Usain Bolt working on a secret second album after giving up sprinting
NOT content with dominating world race tracks, fastest man in the world Usain Bolt has set his sights on topping the charts in 2022.
The Olympian has revealed he is hard at work on a second album after releasing his debut, Country Yutes, last September.
During an exclusive chat, Usain said: “Music is just a part of me. In lockdown I wasn’t doing much so I thought I could take the opportunity to get into music as it is something that I love to do.
“For me the album we did was just to show people that we were serious. When we started out people thought I was just messing around and bored with nothing to do but I wanted to let them know I was serious. I wanted to do a proper body of work and put it out there. Now we have done that, people are reaching out to work with us so I am going to be doing a lot more this year.”
Bolt’s debut record helped give him his first Billboard top ten in their reggae album charts. He also plans on collaborating with a number of homegrown stars on the record – though he’s keeping tight-lipped on who he’s hitting the studio with.
While chatting to celebrate the roll-out of Virgin Media’s gigabit broadband across its network, he added: “We have talked to a few artists in the UK who we would like to work with as well. I would definitely like to do more collaborations on the record.”
Despite venturing deeper into music, Bolt insists he still has dreams for future Olympic glory.
He added: “I would love for at least one of my kids to do sports. If they don’t want to, it is fine. But I would like at least one of them to do track and field. I could train them.”
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DUA’S NOT IN THE BLUE
IF she was feeling blue about her split from Anwar Hadid, Dua Lipa certainly wasn’t showing it.
She beamed as she rang in the New Year with pals and posted a series of snaps with fans on Instagram.
After relaxing for a few days on the island of St Barts, Dua spent New Year’s Eve partying on a yacht.
The pop star looked Hotter Than Hell in a bright dress as she dined out before changing into a red outfit to party the night away.
Dua and Anwar haven’t been seen together for weeks – with friends saying they are on a break. Until they decide what to do, it seems it’s out with the Auld and in with the new for Dua.
And who can blame her?
Gayle's gain
RISING star GAYLE is blowing away the competition by surging towards her first UK No 1 single.
The 17-year-old US star looks set to benefit from a number of Christmas songs dropping out of the top ten as her TikTok hit abcdefu has risen from No 13 to the top.
Ed tour adds up to a plus-sized par ty
ED Sheeran has vowed to play all of his biggest hits on his upcoming Mathematics world tour.
Speaking on Sirius XM in the US, he said: “I take the Rem, Coldplay, U2 and Elton John approach. If it is a hit, you play it if people have paid to see you. I cannot get away with not playing Shape Of You or Perfect.
“People have paid to see those songs. But sometimes I play concerts and I do them for free. And I go, ‘You know what, I am playing whatever I want tonight’. That’s fair, I think.”
Ed will kick off his tour – in support of latest album Equals – in Dublin before striking out across the rest of the UK and Europe. He plays five dates at Wembley between June 24 and July 1, and the European leg closes in Germany with three dates in Frankfurt in late September.
'Big talking topic'
LUCY SPRAGGAN has big things planned for 2022 to mark a decade since she took part in The X Factor.
The singer-songwriter said she has penned new music inspired by the last ten years, which she is gearing up to release.
Lucy, who reached week five of The X Factor live shows in 2012, said: “There is an album coming. This whole album is like a memoir of everything that’s ever happened to me since The X Factor and onwards. So it’s going to be a big talking topic.”
WHAT A BELTER, DOJA
DOJA CAT looks on great form after bouncing back from Covid.
Her outfit was all belts and buckles as she performed in Florida.
The US rapper, real name Amala Dlamini, had been forced to take a break from performing after testing positive for coronavirus but was back with a bang for her latest gig.
Fans of the Kiss Me More singer will also be hearing new music from her soon. In an Instagram Live, Doja revealed she wants to work on an album which is “half pop and half rap”.
'Hollywood is changing'
DAMON ALBARN says the new GORILLAZ film is going to be semi-autobiographical.
The musician told French radio show PoPoPop: “The idea of somehow weaving an autobiography into a cartoon narrative is something we’d been considering.
“I’m working with a Dutch orchestra doing more Gorillaz stuff. We’ve been talking about making a film for 20 years but we are now making a film with some very talented people in America. I’m excited. I’ve been very resistant about embracing Hollywood, but I think Hollywood is changing.”
BRA-VO, MAYA
MODEL Maya Henry is clearly still in the pink after reconciling her romance with Liam Payne.
The American beauty wore a rose and red coloured bra with a matching blazer and trousers as she enjoyed a night out in the capital with her former One Direction fiancé.
Liam’s had a rough few months, with his last single Sunshine failing to break into the Top 100 and being dropped by his management team back at the end of last year.
But after he found love again with Maya in August, Liam’s lot appears to be looking up. And if he can stay on the straight and narrow, I think this year could hold better fortunes for him.
LEONA’S IN DEEP
THIS year marks seven years since Leona Lewis‘ last new album, but she has said it may finally usher her return with fresh music.
Leona, who won The X Factor 15 years ago, said she has been hard at work on her most heartfelt tracks ever after taking a break from the industry to gain life experience.
Quizzed on whether she has been working on a new record following such a long time away, she said: “I have. I’ve been in the studio. I’ve got to a really good place where I have an amazing team of a couple of writers, and we have been making stuff which is really speaking to such a deep part of me and I actually want to share this.
“There’s no timeline but there definitely will be new music. That’s kind of exciting for me because I haven’t been in this space for a while.” Speaking in an exclusive chat about her new mindset, the Bleeding Love singer told me: “I feel like I’m in a different space in my life.
“You have to have life experience to draw on for whatever you’re sharing. Things are so fast paced now and I’m just not that guy. I take time to do things and I will only put things out there that I feel really need to be out there.
“I’ve worked to timelines before and I just feel like now at this point in my life, it just needs to feel right and I’ll know when that is.”
Joel wants Little duet with Jesy
CHART-TOPPER Joel Corry already has a string of hits to his name but he’s planning to take things up a notch for 2022.
The DJ has told me he plans to slide into Jesy Nelson’s DMs to see if she will be up for hitting the studio together after her debut solo single, Boyz, with Nicki Minaj went to No4 in October.
Joel said: “I would love to meet her. She is killing it with her first solo single so maybe I’ll slip into her DMs. If any of the LITTLE MIX girls wanted to go down the dance route I’d be up for working with them.”
Katy’s dance moves
KATY PERRY will finally show off her dance moves in the upcoming music video for her Alesso collab When I’m Gone.
I can reveal that the new Queen of Las Vegas will channel her inner Pussycat Doll and perform choreography on a water covered floor reminiscent of the pop group’s 2020 React video.
A music insider spilled: “Katy looks amazing in a nude and silver dress. She’s never been known for her dance moves but the scene really works.
“Katy and her backing dancers perform on a dancefloor covered in water . . . it’s something we’ve never seen from her before.” The video is set to debut January 11.
Hot or not
- RYLAN CLARK is back on top form with a new six-pack after his break-up.
- YUNGBLUD and MILEY CYRUS’s potential collaboration could be great.
- VICKY PATTISON has turned her life around after a secret battle with booze.
- DAVID BECKHAM missed out on a New Year’s honour again – despite strong hints.
- CARDI B was robbed as clobber worth thousands went missing from her private jet.
- KANYE WEST’s weird attempts to win back KIM KARDASHIAN are embarrassing.
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