Music News

Charli XCX wants a personalised My Little Pony.
The 22-year-old singer requests the toys on her rider at gigs and would love it if one day a venue gave her a unique replica equine of her own.
Discussing the items on her rider, she said: "Candy floss, My Little Ponies, jawbreaker sweets, that kind of thing. Maybe I could get my own custom made My Little Pony, I could tweet it out there."
The 'Doing It' hitmaker admitted the biggest essential item on her list of requests is champagne.
Speaking at the NME Awards on Wednesday (18.02.15) about what she asks for before shows, she told BANG Showbiz: "Champagne - that's it! I like candles and stuff but it's not like make or break for me. My rider is just champagne and vodka and cups to pour said champagne and vodka into."
The raven-haired beauty explained all of her backstage requests help her to provide a good show because she is such an energetic performer.
She said: "I just want to be wild and free, there are very few performers who do it like that anymore. People are conscious about looking good and I don't really care about that, I just want to make sure the audience are having the best time ever. I like aggression in stage shows as well, I like power."

Katy Perry wants to record an acoustic album.
The 'Roar' hitmaker, who recently rekindled her relationship with singer-songwriter John Mayer, says she wants to go in a "complete opposite way" with her next album.
She said: "There have always been two records I want to make; the acoustic record and the dance record. ['One of the Boys'] was very pop-rock, more alternative influences, very No Doubt. But the last two ['Teenage Dream' and 'Prism'] were so pop heavy. 'Prism' has a more electronic influence. The next record does have to be different. I think that I'm gonna really have to reroute.
"I can't wait to create more and evolve more and be a contributor. I would never ever want to be just a celebrity. It's so gross. But if you're contributing, you're adding something to the world; you're changing someone's perspective. I'm disgusted by the fame stuff. I try to keep a distance from it."
The brunette beauty says she will never do an in-depth interview with Barbara Walters or Howard Stern again.
She explained: "Every word that comes out of my mouth has some kind of context or price tag or something that it's too much of a risk for me."
Katy believes her fans would know if she wasn't staying true to herself and that's why she enjoys communicating with them via Twitter.
She told Britain's ELLE magazine: "My Twitter is very obviously run by me. So when you follow my Twitter, there is an authenticity that you sign up for. It's not my management, it's not the record label, it's not me selling a product to you all the time, every single tweet. I think that what people like is that they get tidbits of my life. I always keep them updated on what is going on."

Sia has confirmed she mocked Lorde on 'South Park'.
The 'Chandelier' hitmaker was widely speculated to have provided the vocals on 'Push', a parody track featured on a 2014 episode of the animated comedy which claimed the 18-year-old singer was really a drag alter ego of Stan's father Randy and she has now admitted it was her and she thinks the 'Royals' vocalist would find it funny.
She said: "Yeah, it was me. Trey [Parker, 'South Park' co-creator) wrote it though.
"I was like, 'Dude, you need to do this for a living.' That 'push, push' chorus is so catchy, it's crazy.
"When I realised it might be mean to Lorde I felt bad but went ahead and did it anyway. I figured she'd find it funny. I love her."
Earlier this year, Sia caused controversy with the video to her track 'Electric Heart', which featured 11-year-old Maddie Ziegler dancing provocatively with Shia LaBeouf in a nude leotard.
Though she apologised for the clip, she insisted her words were meant just for one person.
She told NME magazine: "I read one tweet from a woman who had found it triggering.
"She had been sexually abused as a child by an older gentleman. That made me feel sad but I don't really care about those other people.
"I essentially issued an apology to that one woman. I'm certainly not apologising for my work."

Ella Henderson is planning to collaborate with Pharrell Williams.
The 'Ghost' hitmaker is preparing to start work on her second album and is hoping her list of writing partners will include the 'Happy' singer because he is a fan of hers.
She said: "I've got some exciting collaborations coming up. I'm constantly writing.
"We are definitely looking at getting back with Ryan [Tedder] and producer Al Shux. Fingers crossed Pharrell Williams too.
"That would be really cool as he liked my single 'Glow'."
Ella is nominated for two prizes at the upcoming Brit Awards with Mastercard - Best British Female and Best Single - and already feels like she has won because she feels so honoured to be included.
She told Britain's OK! magazine: "I went to the BRITs last year as a spectator on my record company's table. I was lucky even to have a seat - I never expected to have released my first record and have two nominations.
"However the night swings, I feel like I've won an award.
"I'm going to be like Cinderella on that red carpet and just enjoy it. It's massive for me."

Kesha is working on "weird country" music.
The 'Timber' singer has been busy making the follow-up to her 2012 album 'Warrior' and has teased fans they can expect to hear love songs when the collection is finally released, as well as some wacky country tracks.
She said: "I've been working on music for like, months now, obsessing in the studio all night, so I've got a lot of new music but it's been so all over the place. Some of it's like weird country, then I have love songs, so it's all over the place so I'm still kind of compiling my record."
The 27-year-old musician - who is dating Brad Ashenfelter - recently dropped the dollar sign from her name and has checked into rehab and attempted to sue producer Dr. Luke since the release of her last record, hailing a change in her personal style for her next LP.
When asked if she'd be exploring a new look, she said: "Totally ... I think I'm still testing the waters."
And as well as her music, the hitmaker revealed she is hoping to expand into fashion after spending time at New York Fashion Week, and will embark on an acting career.
She told Yahoo Style: "I'm dipping my toe in fashion and acting so I'm like, doing it all."

The Maccabees have completed their fourth album.
The five-piece band - featuring Orlando Weeks, Hugo White, Felix White, Rupert Jarvis, and Sam Doyle - revealed they finished working on the much-anticipated record on Monday (16.02.15) after a year of fine-tuning the collection.
Speaking at the NME Awards, they told BANG Showbiz: "We finished it on Monday, we finish mixing next week and then, yeah!
"We thought we finished it a year ago but now it's magic."
The 'Toothpaste Kisses' hitmakers - whose last album 'Given to the Wild' was nominated for 2012's Mercury Prize - also said their fans don't have long to wait to hear the first track from the record, as they will be unveiling the first single next month, and will be playing new songs at BBC's 6 Music Festival in Tyneside, north England, on Sunday (22.02.15).
They continued: "[The first single will be released in] Early March. It's done, I've got it on my phone. The first single is probably the quickest thing we've ever done, and the loudest thing we've ever done.
"We're doing the Radio 6 Music Festival this weekend so we'll be playing some new songs there."
The rockers added they believe the album - which is currently untitled - is a lot better than any of their previous releases.
They said: "I think it's got a little bit more personality, and I think the songs are a lot better."

Dannii Minogue is releasing new music.
The 43-year-old star is set to make her musical comeback at Australia's Mardi Gras gay and lesbian event in Sydney this year having last released an album 12 years ago.
Speaking about her decision to return to the music scene, she said: "I've been wanting to do music for ages but something was holding me back.
"Now I feel really settled. I feel like I'm in a personal space where I can do it and it's going to be fun. Physically I'm really well right now, I had all these health issues in the last few years, I just want to get out there and enjoy it. Mardi Gras makes sense. I just have to brush off the dust and get back out there."
The former 'X Factor' and 'Australia's Got Talent' judge admits it's been so long since she last released music that she thinks she'll surprise viewers of the talent shows who are unaware she used to be a pop star.
She told news.com.au: "I'm sure there's some people who don't know I'm a singer. After sitting in the judging seat on 'X Factor' this is a chance to show people this is what I've done for my whole life.
"There might be people who were there the last time I played Mardi Gras, but there might be people who'll have never seen me perform. They might be going, 'What? She sings?' So it'll be interesting."
Dannii also joked that she's feeling more confident about her singing now that her and her ex-husband Kris Smith's four-year-old son is a fan.
She joked: "When I used to sing when Ethan was really little he'd go, 'Mum, stop', so I just didn't sing.
"He's only heard my new stuff, he's in the know with all that. There's a duet I've written that is really badass funky that he loves."

Kanye West will attend the BRIT Awards.
The outspoken rapper will be in London next week to appear on an episode of Jonathan Ross' ITV chat show and is keen to attend the annual music ceremony - which will take place at London's O2 Arena on February 25 - despite the fact he has not been nominated.
A source revealed: "There's no way Kanye would miss the Brits if he's in London at the same time."
The 37-year-old musician and designer recently performed his single 'Only One' as well as his collaboration with Rihanna and Sir Paul McCartney, 'FourFiveSeconds' at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, and now organisers of the BRITs are eager to persuade the singer to perform, despite the ceremony being less than a week away.
They told The Sun newspaper: "It was a very last minute decision but if he wants to perform, the organisers will definitely make the changes to accommodate him."
And while Kanye is in talks to perform, collaborator Rihanna may also take to the stage, as well as confirmed acts Taylor Swift, George Ezra, Sam Smith, Madonna, Ed Sheeran and more.
An industry insider said: "Brits bosses have wanted to get Rihanna for a long time, but they've been waiting for an answer.
"She has been finalising her album plans and wanted to get the Grammys out of the way before confirming a second performance."

Noel Gallagher has made a "conscious decision to enjoy" his career.
The 47-year-old rocker is gearing up for the release of his new album 'Chasing Yesterday' and is eager to make sure he is able to recall everything he experiences from this part of his life because he has such hazy memories of his drug-fuelled time in Britpop band Oasis.
He explained: "I want to enjoy this because it's a moment in my life that I will never get back. With 'Definitely Maybe', I didn't know what the f**k was going on. Now I'm older and not f***ing high all the time, I've made a conscious decision to enjoy and remember it. But it's different now. I work better when I'm in charge. I think my records prove that."
As well as his maturing attitude, the 'Wonderwall' hitmaker - who has 15-year-old daughter Anaïs, as well as sons Donovan, seven, and Sonny, four - said he has taken more care with his new record than he did with previous albums, and has described it as "a brilliant TV series".
He told The Sun newspaper: "The last one [album, 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds'] wasn't lacking anything, but the difference is the last one was like an expensive film while this is a brilliant TV series. And TV is better than film, so they tell me.
"Initially you've got to make records for yourself and be confident your stuff has got you this far. You fall on instincts. So I don't really worry about if the saxophone is going to freak anybody.
"There is more quality control with what I do now I'm solo."