OHMYGOSSIP — Noah Kahan felt like “the least cool guy” at the Grammy Awards.
The ‘Stick Season’ hitmaker – who had viral success with the hit last year -took his mother to the star-studded bash earlier this month and has admitted he didn’t feel “deserving” or “worthy” to be in the same room as the likes of Taylor Swift and Beyonce, despite being nominated for Best New Artist.
He told The Guardian newspaper: “I was sitting by myself, like: ‘Whoa, I am the least cool guy at the party right now.’ My mom is killing it, everyone around me is killing it. It played into this idea that I have about myself – which isn’t healthy – that I don’t belong.”
The 27-year-old singer-songwriter has vowed to work on his impostor syndrome.
He laughed: “I could have gotten up and said hello to somebody – it’s my own making.
“It’s one of those things that I need to work on, finding out how to feel deserving and worthy.”
From a young age, the ‘Homesick’ star suffered from Depersonalisation Disorder – the experience of feeling unreal, detached, and often, unable to feel emotion.
Despite being prescribed Prozac and having therapy, Noah still battles with the phenomenon.
He explained: “I feel like I’m floating above myself and I come to this sudden realisation that I don’t feel like I am in the world – it’s like living in a dream. I think, looking back, that’s probably the first manifestation of my depression and anxiety.”
Asked if he still experiences the disorder, he replied: “I do, when I’m really stressed out.”
Noah added: “It’s something I have to keep a constant watch over.”
Noah suffered a breakdown in his early 20s after trying to succeed in music but not making songs that were good enough in his eyes.
It led him into a spiral of “binge-eating, smoking weed, not sleeping enough” and Googling himself to see if he’d made it yet.
He recalled: “I was just so burnt out.
“I was in one of those deep downswing depression things, where you’re doing every single thing that’s going to make you feel [rubbish] but it’s the only thing that feels good. For me, it’s binge-eating, smoking weed, not sleeping enough, being on my phone all day and looking at my name online to see if anyone cares about me anymore.”
Noah found himself trying to cookie-cutter other songwriters’ hits and fell into a “dark place”, but fortunately his parents picked up on how he was acting and got him the help he needed.
He said of trying to copy others: “[It was] just a false existence where I felt like I was taking up space in the world and wasting my time. That was a dark place and my parents … I’ll never forget how kind and receptive they were to talking to me and letting me know that I was going to be OK – and getting me some help.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Usher has explained why Justin Bieber turned down his Super Bowl invitation.
The 45-year-old star was eager to have his 29-year-old former protege join him on stage for his Super Bowl half time performance last weekend but Usher revealed that Justin – who attended the game as a spectator – declined his request to join him on stage.
He told ‘The Breakfast Club’: “I think it might have just been that he’s just wanting to tell a different story right now, and I did understand that. We did have a brief conversation, and we’re gonna do something else in the future.
“No love lost or anything like that. It’s a lot of pressure for the Super Bowl, obviously, for me to put together a show. I reached out to everybody. Justin wasn’t the only person I spoke to about doing the Super Bowl, but the moment was maybe for later.”
However, Usher predicted: “[Bieber is] going to play the Super Bowl… I’ll go ahead and give you that for the future. I profess that over his life because he has a career that deserves it. It just didn’t happen, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to.”
Usher played a major role in the launch of Justin’s career in the late 2000s after record executive Scooter Braun had spotted the teenager singing on YouTube and convinced the ‘Yeah!’ hitmaker to meet with the budding star.
He met Justin in 2009 and after being impressed by his voice, signed him to his label RBMG where he quickly released the megahit hit singles ‘One Time’, ‘One Less Lonely Girl’, ‘Baby’ and the multi-million selling album ‘My World 2.0’.
Justin is the only artist to ever have been signed to the label as of 2024 and RBMG also has a special profit-sharing business deal with Def Jam, which is owned by Def Jam Recordings, which is owned by Universal Music Group.

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — The Stone Roses never recorded a new album during their reunion because “no one” wanted to make it.
The ‘I Am The Resurrection’ indie rock legends released their self titled debut LP in 1989 before dropping the follow-up ‘Second Coming’ five years later in 1994, but a third record never materialised, even after Ian Brown, John Squire, Mani and Reni got back together in 2011.
The band did release two singles in 2016, ‘All for One’ and ‘Beautiful Thing’, to a muted response.
Asked about the lack of new record in the six years they were back together, John told Guitarist magazine: “Well, no one wanted to do it – so it turned out to not be that frustrating at all.”
The 61-year-old musician admitted if the group had recorded a third album, he thinks his own guitar playing would have been much better by this stage in his life.
He pondered: “Probably more measured and respectful. I wish I hadn’t overdone the guitar on that second album.
“With this record [with Liam Gallagher], I’ve tried to keep out of the way of the vocal.
“This is a better guitar performance than the other records – and it should be, given the amount of years I’ve been playing.”
When it comes to areas he could improve as a guitarist, he candidly admitted he’s always picking holes in his own skills.
He said: “All of them. I’m driven by failure. When I listen to my stuff, I tend to focus on the imperfections.”
However, there are still certain “tricks” and techniques he falls back on even now, and he’s noticed now other guitarists embrace the same skills decades later.
He explained: “That choppy thing I do [plays the ‘Resurrection’ outro], I’m still doing that.
“I was in LA and this guy came running up and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re here! I modelled my whole guitar style after you! I bought a Gretsch Country Gentleman and I do that funky thing.’
“I’m still using that trick and probably a lot of others.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Vampire Weekend has announced a 2024 tour.
The rock band – comprised of Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, and Chris Tomson – will embark on a new North American tour in April in support of their upcoming album ‘Only God Above Us’.
The album is set for release on April 5, three days before the band kicks off their tour in Austin, Texas on April 8.
They will make stops in more than 35 cities including Los Angeles, Berkeley, Seattle, Cincinnati, Toronto, Boston, New York and Atlanta, before returning to Austin for a final show on October 17.
Guests will include LA LOM, the English Beat, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mike Gordon, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Ra Ra Riot, Princess featuring Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum, Cults, a DJ Set By Mark Ronson, Turnstiles and the Brothers Macklovitch.
Koenig, Baio, and Tomson recorded the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Father of the Bride’ in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo.
Koenig produced the album with Ariel Rechtshaid, and it was mixed by Dave Fridmann and mastered by Emily Lazar.
Koenig wrote most of the lyrics for ‘Only God Was Above Us’ in 2019 and 2020 and the band took the title from a newspaper headline featured in the 1988 photograph ‘Subway Dream 11’ by Steven Siegel.
The photograph is also being used as the album cover.

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Kesha has claimed she is still not “free” to release new music.
The 36-year-old singer departed Dr Luke’s Kemosabe – which is distributed by RCA Records – in December, six months after her long-running legal battle with the producer came to an end and while she is excited about her “brand new and very exciting chapter”, she admitted she’s still counting the days until fans can hear her first new work since her 2023 LP ‘Gag Order’.
She told V magazine: “There is a day – although I won’t say the day – but there is a day marked on my calendar when I am free to release music.”
Asked what she wants to tell her fans, she added: “So just know that she is out here in the woods writing and singing till four in the morning, ferociously. I am being a feral wild woman out here. So just know that.”
The ‘Praying’ hitmaker insisted she is in a good place in her life right now.
She said: “I’ll say this: I’ve never felt happier, more excited, more at peace and had such a purpose in my entire life. And I feel like I have earned the right to be this happy for sure. So letting that be…I am loving every minute of what feels like a brand-new and very exciting chapter.”
The ‘Tik Tok’ hitmaker and music producer Dr. Luke, 50, had been locked in a legal dispute for years after she filed a lawsuit accusing him of drugging and raping her after a party in 2005, prompting the music executive- who denied the allegation – to file a defamation case.
But in June last year, they settled out of court after nearly 10 years, just weeks before they were set to go to trial.
The pair said in a joint statement shared on Kesha’s Instagram stories: “Kesha and Dr Luke have agreed to a resolution of the lawsuit, and have agreed to issue and post a joint statement regarding that resolution.”
It went on to give two separate statements from the pair.
Kesha, previously known as Ke$ha, said in her section of the post in white capital letters on a black background: “Only God knows what happened that night. As I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened.
“I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one.
“I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.”
Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, maintained his innocence in his statement below Kesha’s message.
He said: “While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened.
“I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone.
“For the sake of my family, I have vigorously fought to clear my name for nearly 10 years.
“It is time for me to put this difficult matter behind me and move on with my life. I wish Kesha well.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Gary Barlow wants to use virtual reality in Take That’s tour.
The ‘Patience’ hitmakers are set to embark on a six-month 72-date concert series in April in support of their current album ‘This Life’ and the 53-year-old singer is taking inspiration from the immersive technology used by U2 during their residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, which features a 160,000 sq ft LED screen wrapped around the auditorium.
Gary told the Sunday Mirror newspaper of seeing U2: “When the screen came on, 18,000 people breathed in. Things like the Sphere, or headsets and VR are going to move our music on.
“Imagine coming to our gig and everyone’s got those goggles on… that’s where I think the improvements are going to come.
“We’ve been listening to music a long time, then we had videos to accompany the music. What’s next? I think experiences are going to get bigger.”
Ahead of the tour, Gary joked he is the “class bore” compared to bandmates Mark Owen and Howard Donald, because he can’t handle late nights or partying like they can.
He added: “I want to be 150% on stage. The others are in better physical shape than me.”
Towards the end of last year, former ‘X Factor’ judge Gary teased that a Las Vegas residency was potentially on the cards.
Speaking at a live recording of their podcast ‘Take That: This Life’ at London’s Leicester Square, he said: “Las Vegas, it looks promising.”
And last month, Voltaire founder Michael Gruber confirmed he’d love to get the ‘Back for Good’ group to Sin City, even though previous talks had fallen through.
Michael told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “I love Take That. I absolutely want them to perform at Voltaire. It is perfect for them. We thought we would have a show but it didn’t work out in the end.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Steve Hackett wrote a new song after being inspired by a fever dream.
The Genesis guitarist takes a fantastical route on his new concept album ‘The Circus and the Nightwhale’, and he took inspiration from anywhere it sprung on him, particularly on the choral introduction to new track ‘Ghost Moon and Living Love’.
He told Prog magazine: “I dreamt that melody many years ago when I was recovering from [the often fatal] swamp fever. I heard this beautiful music that felt very healing.
“I was telling the story to [famed cover artist] Roger Dean, and he said, ‘I find that fascinating! Why don’t you record it?’
“I thought, ‘Are people really going to be interested in things I’ve literally dreamt?’ But it felt like a gift, something otherworldly I had to use sooner or later.”
Although his own life had an impact on the new collection, the 73-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer created a fictional protagonist called Travla to focus on.
He explained: “It’s the arc of a life that starts literally. Then it becomes metaphorical and we start to embrace story, not just little Stevie Hackett and his guitar exploits.”
He made sure to cast his net wide when it came to influences on the story, lyrics and music, with literary classics playing a key role.
He added: “I was considering the hero’s quest that life is. The changes we go through and the challenges we face.
“I’d also been thinking about Joseph Campbell’s [1949 book on mythical structure] ‘The Hero With A Thousand Faces’, and his take on what a life journey is.
“Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ comes into this album; ‘Pinocchio’ comes into it. It feels very special and personal, but I’ve tried to make it as inclusive as possible.”
He described the process of making the album – which he compared to “a film for the ear” – as “extraordinary”.
He said: “It’s been extraordinary making this record.
“I grew up in a time when music changed the world, and I’ve always felt the album can be a really powerful force. I really hope people enjoy listening to this one.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Paul McCartney has been reunited with a guitar which was stolen more than 50 years ago.
The Beatles legend was left devastated after the 1961 Hofner 500/1 bass guitar – used in the creation of many of the bands’ hits – was taken from the back of a van in London in October 1972 and in 2018, a major international search was launched for the missing instrument called The Lost Bass Project.
Now almost six years later, McCartney has finally got his guitar back. He confirmed the news in a statement posted on his website which read: ““Following the launch of … [The] Lost Bass Project, Paul’s 1961 Hofner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned,.
“The guitar has been authenticated by Hofner and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved.”
The search was launched in 2018 but was reinvigorated in 2023 when it gained extra publicity.
A message posted on The Lost Bass Project’s website revealed the instrument will need some repairs but is in mostly good condition.
The statement explained: “Finally, after so much searching and investigation, we have Paul’s Lost Bass back with him. Can you imagine how excited Paul was when he heard the news!
“The bass is complete and still with its original case. It will need some repairs to make it playable again, but a team of professionals can easily carry these out.”
The message explained the searchers had uncovered information about the theft, discovering the identity of the person who had stolen the guitar and then sold it to a pub landlord.
The instrument’s journey was then traced over the years until finally “someone living in a terraced house on the south coast of England” remembered they had an old bass guitar stored in their attic and realised its significance.
The statement added: “They got this out and realised just what they had. Within days it was back with Paul McCartney!”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Dua Lipa has men fighting over her in her music video for ‘Training Season’.
The 28-year-old pop star has dropped the latest track from her upcoming third studio album alongside a promo that sees the singer joined in a crowded cafe by the men who failed to “date her right” before things quickly transcend into chaos as they fight for her attention.
She said of the track in a statement: “I had been on a string of bad dates, and the last one was the final straw. The next morning I arrived to the studio to Caroline and Tobias asking me how it all went and I immediately declared ‘TRAINING SEASON IS OVER,’ and like the best ‘day after’ debriefs with your mates, we had a lot of laughs and it all quickly came together from there.”
She added: “And while it is obviously about that feeling when you are just absolutely done telling people…men specifically in this case, how to date you right; it is also about my training season being over and me growing with every experience. I have never felt more confident, clear or empowered. And while it may be that training season is never over for any of us, you start to see the beauty in finding that person to experience it with. You stop looking for the trainees and become more interested in having someone where you are and someone to grow with.”
So far fans have heard the lead single ‘Houdini’ and ‘Training Season’ from the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Future Nostalgia’, which is due out later this year, and saw Dua “digging deeper and deeper”.
Speaking on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards earlier this month, she told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “I feel like with every album, I get to grow more and learn more about myself and I become more free as a songwriter and as a performer and as an artist.
“So, this one, I’m just like digging deeper and deeper. I love it. I’m proud of this one.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Becky Hill and Chase and Status are set to bring a “celebration of drum and bass” to The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard.
The ‘Disconnect’ hitmaker and the drum and bass duo – comprising Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status) – are nominated for Best Dance Act and Group of the Year, respectively, at the upcoming ceremony on Saturday March 2 at London’s The O2 arena.
Becky is no stranger to the bash, having previously performed at The BRITs in 2023 alongside David Guetta.
She said: “I can’t wait to perform again on the BRITs and it’s been difficult trying to top flying from the ceiling of the O2 last year, but I’m excited about what we have planned for this year’s performance. I’ve been a fan of Chase and Status my whole life, so to have them on stage performing with me is going to be really special. It’s a real celebration of drum and bass – my favourite genre of music!”
Chase and Status said: “For us as producers and artists, being nominated for a BRIT is a special thing. It is a representation of where British music is at, at the highest level, so to be in that category is an honour. Also to be performing with Becky, a fellow BRIT nominee, is pretty special too.”
The latest addition to the lineup follows Nigerian Afrowave superstar Rema and Jungle being confirmed to take to the stage.
Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue and RAYE are also set to perform.
Nominations were announced last month, and nominees include Arlo Parks, Blur, Calvin Harris, Central Cee, Dave, Dua Lipa, Fred again.., Jessie Ware, J Hus, Little Simz, Olivia Dean, Mahalia, PinkPantheress, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, RAYE, The Rolling Stones, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Young Fathers.
The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard will be broadcast exclusively from 8.30pm on March 2 on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Billy Joel’s dream supergroup would include Don Henley, Sting and “maybe” John Mayer.
The ‘Piano Man’ has named the Eagles rocker, former Police frontman and the ‘Half of My Heart’ star as the musicians he’d recruit to form the ultimate all-star ensemble.
Howard Stern asked him: “Wouldn’t it have been great if George Harrison and Tom Petty had asked you to be in The Travelling Wilburys?”
The Travelling Wilburys, the legendary roots rock supergroup, comprised Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and the late George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.
However, Joel suggested: “Me, Don Henley and Sting. And maybe John Mayer on guitar.”
Asked why he never got around to forming the group, he replied: “Well, everybody’s busy.”
Stern then said Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney would make a good member.
However, Joel insisted: “He was in the super-est group of all-time. I don’t have the nerve to do that.”
But he did say his bandmate, Sir Ringo Starr, would be cool as the drummer.
Sting is supporting the ‘Uptown Girl’ hitmaker at some shows on his North American tour.
The 74-year-old star released ‘Turn the Lights Back On’, his first single in 17 years, earlier this month.
Joel explained the huge gap was because he had lost the “fun” of writing songs.
Speaking with his co-writer Freddy Wexler on ‘Audacy Check In’, he said: “It was fun. Music is fun. Rock n’ roll was fun. It was all about having fun — and I kind of lost that and I turned the lights off because it wasn’t fun anymore.”
The ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ hitmaker explained how other people encouraged him to get back into the studio but he “always resisted it”.
He added: “I studiously avoided it because songwriting had become painful. I have this high bar. I said to myself, ‘If I don’t reach that bar, I beat myself up and I punched myself and I hate myself.’ So, I stopped doing it because I got tired of feeling like that.”
But when he heard what Wexler was working on two years ago, his love for creating new music began to return.
He said: “The melody, the chords, the chord progression, even the time signature was something that struck me immediately, and that’s how I relate to music.
“This particular lyric in this song, I’ve had these thoughts, I could have written these lyrics verbatim. I’ve chewed on these words and I’ve thought of these words, and I’ve said these words before. It was all kind of falling into place — and who am I to fight that?”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Rod Stewart has sold the rights to his music and likeness to Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group for just under $100 million.
The 79-year-old rock legend – whose back catalogue includes the hits ‘Maggie May’, ‘Stay With Me’, ‘You Wear It Well’, ‘You’re in My Heart’, and ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ – feels that after six decades in the music business, it’s time to secure his legacy.
Rod told The Wall Street Journal: “This year marks my 60th year in the music industry. The time is right, and I feel fortunate to have found partners in Irving and his team at Iconic that I can entrust with my life’s work and future musical legacy.”
Irving Azoff, Chairman and CEO of Iconic, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of our time, Rod Stewart, to the Iconic family.
“Our new partnership with HPS provides us with the resources and flexibility to make blockbuster signings like this one and to continue the success of our legendary artists and their legacies.”
Scot French, Governing Partner at HPS, added: “Iconic has built an impressive platform and artist portfolio, and we are pleased to provide financing that will enable the company to further scale its business and advance its mission of championing the rights of musical talent.”
The deal comes after Rod cancelled a planned acquisition by Hipgnosis Songs Fund in June 2023.
The music veteran reportedly spent two years negotiating a deal with the company’s founder and CEO Merck Mercuriadis.
However, the ‘Handbags and Gladrags’ hitmaker decided that Hipgnosis – which has already bought the rights to music by Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber and Lindsey Buckingham – was not the right owner for his “life’s work”.
In a statement, he said: “This catalogue represents my life’s work.
“And it became abundantly clear after much time and due diligence that this was not the right company to manage my song catalogue, career or legacy.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Kylie Minogue is the latest headliner for American Express presents BST Hyde Park.
The ‘Padam Padam’ hitmaker will play the London landmark on Saturday, July 13, as part of the epic summer concert series in the British capital.
She said: “I can’t wait to return to BST Hyde Park this summer. My last appearance at this iconic event was in 2015 and it was a truly unforgettable experience. So excited to see you all again!”
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 21 at 10am GMT via www.bst-hydepark.com.
Country pop icon Shania Twain tops the bill on Sunday, July 7.
The Grammy winner will be joined by special guests The Corrs.
Shania said: “I’ve seen so many of my own musical heroes headlining at Hyde Park and have wonderful summer memories there. It is a real privilege to headline my own show this year.”
Stray Kids were also confirmed to headline.
The South Korean boy band – comprising Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. – will take to the stage on Sunday, July 14.
In a statement, the band said: “To all our UK STAYs – we cannot wait to see you at BST Hyde Park! This is our first time performing at a UK festival and it is such an honour to play in Hyde Park where so many legends have played before us. Come dance with us!”
Other headliners for the summer festival include opera star Andrea Bocelli on July 5 and ‘Rock DJ’ hitmaker Robbie Williams on July 6.
In 2023, some of the biggest names in music, including Pink, Guns N’ Roses, Take That, BLACKPINK, Bruce Springsteen, and the E Street Band, Billy Joel and Lana Del Rey play BST.

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Elton John is reportedly working on new music.
The 76-year-old pop legend recently wrapped up his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour and retired from performing after more than 50 years but insiders have now claimed that the ‘Candle in the Wind’ singer has been working on a “top secret” new album that could be released later this year.
A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “It’s all been very top secret but Elton is back in the studio working on a new album.
“Time frames are always movable but the fourth quarter has been pencilled in terms of a release date.
“He adores music and that will never change but the desire to be as busy as he was has waned.”
The insider added that Elton – who is married to David Furnish and has Zachary, 13, and 11-year-old Elijah – will still continue with his other ventures but just wants to spend more time with his family after such a mammoth world tour.
The source added: “Elton will still have a Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music and his finger is very much still on the pulse; he just wants to slow down a bit and spend the time with his family but the new album is coming.”
The ‘Crocodile Rock’ signer has released a total of 31 studio albums since beginning his career in the late 1960s and his latest record came in the form of ‘The Lockdown Sessions’ in 2021, on which he collaborated with Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj and Brandi Carlile.
That same year, he duetted with Dua Lipa on ‘Cold Heart’ and wrapped up the year by joining Ed Sheeran for the festive track ‘Merry Christmas’ before collaborating with Britney Spears on ‘Hold Me Closer’ in 2022.
The ‘Your Song’ hitmaker completed his 330-date tour in Sweden last July and told the audience that he may do “something else” in the to come but for the time being just wanted to enjoy a break.
He said: “I’ve had the most wonderful career, beyond belief.
“Fifty-two years of pure joy playing music. How lucky am I to play music?
“You know how much I love to play live. It’s been my lifeblood to play for you guys.
“You’ve been absolutely magnificent. I will never be touring again, but I may do something in the future — a one-off thing — but that’s miles away.
“I want to appreciate my family, my sons, my husband, everything. I’ve earned it.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Robert Plant has admitted he finds it hard to find the “words” to pen new lyrics.
The former Led Zeppelin frontman penned the lyrics in the iconic rock band, but these days, he struggles to know what to write about.
He told Rolling Stone: “I’ve got a Tascam digital recorder, and I sing, and I put the vocals through a guitar pedal, and then I record them on that over there, and it sounds great. Why bother to go to the studio? But I can’t find words. This is a very difficult time to try and wax lyrical out there.”
However, he’s vowed to keep making music.
He added: “For me, the continuum must keep going. Today, I was pulling all my lyric books out and going, ‘Gotta get the groove back. I’ve got something to say.’ So yeah, I’m going to keep going — as long as they’ve got effects machines that make me sound good.”
Elsewhere, the 75-year-old musician – who is set to embark on a tour with his collaborator Alison Krauss this summer – admitted it was “cathartic” performing Led Zeppelin classic ‘Stairway To Heaven’ again.
Plant jumped onstage in October at a charity concert for The Cancer Platform at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, which was hosted by Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, who has been undergoing treatment for stage 4 prostate cancer.
Before then, the last time he performed the 1971 hit was when the band performed at The O2 in London in 2007.
He said: “It was cathartic. People go, ‘Oh, that’s good. He never was going to do that.’ But I didn’t really do it! I just blurted it out. ‘Cause it’s such an important song to me for where I was at the time and where I was with Jimmy [Page] and with John [Paul Jones] and Bonzo [John Bonham]. So on that night, it was what it was. It was a trial by fire, but I felt better at the end than at the beginning.”
Asked about it potentially being his last performance of the song, he said: “Yeah, I think you’re probably right. I haven’t got around to doing the ice-skating rinks in Finland yet with a small orchestra. [Laughs] So I don’t think I’ll be doing that, but I don’t know. Who knows? Something could change somewhere. Spirit and heart could come back in the soul. It’s a long song. Who can remember all those words?”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Nigerian Afrowave superstar Rema and Jungle will be performing at The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard.
The two acts join already confirmed performers Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue and RAYE who will be taking to the stage at The O2 in London on Saturday March 2.
Both receive debut BRIT nominations this year; Jungle are nominated for Group of the Year, whilst Rema is up for International Song of the Year for his UK top five single ‘Calm Down’.
Speaking about his upcoming performance, Rema said: “I am honoured to be returning to The O2 to perform at The BRIT Awards this year.”
Whilst Jungle – comprised of Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland – said: “It’s an honour for us to be asked to perform at this year’s BRIT Awards. We’re really excited to be part of such an amazing showcase for British music.”
Benin City’s Rema has ascended to global superstar status. In 2023, Rema visited close to twenty-five European countries and countless States across America to perform, and he topped off the year with a sold-out headline show at The O2 Arena, his biggest concert to date.
He became the first African artist to have a billion streaming song on Spotify, won the first ever ‘Best Afrobeats’ award at the MTV VMAs and is now the longest-charting African artist in Billboard Top 100, as well receiving an entry in the Guinness Book Of World Records for being the first artist to hit number one in the MENA charts. As well as being a hit in the UK, ‘Calm Down’ reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and has gone Gold once, Diamond six times and Platinum nine times across the globe.
In other BRITs news, broadcasters and music tastemakers Yinka Bokinni and Jack Saunders are confirmed to present The BRITs’ Red Carpet from 7:30pm on ITV2 and The BRITs’ Aftershow, which is a brand new live switchover show for ITVX premiering immediately after the main show on ITV1 – a first for ITVX. The BRITs’ Red Carpet will bring viewers all the gossip from the iconic BRITs red carpet as celebrities and artists arrive for the big night. The BRITS’ Aftershow will bring backstage and unseen exclusives from the awards show – behind the scenes action from in and around the awards and exclusive interviews with artists and award winners; an indepth debrief and overview of all the glitzy action of the night.
Yinka said: “Hosting the nominations show, Bring on the BRITs, earlier this year was so amazing. It’s an honour to be back so soon and host the Red Carpet show for ITV2. A dream! Super excited to do this alongside my mate Jack Saunders too. I honestly can’t wait to catch up with the nominees and to be part of such an iconic evening celebrating the world’s biggest talent. Here we go!”
Jack added: “Being a presenter for The BRIT Awards on the night has been a lifelong dream of mine. I can’t wait to rock the red carpet with Yinka and bring a bit of fun and chaos to the night.”
Nominations for the BRIT Awards 2024 were announced last month, and nominees include Arlo Parks, Blur, Calvin Harris, Central Cee, Dave, Dua Lipa, Fred again.., Jessie Ware, J Hus, Little Simz, Olivia Dean, Mahalia, PinkPantheress, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, RAYE, The Rolling Stones, SZA, Taylor Swift, Young Fathers.
The winners of the genre awards will be determined by a public vote exclusively through Instagram, which opened midday Thursday 1st February and closes tonight, Thursday 15th February at 6pm.
To vote, fans can either head to the BRITs page on Instagram (@BRITs), and comment on the category Reel of their choice using an artist specific hashtag, or by creating a Reel and using the @BRITs tag, and the artist specific # in the caption.
Thursday (15.02.24) sees a Power Window, with votes cast counting for double, meaning a comment counts for two votes, and creating a Reel will count for ten votes.
More information on voting, including full terms and conditions, can be found on the BRITs website: www.brits.co.uk/vote.
The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard will be broadcast exclusively from 8.30pm on March 2 on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

Source: IconInsider.com