WITH stints on The Masked Singer in the UK, US and Australia, Macy Gray hasn’t strayed far from a microphone.
But in more good news for fans, she is ditching the costumes and covers for her first solo album in seven years.
And she may well celebrate by making a surprise appearance at this summer.
In an exclusive interview, — who has been juggling studio sessions with rehearsals for her imminent — said: “We’re probably going to drop a record when we’re in the UK.
“We’re in the middle of it and we want to drop some songs to see what everybody thinks.
“Then I will probably be able to put out an album by September.
“I like raw with less production to show my voice, so everything’s kind of stripped down. It’s really cool. I’m having fun.”;
The I Try singer is embarking on a tour to celebrate 25 years since her debut album, On How Life Is.
And she will play a trio of shows at London’s Ronnie Scott’s next month.
Then she returns to the capital on June 23 for a show at Union Chapel.
That will be followed by gigs at Manchester’s New Century Hall, Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket and, finally, Birmingham’s Town Hall on June 28.
And when I told her that is the Saturday of Glastonbury — and the day before her pal , who she has previously written for, performs in the Legends slot — she said she is hoping to get down to Worthy Farm.
She added: “I would love to go out there. I love that festival. Maybe I’ll run up there.”;
Macy has played the Pyramid Stage twice, most recently in 2003, and I can see why it’s stuck in her head.
She explained: “That was my first, like, huge festival and I had never seen anything like that.
“People were walking around naked. This couple jumped on stage naked and ran across the stage while I was up there.
“It’s wild. I’d just never seen anything like that.
“Of course, it was raining a little bit, but then, you know, hundreds of thousands of people singing your song, that’s just the best, best thing that could ever happen to you.”;
Recreating that moment this summer would be a fab way to top off the tour.
Up and coming
RISING singer-songwriter Nell Mescal has been snapped up by major label Atlantic Records and could soon rival the acclaim of her Gladiator star brother .
The Irish star has just inked the deal, which means she is on the same roster as , and .
Yesterday Nell dropped her first track with the label, called Thin, which is about body image and self-worth.
Nell said: “I’m beyond excited for what’s to come. I have lots of new music that I’m currently working on, which will be out soon.”;
Coleen's Waitrose workout
WHO needs to hit the gym when you’re doing the weekly shop for a growing family of six?
Certainly not , who was spotted using some elbow grease as she lugged around four bulging bags of Waitrose groceries on Tuesday.
The star struggled to lug her supplies as she left a branch in Cheshire.
I’m sure there’s plenty of things she doesn’t miss about being in the TV jungle.
But despite the tiny portion sizes on the show, at least when she was Down Under she didn’t have to schlep to the supermarket to carry home the family’s favourite snacks.
J-Lo put AMA into amazing
is dripping in glamour as she poses in a tasselled dress while preparing to host the American Music Awards.
The Waiting For Tonight singer posed with one of the bash’s coveted trophies as nominations were announced yesterday for the event, which she will host in on May 26.
looks set for glory on the night as he leads the charge with ten nods, followed by with eight.
, and Shaboozey have seven each, while the AMA’s most awarded artist, , drew with Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen and SZA with six apiece.
But if this snap is anything to go by, I imagine all eyes will be on J-Lo and her magnificent wardrobe on the night.
Florence a sheer delight
YOU could see right through in this sheer outfit at an after-party following the London premiere of her Marvel blockbuster Thunderbolts.
She wore a black dress, left, to the red carpet launch but switched to the nude get-up for the bash afterwards, which was also attended by actor .
I first revealed last September how Florence was dating Finn, and it looks like things are still going strong with them.
She will be back on screen from next Thursday in the movie, in which she returns as assassin Yelena Belova, who she first played in 2021’s Black Widow.
And she has one stunt in the movie which is so extreme, it had never been attempted before.
As a result, Florence said: “My double, the female co-ordinator and I are all now Guinness World Record holders!”;
Bandit set for club banger
FOR more than a decade, their fusion of pop and classical instruments has been a hit-making formula.
But British trio are now returning with a fresh sound and will drop a trance banger called Tell Me Where U Go tomorrow.
I got an early first listen to the euphoric track, which blends a hardcore electro chorus with strings and vocals from German pop star Leony and a helping hand from Tiesto.
It’s in a similar vein to and 2023 hit Miracle so I’m sure it will be a summer club fave across Europe.
Despite being a feel-good tune, Jack Patterson says it was actually inspired by a counselling session.
He said: “My therapist said I dissociate sometimes. She said, ‘Tell me where you go’.
“After the session, we made this song.”;
It's worth the wait, Amy
is back with her new album, Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?, after a five-year break.
And as she pops into Bizarre’s office following a show in Switzerland, the Scottish singer tells me that she can’t wait to get back out there playing her new songs, including the album’s punchy title track – and my favourite – Can You Hear Me?, live.
“Getting that first gig under my belt was important,”; Amy explains.
“We played four new songs and they got an amazing reaction. It’s cool to be able to finally share these songs with people.”;
Amy will take her new album, which is out on July 11, on the road this summer.
She has a string of massive dates lined up in Europe, before she plays 13 shows across the UK and Ireland, starting at London’s Eventim Apollo on November 20.
“My last record came out when hit and it was a pain in the are because we couldn’t go out on tour,”; Amy says.
“It feels so nice to put a record out and then play it live.”;
Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For? feels like her most honest and raw album to date, with We Survive sounding like the next chapter of her 2007 runaway hit, This Is The Life.
Amy says: “We Survive was originally inspired by two of my closest friends who are absolute party animals, and me going, ‘How do they still do that?’.
“It’s also about the darker side. Scotland’s not got a great relationship with party culture. But people look forward to a party because everything else is a bit s*t for us. That’s our escape. We Survive is like a dark version of This Is The Life.”;
That song has become an enduring hit for Amy, who wrote it aged just 16, and has had a new lease of life on thanks to sports stars – and US actor
“I started getting loads of comments on my videos in Arabic,”; Amy explains.
“Then I saw This Is The Life was used in compilations of scoring goals for his team there. They never had charts in Saudi, but then they introduced it and This Is The Life was one of the first songs to go to No1.
“My stepson absolutely buzzes when my songs are used in videos.
“He’ll tell me Ryan Reynolds used one of my songs in a TikTok, then there was F1’s .
“He thinks it’s brilliant.”;
