One Liners: Ellie Goulding, Rina Sawayama, The National, more

Ellie Goulding has spoken to NME about new album ‘Higher Than Heaven’, her Calvin Harris-collab ‘Miracle’ riding high in the charts and the possibility of representing the United Kingdom in Eurovision.Goulding’s fifth album ‘Higher Than Heaven’ was released on Friday (April 7) – and was written intentionally as purely escapist pop.“My new thing is acknowledging the things I’m good at, and I’m good at writing pop songs,” Goulding told NME. “I’ve made a classical album, I’ve made electronic music and I regularly give my vocal away to producers like Four Tet.

Ellie Goulding – Higher Than HeavenReleased: April 7English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding pushed back the release of her new album Higher Than Heaven twice, but now it’s finally arrived.The set was heavily influenced by the pandemic and the emotional toll it took on the star, but it also sounds joyful. She began promoting the record in the summer of 2022, and since then, she has released five singles from the project.While the new title has not yet achieved the same commercial success as her previous efforts, it sounds like it might light up dance floors all summer long.Sarah and the Safe Word – The Book of Broken GlassReleased: April 7If you’re not already familiar with them, Sarah and the Safe Word is a captivating dark pop and alternative band from Atlanta.

Ellie Goulding has revealed that she wants to collaborate with Charli XCX, with the pair already “deciding” to write a track together.READ MORE: Ellie Goulding – ‘Higher Than Heaven’ review: playful antidote to personal-driven popEllie Goulding’s recent collaboration with Calvin Harris ‘Miracle’ went to Number One in the Official UK Singles Chart yesterday (April 7), beating out competition from Miley Cyrus and Ed Sheeran.She also released her fifth studio album ‘Higher Than Heaven’ yesterday, after claiming it was her “least personal” album.In a new interview with The Daily Beast, Goulding has said she wants to team up with Charli XCX on a future track.“I was chatting to Charli XCX last night and whenever I see her I make a point of saying I’m such a big fan, because I am. I just love that she’s just always been true to herself and completely authentic, and she’s a great songwriter and a great pop artist.

Boygenius have scored their first UK Number One album with their debut LP ‘The Record’.The trio – comprising Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus – beat off competition from DMA’S new album ‘How Many Dreams?’ to claim the top spot.They have also claimed the top spot on this week’s official UK vinyl albums chart, according to the Official Charts Company.‘The Record’ scored five stars and was described by NME as “the instant classic we were hoping for” and the “indie rock supergroup elevates their songwriting by combining the best parts of their artistry.”The review added: “This debut is a gorgeous testament to what can happen when you allow yourself to fully be seen.

There is nothing better than a big pop girl, and this list of the British female solo artists with the most Number 1s in UK chart history is more than proof of that. 

It’s a Miracle! Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding have risen to Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart.

SZA has been announced as the latest headliner set to appear at the 2023 Open’er festival, which will take place in Poland this summer.The long-running festival will be held at Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport in Gdynia and will run from June 28 to July 1.The singer-songwriter – whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe – will perform on the second night of the festival (June 29), in the headline slot. She also joins other previously announced headliners at the four-day stint – including a co-headline set with Lil Nas X and Lizzo on June 28, and Kendrick Lamar, who will close the festival with his performance on July 1.Arctic Monkeys were the first leading act to be added to the bill.

Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding have just pulled ahead in the race for the UK’s Official Number 1 single.  

After becoming Ed Sheeran’s 14th Number 1 single last week, Eyes Closed will have to defend its position at the top of the Official Singles Chart, as Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding fight to overtake it.

Ellie Goulding has shared details of her ‘Higher Than Heaven’ tour this year.This autumn, the pop star will play gigs in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham, and wrap with a headline show at London’s Roundhouse on October 24.Later in October and into November, Goulding will head to mainland Europe for shows in Paris, Utrecht, Brussels, Milan, Cologne and Berlin.Tickets go on general sale at 9am BST next Thursday (April 6) here.

RELEASESTyler, The Creator has released another new track from the upcoming deluxe edition of his ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’ album, titled ‘Sorry Not Sorry’.Django Django have released new single ‘Don’t Touch That Dial’, featuring Yuuko. It is taken from a second drop of tracks from the band’s ‘Off Planet’ album, which will be out in full on 16 Jun.Former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo has released new solo single ‘Separation From The Sacred’. The track is taken from his new drum album ‘Rites Of Percussion’, which is out on 5 May.

John Wick: Chapter 4.The film was released in the UK last week (March 24), and is the fourth instalment to the action-packed John Wick franchise.Following its release, many fans have noticed a cameo from the iconic Berghain bouncer, who appears several times throughout the film and has just one line: “I am Klaus”.The premise behind the fourth edition of the series follows the title character, as he attempts to take on the aristocratic crime barons who sit at The High Table’ – travelling across the world to do so. From there, the impeccably-dressed assassin heads to iconic locations including Paris, New York and Berlin, where he meets Marquardt.Here, his character is an associate of Wick and helps the title character to locate a villainous character whom he’s instructed to assassinate.

John Wick: Chapter 4 has been released – check it out below.Directed once again by Chad Stahelski, the sequel is the longest and arguably most ambitious entry in the franchise yet – with bigger action sequences and an expanded cast including Bill Skarsgård.A synopsis reads: “John Wick uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.”Tyler Bates and Joel J.

Rina Sawayama has shared a new song from the John Wick: Chapter 4 soundtrack ahead of the film’s arrival in cinemas on Friday (March 24).The song is called ‘Eye For An Eye’ and was produced and co-written by Tyler Bates, who has composed the scores for all four John Wick films. Lyrically, it speaks of revenge: “An eye for an eye, a life for a life/ I’ll see you in hell on the other side,” Sawayama sings.Sawayama also makes her acting debut in the film, in which she plays Akira, the concierge of the Osaka Continental and the daughter of John Wick’s (Keanu Reaves) ally Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada).Check out ‘Eye For An Eye’ below:Speaking to NME for the Big Read cover story in September, Sawayama spoke about scoring the role.

Meghan Markle had connections with the Royal Family before she even met Prince Harry. The 41 year old was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and rose to fame when she landed the role of Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits in 2011 - a part she went on to play for seven seasons. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met in 2016 and went on to marry two years later .

The National will be releasing a new single, ‘Eucalyptus’, tomorrow (March 22).The track is set to the third single, after ‘New Order T-Shirt’ and ‘Tropic Morning News’, to be taken from the band’s upcoming album ‘First Two Pages Of Frankenstein’. The album is scheduled to drop on April 28 via 4AD and will feature collaborations with Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens. ‘Eucalyptus’ might sound familiar to The National superfans, as the band previously played the song live last year on tour — check out footage below.Several other new songs have debuted in the same way, including ‘Tropic Morning News (Haversham)’ and Bon Iver collaboration ‘Weird Goodbyes’, as well as other as yet unreleased songs such as ‘Grease In Your Hair (Birdie)’, and ‘Bathwater (Mount Auburn)’.Speaking to NME about new music last year, The National’s guitarist Bryce Dessner said: “What I can say is that we’re at a high watermark in terms of our creativity as a band.

After performing a Miracle and debuting with last week’s highest new entry, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding are currently challenging Miley Cyrus for the UK’s Number 1 single, moving up one (2), while Miley’s Flowers battles for a 10th consecutive week at the top.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to Sir Elton John’s annual Oscars bash, a royal expert has said. The snub proves the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are “nobodies in Hollywood”, author Tom Bower added. Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, failed to appear at any Academy Awards 2023 events over the weekend.

Every Thursday, we here at Official Charts round up the biggest New Releases coming your way across music and home entertainment.