Music News

Lea Michele says live singing is her ultimate love.
The 27-year-old - who achieved international fame on musical comedy 'Glee', in which she plays Rachel Berry - can't wait to take her album 'Louder' on the road and get back to her original passion.
Asked what she is currently working towards, Lea said: "I can't wait to tour with my album. I grew up on the stage singing live and that I what I love most.
"To go overseas and perform my songs in a concert setting would be so cool."
Lea explained the album - which reached the top spot in the US album charts and the top 20 in the UK - was inspired by "a very special time in her life".
She added: "It has some hard stuff I there, but also some very happy moments. When I heard the album was number one, I was like, 'What? Are you kidding me?' I couldn't believe it. I am so proud of this record."
Lea recently released her autobiography 'Brunette Ambition', which also features lifestyle tips, and hopes readers find it useful.
She explained to Britain's HELLO! magazine: "I put things in the book that I really live on a daily basis. I'm not perfect, but at the end of the day it is this lifestyle that enables me to do what I do."

Lenny Kravitz was inspired to record a new album by 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'.
The 50-year-old rocker got into acting later in his life landing roles in 'Precious', 'The Butler' and 'The Hunger Games' franchise.
While he was working on 'The Hunger Games' sequel his creative impulses were sparked and he began to "dream" about new songs which eventually comprised his LP 'Strut'.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper, he revealed: "I was filming 'Catching Fire' and had a rigorous schedule. I had to be up at five in the morning but I couldn't sleep at all at night. I was dreaming of this music. And so that was it. I made this album as I had no choice. It was there, in my dreams. Strut literally jumped out of me.
"Taking those years off and dropping into films has fuelled the fire in me to make music ... I've taken this to the next level, creatively challenged myself and improved my craft by taking each song as it came to me. I'm really pleased with the record."
Kravitz is excited about playing his new material live but although he loves performing he doesn't enjoy life on the road much.
The 'Fly Away' hitmaker loves seeing the diverse fans that come to his shows, revealing his shows attract music lovers of all ages.
Describing the rigours of touring, he said: "It's not that I hate touring. I love being on stage playing. It's just that touring itself is hard work. Anyone who tours can tell you that, no matter how glamorous it may seem ... My fans are anything from six to 60 years old. Isn't that crazy? They'll want to go through my back catalogue but I find that interesting as that's how I discovered David Bowie ... That's why making music is so important to me compared to acting. My design company is going well and when there is a good break I will do another movie. But music is my passion and what I really do."

Lily Allen has announced a UK tour for this winter.
The 'URL Badman' singer will play nine shows in support of her 'Sheezus' album, starting at the Glasgow O2 Academy on November 22.
Other stops on the tour Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, Plymouth, Portsmouth and London with the run of shows concluding on New Year's Eve (31.12.14) with a headline set at the highly prestigious Edinburgh Hogmanay Show in Scotland.
The concerts conclude a busy year of touring for Lily, who has performed at several festivals, including Glastonbury, and has just finished supporting Miley Cyrus on the latest leg of her 'Bangerz Tour'.
Lily, 29, played her final support slot last Sunday (10.08.14) at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, posting on Twitter: "Last night of my leg of the #BANGERZ tour tonight went off!! Thanks St. Louis. See you again soon, America!! (sic)"
The pop star will take to the stage at the V Festival this weekend.
Tickets for Lily's UK tour go on sale on Friday August 22 at 9am.

Lily Allen UK tour dates:

NOVEMBER:
22 GLASGOW 02 ACADEMY
23 SHEFFIELD 02 ACADEMY
25 MANCHESTER 02 APOLLO
26 BIRMINGHAM 02 ACADEMY
27 BRIGHTON CENTRE
29 PLYMOUTH PAVILLIONS
30 PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL

DECEMBER:
12 LONDON 02 BRIXTON ACADEMY
31 EDINBURGH HOGMANAY 2015 CONCERT IN THE GARDENS (www.edinburghshogmanay.com)

Sir Paul McCartney closed San Francisco's famous Candlestick Park on Thursday night (14.08.14).
The legendary musician returned to the venue that hosted The Beatles' last ever full concert 48 years earlier to play the final show before the sports stadium is demolished.
Dubbed 'Farewell To Candlestick: The Final Concert' , McCartney thrilled the 50,000 fans in attendance with a repertoire of hits from his days with The Fab Four, Wings and his solo career.
Highlights included 'Paperback Writer', 'Day Tripper', 'Get Back', 'Hey Jude' and 'Live and Let Die' and the 72-year-old musician even played a cover of Little Richard's 'Long Tall Sally' - the last song to be performed in its entirety at The Beatles' August 29, 1966 concert.
As McCartney and his band played the song the screen behind them displayed several previously unseen photographs from The Beatles' concert taken by the late Jim Marshall - the only photographer to be granted unfettered access to shoot that show.
Addressing the crowd before his last encore, the rock star said: "Thank you, San Francisco, for being cool now and for being cool back then."
The concert was part of McCartney's 'Out There' world tour.
He is due to have a break now for a few weeks before resuming life on the road on September 28 with a show at Petco Park in San Diego.

Professor Green has cut James Arthur from his album.
The 'Remedy' hitmaker - who is to release his third studio album 'Growing Up In Public' this September - was forced to drop the 'X Factor' winner from a track following a string of public controversies surrounding his use of homophobic lyrics and online Twitter rants, reports The Mirror newspaper.
Professor Green, 30, said: "James Arthur was on that record. But then he just kind of imploded, didn't he? It's a shame, when I met him he was a cool guy but he just upset so many people.
"The label was just like, 'It's not happening', and I can't fight the people who I need to support me."
However, the 'I Need You Tonight' hitmaker remains fond of James, 26, and hopes that the 'Impossible' singer will be able to get his career back on track.
He explained: "When I met him, I thought he was a nice guy, so hopefully he can just bring some of that back and get people to focus on the music and maybe he can too, rather than getting concealed by all the bulls**t."

Kanye West wants to collaborate with Paul McCartney.
The 'Yeezus' rapper - who is reported to have become good friends with Paul, 72, in recent months - has approached the former Beatle about working together as he puts the finishing touches to his upcoming seventh studio album.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Kanye and Paul have known each other for a long time but have become more friendly recently.
"There's every chance they'll head into the studio together.
"Kanye really respects music legends and is still putting the finishing touches to his new album.
"He has been tapping Macca up for a while about working together.
Kanye, 37 - who is married to reality TV star Kim Kardashian West - has already started meeting up with the 'Can't buy Me Love' singer to work on new material.
However, the superstar pair are keen to keep the details of their team-up a secret.
The source added: "They've had a few meetings with each other but both of them always keep their collaborations under wraps until the last minute."
Paul first expressed an interest in collaborating with the 'Stronger' hitmaker - as well as fellow rapper Jay Z - last year.
Discussing his track 'Appreciate', Paul revealed he had '"resisted the temptation to get a rapper in," but added Kanye and Jay Z would be first in the running of potential collaborators.
When asked who would have been given the honour of appearing on the track, he replied: "Oh, Jay Z, Kanye."

Rizzle Kicks can't afford to put out the songs they recorded with Pharrell Williams.
The duo worked on a number of tracks with the producer for their last album 'Roaring 20s', though they weren't included on the finished album and now Pharell has seen his career skyrocket thanks to songs such as 'Happy', 'Get Lucky' and 'Blurred Lines', his fees have soared so the 'Down with the Trumpets' stars are unlikely to ever use the material.
Harley Sylvester said: "They're just gonna be way too expensive to use."
Jordan Stephens added: "It's a shame but it was my call not to put them on the last album.
"I stand by it. You can't put a price on something that's in the universe for ever."
The pair showcase a more disco sound on their new single 'Tell Her' and admit they have become disillusioned and uninspired by the current rap scene.
Jordan told The Sun newspaper: "I'm definitely not going to stop rapping, but at the moment rap as a culture just kind of does my head in.
"I'm not listening to it any more. In the UK I hear a lot of imitation of US rap and I don't feel inspired by it.
"And more importantly, rap has taken a decline in terms of its mainstream appeal.
"I started to realise I can sing. It's liberating, it's an evolution and it's fun."

Lionel Richie wrote Kenny Rogers' hit song 'Lady' while he was on the toilet.
The former Commodores singer penned the 1980 hit for Kenny, and the country legend has revealed Lionel went to the restroom for inspiration to write the track's second verse when they were in the studio together.
During an appearance on the 'Today Show', Kenny said: "Lionel doesn't write entire songs, he writes ideas. We were in the studio recording the song, and I said, 'Where's the second verse?' and they said, 'Lionel's in the toilet writing them right now.' "
Kenny had no problem with Lionel's unconventional method and can appreciate he got the peace he needed on the toilet to come up with the right lines.
The 75-year-old musician - who is being honoured at the Country Music Hall of Fame with an exhibit entitled 'Kenny Rogers: Through the Years' documenting his incredible career - added: "Lionel can't write unless he has the pressure to write. ... He went in there to kinda get away from everything and to focus."
'Lady' went on to become one of Kenny's biggest hits, reaching number on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart as well as topping the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts.

Taylor Swift is to perform at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The global superstar, 24, will take to the stage at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 24, but is remaining tight-lipped on what track she'll sing.
The 'Red' hitmaker, who already has two VMAs under her belt for Best Female Video in 2009 and 2013, made the announcement last night (13.08.14) on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.'
The blonde beauty - who has performed at the event three times in the past - will join already-announced acts Ariana Grande, Usher, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Maroon 5 and Rita Ora on stage for a performance at this year's ceremony.
Meanwhile, Beyoncé is set for a busy night at the bash as she leads the nominations with eight nods - including Video of the Year and Best Female - while Eminem and Iggy are right behind her with seven.
Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Jay Z, Pharrell Williams, Lorde, Jason Derulo, Pitbull, Sam Smith and Hayley Williams have also received multiple nominations.
The MTV Video Music Awards will air on MTV UK on August 25 at 9pm.