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Zayn Malik’s solo material sounding ‘really good’


Zane Lowe thinks Zayn Malik's solo material is "really good".
The Beats 1 DJ has heard a sneak peak of the former One Direction singer's forthcoming music and thinks people will be impressed when they hear it.
Speaking in the new issue of Heat magazine, he said: "I heard something by Zayn and it was really good. I don't know what people expect but he sounds great."
And Lowe suggested the songs will be very different to the 22-year-old star's work with his former band.
He added: "People will be drawn to his music in a different way."
It was recently claimed Zayn is planning to move to America.
The singer is currently Stateside working on solo material and doesn't look set to move back to the UK any time soon as he was reportedly heard chanting "f**k London" at a party recently.
A source said: "He definitely seems happier over there and doesn't act as though he wants to come back to the UK any time soon.
"It's the lazy Californian lifestyle he loves. What he said at the party sums up his attitude. He's done with Britain."

Olly Murs gutted he passed ‘Want To Want Me’ to Jason Derulo


Olly Murs is "gutted" he missed out on a number one with Jason Derulo's 'Want To Want Me'.
The 'X Factor' host originally recorded the song but after he struggled to hit the high notes, he passed it on to the 'Talk Dirty' hitmaker and is now regretting not trying to make the pop track work for his voice.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Olly was a bit gutted to see it go on and become the song of the summer. But he has no hard feelings.
"He still likes listening to it. Although he has admittedly had a few doubts about whether he should have tried harder to make it work for him rather than letting another artist have it."
The single has been one of the biggest-selling songs of the summer and has been top of the charts around the world, including reaching number one in the UK and going multi-platinum in the US.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old pop star recently split up from his girlfriend property manager Francesca Thomas, 26, and reportedly had concerns about their relationship because he puts his music first.
A source previously said: "The split has just happened and it is very raw for Olly, he still feels numb.
"He always worried that his relationship would struggle because he'd always put his career first."

Bon Jovi show cancelled due to Typhoon Dujuan


Bon Jovi were forced to cancel their concert in Taipei on Monday (28.09.15) due to a looming typhoon.
The 'Always' rockers were set to perform at the TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall in Taiwan as a part of their Bon Jovi Live tour, but were advised by local weather forecasters to pull the show after residents were told "to cease all school and work" as Typhoon Dujuan prepared to hit the area.
The band released a statement, which confirmed: "Due to the impending Typhoon Dujuan, and in accordance to the decision made by the Taipei City Central Weather Bureau to cease all school and work for September 28th, the Bon Jovi Live in Taipei 2015 show, which was originally scheduled for September 28th, will be cancelled. The second show on September 29th will go on as scheduled. Doors will open at 5:30 PM, and the show will begin at 7:00 PM (sic)."
The news follows as the band were banned from performing in China earlier this month.
Though no official reason was given for the cancellation, it is thought to be due to the band using imagery of the Dalai Lama during previous shows in Taiwan in 2010.
The band are expected to play the rest of their tour dates, including a second performance at TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall tonight (29.09.15)

Bon Jovi's forthcoming tour dates:
Thursday 1 October Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Du Arena
Saturday 3 October Hayarkon Park, Israel

Justin Bieber praises ‘artist’ Kanye West


Justin Bieber says Kanye West is unlike any other artist he has ever worked with.
The pair are collaborating on Justin's comeback album and the 21-year-old pop star loves the 38-year-old rapper's "creative input".
He explained: "I'll play a song, and he'll be like, 'Man this reminds me of like...a blacklight sunset,' or something. He'll try to paint these pictures for you. It's not the average way. He doesn't just come in and say, 'This sounds good; this sounds bad.' He'll be like, 'This is this because the world needs this.' He comes from a whole different point of view."
Justin also claimed that he is "breaking barriers" with his recent collaborations with Skrillex and Diplo, including their song 'What Are U Now'.
He told Complex magazine: "I've gotten all of these different modes, and try to dive into different ideas, and I finally came up with something that was pretty genius. I have these collaborations with Skrillex and Diplo, like 'Where Are U Now' that just took off. This is their first top 10 record. It just shows that we're breaking barriers in the EDM world.
"I think people have been trying to do it for a while, making dance music, like Usher and all of those people, but I don't think it's been done in the right way."

Shane Filan wants to perform on X Factor


Shane Filan wants the chance to perform his new music on 'The X Factor'.
The former Westlife star has just released his second solo album 'Right Here' and he's hoping for a call from his friend Simon Cowell - who along with Louis Walsh guided the boy band to phenomenal success - inviting him to during the talent show's live episode.
Speaking to exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: "It'd be nice to hear from Simon. Westlife were on 'The X Factor' loads of times over the years, but we were one of the biggest bands around. But I'm just a solo artist starting out now, if you get the biggest song in the world then you'll get on 'The X Factor' but if you don't, you won't, because you're competing against some of the biggest acts in the world, you're competing against everyone in America all the biggest acts in the UK and there's only 15 slots or whatever it is. I'd love to get on this year but I'm very realistic about where I am at in my solo career and I'm building this again and it takes time and great songs. I feel I have a couple of great songs on this album so we'll see where it ends up in the next couple of months."
Although Shane would love to get on 'The X Factor' and feels loyal to the music mogul he'd also be interested in performing on rival TV show 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
He said: "'Strictly...' is the same as 'X Factor' they're both massive TV shows, I'd love to get on that but you're competing with so many artists.
"Look, if I get on either of those shows then I'll know my album is really working."
Shane's next single from 'Right Here' is 'I Could Be', a duet with former Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle.

The Strokes back in the studio


The Strokes are recording new music.
The band - whose last album 'Comedown Machine' was released in 2013 - have confirmed that they are back in the studio together, working on new material.
Frontman Julian Casablancas told fans at the Landmark Music Festival in Washington, DC on Sunday (27.09.15) that they are making progress and many took to Twitter to share the happy news.
One fan wrote: "we'll be back soon. we'll be back in the studio and s**t" -julian casablancas re: the strokes 09/27/2015 #confirmed (sic)."
Another person tweeted: "At @LandmarkFestDC, @Casablancas_J just confirmed @thestrokes are in the studio" while yet another tweet read: "We'll be back in the studio" - Julian Casablancas :') #thestrokes #LandmarkFestDC (sic)."
Julian, also fronts The Voidz, and previously insisted he would like to work with both bands if he can.
Speaking about getting back in the studio with The Strokes, he said: "It's the first time we've been exclusively writing since 'Comedown Machine'. We're planning on recording stuff. I still think we could do cool things and I'll do that. I'd like to do both [bands] really if I could."

Ed Sheeran: ‘My next record will be better than X’


Ed Sheeran says his next album will be even better than 'X'.
Although his second album has been a huge success, selling over 10 million copies so far, Ed is confident that his next few records will be even better.
Speaking about the new material he has been working on, Ed said: "I could probably release one of them tomorrow and have people like it. 'X' was full of good songs and a couple of great songs, and I feel like on the next couple of records there will be more great songs than good songs."
Ed also admitted that he has considered putting a band together but ultimately thinks he is better as a solo artist.
Asked if he had thought about it, he said: "Yeah. And then I kind of was like, 'There's no one else at my level doing what I'm doing, so why would I want to do what everyone else is doing?' Surely it's better to be different. And I know my show can be better when I do it solo than if I do it with a band."
And the ambitious singer/songwriter has big plans for the future.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "I want to do stadiums everywhere, not just certain places. We just did Dallas and Houston, and Boston is next. I want to be able to do a proper stadium anywhere in the world."

Ben Haenow duets with Kelly Clarkson on his new single


Ben Haenow has duetted with Kelly Clarkson on his new single.
The 2014 'X Factor' winner is thrilled to have bagged the 'Stronger' hitmaker - who won 'American Idol' in 2002 - for the track and is excited for people to hear the track and his upcoming debut album.
A source said: "Ben wanted to make a statement with this song and getting someone of Kelly's stature on it is a good way to start."
Reports suggest the track is an upbeat ballad and it will be the 30-year-old's first music offering since he won the race for the UK's Christmas number spot with a cover of OneRepublic song 'Something I Need' last December.
The track overcame competition from Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' eventual monster hit 'Uptown Funk'.
Ben's mentor and Syco Music head Simon Cowell has also backed the track from the duo to do well.
The source told The Sun newspaper: "He wants his debut album to get off to a flier. His label boss Simon Cowell and his team think this is the song to do it."
Meanwhile, Kelly has been forced to cancel all the remaining dates of her 'Piece by Piece' tour this year on doctors' advice as she is needs to go on vocal rest.
The pregnant 33-year-old singer - who already has 14-month-old daughter River with husband Brandon Blackstock - is "bummed" by the news but has no choice but to accept the medical advice.
She said: "This kills me, but doctors are saying I need to rest my voice."

Mumford and Sons: Apple Music Festival like Reading with less vomit


Mumford & Sons joked that the Apple Music Festival was like Reading and Leeds Festivals but with less "vomit and unprotected sex".
Frontman Marcus Mumford spoke of the band's excitement at being back in their hometown as they took to the stage at the Roundhouse in London last night (27.09.15) and admitted they've loved playing more shows in the UK recently but that Reading and Leeds Festivals were slightly less civilised.
He said: "It's nice to be back in our home town. It's good to be playing in the UK again."
Comparing the gig to their appearances at Reading and Leeds in August, he added: "There was a lot more vomit and unprotected sex. I think I prefer ... Oh I don't know."
However, the bands' Ben Lovett was clearly keen to get the crowd involved as he encouraged fans to "get up and dance and throw things".
In addition to their hit songs 'I Will Wait', 'Little Lion Man' and 'Believe', Mumford & Sons also performed an entirely acoustic version of their track 'Cold Arms' as they unplugged their microphones and instruments and sang the lyrics accompanied only by Marcus' acoustic guitar.
The penultimate night of the annual music event - formerly known as the iTunes festival - also saw the band bring opening act Jack Garratt back on stage for a cover of Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams'.
Introducing the 23-year-old musician, Marcus said: "He's going to rule the world and we're very happy about that."
Other artists who have appeared at the venue in Camden over the last week include One Direction, The Chemical Brothers and Pharrell Williams while Florence and the Machine are set to take to the stage after opening act James Bay tonight (28.09.15).

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