ED Sheeran has already got to the top as a singer, songwriter and performer and he could soon be packing out nightclubs by reinventing himself as a DJ.
I’ve learned the superstar has taken to the decks to rework his pal Passenger’s new song Sword From The Stone. Ed will release the track, his first ever remix, next Friday.
And instead of putting his own name to it, he’s taking inspiration from his hair colour and calling it the “Gingerbread mix”.
It will give a massive boost to Passenger, real name Michael Rosenberg, who has today released his 12th studio album, Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted.
A music insider said: “They have been friends for years after meeting when they were teenagers and have covered songs together before but never done anything like this.
“They’ve stayed really good mates and when Mike asked if Ed would be up for working together, he said yes straight away.
“Getting together in the studio wasn’t really an option in 2020 but Ed has produced this new remix of Sword From The Stone and they both love it.
“Mike has been the support act for loads of Ed’s concerts over the years, most recently in 2019 during his Divide Tour, so it was really nice for them to do something new together.”
Passenger said in 2012 of the pair’s relationship: “I’ve been friends with Ed since he was about 15.
“We both played in this tiny, tiny basement in Cambridge years ago. We watched each other’s set and just struck a chord with each other.”
It won’t be the first we’ve heard from Ed recently, following the surprise release of his song Afterglow last month, which is expected to hit the top five in the singles charts for the first time today.
The superstar announced a hiatus from music at the end of 2019 and last year welcomed his first child, daughter Lyra.
Now fans are hoping that he will put out a new album in 2021.
Judging by the fact this is the second time we’ve heard from Ed in as many months, it certainly feels like it won’t be long before he’s dominating the charts once again.
Jade hits sweet spot
JADE Thirlwall looks super-sassy in this photo and she will be keeping her fingers crossed she cements her place as top of the pops when the charts are unveiled this afternoon.
Little Mix are fighting for their fifth No1 single with Sweet Melody, which last night looked a shoo-in to claim the No1 spot.
It had sold more than 25,000 copies as of yesterday, some 5,000 more than its nearest rivals.
The final result won’t be announced until just before 6pm on the Radio 1 chart show.
The group – which Jesy Nelson quit last month – have achieved 16 Top Ten songs during their decade together.
But this would be their first No1 since Shout Out To My Ex spent three consecutive weeks at No1 in 2016.
Even while locked indoors, I’m sure Jade, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock will make sure they have a good knees-up to celebrate.
Miley metal mate Elton
MILEY Cyrus has revealed she recruited Sir Elton John to help out with her Metallica covers album.
She told Capital FM: “I did Nothing Else Matters featuring Elton on piano. I’ve got Yo-Yo Ma, Chad Smith, so many all-stars in this band. I’m really stoked. I love when ingredients don’t quite fit.”
She first told fans of the project three months ago.
Miley said of recording and working through the pandemic: “We’re so lucky to be able to continue to work on our art during all of this. At first it felt uninspiring and now I’ve been totally ignited.”
Danny's rockin' regret
HE’S not got the most soothing voice as Mick Carter in EastEnders but Danny Dyer regrets having missed out on a career in music.
The actor said: “I would have loved to have been a fing musician back in the day. What a f***ing job that is.”
Danny has been reflecting on his favourite music and he still has hopes of seeing Oasis get back on stage.
Asked on his podcast Sorted With The Dyers if he prefers them or Kasabian, he said: “Oasis, they’re the original. They got us all out of rave music in the Nineties.
“Everyone was jumping around to acid house and all of a sudden we were listening to guitar music. Oasis pulled us out of that madness.”
On whether they could ever get back together, he added: “You never say never – brothers and all that. Maybe they will, when they’re skint enough, wanna come back and do a big gig.”
Don’t count on it, Danny.
Singer Raye in frame to star in her own movie
BRITISH pop star Raye has had a string of her own hits, written for Beyonce and launched a modelling career – and now she’s heading for the big screen.
I can reveal she has landed a role in her first film, which is scheduled to start shooting later this year.
Details of the production are being kept quiet, but I’m told she impressed movie bosses after taking acting classes. She is also writing music to accompany the film.
Raye revealed the news in an exclusive chat, telling me: “I’m going to be writing something for a movie soon, which I’m really excited about.
“I’m going to be in it, too. It’s going to be my first acting role. It’s early days but basically I’m really exploring stuff.”
These photos show Raye on the set of something else, though – the video to her tune Regardless, which will be out this afternoon.
It is the latest single to be taken from her mini-album Euphoric Sad Songs, which came out in November.
She has also been working with Cardi B and The Chainsmokers on new music, and added: “I’ve started scoring some BBC TV programmes where they’re going to let me compose the music, just instrumentals, so I’m doing some production stuff there. I’m dipping my toes into these different worlds.”
The girl doesn’t stop.
Draco rocks
TOM Felton played the villain Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, but he has actually got the voice of an angel.
He performed an original song live on Instagram yesterday, suggesting he could be about to launch a fully-fledged music career a decade on from the release of a handful of singles.
In lyrics which will resonate with a lot of people across the country right now, he sang: “I want to sail the seven seas in one night, I want someone to tell me it’s gonna be all right.
“Take me away, take me away from here, because I want to be far away from here.”
In the past year, Tom – who featured in all eight Potter films – has racked up quite a following on social media and attracted a whole generation of new fans through TikTok.
Now that he has proved that he can sing and play the guitar too, record labels would be mad not to sign him up.
Zig-zag tribute
DAVID Bowie is to set to be honoured with a memorial in the shape of a giant zig-zag.
Referencing his face paint for the cover of 1973 album Aladdin Sane, it is planned for Brixton, South London, where the late Ziggy Stardust singer was born.
Charlie Waterhouse, of local graphics firm This Ain’t Rock ’n’ Roll, said: “An artist in Holland is looking to do the memorial.”
And the tributes to Bowie, who died five years ago, don’t stop there. Tonight from 6pm, fans can see the likes of Boy George, Ricky Gervais and Gary Barlow join the virtual concert A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day to mark what would have been his 74th birthday. See rollinglivestudios.com/collections/bowie
Zayn’s return
ZAYN Malik has announced he will release his third album next Friday – which has the ironic title Nobody Is Listening.
Given he is putting it out during one of the quietest periods of the year for new music, I would hope at least a few people give it a spin.
Zayn will be keeping his fingers crossed it does better than his last effort, Icarus Falls, which peaked at a disappointing No77 in the charts two years ago.
But I have much higher hopes for this record, from which he released new single Vibez today.
The ex-One Direction member’s debut Mind Of Mine went to No1 on both sides of the Atlantic in 2016 and was genuinely great.
If it’s anything like that, Zayn should be on to a winner.
Eminem in Dogg house
THE reason why old pals Snoop Dogg and Eminem have been feuding for the past year has been revealed by a mutual friend.
Musician Daz Dillinger said Eminem had turned down another chance to work together.
He explained: “Snoop was like, ‘Don’t nobody tell me no’. He took it personally, and that’s why you never heard a song from Snoop and Em since then.”
Issues came to light over the past 12 months, with Snoop taking the first public swipe by saying the Slim Shady superstar wasn’t on his list of the ten greatest rappers.
Last month Eminem mocked Snoop on a re-released version of Zeus, from his 2020 album Music To Be Murdered By: B Side.
AMY Macdonald has joined Arlo Parks, Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys and Jordan Adetunji as an ambassador for Independent Venue Week in a bid to fight for the survival of concert spaces.
Almost 80 venues will take part in the celebrations from January 25 to 31, which will include digital “in conversations” with artists, live streams, comedy events and quizzes.
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