The Big Read

Machine Gun Kelly: “I’ve been jumping up and down on the table, believing in myself, for-fucking-ever”

The outlandish rapper has reinvented himself as a pop-punk star with the year’s biggest guitar record. And, he says, we have his girlfriend Megan Fox to thank

Beabadoobee: “I wear my heart on my sleeve with this album”

She might be obsessed with ’90s grunge, but Bea Kristi is a very modern rock star determined to usher in a new generation of guitar heroes

Kelly Lee Owens: “I genuinely feel magic around me at all times”

The Welsh producer’s second album ‘Inner Song’ is a meditative, powerful techno-pop triumph in the face of a crumbling world

Boy Pablo: “I’m just a normal dude that got lucky”

The bedroom pop sensation made it big overnight thanks to indie smash ‘Everytime’, but insists he has the drive to go the distance

Dizzee Rascal: “This album is making a statement – I’m a fucking serious rapper”

Following chart success and a globe-trotting career, the rapper finds inspiration in his east London locality Bow for album seven

IDLES: “Loads of people don’t fucking like us”

The defiant Bristol punks answer the critics, rail against “class war” and talk up their explosive third album ‘Ultra Mono’

Rico Nasty: “I definitely resonate with being a pop-punk princess”

In a world where rap and punk are best friends, the musical polymath talks about her new sound, female empowerment and her ‘Joan Jett moment’

Declan McKenna: “There is a time for understanding – and that time is now”

Bang a gong! Get it on! How the ’70s glam-rock-loving north London pop star learned to love himself (and made peace with the haters)

Disclosure: “Some people want us to make ‘Latch’ over and over again”

After a decade in the game, the Lawrence brothers open up on weathering the storm, shrugging off detractors and unveiling their clubtastic new album ‘ENERGY’

The Killers: “Music made it possible for me to dream”

The boys are back with a career-high record that encompasses their devout belief in truth, honesty and always embracing emotion