Major pop band reunite to celebrate 25th anniversary with new music

B*WITCHED are reuniting for their first new music in almost a decade.

The Irish Nineties group are launching a comeback to celebrate 25 years since they formed and will release new single Birthday on Friday — just in time for St Patrick’s Day next week.

PR SUPPLIEDB*Witched are reuniting for their first new music in almost a decade – pictured from left to right, Sinead, Lindsay, Edele, Keavy[/caption]

HandoutThe Irish Nineties group, famous for hit C’est La Vie, believe it’s far less crazy being pop stars now than in their heyday[/caption]

They are excited about taking another go at the charts as they believe it’s far less crazy being pop stars now than when they burst on to the scene with the first of four No1 singles, C’est La Vie, in 1998.

In an exclusive interview, Lindsay Armou, who has bandmates Sinead O’ Carroll and twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch said: “There’s more space to enjoy it now. The industry was so huge then, it was non-stop. We would work 16 or 17 hours a day and just be constantly on the phone.”

Keavy continued: “Now you couldn’t legally do a 22-hour video shoot, like we did. There’s protection to stop people being pushed so much. There was a lack of care.

“The industry was so fast-moving that if you had an extra hour and you could fit something in, that’s just what you would do. We had a lot of fun but every No1 we had, the pressure mounted.

“As soon as we didn’t have one it was like, ‘It’s all downhill from here’.”

Lindsay added: “I think that’s why a lot of the groups at the time had a shelf life of a few years, because with that level of intensity it’s very hard to sustain it. You reach burnout.

Many different sounds

“There’s only so long you can go on at that level of hard work with those long hours, all the travelling and not eating properly.”

Despite incredible success with singles including Rollercoaster, To You I Belong and Blame It On The Weatherman, the band were dropped after their second album.

Edele explained: “It’s indicative of how the industry was. We were dropped after selling an unbelievable amount of records that are really difficult to sell now. People don’t sell a tenth of it and still have hits and careers. But it’s just how it was.”

They are back with an entirely new sound and a tune which wouldn’t be out of place on a record released by any current pop star.

Edele said about Birthday: “We’ve been working on so many different sounds. We wanted to bring B*Witched to 2023.

“Then we landed on Birthday and when we heard it we were like, ‘This is the one’.

“There’s lots of other good things going around in the studio and you’ll hear them come out over the year.”

Keavy continued: “You’ll hear lots of new songs. You won’t be able to get away from us by the end of the year.”

All four ladies are now mums so will be juggling family lives with a busy touring schedule this year but they are looking forward to the chance to do it again.

Promising that they are here to stay, Edele said: “I think it will take us the year for people to really see us and really understand where we’re going with this. We’re in it for the long haul.”

ALL eyes were on Avril Lavigne at Paris Fashion Week – and not only because of her luminous outfit.

Hours after wearing an oversized neon blazer to the Dundas show, the Sk8er Boi singer was snogging rapper Tyga, in the most unlikely romance of the year so far.

GettyAvril Lavigne wore this neon number at Paris Fashion Week[/caption]

The Sk8er Boi singer was snogging rapper TygaGetty Images – Getty

It is a surprising partnership given he has dated reality stars Kylie Jenner and Blac Chyna.

Avril only split from her singer fiancé Mod Sun last month after two years and has been married to Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley and then Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger.

Clearly this pair are incapable of dating anyone without a showbiz following.

BIRDY WITH STRINGS ATTACHED

YOU might remember Birdy from her hit singles Skinny Love and Wings a decade or more ago.

But she is looking remarkably different now as she posed nude – apart from some conveniently placed string – in this photo to promote new single Raincatchers.

Birdy is looking remarkably different to when she first sang Skinny Love a decade ago as she posed nude to promote new single RaincatchersThibault Theodore

Birdy, whose real name is Jasmine van den Bogaerde, dropped the track on Friday ahead of her new album Portraits, which is due out on July 14.

Later this month she will be going out on tour – probably wearing more clothes . . .

Jesy is packing a punch

JESY NELSON has come out swinging as she prepares to release new music – by taking up boxing.

The former Little Mix singer has been getting gloved up to make sure she’s fighting fit ahead of her comeback this spring.

InstagramJesy Nelson had one-to-one sessions in an East London boxing gym as she prepares to release new music[/caption]

She has had one-to-one sessions in an East London boxing gym after being inspired by her boyfriend Zion Foster, a rising British R&B star.

A source said: “Zion has used boxing in training for a while and it’s rubbed off on Jesy. She was unsure at first but has really got into it.

“She’s looking and feeling better than ever.

“Jesy knows she has to hit the ground running with her next song because of the ‘blackfishing’ controversy around her debut solo tune Boyz, so she has been locked away perfecting both her music and videos.”

Jesy has been tight-lipped on what’s to come but upbeat tracks Cried Out and Bad Things have impressed her inner circle.

Cher-ing the song workload

CHER is working on her first album of original songs for a decade – and she has recruited her toyboy partner to help her.

The US superstar is working with producer Alexander “A.E.” Edwards, who has already written songs for the record.

Asked if she would be going on tour this year, Cher said: “Probably at the end. I’m trying to get myself in shape.

“But I’m going to England to make two albums so I want to get that finished first.”

The singer, whose last album of new music was Closer To The Truth in 2013, continued: “Some of the songs Alexander gave me, so I’m pretty excited about that.

“He’s a producer and a writer and he does everything, so I’m happy about that.

“Plus I’ve got Mark, who’s my producer, who’s written some amazing songs.

“I think, like any artist, when you’ve got something good, you’re excited.”

MILEY CYRUS has revealed that her new album has been inspired by the “seedy” nightlife in Los Angeles.

She will release Endless Summer Vacation on Friday and explained it is split into two halves, the AM and the PM.

GettyMiley Cyrus’ new album Endless Summer Vacation will be released on Friday[/caption]

The Flowers singer said: “The AM is representing the morning time, where there’s a buzz and an energy and there’s a potential of new possibilities. It’s a new day.

“And in the night time, it feels that there’s like a slinky, seediness and kind of a grime and a glamour at the same time.

“You know, in the evening it’s a great time for rest, it’s a time to recover or it’s a time to go out and experience the wild side.

“In LA there’s a certain energy to the night that you can kind of feel trouble boil up to the surface. It’s very inspiring to me.”

Slow go for Anne

ANNE-MARIE and her boyfriend Slowthai have kept their romance under wraps since going public last spring – but he gushes about her on his new album.

The rapper released his record Ugly last Friday, and the final track 25% Club appears to be a tribute to the 2002 hitmaker.

TIKTOKSlowthai’s latest track 25% Club appears to be a tribute to lover Anne-Marie[/caption]

Slowthai sings: “The future is written, the piece that I’m missing. The piece of the puzzle, at night I feel smitten.

“I cheat on myself to give you the world and we’re hand in hand as we’reеwalking to hell.”

Other lyrics include: “When I look in your eyes, I feel at home.” In the second verse he makes further heartfelt comments about his girlfriend.

He continues: “You are my sunshine, whilst I am your air. An oxygen thief, Robin Hood when you’re there.”

Slowthai and Anne-Marie have never gone to any official engagements together.

But in recent months she has made sneaky posts on social media with him, including a TikTok video this week of them sharing a cheeky peck on the lips.

With new music on the way from her too, I’ll expect some more love songs.