X Factor winners Rak-Su dropped from record label after disappointing sales and Myles’ split from Gabby Allen
WINNING The X Factor is meant to deliver fame and fortune but that’s not always the case — just ask Rak-Su. The four-piece vocal group have been dropped by record label RCA less than two years after being crowned champs. They are yet to release their debut album but bosses have told them they won’t […]
WINNING The X Factor is meant to deliver fame and fortune but that’s not always the case — just ask Rak-Su.
The four-piece vocal group have been dropped by record label RCA less than two years after being crowned champs.
They are yet to release their debut album but bosses have told them they won’t be continuing with their deal.
Myles Stephenson, Ashley Fongho, Jamaal Shurland and Mustafa Rahimtulla went to No2 with Dimelo, featuring Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, when they came off the 2017 show.
But their four singles since have been poorly received and they have also struggled to shift copies of two EPs.
A music insider said: “It’s a tough time to be in pop and the buzz for Rak-Su fizzled out fast. They haven’t delivered the huge chart singles which bosses were convinced they would, despite being so popular on the show. The feeling is that their moment has passed and it’s gong to be tough to revive it.
“The boys are determined though and are planning to continue as a band, trying to get a record deal elsewhere.”
I’ve always thought the guys were lovely and had real potential, so it’s a shame it hasn’t worked out.
Their situation wasn’t helped last year when, due to a row between their old record label Syco and their management company Modest, they were moved over to a new team at RCA.
They are the latest in a long line of X Factor winners to have been dropped, with Matt Terry, Ben Haenow and Sam Bailey suffering a similar fate. Grace Davies, who was on the 2017 series too, also signed by Syco but still hasn’t released any music.
It is a double dose of bad news for the group’s hunk Myles, as it comes just weeks after he was dumped by his girlfriend, Love Island’s Gabby Allen, after she caught him messaging other girls behind her back.
She showed Myles what he was missing on a night out in Essex on Wednesday.
Wonder what she was celebrating?
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The beautiful Blunt is back
JAMES Blunt sold 11million copies of his breakout debut album Back To Bedlam and now he’s going back to weepy ballads to try to repeat its success.
Almost 15 years after its release, the You’re Beautiful singer has announced his sixth record, Once Upon A Mind, will be out on October 25 – and I’ve heard it and it’s a return to form.
James said: “This is the most honest album I have ever made.
“Back To Bedlam was similar in that I had been writing those songs for a while about my life experiences at that time and they came together on my debut.
“And every song on this album represents something I’m currently going through or have recently experienced.
“It’s a very personal record, and I’m really proud I can share it.”
James released the first track from it, Cold, today.
The former soldier will head out on tour for eight shows across the country in February, before a final one at London’s Royal Albert Hall on April 7.
If the album can go anywhere near matching his acid-tongued put-downs on Twitter, it’s going to be a massive success.
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LIAM Gallagher has mocked brother Noel after he revealed he was considering an Oasis musical.
Liam tweeted: “5 lads from Manchester start a band and take on the world the little 1 who writes the songs turns into a massive c***.”
Cara’s such a carer
IT’S apt that Cara Delevingne was wearing a Queen Of Hearts T-shirt today as she spent the day in London spreading the love.
The actress said she has always been puzzled by people being nasty and encouraged everyone to be nicer to each other. She explained: “For me as a kid, when there was any hatred towards anyone, it made no sense.
“And especially growing up as someone who is queer in some way, always feeling like ‘why would anyone judge anyone for not understanding or not really knowing them’. It never made sense.”
Cara starts filming heist thriller Punk in the coming weeks, which is stars rapper Machine Gun Kelly and has Sly Stallone as the executive producer.
If she looks even half as good as this on screen, it’s bound to be a hit.
bizbit
SHAWN Mendes is using his fame for good.
His Shawn Mendes Foundation, aiming to inspire and empower fans to bring about positive changes, has already raised £800,000 to help several youth-related causes.
2’s Bey-ter than 1
BEYONCE has duetted with Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga, but her next one could be her most unlikely collaboration since she performed with Alexandra Burke on The X Factor in 2008.
The superstar has booked to go into the studio with rising Spanish singer Rosalia, hoping a tune with the up-and-comer could give her a chart shot in the arm.
A music insider said: “It’s been a while since Beyonce has had a really big hit but she is a huge fan of Rosalia and believes they could really make the summer anthem of 2020. She reached out to her recently and they’ve now arranged to go into the studio together later this year.
“Beyonce featured on J Balvin’s Mi Gente in 2017 so she knows how popular Latin-inspired music is right now. Rosalia has huge relevance and appeal and they are both super excited about what they could do together.”
Barack Obama last week shared his summer playlist, which featured Rosalia’s song Con Altura and two Beyonce tunes.
With this collaboration, they’d be sure to secure a spot on it next year, too.
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Slim Si’s in fitness DVD with pal David
SIMON Cowell has made millions with his shrewd business sense but I don’t think his latest idea will boost his riches.
The newly trim music mogul has joked he will release a fitness DVD with pal David Walliams after shedding a stone and a half.
Simon, who insists he lost the weight after switching to a vegan diet and low-calorie beer, appeared on ITV’s Lorraine today with his fellow Britain’s Got Talent judges David, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden, to be interviewed by The Sun’s Executive Editor Dan Wootton.
Ahead of Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, which airs at 8pm on ITV Saturday, David teased: “Well I’ve lost a tiny bit of weight and he’s lost about five stone. But he won’t say how he did it. Is it a gastric band or a gastric sleeve? He’s not saying.”
Simon responded: “It’s not one of those bands, no.”
David then followed up by asking: “Are you doing a workout video?”
Shaking on it, Simon replied: “I could do one with you, yeah.”
Alesha told Dan: “That would would sell a lot of copies.”
After spending a day living like Simon – as I told readers earlier this month – I’ll be gutted if that’s not in my Christmas stocking.
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NICK Jonas is launching tequila brand Villa One with his clothes designer pal John Varvatos.
Nick said: “We learned we share the same values, enjoying time with friends and family, old and new, one glass at a time.”
Bloom time for Katy P
KATY Perry looked in high spirits at a screening of her fiance Orlando Bloom’S new Amazon Prime show Carnival Row – but she may not have been grinning after watching it.
He romps on screen in the fantasy series, which launches today.
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At the premiere in London on Wednesday he explained: “It’s always awkward. There’s a lot of people watching you pretending to have sex.
“It’s not gratuitous, it leads into the fantasy genre of the show.”
Getting it on with him will be a fantasy for plenty of viewers.
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- AMY Childs has split from boyfriend Ritchie, dad to her 11-month-old son. They dated for almost two years. A source said: “They broke up on good terms and will remain friends. He’s still a big part of her son’s life. Her children are the biggest part of her life and they both want the best for their children.”
- HEAR’SAY’s Noel Sullivan put on two stone to play teacher Dewey Finn in School Of Rock in the West End. He told This Morning: “It’s referenced in the script about the teacher being fat, you can’t do it in a fat suit. It’s pizza and pasta for me.” Jack Black played the role in the movie version.
- TICKETS have gone on sale for goth pop band Pvris’s February tour, which takes in Glasgow, Manchester and London. If that fails, frontwoman Lynn Gunn could try for a stint on I’m A Celebrity… after proving fearless by holding several snakes in the new video for their track Hallucinations.
- JOHN Legend will play his only European show of 2019 in London on October 25 when he headlines BluesFest at the O2 Arena. Tickets go on sale today. The Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner, who is married to model Chrissy Teigen, hasn’t performed in the capital for two years.
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