Morrissey to Release New Album

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Upcoming Releases, Alternative, Rock,

Morrissey has signed a deal to release his next album.

The 54-year-old singer, who has been without a label since the release of his last record Years of Refusal in 2009, has inked a new worldwide record deal with Universal Music's American-based Harvest Records.

In a statement, the singer said he was "thrilled" to have signed the contract and his tenth studio album will be released in the second half of 2014. The former frontman of The Smiths plans to head back into the studio in France later this month with producer Joe Chiccarelli, along with his longtime touring band, including guitarists Boz Boorer and Jesse Tobias, bassist Soloman Walker, drummer Matthew Walker and keyboard player Gustavo Manzur.

Morrissey, who released his autobiography last year, was advised by doctors to take it easy after suffering from a bleeding ulcer, double pneumonia and a throat condition in January 2013. He had to cancel a string of live dates after collapsing and being rushed to hospital but the singer now plans to tour again this year.

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Jack White to Release New Solo Album?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Upcoming Releases, Alternative, Folk, Rock,

Jack White has hinted he is finishing his next solo album.

The former White Stripes frontman teased fans during an online chat at the weekend on the website message board for his label, Third Man Records: "I'm producing two albums this month, and finishing them... One of them is mine."

It is believed he is referring to a solo album, which would follow-up his 2012 release Blunderbuss, which featured tracks including "Love Interruption," "Sixteen Saltines" and "Trash Tongue Talker."

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine last year, the 38-year-old musician mentioned that he had between 20 and 25 songs already written: "It's definitely not one sound. It's definitely several. Like you heard in Blunderbuss, there's many different styles there. I don't pick my style and then write a song. I just write whatever comes out of me, and whatever style it is is what it is, and it becomes something later."

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Rihanna Working on Eighth Album

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Upcoming Releases, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul,

Rihanna is back in the studio working on her eighth album.

The "We Found Love" star is reportedly planning a duet with Katy Perry and has been working with producer DJ Mustard on her next, as-yet-untitled, record. "I'm finally going in [the studio] with Rihanna. I'm just doing what I think she would like, and if she don't like it we'll just figure out something else in the studio, and I'll just keep making beats 'till she figure it out. But she's gonna get one," he said.

DJ Mustard, real name Dijon McFarlane, has previously worked with the likes of Young Jeezy, B.O.B, Meek Mill and Bow Wow and has hinted at a more urban sound for Rihanna's next album.

In November last year, it was announced that the producer had signed with the singer's label, Jay Z's Roc Nation.

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M.I.A.: I’m a Rapper, Not a Pop Star

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop,

M.I.A. dismisses the idea she is a pop star.

The "Bring The Noize" musician insisted she prefers to be known as a rapper and thinks people pigeonholing her the way they do is a bit "weird."

"I dunno... it's weird. I'm not really a pop star. I don't think I'm popular enough to be a proper pop star. I prefer being called a rapper," she told V magazine. She admitted there was a time before her fourth album Matangi when she questioned her own ability to make a successful pop album. "After I made the last record I was no longer on XL, my old label, and I felt like I didn't know how to make a big pop record. I didn't know how to do the thing that everyone wanted me to do - which seemed like the only thing you could do on a major label," she explained.

The "Paper Planes" hitmaker has opened up about her style in the past, and she has compared herself to polarizing artists.

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