DENISE VAN OUTEN is preparing to make a move into hard-hitting dance music.
The star of stage, screen and the airwaves will again prove she is one of the most versatile women in showbiz after almost four decades in the limelight.
Denise Van Outen is preparing to make a move into hard-hitting dance music[/caption]
Fresh from releasing album A Bit Of Me — her first in 22 years and featuring covers of powerful ballads including from George Michael — the former Big Breakfast host has started working on her own dance songs after getting a DJ residency at Ibiza superclub UNVRS.
‘Baring my soul’
In an exclusive chat, Denise said: “I’ve been writing not just this kind of music [ballads] but also dance tunes.
“I’ve got a residency at UNVRS in Ibiza, which is the biggest club in the world.
“I’ve started to get a real feel for what’s out there and I’ve been playing around with writing.
“I’m writing dance tunes and ballads.
“I just love it, I like the creative process.”
On whether she will release her electronic tunes, she added: “I’m working on one at the moment, so yeah, 100 per cent.”
Her emotional album A Bit Of Me includes one original song, the title track, which is also the name of her 2022 memoir.
The track was written when she split from her fiancé Eddie Boxshall in 2022 after seven years.
In it, she sings about being “scared” and “wounded” from love, but still yearning to carry on.
Reflecting on the song, she said: “At that particular time I was really quite sad and I was a little bit lost.
“I didn’t know what my future was going to be romantically or with everything really.
“So that’s why that song’s so vulnerable and sounds the way it does, because it just really was me baring my soul.”
Denise, who was in Manchester for the album launch party on Saturday, said she has had one of the “best summers ever” thanks to her Ibiza residency.
But she will be back on stage across Blighty from March 1 to March 22 for An Evening With Denise Van Outen, where she will sing and talk about her life.
And she reckons it might give her the bug to return to performing, having played Roxie Hart in musical Chicago on Broadway in 2002.
Denise added: “I’ve been asked to do quite a few West End shows over the years but I’ve been a single mum.
“It’s a big commitment.
“But my daughter is getting older now so I will 100 per cent want to get back into doing shows on the West End.”
Gaga in fly heels
I OPT for trainers and my comfiest joggers when I board a plane, but there was no chance of that for Lady Gaga.
She wore these towering heels with a wide-shouldered knitted co-ord and shades as she got out of a car at Milan airport at the weekend, and then blew a kiss.
Lady Gaga wore these towering heels with a wide-shouldered knitted co-ord and shades[/caption]
I can’t imagine they would have been too comfy for her flight to Sweden.
Gaga completed the UK dates on her Mayhem Ball tour last Wednesday and jetted to Italy to shoot scenes for The Devil Wears Prada 2.
She was soon back on her plane ahead of the first of three concerts in Stockholm last night.
She has a packed touring schedule for the next few months, so it’s impressive she managed to fit in the quick trip to film for the movie, out next year.
Although knowing Gaga, her cameo will be one of the highlights.
MARK: MY DREAD AT DANCING
MARK RONSON admits he’s “terrified” of dancing, despite making tunes such as Uptown Funk and Valerie that are sure to get people on their feet at parties.
Asked what tune gets him on the dancefloor, he revealed: “I think part of the reason I DJ’d for so long is because I’m so terrified of dancing.
Mark Ronson admits he’s ‘terrified’ of dancing, despite making tunes such as Uptown Funk and Valerie[/caption]
“My wife Grace is a great dancer and if you’re at a friend’s wedding or something and you’ve got to dance, I’m like, ‘Oh God’.
“I approach the dancefloor with terror.
“I don’t know, probably Nineties hip-hop because I can mime all the words to make up for what my feet are not doing.”
Mark was talking at a Q&A in London to promote his brilliant book Night People, which documents his experiences of Nineties nightlife in New York.
He was asked if he has ever tried to work with Grace Jones, and he replied: “She’s not returning my calls at present.”
Asked the same thing about Madonna, he said: “Again, not returning my calls.
Their loss.
BECKY HILL has spoken of her disappointment after The Sun revealed MTV is closing its music video channels at the end of the year.
The singer wrote on Instagram: “And just like that, musicians are now left with no TV platform to showcase their music or music videos. Great. How f***ing sad.”
Becky Hill has spoken of her disappointment that MTV is closing its music video channels at the end of the year[/caption]
TAYLOR SWIFT is battling the cast of Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters for a second week at the top of the singles charts.
Her tune The Fate Of Ophelia is currently in the lead, but the song Golden from the hit film, which had already spent eight weeks at the top, is just behind.
ELLIE TEASE OF RETURN
ELLIE GOULDING is preparing to return with new music two and a half years after her last solo release.
In a tease to fans, Ellie – who promised a “big” video is on the way – wrote on X: “With the upcoming release of my first solo song in a long time . . . what would you like me to do for it?
Ellie Goulding is preparing to return with new music two and a half years after her last solo release[/caption]
“Really want to thank you for your patience and loyalty and being the kindest, sweetest fans in the world.”
HIT podcast Homo Sapiens is back with a new format and all-star guest hosts following an extended hiatus.
The show, which launched in 2017, features topical discussions about life from a queer perspective, and the new series will feature guest hosts including Jessie Ware, Joe Lycett, Layton Williams, Russell T Davies and Kadiff Kirwan.
Tom Allen is on hit podcast Homo Sapiens[/caption]
The first episode, featuring comedian Tom Allen, is free to stream now.
MEL C SWEATS IT OUT
THE rest of the Spice Girls have moved on to other things, but Melanie C is still pedalling away at her solo music.
Sporty Spice posed on an exercise bike in a crop top and cycling shorts to promote new single Sweat, which is out this Friday.
Mel C posed on an exercise bike in a crop top and cycling shorts to promote new single Sweat, which is out this Friday[/caption]
I told you last week the track samples Diana Ross’s 1981 disco tune Work That Body.
It is the first taste of Mel’s ninth studio album. Judging by the sound of this, and this picture, she’s taking inspiration from Charli XCX’s Brat.
She has even joined forces with top songwriter and producer Jon Shave, who worked on Charli’s project.
Cruz, what’s Kooking?
CRUZ BECKHAM first announced his plans to become a singer when he was on the cover of trendy i-D mag – three and a half years ago.
I don’t reckon he thought it would take this long, but the wait is almost over.
Cruz Beckham pictured with Luke Pritchard[/caption]
I can reveal he is throwing an industry event tomorrow night in London to share what he has been working on – and it sounds like everyone else will hear it soon.
It’s partly thanks to his pal Luke Pritchard from The Kooks, who he cheered on at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Cruz, pictured with Luke, has been teasing the release of his first song, which is expected to drop on Friday next week.
He gave a cryptic clue about it when he wore a T-shirt in Paris earlier this month featuring the date 24.10.25.
And in a more recent post, he has teased some racy lyrics for the track.
He shared photos in another Tee, which read, “You wanna know how it looks”, on the front, and, “I wanna know how it feels”, on the back.
Yesterday he posted a print which said: “Nobody told me the new Cruz Beckham singles are coming soon.”
The week in bizness
WEDNESDAY: Victoria’s Secret fashion show will take place in New York, 30 years after the first event. It includes models Gigi Hadid and Candice Swanepoel and musical guest Missy Elliott.
THURSDAY: WOLF ALICE, Sam Fender, Pulp and FKA Twigs will be among the artists performing – and battling it out to win – at the Mercury Prize in Newcastle, which will be broadcast live on Radio 6 Music.
FRIDAY: ALL TIME LOW, Sam Ryder, Ruel, The Last Dinner Party, Miles Kane and Tame Impala will be going head to head as they all drop new albums.
SUNDAY: CHARLI XCX, Emma Corrin, Richard E. Grant and Felicity Jones are among guests due to attend the London premiere of their historical fantasy film 100 Nights Of Hero, which closes the BFI London Film Festival.
