NIKKA COSTA - COSTA BAFFLED BY JOPLIN COMMENTS

American singer NIKKA COSTA is bemused by comparisons between her music and tragic rocker JANIS JOPLIN's sound because she has never listened to the legend's songs.

Costa is flattered to be likened to the MOVE OVER legend, who died in 1970 of a drug overdose, but insists the similarity is purely coincidence.

But parallels aren't always welcome - the LIKE A FEATHER star hates being called the next BRITNEY SPEARS and protests they are as different as "day and night".

She says, "I get the Janis Joplin comparison all the time. Always, it's weird. I mean it's a lovely compliment - she's a legend - but the thing is that I never really listened to her. People compare me to her and CHAKA KHAN and say that I have a lot of PRINCE influence.

"All amazing compliments and if they want to say that - fine!"