• Mumford & Sons have given audiences a first taste of what to expect from their forthcoming album ‘Wilder Mind’, with the unveiling of lead single ‘Believe’. It starts off as a rather dreamy pop number, not dissimilar to tracks from the Coldplay back catalogue, before bursting into a mid-tempo pop/rock number with stabs of electric guitar. Listen HERE. ‘Wilder Mind’ is due in Australia on Friday May 01.
• Also back in the business this week is Jason Derulo, who’s unveiled ‘Want To Want Me’, the lead single from his forthcoming LP. The track, co-penned by Jason along with the likes of Sam Martin, Lindy Robbins and producer Ian Kirkpatrick, is available digitally now. No word yet on that all-important album.
• You’ll no doubt remember Uncle Jed from their triumph on the 2013 edition of ‘Australia’s Got Talent’. Well… they’re saying goodbye; to the Uncle Jed name at least. They’re changing their name to Luna Grand and are set to embrace the change with a series of live shows from early next month. Tickets are on sale now.
• You’ll know the name Safia from their appearance on Peking Duk’s mammoth double platinum chart smash ‘Take Me Over’, but the trio’s on the verge of releasing their next band single. It’s called ‘Counting Sheep’, it’s entirely intriguing, you can listen to it HERE and you can buy it from this Friday.
• New music doing the rounds this week include ‘King’, the sensational new single from British electro-pop trio Years & Years, plus Oh Mercy’s new single ‘Sandy’, the previously mentioned Sam Smith/John Legend duet of ‘Lay Me Down’ and Karen Harding’s altogether excellent ‘Say Something’. Eyes peeled on our FACEBOOK page tomorrow, where you’ll score an even more comprehensive list.
• Neil Diamond has added a second Sydney show to his November Australian tour. The legendary hitmaker will now play Allphones Arena on Wednesday November 11, performing all the classics from his hit-laden back catalogue. Tickets are on sale from 10am on Tuesday March 17.
• Four weeks is what Ellie Goulding has managed in the top spot on the UK singles chart; the starlet’s ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ anthem ‘Love Me Like You Do’ replaced in the top spot this week by Years & Years’ brilliant new single ‘King’, which is currently our pick for single of the year. It’s the UK trio’s first taste of top 20 chart success and follows on from their win in the BBC’s Sound Of 2015 poll. Rihanna, Kanye and Sir Paul improve from No.5 to No.3 with ‘FourFiveSeconds’, while Marlon Roudette’s ‘When The Beat Drops Out’ premieres at No.7.
• And former Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher has seemingly lost not of his chart pull. He and his High Flying Birds premiering in the top spot on the British albums chart with ‘Chasing Yesterday’. Kelly Clarkson’s new album ‘Piece By Piece’ debuts at No.6, with the new album from The Overtones coming in two places below. Shires’ ‘Brave’ is also new this week, debuting at No.10.
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