Thursday, 5 September 2013

Happy Birthday Ultimo from my Favourite Miss Ultimo Model Jade Ewen

Photos: Jade looking very stylish at the Very.co.uk Launch Party 4.9.2013

Jade Ewen attends the launch party of very.co.uk's Definitions range at Somerset House on September 4, 2013 in London, England.

ThatGrapeJuice.net Exclusive: Amelle Berrabah Talks New Single, New Sugababes Album….And MKS’ Flatline

Wednesday, September 4th 2013

Exclusive: Amelle Berrabah Talks New Single, New Sugababes Album….And MKS’ Flatline

Eight years removed from her Sugababes fuelled chart debut, Amelle Berrabah continues on in her bid for solo success this year, kicking off with her brand new single ‘Love Is All We Need‘.

Only right then, that as long time supporters of the Sugababes belle, that we catch up with her for an interview in the city of London last week, dishing on everything from the new single, her plans to reunite with the group and ‘Flatline‘, the new single from her would be rivals, MKS.

Check it out below…

TGJ: It’s been three years since the release of ‘Sweet 7′, what have you been up to since then?

Amelle: I have been pretty much in studio writing and recording my first solo album. I kept away from pretty much all public events so I could focus on what I was doing.

TGJ: Great! This year marks the release of solo material from you, what prompted the recording process and how have you found the experience- considering your time as part of a long running group?

Amelle: Well it’s definitely something that I knew I wanted to do for a long time and knew that I would get into studio and focus on it when the time was right. I have had the most incredible journey being in the Sugababes.

Apart from being given the opportunity to do the thing I most love everyday, I also have traveled around the world and seen/experienced things that I would have never seen/experienced before. I had only been on a plane once in my life before I joined the group.

TGJ:As far as production goes, how will your solo sound differ from the ‘Sugababe’ sound, and which writers and producers have you enlisted to help craft the project?

Amelle: The overall sound that I have gone for definitely differs from what me and the girls do musically. Its definitely a reflection of my personality, humour, and my life. Some songs are pretty quirky, some are up beat Dance/Club tracks, some are mid tempo ballads and there’s a track that is totally stripped back where it is just my voice and a piano. Hopefully it’s an album for everyone.
TGJ: You once shared management with ‘Radioactive‘ singer Rita Ora, as you embark on your solo journey how much pressure do you feel is on you to deliver on all front. More specifically, when it comes to standing out in the Brit-Pop crowd?

Amelle: It’s something I don’t tend to think about as its so easy to fall into the ‘hole’ of worrying about what everybody else thinks and you could fall into something that isn’t you and trying to be someone or something that your not so I tend to keep my eyes forward and go with what I like and don’t compare myself to anyone else.

TGJ: Recent years have seen Amelle the personality outshine Amelle the vocalist due to the absence of new material, what are you hoping to achieve with this new release on a critical tip?

Amelle: I think if you ‘get’ me or ‘get’ my sense of humour, you’ll understand my music better. I have a big imagination and from what I’m told (a lot), I see things or my point of view on things are different to what most would see.

People who know me would say my mind is ‘different’ but I prefer special or unique… Lol! Im hoping to deffo achieve an album for everyone for whatever mood your in. I want the album to make you smile and for people to identify it with themselves and find it easy to relate to.I want to make sure I’m totally finished before I announce a release date, because I’m still changing little bits.

TGJ: We can’t wait to hear it! This year marked the birth (or return) of MKS, what are your thoughts on the reunion and their lead single ‘Flatline’?

Amelle: I like the new single. I had to listen to it a few times but its defo a grower. I think they’ll do well.

TGJ: Earlier this year, Jade Ewen stated that she believed Sugababes were ‘pretty much over’. For the record, what is going on with the group and are there any plans for a future release?

Amelle: I deffo wouldn’t say never. I would like to think that all 3 of us would get back together at the end of 2014 to do another album. But that’s if all 3 of us want to do it whole heartily. But a lot changes in a year but I’d like to think we will.

TGJ: Finally, in the grand scheme of things- how would Amelle like to remembered?

Amelle: I would love to be remembered as being a talented musician and song writer.

TGJ: Thanks for speaking with us Amelle!

Amelle: Thank you.

*Interview by David Asante (That Grape Juice – London)

Your thoughts?

Ben Freeman Joins HAPPY DAYS Tour as 'The Fonz'; Full Cast Announced! Broadwayworld.com

Ben Freeman Joins HAPPY DAYS Tour as 'The Fonz'; Full Cast Announced!

Wednesday, September 4, 2013; 07:09 PM - by BWW News Desk

Amy Anzel for Sunday Monday Ltd in association with Todd Ruppert of RTR International, just announced that West End leading man and "Emmerdale" star, Ben Freeman, will take on the iconic role of 'The Fonz' in the UK Premiere and national tour of Happy Days - A New Musical, alongsideCheryl Baker as 'Mrs Cunningham' and the previously announced Heidi Range as 'Pinky Tuscadero'.
Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Andrew Wright, Happy Days - A New Musical will open at the Churchill Theatre Bromley onTuesday 14 January 2014 (previews from Saturday 11 January), before embarking on a national tour. The full tour schedule can be found atwww.happydaysthemusical.co.uk
Ben Freeman can currently be seen as 'Fiyero' in "Wicked" at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. His other West End credits include 'Warner' in "Legally Blonde", and 'Norman' in "Dreamboats and Petticoats". Ben is probably best known to tv audiences as 'Scott Windsor' in "Emmerdale".
As a member of the pop group Bucks Fizz, Cheryl Baker won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, and has subsequently had more than 20 hit records including three number ones. She made her theatrical debut in the musical "Footloose", starring in both the inaugural tour and in the West End. Her other musicals include 'Mrs Potts' in "Beauty and the Beast" and "Menopause The Musical". A television regular, last year Cheryl took part in "Celebrity Masterchef" and she came in as first runner-up on "Pop Star To Opera Star" in 2011.
HEIDI RANGE is best known for being the longest serving current member of the multiplatinum selling British girl group, the Sugababes. Last year, Heidi took part in the ITV series, Dancing on Ice, and subsequently in the Dancing on Ice live UK tour. Heidi was one of this year's "Celebrity Masterchef" contestants.
The rest of the cast includes: Lucy-Jane Adcock, Charlie Allen, Henry Davis, Ray Gardner, Emma Harrold, Grace Holdstock, Katie Monks, Eddie Myles, James Paterson, Edwin Ray, Sam Robinson,Andrew Waldron, Scott Waugh and Jason Winter.
Happy Days - A New Musical is written by Garry Marshall, the legendary creator of the popular television series. Garry is also the director of many world-wide hit films including "Pretty Woman", "Beaches" and "The Princess Diaries 1&2". It includes 21 original songs by Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning Hall of Fame Songwriter, Paul Williams ("Bugsy Malone", "Evergreen", "Rainy Days and Mondays"). The show also includes the much-loved Happy Days theme tune from the TV show.
Henry Winkler, the original Fonz from the television series, will serve as Creative Consultant, working alongside the director in creating the 'Happy Days' world of 1959 America and guiding the cast in creating their ever so familiar characters, especially that of 'The Fonz'.
Happy Days - A New Musical is a hilarious feel-good musical that is guaranteed to have you rockin' and rollin' all week long! This brand new UK Tour based on the hit TV series features the unforgettable 'King of Cool' Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli. Join your favourite '50's family, the Cunninghams and the rest of the gang - Potsie, Ralph Malph, Joanie and Chachi as they battle to save their beloved diner Arnold's from demolition. In a race against time, can everyone's favourite hero 'The Fonz' save the day?
Andrew Wright is a director and choreographer whose most recent work includes Chichester Festival Theatre's and Cameron Mackintosh's "Barnum" (Theatre in the Park), and "Singin' in the Rain" (Palace Theatre, National Tour and Chichester Festival Theatre) for which he won Best Choreographer at the What's On Stage Awards 2013 and was nominated for Best Choreographer at the Olivier Awards 2012 and Broadway World Awards 2011, as well as the recent national tour of "Wonderful Town".

Happy Days - A New Musical has arrangements and orchestrations by John McDaniel, with Production Design by Tom Rogers, Lighting Design by Philip Gladwell and Sound Design by Ben Harrison.

Happy Days - A New Musical is presented in partnership with Ed's Easy Diner, the much loved chain of retro-American diners that successfully captures the spirit of the classic US original, which is an iconic symbol of an unforgettable period in American history. It was a quarter of a century ago that Ed's Easy Diner opened its doors in London's Soho, growing since to more than twenty diners nationwide.

Pages