Hype’s Exclusive: Reunited We Are With Hardwell In Kuala Lumpur

His name resonates with the EDM explosion and global dance music movement. At 22 years old, he founded his own record label, Revealed Recordings, and his own radio show and podcast a year later. He was voted world #1 DJ/producer 2 years in a row and have taken home multiple International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) honours.

Last year, he made international headlines with his world’s biggest guestlist show in Mumbai, an event that later donated to the United We Are Foundation which would provide free education for children in India, making a contribution towards the eradication of illiteracy in India.

His achievements are plenty (heck, he even has his own action figure), yet one may find it hard to believe that Hardwell is only 28 years old.

Hardwell returned to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently for his “Go Hardwell Or Go Home” show and we had the opportunity to catch up with the DJ/producer extraordinaire after slightly more than a year (we last spoke to him in 2014). Here’s what went down:

Hey, Hardwell! Welcome back to Kuala Lumpur.

It’s April Fools’ Day. Are you planning to prank your unsuspecting fans later like maybe drop some jazz music?

Oh no! I always have a couple of surprises in my set but not for especially for April Fools’ Day, no. We did a small campaign online with my label but that’s it, that was the only joke we had.

We haven’t spoken in more than a year so..looking back at last year, how was 2015 for you?

2015 was an amazing year for me – the release of my debut album, the continuation of my “I Am Hardwell – United We Are” world tour. I also played at a lot of festivals and released a lot of new music so actually it was a great year! I’m really happy with everything that happened in 2015.

What about the 2015 Top 100 DJs poll, though? Personally, do you think that the poll still matters?

No, not really. Last week I was voted “Best Global DJ” by the International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) so I don’t think that the Top 100 DJs poll really matters. Nothing has changed for me.

How is your “I Am Hardwell – United We Are” tour this year going to be different from last year?

This is my album world tour so it’s a completely different stage, it’s a 2.0 version of the first show that we did. It looks great, you know! We’ve been touring for a year and a half almost, and with every show..we develop the show more. It keeps getting better and better and..we’re planning to close the show at the end of the summer so we still have like a couple of shows to go.

Can you tell us if there’s a new album in the works?

I’m working on new music but not specifically working on a 2nd album. I have no clue when I’m going to release all the music because there’s a lot of new music lying around. So yeah, I’m thinking about making a 2nd album but at this point I’ve just been touring too much. Especially with the summer around the corner, you know, I will be in Ibiza the whole summer and doing all the festivals so I have basically no time to be in the studio. Maybe after the summer I’m gonna think about releasing music for the 2nd album.

What is it about your music that you think never fails to captivate your audience?

I think my music is..really positive, you know, everybody can relate to it. And I just wanna bring positive energy, I wanna make people happy, I wanna make people smile, forget about the problems and just enjoy the music. Even if it’s like a hard EDM track or something more vocal and radio-friendly, I just wanna bring a positive message to the world.

Being someone of your stature, do you still get nervous before you go on stage say at like a massive festival?

(laughs) I don’t get nervous but I always get really, really excited. Like I feel the butterflies in my stomach. But that’s a good thing, you know, because if I don’t get that then..at that point, something is wrong.

Avicii shocked the dance music world with his decision to retire. Was there ever a point in your life that you felt that way too? If so, what kept you going?

I exactly understand why Avicii did what he did, you know, I think in his heart..as an artiste, knowing him personally, he loves producing so much that he just wants to be in the studio making music. If you’re touring a lot, you don’t have the energy and you don’t have the time to work on new music. I understand his decision. We’ll see in the future. I think he’s still going to do a couple of shows though like low-key. In my perspective, I love DJing so much and that’s why I’m always constantly on the road, doing the world tour one after the other, and playing Ibiza residencies but still playing at all the festivals. I just like that, you know, being on the road constantly and seeing my fans. That’s my inspiration.

In that case then how much sleep do you actually get on average?

When I’m off, I’m always trying to get like 7 or 8 hours of sleep but when I’m touring, most of the time it’s 4 to 5 hours at night and then maybe a 1-hour nap somewhere in between.

You’ve done a lot of collaborations with many renowned artistes to date. What’s your dream collaboration?

I have a lot of dream collaborations. But if I have to pick someone, I’d say Pharrell Williams. Because I admire him as a producer, a singer, a songwriter, a label manager, a clothing designer, and everything that he does..he’s an amazing guy. That would definitely be my dream collaboration. I met him in Australia I think a year and a half ago and we’re still trying to set something up. He’s really busy in Los Angeles and I’m literally on the other side of the world in Holland so..we’ll try to set something up. Maybe, in the future, I hope so :)

Moving forward, what can we expect from Hardwell for the rest of 2016? What are your plans?

2016 well, I have a new Ibiza residency every Tuesday at Ushuaia with a new concept called Hardwell DNA so that’s definitely going to be my focus for the summer. A lot of new releases! Before the summer, I’m going to release my single with Craig David. I premiered that Ultra Miami so if you wanna check that out, make sure you check out the live set. We’re closing the “I Am Hardwell – United We Are” world tour in the summer so keep an eye out for that.

We’ll leave you now with one of Hardwell’s latest works, “Run Wild” featuring Jake Resse. Enjoy:

Special thanks to our friends from Heineken Malaysia for making this interview happen. For more information on Hardwell, hit up his website or Facebook page. Hardwell is also on Twitter and Instagram.

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#StarWarsEpisodeVII: Wrap Party + J.J. Abrams’ Farewell Letter

“Star Wars: Episode VII” is believed to have wrapped filming, with the cast and crew attending a huge party over the weekend to celebrate.

There may not have been any dancing Ewoks, but the cast and crew threw down at a massive gala this weekend to celebrate the end of principal photography. The event happened at London’s science museum, with appearances by “Star Wars” veterans Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, who showed up clean-shaven after sporting an Obi-Wan-style beard.

Also attending were newcomers to the galaxy Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, and John Boyega who posted several party scenes to his Instagram account, including this shot with a familiar droid:

A photo posted by @jboyega on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:54pm PDT

In addition to a going off party, it also appears that the film’s cast and crew received a note signed by director J.J. Abrams and producers Kathleen Kennedy and Bryan Burke, thanking them for working on Episode VII. The note was tweeted out on Friday and has since been pulled, but the image was rehosted by SlashFilm.

You can see the letter and read a transcription below:

To the Extraordinary Cast and Crew of Episode VII:

It is a true honor and absolute joy to come to set every day and work alongside each of you. Your professionalism, passion, and patience is more deeply appreciated than we could ever express. From the deserts of Abu Dhabi, to the Forest of Dean, to the stages of Pinewood, you have risen to every challenge and been as wonderfully kind as you are brilliantly talented. Our ambition here is large, of course, and it must be: we are here to make a film that entertains millions of people, of all ages, for generations. To create an experience people will cherish watching as much as we will cherish having made it, together. How lovely it would be if you had, in addition to your name on the screen, some actual, real, tangible proof that you were part of it! Here, then, is that proof. Wear it well, wear it healthily, wear it proudly. But, mostly, thank you.

With love,
J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy, Bryan Burke

Aww what a sweet touch! But then again, this isn’t really goodbye just yet. There’s a little over a year to go before you can finally watch the movie.

“Star Wars: Episode VII” scheduled for a release on 18th Dec 2015.

For more information, visit their official website.


#MH370: Families Slam Insensitive & Distasteful Charlie Hebdo Cartoon

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has come under fire again. This time, for an insensitive and distasteful Flight MH370-related cartoon.

The magazine recently published controversial cover mocking the discovery of MH370’s plane wreckage on Reunion Island. The cover shows a pair of hands groping what appear at first glance to be coconuts, but are actually breasts. Above the image is written what translates as, “We’ve found a bit of the pilot and the air hostess,” as 2 onlookers celebrate in the background.

The eldest child of Malaysia Airlines’ Flight MH370 chief steward Andrew Nari, 18-year-old Maira Elizabeth Nari, could hardly contain her grief over the cartoon and described it as “dim-witted and repellent”.

It is unethical of the magazine and disgusting as it (cartoon) humiliates everyone and everything. I cannot believe that such a company or people (behind the magazine) still exist!

39-year-old Kelvin Shim, the husband of MH370 stewardess Tan Ser Kuin, said he was browsing the Internet for an update of the vanished aircraft when he saw the cartoon.

“If their popularity and sales increased from this publication, it is because of people who enjoy this kind of humour. They probably don’t understand how it feels when families go missing or are involved in a terrible tragedy and no remains are found,” he added.

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) was quick to condemn it too, with MCA publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen questioning the “conscience and ethics” of the publication. Chai also released a statement on his Facebook page calling for French authorities and media organisations worldwide to censure Charlie Hebdo for humiliating MH370 crew and passengers.

This is not the first time that Charlie Hebdo was thrown into negative light for putting out controversial cartoons.

Just a little earlier this year, the magazine’s Paris headquarters became the target of a deadly terrorist attack in response to a number of satirical depictions of Prophet Muhammad. 12 people were killed in the attack, including editor Stéphane Charbonnier and several contributors..

What do you think? Freedom of speech or just done in extremely bad taste? We say in utter bad taste!

Sources: Charlie Hebdo Wiki, Bernama via The Star Online, Marketing-Interactive, IBT.

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#FindIt: Location-Based Digital Directory App Officially Launched In Malaysia

If you have been seeing a group of green aliens roaming around the Klang Valley, you’re not alone. We first reported about the strange sightings on 2nd March, as our social media was flooded with their pictures and the hashtag #FindIt. Apparently, they are harmless, as people claimed that these aliens were on a search of a certain Walter Woo. They also did not appear to be able to speak, as they were attempting to communicate with the public through #FindIt.

Thus, many Malaysians decided to help them by joining them in their search for Walter Woo.

We were skeptical about their intentions at first, but we finally witnessed it ourselves on 5th March 2015, when “FINDIT” was officially launched in Malaysia.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

FINDIT is Malaysia’s first and only integrated platform for search across local businesses, deals, classifieds, and soon to be launched marketplace. The location-based app seeks to redefine the way Malaysian consumers search for information about local businesses and how consumers connect with these businesses.

The mobile led brand has more than 3 million business listings across 800 categories covering over 450 cities and some of the popular categories include restaurants, spa, taxi services, travel, matrimony, jobs, education, mobile, gadgets, etc. It caters to the users’ ever-changing needs as it detects the users’ approximate location and shows nearby business listing and deals to the user.

The app aims to effectively bring together consumers and businesses in its easy-to-use mobile platform. The users are allowed to post up their own advertisements or list a business in just 3 simple steps: Entering the contact details, provide product information, and upload the pictures of the product on the app. FINDIT will monitor the posting so that people can easily locate these even the most obscure products or services within their vicinity.

The app also offers a function that helps businesses to promote the best deals and discount offers to draw existing and potential customers. Through the ratings and reviews function on the app, consumers can also have their say about any searchable product or service, as well as instantly evaluate information shared by other consumers to help with the decision making process.

The app serves as an important tool for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as it allows them to become more discoverable and grow their businesses. It provides greater visibility for SMEs to a much wider market, capitalising on the popular mobile platform to connect SMEs with potential customers.

FINDIT’s mission is to provide Malaysian consumers with a better way to search for information, and give them greater access to products and services that they need and want. While consumers benefit from the availability of hyper-local information 24/7, FINDIT’s unique platform also helps Malaysian entrepreneurs and companies grow their businesses by connecting them to consumers who are looking for the products and services they offer.

In conjunction with its launch in Malaysia, FINDIT will be running the “Where in the world is Walter Woo?” consumer contest, which begins 21st March 2015.

Consumers are required to download the free FINDIT app on Google Play Store or the Apple app store and look for a fictitious Mr. Know-It-All named Walter Woo. His knowledge prowess derived from the app, which is why a group of “green aliens” who are his loyal subjects invaded the streets, mamak shops, cafes, and parks in and around Kuala Lumpur in search of him. Unable to locate their knowledge master, the ‘green aliens” have decided to give 9 lucky consumers in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Penang a chance to win an iPhone6 128 GB. Consumers who found Walter Woo need only upload an interesting photo of him using the “photo contest” function found in the app.

For more information, visit FINDIT’s Facebook page where clues on Walter Woo’s location will be updated.


Coldplay Releases Album Track List In The Star & Sin Chew Daily

Big fans of Coldplay, but can’t wait for the release date of their new album? Well, you still can’t get it until the release date, but you can get the track list. Just grab your local newspaper and flip through it until you reach the classified ads section.

Yup, they did it. The Coldplay marketing team have found themselves a creative and unique way of advertising the band’s new album by posting the entire track list in our local newspapers – The Star, The Sun and Sin Chew Daily.

It’s not only in Malaysia however, as it has been happening all over the world with multiple people reporting the same phenomenon happening to their local newspapers. The ads in question feature no coloured decoration; just a classy plain black and white text that shows all the tracks from the upcoming album, titled “Everyday Life”.

The album was initially announced earlier this week, when the band mailed typed notes to 500 Coldplay fan all over the world. In the letter, they wished the receiver well and then announced their new upcoming album as well as the release date, with them also hand-signed each letter at each corner.

The new Coldplay album will be a double album, with one half of the album titled “Sunrise” and the other “Sunset”. The track list are as follows:

The upcoming Coldplay album, “Everyday Life”, is set to release on 22nd November 2019. So, while you wait for its release, please enjoy their new singles extracted from the album. The band has decided to put out 2 songs – 1 from “Sunrise” and another from “Sunset”.

Take a listen to “Arabesque” and “Orphans” below:

Which is your favourite? Personally, we prefer the more uplifting melodic vibe on “Orphans”.

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Brie Larson Signed A 7-Movie Deal With Marvel? Not So Fast!

With just 2 movies left in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel and Disney are making big plans for the hugely-successful franchise post-“Avengers 4”. One of them apparently includes Brie Larson signing on for 7 movies as Captain Marvel.

However, the Oscar-winning actress has taken to Twitter to refute the claim made by @MCU_Tweets based on a report by The Hollywood Reporter. She was quick in putting the rumour to bed before it could take root.

7 movies is a big task even if “Captain Marvel” and the untitled “Avengers 4” are already set for release next year. The OG Marvel stars – Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans – have already been playing their Avengers characters for approximately a decade. Seeing as how Larson’s career is still taking off, she might not want to be tied down for the long haul.

Having said that, it’s still undeniable that Captain Marvel will play a significant role in the shared universe moving forward. With “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Thor: Ragnarok” exploring more cosmic stories, it’s likely that we’ll see Larson’s intergalactic hero head in that direction.

Recent reports also reveal that Larson was paid a hefty US$5 million for her first solo film in the MCU. This is much higher than Marvel’s traditional starting wage. In similar news, it was also reported that Scarlett Johansson would be locking down a whopping US$15 million paycheque for her standalone “Black Widow” movie.

This much we know – movie geeks will be seeing Larson in many Marvel movies to come and “Captain Marvel” is just the start.

Sources: Cinema Blend, Comic Book, Screen Rant.


#ShotoniPhone: Apple Picks Malaysian’s Video Out Of Millions Of iPhone Videos

In addition to rolling out new Apple ads starring personalities such as singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, American record producer and radio personality DJ Khaled, and Cookie Monster, Apple has now released a series of new videos as part of its award-winning “Shot in iPhone” ad campaign.

Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” campaign began in early 2015 in conjunction with the launch of the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus to show off the creative capabilities of its camera. The campaign features photos of iPhone 6 images in ads and on billboards across the globe. In fact, you may have see in on several billboards in Malaysia too.

In early 2016, the “Shot in iPhone” campaign was re-launched to focus on the camera improvements in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus with all-new images. Last month, Apple released a “Shot on iPhone” user-created ad series in celebration of Mother’s Day. It marked Apple’s first big release of videos for the “Shot on iPhone” campaign in a while.

Now, Apple has once again rebooted the ad campaign with a slew of short ads that encompasses some of the best iPhone videos shot by millions of iPhone users. The 8 new 15-second videos showcase the versatility of the iPhone 6s camera including features like Slow-Mo and low-light performance.

More importantly, out of the 8 that were picked from millions of iPhone users is our very own fellow Malaysian, John L, who paid a live-action homage to Murad Osmann’s “Follow Me” Instagram series.

Shot at sundown in Sepang, Malaysia, John L’s video features a girl leading the videographer by the hand while running at the beach and seemingly into the golden sunset. The iPhone camera was able to capture the moment perfectly, accurately rendering both the sky and the low contrast areas on the woman’s back.

And that’s not to say that the other videos weren’t amazing too. There were 2 that were shot in Botswana (slow motion, featuring a majestic swimming hippopotamus) and Antartica (fast-forwarded, featuring 100% cuddly-looking penguins), while another featured a lot of beautiful #cloudporn on a flight between Miami and Curaçao.

Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” ad series took home one of the top prizes at the Cannes Grand Prix festival last year, with one of the photos being featured in the campaign winning its own Cannes Lions award. To commemorate the big wins, Apple surprised “Shot on iPhone” photographers with a physical photo book of ads from the campaign.


Renaissance KL & Four Points by Sheraton To Launch As Marriott’s First Dual-branded Hotel In Malaysia

Travellers will soon have more reasons to stay in Kuala Lumpur as the first Marriott’s dual-branded hotel will be launching in Malaysia later this year. The two properties in question? Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre and Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre.

For those who aren’t too familiar with the term “dual-branded”, this model comprise of two similar hotels under the same group. The two-in-one hotels concept has been on the rise over the past few years internationally, where they open in the same building. In Renaissance Kuala Lumpur’s case, the two brands will share the same address at Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang.

Facilities & Amenities That Will Make Your Stay Worthwhile

Patrons can also look forward to gastronomic experiences at these 6 upcoming Halal-certified restaurants:

Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre is scheduled to reopen in early quarter three of 2023, while Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre will likely launch by end of quarter three this year.

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Did Malaysia Loan RM900 Million To Philippines For SEA Games?

From facilities troubles to players sleeping on the floor, the Philippines 2019 Southeast Asian Games is turning into a disaster.

Now new reports have came out, claiming that a loan worth RM900 million was taken from a Malaysian firm to fund construction for the SEA Games facilities.

The news came from Opposition Senate Leader Franklin Drilon, who pointed out that there was a deficit in the country budget that amount to P624 billion (RM51 billion). He believes 2.5% of it was used to fund the SEA Games.

When asked about why he thinks the funds for the games was questionable, he said that the Philippines is incurring a loan from an unspecified Malaysian bank. He added that the loan will result in the Filipino government having to pay P2.2 billion (RM180 million) each year for 5 years, totalling up to P11 Billion (RM900 million).

“We are incurring a loan here. Inutang natin ito from a Malaysian bank. That would be payable in five years time at P2.2 billion per year. So that’s a total of P11 billion. So it was financed by borrowing, mind you,” he told reporters.

On the other hand the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), who was responsible for the construction of the facilities, has disputed the claim. They have denied taking loan from any Malaysian lender, stating that they acquired the funds through congress approval.

Furthermore, BCDA also stated their project partner, development firm AlloyMTD, undertook the construction at their own expense. They stated that the developer was only promised to get paid from the government once the facilities was completed, hence, not a single cent was given to them.

Others that were involved like, SEA games chief organizer Speaker, Alan Peter Cayetano, have also spoken out. Adding that the fund used for the games has been used efficiently, so it did not matter whether the funds received was from a loan or not.

So what do you think about Malaysia potentially loaning away RM900 million? Let us know all about it in the comment section below.


Interview: Athalia On Her Debut Song “We Go Up”, TikTok Journey & Giving Props To Alvin Chong

Athalia is a new and rising artist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is recognised by many on TikTok, garnering over 30 million likes. The up-and-coming star just debuted her first single, “We Go Up” in collaboration with Universal Music Malaysia and Lion Music Group.

“We Go Up”, which serves as an artist introduction, is dedicated to young love thriving in the midst of a pandemic. The 19-year-old singer originally teased her debut single on TikTok in March, and it has now racked up over 260,000 views. Athalia’s retro-pop musical love song with a dash of nostalgia aims to portray the essence of taking chances and choosing love.

Reply to @periukgoreng sapa cakap tak ada?😜 stay tuned😚 #fyp #tiktokmalaysia

We recently spoke with the amazing artist about her debut song to her future ambitions and everything in between. Continue reading to learn all the specifics, including some never-before-heard details from Athalia herself:

1. “We Go Up” is your debut single. What is it about? How was the creative process in the making of the song with Bryan Bouro?

Love is situation with a friend, but at the same time, it’s like, I don’t know what that person wants, so that how it’s basically a complicated relationship. So the process for “We Go Up” was basically me wanting to tell a story without having to tell that exact person face to face. I’m like, okay, why not write a song? I was able to create lyrics and make it relatable for the people.

2. The song is a retro pop sonic. What inspired you to deliver the song in such a way?

I had this really complicated relationship with this guy and it was really hard for me to open up to that person. So I just felt it was better to bring it out in my music for the world to see. Yeah, it’s basically like an indirect communication with him.

3. Your music video has reached 82k views (as at time of writing) on YouTube. How do you feel about that?

It feel really great because I thought many do not really know that I sing, so why would they watch the music video? The result has been beyond my expectation because I didn’t had too big of an expectation other than I love the song.

Of course, the vibe is cool, but I had doubts because people know me as a content creator or a TikTok star so there’s no chance they would probably know that I’m have a new song. When it was released, people started tagging me and the views started increasing.

4. Who came up with the concept for the single’s official music video? What was your favourite part of the music video?

It was me and my team. A lot of us grew up with those cheeky, funky kind of music videos, and I wanted it to be reflected in the visuals – like the beach scene and when I was on the tabletop.

My favourite part was the one where I was in the pool, because that actually took a lot of effort. We worked till past midnight for the underwater scene. It turned out great and I really love that scene.

5. How did you get to sign with UMM? Tell us about the journey.

Honestly saying, 2 years ago they approached me when they found out that I could sing. It was after I did a cover with a good friend of mine, Alvin Chong, so creds to him as well. He’s such a helpful person, really. He’s like my brother. So he guided me throughout the process, ever since I signed with Universal. During that time, I was still studying for my SPM, so my mom (Sharifah Zarina) insisted that I focus on my exams before making any drastic decisions.

[Side note: Alvin is also signed under Universal Music Malaysia.]

Right after SPM, I took a while before deciding that I really want to put my music out there and also myself as a person. I have always loved music, probably because of my family and my mom’s influence. So instead of just like chilling at home, writing my own songs, and playing it to myself, I wanted to take it to the next level. With UMM, they’ve been a really great support system to me in whatever I do.

6. You worked with Diana Danielle, Shalma Eliana, Blue’s Simon Webbe, and Asyraf Nasir on the single “We Live to Give”. How was that experience? Did you learn anything about the music industry from them?

For the song “We Live to Give”, it was recorded separately during the pandemic. So when it happened, we didn’t really got to meet each other. But here’s a fun fact, I had just signed into Universal when I was suddenly offered to be in a song with Simon Webbe, Diana Daniella, Aysraf and also Shalma.

Since the pandemic situation got better, I’ve been able to meet them at some of the local events, and we’ve had some bonding moments for sure.

7. Do you plan to release a full album or an EP anytime soon?

Hopefully if there’s a chance in the near future. But for now, I am focusing on my single first. Hopefully if there’s more opportunities, then there would be (an album).

8. You and your mother, Sharifah Zarina participated in “Famili Duo” last year. How was your experience being on the same stage as her?

It was quite a challenge, honestly speaking, because my mom and I have completely different vocal range. She has a really high range and as for me, I can go as deep, but I can’t really go as high as she can. But it felt like a good experience just having a mother-daughter bond in front of TV.

9. Do you plan to further your studies, or do you wish to continue your singing career? Are you also interested in pursuing an acting career?

I am actually currently studying and working at the same time. So yeah, definitely pursuing my studies because I feel like education should always come first. I’m also focusing on my music, but if there’s any acting offers or jobs, I would want to widen my experience.

10. How do you feel about transitioning from a TikTok star to an official singer at such a young age?

It feels a little bit weird because people would still recognise me as a TikTok star and not really as a singer yet. On the other hand, those who have followed my footsteps since I was, like, 14 or 13, would know that I do sing because I always do covers. I would always post it on Instagram and also YouTube.

Over the past three years, I’ve been really active on TikTok in terms of content creating. But now that I’m making my mark in music industry with Universal Music Malaysia, I really hope that the transition actually brings about a good change.

11. Which famous pop star are you hoping to collab with?

I’m actually a huge fan of Sabrina Carpenter. Huge huge fan of Sabrina Carpenter. I’ve looked up to her ever since I was 11. Her music style, fashion and vibe are just so cool!

A post shared by ♡Athalia ♡ (@officialathalia)

12. What can your fans expect from you as a rising artist?

The fans can expect more songs in the near future. Hopefully, “We Go Up” is the first of many more songs to come.

“We Go Up” is now available on all streaming platforms.

Daniela Dogliani contributed to this article.

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#ThorRagnarok: Thor 3 To Include Planet Hulk; New Looks For Hulk & Thor

Were you bumped out that The Hulk and Thor didn’t get to join the rest of the Avengers in “Captain America: Civil War“? Fret not, cause the duo is set to team up on a cosmic buddy adventure in the 3rd instalment of Thor’s trilogy, “Thor: Ragnarok”.

New details about “Thor: Ragnarok” now reveal that it’ll include some aspects from the much-hyped Planet Hulk storyline from the comic books. The last time we saw Hulk in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, the Green Goliath was flying off in a Quinjet by himself.

According to an insider from JoBlo, the movie “will definitely have the Planet Hulk element in it, operating as a kind of mash-up with the Ragnarok story. How Thor ends up on the planet in question is unclear, but he will definitely be involved in some gladiatorial games run by none other than Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster”.

To quote Rob Keyes, The Grandmaster, one of the Elders of the Universe, is as old as time itself and finds amusement in organising tournaments and pitting together creatures he finds interesting. He may have plucked Hulk out of the Quinjet for his own games.

Although it wasn’t revealed how the God of Thunder ends up on the planet, Adam Holmes suggests that the culprit here is the villainous Hela. When the Goddess of Death destroys Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, and banish him from Asgard, perhaps this planet is where the Odinson will be sent.

Powerless, Thor would be forced to take part in one of The Grandmaster’s deadly battles. The common consensus is that Hulk will eventually rush in save the Asgardian. But before that, Hulk will be rocking his classic one-shoulder armour as seen in the “Planet Hulk/ World War Hulk” comics.

As explained by CinemaBlend, “The Planet Hulk” storyline was originally published from 2006 to 2007, and followed Hulk conquering the planet Sakaar after he was banished from Earth by the Marvel Illuminati group for being too dangerous. It subsequently led to Hulk coming back to our world for vengeance in “World War Hulk”.

But that’s not all, JoBlo added that the God of Thunder will also be getting a makeover of sorts. Thor will reportedly cut off his golden locks for a portion of the film. Can you imagine Chris Hemsworth rocking a shaved head? We can’t either.

As for Tessa Thompson’s character Valkyrie, she won’t be sporting a blonde hairdo like the Norse shield maiden in the comics. Instead, she will be decked out with “war paint on her face, much like a Native American warrior.”

Last but not least, Thor could be finding one of the last Infinity Stones because he needs “the ultimate weapon to stop Ragnarok and reset the universe.” This would cleverly tie in with where we last saw the superhero, when he set off to figure out the mysteries surrounding the Infinity Stones.

To find out more on Marvel’s Phase 3 storyline, check out here.

“Thor: Ragnarok” will smash its way into theatres on 3rd November 2017.

Sources: Movie Web, CinemaBlend, Screen Rant, IGN.


(UPDATE) #WarnerBros: New All-Female DC Movie Starring Harley Quinn In The Works

A Harley Quinn and friends movie? Yes please!

It was reported that Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn will be starring in a new standalone DC film featuring an all-star cast of female superheroes and villains. According to Hollywood Reporter, sources say that Robbie was the driving force of the project.

When the star first got the part for “Suicide Squad”, she started to study the villainess through the comic books. Apparently, the actress was so invested in the source material that she fell for the other female characters in the process. After that, she brought on a screenwriter to help work on the idea of an all-female DC film and presented it to the studios. And they loved it!

Details of the development are obviously close-guarded but names such as Batgirl (aka Barbara Gordon) and “Birds Of Prey” have been mentioned in ongoing discussions. Besides that, the script will also be written by a female writer.

Fans are speculating the feature film may be based on the premises of “Birds Of Prey” because the series focuses on a group of super heroines such as Batgirl, Black Canary, Huntress, Dove, and Catwoman. The popular female-centric comic book series was first published in the mid-90s.

Screen Rant stated that Robbie’s production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, will be producing the film. Although Warner Bros. hasn’t officially announced the film or set a release date, the news itself is enough to get us excited.

The upcoming all-female DC film finally has a name – “Gotham City Sirens”.

Director David Ayer will direct and produce the spin-off, with Margot Robbie reprising her role as Harley Quinn. The film is based on “Sirens”, a DC comic series that revolves around popular female villains from Batman’s rogue gallery, including Catwoman and Poison Ivy.

Besides that, it was reported that Megan Fox is eyeing one of the lead roles. According to Bleeding Cool, the actress has been ordering “Harley Quinn” comic books to study Poison Ivy. We think that Fox and Margot would make an interesting pair, don’t you think?

What do you think about an all-female DC superhero movie? Which DC female character you would like to see on the big screen? Let us know in the comments below! :)

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, MTV, Screen Rant.

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Nathan Sykes and Ariana Grande Reveals Their Relationship

The Wanted’s Nathan Sykes and Nickelodeon’s Ariana Grande put rumours to rest as they officially announced their relationship via Twitter. Not entirely a shock to both their fan bases, the pair were seen holding hands and canoodling at Disneyland and were rumoured to be getting close during the filming of their video Almost Is Never Enough.

On Nathan’s Twitter page he wrote: ‘So, I guess it’s obvious now …  thanks to everyone who is being so lovely. I’m so happy #butweareterrified #pleasedontkillme #orariana.’

Ariana followed with her tweet: ‘We hesitated saying anything as people can be a bit insensitive but thank you we value all of your happiness, thank you for valuing ours :)’

Nathan’s bandmate Max Gordon joined in the joyful news and shared his happiness for the couple with his tweet to Nathan where he wrote: ‘@NathanThe Wanted @ArianaGrande very happy for you little brother. She’s a sweetheart ;)’


Guinness® Amplify Champions Local Musicians Who Are Made Of More

Guinness® celebrates musicians with its new music platform, Amplify.

Celebrating the journey of talented, dedicated and passionate musicians, musicians who are made of more, Guinness® recently launched its Guinness® Amplify campaign. Set to be a platform that allows our super talented and extraordinary local musicians to showcase their talent alongside international stars, Guinness® Amplify shines a brand new light in celebrating musicians who are made of more.

Featuring 6 live shows in 6 weeks in various locations across Peninsular Malaysia, Guinness® Amplify: Music Made of More will also include a special grand finale show that will feature an international artist. Admissions to all 6 shows in the Guinness®  Amplify Live Tour is free and is based on a first-come-first-serve basis. To further treat attendees, the 6 shows will include special promotions on Guinness® all night long.

Guinness® Amplify: Music Made of More will showcase the talent of 14 of Malaysia’s best musicians including: Kyoto Protocol, Paperplane Pursuit, OJ Law, Froya, and An Honest Mistake. The Guinness® Amplify Live Tour will kick on September 6th (Saturday) at The Bee Publika and will feature American singer-songwriter Howie Day. Known for his hit songs “Collide” and “She Says”, Howie will be joined by Kyoto Protocol and Paperplane Pursuit.

“GUINNESS® Amplify: Music Made of More is an expansion of our brand positioning, ‘Made of More’, where we celebrate the talent, dedication and passion of extraordinary musicians. These are musicians who feel so passionate about the music they make, they let nothing stand in their way. They are musicians ‘Made of More’ and we are proud to give them a platform where they can showcase their ability and bring their music to hearts of Malaysians”, said Bruce Dallas, Marketing Director of Guinness Anchor Berhad.

The Guinness® Amplify Live Tour will  take place at the following venues and dates:

Keep track with ® Amplify Live Tour and find out you can get your hands on exclusive tickets to the grand finale show here.


Merdeka: Malaysian Films You Must Watch At Least Once In Your Life

There are so many things that we could boast about our country, yet rarely have we seen people talking about a decent feature film made by a Malaysian filmmaker.

The truth is, if everyone could look at the Malaysian film industry through rose-tinted glasses, there are a number of local feature films that certainly deserve more recognition in our country. After all, the Malaysian film industry has come a long way since the late entertainment icon P. Ramlee lit up the silver screen in Malaysia’s Golden Age of cinema.

In conjunction with Malaysia’s 57th Independence Day celebration, we gathered some of our favourite local feature films that has moved us to tears. We stand proud as Malaysians for these! Check out the list below:

“Sepet”, a controversial romantic-comedy film which depicts the interracial relationships that have become increasingly common in Malaysia.

Directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad, the film is an eye-opening film for most Malaysians as it attempts to tackle the issues of interracial relationships in the country through the romantic love story between a Chinese boy and Malay girl. In the film, Ah Loong aka Jason (played by Choo Seong Ng) is 19-year-old boy who spends most of his time selling pirated VCDS in the slums. But when it comes to love, Ah Loong is an incurable romantic who loves to read and write poetry. His life takes an unexpected turn when Orked (played by Sharifah Amani) arrives at his stall to look for films starring her favorite actor Takeshi Kaneshiro. The two fall in love at instant despite being frowned upon by the social conservatives in the film.

Centred on the story of Orked, a prequel and sequel of the film, “Mukshin” and “Gubra”, have been released to complete “The Orked Trilogy”. All of the films were well-received by the critics and “Sepet” went on to win several prestigious awards including the Best Asian Film Award at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2005.

2. Puteri Gunung Ledang / A Legendary Love (2004)

Passed down from generation to generation, “Puteri Gunung Ledang” is an iconic Malaysian folklore about the love story between a mysterious princess who lived on top of Gunung Ledang and the legendary warrior Hang Tuah. Malaysian screenwriter Mamat Khalid pitched the original idea of adapting the folklore into a TV series called “Hikayat”. However, Tiara Jackquelina, who starred in the film as the princess, insisted that the story was “too good” for TV and he eventually turned it into a film. The actress produced the film together with Shazalli Ramly and worked alongside director Saw Teong Hin.

“Puteri Gunung Ledang” is cited as the most expensive film in Malaysian history as it is produced at a cost of USD4 million. The film won several awards at Asia’s leading film festivals including the Malaysian Film Festival 2004, the 50th Asia Pacific Film Festival, and the inaugural Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore. It is worth to note that the film was also selected as Malaysia’s official entry for the 2004 Academy Awards.

A digitally remastered producer’s cut of”Puteri Gunung Ledang” will be shown at selected cinemas to commemorate its 10th anniversary during the Merdeka weekend. The details are as below:

For more information, check out their official Facebook page.

Believe it or not, “The Journey” is an absolutely heart-warming film about the awkward relationship between a conservative father named Uncle Chuan and his daughter. The film opens with Uncle Chuan’s daughter returning home from England with her fiance, Benji, to get her father’s blessing. Although Uncle Chuan approves their wedding, he insists to hand-deliver all the wedding invitations to his closest friends and embarks on a nationwide journey with Benji. Despite the lack of understanding towards one another, the 2 learns valuable lessons about accepting each other’s differences.

“The Journey” was proven to be a success as it became the highest grossing feature film in Malaysia, surpassing the previous record holder, “KL Gangster”‘ (which raked in RM11.74 million). The film even sparked a travel frenzy among Malaysians to visit the filming locations including:

Directed by Malaysian husband-and-wife filmmaking team, Effendee Mazlan and Fariza Azlina Isahak, “Songlap” is a hidden gem not to be overlooked by cinephiles. The film revolves around Am (played by Shaheizy Sam) and his younger brother Ad (played by Mohd Syafie Naswip) who survives on the streets working for a baby-selling organisation run by a woman called MAMA. However, things take an unexpected turn after Ad loses his best friend Razak to drug addiction and witnesses young girls being sold into prostitution. Ad decides to save Hawa (played by Sara Ali) from being sold into prostitution but faces a series of challenge including being on the brink of cutting ties with his own brother.

The film successfully captured the audiences’ attention as it paints a realistic picture of the criminal activities in Malaysia with its gloomy vibe. The overall production has earned them several awards at Asia’s leading film festivals including the Asean International Film Festival 2013, the 25th Malaysian Film Festival, the Screen Awards 2012, and the Film Critics Award for Kuala Lumpur in 2012.

One story, 5 different directors; “Cuak” is a thought-provoking comedy drama film that tells the story of a young man named Adam (played by Ghafir Akbar) who is having second thoughts on his wedding day with Brenda (played by Dawn Cheong). Similar to “Sepet” and “The Journey”, the film depicts the struggles of interracial relationships including converting ones religion to get married.

From comedy to drama to mockumentary, the film combines all the chosen film genres from 5 different directors. However, the film managed to string all the parts into a seamless narrative film that focuses on the issues of interracial relationships. It is also the first time that a Malaysian film revolves around the topics about converting religions for marriage.

So, which Malaysian film do you like the most? Do you have a better film you’d like to share with us? Let us know in the comment box below and don’t forget to spread more love and support our local film industry!

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Cue Fanfare For “Man of Steel”

We know what this era is; it’s the era to reboot all superhero stories. And the story of a child sent to Earth from a dying planet Krypton hasn’t been singled out.

“Man of Steel” is the next big American superhero film to conquer cinemas around the world. We say it like we’re sure of it and you know what though? We are.

Based on the DC Comics character “Superman” (who else?), the film will be a reboot of the Superman film series under the watch of Zack Snyder (“Sucker Punch”), David S. Goyer (“Batman Begins”, “Jumper”, “The Dark Knight”, “The Dark Knight Rises”) and..wait for it, Christopher Nolan (needs no introduction).

The production will be based in west suburban Plano, Illinois whilst using Chicago and Vancouver as backdrops to retell the tale of Clark Kent (played by Henry Cavill). Adopted as a child by Martha and Jonathan Kent after he was transported to Earth to survive the destruction of his homeworld, he grows up to become a journalist. By day, that is.

Because while he was raised with the values of his adoptive parents, he’s not like “any other ordinary boy”. Clark has unique super abilities which cause him to struggle whilst trying to find his footing here on Earth. His journey to adulthood was that of a pretty much alienated one until one day, the world is attacked by an insidious evil:

[youtube id=”6jKWJZsjm5U” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Ta-dah! Clark Kent, nerdy and reserved journalist transformed into the hero Superman to protect (and save) the world! Here’s what we’re wondering though – will this “new age” Superman movie include Clark changing inside a phone booth? Just saying.

The film is slated for a June 2012 released. Meanwhile, hit up the official website for more timely updates.


#CornDrillChallenge: Ouch! Woman’s Hair Gets Ripped From Her Head

What can possibly go wrong from eating corn?

Well, when it involves a rotating power drill, anything goes. This China woman learnt a life lesson when she decided to jump on the latest craze and take on the “Corn on the Drill Challenge”. Her attempt to complete the ludicrous challenge has gone viral.

For the uninitiated, the “Corn Drill Challenge” involves trying to eat a cob of corn. Here’s the twist: the corn is attached to a power drill machine that rotates at a very high RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). Those attempting this stunt must eat as much corn as they possibly can while the drill rotates at a rapid speed.

While there have been many examples of people successfully completing the challenge, this young Chinese woman wasn’t so fortunate. In the cringing clip, a lock of her hair gets caught in the power tool and gets ripped from her scalp. As you can see from the image below, a large patch is torn from the front of her head.

Instead of screaming in pain or bursting into tears, the shocked woman does not make a sound as she reaches up to feel the large bald patch on her head. Luckily it was only her hair that was damaged and not something like her eyes or skull. If you were left wondering how come her scalp wasn’t bleeding, you’re not alone. Perhaps her body was also in shock?

According to reports, the Chinese lady has been told by her doctors that her hair will eventually grow back normally, but it will be a long and slow process. Naturally, a lot of people on social media have condemned this latest viral sensation as completely unsafe, and to be fair, it is rather dangerous. You could literally loose your teeth if it goes wrong!

Let this be a lesson as to why we shouldn’t be trying this “Corn Drill Challenge” at home. Just because it’s trending online, it doesn’t mean that we should attempt it.


All The Raya Highlights & Activities To Check Out At 1 Utama Shopping Centre

As Raya draws closer, 1 Utama is lighting up this special season with their stunning and twinkling decorations. Looking to capture the illuminating spirit of Eid, the mall drew inspirations from sacred traditions, as well as Middle Eastern cultures in order to deliver the Raya spirit to visitors.

Revolving around their theme, “Sinar Estetika Aidilfitri”, 1 Utama has also prepared a series of weekly showcases, cultural workshops, exciting rewards and festive promotions. Here are some of the highlights you can look forward to:

Known as the 27th night of Ramadhan traditionally centered around lights, experience a soft glow illuminating its LG Oval and Ground Floor Centre Court concourses. ‘Malam Tujuh Likur’ symbolizes hope, joy and blessings.

Be prepared to witness a mystical floral haven coming to life with colorful giant Arabic lanterns combined with delicate butterflies, exquisite flowers and LED lights when you visit. Along with a Middle Eastern-themed garden, you can find 9 different lantern designs, the tallest being 17 feet!

3. Vibrant Raya Bazaar at Oval and Center Court

From a variety of Raya booths, browse and select the perfect gifts from apparel to fashion accessories. You can also choose from an array of delicacies, traditional Malay food like rendang and kuih bahulu, or authentic Turkish delights.

Amazing deals are offered by over 100 F&B outlets in 1 Utama during Break Fast season.

5. The Raya Gala: Weekly Showcases of Cultural Performances and Workshops

Look forward to incredible performances ranging from Egyptian-Arabic belly dances to Malay traditional Raya dances. Without forgetting about musical recitals and special guests performances, be prepared to be entertained throughout the Raya season.

The full and detailed Raya Gala is shown below:

Finally, get freebies when you shop online on One Shop during the Raya season. Remember to enter the special promo codes as stated above to get freebies such as a BDARI Tiffin, Dining Mats, Green Packet Set and E-Duit.

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Is Disney+ Malaysia Debuting Soon? Here’s What We Know

Disney+ has been available for more than a year now. When Disney hired a Malaysian to spearhead the Disney+ team, many of us were hopeful that it’ll debut here soon.

On 24th January, two Malaysia-specific social media pages for the service went live – namely Facebook and Instagram. The page activation was based on a post below.

Both pages only had one post; a blue screen with the word ‘LOADING’ in white letters. Disney+ Singapore’s Twitter page had used an identical post leading up to the service’s official launch date, on 11th December 2020.

In case you’re puzzled by the official Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia title, Hotstar is an on-demand streaming platform which Disney acquired in 2019. It was used to launch the first Disney+ in Indonesia last September.

While this seemed like it would lead to an official announcement of the launch, the Disney+ Hotstar MY Facebook and Instagram accounts were deactivated today.

No updates have been given but many are still anticipating the official announcement. Hopefully, the service will be available to Malaysia soon.


Concert Review: Blackpink Brought Their Girl Power During KL Show

When Blackpink announced that they were bringing their “In Your Area” tour to the humble city of Kuala Lumpur, it would be an understatement to say that minds were lost. YG Entertainment’s only girl group were finally going to pay us a visit and fans were dying to get a glimpse of Jennie, Rosé, Lisa and Jisoo up close.

Considering that Blinks are probably the second biggest fandom next to ARMYs, the excitement was especially evident in the air. In fact, they even had to add another date for the girls as the first concert sold out before most fans could even get their hands on any tickets. So come the 23rd of February 2019, the town was painted black and pink to celebrate the arrival of K-pop’s biggest girl group.

Being the first date of the two-day concert, we were intrigued to see what Blackpink had in store for us. From the moment of arrival outside of Stadium Malawati, the difference was felt immediately. Packed like never before, fans had come from all corners of the world to see their favourite girl group. As someone who had attended plenty of other concerts at this venue, the sheer amount of attendees were shocking to say the least.

Considering how there was a packed line to enter the stadium alone, one could only imagine how long the line for entrance into the actual arena was. Regardless, Blinks were having the time of their lives. Despite the heat and the crowds of individuals, there were fans excitedly buying merchandise, exchanging freebies and even recording dance covers for a chance at competitions. It felt like an event by itself, even though we were hours away from the actual time of the concert.

Come 6pm, the staff of Macpiepro (who were organisers of the event) started ushering the crowd towards the inside of the stadium. The effect was almost immediate; everyone dropped what they were previously doing— abandoning their places in line to take photos or get food— all to run up to the line for bag checks. With scuffling and dashing into the stadium to secure their positions, eventually everyone got inside and waited for the moment of truth.

It was truly something else to see Stadium Malawati packed to the brim. Usually, it was not uncommon to see spaces with lack of attendees— darkness where there was supposed to be light sticks and what not— but it certainly was not the case for Blackpink’s concert. The entire stadium was littered with flashing pink lights being emitted from the “hammer-bong”, the official lightstick for Blinks. There was a slight delay from the usual timeliness of the event, however it was understandable considering the amount of fans that attended. As soon as everyone had safely been ushered to their seats and into the pits of the Blink Zone, it was time.

The moment the lights went off, the screams that were uttered were nothing short of deafening (even more so, considering the turn out of male fans). A bombastic intro began with a shower of pink and white lights, as smoke filled the stage; preparing us for the entrance of the ladies of the night. The screams got even higher in pitch when the stage slowly revealed four panels opening, as the girls of Blackpink were elevated onto the stage. And with that, the first song of the night began; “Ddu Ddu Ddu”.

The reaction was immediate; everyone rabidly chanting along “Ah yeah, ah yeah!” in sync with the girls as they waved their light sticks enthusiastically. All Blackpink members were in white ensembles, holding adorable pink microphones as they sang along to the tough anthem that easily defined most of 2018 for us. After hitting us with their “Ddu, ddu, ddu!”, they performed an extended version of “Forever Young”; another EDM heavy track from their latest release, “Square Up”. Complete with streamers, flares, intense light work and fireworks worthy of a Chinese New Year celebration; it was evident that YG Entertainment went all the way for Blackpink. From their introductory songs alone, there was a display of glitz and glam that could not have been missed.

The lights came back on after the two songs, as the girls took the stage to introduce themselves. It was especially nice to hear the girls speak so comfortably on, greeting the fans who responded with enthusiasm. Jennie’s sharp Kiwi accent cut through the night as she playfully noted, “Let’s have some fun!” with her signature smile before handing the mic over to Rosé. It was impossible not to gush over her gorgeous Australian accent as she noted how thankful she was for Malaysian Blinks for having them tonight. Lisa was all smiles in her usual cheerful self, brightly waving to fans who greeted her in a similar manner.

However no one could have expected the cuteness from Jisoo when she adorably said, “Blink-ya! Kami rindu padamu!” in her heavy Korean accent. Despite not communicating as much in English as the other members, she made up for it with her impressive Malay skills which easily won the hearts of fans. With a quick word of warning from Jennie who considerately asked fans to stay safe, they took a seat for their slower number; “Stay”.

The acoustic and almost country-esque song had the entire stadium singing along, especially during the “la la la” part. Being Blackpink’s only slow song in their discography, it seems as though it has transformed into a fan song almost from the effect it gave the crowd. With everyone swaying from left to right as they sang along with the girls, it was a truly touching moment between the artists and fans. With that, they segued into Blackpink’s second slowest song; “Whistle”. The moment we heard the iconic “Hey, boy” and the bass dropping, all traces of melancholy disappeared to make way for the bop of 2016.

The girls were whisked away into the darkness after to prepare for their next stage, whilst the crowd was treated to a video. Instead of the usual VCRs, Blackpink had prepared a video of fans from all around the world showing their love for the girl group. From dance covers, to vocal covers and even some crack videos of YouTuber JRE comically twerking alongside to the members; it was evident that Blackpink was loved far and wide. With video entries from all of Europe, Asia and so many more, it was clear that music had no cultural boundaries. Despite the language barrier, fans from literally all across the globe appreciated and loved them deeply. It was especially great to see a couple of videos from Malaysian Blinks as well!

After that, it was time for the solo stages of each member. The first was Jisoo, the eldest of the girls. She sat on a throne made out of disco balls, dressed glamorously as the familiar beginning of “Clarity” by Zedd filled the stadium. As the track progressed, we were treated to the rarity of hearing Jisoo sing an entire song by herself. Often taking the backseat in the group, it was refreshing to say the least when we saw her shining by herself.

All rumours of her not being able to sing were put to rest the moment she hit the high notes on the song, proving herself to be a capable vocalist. It was adorable seeing her smile so brightly when she realised how well her performance was being received as well. As the EDM beat slowly died down, Jisoo waved a hand and descended below the stage. Though fans were upset to see her go, it would be a lie to say that they weren’t excited for what came next.

The firecracker of the night, Lisa, finally took the stage. Beginning with a contemporary dance stage, she performed an emotionally honest number to “Take Me”; dazzling the crowd with her lithe movements. The coloured lights that were chosen for the stage were especially fitting as well, lending it the emotion it deserved to enhance the experience. However all of that was quickly removed the moment Jason Derulo’s “Swalla” started playing, and so was Lisa’s expression. From her previously serious and somewhat stoic face, she now wore one of pure seduction.

Accompanied by backup dancers, she broke out her legendary dance routine that garnered several million views on Twitter for all of Kuala Lumpur to feast their eyes on. With an unmatched charisma, she effortlessly charmed the crowd to eat out of her palm before kissing them an air kiss goodbye to make way for the next solo.

When Rosé appeared with a lovely dress to match, she sat on top of a transparent grand piano to sing not one, not two, but three different songs. Beginning with the soulful ballad of “Let It Be”, her raspy voice carried the song with such volume. She picked it up towards the end, changing up the somber mood to a more energetic one— smiling brightly through it all. Choosing songs from her senior, Rosé also covered Park Bom’s “You and I” and Taeyang’s “Only Look At Me”. It was great seeing a modern take on songs that were made before Blackpink’s debut, and even more so seeing artists under the same company take a chance at covering their sunbaes’ songs. After a great performance, she too bid fans goodbye.

There is undoubtedly a certain aura towards Jennie. Not only is she the only member with an official solo track, but she was also the only member who had their band play an entire rock solo before her stage. Definitely with a flair for the dramatic, the rock solos added to the exhilaration felt to prep us for her stage. When she finally appeared, the crowd lost it as they screamed along word by word to “Solo”.

There was yet another intermission, which featured their band playing even more sick solos for us. Ranging from a bass, drum, electric guitar and even synthesizer solo; the band was phenomenal. It worked brilliantly to keep the crowd hyped up as well, which worked well when the girls appeared to sing “Kiss and Make Up”, a song by Dua Lipa that they were featured on. Despite a stage error of Jennie not making it on time until the second half of the song, the three girls managed to pull off the performance perfectly fine. Throwing it back to 2007, they then continued with a remix of “So Hot” – originally by the Wonder Girls. Keeping in the theme of heat related things, “Playing With Fire” was up next. With real flame flares complementing the song, the performance was indeed on fire.

Taking a break to catch their breaths, Rosé gushed at how amazed she was with the turn out. It was obvious that she was genuinely touched, which resulted in the crowd giving her many ‘awww’s. Jisoo adorably winked and said, “Blink, kamu bagus!” which pretty much sent a good half of the crowd into a cardiac arrest. As Lisa gave fan services of finger hearts to the crowd, Jennie mentioned how welcomed they felt considering it was their first visit to Malaysia and thanked everyone once again.

They slowed things down with a reggae version of “Really” and then brought the energy back with “See You Later” before plunging the stadium into darkness once again. A VCR in the form of an advert for KIA, one of the main sponsors of the event, played as fans watched in mixed awe and confusion. The advert took place in a garage, with the girls fixing up some extremely shiny new cars before racing each other in a bad ass fashion.

It was interesting to note that the girls were dressed up as actual garage workers instead of the skimpy outfits typically associated with a female and a car. This perhaps was one of the most satisfying part of the advert, though it was obvious that no one could change a car tire while having their hair stay as perfect as Lisa’s. Regardless, it was entertaining to watch the girls do doughnuts in the basement carpark— only to write their group’s initials with skid marks.

The lights came back on and Blackpink served us a dance solo to “16 Shots”, complete with back up dancers and all the energy they had to offer. With a quick mention that they only had two songs left (and the woes that followed) the girls bid their goodbyes before taking their positions on stage. Then came the banger of the night; “Boombayah”. Being their debut song that rose them to fame — and the song responsible for the catchy title of their tour— Malaysian Blinks could finally scream, “BLACKPINK in your area!” and actually mean it! With one dance song came another, so it wasn’t long until the summer anthem of “As If It’s Your Last” began playing on the stadium’s speakers.

The girls then disappeared, resulting in what may have been the loudest chants of “Encore!” we had ever heard before. To combat the darkness of the stadium, fans had turned on their flashlights on their phones as they chanted “Blackpink!” over and over again until the lights had come back on.

Treating fans to a rock version of “Ddu Ddu Ddu”, complete with back up dancers going wild; it was the final send off of the night. After all the energy and adrenaline, they took a seat to sway with BLINKs for the last time as everyone collectively sang “Stay” together. The members took this time to walk towards the further ends of the stage, saying their goodbyes and even taking a plush that was held out to Rosé. With heavy hearts, the crowd had to say goodbye to the girls as they eventually descended below the stage — and out of sight.

BLACKPINK may be limited in terms of their discography, but they are nothing short of impressive. If anything, it makes one think of how far a group as new as them have reached such heights. Big privilege or not, it does not take away how admirable a girl group like Blackpink are— even more so when you factor in their ages. These young girls have achieved so much in such short amount of time, truly making history for themselves and the genre they are in. Being in a completely different league from other groups, it was truly something else seeing the world’s biggest K-pop girl group perform.

With the sheer quality of the performance they gave us, it’s no wonder that they are where they are today. It’s hard to not fall for the girls, especially when they are so effortlessly charismatic, cute and charming all at once. This is only the beginning for the four girls, and with them being a part of Coachella later this year— a world domination is bound to happen. It’s only a matter if you realise it or not, but Blackpink is the revolution.

Article by Leyasheena Panicker. Images credit: YG Entertainment.

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Bringing Japan To You: What You Can Experience At Pavilion Bukit Jalil’s Tokyo Town

Japan, the land of the rising sun, is one of the most popular places to travel especially during Spring when tourists get to see the Sakura trees in full bloom. If you’re not much of a nature kind of person then Tokyo is, of course, the place to explore. Whether it’s from Animes or movies, you’ve seen that the city has a lot to offer to not just tourists but locals as well.

If you’re still saving some money for the actual trip, then how about making your way to the next best thing which is Tokyo Town at Pavilion Bukit Jalil? The new precinct welcomes shoppers to celebrate all things Japanese from food, retail, arts, and culture. Here’s all you can expect from the newly launched precinct:

1. Traditional Japanese Designs And Layouts

Be immediately transported to the land of the rising sun with two larger-than-life artistic Sumo Sculptures greeting shoppers at the Torii Gate entrance of Tokyo Town. You’d definitely get the feel of being in Tokyo as the design and layouts truly embodied the sense of the city.

Shoppers will notice the grand floating temple roof at the entrance as well which was inspired and designed with ‘kirizuma-zukuri’ or gable roof style – the basic architectural style in ancient Japan. Be amazed as you gaze upon the giant Wagasa (Japanese umbrella) designed by renowned Japanese artist Kotaro Nishibori. Beautiful Kimonos were also on display at the entrance.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Japan without the Sakura trees. Not only are they good for your Instagram Feed, but shoppers will have the opportunity to hang up their Tanabata wishes by tying them with the ribbons on the branches of the trees. May good fortune come to us all!

The retail shops are just like the ones you’d see at Tokyo Street in Pavilion KL. Though not as many, they’re much bigger and spacious at the Bukit Jalil outlet. Shoppers will find all sorts of things from Nakamise lots to specialty stores. There’s certainly something for everyone among the rich selection of Japanese food, retail, arts, and culture.

Other than the retail shops, one of the highlights of Tokyo Town is the ‘Japan Moment by Japanese Creators’ exhibition by Nippon Design School. Immerse yourself in the rich arts and culture of Japan with this specialty exhibition. Want to learn origami? Be sure to check out the exquisite origami exhibition pieces by the Origami Academy. Trust us when we say your minds will be blown when you find out the amount of paper used to make a dragon.

In celebration of its launch, Tokyo Town will have an exciting line-up of festivities, giveaways, opening specials, and more from now until 31st October! Experience traditional Japanese dance performances, origami workshops, gaming and board game sessions, Cosplayer meet & greet, Japanese shrine blessing culture introduction, and Omamori Origami (Lucky Charms) Giveaways!

If the festivities aren’t enough then how about this? Spend a minimum of RM100 in a maximum of 2 combined receipts at any store in Tokyo Town and you can redeem a Tokyo Town Happy Bag filled with a variety of Japanese drinks and snacks. Redemption will be at the Gift Redemption Counter that’s nearby the entrance but better hurry, as this is for a limited time only.

For more information on what you can experience and get at Tokyo Town Pavilion Bukit Jalil, be sure to visit the official website. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can experience there:

Experience all things Japanese at Tokyo Town in Pavilion Bukit Jalil

♬ original sound – hypemalaysia – Hype Malaysia


Jay Chou & Family Accidentally Photobombed Couple’s Wedding Photo

What would you do if you found out that Asian superstar Jay Chou has photobombed your photo? You’d probably frame it and hang the photo on your house wall – cos’ that’s what we would do!

So apparently, the internet is now abuzz by photo of a Chinese couple who was taking their wedding photoshoot in New York’s Central Station, but to their surprise, their once-in-a-lifetime wedding photo features a very familiar face, and it turns out that the person is none other than Mandapop star Jay Chou!

That’s not all, Jay Chou was not the only person who accidentally photobombing the photo. Turns out that his wife Hannah Quilivan and daughter Hathaway were also in the photo.

Netizen was amused by the appearance of the celebrity family in the photo and met of them expressed their envy towards the Chinese newlywed. Some of their comments include “You’re so lucky!”, “The wedding photo worth so much more now”, “So jealous”, etc.

So would you mind if Jay Chou suddenly photobomb your photo? Let us know!

Source / Featured Image: Chinese Herald.

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#TheRealMcCoy: Chris Pratt’s Upcoming Action-Adventure Film Lands At Universal

Even wondered where the term “The Real McCoy” originated from? Wonder no more, because Universal Pictures is here to clear your doubts! The best thing is, it was confirmed that Chris Pratt will take the role of the titular character!

Pratt, who is headlining Universal’s “Jurassic World“, is now set to star in “The Real McCoy”, an action movie that the studio picked up after a successful bid against Warner Bros..

Scriptwriter Bill Dubuque was supposed to present the idea to multiple studios on 14th and 15th April. However, the meetings were cancelled as Warner Bros. and Universal entered an aggressive fight over the movie rights. The fight ended with Warner on the losing end.

McNulty came up with the idea of movie and he then pitched it to Dubuque. After Dubuque agreed to sign the movie, they both approached Pratt, with the meeting ending positively. McNulty is taking up the role of producer with Michael De Luca (of “Fifty Shades of Grey” fame), while Dubuque will be writing the script. Mark Williams will be the executive producer of the flick.

The movie tells the story of bootlegger Bill McCoy, who is believed to have inspired the term “The Real McCoy”. McCoy is an America sea captain and rum runner smuggler who prided himself as a “honest lawbreaker” as he had never bribed law enforcers and politicians for protection. Despite being deeply involved in the trade, he was a non-drinker who never touched liquor.

“Jurassic World”, which stars Pratt, is slated for release on 12th June 2015.


#TombRaiderReboot: Adds Warner Bros & New Writer + Focuses On Young Lara Croft

There’s no definite answer as to how many TV or movie reboots we need in a year. From “The Crow” to “Ghostbusters” to “Underworld“, the list is endless. However, if there’s a movie reboot we’re excited to see, it’s “Tomb Raider”.

Though Angelina Jolie already won us over with her portrayal of Lara Croft in the original “Tomb Raider” film, the movie certainly deserves a second chance to win us over again.

It was announced in 2013 that Graham King, the founder of GK Films will team up with MGM to produce the movie and Marti Noxon will pen the script. But now, Deadline is reporting Warner Bros has signed on co-produce and co-finance the film while screenwriter Evan Daugherty is set to pen the script.

“Tomb Raider” is a popular video game franchise that was first adapted into a movie in 2001. Due to the success of the first movie, a sequel was released in 2003 with Angelina Jolie returning to star. The films grossed $432 million worldwide. In 2011, GK Film acquired the film rights to release an origin story reboot. Darrell Gallagher, head of Crystal Dynamics, revealed to Variety that the film will focus on a younger Lara Croft going on her first adventure.

Since the deal with Warner Bros features a strong progress-to-production language, the project is currently being fast-tracked.

Warner Bros. executive Jon Berg will oversee the project for the studio while Cassidy Lange will oversee for MGM and Denis O’Sullivan will oversee for King’s GK Films. Though we are excited to see it, we are setting our expectations low since Daugherty’s recent work includes “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”(TMNT), “Divergent“, “Snow White And The Huntsman“, and “G.I. Joe 3”.

What do you think of the “Tomb Raider” reboot? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.


WTF? People In China Hate Black Panther Because It’s Too Black.

For the past couple of weeks, all everyone has been talking about is the first big budgeted black superhero film, “Black Panther”. The 18th entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been breaking box office records week in week out, especially in the US. “Black Panther” has grossed more than US$ 561 million in the US and US$ 518 million overseas, making it the first black-led film to enter the billion-dollar club.

This past week, “Black Panther” was released in China to pretty solid box office numbers — US$ 66 million. However, it seems like the movie will most likely take a huge dive in its second weekend. The reviews have not been great. On a surface level, a movie having not great reviews is no big deal. Movies are subjective after all. But the REASON why the Chinese (from China) have been hating on the film is terribly discomforting. Online reviews in China indicate that a large portion of the Chinese crowd are actually fu*king racist!

Here are some comments that can be found on the Chinese website Douban:

Black Panther is black, all the major characters are black, a lot of scenes are black, the car-chasing scene is black—the blackness has really made me drowsy.

When I entered the theater, a bunch of black people was fighting in the night… I’ve never been in a theater so dark that I couldn’t find my seat.

The film is filled with black actors and actresses. Also, because the film’s colors are a bit dark, it’s nearly a torture for the eyes to watch the film’s 3D version in the theater.

But this isn’t the first time audiences in China have proven to be racist. In the past, John Boyega, who plays Finn in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, was removed from the poster of “The Force Awakens”.

Star Wars’ Finn (who happens to be black) and Chewbacca (happens to be Wookiee) get shafted in China. HT @asmuniz pic.twitter.com/ATpvcd51L6

— Ray Kwong (@raykwong) December 1, 2015

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Marvel To Campaign Avengers: Endgame For Next Year’s Oscars?

“Avengers: Endgame” has officially surpassed the US$2 billion mark in ticket sales in its 2nd weekend in cinemas, beating “Avengers: Infinity War”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, and “Titanic”.

Given that it’s the fastest film to hit the US$2 billion mark, it is expected to surpass “Avatar”’s US$2.7 billion total gross. So what’s next? Word on the street has it that Disney and Marvel are planning to make a big push for “Endgame” ahead of the 2019-2020 award circuit.

Fandango’s Erik Davis revealed that Marvel Studios recently screened “Avengers: Endgame” for members of the Academy. Many feel that this could be a major campaign for the superhero blockbuster as we approach next year’s awards season.

Although superhero flicks then to have a bad track record with Academy voters, Marvel Cinematic Universe has been making waves at the Academy Awards. Earlier this year, “Black Panther” was nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture. It end up with 3 gongs for Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.

Fans feel like “Avengers: Endgame” does stand a good chance in getting recognition in the production design and visual effects categories. Meanwhile director Joe Russo thinks that Robert Downey Jr., deserves a nod for portraying Iron Man.

“His cumulative body of work from these movies is staggering. If you look at the work over just even the last 4 (Marvel) films he’s done, it’s phenomenal… He deserves an Oscar perhaps more than anyone in the last 40 years because of the way that he has motivated popular culture,” the filmmaker told The Washington Post.

What do you think? Will the Oscar voters favour “Avengers: Endgame” like how they did with “Black Panther”?


#ETSTrains: 10 ETS Trains To Be Added To Current Fleet Under Passengers’ Demands

10 more Electric Railway System (ETS) trains will be added to the current fleet of 38 trains in order to meet with the increasing passenger demands, according to a report by local news site Bernama.

The Ministry of Transport and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will work hand-in-hand to ensure that the project will run smoothly.

Transport Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, explained that the additions are in line with the rapid development of the transport system services. Also, ETS trains are in high demand as it is the preferred choice of the public when travelling from one state to another.

Currently, KTMB has 38 ETS trains, and serves the Gemas-Padang Besar route twice a day. Each train has six coaches that can accommodate up to 300 passengers at any one time, and this is still unable to meet the demand.

The public have been complaining to KTMB that it was difficult to get tickets, and they had to book tickets almost a month in advance. After listening to the public’s grievances, KTMB decided to take action.

The project was announced during the opening of the Arau Train Station, in conjunction with the 73rd birthday of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail yesterday (Thursday, 19th May) afternoon.


One Direction Is Releasing A Book – Yes, A Book

The One Direction Twitter team has been teasing yet another announcement this week and promised fans that all would be revealed in their newsletter. Thousands of Directioners signed up to receive the update and this afternoon the “X Factor” stars revealed that they are going to release a brand new book, to coincide with their movie this summer.

The 3D film “This Is Us” will be released worldwide in August and on the 27th of that month the new publication will hit the shelves which will detail the singers’ “journey over the last year and a half—from the places they’ve visited and fans they’ve met”.

The news was revealed today and the official title of the book is, “One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story”, which ties in with their 2014 stadium tour, “Where We Are”. The newsletter reads:

Calling all One Direction fans! This is the only official book from 1D charting their journey over the last year and a half—from the places they’ve visited and fans they’ve met, to their thoughts and feelings, hopes and dreams, highs and lows. It has been a phenomenal year—and this is a phenomenal story.

Despite the release date being several months away still, Amazon is taking pre-orders for the book and they are priced at £10.

Alright Directioners, start making a beeline!

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The “Gen Y” Banking Revolution by Hong Leong Bank

Yesterday, one of the leading financial services organizations in Malaysia launched a revolution that will break new frontiers in retail banking format to satisfy the needs of the prime consumers.

Mach by Hong Leong Bank is a Hong Leong Bank sub-brand that embodies modern lifestyle banking customized for the “Gen Y“. Launched at the Hong Leong Bank Mid Valley branch, Mach recognizes the fundamental shift in consumer lifestyle by the Gen Y segment and is designed to meet the demands of this market.

Its products and services encompasses customisable services, eco-friendly processes, non-intrusive high tech self-service concepts, convenient locations (for example, Mid Valley Megamall), and a fast turnaround time. Based on these key hallmarks, the next-generation consumers can expect wonderful things from Mach’s six “life starter” products that focus on pushing the limited of delivering quick turnaround time without compromising the integrity of the bank:

Banking made easy for “kids” like us? It’s about time!

Mach by Hong Leong Bank is now available at Hong Leong Bank’s Mid Valley Megamall and IOI Mall, Puchong branches, seven days a week from 10am to 10pm. And according to Datuk Yvonne Chia (Group Managing Director of Hong Leong Bank), plans on expanding to more convenient locations nationwide are already currently in the pipeline as we speak.

For further information, customers can visit any of the Mach by Hong Leong Bank branches, log on to their website, or call Mach Helpline at 03-7951 1988 (9am – 5pm, Mondays – Fridays). Product terms and conditions apply.


#Marvel: Visit The Interactive Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Exhibition In Singapore

Time to pack your bags, Marvel fans! The Science Centre, Singapore is holding the Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) Exhibition for the first time in Southeast Asia :)

The highly interactive event takes place from now till 5th March 2017, between 10am to 6pm daily.

Featuring beloved Marvel characters like Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Iron Man, the exhibition allows visitors to experience an interactive adventure and become part of the adventure by studying the science behind their favourite superheroes.

The exhibition’s attractions include Captian America’s uniform, shield, and bike; Bruce Banner’s laboratory; Vision’s birth cradle; Hawkeye and Black Widow’s uniforms and weapons; Iron Man’s MK 45 suit; Thunger God Thor’s mighty hammer Mjolnir; as well as The Hulkbuster suit. This means you will get to suit up like Tony Stark!

Did we also mention that a Marvel movie will be screened daily during the entire period of the exhibition? :)

Brought to you by Victory Hill Exhibitions, an exhibition Production and Distribution Company, details on Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Exhibition in Singapore are as follows:

For more information, visit Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N’s microsite and Science Centre Singapore’s website.

Sources: MMO, The Star, Science Centre Singapore, Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.


WINNERS: ParaNorman 3D Movie Screening

Thank you all for the flurry of tweets and e-mails! We’ve finally sorted out the winners for our ParaNorman 3D movie screening contest. Phew! So many tweets and e-mails, so little time.

But these lucky 40 readers are coming to catch the awesome stop-motion animation with us next Tuesday (14th August):

Yay! Congratulaions, Hype readers and troopers. Thanks to the awesome people from United International Pictures, you’ll be catching ParaNorman 3D with us!

Kindly collect your tickets from our counter at GSC One Utama from 8pm onwards. Remember, tickets are non-transferable.

For more informtion, visit their official website.

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Enjoy The World Cup With Futbol Mundial Up In The Sky!

In conjunction with the World Cup finals this weekend, every football fan and enthusiast will get to experience the samba carnival on the street of Rio De Janeiro, it will be like they are just in Brazil.

Five screens will be set up for fans to enjoy and watch two of the world’s best football teams go head to head for the title. Fans will get to uplift their football experience like never before by watching the game at Asia’s first green helipad bar, Stratosphere. Apart from that, the Futbol Mundial will also feature a street carnival parade with drum lines, samba dancers, fire dancers and cheerleaders — a full on fun and loud street party!

To further kick up the Brazilian festivity, football enthusiasts will also get to enjoy free face painting, foot and shoulder massages as well as party packs! There will also be a football bazaar selling all the football merchandises that a fan would want and need. Of course, there will also be a guest DJ spinning on the decks right until the match starts.

Now to add to the excitement, The Roof is running a contest to give away a grand prize to ONE lucky winner to host a party with 30 friends. Here’s what you’ll need to do in order to participate:

Venue: Sky Level, First Avenue in Bandar Utama

For more information, visit The Roof on Facebook.


(UPDATE) ZoukOut Singapore 2014 Dates Announced

The multiple award-winning ZoukOut, organised by Zouk Singapore,  is an annual dance music festival held in Singapore since 2000. Now, in its 14th year, ZoukOut is one of Asia’s biggest music dance festivals, it is organised by Zouk (club) Singapore. DJs/producers/artistes that have performed at ZoukOut include: Paul Van Dyk, Hardwell, Above & Beyond, Richie Hawtin, Ferry Corsten, Zedd, Sven Väth, Armin van Buuren, Kaskade, Tiesto, and Stereo MCs.

With that in mind, Zouk Singapore has announced the dates for ZoukOut 2014:

Are you marking your calendars already? Maybe it’s time to lock down those flights and accommodation bookings so that you can rock up to Siloso Beach, Sentosa this December to party. The earlier the better!

So far, no further details have been released yet. While we patiently await the artiste lineup announcements (usually in a few phases), who would you really like to see at ZoukOut this year?

The full lineup of acts have been announced! Above & Beyond? Skrillex?

Tickets go on sale here from 1st September, 3pm onwards.

Also, don’t forget to vote for this year’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs.

For more information, visit Zouk Singapore’s Facebook page.


(UPDATE) #ZoukOutSG: Full Line-Up + Set Times Announced For ZoukOut 2015

Zouk Singapore’s annual award-winning dance music festival ZoukOut returns for its 15th year! Known as one of Asia’s biggest and leading dance music festivals, ZoukOut has seen the likes of DJs/producers/artistes including Hardwell, Above & Beyond, Steve Angello, Ferry Corsten, Zedd, Skrillex, Armin van Buuren, Kaskade, Tiësto and more perform at its festival.

With that in mind, Zouk Singapore has announced the dates for ZoukOut 2015.

Be sure to mark your dates and we also suggest that you start locking down those flights and accommodations so you can party it up at Siloso Beach, Sentosa this December.

No further details have been released just yet but according to Zouk Singapore’s Facebook page, the first wave of lineup will be announced this weekend so stay tuned as we will update you as and when we get more information!

The first wave of artistes for this year’s ZoukOut has been announced!

Second wave to come! Till then, let us know who else you would really like to see at ZoukOut this year by sounding off in the comments box.

We’re pinching ourselves real hard because we know this can’t be true. But it is!

The full line-up for this year’s ZoukOut has been announced. You may want to take a deep breath.

We know that you guys have been waiting for this… So here's presenting the full line up for #ZoukOut2015! pic.twitter.com/HSm3tqKeo5

— ZoukOut – Official (@ZoukOutOfficial) August 17, 2015

The ZoukOut 2015 schedule has been released! Keep this one with you at all times and do some “party planning” so that you won’t miss out on the sets :)

You may also download the ZoukOut programme guide here.

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The Bourne Legacy Won’t Be The Last

We caught the exclusive press screening of the fourth installment of the highly successful Bourne franchise a few hours ahead of its premiere in Malaysia – all thanks to our friends from United International Pictures Malaysia.

But before we get into our review, we have to say just one thing; Jeremy Renner is definitely all set to be the next most highly sought after agent for future action/spy flicks. Judging from his roles as “Hawkeye” in “The Avengers” and “Aaron Cross” in today’s “The Bourne Legacy”, it looks like he’s made for these parts, having played them so well and so effortlessly.

Jeremy (who plays “Operation Outcome” field agent and program participant, Aaron Cross) starts showing his tough side from the very beginning of the film – crossing borders, climbing mountains, jumping over cliffs, shooting drone planes, and taking on a random wolf while he’s on a solo training mission in ice cold Alaska.

Needless to say, the start of the legacy is so “rough outback” that it doesn’t actually give the audience any time to breathe. That, coupled with a lot of high-leveled dialogue that requires people to sit up and listen or the entire plot would be lost.

Then comes the attractive and intelligent Dr. Marta Shearing (played by the beautiful Rachel Weisz) who is Jeremy’s personal damsel in distress.

Her task (after she witnessed a deranged colleague gun down an entire lab of co-workers) is to help Jeremy because ultimately, she has access to the meds that only the government can provide. The same government they need to be running away from:

[youtube id=”euV3w-PIvAY” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Do they make it? We won’t include any spoilers. But we should remind you though that in the spirit of all Bourne films, there plot is always twisty and thick, and that behind every act of violence or word, there’s an ulterior motive. In this installment, many ulterior motives.

We also love how director Tony Gilroy takes this legacy halfway across the globe, from Alaska to Chicago, to New York to Seoul, and then to Manila in the Philippines. Needless to say, these locations provided leeway for brandishing some epic cinematography (thanks to cinematographer Robert Elswit).

We’ll leave you to figure this one out when you catch it in a cinema near you! Oh, and yes, it’s worth watching in a cinema.

For more information, visit the movie’s official website.


Tealive: JAKIM Responds To Allegations Regarding Bubble Tea Store’s Halal Status

Fans of Tealive have been expressing confusion over the news that the popular bubble tea chain is non-halal.

However, JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) has came out with an official statement to address the issue. It’s confirmed that the rumours are not true.

The news has been circulating mainly on WhatsApp. The lengthy text message claimed that all of their drinks contain alcohol and porcine ingredients.

In JAKIM’s clarification post, they denied all reports claiming that Tealive is non-halal. They also added that the food & beverage premises operated by Loob Integrated Sdn Bhd is a legitimate bearer of the legitimate Malaysia Halal Confirmation Certificate (SPHM).

Additionally, JAKIM also advised the public to be more cautious before disseminating any informations without consulting with expert authorities. This is to avoid fake news from spreading around. They also pointed out that users should be more informative and wise so that they will not fall under false assumptions.

The Facebook post was also reposted by Tealive Asia on their Facebook page. In their recent update, they expressed their gratitude for JAKIM on their quick actions on shutting down the rumour.

To find out if a food or beverage premise is certified halal, you can visit Halal Malaysia’s official portal here. Aside from that, you can also download the Verify Halal app on your phone.

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#Marvel: “The Inhumans” To Become TV Series; To Debut In 2017

When Marvel Studios first announced that an “Inhumans” movie was in the works back in 2014, fans excited to hear about this inclusion in the “Phase 3” line-up together with “Captain America: Civil War” and “Doctor Strange“.

The move made sense because The Inhumans could easily fill in the void left by the X-Men’s absence in Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, “Inhumans” was yanked off Marvel’s movie slate. But fret not, cos the “Inhumans” is still happening, just not in the manner you were expecting.

Yesterday (Monday, 14th November), Marvel Television, a unit of Marvel Entertainment, announced that “The Inhumans” will be made into a television series. The show will be co-produced between Marvel, ABC, and IMAX, with the first 2 episodes premiering next year in IMAX theatres (in US) before airing on ABC as a weekly series.

The Inhumans are basically a race of superhumans gifted with superpowers like the X-Men. The difference is that these hybrid species of humans acquire their abilities from ancient alien tinkering instead of natural mutations. Expect to see the likes of Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Gorgon, and the Inhuman royal family in the upcoming series.

If “Inhumans” will turn out to be anything like “Agent Carter” or “Agents of SHIELD”, then the TV show will be likely be very isolated from the larger MCU.

The first season of “The Inhumans” will run for 8 episodes and is expected to debut in September 2017.


#Enchanted2: Adam Shankman In Talks To Direct Sequel; Amy Adams Expected To Return

“Come, my little friends as we all sing a happy little working song.”

Good news Enchanted fans, “Hairspray” director Adam Shankman is in talks to direct “Disenchanted”, the sequel to Disney’s 2007 fantasy musical, “Enchated”. Besides that, “Enchanted” star Amy Adams is expected to return for the sequel, much to fans’ delight.

Kevin Lima’s “Enchanted” centres around on Giselle (played by Amy Adams) who is forced out of her traditional animated world of Andalasia into the live-action world of New York City. She then meet a divorce lawyer named Robert (played by Patrick Dempsey). The movie also starred Susan Sarandon as the evil Queen Narissa, James Marsden as Prince Charming aka Prince Edward, and Idina Menzel as Nancy Tremaine.

With songs created by Alan Menken, the film grossed over USD340 million worldwide and it was revealed that Disney has been developing a sequel since 2010.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Disenchanted”, which Anne Fletcher was previously attached to direct, will be set 10 years after the events of the first film, with Giselle finding herself questioning her happily life and accidentally triggering events that make everyone’s lives turn upside down in both the real world and in Andalasia.

Production is expected to begin before summer 2017 and the script is written David Stem and David Weiss.

What do you about “Disenchanted”? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below :)


7 Things Not Allowed Into Wanna One’s Kuala Lumpur Concert

Wannables, are y’all ready to see Wanna One live at their “One: The World” concert happening this weekend?

In conjunction with the popular K-pop group returning to perform on our local shores on Saturday (21st July), the event organiser has released a list of usual items that are not allowed into Axiata Arena. Take note of the following rules to ensure a smooth transition.

Concert rules and regulations apply to all:

A large crowd is to be expected. Due to limited parking, Wannables are advised to carpool or use public transportation. Here are some tips to ensure you have a smooth journey to Axiata Arena:

You may check out Wanna One’s “One: The World” concert seating plan here.

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