Latest news with #BANGShowbiz
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Junior Andre reveals dream collaborations with Jorja Smith and Joyner Lucas
Junior Andre has named Jorja Smith and Joyner Lucas as his two dream collaborators. The 20-year-old singer - whose parents are pop star Peter Andre and his ex-wife Katie Price - is at the beginning of his music career but he is already thinking about who he would like to work with in the future and those two artists are at the top of his list. Speaking exclusively to Lulu Eagle for BANG Showbiz at the launch of Men and Their Emotions (M.A.T.E) - a new mental health charity for men - on Friday night (18.07.25) at Indigo at The O2, he said: "I'm honestly so open, there are so many artists I would love to collab with. Maybe Jorja Smith on a little vibe - she's got a great voice. Joyner Lucas… he's sick.' Junior - who signed a major record deal with Columbia Records at just 16, the same label behind Harry Styles and Calvin Harris - says making music is a daily ritual, shaped entirely by how he feels in the moment. He added: "I pretty much make music every day and it depends on the vibe I'm feeling. Sometimes I'll tap into mental health stuff, sometimes I'm happy and I'll tap into summer stuff. It all depends.' As his career continues to grow, with new music and an acting role alongside his father in the upcoming musical Finding My Voice, Junior has one piece of advice he lives by, stay humble. He said: 'Always remain grounded, remember where you come from, be nice to people, man. Kindness goes a long way. Don't be mean, treat people with respect. We're all the same, no one is different. Love people, be kind, be real.' The Only One singer is a vocal advocate for mental health, especially among young men, urging them to open up emotionally and challenge outdated ideas of masculinity. He said: 'I think guys need to speak up about it. Everyone does, but a lot of guys don't, and I think it's so important. 'Your mental health is everything. In fact, it's more important than your physical health - because if your mental health is in the right place, it can help your physical health. 'Being a man is being able to be open, speaking about your emotions. People don't realise, but when you speak about your emotions you actually instantly feel relieved. Better. It's very good for you. 'If you don't, and you let it all bottle in - it's only gonna go one way.' M.A.T.E (Men and Their Emotions) is a new UK-based mental health charity, founded by comedian and rapper Daniel O'Reilly - best known as his comedy persona Dapper Laughs. Inspired by his own battles with addiction and mental health, the organisation is dedicated to encouraging men to open up emotionally, break down stigma around male vulnerability, and create safe spaces for honest conversation, support, and connection. Follow Lulu Eagle on Instagram at _altereagle_ and Lulu_Eagle for more showbiz exclusives.
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
JLS star Oritsé Williams: ‘We're expected as young Black men to be rappers and have a street persona'
JLS singer Oritsé Williams says young Black male artists often face "racial pressure" to fit the stereotypical "street" rap star persona. The 38-year-old singer - who released his first solo music as OWS in 2015, before returning to his name in 2024 - says despite his achievements in the chart-topping boy band, he's still had to fight against an industry that doesn't show enough support for Black solo acts. Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the launch of Men and Their Emotions (M.A.T.E) - a new mental health charity for men - at Indigo at The O2 on July 18, he said: 'There is not enough support for solo Black singers in the UK, there really isn't - especially male singers. 'We're expected as young Black men to be rappers and kind of have a street persona.' The Beat Again hitmaker wants to offer support for artists like himself and spoke of the importance of showing one's authentic self through music. He added: 'We're expected to be from the street hoods, but if we're not, and we've grown up in a loving family…there is racial pressure. 'I just want there to be more support for artists like myself who just want to be themselves and don't have to conform to being something that they're not. 'Love and vulnerability and emotions, I'm trying to still keep that alive through my music.' Oritsé warned the pressure to be someone you are not can have a lasting mental health impact. He said: 'I just feel as a community we need to be supported to be able to be ourselves and not to have a stereotype or stigma thrust upon us and expected to be something that we're not. 'That's not good for mental health, do you know what I'm saying. That really can hurt you.' Oritsé admits it was a "scary place to be" going solo after the band, but he's thankful for the support of JLS' loyal fanbase. He said: 'I continued doing music even after the group and that's a scary place to be. 'To be supported and raised up by the fans and the people and the country, more and more people start to get to know who I am as a solo artist and who I am as a person, as a human being." He added: 'Who is Oritsé Williams?, you know, without the glitz and glamour of the group. Without the sparkles. 'As a man and as a human being, I just have to express myself honestly and be vulnerable and be able to be supportive to people.' Head to to learn more about the charity.
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Matteo Bocelli eyes duet with his hero Ed Sheeran after working with his co-writer on new album
Matteo Bocelli would love to duet with his idol Ed Sheeran. The son of legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli, 66, has worked with Grammy winner Ed's co-writer Amy Wadge - with whom he penned huge hit Thinking Out Loud - on the balladeer's upcoming second studio album, Falling In Love. The 27-year-old singer's famous father featured on a 2017 classical version of Ed's song Perfect, Perfect Symphony. And, he would love to follow in his parent's footsteps and duet with Ed, but admits he would likely get overwhelmed and struggle to "handle the situation" - despite having performed for King Charles, and at the weddings of Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos and his spouse Lauren Sánchez and reality star Kourtney Kardashian and Blink-182 rocker Travis Barker. Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Matteo said when asked about a potential collaboration with the Bad Habits hitmaker: "Always. I was so honoured to have received a song written by him and his brother [Matthew Sheeran], called Chasing Stars. But obviously, yes, I would love one day to be on stage with him - but I don't know if I'd be able to handle the situation." It was after Ed came to Italy to record Perfect Symphony and spent time with the Bocelli's that he found out Matteo was looking for material for his debut album, 2023's Matteo, and later sent him Chasing Stars, about a close bond between a father and son. Matteo - who brought all of his co-writers and producers that worked on the new album to his Tuscany home to record the album - also praised Amy for making him feel at ease expressing himself with "no filters". He said of the heartfelt songwriter: "I worked with Amy many times, multiple times, and she is not just an incredible songwriter, but she's a beautiful soul. She's a beautiful human being. And at the bottom of you know, every writing session, I need to have these people. I need to have people with which I feel myself, with which I feel I'm able to express myself, you know, freely, with no filters. And she's one of them. And so yes, I'm very excited to have a song with her that is To Get To Love You." Matteo's new album Falling In Love is released September 12 on Decca Records. He tours the UK in November. Matteo Bocelli's 2025 UK tour dates: November 2, Manchester, The Bridgewater Hall November 4, Birmingham Symphony Hall November 5, London Adelphi Theatre
Wales Online
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Amazon offers massive 79% discount on Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely fragrance for Prime Week
Amazon offers massive 79% discount on Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely fragrance for Prime Week The 'gem of a fragrance' has been reduced to just £20.50 for three days only Sarah Jessica Parker's perfume is on sale for a couple more days (Image: BANG Showbiz ) Amazon customers can now get their hands on a 'gem of a fragrance' at an astonishing 79% discount during a limited-time offer. Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely, usually priced over £90 for a 200ml bottle, has been reduced to just £20.50 for Prime Week (July 8-11). The perfume carries a floral scent featuring notes of lavender, martini, bergamot, mandarin orange, and palisander rosewood. It also has a heart of patchouli, orchid, and narcissus before settling into a woody base of cedar, white amber, and musk. The fragrance was made by renowned perfumers Clement Gavarry and Laurent Le Guernec, who boast an impressive portfolio of successful fragrances. Gavarry is known for Kayali's Eden Juicy Apple (£73 for 50ml) and Phlur's Vanilla Skin (£99 for 50ml), while Le Guernec has contributed to several Bond No 9 scents, often priced over £275 per bottle, as well as Estée Lauder's Beautiful Magnolia (typically £87 for 100ml). For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . Lovely has built an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 2,957 reviews. One satisfied customer said: "I wear this perfume every day for work and have had a lot of people ask what it is as it smells so nice. Good value for money." Another customer has worn it for almost two decades. They said: "An absolute gem of a fragrance! I wear as my work perfume and also everyday fragrance. It's light and flowery but not overpowering which is ideal when working in the NHS. "People comment in this all the time, and because it is EDP it lasts all day! I have been buying this for 17+ years and it never fails to make me feel fab!" However, one buyer wasn't convinced by how long the scent lasted. They said: "This perfume smells quite nice when you spray it, but the scent disappears really quickly, within an hour, and I have a very good sense of smell. "It's very disappointing, especially after reading the reviews. I know this is an inexpensive perfume, but I'd still expect to be able to smell it on me for longer, especially as some of the reviews said the fragrance lasted all day. For me, this was certainly not true." It's worth bearing in mind that how you apply a fragrance can affect how long the scent lingers. It's recommended to spritz perfume onto clean and recently moisturised skin, with at least one spray per pulse point. It's also suggested not to rub your wrists together as this can interfere with the fragrance. Other shoppers did however praise its longevity, with one writing: "Amazing fragrance! It lasts a good number of hours and doesn't wear off quickly. If you love a good floral scent, this is for you!". Article continues below Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker is available for £20.50 now on Amazon.
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
'I'm begging him to work with me again...' Stephanie Leonidas wants new project with Nick Love following Marching Powder
Stephanie Leonidas is "begging to work" with Nick Love again after starring in Marching Powder. The 41-year-old actress played Dani Jones the wife of Danny Dyer's ageing football hooligan character Jack Jones who is given one last chance at couples therapy to save his marriage in Lowe's modern day rom-com. Stephanie cannot praise writer-and-director Nick enough and she is ready for a role in his next project, whatever that may be. In an exclusive interview with BANG Showbiz, she said: "I'm begging him to work with me again! "I love Nick, I love working with him, I love his comedy. "I think Nick wrote really well for her [Dani], I had some great one liners. "Some of the scenes just slid off the page like butter, it felt so easy to say Nick's lines. "Nick is an incredible writer and he's an incredible director. He brings so much to the set. He really listens as well. He lets you bring whatever you want to bring to the character. It was such a pleasure working with him. "Obviously, there was the football element, there was the violence, in it. But the relationship was something new that Nick wanted to really shine through this one. It's very much a rom-com. "The world needed it, something a bit outrageous, a but cheeky, a little bit on the nose. It was good timing." Stephanie had auditioned for parts in Nick's previous movies, which include The Football Factory, The Business and film version of The Sweeney, based on the 1970s police drama series of the same name, with no success. Leonidas was looking for a role that brought her back to her "London roots" after having main roles in sci-fi series Defiance and mystery drama American Gothic, and was delighted when she got cast as Dani after running her lines with Dyer. She revealed: "I've tried working with Nick for many years, actually. I auditioned for a few of his films. And I was like, 'One day I will work with him.' And then this came up. This character just blew me away, because it was everything I'd wanted. "I've been working in the States a lot, I've been working in Canada a lot, doing American accents, I really wanted to get back to my London roots ... I wanted to play a Londoner again. This came up and I just worked my arse off when I auditioned for him. I got in the room with Danny and just had so much fun, I was over the moon to get the part." Stephanie - who was born in Westminster, London - says going to work each day on Marching Powder was incredible fun and she enjoyed the amount of foul language she got to use playing Dani. She said: "As you can imagine it was one of those sets where it was just so much fun everyday. There wasn't a day where we had such a laugh. "Nick is passionate about what he does, but you never feel pressured on set, you always feel you're going on such a fun set, it feels like a hobby, not a job. Because they set that standard every department feels the same, it trickles down. It was probably the most fun I've had on set, for sure. Where else do you get to say the C-word as many times I have? It's brilliant, it's such an excuse to go nuts. "Whose not passionate about the C-word?" Marching Powder is available now on digital, DVD and Blu-ray now.
