Elyar Fox on Bieber comparisons and debut single Do It All Over Again

New pop hunk Elyar Fox says he doesn’t mind being compared to the likes of Justin Bieber and Conor Maynard after making the jump from online smash to record label darling.

The 18-year-old Londoner is set to take over the airwaves this winter with his debut single, Do It All Over Again, and got signed to Sony’s RCA label after clocking up over 14 million hits on YouTube with his cover versions of songs.

‘They are both successful and doing really well right now. I would be flattered to be compared to someone as successful and making great music,’ the singer told Guilty Pleasures, saying he doesn’t object to comparisons.

‘What separates me is that I came from a rock background and I started out when I was 13 in a pop-punk band in high school and gigging doing all the messy pubs and bars and stuff. I think [it gives me] a different edge to the other guys,’ he said.

With his single’s lyrics detailing his lust to find a girl that ‘keeps me up all night’, Fox insists his track is perfectly innocent.

‘It’s not about shagging! It’s about partying!’ he laughed – with a knowing wink.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Friday 22 November 2013]

Ariana Grande to record Halloween EP

Ariana Grande says she is planning to become the soundtrack to all our festive holidays.

‘I love Christmas but I like Halloween more,’ the 20-year-old tbabe old Guilty Pleasures as she went over her collection of Christmas ditties.

‘I’m doing a Halloween EP next year! I’ve said it first! I called Scooter [her manager] the other day and I said “Why are we doing a Christmas EP?” and he was like “Because it’s Christmas and the happiest time of year. You need to do Christmas music – you have the perfect voice for it.” And I was like “We’re doing a Halloween EP next year!” And he said “I am down with it!” I’ll look dope as a vampire!’

With ghosts, ghoulies and vampires all proving to be terrifying fictional monsters, Grande has revealed she has a real-life fear for her own fans who have been recently ‘killing themselves’ trying to vote her champion of an MTV award online.

‘My fans are literally killing themselves trying to get me to win. And it’s very flattering and sweet and I love my fans so much. But I want my fans to be healthy and sleep!’ she said.

‘I’m so happy with a nomination – that means the world to me, but that’s all I need. I love the dedication [of my fans] and I live for them, they are the sweetest kids in the world, but this award thing has got to a point where I am scared for them. They are fighting and I don’t condone that drama. They’re getting a hard time from other music fans and they’re all fighting for who they want to win the award. I wish they could just vote peacefully,’ she said.

Grande will release a new Christmas track every week until December 11 with two cover tracks and two original numbers as part of her Christmas Kisses campaign.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Thursday 21 November 2013]

Laurence Fox: I fear killing my wife Billie Piper

Laurence Fox fears his latest role might lead to him killing his wife, Billie Piper.

The 35-year-old actor is currently starring in the West End production of Strangers On A Train which sees his character conspiring to bump off his other half before marrying someone new.

‘Do I worry about bringing my work home and killing my wife? Yes. I’m going to kill her tonight,’ he joked with Guilty Pleasures after the press opening of his show that will run for the next three months at London’s Gielgud Theatre.

Joking aside, he does admit his character’s descent into insanity remains confined to the workplace.

‘No I think it’s alright. It’s the job. On stage you go crazy. I just turn up, do my job, go home and try my best,’ he said.

Meanwhile 31-year-old Piper – who makes her own acting return this winter with a guest appearance in Doctor Who – had nothing but praise for her dashing husband.

‘He was amazing,’ the gorgeous actress gushed after her other half performed in front of a star-studded crowd including Jerry Hall, Graham Norton and Richard E Grant.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Thursday 21 November 2013]

Rebecca Ferguson on love after Zayn Malik and X Factor 2014

Having learnt from her previous relationship with One Direction star Zayn Malik, Rebecca Ferguson has said  she’s keeping her new romance out of the limelight.

The former X Factor contestant was a single mother-of-two by the age of 21, endured a whirlwind romance with One Direction’s Zayn Malik and has now shacked up with an old mate in a long distance relationship.

‘I’ve got a boyfriend. I’m seeing him tonight and I haven’t seen him for a few weeks. It is hard because we’re always away,’ the I Hope singer told Guilty Pleasures at an exclusive playback of her new album, Freedom.

‘But I think you make it work if you love each other,’ she continued, explaining she has found comfort in an old friend and prefers to let love blossom away from the limelight.

‘We’ve been friends for years, which makes it easier. I’ve known him since I was about 22. The only person who was in the public eye was Zayn. And then the last three years I’ve not dated anyone. Apart from one idiot, who I won’t name, who then proceeded to tell everyone “she’s my girlfriend”. But other than that it was people I knew and who had been friends,’ she said.

‘Not that I’ve been with loads, right!’ she laughed.

With her second album due to be released on November 29, the singer will also be making a return to the X Factor stage to sing live in December and is backing Tamera Foster to win this years’ competition.

‘I think with the right guidance she could be a star,’ she said, adding she hopes the teen singer will be allowed to show more of her personality as the show enters its final weeks.

‘I feel like it would be nice to see more of who she is. You just have to be really honest. She’ll be able to relax with people with time and age. She’s just 16.’

Ferguson also thinks the bad reputation Tamera has weathered during the course of the competition is unfair.

‘I was probably a rebel at 16. She looks older so she gets judged. She looks like a woman you’d see in clubs,’ she said.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Thursday 21 November 2013]

Ylvis: We feel under pressure to be sexy

Ring-dinging Ylvis crooner Vegard Ylvisåke reckons he’d derail like Miley Cyrus if it weren’t for his fellow foxy dresser brother Bård.

The  Norwegian siblings shot to fame this summer with their ridiculous dance track The Fox, and after clocking up more than 230million views on YouTube and they have now become a hit with the biggest babes in pop.

‘I would have been Miley Cyrus if it wasn’t for him,’ Vegard, 34, told Guilty Pleasures, saying his little brother keeps him grounded. ‘I would be Male-y Cyrus.’

Although they are managing to keep clear heads while their bonkers music takes the world by storm, the boys do agree they feel a certain pressure to be sexy – like Cyrus – following their step into the limelight.

‘We wouldn’t have done the fox costumes if we weren’t really under the pressure to be sexy,’ Bård, 31, joked.

‘We are walking around in the world now feeling objectified,’ Vegard concurred, adding: ‘We were at the [MTV] EMAs walking around with a small entourage. Even the people expecting us were saying “We’ve heard Ylvis are coming, the fox guys! We’re excited!” We were practically invisible but when we put on the fox costumes right before the gig everyone realised who the lame guys were laying around on the couch.’

‘Katy Perry passed us by and said “Ring-a-ding-a-ding” and Miley Cyrus came running at us, hugging us. It’s really absurd,’ Bård added, revealing they are slowly adjusting to their fame, which has seen them perform everywhere from the Ellen Degeneres show to Children In Need.

With the novelty act – such as Psy, The Cheeky Girls, Lou Bega – disappearing as quickly as they appear, Ylvis are not worried about their own bubble bursting.

‘We will just keep on doing what we have been doing. Of course the surroundings have changed a great deal, but for us nothing has changed that much,’ Bård said.

‘We are just going to retire to Norway and start hunting,’ Vegard laughed.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Wednesday 20 November 2013]