Music News
Music News
Orbital have announced they have split.
The dance duo - brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll - have stopped working together and decided to call time on their career for a second time after initially disbanding in 2004 before reforming in 2008.
Paul - who formed Orbital in 1989 with his sibling - said in a statement: "Orbital had stopped working properly. We had a great four years since getting back together in 2008, but it was time to move on."
Orbital's last album was 2012's 'Wonky' and the group got their name from Greater London's orbital motorway, the M25, which played a key role in the early rave scene and acid house movement in the South East of England in the late 1980s.
Following the split, Phil is now going to release a solo album, entitled '8:58', on February 16.
Speaking about the LP, Phil has revealed it is inspired by his fascination with time.
He said: "I've always had a thing for clocks and for time as a powerful force - but also the way it oppresses you.
"It's one of those things I keep coming back to. For me, '8:58' is a moment of choice. It's almost 9 o'clock. Are you going to school? Are you going to this job you hate? Everybody faces that decision now and again - 8:58am is when you've got to make up your mind."
Orbital announce split
Orbital have announced they have split.
The dance duo - brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll - have stopped working together and decided to call time on their career for a second time after initially disbanding in 2004 before reforming in 2008.
Paul - who formed Orbital in 1989 with his sibling - said in a statement: "Orbital had stopped working properly. We had a great four years since getting back together in 2008, but it was time to move on."
Orbital's last album was 2012's 'Wonky' and the group got their name from Greater London's orbital motorway, the M25, which played a key role in the early rave scene and acid house movement in the South East of England in the late 1980s.
Following the split, Phil is now going to release a solo album, entitled '8:58', on February 16.
Speaking about the LP, Phil has revealed it is inspired by his fascination with time.
He said: "I've always had a thing for clocks and for time as a powerful force - but also the way it oppresses you.
"It's one of those things I keep coming back to. For me, '8:58' is a moment of choice. It's almost 9 o'clock. Are you going to school? Are you going to this job you hate? Everybody faces that decision now and again - 8:58am is when you've got to make up your mind."
Music News
John Newman is "massively" excited by the prospect of writing a song for Rihanna's new album.
The singer/songwriter has already worked with the likes of Jay Z and Eminem during his career, and the 'Love Me Again' hitmaker is being lined up as a potential songwriter for the Bajan beauty's next LP, something he is eager to do.
The 24-year-old star told The Sun newspaper: "I'm writing for a lot of people at the moment. There's a lot of talk of me writing for Rihanna, which we need to look into. That would be massively exciting."
Although Newman occasionally appears on songs he writes for other artists, such as 'Blame' with Calvin Harris, he has no intention of duetting with Rihanna, 26, on the song he hopes to pen for her.
He explained: "I try to write a song a week but I don't feel I could release that much under my name because there could be too much of it. It's for them personally."
Jessie J is another artist who Newman recently wrote for, giving her the track 'Fire' for her third album 'Sweet Talker' - which was released last week.
Although they didn't get a chance to work together in the studio, Jessie took him for a special birthday dinner to thank him for writing for her record.
She told BANG Showbiz: "Unfortunately with John I didn't get to go into the studio with him but I took him out for dinner on his birthday and that was my thank you."
John Newman wants to work with Rihanna
John Newman is "massively" excited by the prospect of writing a song for Rihanna's new album.
The singer/songwriter has already worked with the likes of Jay Z and Eminem during his career, and the 'Love Me Again' hitmaker is being lined up as a potential songwriter for the Bajan beauty's next LP, something he is eager to do.
The 24-year-old star told The Sun newspaper: "I'm writing for a lot of people at the moment. There's a lot of talk of me writing for Rihanna, which we need to look into. That would be massively exciting."
Although Newman occasionally appears on songs he writes for other artists, such as 'Blame' with Calvin Harris, he has no intention of duetting with Rihanna, 26, on the song he hopes to pen for her.
He explained: "I try to write a song a week but I don't feel I could release that much under my name because there could be too much of it. It's for them personally."
Jessie J is another artist who Newman recently wrote for, giving her the track 'Fire' for her third album 'Sweet Talker' - which was released last week.
Although they didn't get a chance to work together in the studio, Jessie took him for a special birthday dinner to thank him for writing for her record.
She told BANG Showbiz: "Unfortunately with John I didn't get to go into the studio with him but I took him out for dinner on his birthday and that was my thank you."
Music News
Nicki Minaj says 'Anaconda' is just a "normal" video.
The 31-year-old rapper attracted criticism for the highly sexual video which features Nicki in a g-string and a host of scantily clad babes twerking and writhing around to the music in the jungle-set promo.
However, Nicki insists she is bemused by the outrage her video caused insisting it depicted nothing more shocking than the dancing that would happen at a girls' slumber party.
Speaking to the new US edition of GQ magazine about 'Anaconda', she said: "I don't know what there is to really talk about. I'm being serious. I just see the video as being a normal video.
"I think the video is about what girls do. Girls love being with other girls, and when you go back to us being younger, we would have slumber parties and we'd be dancing with our friends."
The 'Bang Bang' hitmaker also claims one suggestive scene showing her with a banana is actually a reference to female empowerment.
Referring to the scene, she explained: "It's just cheeky, like a funny story. I'm chopping up the banana. Did you realise that? At first I'm being sexual with the banana, and then it's like, 'Ha-ha, no.'
"That was important for us to show in the kitchen scene, because it's always about the female taking back the power. If you want to be flirty and funny that's fine, but always keeping the power and the control in everything."
Nicki Minaj: Anaconda is a normal video
Nicki Minaj says 'Anaconda' is just a "normal" video.
The 31-year-old rapper attracted criticism for the highly sexual video which features Nicki in a g-string and a host of scantily clad babes twerking and writhing around to the music in the jungle-set promo.
However, Nicki insists she is bemused by the outrage her video caused insisting it depicted nothing more shocking than the dancing that would happen at a girls' slumber party.
Speaking to the new US edition of GQ magazine about 'Anaconda', she said: "I don't know what there is to really talk about. I'm being serious. I just see the video as being a normal video.
"I think the video is about what girls do. Girls love being with other girls, and when you go back to us being younger, we would have slumber parties and we'd be dancing with our friends."
The 'Bang Bang' hitmaker also claims one suggestive scene showing her with a banana is actually a reference to female empowerment.
Referring to the scene, she explained: "It's just cheeky, like a funny story. I'm chopping up the banana. Did you realise that? At first I'm being sexual with the banana, and then it's like, 'Ha-ha, no.'
"That was important for us to show in the kitchen scene, because it's always about the female taking back the power. If you want to be flirty and funny that's fine, but always keeping the power and the control in everything."
Music News
Adele is yet to tell her songwriters whether their work has made it on her upcoming album.
The 26-year-old star's forthcoming third studio album is to be released next year after being pushed back, and US songwriter Diane Warren - who has worked with Beyonce Knowles, Sir Elton John and Whitney Houston - insists she doesn't know if the tracks she recorded with the singing sensation will make it.
She said: "I flew to London to work on new stuff with Adele last year.
"We did some great songs but I don't know if they've made the record. I don't think anybody does."
Diane - who has also won a Grammy Award for her work and been nominated for six Academy Awards - admitted she isn't expecting to find out whether her songs are on the 'Some Like You' hitmaker's album anytime soon because the star wants to take time to ensure the record is spot on.
She added to The Sun newspaper: "She has a mind of her own. Nobody rushes Adele or makes decisions for her, which is probably why she's a great artist. She wants to get it right.
"She was singing her ass off when I was in the studio. Her voice was spectacular."
While Adele - who won an Academy Award for her James Bond song 'Skyfall' last year - hasn't released a record since 2011 album '21', she was recently said to be earning £80,000 a day through two companies, according to accounts.
Adele keeps songwriters in the dark
Adele is yet to tell her songwriters whether their work has made it on her upcoming album.
The 26-year-old star's forthcoming third studio album is to be released next year after being pushed back, and US songwriter Diane Warren - who has worked with Beyonce Knowles, Sir Elton John and Whitney Houston - insists she doesn't know if the tracks she recorded with the singing sensation will make it.
She said: "I flew to London to work on new stuff with Adele last year.
"We did some great songs but I don't know if they've made the record. I don't think anybody does."
Diane - who has also won a Grammy Award for her work and been nominated for six Academy Awards - admitted she isn't expecting to find out whether her songs are on the 'Some Like You' hitmaker's album anytime soon because the star wants to take time to ensure the record is spot on.
She added to The Sun newspaper: "She has a mind of her own. Nobody rushes Adele or makes decisions for her, which is probably why she's a great artist. She wants to get it right.
"She was singing her ass off when I was in the studio. Her voice was spectacular."
While Adele - who won an Academy Award for her James Bond song 'Skyfall' last year - hasn't released a record since 2011 album '21', she was recently said to be earning £80,000 a day through two companies, according to accounts.
Music News
David Guetta wants to be the first person to DJ in space.
The 'Titanium' hitmaker admits he is a "little scared" about the prospect of playing his music outside of the galaxy but would love to make history with the out-of-this-world gig.
He said: "I was speaking to this guy from the space programme, and he was telling me - 'OK, so the training is very easy. You just have to fly a few times on a military plane and imagine that it's going to be like this but 10 times more intense.'
"That got me a little scared but to be the first guy to DJ in space? That would be crazy, I mean, that's history."
The 46-year-old DJ also admitted his favourite place to make music is on aeroplanes because he is free of distractions.
He told Michael and Andrea on KISS FM UK: "This is one of my favourite things, because when I'm on a plane, I have no phone, no Internet, nothing. I love working on my music on the plane - it's amazing."
To launch his 2011 album 'Nothing But the Beat', David DJed on a flight and found the experience "so cool" - even if the passengers had to be warned to contain their moves.
He recalled: "For my previous album, I played it to journalists on the plane. I was DJ-ing on the plane from Paris to Ibiza. That was so cool and people were dancing. It was amazing.
"Everybody came in close to me, and the pilot was like - 'Whoa! Go back to your seats,' because of course, if everybody goes in the same place, the nose goes down. So they could dance, but they had to stay in their aisles to keep the balance."
Daivd Guetta wants to DJ in space
David Guetta wants to be the first person to DJ in space.
The 'Titanium' hitmaker admits he is a "little scared" about the prospect of playing his music outside of the galaxy but would love to make history with the out-of-this-world gig.
He said: "I was speaking to this guy from the space programme, and he was telling me - 'OK, so the training is very easy. You just have to fly a few times on a military plane and imagine that it's going to be like this but 10 times more intense.'
"That got me a little scared but to be the first guy to DJ in space? That would be crazy, I mean, that's history."
The 46-year-old DJ also admitted his favourite place to make music is on aeroplanes because he is free of distractions.
He told Michael and Andrea on KISS FM UK: "This is one of my favourite things, because when I'm on a plane, I have no phone, no Internet, nothing. I love working on my music on the plane - it's amazing."
To launch his 2011 album 'Nothing But the Beat', David DJed on a flight and found the experience "so cool" - even if the passengers had to be warned to contain their moves.
He recalled: "For my previous album, I played it to journalists on the plane. I was DJ-ing on the plane from Paris to Ibiza. That was so cool and people were dancing. It was amazing.
"Everybody came in close to me, and the pilot was like - 'Whoa! Go back to your seats,' because of course, if everybody goes in the same place, the nose goes down. So they could dance, but they had to stay in their aisles to keep the balance."
Music News
Damon Albarn is releasing new albums with both Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad and The Queen.
The 46-year-old musician is busy with several projects, including a West End theatre musical adaptation of a children's book and told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper he wants to reactive the animated band in 2016, and has a fully-written record for his supergroup - which also features Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen - but needs to find the time for them to get into the recording studio.
However, Damon refused to be drawn on his plans for his most famous venture, 'Parklife' hitmakers Blur, admitting only he would "imagine" they do have plans for the future.
He said: "I would imagine there's some kind of future but at the moment there's no time for the future - only the present. Who knows? I'm reluctant to say anything, because if I do, it just gets taken out of context and then I'm accused of being a wind-up."
Damon has undertaken a number of musical ventures in recent years, including writing two operas and orchestrating the Africa Express collaborative project and admitted his favourite thing is to work with different people.
He said: "I was just excited to create and still am. I love working with people, essentially. I do drive stuff, but I love the atmosphere and process of collaboration. It's my favourite thing."
Damon Albarn promises new albums
Damon Albarn is releasing new albums with both Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad and The Queen.
The 46-year-old musician is busy with several projects, including a West End theatre musical adaptation of a children's book and told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper he wants to reactive the animated band in 2016, and has a fully-written record for his supergroup - which also features Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen - but needs to find the time for them to get into the recording studio.
However, Damon refused to be drawn on his plans for his most famous venture, 'Parklife' hitmakers Blur, admitting only he would "imagine" they do have plans for the future.
He said: "I would imagine there's some kind of future but at the moment there's no time for the future - only the present. Who knows? I'm reluctant to say anything, because if I do, it just gets taken out of context and then I'm accused of being a wind-up."
Damon has undertaken a number of musical ventures in recent years, including writing two operas and orchestrating the Africa Express collaborative project and admitted his favourite thing is to work with different people.
He said: "I was just excited to create and still am. I love working with people, essentially. I do drive stuff, but I love the atmosphere and process of collaboration. It's my favourite thing."
Music News
Pharrell Williams is looking for sponsorship for Gwen Stefani's new album.
The 41-year-old musician and producer has been roped in to help the No Doubt frontwoman on her new solo album and has already been playing the pair's new music to potential sponsors.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Brands such as Apple, Beats by Dre and Adidas have had listens. He thinks they'll make megabucks offers."
The 'Happy' hitmaker has been the 45-year-old singer's lucky charm in the past, working his magic on her smash hits including 'Hollaback Girl' and 'Wind It Up' from her previous solo albums, 2004's 'Love. Angel. Music. Baby' and 2006's 'The Sweet Escape'.
And it seems that the pair may have reconnected while filming the seventh series of US singing competition 'The Voice', on which they are both coaches.
The mother of three was forced to premiere her comeback single 'Baby Don't Lie' in a rush this morning (20.10.14) after the audio leaked to the internet over the weekend.
But with the help of Pharrell - who is also working with Cara Delevingne on her music career - Gwen is hoping to have a smoother journey with her subsequent tracks.
Pharrell seeking sponsors for Gwen Stefani album
Pharrell Williams is looking for sponsorship for Gwen Stefani's new album.
The 41-year-old musician and producer has been roped in to help the No Doubt frontwoman on her new solo album and has already been playing the pair's new music to potential sponsors.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Brands such as Apple, Beats by Dre and Adidas have had listens. He thinks they'll make megabucks offers."
The 'Happy' hitmaker has been the 45-year-old singer's lucky charm in the past, working his magic on her smash hits including 'Hollaback Girl' and 'Wind It Up' from her previous solo albums, 2004's 'Love. Angel. Music. Baby' and 2006's 'The Sweet Escape'.
And it seems that the pair may have reconnected while filming the seventh series of US singing competition 'The Voice', on which they are both coaches.
The mother of three was forced to premiere her comeback single 'Baby Don't Lie' in a rush this morning (20.10.14) after the audio leaked to the internet over the weekend.
But with the help of Pharrell - who is also working with Cara Delevingne on her music career - Gwen is hoping to have a smoother journey with her subsequent tracks.
Music News
Nick Grimshaw will not present the Brit Awards 2015.
The dynamic host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show has surprised many by silencing reports that he is to host the iconic British music awards next year, despite being the bookies favourite.
The 30 year old admitted that he is instead focusing on his role as host of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, which takes place next week at Camden's Roundhouse, London.
When asked at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards at the SSE Arena in London whether he'd be hosting the ceremony, he told BANG Showbiz: "No! No we're not. I'm presenting the Mercury's though."
The 'Sweat the Small Stuff' host has been the hotly-tipped replacement for comedian James Corden since he announced that he would not be continuing to present the awards after three years of hosting.
Other favourites for the coveted job include Radio 1 presenters Fearne Cotton and Greg James or 'Celebrity Juice' host Keith Lemon.
His pop star co-host of the Radio 1 bash - which celebrated teen heroes from across the UK - Rita Ora, also denied any involvement in the ceremony, which is set to take place on Wednesday February 25 2015.
The 23-year-old 'I Will Never let You Down' singer is looking to release her second album in January so will be hoping to be receiving the awards rather than presenting them.
She added: "No. We are not, and I'll be finishing my album."
Nick Grimshaw will not host Brit Awards 2015
Nick Grimshaw will not present the Brit Awards 2015.
The dynamic host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show has surprised many by silencing reports that he is to host the iconic British music awards next year, despite being the bookies favourite.
The 30 year old admitted that he is instead focusing on his role as host of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, which takes place next week at Camden's Roundhouse, London.
When asked at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards at the SSE Arena in London whether he'd be hosting the ceremony, he told BANG Showbiz: "No! No we're not. I'm presenting the Mercury's though."
The 'Sweat the Small Stuff' host has been the hotly-tipped replacement for comedian James Corden since he announced that he would not be continuing to present the awards after three years of hosting.
Other favourites for the coveted job include Radio 1 presenters Fearne Cotton and Greg James or 'Celebrity Juice' host Keith Lemon.
His pop star co-host of the Radio 1 bash - which celebrated teen heroes from across the UK - Rita Ora, also denied any involvement in the ceremony, which is set to take place on Wednesday February 25 2015.
The 23-year-old 'I Will Never let You Down' singer is looking to release her second album in January so will be hoping to be receiving the awards rather than presenting them.
She added: "No. We are not, and I'll be finishing my album."
Music News
Ella Henderson wants to tour with Adele.
The 2012 'X Factor' finalist has been gushing about the multi-million selling singer, expressing how much she would love to work with the 26-year-old superstar.
Speaking at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards where she performed her hit singles 'Glow' and 'Ghost' yesterday (19.10.14), she told BANG Showbiz: "I'd love to meet Adele one day.
"I always go on about how she seems this such incredible, bubbly personality and she must be a great laugh to hang out with and stuff so yeah I'd love to tour with her."
The 18-year old singer- whose debut album 'Chapter One' hit the top spot in the UK album charts yesterday- also spoke about how she feels to be compared to the 'Someone like You' crooner.
She continued: "It's the biggest compliment in the world! She is a Golden Globe artist. Even if I had half the success I'd be the happiest girl on the planet."
And it seems the teenage diva has her eyes on following in her idol's footsteps, putting her name in the hat to record the theme to the next James Bond movie, following Adele's rousing soundtrack to the 2012 film 'Skyfall'.
She told the Daily Star newspaper "I would love to do a Bond theme, that would be incredible. It's something that is definitely on my bucket list."
Ella Henderson wants Adele tour
Ella Henderson wants to tour with Adele.
The 2012 'X Factor' finalist has been gushing about the multi-million selling singer, expressing how much she would love to work with the 26-year-old superstar.
Speaking at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards where she performed her hit singles 'Glow' and 'Ghost' yesterday (19.10.14), she told BANG Showbiz: "I'd love to meet Adele one day.
"I always go on about how she seems this such incredible, bubbly personality and she must be a great laugh to hang out with and stuff so yeah I'd love to tour with her."
The 18-year old singer- whose debut album 'Chapter One' hit the top spot in the UK album charts yesterday- also spoke about how she feels to be compared to the 'Someone like You' crooner.
She continued: "It's the biggest compliment in the world! She is a Golden Globe artist. Even if I had half the success I'd be the happiest girl on the planet."
And it seems the teenage diva has her eyes on following in her idol's footsteps, putting her name in the hat to record the theme to the next James Bond movie, following Adele's rousing soundtrack to the 2012 film 'Skyfall'.
She told the Daily Star newspaper "I would love to do a Bond theme, that would be incredible. It's something that is definitely on my bucket list."