Pixie Lott on new single Nasty

Pixie Lott says she is ready to smash her way back into the charts as she prepares to debut her brand new single on live TV on Thursday night.

The pop babe – who turns 23 this Sunday – also says her boyfriend Oliver Cheshire, 25, has made it easy for her to write and record music about love on her upcoming third album.

‘It’s my first time writing from the actual experience of being in a relationship. It has really helped,’ the blonde beauty told Guilty Pleasures in an exclusive chat, adding she has found writing from the heart easy to do.

‘I can relate to every aspect of what I’m singing – the good times and the bad times. I love writing about things that I experience. It makes songs greater,’ she said.

And while Lott certainly has beauty and music talent in spades, it would seem her model boyfriend only has one of these two qualities.

‘Oliver can’t sing! He tries. He thinks he is a bit of a DJ and he loves music, but he’s not really a singer. We’ve never even done karaoke. Will he be stealing my thunder? No!’ she laughed.

The singer will be performing her new single – titled Nasty – on the Brits are Coming on ITV on Thursday night as the nominees for the 2014 Brit Awards are unveiled.

‘It’s a funky, soulful track that is very up-tempo and fresh,’ she says of the single – which she also revealed she had to fight for after it was originally recorded (but ultimately rejected) by Christina Aguilera, sparking a bidding frenzy among her music contemporaries.

‘A few other singers had recorded it and Christina was one of them so everyone wanted this song. When I heard other singers had done it I thought “I need to get this!” It was a difficult song to get because there are so many old-school samples on it, like James Brown, that are hard to clear copyright on. But I got it and now it is my new single.’

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Thursday 9 January 2014]

Kylie Minogue loves being 'only female coach on The Voice'

Kylie Minogue is revelling in the fact she is sharing coaching duties on the third series of The Voice with three men and rebuffs claims the show’s line-up is sexist.

In the debut episode of the new series – airing on BBC One on Saturday night – Minogue, 45, tempts a prospective contestant to join her team as she can help lead her in the male-dominated world of music.

‘I hope I am giving a voice to the girls and women who look up to me or anyone like me in the business. Maybe it is proportionate to what it is like in the industry,’ she pondered at the press launch of the show on Monday, before explaining the line-up of herself, Sir Tom Jones, Ricky Wilson and Will.i.am suits her just fine.

‘We work really well as one girl and three guys – just because it stops any stories about bitchiness or cattiness or any kind of competition,’ said Minogue.

Kylie is also glad she has her younger sister Dannii – who endured such claims of rivalry when she was a judge on The X Factor with Sharon Osbourne – on hand to offer advice if working on The Voice becomes too stressful.

‘Dannii has offered me advice but she didn’t actually have to say too much, because I have watched her experience [on The X Factor]. I can look back and fully relate to how invested you become in the show and the acts that you have. She thought I would enjoy the experience of being a mentor – and she was right.’

The Spinning Around singer also has nothing but the highest praise for former coach Jessie J, 25, whom she has replaced on the panel.

‘I think Jessie did a great job – especially for someone so young to be put in that position. I wouldn’t even get in the door if we were to talk about voices with Jessie because she has a phenomenal voice and talent – and spunk! I admire all of that.

‘I am a completely different character. If I really was trying to fill someone’s seat, you actually can’t and you have no option but to be yourself. I am proud to take the reins from her,’ Kylie added.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 3 January 2014]

Will.i.am: I will make The Voice winner a success

Will.i.am has vowed to champion his acts on The Voice to achieve international success – even if it takes a decade.

The eccentric music genius, 38, worked for ten years before he hit the big time with his band the Black Eyed Peas but promised to back his own acts every step of the way if it takes them as long to achieve success.

‘When you are working with singers and you promise them all the things you are going to promise them, I wouldn’t just say it. I will fight for you,’ he said, adding he believes co-coaches Kylie Minogue, Ricky Wilson and Sir Tom Jones would be as true to their word.

Indeed Will has stood side-by-side last year’s runner up Leah McFall, who he is now building up to own the year in music.

‘I am still fighting for Leah. She came on tour with me. She came to Los Angeles and recorded her whole album. We finished officially last week,’ he revealed.

‘I think maybe she wasn’t meant to break in 2013, maybe she is to break 2014. Who is to say when the artist is to be a mega star? I am committed. And so is Leah.’

Until then, The Voice is yet to find a bona fide break-out star – however the Scream & Shout hit maker thinks this is only a matter of time.

‘The only way I know how to do it is how I experienced it with the Black Eyed Peas. If it wasn’t for [Interscope records’] Jimmy Iovine who believed in us to keep us on the label, Black Eyed Peas would have got forgotten between ’97 to 2004 when we finally had a break. And then 2005 came and we released another album. And then in 2009 we hit it really big. But we were signed for almost ten years before we broke as an act!’

Will is also confident the third year of The Voice will be a TV smash with its new line up of coaches and presenter. Minogue and Wilson are replacing coaches Jessie J and Danny O’Donoghue respectively while Emma Willis and Marvin Humes are taking over presenting duties from Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates.

‘I really like this season. I like the way it feels. I like the relation between the coaches. It feels good. I was concerned, to be real with you. I thought “Jessie’s gone? Danny’s gone?” But season three, I just love it. It’s amazing,’ he gushed.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 3 January 2014]

Ricky Wilson promises no 'novelty' on The Voice

Ricky Wilson has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at rival singing show The X Factor as he prepares to take up coaching duties on BBC singing show The Voice.

The cheeky 35-year-old Kaiser Chiefs frontman says viewers should tune in for true talent and shouldn’t expect comedy acts.

‘We don’t rely on the novelty of people being there that shouldn’t be there later on,’ he warned.

‘It gets to a point where everyone is getting better and better and it is down to the best singer. If you want to watch a show where the person is the best singer, The Voice is the show for you. If you want to see people making fools of themselves, you can watch shows on other stations,’ he laughed.

Having been drafted in to replace departing coach Danny O’Donoghue, of The Script, Wilson jokes he will stand out on style alone.

‘I can’t wear those low slung T-shirts!’ he chuckled before revealing he is anxious about the pressure of being on live television later in the competition.

‘It is going on TV [which is] something I’ve never done as myself before. I’ve always been singing, which is relatively easy.

‘When Tom Jones advised me to just be myself I thought, “but who is that guy?” I am a different guy to Danny, so I will come across as different. You can’t compare.’

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 3 January 2014]

Sir Tom Jones: The Voice has real talent

Tom Jones thinks The Voice holds the best haul of singing talent because the wheat has already been separated from the chaff before the blind auditions even begin.

The singing veteran, 73, is relieved production staff have already lined up the best of the best by the time the contest gets to the studio auditions.

‘When you walk into this studio they are real singers out there. There is nobody going to come on and you think, “What was that all about?” They go through that before they step into the studio,’ he said, adding: ‘It is a professional show.’

He does, however, warn that a successful career can’t be assured, even for the best of singers, as they will still be at the mercy of the  public when their music is released.

‘There is no guarantee in this business – and I know that,’ he mused.

‘You don’t know when you record something how it will be perceived by the public. At the end of the day it is always down to the public to decide if that person is going to be a star.’

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 3 January 2014]