Conor Maynard talks girlfriends, Rita Ora, Nando’s and America!
I’m only 19 but I am old enough to go out to clubs and to have fun, but ‘Can’t Say No’ is tongue-in-cheek. It’s not really a representation of me. It’s just easy to sing along to and makes you want to dance.
Do you get annoyed when people compare you to Justin Bieber?
Comparisons come early in your career and it’s always better when people get to make their own opinions. I think it’s best to get further along and let people decide for themselves.
How difficult was it filming the music video to ‘Vegas Girl’ where you chat up lots of ladies?
The video was such a surreal situation. To have to walk up to a girl and ask for her number is just something I would never do. The conversation with the director where we were choosing what to say went on for ages, I thought it had to be realistic. The director suggested I said ‘Oh hey you’re really beautiful, can I have your number?’ but I would never say that so we stuck with ‘Hey can I have your number? I know some good massage techniques!’ and another line was ‘Can I have your insurance number, because I think you’ve broken my heart!’
Pretty cheesy. If there was one girl who you couldn’t say no to, who would it be?
There is a collaboration with Rita Ora on the album so if I had to choose one girl I can’t say no to it would have to be Rita – though I may have to fight off Rob Kardashian first! I would probably do a runner, I’ve never met him but he is a bit bigger than me. But I saw an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians where he did a charity boxing match and got destroyed and I was like “oh my goodness!”
Who else would you love to collaborate with?
Out of anyone, dead or alive, I would have to choose Michael Jackson to collaborate with. No competition.
We hear you have an exclusive Black Card from Nando’s – has it had much abuse yet?
Yes! I think I’ve used it every day.
I came up with the tequila line. It was around halfway through the song and I thought it hadn’t really shown off my vocals yet so I wanted to do something different and it just happened the tequila line was just before it so we stuck with that.
What would you say to Simon Cowell if you were stuck in a lift with him?
I would ask him if he would put me through on The X Factor or not because it would be interesting to know. He would probably say no and then I would cry.
Where would you take a girl on a date?
I would have to choose the beach, it is just such a romantic place. I mean, I come from Brighton where we have pebble beaches so it’s probably worse and much more painful.
What do you look for in a girl?
I don’t really know because if I look at past relationships I have been in and they have all been lots of different types of girls. I have only had one long term relationship but I have had lots of mini ones too.
‘Vegas Girl’ has appeared on the Billboard Pop Chart – do you want to break America? One Direction, The Wanted, Ed Sheeran and Cher Lloyd are all having a lot of success over there.
I do want to break America! It’s quite scary, it is a big place to try and break. It’s an amazing place, but for me I don’t think I could live anywhere other than the UK, I love my home too much but then again I am only 19 so I haven’t really been able to experience America properly.
What’s been your top highlight of the past 12 months?
The highlight of the last year for me would be the people I have been working in the studio with from Pharrell to Ne-Yo to Rita Ora and other amazing names. I have learnt so much from people that are legendary in the industry.
Thank you very much, Conor!
Thanks, Maximum Pop!
‘Turn Around’ is the next single from Conor’s album Contrast, which is out now!
The week ahead on Planet Pop: Pop Diary
Having trouble planning your week in pop? Look no further!
Here are some of the best events happening this week, as listed in our Pop Diary!
EVENTS
- Scouting For Girls (Putney)
- Lady Gaga (Twickenham) will be performing live in the UK this week.
- Ed Sheeran will be playing the iTunes Festival
- Olly Murs will be playing the iTunes Festival
- Plan B will be playing the iTunes Festival
- Emeli Sandé will be playing the iTunes Festival
- JLS will be playing the iTunes Festival
- Conor Maynard will be playing the iTunes Festival
- The Vaccines will be signing copies of their new album ‘Come of Age’ at HMV Manchester.
NEW RELEASES
- Scouting For Girls release their album ‘The Light Between Us’
- The Vaccines release their album ‘Come of Age’
- The Script ft. Will.i.am – ‘Hall of Fame’
- Smiler ft. Tawiah & Professor Green – ‘Top of the World’
- Pink – ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’
- Ne-Yo – ‘Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)’
- Cheryl – ‘Under The Sun’
TV / RADIO
- One Direction, Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Pink will perform at The MTV Video Awards 2012 will be broadcast live, with performances from (1am, MTV, Friday 7th September).
- Little Mix will be appearing on Daybreak (6am, ITV1, Monday 3rd September)
- Joe McElderry & Stacey Solomon will be chatting to the Loose Women (12.30pm, ITV1, Wednesday 5th September).
- The Vaccines will be taking over BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge (10am, BBC Radio 1, Monday 3rd September).
Ed Sheeran’s + is the most downloaded album in North America
Guitar-wielding ginger Ed Sheeran has topped the iTunes album charts in both the US and Canada with the deluxe edition of +.
Upon hearing the news of his US success, the normally rather serious young man excitedly tweeted, “Oh my word!! My album is -#1 on USA iTunes!,!,!! so happy right now.” That’s some alarming punctuation right there, Mr Sheeran. See us after class.
The phenomenal UK success of Ed’s album at home (certified quadruple platinum in the UK; actual sales translation: A LOT) looks set to be replicated across the pond, continuing the trend of British pop invading Stateside charts, with Adele and One Direction also holding strong with their albums and The Wanted seemingly never off the radio.
N.B. A wicked whisper that a potato is creeping up the Billboard Hot 100 as we speak has, so far, been proven to be unsubstantiated rumour.
The winners are… one of 3 pairs of tickets to Capital’s Summertime Ball
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Oi you impatient lot. Here are the 3 people who’ve won a pair of tickets to this year’s biggest pop gig. Jess Stickley, David Rewes, Stephen Buckingham. We’ve sent you an email with details for claiming your tickets. Everyone else, another Comp of the Day coming up soon…
In just 11 days some of Planet Pop’s biggest names are heading to London’s Wembley Stadium for the pop gig of the year. Coldplay, Conor Maynard, Cover Drive, Example, Ed Sheeran, Flo Rida, Jessie J, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Lawson, Pitbull, Rita Ora, Usher and The Wanted will be performing at London’s SOLD OUT Summertime Ball. And we’ve got 3 pairs of tickets up for grabs. For your chance to win these money-can’t-buy tickets for you and a VERY lucky mate simply.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.
Bad news :( Capital FM’s Summertime Ball is SOLD OUT
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Want to see Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Usher, Katy Perry, The Wanted, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Flo Rida, Kelly Clarkson, Example and Pit-Bull all on the same line up? Tough. 80,000 tickets for Capital FM’s Summertime Ball – which has one of this year’s best line-ups – have sold out in just 2 days, with the last pair going just before 6am this morning. Capital’s Summertime Ball will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday June 9th.
And if you consider an incredibly lucky person then make sure you tune into Capital FM nationwide for the chance to win tickets.
V Festival: Pop Diary
The clock is ticking down to the release of tickets for this summer’s V Festival, so we thought we’d better give you the details of why you’ll want to be there on August 18th and 19th. Sharing the bill below headliners The Killers and The Stone Roses are a whole load of poptastic acts including Nicki Minaj, Olly Murs, Ed Sheeran, Tinie Tempah, Example, Labrinth, Rizzle Kicks, Dappy and Pixie Lott. The festival takes place at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park near Birmingham, switching their line-up across the two days so you won’t be missing out on anyone. Check out the full line-up on the V Festival website. Be awake at 10 am on Friday, 2nd March to grab your tickets from any of the official outlets linked on the website. Check out how the dates look in our Pop Diary, and hit like below if you’ll be attending.
Alexandra Burke and Ed Sheeran on Let’s Dance for Sport Relief: Pop Diary
Someone has to show those celebrities how it’s done, so Alexandra Burke will be rocking up to the Let’s Dance for Sport Relief studios to perform her new single ‘Elephant’. Ed Sheeran will also be providing some professional distraction from the dancing celebrities. The show airs at 7:10pm on Saturday 25th February, on BBC1, and we’ve added it to our Pop Diary. Hit like below if you’ll be watching.
The winners are… ten copies of ‘Drunk’ by Ed Sheeran – comp of the day!
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A huge round of applause to our ten winners: Jordan P, Chris L, James M, Taruni D, Paula J, Harry W, Jem I, Nadia B, Susan P and Faye H!
Morning MP!ers! Another week, another seven days of exclusive and unmissable competitions on everyone’s favourite pop website. And we’re starting as we mean to go on – up for grabs today are ten copies of ginger troubadour Ed Sheeran’s brand new single ‘Drunk’. Fancy getting your hands on one of them? Well then keep reading to find out how to enter this competition.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.
One Direction working with Ed Sheeran on new album for “grungier” sound?
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Their debut album might have hit the Number One spot overseas in Italy and Sweden last week, but the One Direction boys are already thinking about their next record!
Speaking to the Daily Star, Louis revealed that the band want to change their sound and go for something a little bit “grungier” - ”We like the sound of a real guitar on tour, we beefed up the live show so now we want to take it onto the album.”
And they even reckon they’ve found the man to help them achieve this – none other than potato hater Ed Sheeran!
“Ed is such a talented guy. We spoke to him about helping again for the next album which we want to actually write with him this time.” says Liam, “”He gave us almost a whole album of songs to choose from last time; there were so many of his songs that we wanted to record.”
One of those songs DID make it on to the special Yearbook Edition of the album – could it be a good example of what One Direction’s second album might sound like? Listen to ‘Moments’ below and let us know what you think.
What do you think? Should One Direction work with Ed Sheeran?
