going to do so much music that CHIC won't ever be lost again.'
"In the last four years I've done more concerts and records than any period of my life. I'm currently cancer free and started to work on the lost CHIC tapes, which includes: analog multi-tracks, two-tracks, cassettes and hand-written scores and lyrics."
And the 'Le Freak' star is thrilled with one particular track which has "everybody" - including former backing vocalist Luther Vandross - on the recording.
He added on his blog: "Thirty-five years ago the original CHIC Organization LTD commercially and spiritually died. The last original surviving members, along with some of my current band mates, performed a vocal session on a song that was a CHIC Organization out-take, one of the rare few that exists. The session was perfect.
"The track has everybody from the 1st CHIC recording session on it, even Luther Vandross. There was more love in that room than I've felt in a long time.
"Maybe, There 'Is' Life After Death?(sic)"

Take That will return as a five-piece in 2017.
The 'Patience' hitmakers reunited with former member Robbie Williams on their 2010 album 'Progress' and though the 'Angels' singer isn't a part of new record 'III', the remaining members of the group insist he will be back for their 25th anniversary, as will Jason Orange, who announced his departure earlier this year.
Howard Donald - who is now joined in the band by Gary Barlow and Mark Owen - said: "We want to do something with the five of us. That will be great."
Gary added: "It would be nice to put all the music from the Nineties and now on one compilation and do a tour that would have to be bigger.
"Take That is five people. Exactly when they come back is up to them. That will keep it interesting."
And Gary jokingly claimed fans should expect the group's line-up to change with every album.
He told The Sun newspaper: "Moving forward, I do think our fans need to get used to the fact that it's going to change -- maybe every album. I might be missing on the next one and Rob might come in instead of me. Actually, he'd better not do!"
While they have only released their new album 'III' today (01.12.14), the 'These Days' singers are already looking ahead to their next record and are confident Robbie - who also brought out a new record, 'Under the Radar, Volume 1' today - will want to be a part of it.
Gary said: "Rob will be back soon. We have a good time with Rob. He adores being in the studio and he loves the process of writing with us.
"We can't wait to start the next record now. We have that excitement in us.
"There's no way this is the last album. I feel this is what I've been put here to do."

Susan Boyle is learning to write her own songs.
The former 'Britain's Got Talent' star has amassed a £75 million fortune from recording albums of cover tracks, but the 53-year-old singer is now keen to pen her own music.
A source said: "Susan loves singing but she has decided that she wants to change direction with the music she is putting out there and write it herself. So she is learning how it's done properly.
"She will be putting original hits on her seventh album, and she has already began work on it.
"She is taking lots of advice and is being taught how to do it so it can be the best standard possible for her fans.
"So far all of the songs she has put out there have been written by others and as much as she wants to continue to belt out songs she loves, she knows musicians have to evolve.
"Susan is the last person to be motivated by money - she doesn't spend what she's got already - but her new plan will make her millions."
But Susan - who recently revealed she has found her first boyfriend, a US doctor - isn't planning a radical change in musical direction as she still wants to keep her existing fanbase happy.
The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "She is also looking to find some brilliantly talented singers to collaborate with. Susan knows who her fans are, she's not looking for a new fan base, she just wants to give them something different."

Lionel Richie is to perform at Glastonbury next year.
The 'All Night Long' hitmaker has confirmed he will follow in the footsteps of country singer Dolly Parton by playing in the Legends' slot at the English music festival next summer.
He said: "I'm really excited to play Glastonbury next year as it's one of the most iconic festivals in the world.
"It has a phenomenal history. The alumni of artists that have previously played is incredible, I'm so honoured to be joining that club.
"It will be a really special moment for me and I can't wait to share it with everyone. I can now say, 'Yes, I'm playing Glastonbury'."
The 65-year-old star - who is playing a number of dates in the UK and Europe next year - is the first act announced for the 2015 line-up so far.
Festival organiser Emily Eavis shared her excitement, saying: "He's one of the great soul legends. He's got some incredible songs and I think he will get people on their feet. There will be a lot of love out there for Lionel."
The singer-songwriter previously revealed his interest in playing the festival earlier this year after hearing Dolly had drawn in a crowd of 175,000 people.
Other artists rumoured to be in talks to perform at Glastonbury next year include Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac and Oasis.