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Lady Gaga | La Roux | Tinchy StriderCascada | Black Eyed Peas | AgnesPixie Lott | Calvin Harris | Noisettes

A-LIST GLAMCELEB STYLE SECRETS REVEALED

THE FUTURE SOUND

OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC?

LAURA BLAKE

GOODBYE NOUGHTIES!LOOKING BACK AT A DECADE OF POP

WIN! A MOVIE NIGHT OUT FOR YOU AND

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THE BEST PARTY MUSIC TO KICK START YOUR

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64 HAIR IDEAS

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ContentsFeatures

34 Upcoming Events Your NEW and IMPROVED guide to the best gigs not to be missed!

52 Laura Blake Exclusive Interview

Boom at the Top!

81 The World’s best guide to the new chart toppers Check out our Tunes page for everything that’s fresh and hot!

108 Latest album news and reviews Looking at new releases from Alicia Keys, Ellie Goulding, JLS, Pixie Lott and Florence and The Machine

132 Goodbye Noughties ! Looking back at a decade of pop. Remember the best and worst songs over the past 10 years.

Fashion72 A-List Glam

Look glam with the hottest Celebrity looks at highstreet prices

99 Find a hairstyle that suits you Get the latest styling tips & celebrity hairstyle ideas for short, medium and long hair

Never Regret

52

Gigs not to be missed!

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Fans67 Your Hotlist You voted for your favourite artists in pop music right now! Find outwhocameoutontopandwhowasaflop!99 Reader’s Contributrion Your opinions, Your reviews, Your say!

Editor’s LetterDear Pulse Readers,

Welcometothefirstissueof2010!The letters just keep pouring in and we love to read your opinions onthelatestmusicandfindoutwhat you want to read about.

There are a lot of familiar names on this month’s free CD – among them, Pulse reader’s favourites like Agnes, Calvin Harris and Florence and the machine’s new single “You’ve got the love”.

There are a couple of bands on the CD, though, that I’d never heard of before I started compiling it.

In this issue we celebrate the music from the noughties and explore the future of pop music for this new decade.

Enjoy the issue

Sarah Powney x

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72

CATCHING UP WITH L a u r a B l a k e

Your already really famous and now your debut album has shot to number 1. How are you feeling?It’s been a life-changing year for me creatively as a musician and a performance artist. I still cannot believe it. I’ve lived in Portsmouth with my family all my life and have been gigging in pubs and at weddings the last few years. So, to go from that to now be living this big dream that I’ve chased all my life is amazing. Now I’ve got it, I honestly have to pinch myself because I can’t believe I have everything that I’ve ever dreamt of.

So, when did you realise you wanted to make a career out of singing? Were you entertaining at school?No, not at all. I used to get really embarrassed. I would be asked to do all the school shows as I showed such an interest, I’d go to all the rehearsals, then I’d pretend to be ill on the day I had to actually perform because I was so nervous.

Now, you have had the privilege to work with some amazing artists- Take That, Will Young, Britney, and Beyoncé! Who is your favourite and did they give you any tips on how to be a superstar diva?The favourite has got to be Beyoncé, I mean Mariah was something else but, Beyoncé just lifted everything! And tips? She just always told me if your voice is tired you need to rest it, to really really rest it and just shut up! The same advice that Take That gave me as well.

Do you have writers and producers who you work with?Well, I had producers who I write my songs with. They did all the music and I did all the lyrics and melodies that I’m singing. I write and record at the same time, so I make it up as I go. I can’t write things when I’m not working. Like, if I’m home, I get distracted and just watch TV or go on twitter. It is really hard sometimes as I work such long hours.

How are your family reactive to your newfound fame?Aww, they are so pleased for me! I owe a lot of my success to my family because every time I wanted to give up they’d push me. They’ve been very supportive and my mum is now my best mate. I don’t think she knows how much she means to me and she’s taught me so much.

What are you expecting now your album has been released? Can we expect a tour anytime soon?I think people are still getting to know me and getting to know my music. Of course there’s been “Love You for Always” (first single), which is one part of the album. So I’m really excited for people to hear the rest of the album and the other songs on it. It’s like a book and there are different chapters and I can’t wait for people to hear it. I’m hoping that it will connect with people and people can relate to it. I’m hoping to tour, but there’s no real plan there yet. We’ll just see how it goes.

“ I used to get really

embarrassed ”

“ I’m hoping to tour but there is no real

plan there yet ”

“ I get distracted

and just watch TV ”

52 | January 2010

It’s a year since LAURA BLAKE released her debut single ‘Love You for Always’ which took the world by storm, with record breaking first-week sales she shot to no.1 . We have caught up

with her following the relaese of her new album ‘Never Regret’.

CATCHING UP WITH L a u r a B l a k e

I CAN’T BELIEVE I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT I’VE

EVER WANTED

So what do you have to say to all of the young aspiring artists out there who have dreams?I’d say to them that they should keep on being dedicated. I left school at 16 because I really wanted to pursue a career and record an album. I did a lot of different jobs, but I was always so passionate about music. That was what I’d always wanted to do. So I stayed enthusiastic and that’s all I’d say really, the only way is to stay committed to the dream. If you’re passionate about it, just keep doing it.

“

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EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW

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Never Regret

‘Never Regret’ is now available to buy from all good retailers