36 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 LIFESTYLE

Gossip Stefani is ‘in a good place’ wen Stefani is in a “really good place” with her Gsongwriting. The No Doubt singer - who split from husband Gavin Rossdale last month after 14 years together - is very impressed with her efforts since returning to the recording studio and admits she has never been so prolific. She told TooFab: “I’m literally writing like I’ve never written, I think ever. Every time I go in the studio-which I don’t have a lot of time in my life-so when I’ve gone in, every single time I have writ- ten a song. “I have close to 10songs, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s over a very short amount of time. It’s never happened. “o I am in a really good place for writing and I think that has a lot to do with being on ‘The Voice’ last season and also just, I don’t know, just opening up and being on a journey to get to this point to be able to write again.” The 45-year-old

took home the top singer admits it is the first time in her life that going into the studio isn’t a “chore” and she actually enjoys it. She added: “I have never been in a place, where I’m like outside all my life, where all I want to do is get in the studio.”It was always like a chore, like ‘Oh no I have to go to the studio, I am not going to be able to do it. What am I going to say?’ “Like it’s an opposite, it’s like I gotta get in the studio. When is there time, you know? Every time I go, I know I’m going to have a song and every time I have a song I get to play it really loud in my car and it’s really fun.” Skepta Skepta gong at the AIM Awards 2015 at the AIM Awards gong

he ‘Shutdown’ rapper was recognized for his Outstanding Contribution to Music at the ceremony Tthat celebrated the independent sector’s most important and influential artists and was hosted by Radio One’s Alice Levine and XFM’s John Kennedy. AIM Awards judge and BBC Radio One and TIDAL’s big money offer to Prince 1Xtra presenter MistaJam said previously: “Since grime was born out of the ashes of UK garage, Skepta has been a pioneer of the sound.”There’s no denying Skepta has put in the blood, sweat and tears for the last 10 whole years and now, as he stands on the cusp of true international acclaim, it feels right to rince decided to release ‘HITNRUN’ on TIDAL because they award Skepta for his immense contribution so far to British music.” Elsewhere, alternative rockers Wolf Poffered to pay him what he “felt it was worth”. The 57-year- Alice won the Independent Breakthrough of the Year award and Glastonbury Festival founder Michael old musician opted to share his latest album exclusively Eavis took to the stage at The Brewery in London to present British band Enter Shikari with the on Jay Z’s streaming service and producer Joshua Welton admit- Independent Album of The Year for their fourth LP ‘The Mindsweep’. FKA twigs’ song ‘Two Weeks’ was ted money played a big part, along with the respect Jay Z picked as the Independent Track of the Year, and Best Second Album went to Young Fathers for ‘White showed for Prince’s music. He said: “We believe in high quality Men Are Black Men Too’. Last year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music Award was won by techno dee- music, we believe in artists coming together, we believe in artist jay Richie Hawtin. ownership, we believe in people and we believe in community. The fact that TIDAL was willing to even pay for the album what Prince felt it was worth, that just showed the appreciation that Jay Z has for music and for Prince. TIDAL were the only ones who said ‘we’re going to pay you directly for the work that you do’. “It was a beautiful decision that Prince made, based just on Cooper’s tribute to relationships. I don’t think it took Prince long to make the deci- sion, and fortunately Hannah [Joshua’s wife and 3RDEYEGIRL drummer] and I met with Jay Z at a listening party. He’s a really ‘dead drunk friends’ great guy, and the level of greatness that he brings to the table just adds to the great cause.” Joshua also revealed that ‘HIT- he Hollywood Vampires’ debut album will be a tribute to ’s “dead drunk NRUN’ features some new sounds that fans will not have heard Tfriends”. The 67-year-old rocker was a founding member of a group of musicians includ- before. He told Gigwise: “I would definitely say that people will ing , and , who dubbed themselves The put this on and say ‘I have never heard this sound on a Prince Hollywood Vampires and came together at The Rainbow on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip to form a record before’. I’ve heard that said. There’s definitely some stuff drinking club almost 50 years ago. And when Alice and his current Hollywood Vampires band- that will tickle your ears a little bit. “Prince is a creative, so it’s not mate decided to make a covers record, he chose to dedicate it to his pals who like he’s going to constantly create the same thing. There’s new have all since passed away. He told Rolling Stone: “We started saying, ‘Let’s do an album’, I’d inspiration - it’s constantly moving. I don’t think people have never done a covers record so I said, ‘I’d like to do one in memory of all our dead drunk friends, heard him in this light before, but you’ll definitely be able to the guys that we used to drink with that are now gone.’ “It was a bunch of guys. I told Johnny, turn it up loud and get your groove on to it.” ‘They’re all dead now. Let’s do an hom- age to them.’” The now teetotal star added: “If any guy is allowed to make an album about his dead drunk friends, it would be me. 33 years ago, I came as close to joining them as possible without doing it. I’m a survivor.” was staying on Johnny’s estate while the duo Nolan’s new film were recording and it wasn’t long before he joined the band. He said: “I was stay- ing literally next door to his studio. So when I would finish working on the book, I would just wander over and they would be doing sessions. Johnny said, gets release date ‘Hey, you wanna be part of this?’ I was like, twist my arm, this was so great. Alice hristopher Nolan’s next movie will be released on July 21st, 2017. The added: “Joe would come down and start C45-year-old filmmaker - who’s directed some of the biggest hits in playing, and I went, ‘There’s the band, recent years, including ‘Inception’ and Interstellar’ - is to make the as- right there. We’ve got two guitar players yet-untitled movie for his long-time partner Warner Bros and has instructed that sing, now we need a drummer and a everyone connected to the project to keep its details a secret, according to bass player.’ And then everybody started The Hollywood Reporter. The eagerly-awaited movie will be released emerging. We just rocked it.” between the next installment of the ‘Planet of the Apes’ franchise and before Sony and Marvel’s ‘Spider-Man’ movie. Earlier this year, meanwhile, Christopher revealed himself to be unconcerned by criticism of his films, despite the attention they receive. He shared: “It’s not as hard to keep your reactions in proportion as you might think, and the reason for that is Cate Blanchett: Watching because yes, a bad review or a particular criticism will make you angry, and you’ll be happy when somebody says they like the film - but you get both reactions to every film, no matter who you are, and it’s the same movie! “So myself is excruciating there’s a very natural kind of perspective that comes in about other people’s responses, which is they’re very, very subjective, just as mine are to a lot of ate Blanchett finds it “excruciating” to watch herself on screen. The Oscar-winning movies I watch, so, you don’t want to be reactive to that.” Cstar revealed that despite being widely recognized as one of the most accomplished stage and screen actresses of her time, she doesn’t enjoy seeing herself in action. She shared: “The first time you watch yourself in any role, it’s excruciating. “The more you do it, the more you can treat it objectively and make comments like, ‘oh that was a bad choice’. But it’s never easy.” Meanwhile, Cate also revealed she much prefers working in Redmayne ‘met his theatre than the film industry, explaining she enjoys having the opportunity to “experi- ment”. She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “I’m very slow when it comes to embody- ing the character. That’s why I love the theatre. “Without sounding too pretentious, saying someone else’s words - and making them sound like your own - is very complex in the animated character’ neurolinguistic sense. “Somehow, in the theatre, over six or seven weeks, the language sits in your body and naturally happens. Whereas with film, you don’t always have the time to ddie Redmayne got to meet his on-screen character in new experiment.” Cate’s remarks come shortly after she revealed she hates being called a animated movie ‘Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend of the “Hollywood actress”. The ‘Blue Jasmine’ star said she isn’t comfortable with the phrase E Lost Treasure’. The Oscar-winning actor, who plays the part of because she thinks it is a subtle insult. She explained: “That’s what they say about you Ryan in the new film, has revealed how “absurdly excited” he when they want to insult you.” became after meeting a model of his character. Eddie said: “I got to meet my engine, which is amazing. When you go there, they sort of introduce you to a model of him. Your inner six-year-old is hav- ing a disco. It’s amazing. Absurdly excited. “But I was kind of upset that I didn’t get to act alongside oth- Foxx in talks for er actors. I know Olivia Colman was doing it. We crossed paths in the green room.” Eddie also explained the ‘Baby Driver’ unique challenges of playing a voice- only character. He told Entertainment amie Foxx is in talks to star alongside Lily James in ‘Baby Driver’. The Weekly: “I’ve never ever voiced any J47-year-old singer-turned-actor has reportedly been in negotiations form of cartoon character in my life with the film’s director, ‘Ant-Man’ filmmaker Edgar Wright according and it was an extraordinary thing. to a source he confirmed the news to Variety. The details about ‘Django “It’s all the weirdness that you hear it Unchained’ star’s role have been kept under wraps. However, it has been is. You stand by yourself in a booth, revealed that Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan will take on pro- and you have a Thomas voice coach, ducing duties alongside Nira Park who has her own production house, who specifically coaches everyone on Big Talk Productions. In terms of financing the flick it will be split equally how to adhere to the Thomas world. between MRC and TriStar. The story itself is about a young driver who “What was interesting was, having relies solely on the beat of his own soundtrack to be the best at what he never really done a voice, I started by does and ends up being forced into working under a crime boss. playing it quite naturalistic. I started Production is expected to commence later on in the year with Sony have off doing it quite simply, and quite given the pic a March release date. ‘Baby Driver’ will follow Foxx’s current close to my voice, and in the end I role in action thriller ‘Sleepless Night’. Other recent films included a think I was about 17 octaves higher.” remake of the classic ‘Annie’ and New Line Cinemas ‘Horrible Bosses 2’. Foxx would star alongside ‘Cinderella’ star Lily James.