Latest news with #JackSaunders
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Lorde almost quit the music business in 2023
Lorde felt "disconnected from [her] creativity" at the start of 2023. The 28-year-old star has revealed that she actually considered quitting the music business altogether two years ago, admitting that she was "not in a great way" at the time. Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders, she explained: "At the beginning of 2023 I was not in a great way on a lot of levels. "I'd never felt more disconnected from my creativity." Lorde admits that an eating disorder took over her life at the time, and that it stunted her musical creativity. The Royals hitmaker shared: "All I was thinking about was trying to weigh as little as possible. "Going to sleep thinking about food, waking up thinking about food and exercise - that was my creative pursuit." Lorde's new album, Virgin, is the most personal record of her career. The singer admits that she needed to be "brave" in order to be more vulnerable in her music. Speaking about her writing process, she said: "It was hard, it was scary. Some songs aren't easy. "I made a lot of changes and really put my artistry front and centre and made that my full-time job and I got a lot of stuff out of the way." Meanwhile, Lorde recently admitted that "a lot of people" won't think she's a "good girl anymore" after listening to Virgin. The singer - whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor - believes her latest record will see her lose and gain fans as she explores a range of sensitive issues, including her relationship with her mother, gender identity, and the ending of a long-term romance. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Lorde explained: "There's going to be a lot of people who don't think I'm a good girl anymore, a good woman. It's over." On the other hand, Lorde also expected that new fans would embrace her following the album release. The chart-topping star - who released her debut album, Pure Heroine, back in 2013 - said: "It will be over for a lot of people, and then for some people, I will have arrived. I'll be where they always hoped I'd be."
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lorde admits to tough time where she didn't think she'd 'ever make music again' as all she thought about was 'weighing as little as possible'
Lorde has opened up about a tough time where all she thought about was 'weighing as little as possible'. The singer, 28, - who made her return to the music scene with a secret set at Glastonbury this year - spoke in a candid interview with Jack Saunders on Radio 1 on Monday. She told how at the start of 2023 she was struggling mentally and wasn't able to focus on any creative pursuits or making music. At Glastonbury she had said on stage that she thought she'd 'never make music again' - a comment with Jack asked her to clarify in their interview. The New Zealand-born star explained: 'At the beginning of 2023 I was just not in a great way in a lot of ways and I'd never felt more distant from my creativity. I didn't think I had anything to offer and I hadn't had an idea in a while. 'This was a period when I was trying to weigh as little as possible and going to sleep and thinking about food and weight and wake up thinking about food and exercise and that was creative pursuit you know... 'That was where it was all going and at that time I was like I really need to stop doing this because it's blocking all my artistry. 'Once that went away it all started to come back!' It comes after Lorde surprised fans at her record release party in Berlin last Wednesday when she performed to a small group of lucky attendees. The star, who recently raised eyebrows with her latest album cover's artwork, arrived at riverside venue Spindler & Klatt on a boat. She flashed her midriff in a crossover halterneck top that featured a tasselled trim and black cargo trousers. The event, hosted by Universal Music, was to celebrate the launch of her new album Virgin, with fans having no idea that the musician would actually perform. The album cover features an x-ray of her pelvis with her hip bones, belt buckle, and zipper visible and - inter-uterine device included. It's not entirely clear if the X-ray is of Lorde but has reached out for comment to confirm. The singer dropped the visual to her Instagram where she also announced the title of her fourth studio album and it's release date as June 27. Elsewhere, Lorde was pictured with her rumoured new man, Jim E-Stack, 33, after seemingly going public with their relationship at Glastonbury recently. The musician, from New Zealand, wowed fans with a surprise set at the iconic music festival. Following the performance, she was seen arriving at the London Heliport in Battersea with Jim. He is a producer and DJ, who has also worked with the likes of Haim, Bon Iver and Empress Of. According to The Sun, the singer was spotted 'getting close with the musician on stage' after playing the surprise Glastonbury set. The pair were also seen 'with their arms around each other while they watched The 1975' and went on 'partying until well after 4am'. MailOnline has contacted Lorde's representatives for comment. The blossoming romance comes as Jim's ex-girlfriend Kacy Hill took a savage dig at him on her TikTok platform. The American singer, 31, revealed that her six-and-a-half year relationship came to an end when he started working with Lorde on her single Man Of The Year. She penned: 'Let's hear it for the man who ended a 6.5 year relationship while making a girl's album then started dating her'. Lorde and Jim were previously linked in October 2024 when the pair were seen making a rare public outing in New York. At the time, Lorde hadn't been pictured with her then music executive boyfriend Justin Warren since March 2023. The pair began fuelling rumours they are working on a new album together after Jim E-Stack shared a photo of Lorde to Instagram in August.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Olivia Rodrigo Glastonbury 2025 - How to watch on TV and iPlayer and listen on Radio and BBC Sounds
Jo Whiley, Jack Saunders and Clara Amfo welcome the Grammy and BRIT award winning global megastar, Olivia Rodrigo, who returns to headline the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night. Watch Glastonbury on BBC iPlayer Listen to Glastonbury on BBC Sounds The pop juggernaut makes a welcome return to the farm, having first performed at the festival on the Other Stage in 2022, and this year she marks a new world record by headlining 18 festivals around the globe. Her set will surely include some of her huge bangers like good 4 u, vampire and bad idea right? Watch on TV and iPlayer You can catch Olivia's set on BBC One and iPlayer from 10pm on Sunday 29 June. Listen on Radio and BBC Sounds Enjoy sets and highlights from Glastonbury with the Glastonbury collection on BBC Sounds. Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw are also on Radio 6 Music from 6pm on Sunday, reflecting on Glastonbury 2025. More: Glastonbury 2025 - How to watch on TV and BBC iPlayer and listen on Radio and BBC Sounds Follow For More
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sleep Token: Even in Arcadia is band's first UK number one album
Rock band Sleep Token have scored their first ever UK number one British group's fourth full-length release, Even In Arcadia, shot to the top of the chart after three top 40 singles in as many in 2016, the group have never revealed their identities, wearing masks at all times and rarely speaking in public, with posts speculating about who they are regularly going have accused the band of using gimmicks to boost their popularity, while fans say Sleep Token's distinctive sound, which blends heavy metal with poppy, R&B elements, sets them apart. Building off their 2023 release, Take Me to Eden, which reached number three, the band now has 9.4 million monthly listeners on streamer said earlier this week that Even in Arcadia was its top new album, outranking releases from Kali Uchis and Pink the UK chart on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show, host Jack Saunders said it was a "a groundbreaking rock record"."It's accessible enough but also loveable enough for those who do really love the genre to really keep it close," he said. "I think it's brilliant."But not everyone is website Pitchfork - known for its sometimes-scathing takes - described the band as "schmaltzy and dull".Reviewer Eli Enis said Even in Arcadia "feels means-tested to maximize cross-market potential".Music critic Anthony Fantano, of The Needle Drop YouTube channel, describing it as "boring, uninspired, and uninteresting" and "metal for Disney adults". Sleep Token's previous record also had a lukewarm response from professional critics, but that didn't prevent it from being a group are due to headline Download Festival in Leicestershire next month, along with Green Day and the first time any of the bands have topped the bill at the rock acts due to perform include McFly, Bullet For My Valentine, Don Broco, Alien Ant Farm, Spiritbox, Poppy and CKY. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Radio 1 to host Europe's Biggest Gig
BBC Radio 1 will be joining forces with four other radio stations across Europe to host Europe's Biggest Gig – a special one-off night of live music, celebrating each countries national music scene. The live music spectacular will see five countries unite for one night only, each shining a spotlight on their national music scene and showcasing an exciting artist tipped for big things who will perform a live session of their biggest tracks. Taking place on Tuesday 25 February from 6.30pm, Radio 1's Jack Saunders will be at the helm for the first thirty minutes before handing over to our broadcasting partners across the European Broadcasting Union. Representing the UK, South-London soul singer Nia Smith, will take centre stage performing a session of her biggest tracks in the legendary Radio 1 Live Lounge. Nia is fast becoming one of the most exciting new voices in British music, having supported the likes of SZA, Tems and Elmiene last year and releasing her debut EP 'Give Up The Fear' in November 2024. Nia Smith says: 'So excited to be performing for Radio 1 at Europe's Biggest Gig!! Ty so much Jack, very grateful.' Jack Saunders says: 'Live music is at the heart of what we do on the show so why not take that to the rest of Europe? It's a chance to bring fresh unique voices to the biggest stage. Nia Smith is going to blow people away with her talent and I can't wait to hear what the other countries bring.' Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: 'We're really excited to launch Europe's Biggest Gig which will join the hugely popular Europe's Biggest Dance Show and Europe's Biggest Soundsystem Party brand. 'It's an exciting way to showcase the incredible artists emerging across the continent. By joining forces with our broadcasting partners, we're giving artists a platform to reach new audiences and bringing fans closer to future stars poised for success. We can't wait to share this special night with listeners across Europe.' Listeners can hear all the action live on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds from 6.30pm GMT on Tuesday 25 February. The countries, broadcasters and artists performing are (in order of broadcast): UK, BBC Radio 1, Nia Smith Ireland, RTÉ 2FM, Orla Gartland Belgium, Studio Brussel, Sylvie Kreusch Germany, 1LIVE, Berq Iceland, Rás 2, Elín Hall FM2
