Music News

Pharrell Williams can't control his own success.
The 'Happy' hitmaker - whose single was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards this year - insists he cannot control how well a track does since it's down to fans, and whether or not they purchase and share the tune.
Pharrell said: "Success means the people voted, they requested, they shared it with a friend, they purchased it, they downloaded it. And they did it in large numbers. That is what success means. I have nothing to do with that. I can only control what I do."
The 40-year-old musician admits he used to think differently and measure happiness against success but understands it can be detrimental to focus on success, and get "hooked".
Pharrell added to Red Bulletin magazine: "When I was young, yeah, I looked at it differently, because I looked at a lot of people who quantified their happiness by how successful they were. And, nobody wants to work really hard and not get recognised for it.
"You want to be appreciate for your work. But there is a fine line between appreciating your work and doing super well and you getting hooked on that. If you get hooked on success you're screwed."

Sarah Harding has wanted to launch a solo career for a "long time".
The 32-year-old star was catapulted to the spotlight alongside Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh in Girls Aloud and since the band split last year the blonde beauty thinks it's the "right time" for her forge her own legacy in the music industry.
Quizzed on whether it's daunting going solo, she said: "Yeah of course! But it something that I have wanted to do for a long time and I think now is the right time (hopefully!). "
Sarah - who is performing a showcase gig at the O2 Academy Islington, north London on March 26 - will miss the "banter" she shared with her former bandmates and the support they gave each other during performances.
She added in an interview with BANG Showbiz: "[I will miss] being part of a team and having them there to back you up on stage and the banter! "
The star is working on penning tracks and is excited about getting her teeth into aspects of the music industry which she wasn't able to explore during her time in the band.
Sarah added: "I think so! I'm doing a lot more writing now. Whilst in the group I didn't get much chance."

Example is in talks to work with Olly Murs and One Direction.
The singer-and-rapper has exchanged conversations with both Olly and 'Little Things' hitmakers Harry Styles and Liam Payne about working on new music together.
He said: "I'm up for working with Olly Murs. I've spoken to him about writing for him.
"One Direction, I had a good chat with Liam and Harry at the BRITs. I'd love to do something with them."
As well as working with pop stars, Example, 31, is eager to try his hand at collaborating with dance acts such as BRIT Award winners Rudimental.
He added: "On the flip side, I love underground dance acts Disclosure, Rudimental, Klaxons..."
The 'Kids Again' star also feels he has grown up since tying the knot with Australian model-and-actress Erin McNaught in May 2013.
He explained to Britain's Star magazine: "I'm not too bothered trying to be cool any more.
"Rock bands, when they're younger, are like, 'F**k him, f**k them, they're not cool, they're too mainstream.' Then, as you get older, they lighten up, they get married, and have kids, and they're just hugging and smiling at everyone. I think I'm doing the same."

Taylor Momsen wants to write a song with Noel Gallagher.
The Pretty Reckless singer is a self-confessed Oasis fan and previously met Noel's brother and former bandmate Liam but claims she is dying to collaborate with the 'AKA... What a Life!' singer after covering his old band's hit 'Supersonic' on tour.
She said: "I'd love to write a song with Noel Gallagher, I'm a massive Oasis fan. It would be awesome, Noel is an amazing songwriter. I've met Liam a couple times, he's super cool, he's totally the real deal, exactly how you'd want him to be, but I've not met Noel yet."
Taylor also hopes Oasis, who split in 2009 after Noel and Liam had a huge backstage argument, will one day reform and the 20-year-old star admits her band's cover of the their song wasn't always well-received by fans at their live shows.
She continued: "We used to cover 'Supersonic' [in our set] and thought everyone would flip out over it. We mixed it with 'Time Is Running Out' [by Muse] and put it together. We thought everyone would go nuts, but it was kind of 50/50 when we hit the UK, whether they loved it or hated it."
The singer, whose band have just released their second album 'Going To Hell', would also like to play with American rock band Soundgarden.
She added: "I'm dying to play with Soundgarden, or play at a festival with them, which I think we are doing."

Suggs has started writing songs for a new Madness album.
The 53-year-old singer has revealed the band are heading into the studio this summer to start recording their 11th studio LP.
Suggs has rediscovered his passion for songwriting and has been finding lyrical inspiration from the people he meets in his life.
Speaking about the album, Suggs told BANG Showbiz: "We're about to start (working on it), I've started writing some songs actually for the first time in a couple of years, I've been doing this one man show and I'll be doing that again for two months in April and May, so I'm trying to write some songs now so I've got something to do with the band. I keep getting caught up in other things when the band are writing albums and I've just been throwing in scraps that have had hanging around for years. So I want it to be different this time.
"I've always written about characters and I've been trying to think about people in my life .. I've always written like that. Someone once said that the band made folk music and we were f***ing horrified, but then you realise the songs are about folk, you're own folk."
Suggs says fans of the ska band can expect the album to come out near the end of 2014 and Madness will definitely be touring the record in December.
Suggs revealed: "It will probably be out at the end of the year and regardless of how albums sell these days - and our albums don't sell too bad we kind of make a bit of money from our albums still - the plan is we're going to do a big tour around Christmas time. The main thing is you're doing new stuff, the people know you're doing new stuff and it keeps the whole thing alive and keeps you alive."
The musician hosted 'An Evening with Suggs' at Porchester Hall in London on Thursday night (20.03.14) to raise money for charity Pancreatic Cancer UK with a line-up that included himself, The Who singer Roger Daltrey with Wilko Johnson and Jools Holland.
Suggs - who lost his sister-in-law to the disease - was joined on stage for a rousing rendition of Prince Buster song 'Madness' by Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko and pianist Jools.
Wilko was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in January 2013 and has already lived five months longer than doctors predicted and Suggs paid tribute to him at the start of the fundraising evening.
Addressing the guests, the 'Our House' singer said: "The most remarkable thing about this evening is that Wilko Johnson is appearing on stage - I'm sure you all know the gig he played here last year was supposed to have been one of his last ... God bless him that he is still around, and we're all very pleased he is. For most people who contract pancreatic cancer they only live for about four months."

Sarah Harding played her first solo gig at London's Kensington Palace last night (20.03.14).
The former Girls Aloud singer performed two new tracks and her old band's hit 'Promises' at the charity event to celebrate Street Child's fifth birthday.
The 32-year-old star wore a stunning £40,000 full-length gown by Yuvna Kim for the acoustic set and admitted she was nervous about stepping out on her own without her old band mates - Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts.
Ahead of the show, Sarah exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I'm excited but nervous. I'm laying my soul out to bare, it's all very stripped back as well, I'm jumping in the deep end."
The blonde beauty, who has been working on her new tracks with DJ boyfriend Mark Foster, realises there will be people who are critical of her decision to go it alone but it hasn't stopped her.
She explained: "You can't please everyone, there's always going to be critics out there. Over the years you learn self-acceptance is the key. If you can enjoy what you're doing, regardless, then that will come across to everyone else.
"There will be a minority, or a majority, probably, waiting for me to fail, you do feel like you've got a lot to prove [but] I always want to prove it to myself first."
Sarah will head to Africa later this year with Street Child, which creates opportunities for children to go to school in some of the world's poorest countries.
She added: "I can't wait to go to Africa. The work that goes into helping these people and guys giving them opportunities in life. How can you not get involved in something like that?"
Donations to the charity for the next three months will be matched by the Government as part of the 'Every Child in School' campaign.
Sarah will perform a showcase gig at O2 Academy Islington on Wednesday (26.03.14) and hopes to release her album later this year.

Iggy Pop says he would rather be eaten by a shark than die in an old people's home.
The 66-year-old Stooges frontman "seriously" hates the idea of entering into "assisted living" as a pensioner and claims he would prefer to be eaten alive by a shark.
Iggy told Playboy magazine: "I have a beach house in the Cayman Islands, where there are sharks. When I go swimming I think, 'Boy, a shark attack would solve a lot of problems'.
"I seriously do not want to go into assisted living or a nursing home, so I'm hoping for a shark attack. That would be good."
Iggy's comments come after Stooge's drummer Scott Asheton was found dead on Sunday (16.03.14).
Scott - who retired from the band temporarily in 2011 after a stroke, but returned for their 2013 album 'Ready to Die' - died aged 64 due to an unspecified illness.
Scott formed The Stooges in 1967 with his older brother, guitarist Ron, who passed away in 2009, bassist Dave Alexander and Iggy, real name Jim Osterberg.
Iggy said: "Scott was a great artist, I have never heard anyone play the drums with more meaning than Scott Asheton. He was like my brother. He and Ron have left a huge legacy to the world. The Asheton's have always been and continue to be a second family to me."
Meanwhile, Iggy has began a new role as a host on BBC 6 Music where he is covering Jarvis Cocker's Sunday afternoon spot while the Pulp singer is on hiatus.

Kate Bush has announced her first live shows since 1979. The legendary British singer will play a 15 night residency, entitled 'Before The Dawn', at London's Hammersmith Apollo throughout August and September, with the first gig kicking off August 26...

Kylie Minogue's next tour will be more "streamlined".
The 'Into the Blue' singer is known for her show-stopping, lavish tours, but she has now decided to strip back the production on her upcoming 'Kiss Me Once' Tour and has taken inspiration from the intimate feel of her own house.
She explained: "I'm currently obsessed with this kind of 1970s, soft-focus sexiness - I mean, I'm on the verge of putting a brown-orange sofa and maybe an orange lamp in my house.
"My shows have a reputation for being over-the-top, but I really want this one to be more streamlined, with more of that vibe.
"There will probably still be glitter and feathers. I just definitely don't think bigger is necessarily."
The pint-sized star parted ways with her manager of 25 years, Terry Blamey, last year to join Jay Z's Roc Nation, and she claims it was the "perfect time" to switch management teams.
Kylie, 45, told the Metro newspaper: "I used to joke with Terry that they might as well pickle us, we'd worked together so long. So to change was a big deal but it was totally harmonious. It was the perfect time to wrap it up."