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Avril Lavigne Grateful For Freedom
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Collaborations, Industry News, Upcoming Releases, Pop,
Avril Lavigne is grateful for the freedom she was given by L.A. Reid. The "What the Hell" hitmaker was given her first record contract by the American Idol judge when he worked for Arista and she is pleased he allowed her to write her own material.
"L.A. Reid is the man. My experience was he signed me, he believed in me, he got me. He always gave me my freedom to be who I was, to make the type of record I wanted to. On my first album, I was so young - I was 16 when I was making it. Everyone figured that people would write songs for me, and I was like, 'No, I want to write my own music.' It was so different from anything that was out there. L.A. was like, 'She's onto something. Just let her do her thing.' So it was great."
Avril admits she found it difficult working away from the music boss and feels "re-inspired" after signing a deal with Epic Records, the label now headed up L.A.. She added in an interview with WWD, "Later on down the road we got separated when he moved to another record company, and other people came in and took over. It was difficult for me, especially on my last record, working with all these random people that really didn't even understand me at the record company. And now I get to be back with him, and it's exciting again. I'm totally re-inspired. When you're writing and creating, you can't have these businesspeople come in and try to be all business. [L.A.] finds a balance between business and creative, and he's really good at not making it weird or interfering in the creative process."
Gallery: Avril Lavigne Grateful For Freedom
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The Killers’ Rock’n'roll Album
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Upcoming Releases, Pop, Rock,
The Killers' forthcoming album will contain "more of a rock 'n' roll element."
The "Somebody Told Me" rockers are set to release a new record later this year and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. insists "there will be some curveballs" on the follow-up to 2008's Day & Age: "There's definitely more of a rock'n'roll element than last time. It's intrinsic to the band. It's the lifeblood of the band. The last record was sort of great in a lot of ways in that we just experimented, and we didn't take it lightly by any means, but we did things in a different way. This one's just four dudes making music."
The group - who are also made up of singer Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer - are in no rush to put out their next record - expected for later this year - because they have "a lot" of material to choose from.
"It's hard to tell exactly which way it's going, because it's not done yet, but I can already tell it's not very similar to our last one. We've got a lot of stuff to choose from now, so we're taking our time to make sure we get it right. Who knows what it'll sound like? The main thing is, we just want it to be great," Ronnie added to NME magazine.
Gallery: The Killers’ Rock’n'roll Album
Taylor Swift Writing About ‘Earth-Shattering Heartbreak’
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Upcoming Releases, Country, Pop,
Taylor Swift's next album will be about her "earth-shattering heartbreak."
The "Love Story" singer has been taking solace in her songwriting after another unlucky episode in love, although, as with her previous confessional songs, she won't name who exactly who they are aimed at. Taylor - who has dated Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner, and John Mayer and broke up with actor Jake Gyllenhaal in January last year - told Vogue, "There's just been this earth-shattering, not recent, but absolute crash-and-burn heartbreak, and that will turn out to be what the next album is about. The only way that I can feel better about myself - pull myself out of that awful pain of losing someone - is writing songs about it to get some sort of clarity."
Taylor, 22, has recently said she's keen to pursue a different musical direction to the country-pop of her first three records on her next album: "I think my goal for the next couple of years would be to make departures in little ways and do things a little differently. And to try to maintain a balance between always providing your fans with what they've always liked from you and continuing to write all my own songs. I'd love to make collaborations in different directions that aren't exactly expected."
Gallery: Taylor Swift Writing About ‘Earth-Shattering Heartbreak’
Lady Gaga Plans to Release Album
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Upcoming Releases, Pop,
Lady Gaga is planning to release a new album this year. The "Born This Way" hitmaker is hoping to keep her cycle of touring and recording going and is planning to follow up last year's Born This Way with another album in 2012.
"I just want to keep going. I'm not as goal obsessed as I am process obsessed. I just want to keep writing music. I'm looking forward to putting out another album and going on tour. I feel very blessed to be an artist who gets to make a living doing from what I love."
Gaga also told how she sees each of her records as like her own children. When asked if she wanted to become a mother, she replied, " Someday - long, long day from now. My next baby will be my new record."
Gaga released Born This Way in May last year and staged The Monster Ball Tour between November 2009 and May 2011, and since that wrapped is thought to have been working on new material.
Gallery: Lady Gaga Plans to Release Album
Florence Welch is Scared to Bare Her Soul
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Pop, Rock,
Florence Welch is scared about baring her soul on her albums. The Florence + the Machine singer admits her British upbringing makes it hard for her to write about her feelings in her songs.
"Like a lot of British people, I prefer sarcasm and irreverence. Wearing my heart on my sleeve - very frightening."
Florence admires songwriters who are honest in their lyrics or put messages into their songs, but it is something she finds difficult to do when creating her own tracks. However, she did include two songs on her acclaimed LP Ceremonials which have positive messages for her fans: "For someone so conflicted, who am I to give advice to anybody? It's such a funny, grandiose idea. I was thinking about positive messages on the record because I knew there would be kids listening. Like putting something in there that wasn't just for me, like "Heartlines" and "Spectrum," they're really earnest, saying don't be afraid of who you are and follow your heart."
Gallery: Florence Welch is Scared to Bare Her Soul
Rihanna Completes Loud Tour in London
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Concerts / Tours, Performances, Pop, R&B / Soul,
Rihanna completed her Loud Tour at London's The O2 venue last night. The "You Da One" singer finished her huge 98 date tour in the English capital, and thanked fans for all their support over the last year.
Before her encore of "Take A Bow," "Umbrella" and "We Found Love," she told the crowd, "I cannot believe this is the last show. It really sucks. I'm going to miss you all so f***ing much. This tour has been one of the best experiences of my life, I've grown so attached to you all - more than I ever thought I could be."
The Loud Tour ran from June to December and included dates in North and South America and Europe, including 11 nights in total in London, with the final three filmed for a live DVD. However, the tour was not without upset as the 23-year-old star had to cancel two dates in Sweden in November due to exhaustion.
The crowd last night included fellow pop singer Cheryl Cole, who was hugely impressed with Rihanna's singing. She tweeted afterwards, "Just left last #Loud concert. Amazing!! To put on 98 of the same shows like that and give your all takes something special. (sic)"
Click to continue reading Rihanna Completes Loud Tour in London
Gallery: Rihanna Completes Loud Tour in London
Drake Excited About Justin Bieber Track
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Upcoming Releases, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop,
Justin Bieber and Drake will record together next month. The "Find Your Love" rapper is "excited" about collaborating with 17-year-old singing sensation Justin for a track to go on his forthcoming third album, Believe.
"Me and Justin are going in the studio in January to work on his new album, so I'm excited about that. That's definitely gotta be one of the most talented kids doing music right now," Drake told a crowd on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Justin previously revealed Drake would be among a number of "cool" artists he had lined up to work on his next record: "I'm working with a lot of cool people. I'm working with Kanye. Drake is gonna work on the album with me and a lot of different artists."
While Justin is pleased with the stars who will feature on his next album, he has previously admitted he would most like to record a track with his girlfriend, Disney starlet Selena Gomez: "Maybe I'd sing with Selena, I've heard all of her new stuff and it's amazing. I would also love to work with Will.i.am as well as Jay-Z on a cool, fun record."
Gallery: Drake Excited About Justin Bieber Track
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A 31-year-old man Spanish man has been arrested over the leak of a new Madonna track. The suspect, identified only by the initials J.M.R., was arrested in the city of Zaragoza in northern Spain yesterday then subsequently charged and released, according to a police statement.
The leaked song, "Gimme All Your Love," surfaced online in November, greatly upsetting the singer and her team, with manager Guy Oseary urging fans to help track down the person responsible. He tweeted at the time, "Madonna told me this morning 'my true fans wouldn't do this'- whoever is responsible for this leak, we ask that you please stop (sic)! I'm very happy with the positive reaction to the demo, but we are very upset with whoever leaked the song!!!!!!!! (sic) We are asking that the fans please help us police any more leaks. We have a lot in store for you, but please respect the process (sic)."
Lawyers working for Madonna traced the leaked track to Spain and police said they found recordings of the song in a search of the suspect's belongings.
(FYI - You can also follow Albumista on Twitter.)
Gallery: Man Arrested Over Madonna Leak
Adele Starts Preparing For Comeback
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Performances, Rumors, Pop,
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Adele has reportedly started "basic vocal training" in preparation for her comeback.
The "Someone Like You" singer underwent surgery on her vocal cords for a benign polyp earlier this year, forcing her to cancel a string of concerts in America and England, but she is now on the road to recovery and expected to start singing live again in 2012.
"She has time off in her schedule for much of the first quarter of 2012. Depending on how her voice builds back up, she might go to this medical vocal academy in Seoul. It sounds extreme, but she wouldn't be the first artist to go there after removing polyps," a source said.
As part of her continuing recovery, the singer will have a quiet Christmas at home with her mother, and is cutting back on alcohol and partying. "She's not going out raving or drinking. It's going to be really quiet," the source added.
Click to continue reading Adele Starts Preparing For Comeback
Gallery: Adele Starts Preparing For Comeback
Madonna to Perform At the Super Bowl
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Performances, Rumors, Pop,
Madonna has been confirmed to perform at the Super Bowl XLVI Half Time Show in February.
The "Frozen" singer will play during the break in the NFL final, a highly coveted slot which achieves some of the highest TV ratings annually. Madonna will work on a special stage show with the team behind the Cirque du Soleil modern circus shows.
"The Material Girl has partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory, to create a signature performance for the Super Bowl's Half Time Show, which will be broadcast worldwide," a statement on her site read.
The show will take place at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on February 5, around the same time Madonna will release her new album, and it has been rumored she will preview her new single at the event. It has been claimed the singer beat off competition from Lady Gaga to land the gig.
When Madonna heard Gaga was in the frame, she knew she had to step up her efforts. She is going to deliver the kind of show never seen before in NFL history," a source said."
Gallery: Madonna to Perform At the Super Bowl
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