Music News

Adam Lambert is "building a little clique" with Sam Smith.
The 'For Your Entertainment' hitmaker believes him and the 'Stay With Me' singer have an "understanding" and has praised the star for bringing sexuality to the forefront of the industry.
He said: "Sam Smith, hats off, he has had an amazing year, he's a lovely guy. I've met him a few times. I'm so happy for him, and I'm so happy his sexuality wasn't a big thorn in his side.
"It was just: 'This is who I am, I'm cool with it and so you should be too.' And his songs are timeless and beautiful, and everybody relates to them. He's doing it right, for sure. I think with me and Sam, there's definitely an understanding there, like, 'Hey gurl, how you doing?'
"But you know, there's only a few of us actually, on a mainstream level. I think we're building a little clique, I hope, but I haven't met that many."
The 33-year-old singer also spoke up about his meetings with pop icons Sir Elton John - who he dubbed a "sweetheart" - and Boy George.
Speaking in the May issue of Attitude magazine, he said: "I mean, Elton John is amazing, what a sweetheart, and Boy George is also incredible.
"I've sat down and had lunch with him before, he's so smart and has been though a lot, and now he's in a really good, healthy space, and loves music and is DJing and is still really connected to pop culture. He was really interesting to talk to."

Destiny's Child made a surprise reunion at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland joined Michelle Williams on stage to perform her track 'Say Yes' - on which they both feature.
Michelle's performance began with a rendition of 'Alpha & Omega' whilst Beyoncé and Kelly faced away from the stage.
When the pair turned around and began belting out 'Say Yes', the whole room filled with applause from the excited crowd.
Making their appearance at the award show on Saturday (28.03.15) in Las Vegas was their first group performance since the 2013 Super Bowl, where they had joined Beyoncé for her prestigious half-time set.
Fans of the group - which formally split in 2006 - who are hoping for a reunion tour and album may be in luck as Beyoncé's father Mathew Knowles hinted the band may get back together.
He said previously: "What folks don't know is that I am still the manager of Destiny's Child.
"You see them doing songs together, now they've done two. There might be another Destiny's Child album coming.
"There might be this tour that makes history with Destiny's Child featuring Beyoncé, Kelly and Michelle. Can you imagine what that would be like."

Taylor Swift was crowned Artist of the Year at the iHeart Radio Music Awards.
The 'I Knew You Were Trouble' hitmaker beat off competition from Iggy Azalea, Sam Smith, Luke Bryan and Ariana Grande to take home the night's biggest prize at LA's Shrine Auditorium yesterday (29.03.15).
The 25-year-old singer also picked up the Best Lyrics Award for her hit single 'Blank Space' and the Best Song gong for 'Shake It Off'.
The blonde beauty looked emotional as she received the accolades and thanked her fans for their support.
She said: "More than anything in the world, I just hope that any of the fans watching know how much I adore you ... we've gotten closer and closer with each year, not further apart. Like, you make me so happy."
As well as bagging herself the prizes, Taylor took to the stage for a surprise performance and accompanied Madonna on guitar as she sang her new track 'Ghost Town'.
Justin Timberlake was also honoured at the ceremony with the innovator award - which was presented to him by fashion designer Tom Ford - while Sam Smith was crowned Best New Artist.

iHeart Radio Music Awards 2015 winners list:

Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift

Song of the Year: Taylor Swift - Shake it Off

Best New Artist: Sam Smith

Best Lyrics: Taylor Swift - Blank Space

Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year: Jeremih featuring YG - Don't tell 'em

Country Song of the Year: Jason Aldean - Burnin' It Down

Best Fan Army: 5SOSFAM -- 5 Seconds of Summer

Best Collaboration: Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang

Renegade: Brantley Gilbert

Alternative Rock Song of the Year: Hozier - Take Me to Church

Niall Horan says One Direction have started work on their new album.
The popular boyband - which also includes Harry Styles, Liam Paye and Louis Tomlinson - recently saw Zayn Malik walk away from the spotlight, but Niall has revealed plans to make a new record remain on track.
Writing on Twitter yesterday (29.03.15), he shared: "Had a sit down last night with the label, started organising our writing sessions for the next album! F**k yeaaaahhhh! Can't wait (sic)"
This comes shortly after Zayn, 22, revealed he only stayed with One Direction for the sake of "other people's happiness".
The singer said he's wanted to walk away from the spotlight for some time.
He said: "You know, I did try to do something that I wasn't happy doing for a while, for the sake of maybe other people's happiness.
"And that was mainly the fans. And I only ever tried to do it for the fans, and it was only ever for them.
"And basically, I'm only upset (because) I feel like I may have let them down in some sort of way.
"That's the main thing that I don't want to happen.
"It's not that I've turned my back on them or anything, it's just that I just can't do that anymore because it's not real to me."

Marina and the Diamonds will be "very different" on her next album.
The 29-year-old singer recently released her third studio album 'FROOT' but has already started thinking about her next release, which she says will feature completely different music because she always likes to have new sounds on her records.
She said: "As an artist, to be challenged and stimulated is really important.
"Whatever I go on to do is going to be very different again. I have to have that because otherwise there's no point in me doing this. I don't want to recreate the same album. Even in terms of songwriting and production, you have to be progressing, otherwise I don't wanna do it anymore."
The 'Primadonna' hitmaker - who previously released albums 'The Family Jewels' in 2010 and 'Electra Heart' in 2012 - explained although her latest release is her third LP, she feels it is the first collection of tracks which truly represents her.
She continued: "I kind of see this as a starting point for me as a songwriter and an artist. This is the first album I've been properly represented in."
Speaking about her future music, she added she wants to distance herself from pop music, although didn't hint at what genre she is looking to venture into.
Speaking in the April issue of DIY Magazine, she said: "I wanna go on to do other things that are completely out of the mainstream - outside of pop."

Tim Burgess quit drugs because he couldn't sing anymore.
The Charlatans frontman realised he needed to get sober during recording for the group's 2006 album 'Simpatico' because he was completely "incapacitated" by his habit.
He said: "I couldn't sing anymore. I stopped being able to sing.
"I really wanted [producer] Adrian Sherwood to do the album and there were other forces that got us to try and turn a dub-inspired album into a rock album and I couldn't fight the battle because I was incapacitated.
"So I couldn't sing and I couldn't fight any battles and the music wasn't as good, so that was when I made a conscious decision to change everything.
"How bad had it got? Slurring on records."
His bandmate Mark Collins added: "There were moments we just went, 'Tim, come back in the morning.' "
Tim booked into a hotel for a self-imposed detox but then need to go to the "soul gym" to build himself back up.
He said: "I felt a bit like an empty shell for a while and I had to start building the stuff that makes the soul again.
"Coke's a rubbish drug and it does take the soul out of you. So I started going to the soul gym."
Though Tim - who now practices transcendental meditation - doesn't miss drugs, he doesn't regret his wild ways.
He added to NME magazine: "I enjoyed the experimentation. I don't miss it and I don't recognise that person really, but I know that that person enjoyed it.
"I can't imagine ever going back there at all, but I enjoyed the ritual of going to try and find some drugs just to go out and DJ.
"I'd wake up in the morning and think about it, 'I'd better call early.' "

Noel Gallagher learnt good touring practise in Oasis.
The 47-year-old singer admitted his days touring with his former band have influenced his current gigging practise, as he knows he needs to behave to ensure his live show doesn't suffer.
Speaking to Absolute Radio's Pete Mitchell, he said: "So all the things that we should have avoided doing in Oasis, I can avoid those now and kind of keep all the good bits and try and somehow bring that into what I do.
"It's one of things where Oasis maybe suffered in that you've got to be on it from nine o'clock every night. That means you can't be still up shouting and singing Beatle songs off a balcony at five o'clock in the morning. You can't."
The Britpop musician made the comments shortly before taking to the stage with his band, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, at intimate London venue the Rivoli Ballroom where he performed an hour-long secret set for lucky Absolute Radio competition winners on Friday (27.03.15).
Performing stellar hits from their eponymous 2011 debut release including 'Everybody's On the Run' and 'Dream On', the band were celebrated by the audience of superfans who sang along to the well known tracks, and chanted the music icon's name between tracks.
Interjecting songs with some hilarious foul-mouthed audience interaction, Noel and his band were on top form with set highlights including pacey new single 'Ballad of the Mighty I' and 2011 single 'If I Had a Gun...'.
Despite vowing not to perform any Oasis songs during the set because, "a) I've got a f***ing album to sell, and b) you got in for f**k all," the performance culminated in a mass sing-a-long to fan-favourite 1995 B-side 'The Masterplan', providing the perfect conclusion to a gig showcasing the talents of one of Britain's most respected musicians.
Fans can listen to the full radio broadcast of the gig and interview on Sunday April 12 from 6pm on Absolute Radio. For more information head to www.absoluteradio.co.uk.

Roger Daltrey says the prospect of death has brought him closer to Pete Townshend.
The iconic The Who members were shaken when fellow band member John Entwistle passed away at the age of 57 in 2002, and Roger explained the shock of his death made them appreciate each other and put their differences behind them.
He said: "After all the testosterone of youth, all of the problems and middle age and drugs and losing people we love, in the end you suddenly realize you deeply love each other. We are like brothers. Family is like that, aren't they? One minute you love them, the next minute you can't stand them. But as soon as it looks like they're not going to be around, they're knocking on the door."
The 71-year-old rocker - who is currently gearing up for several months of touring across North America and Europe - continued to say John's death made them consider the short amount of time they have left to live, which encouraged them to head out on the road.
Speaking about the impact of his death, Roger told Rolling Stone magazine: "It woke us up to our mortality. Of course, it's a different world now. The horrible shock of 9/11 shocked the world. And then John dying the next year did make us realize we're mortal. If we believed in anything, it was the power of music bringing people together. If we're touring for anything, that's a good enough reason for me."

Noel Gallagher lost a "few million" launching his solo career.
The 'Ballad of the Mighty I' singer established his Sour Mash Records label after leaving Oasis in 2009 and admits the costs were so high, he refused to tell wife Sara MacDonald the truth about his financial position for some time.
He admitted: "Everything I've done since I left Oasis has come from my own pocket.
"You've got to pay for the tour, got to pay for the wages and you don't really break even for about nine months.
"I don't mean I lost money. I mean I lost a f***ing s**t load of money. It was a few million, like.
"I had to lie to Sara at first, and when I eventually did tell her, she freaked out -- I mean freaked out.
"So I come out with, 'You know, a year ago, this happened... and she was like, 'What the f***ing hell did you do that for?'
"I said, 'I did it because I felt like I could and I didn't want to be signed to a record label, I wanted to do it myself'."
Despite putting himself in a precarious financial position for a while, Noel's gamble for artistic freedom paid off.
He added: "Luckily enough, it's worked out."
Noel insists he doesn't care about his chart positions or record sales because he knows music doesn't sell as much now as back in the hey day of Oasis.
He told Loaded magazine: "I don't worry about the music getting to number one or anything. I never have done really. Well, maybe I did between 1994 and '97, back when I wanted to rule the world.
"If it has got to the point where you're listening to it, it's got to the point where I'm happy with it.
"People aren't buying as many records as they were four years ago so sales are likely to decline, but it won't make it any less a record."