Britney Spears Hires Vocal Coach

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases, Pop,

Britney Spears has hired a vocal coach ahead of her "top secret" announcement.

The "Ooh La La" singer has been teasing fans by adding a countdown to her website for a mysterious revelation that will be shared in 15 days time, but just two weeks before she announces her news, the blonde beauty has been having regular sessions with her voice instructor and working with a choreographer.

"Britney has been using a vocal coach and going to regular sessions and has also been working hard with her choreographer in preparation for what's coming up! With album eight on its way and a rumored Las Vegas residency in the pipeline, eagle-eyed fans have spotted that all of Britney's social networks have adopted a blacked-out theme... the mystery continues!" Britney's publicists said.

Meanwhile, Charli XCX - who co-wrote and featured on Icona Pop's number one hit "I Love It" earlier this year - previously said she has written a song for Britney's new album. "I've been doing some writing for the Britney record. I was freaking out. I didn't even want to go to the session I was so excited. I was so worried I would f**k it up. I was doing some stuff for that yesterday actually. Who knows how it will go. We've written one song and it's a great track and if she likes it then amazing. It was just an honour to be asked," she said previously.

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Britney Spears to Release New Album This Year

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Upcoming Releases, Pop,

Britney Spears is to release her new album this year. The "Gimme More" hitmaker says her eighth studio album will debut before the end of 2013 and has revealed she's taken a leap in a different direction with her sound and believes her fans will be "surprised" by the new material.

"It's definitely in the beginning stations right now. I want to take this album and have a new approach with it, make it different from anything I've ever done," she told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show. When asked if fans can expect new music in 2013, she replied, "By the end of the year, yeah."

The 31-year-old singer has confirmed will.i.am will be featuring on her upcoming record and has teased that British producer William Orbit will be working with her next week to produce some songs: "will has some really interesting tracks. There's a lot of guitar. I think people will be surprised. I think William Orbit is coming into town for me to work with next week. I've never worked with him before so I'm so excited."

Britney premiered her new single "Ooh La La" today, which she has recorded for upcoming animated movie The Smurfs 2.

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Damon Albarn Stops Blur Sessions

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Reunions, Alternative, Pop,

Damon Albarn has stopped recording sessions for new Blur material.

The band had been working with producer William Orbit - who produced their 13 album in 1999 - but the rest of the group were left confused when Damon cryptically halted the sessions last month.

"They were getting some demons out of the way. The new stuff sounded amazing. Then it all stopped suddenly. It was all over with Damon, and the rest of the band were like, 'is that it?' I was like, 'Don't stop. Make an album. You know you're fast,'" William said.

William also described the sound of material written by the group - which also includes Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree - saying it sounds down tempo, rather than the upbeat songs he had hoped for: "I'm not going to say dirge, but I was hoping it would be a little more rousing. It was a little bit introspective. With Damon, demos often sound like it's impossible to believe they're going to amount to anything. And they often turn into the most incredible pieces of music you've ever heard. They're one of the best bands in the world. I want them to get back together and record some good, old rousing Blur songs."

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Madonna Felt Like ‘Caged Animal’

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Upcoming Releases, Pop,

Madonna wrote MDNA because she "felt like a caged animal."

The "Give me all Your Luvin" hitmaker was motivated to make her first album in four years because she was upset with fame and felt like she has something important to say.

"I felt like a caged animal. I felt like I had to scream. I had to get some things off my chest. There's something simple and primal and direct about playing guitar and singing. I still have a lot to say. I still get p****d off about things. And I still believe in love," she said.

She also praised producer William Orbit, who worked on MDNA and has previously collaborated with Madonna on her Music and Ray of Light albums: "Something magical happens when I work with William. He is a tortured soul, and he brings out the tortured soul in me."

Madonna also claimed she's not as "in control" of her career as people perceive her to be.

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