Kathleen Edwards on new love, new album

She was predestined to the travelling musician’s life having been born to a diplomat father and a music teacher mother. It’s also appropriate then that Canadian Kathleen Edwards has entitled her superb fourth album Voyageur.

“I called it that as a summation of the life I fell into,” she says. “Basically, my early years were spent in training for becoming a touring musician.”

The album bears the fruits of Kathleen’s creative relationship with her new partner, Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon. Divorce after five years of marriage to her former producer Colin Cripps provided a lot of the inspiration.

“It’s been a liberating but really painful time for me,” reflects the 33-year-old. “Trying to figure out who you are and what makes you happy is all part of the journey of life. The idea that it will ever be smooth sailing will probably never happen.”

Hooking up with Bon Iver has allowed Kathleen to connect with a whole new audience and, of course, find new romance.

“Justin was able to articulate my ideas,” Kathleen smiles. “And touring has been a fun time, particularly in the UK where there was lots of young kids. Bon Iver’s music makes me feel optimistic about the future.”

Adele's 21 is the biggest selling album of 21st century

In just over 10 months since it went on sale, the disc has overtaken the late star's 2006 second album, which previously took the title back in August.

The landmark comes at the end of a cracking year for the Londoner.

To date, 21, which includes hit records including Someone Like You and Set Fire To The Rain, has passed sales of 3.4 million copies in the UK, eclipsing Back To Black which has sold 3.3million.

Since going on sale in January the disc has never left the Top 10, and yesterday clocked its 45th week there.

Yesterday it climbed from Number 9 to Number 5, undoubtedly spurred on by the London singer's six Grammy nominations.

The Londoner is a front-runner in categories including Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album.

In a message posted on her blog over the weekend, the singer - who had an operation on her voice last month - said she was "lost for words" at the Grammy recognition.

She said: "Thank you so much to the academy for nominating this record for 6 Grammys!!!

"This has been the best year as it is but to end 2011 with this incredible achievement and honour is beyond anything I can express.

"Thank you to every single person who has taken a shining to this record, for making it have such an impact, this record has taken on a life of its own thanks to you. I made the record and you've made it what's it's become."

Adele has also achieved much success across the glove, topping the charts in more than 20 countries including the United States, Ireland and France.

She's also won countless awards this year, including three American Music Awards, a MOBO gong and four MTV prizes.

Nicki Minaj confirms new album 'Roman Reloaded', release date

Nicki Minaj has confirmed the title and release date of her new album.

The rapper will release her second opus Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded on February 14, 2012.

Minaj made the announcement to her fans via Twitter, adding: "Heeeee's baaacccckkkkk."

Roman Reloaded will heavily feature Minaj's gay male alter ego Roman Zolanski, who most famously appears on her Eminem collaboration 'Roman's Revenge'.

The hip-hop performer recently teased fans with what to expect from Roman on the record, stating: "Roman will be in rare form this time. You know why? Cuz he no longer gives a f**k. (sic)

"He realised that his core matters the most. Everyone else will figure it the f**k out. He can no longer be censored. that's not Lewinsky on a$$. its Roman."

Roman Reloaded will serve as the follow-up to Minaj's debut album Pink Friday, which reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified gold in the UK.

The Wanted: 'New album Battleground has an international feel'

The Wanted have revealed that they collaborated with American and Swedish producers to give their new album global appeal.

The boyband teamed up with a range of songwriters and producers for their second LP Battleground, including hit-maker Dianne Warren and Phat Fabe.

On why the group decided to work with international musicians, Siva Kaneswaran said: "We didn't want to fix it, we just wanted to broaden our horizons really.

"We wanted to see what American producers could do with us and we also worked with some amazing Swedish writers too. Because of the mix, the album has a more international feel."

Kaneswaran also revealed that their new sound was also due to the band having more involvement during the creative process.

"With Battleground we've literally taken the reins and it's definitely the first album where all of the band had control. That's the way we wanted it," he said.

"We worked with musicians right from the start of this album and have had more of a grasp on it. The sound has totally changed."

Kaneswaran added: "There's a song on the album by me and my brother about his wife ('I Want It All') and Nathan did a cracking job with Max on 'Invincible', which I'm a big fan of.

"They also did 'Warzone', which is basically the new sound of the album. It gives you an insight of what the rest of the record is like."

Kelly Rowland new album 'Here I Am' exclusive

RAUNCHY Kelly Rowland is putting down some serious heat on her new album Here I Am.

Her third solo CD drops on November 28 with single Down For Whatever out the week before.

And channelling some old-skool R&B sauce works a treat.

At an intimate playback Kelly, 30, told me: “Sensuality plays an interesting role in my life and I’m very happy about it – I’m very liberated and I can’t complain.

“It’s confidence; feeling good in your own skin.

“I’ve seen so many women be like that over the years, Janet Jackson being top of my list, especially on the Janet album.”

Here’s my verdict on the best bits...

Work It Man: Heaving R&B beast with signature Rodney Jerkins stamp.

Feelin Me Right Now: The kinda song if you had a soft-top car would make you wind down the roof to head bob along to.

Turn It Up: Hammering drums with a chanting chorus that beats hard.

All Of The Night: Kelly slips into Janet Jackson’s negligée of filth and the results are sizzling. “This is the song you have sex to,” she declared.

Keep It Between Us: Dreamy mid-tempo for cuddling to.

Heaven & Earth: A huge ballad co-written by Ne-Yo.

Each Other: A banging track in every sense of the word.

Rose-Coloured Glasses: The disc’s huge pop song and my fave.

N-Dubz have confirmed the details of their greatest hits album.

Fazer, Dappy and Tulisa have had a hugely successful career as N-Dubz and offcourse the group have released three albums and now with the end of the band in sight, they want to release their 'Best of' album plus their record company want some more cash.

The album will include the chart-topping 'Number 1' as well as top ten hits 'I Need You', 'We Dance On' and 'Best Behaviour'.

The LP also features covers of the Sugababes' 'About You Now' and The Script's 'The Man Who Can't Be Moved', in addition to an "N-Dubz version" of Dappy's solo single 'No Regrets'.

Since their debut single 'You Better Not Waste My Time' in 2006, N-Dubz have sold over 1.2 million albums in the UK, won five MOBO awards, released a Sunday Times bestselling book, Against All Odds: From Street Life To Chart Life, and starred in their own major Channel 4 reality series Being N-Dubz.

The group have since embarked on solo projects, with Tulisa Contostavlos taking up a judging role on The X Factor and Dappy gearing up to release his solo LP next year.

Greatest Hits includes 18 tracks and is released on November 28th.