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Yorkshire Post •

Katie Melua: It is essential to take risks and to give women an opportunity to work

Since becoming a mother in her late 30s, her life has shifted from the cyclical nature of “album, tour, repeat” to each day offering something new with her son. “I didn’t really want to take risks in the past,” she admits. “The way I understand now, it’s essential to take risks and also to give women an opportunity to work, no matter where they are in their lives.”A lot has changed for Melua in recent years, including getting divorced, meeting her new partner, writing an album and welcoming her...
The Independent •

Culture Secretary says she is prepared to take action on ‘cultures of silence’

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said she is “prepared to take further action” if the creative industries cannot address “cultures of silence and issues being swept under the rug” in relation to claims of misconduct.Appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Ms Nandy spoke about recent questions of behaviour, including those around MasterChef host Gregg Wallace, who has stepped back from the hit cooking show as production company Banijay UK investigates allegations of mi...
Yorkshire Post •

Gok Wan on creating a charity single for his late best friend: I had to do something to keep her legacy alive

“And when she passed away, I knew that I had to do something to keep her legacy alive. I knew that I had to do something which was going to help other people.He believes she would probably tell him off for adding another project to his plate, but also feels she is cheering him on. “She was fun and bright and ballsy,” he says. “Oh my god, she had more nerve than anybody else in the world that I’ve ever met.“But at the same time, in contradiction to that, she was also really shy and insecure and u...
The Irish News •

Unbelievable: Rag ‘n’ Bone Man on creating his ‘joyful’ third album, What Do You Believe In?

“WHAT do you believe in?” pleads Rag ’n’ Bone Man on the title track of his upcoming album.

The 39-year-old singer-songwriter, real name Rory Graham, has been on a rollercoaster ride trying to work this out for himself over the years. He has become a father, got married, separated and has now found love again with his partner, Zoe.

Staying true to form, his upcoming third record sees him bare his soul as he works through these complex feelings of loss, hope, love and – ultimately – joy.

“I ca...
Belfast Live •

Gary Lightbody opens up on Snow Patrol's evolution and his own personal journey

Snow Patrol have been on quite a journey for the last 30 years. From their early years forming as a student band in Dundee, to creating hits which have become beloved across the world. The line-up has evolved since its formation in the 1990s, but the most major change came last year when long-term band members drummer Jonny Quinn and bassist Paul Wilson announced their departure. The remaining trio of Northern Ireland-born musicians Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid were left h...
Kent Live •

Kent winner talks about life after BGT ahead of debut album release

Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. The 2024 BGT winner talks life after the show and the challenges she faced trying to break into the West End ahead of the release of her debut album. After years of stepping out on stage in character, Kent's Sydnie Christmas took on one of her most daring roles yet ea...
The Independent •

Dynamic pricing to be examined by European Commission amid Oasis ticket furore

Surge pricing based on demand is set to be examined by the European Commission amid a backlash to Oasis concert prices soaring due to the practice.Some fans of the rock band were shocked by standard tickets for their reunion tour more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster last weekend, prompting the Government and the UK’s competition watchdog to pledge they will look into the use of dynamic pricing.Ticketmaster has said it does not set concert prices and its website states this is dow...
The Independent •

Hundreds file complaints over advertising of Oasis tickets after surge pricing

Hundreds of people have officially complained about how Oasis tickets were advertised after prices for the band’s reunion tour soared due to dynamic pricing.After some fans were left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster due to demand, the Culture Secretary pledged to look into the use of surge pricing in its forthcoming Government review of the secondary gig sales market.Many fans also missed out on the reunion tour tickets as they battled with website...
Yorkshire Post •

Corinne Bailey Rae's latest album and Mercury nomination: 'So much of the feeling was freedom, musically and personally'

“I really like to read and I like libraries, but being in a hallowed library in that way and it being a black library, that was a first experience for me,” says singer Corinne Bailey Rae, 45, as she reflects on her first encounter with the Stony Island Arts Bank. “All of these books were about black stuff and I couldn’t believe. I didn’t realise the volume of literature that’s been made on those subjects, so even that was just incredible to see.”The Leeds-born artist first dug through the trove...
The Independent •

Keith Duffy of Boyzlife on getting back on tour: We know most of our fans so it’s a much more intimate show

“If you would have told me 30 years ago when I started in this business that I’d still be in a boyband when I was nearly 50 I would have said ‘Nooo'”, admits 49-year-old Irish singer Keith Duffy.“But I’m looking forward to getting back on the road again. We love what we do and the fact that we still have an audience to play to and people still want to see us – we’re very grateful.”Duffy, who rose to fame in the Irish boyband Boyzone in the 1990s, has been performing alongside fellow Irish star B...
The Independent •

Pixie Lott on being vulnerable on her new album: I hope going to those places can help people feel a bit less alone

It’s been a busy decade for Pixie Lott. While the singer took a step back from releasing new music, she used the time to add a plethora of strings to her bow.From starring in a West End play and becoming a coach on The Voice Kids UK, to getting married and having her first child – she has pushed herself personally and professionally.For the past five years, she has been diving into how these experiences have shaped her life, and from that self-reflection she has created her fourth studio album,...
The Independent •

Dana Gillespie: Music is still my last love, in between there’s loads of guys who have come and gone

Counting music titans Davie Bowie, Bob Dylan and Morrissey among those you have rubbed shoulders with over the years is not a feat many have achieved. And while British singer and actress Dana Gillespie is among those who have worked with and called these men friends, she remains a largely undiscovered secret of the music industry.Born in 1949 and raised in London during a period of artistic rebellion, Gillespie began her recording career as a teenager aged 15. By the late 60s she began releasin...
The Independent •

The Vamps’ Bradley Simpson on marking 10 years since their debut album: We’ve felt so lucky to have each other

Performing alongside your best friends in a chart-topping band is a dream many have aspired to, but have not been able to turn into a reality. Even fewer have weathered the storms of the industry together for more than a decade.After finding each other on the internet back in the early noughties, The Vamps have survived trends, the introduction of streaming and the pressures of growing up in the spotlight.The foursome – consisting of Bradley Simpson, Connor Ball, Tristan Evans and James Brittain...
The Independent •

Jon Bon Jovi: When you write truth, people find that’s their story too

Perseverance. It’s a necessary quality to survive many of life’s major challenges, but you’ll likely need a double dose to withstand the ruthless nature of the music industry.Thankfully for Jon Bon Jovi, he fostered this steadfast attitude in the early days of his career when he had to power through his first song Runaway being rejected by countless studios and his rock band roaming the streets of New Jersey playing local bars and clubs hoping for a break.Their first two albums, the self-titled...
The Independent •

Jared Leto: It’s important to protect creative people, to protect artists

Jared Leto is not one to do things by half measures. From his dramatic on-screen transformations to his extravagant red-carpet looks, the Hollywood star tends to go all in, especially when it comes to his art.So when it came to creating new material for his band Thirty Seconds To Mars, maybe it should not have been a surprise that he and his brother Shannon created about 200 songs during lockdown.The collection went on to become their sixth album, It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful D...
The Independent •

Frank Turner: Surviving to the point of doing 10 albums – it didn’t just fall out of the sky

Spending more than 25 years on the road touring is an impressive feat for any artist, but to be on your way to your 3,000th gig by your early forties is nearly incomprehensible.Punk-folk musician Frank Turner started raking up the miles in his spirited, teenage days when he began gigging aged 16 at local venues. He later graduated to playing festivals and arenas, becoming notorious for his relentless touring schedule and high-octane performances, often alongside his backing band The Sleeping Sou...
The Independent •

Lil Nas X: I’m most excited to see what I do next

Lil Nas X has been making waves since he rode in on his horse five years ago by harnessing the power of the internet to create viral hits, while also disrupting genres and gender norms in his wake.After dropping out of college to focus on his music, the Atlanta-born rapper and singer had been watching social media trends and spotted an opportunity when the unusual mix of country tropes and hip-hop beats started gaining popularity.He wrote some catchy lyrics, bought a 30 US dollar (£23.59) beat o...
The Independent •

Olly Murs: I had a long time to be selfish but now my wife and baby come first

Olly Murs has not slowed down much since we first saw him belt his heart out on The X Factor back in 2009.Over the last 15 years, he has released seven hit albums, toured worldwide, and appeared on what feels like every entertainment show Britain has to offer. But he may be about to embark on his busiest period yet as he will have to juggle touring alongside Take That with his latest venture – fatherhood.“I’ve always dreamt I’d be a dad one day and having a little baby in my arms that is part of...
BreakingNews.ie •

Jess Glynne: I feel like I have been misunderstood and that’s something I don’t want to continue in my career | BreakingNews.ie

“I’m not here to say sorry, I’m not here to say nothing, I’m just here to be me”, Jess Glynne’s soulful voice croons in the intro of her new album.

After a challenging few years personally and professionally, spent mostly out of the spotlight, the Grammy-winning singer is ensuring everyone is clear over her intention as she returns to the stage – to be unapologetically herself.

“I feel like I have been misunderstood and I think that’s something that I don’t want to continue in my career,” the...
The Independent •

Akon on the future of the music industry: I think AI is going to actually make the experience better

With 20 years in the music industry under his belt, Akon has learnt that embracing the future is the only way forward.The Senegalese-American singer rose to fame with his 2004 debut album Trouble, which soared to number one in the UK charts thanks to hits like Lonely and Locked Up. He continued to evolve his style and has garnered fans along the way with his blend of R&B, hip-hop and African rhythms within his music.In recent years, he has increasingly focused on development projects in Africa a...
Yorkshire Post •

'I don’t live in the past': 'Queen of Funk' Chaka Khan on her career ahead of Meltdown festival

If you are ever in a rut, a near surefire way to get back in the groove is to queue up a string of Chaka Khan’s empowering anthems. Her powerful vocals have enlivened many dancefloors, garnered her a legion of fans and earned her the title of the “Queen of Funk”.“The only thing I am really interested in is what’s happening in the moment, that’s all we own is this moment right now, and what’s going to happen next, how it’s going to affect what I do next, or what happens to me next.”It will featur...
The Independent •

Madonna urges fans to unite in ‘light and love’ as tour opens in London

Madonna urged her fans to unite in “light and love” to help bring peace to the Middle East and the world during the opening night of her Celebration Tour.After overcoming a brief technical issue which paused the show, the US superstar delivered a spectacle for the ages at The O2 in London on Saturday, treating thousands of adoring fans to more than 40 songs from her four-decade career, a host of extravagant outfits and a variety of theatrical stage set-ups.The Queen of Pop also ensured the first...
The Independent •

Disinformation and dishonesty ‘has created the need for pure impartiality’

The chief executive of BBC News and Current Affairs has said “the disinformation and dishonesty” in society has created the need for “pure impartiality” within news organisations.Deborah Turness reflected on the role of impartiality within news outlets alongside GB News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos and Sky News UK’s managing director and executive editor Jonathan Levy during a panel discussion at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Conference on Thursday.Ms Turness said she feels the...
The Independent •

Culture Secretary tells media bosses to review processes in wake of Brand claims

The Culture Secretary has said work places should not “allow possible abuses of power” as she called on media industry leaders to look at the culture and processes in their organisations.During her keynote speech at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Cambridge Conference on Wednesday, Lucy Frazer addressed the allegations raised against comedian Russell Brand, describing the claims as “deeply shocking”.Brand has been accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, when he was...
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