#TheVoice: Christina Aguilera Impersonates Britney Spears, Sia, Cher, & More

Xtina proves she’s the boss of impersonations.

Remember the time Christina Aguilera did a brilliant impersonation of Britney Spears on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon? Well, the “Anywhere But Here” singer is back and is owning her talent of celebrity impersonations after her Britney impersonation went viral.

For the Season 8 finale of The Voice, the pop diva participated in a comedy sketch and revived her portrayal of Britney Spears, Cher and Shakira. Xtina who serves as a coach on The Voice, also debuted her parody of Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Sia.

The “Dirrty” singer channeled said artistes by wearing their most iconic outfits and opened with her impression of Miley. Dressed in clothes reminiscent of Miley’s 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance – complete with the foam finger – Christina says:

If you’re on my team, you’re going to learn how to twerk.

For her impression of Mother Monster, who, by the way, gave Xtina props on Twitter for her brilliant and accurate depiction, she wore Gaga’s red lace Alexander McQueen design from the 2009 MTV VMAs and perfectly imitated Gaga’s stoic voice.

This is my favorite thing I’ve ever seen! @xtina I miss you and your sweet funny self! pic.twitter.com/OgYBZOl5oh

“Can we change the color of this chair?” she asked and continued to toss out ridiculous ideas. “Can we make it mirror? Can we throw some bacon on this? I have a meat dress that will stick to this like saran wrap.”

Xtina once again nails her Britney impersonation, with her hair tied in pigtail braids and dressed in a high-school uniform like Britney did in her “Baby One More Time” video.

Her spot-on depiction of Britney also includes her asking the perplexing question:

How do the singers know, that if you turned around, everybody is blind?

Watch Christina impersonate Britney, Gaga, Sia, Cher and Shakira in the video below:


Contest: Win VIP Passes & Get Spooked Out At Resorts World Genting This Halloween

Chills, thrills and zombies await for a wickedly fun and ghoulish October!

If you missed out on this previous contest, fret not, the good people at Resorts World Genting want to make this year’s Halloween extra special for 2 lucky winners from Hype Malaysia. Now you’ve got an excuse to visit SkyAvenue’s indoor attractions.

If you’re looking for a frightfully good time, literally, then seek out Zombie Outbreak for a special Treasure Hunt. There is no spookier place at Resorts World Genting than this because you have to try and escape an abandoned warehouse as zombies consumed with a ravenous desire for human flesh await at every turn.

If you’re brave enough to stop and look, you might find some hidden treasure within for a bloodcurdling Treasure Hunt. Whoever seeks out the most treasure will win special gifts.

If you haven’t had enough of the creepy and the eerie, the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium on the other hand, is a collection of over 400 curios from all over the world such as taxidermy and a barber’s tooth pulling instrument from the 1800s.

*Feel free to check out our review on these attractions here.

While you’re on the Level 4 of SkyAvenue, you’ll get to explore a land of fun and wonder. Encounter massive figures of dinosaurs at the Jurassic Research Centre that come to life. To spice up your Instagram account, the Alive Museum is filled with fun and engaging trick with hand-painted artwork by South Korean artists.

Excited to experience more? A snowy adventure awaits at Snow World. The biggest winter wonderland in Malaysia takes it a step up from the cool weather of Resorts World Genting where there is a magical world of snow all year round. The subzero attraction also features a European village façade and a 3D trick art attraction with optical illusions.

As if this can’t get any better, take a magnificent ride up on an exclusive Awana Skyway glass floored gondola for a 360° view of the surrounding 130 million year old rainforest.

End your day with a scrumptious meal at JR Curry house that serves authentic Malaysian-Indian cuisine. Get those spices in your body to warm yourself from the cool weather of the highlands.

Each winner from Hype’s Halloween contest will win vouchers worth RM336 in total! They are:

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

How to win, you ask? Easy! Just follow the instructions below.

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AirAsia: “Fly Now With The World’s Best”

Malaysia’s leading budget airlines have launched yet another sale with super attractive flight prices! Launched today, you can now “book and fly” to domestic locations for as low as RM29 (one way, including fuel surcharge and airport tax) and to international destinations for as low as RM52. Domestic routes include Kuala Lumpur to:

International routes, on the other hand, stand out with all-in-fares starting at RM52 one way to destinations such as Singapore, Hatyai, Phuket, Krabi, Vientiane, Siem Reap, and Semarang. AirAsia X, too, is offering all-in-fares from as low as RM349 one way to Osaka, Shanghai, and Perth.

What, AirAsia? You were going to have a sale? Well, why didn’t you say so earlier? Excuse us while we rush off now to grab the red hot promotional seats online via their website!


#Travel: Stay Connected With Samsung Galaxy Note 5 In South Korea – For Free

One of the biggest gripes about travelling is the struggle to stay connected while being away from home. Sure, there’s data roaming but there’s also always the fear of accidentally incurring crazy charges.

There are also portable WiFi services but those need to be booked and picked up ahead of time, and something extra to take care of/keep charged on the trip. And of course, there’s such a thing as prepaid SIM cards but trying to get it to function in a country where there’s a language barrier could be frustrating.

Luckily, travellers to Korea will have one less thing to worry about because they can now rent a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and stay connected while they’re out and about without having to hunt down and camp out at free WiFi areas. Besides, sometimes that Instagram post just can’t wait.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Samsung, and SK Telecom (one of the biggest telco companies in Korea) have announced a collaboration to provide international visitors to Korea with a free smartphone rental experience under the “Enjoy Mobile Korea For Free” campaign. Yes, free!

Through a series of screening evaluations, chosen participants will be offered free rental of a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (limited to 5 days use) that includes free data, voice calls, incoming calls (international outgoing calls excluded), and SMS messages.

It’s really convenient too because selected participants just need to collect and return the rental phone at the SK Telecom Roaming Center located at Level 1 of Incheon International Airport upon arrival or departure.

And that’s not all! In addition, KTO’s travel and tourism mobile application (VisitKorea) is also installed to make travelling Korea more convenient for tourists to access useful information such as themed travel, directions, discount coupons, and more.

Eh, sounds like the perfect stress-free holiday to us :)

The campaign kicked off on 15th March and will be in effect until 31st December this year. Travellers who are interested may apply directly via the official website.


The High Lives Of The Young And Rich!

The tales of how hugely popular and successful young stars, athletes, and entrepreneurs reached such heights while still so young are as varied as their talents, but what they all share is indeed a vast and extraordinary talent that propelled them to make millions of dollars. “Under 21 and Filthy Rich” looks at where these kids came from, how they have made their money, and how they spend it.

Find out how these following stars spend their money:

Want more? Catch “Under 21 and Filthy Rich” on BIO (Astro Channel 731) on 13th October 2012 (9pm). For more information, visit their website.


#HypeTurns10: All The Prizes You Can Win At Our 10th Anniversary Party!

Oh come all ye Hype Fans because the season of giving has arrived! No, we’re not talking about Christmas, silly – we’re talking about the exclusive prizes you now stand the chance to win at our very own Hype 10th Anniversary party! Yes, the party we’re sure you’ve heard all about and are definitely going to (you better be there)!

We promised you guys awesome prizes and we sure as hell weren’t lying when we said that because we’re here to officially announce all the FANTASTIC goodies you can win during our party;

Yes, you read that right! Two Tissot watches, valued at approximately RM2000 EACH, are up for grabs in our game prize contest.

And all you have to do is upload an Instagram photo of yourself at our party with the hashtag #jwcudaoic. It’s that simple! Later on, however, Tissot themselves will search the hashtag and choose two lucky winners from those users!

However, to ensure that your post may be found in the hashtag, make sure your Instagram account is public.

A WHOLE TV?!? Yes!! By participating in our lucky draw you do indeed stand the chance of winning a brand new Xiaomi TV A2 (58″) worth approximately RM1100! This elite TV is equipped with a unibody and limitless design, Premium 4K Ultra HD Display with MEMC, Dolby Vision® supported, and Google Assistant.

Forget paying money to go on beams at KLCC, you can have your own ELECTRIC SCOOTER! Get ready to flex and zoom past everyone else on the street as you scoot and ride your way around places in your minimalistic designed electric scooter!

When we say luxury, we mean luxury. We’re talking THE LUXUR-IEST OF THE LUXURIES: The Grand Hyatt, W KL, JW Marriott, Shangri-La, and M Resorts! You’re anticipating a staycation of two days and one night filled with total relaxation and all the finer things in life.

Pavilion KL has specially gifted you guys not one, not two but THREE of these mysterious devices for you to win at our lucky draw! Valued at approximately RM 1200/ piece – while we can’t tell you too much, we can definitely tell you that you don’t wanna miss this!!

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Find out more about our anniversary party here.

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Dua Lipa Says “Kiss And Makeup” MV With BLACKPINK Won’t Happen

It’s been over a year since Dua Lipa’s smash hit collab with K-pop sensation BLACKPINK (블랙핑크) called “Kiss And Makeup” hit the airwaves. But we still hear it almost everywhere up until today.

In this case, they’ve been playing it on the radio, gyms and even in local fashion outlets to name a few. They even performed it together once during the multi-talented group’s “In Your Area” concert tour last May. There was one thing fans pointed out that was missing though – where is the music video?

During a recent game session of “Answering the Internet” with KISS fm UK, the English pop star finally revealed the long-awaited answer to the question. During one part of the interview, she was asked by a fan, “So is BLACKPINK and Dua Lipa ever going to release a music video for ‘Kiss and Makeup’?” She responded by saying, “Unfortunately my dear, not this time,” with a frown on her face.

“I would’ve loved to (do the video) and I love the girls. It’s just our schedules are bonkers and we never got the chance to do it. But maybe we’ll do another song at some point and we’ll try and deliver a video for you guys,” she further added in the session.

At least we have some good news from Dua Lipa herself. Check out the full interview session with the “New Rules” songstress here:

BLINKs, we’re pretty sure many of you are disappointed upon hearing what Dua Lipa has just said right?

But rest assured that there’s still a chance for us to hear new music from the 2 big names in music someday in the future. All we have to do is just keep our fingers crossed so that the special collab project will happen soon.

In the meantime, the London-born singer has just made her long-awaited comeback with her brand new single “Don’t Start Now”. Check out the music video of the song below:


(UPDATE) #SEGIUniversity: Bomb Threat At Kota Damansara Campus, Police Evacuating Everyone

Oh dear, this just cropped up in our social media feeds.

Apparently, something’s happening at SEGi University, a private university located in Kota Damansara, Selangor. We can’t be sure for now but it seems that there may have been a bomb threat on campus.

Some bystanders and university students have taken to Twitter to live update on the situation. From what we understand, the police are currently evacuating the campus and a crowd has swelled up in front of the university.

Bomb alert in Segi College Kota Damansara. 😨😨 pic.twitter.com/jWw2Pu0IOI

— Daryll (@DaryllDarshan) January 22, 2016

Bomb alert in Segi College Kota Damansara 😨😨. Take care guys

This story is developing. We’ll update this post with more information as soon as we have ’em but if you have any other details, feel free to flag us.

Alright, alright, calm down everyone. The SEGI University bomb threat was a false alarm that stemmed from a prank call.

This was also echoed by a report from MMO, which cited Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Mohd Zaini Che Din as saying that the university got a call at around 10am from someone speaking in English. “He (the caller) said he saw some Iranian guy putting a bomb in one of the toilets,” he told reporters.

After being notified, the police evacuated the campus to conduct a full search of the premises but no bag was found. “We had to evacuate and check because don’t know what toilet the bomb is in,” Mohd Zaini explained.

The university reopened at 2pm and students have re-entered, but police presence remained heavy as investigations are still on going. The police also took down statements from several employees including the staff who received the call.

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#RebelHeart: Avicii Admits To Clashing With Madonna During Collaboration

Oopsie daisy, it seems like mainstream music stars Madonna and Avicii’s collaboration did not run smoothly.

The “Wake Me Up” star recently teamed up with the Queen of Pop to produce her latest album, “Rebel Heart”. But sadly, after citing creative differences, Madonna and Avicii no longer work together after only 3 tracks.

The recent news between Avicii and Madonna had gone out of control due to a recent interview with Avicii by Daily Star. In fact, writer Jack Hardwick had took most of what Avicii said about the recent collaborations with Madonna out of context. Right after the article was published with a misleading headline that read, “Madonna ruined my track: Avicii slams the Queen of Pop”, the Swedish DJ quickly took to social media to clarify the tabloid’s news piece.

The site corrected the headline shortly after to “LISTEN: ‘My demos were better’ Hear Avicii on Madonna’s latest album”.

Avicii later thanked the Daily Star on Instagram for rectifying the story along with the caption: “Thank you @daily_star for correcting the headline – and rest of article – after hearing the actual audio recording of the interview!”

A photo posted by Avicii (@avicii) on Jun 7, 2015 at 4:55pm PDT

In the interview with the UK’s Daily Star, the 25-year-old Swedish DJ/ producer admitted that he had a slight disagreement with the 56-year-old Queen of Pop when they worked on the track together months and months ago. He was quoted as saying, “At the beginning we were all on the same page and then…I wasn’t….happy with the final product.”

Avicii’s version of the song leaked early but he says he still preferred his version as compared to the final cut that Madonna released.

I thought it was better. It was more me.

That aside, Avicii also revealed that he has an upcoming collaboration with Adele as well as Rihanna. He said, “I’m super excited for Rihanna’s record, I haven’t heard any of it yet either. She is one of the most talented artistes of our time.”

In any case, whaddya think of what Avicii said about Madonna? Having revealed just a little too much about what he thinks of the final cut that Madonna released, was he making the right move..or not? Share your thoughts in the comments box below ;)


(UPDATED) Fans React To Disbandment Of IZ*ONE After Contract Expiration

It’s time to bid farewell to South Korean-Japanese girl group IZ*ONE (아이즈원) (アイズワン). MNET has announced that the female idol group will be disbanding this April while also halting promotions after their contract expires.

IZ*ONE originated from MNET’s idol survival series “Produce 48” (프로듀스 포티 에잇). The show involved girls from both South Korea and Japan competing for the 12-member spot to form the next big girl group. After selecting all 12 talented idols, the group debuted in October 2018 but only as a temporary one, similar to previous project groups like I.O.I (아이오아이) and Wanna One (워너원).

CJ ENM had reached out to the IZ*ONE members’ agencies Swing Entertainment and Off The Record Entertainment, to decide on a possible contract extension earlier this year. The girls’ agencies also discussed with the members whether they wanted to extend their contract with CJ ENM.

Unfortunately on Wednesday (10th March), MNET’s announcement has solidified that the contract will not have an extension.

The company also released a statement that reads:

Ahead of the conclusion of the “IZ*ONE” project, Mnet, Swing Entertainment, and Off The Record have held discussions and listened to the opinions of each agency for the best activities the 12 members can carry out.

The activities of project group IZ*ONE, which debuted in 2018 with the album “COLOR*IZ” and grew into a girl group that represents Asia and is loved not only in Korea but also around the world, will come to a close in April as planned.

A two-day online concert “ONE, THE STORY” will be held on March 13 and 14 with the fans who love IZ*ONE.

Mnet, Swing Entertainment, and Off The Record express our gratitude to the 12 members of IZ*ONE who showed their best, and we will continue to support them as artists so that the fantastical story they created together can continue on.

Please anticipate and support the new sides they will show from now on”.

The IZ*ONE idols have not yet responded nor reacted to their disbandment. However, WIZ*ONEs have shared theirs all across social media. While some of them are sad, some are outright hilarious as well.

Here are some of the reactions to IZ*ONE’s disbandment on Twitter:

Some WIZ*ONEs comparing the group’s disbandment to Super Junior (슈퍼주니어), who are still active as a group since 2005.

Unfortunately, for newcomers of IZ*ONE, they’re too late.

There are also fans who cannot seem to accept their disbandment.

IZ*ONE is well-known for its diversity of members combining both Korean and Japanese idols together. Hopefully, the girls will find other opportunities in the future.

Reports stated that the former HKT48 member Miyawaki Sakura (宮脇 咲良) will continue her activities at Big Hit Entertainment after IZ*ONE’s disbandment. The Japanese idol might be signing an exclusive artist contract after the group’s disbandment. According to Big Hit Entertainment, the decision hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Earlier on, industry insiders reported that people close to Sakura knew about this news and that she will likely join Big Hit Entertainment. Insiders also stated that she is a strong candidate for the company’s upcoming new girl group.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#ElectricRunMY: What Really Happened At The First Electric Run In Malaysia

Can you believe that the long-awaited Electric Run in Malaysia came and went by so quickly, despite the change of date?

First announced earlier in May, the Electric Run is a creative, neon coloured nocturnal 5km fun run where the participants are an integrated part of the show. Featuring immersive “lands” of light and sound, it aims to transport participants into an electric wonderland. All around the world, the Electric Run is known to bring the running experience to a whole new level.

In not so many words, the Electric Run is an illuminated global movement that brings “fun” back into “run”. And we got our first taste of the event over the weekend (Saturday, 12th September) at the first ever Malaysian extension of the Electric Run, held at the Selangor Turf Club in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Did it live up to our expectations? Was it as fun as we would’ve liked it to be? Here’s what really went down at the inaugural Electric Run Malaysia:

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

What we weren’t told upfront was that there would be a staggered release during the flag off. Most of us were told to be there by 6pm and that the flag off will start at 7pm. What they forgot to tell us was that people will be let off in waves, with about 10/15-minute intervals. With a turnout of over 10,000 people, and 1,000 people per wave, you do the math. I personally waited in the crowd at the starting line for about an hour (I was in the 5th wave). Enter, lethargy.

That having said, as soon as the Electric Run curtains “opened” for my wave, some darkness greeted us as we trudged along feeling a little disoriented (must be due to the waiting prior to it), before the course opened into the first of its lands, “neffmau5 Land”. Complete with the pulsating beats of music. We were also pleased to find that music was spread out quite evenly throughout the course lands, never once with one overlapping the other. In fact, in between “lands”, there were areas of silence and no lighting elements, allowing runners to “reset” before entering the next land.

It wasn’t long before we reached the first water station. And I have to say that it was very organised, with ample helpers shuttling between the station and the crowd of walkers/runners, handing out cups of water in neon-coloured cups. Oh yes, the neon-coloured cups. One cannot go without talking about them. Our friends from Livescape had them specially made for Electric Run Malaysia and we like the added touch. I was about a step away from nicking some home for myself. But don’t tell Livescape I said that ;)

4. Various colourful, ethereal course lands

Every Electric Run event is as unique as each city because no 2 venues or communities are the same. So every race experience is tailored to the location and the crowd. We loved the various colourful course lands as they created a vibrant atmosphere full of colour, energy, and of course, sound. For Electric Run Malaysia, we identified a total of 6 course lands – neffmau5, Electro Rainforest, Rainbow Road, Under The Sea, Candy Lane, and Power House. My personal favourite was the Candy Lane because not only did it have lit up giant inflatable candies – it smelled like candy. The course lands also make for good distractions as you know how long-drawn and boring some runs can be. What’s that? The Electric Run Malaysia was a 5km run? It didn’t feel like it!

While waiting out the adrenaline rush and allowing our bodies to cool down from the 5km run, we were treated to the finish line rewards and goodies. This include an Electric Run Malaysia medal, a bottle of Evian water, and freeflow ice-cream! There were also some finish line celebration performances from the likes of Malaysian artistes Jin Hackman, Kyoto Protocol, Enterprise, DJ Nesh, and Paperplane Pursuit. The epic night then ended with a beautiful display of fireworks that I didn’t actually manage to witness up close because I was stuck in an equally epic traffic jam out of the Selangor Turf Club carpark. True story.

Fun fact: The inaugural Electric Run Malaysia also officially made its entry into The Malaysia Book of Records for the largest participation in a neon run. Congratulations, Livescape!

For more pictures from the event, check out the gallery below:

It’s no wonder why the Electric Run is one of the world’s most popular, if not most popular, fun run! We can’t wait to go back again when it comes back bigger and better than ever next year :)

For more information, visit Livescape’s Facebook page or Electric Run Malaysia’s Facebook page.


Girlfriend Tried To Save BF & Friends From A Car Crash; Gets Badly Burnt

A Malaysian woman is now fighting for her life in Singapore General Hospital after attempting to save her boyfriend and friends from a car crash.

Onlookers took a video of a white BMW crashing into some shophouses at Tanjong Pagar Road. The incident happened at 5:30 am over the weekend. The car caught fire after crashing and it took three water jets and one compressed foam backpack to put it out, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

Raybe Oh Siew Huey, 26, suffered severe burns to at least 80% of her body when she tried to open the car door to save those inside. Her boyfriend, Jonathan Long had been the one driving the car when it crashed. According to Ken Teng, a Singaporean, the car was travelling at 220km/hour. He claimed he got the numbers from analysing the video but admitted it wasn’t accurate. However, it was the best he could get.

Raybe is a former Singapore Airlines air stewardess and a getai singer. Aaron Tan, a getai organiser said she stopped singing due to her work commitments but resumed performing after the pandemic started.

He was shocked to hear of the news and says the getai community is praying she recovers, adding, “She did what she did for love and it was a selfless act that not everybody could do. It was a commendable thing.”

The police stated that this incident was the single traffic accident with the highest number of people killed in the past decade. Apparently, those living in the Tanjong Pagar Road area had made noise complaints before about the speeding and racing that took place there.

The area’s MP, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah has proposed solutions to slow drivers down, such as traffic cameras and speed bumps. The Traffic Police have also promised to explore other enforcement options and road-calming measures to prevent such an incident from happening again.

The public and well-wishers of the deceased paid their respect at the crash site on Sunday morning. Flowers, candles, clothing, condolences notes and a photograph were placed at the scene. A woman, claiming to be a family member, placed a bouquet of blue flowers and removed the photograph and clothes left there.

According to friends of the deceased, the bodies had to be identified via DNA testing before a wake could be planned. Raybe was still in critical condition in the intensive care unit on Sunday afternoon, according to a Singapore General Hospital spokesman.

Another friend of both Raybe and Jonathan had this to say about the couple: “(They were) young, driven and kind-hearted. Like many youngsters, they do have their playful side but never (meant) to harm anybody. I was so looking forward to them tying the knot but what’s left now is just heartache.”

We hope Raybe recovers soon and we send our condolences to the families who have suffered a great loss.

Sources: Mothership, AsiaOne, The Straits Times

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CNY 2022: 3 Things We Love About Carlsberg’s Interactive CNY Exhibition!

With constant lockdowns and MCOs having plagued the last two years of our lives, being excited for this year’s Chinese New Year celebration would be an understatement. It goes without saying that we’ve become restless to experience all the lion dances and CNY songs we missed due to the pandemic.

Well, in celebration of the year of the tiger, Carlsberg is hosting an interactive showcase of local art, culture and food at REXKL from 17th January to 13th February. Partnering with the KL Hawker & Petty Traders Association, Carlsberg aims to shine a light on the local scene in Petaling Jaya. So, if you’re looking for something new to explore during this festive season, come here to enjoy the festive season like never before as you drink beer and have fun!

Made with Carlsberg crates, this interactive CNY exhibition features a Maze Bar you can explore while enjoying a mug of Carlsberg beer. Come here to get drunk and get lost with your friends as you navigate through the maze. It’s probably the best maze bar in the world!

Start off the lunar new year by sharing your CNY greetings with Carlsberg’s Digital Wishing Lanterns! The area allows consumers to inscribe festive messages that will be shown on at REXKL. Share your aspirations and wishes with the world after having to stay in isolation these past two years!

Worried about your health, wealth and relationships for the year of the tiger? Don’t worry, as Carlsberg’s exhibition features an exclusive Zodiac Wall with key insights from Dato’ Joey Yap himself! Here, you can read up on what you can expect for the new year ahead and quell any worries you have for your future. Learn how to optimise your luck and abundance for the year ahead.

This year’s Chinese New Year celebrations are bound to be a lot more explosive than they were before. So start your lunar new years right by visiting Carlsberg’s interactive exhibition before it’s too late!


BTS Members Used To Be Background Dancers For This Vocaloid Singer

An old clip of K-pop sensation BTS (방탄소년단) resurfaced online recently, much to the surprise of many fans.

This happened after a netizen took to an online community forum to ask whether fans – especially devoted BTS fans (widely known as ARMYs) – are familiar with this particular image.

Surprisingly, many fans had no idea that the members of the Billboard chart-toppers used to serve as backup dancers for a hologram singer as well! The photo shows BTS members Suga, Jimin, J-hope and Jungkook performing for former label mate GLAM’s song titled “Glamorous”, featuring the vocaloid singer SeeU.

For those who don’t know, ex-GLAM member Dahee was the one who lent her voice to the hologram character. In this first-ever live performance of SeeU and GLAM, which took place on 22nd July 2012, the four boys were backup dancers alongside the now-defunct girl group.

Check out what are some of the netizens had to say in response to the amusing discovery:

Were you shocked after finding out about this? Share your thoughts in the comments section.


MMVAs 2012 Celebrates Carly, Katy, & Justin!

Phew. Toronto’s star-studded MuchMusic Video Awards 2012 just came and went. For fans, it was the experience of a lifetime to be as close as humanly possible to their favourite stars. And by “as close as humanly possible”, we mean “super close and might accidentally scream like fangirls or fanboys all up in their faces”.

This year’s awards saw performances and appearances by the LMFAO duo, Katy Perry (yay!), Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber (duh, Canadian), Carly Rae Jepsen, Lucy Hale, Perez Hilton, Far East Movement (Asian pride!) Nelly Furtado, Headley, and more.

Not only did some of your favourite celebrities look absolutely smashing, some of them even walked away with MMVA with the iconic accolades. So if you missed the live stream on their website earlier, fret not. We’ve got the lowdown on this year’s big winners right here:

[youtube id=”fWNaR-rxAic” width=”600″ height=”350″]

This year’s big winners? Evidently, none other than Justin Bieber and Katy Perry. Also, congratulations newcomer Carly Rae Jepsen on the wins!

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#Rio2016: First Olympic Cycling Medal In The Bag Thanks To “Pocket Rocketman”

National track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang aka the “Pocket Rocketman” cinched a bronze Olympic medal for Malaysia after finishing 3rd in the Rio 2016 keirin final early this morning (Wednesday, 17th August).

The 28-year-old finished 6th at the London 2012 games and originally targeted to deliver gold, but has now earned a podium finish in his 3rd Olympic appearance. Britain’s Jason Kenny won gold while the silver went to the Neitherland’s Matthijs Buchli.

Atlet lumba basikal negara Mohd Azizulhasni Awang menang pingat gangsa dalam acara keirin lelaki di Olimpik #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/LPYiPhrome

— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) August 17, 2016

NST quoted Azizulhasni, the only Asian cyclist to make it past the first round stage, as saying, “I thought I had won the silver but when it was shown that I won bronze, I wasn’t disappointed. I gave it my best and I dedicate the bronze to all Malaysians. They have supported me since I was young and I hope I have repaid their faith in me.”

“What I want to do now is return to Malaysia and spend some time with my family It has been a tiring experience but one that has been worth it,” he added.

Such a champion. First thing he says, "Chief, I'm sorry it wasn't gold." Don't be sorry @AzizulAWANG. We salute you. pic.twitter.com/xfucGa1JOo

— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) August 16, 2016

It was a nerve-wracking keirin final as it had to be restarted twice after issues with the positioning of the riders and the electric bike that sets the pace in the early laps.

The first stop was to review Azizulhasni and Jason Kenny for a technical infringement, which ultimately was ruled against. The race was restarted, only to be stopped again as the officials reviewed another supposed infringement. It was again ruled against and the race was finally allowed to proceed. Azizul then rode a brave race to come in 3rd.

Azizul’s victory marks Malaysia’s first Olympic cycling medal ever. Thank you, “Pocket Rocketman” for bringing it home!


#TheMartian: First Look At Matt Damon In Ridley Scott’s New Sci-Fi Film

There is something about Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi film that looks oddly familiar. Perhaps it’s because Matt Damon is portraying an astronaut in distress again. The actor previously had a similar role in Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” and his “Interstellar” co-star Jessica Chastain is also playing in Scott’s film for an unspecified role.

Empire Online and EW, 20th Century Fox gave us a first look at the new film by releasing a series of official photos via Empire Online and EW:

Based on Andy Weir’s sci-fi thriller novel of the same name, the movie is written by “The Cabin In The Woods” director Drew Goddard as a project he was originally going to helm. David Fugat, the author’s literary agent, described “The Martian”as “Apollo 13” meets “Castaway” when he sent the story to Julian Pavia at Crown.

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return.

A star-studded cast is featured in the film including Damon, Chastain, Sebastian Stan, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.

The adaptation is directed by Scott, who is best known for his work on multiple sci-fi films including “Alien” and “Prometheus”. He produced it alongside Simon Kinberg, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam, and Aditya Sood.

“The Martian” is slated for release 25th November 2015 and the trailer is expected to arrive on August with the release of Fox’s “Fantastic Four“.

Check out the rest of the photos at Empire Online and EW.

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Casey Abrams Set To Perform At The 10th Edition of The Penang Island Jazz Festival!

The Penang Island Jazz Festival returns for its tenth consecutive row. The festival that is supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture will be happening from December 5th, 2013 (Thursday) to December 8th, 2013 (Sunday).

This year, inconjunction with the celebration of its 10th edition, the festival features an outdoor and indoor setting. Apart from, Jazz By The Beach which will feature local and international performers taking stage, the festival also includes other supporting musical events such as Sunrise @ Tropical Spice Garden, Workshops, Talks and Forums, Photograph and Poster Exhibitions, After Hours Jazz Jam and Creative Malaysia Fringe Stages.

The festival this year however, will start with an opening concert — An Evening With Casey Abrams which will be happening at the Bayview Beach Resort Ballroom on December 5th, 2013. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Casey Abrams is the finalist of the 10th season of American Idol and is known for his creative jazz renditions on American Idol. Malaysia’s very own Liyana Fizi will be opening for Casey’s concert in Penang.

New to the Penang Island Jazz Festival, the festival together with Tropical Spice Garden presents the first ever Sunrise @ TSG which showcases performances by Amrita Soon, Liyana Fizi and Ray Rozells in the morning of December 7th, 2013 (Saturday). The showcase will take place in an exceptional setting of The Tropical Spice Gardens.

The outdoor stage, Jazz By The Beach which takes place on December 7th, 2013 (Saturday) and December 8th, 2013 (Sunday) at Bayview Beach Resort Gardens will see performances by The Freddy Cole Quartet, Alison Burns & Martin Taylor, Hedvig Mollestad Trio, Okan Ersan Quartet, Jazz Kamikaze, Michael Schiefel & Carsten Dearr, Yoon Jeong Heo Black String, Jazz Connection, Vinalog and Penang born and bred songbird, Bihzhu.

To keep with the festival’s goal of creating a complete music festival experience, supporting musical activities will be taking place with the four day period of the festival. These activities include the Creative Malaysia Programme which will be held on three different Fringe Stages that will see performers from a wide range of musical backgrounds partake in it. Other activities that will be taking place are workshops that are conducted by Casey Abrams, JazzKamikaze, ESKA and Okan Ersan to name a few, Jazz Gallery Exhibition which will exhibit a collection of Penang’s Popular Music of the 1940s to 1960s and many more.

December 5th, 2013 (Thursday) – An Evening with Casey Abrams: RM78.00 including RM3.00 for ticketing fee.

December 6th, 2013 (Friday) – Jazz With A Heart Charity Dinner: RM1,500 (per table of ten people) or RM150.00 per person.

For more information on the dinner please contact: Ms. Sugu at +604 8812123 ext 256 (sales.bbr@bayviewhotels.com) or Ms. Chin CY at +6012 356 5544 (chincy@penangjazz.com)

December 7th, 2013 (Saturday) – Sunrise @ TSG: RM10.00 (inclusive of breakfast snack) – Tickets are available at Tropical Spice Garden.

December 7th, 2013 (Saturday) – Jazz By The Beach: RM78.00 including RM3.00 for ticketing fee.

December 8th, 2013 (Sunday) – Jazz By The Beach: RM78.00 including RM3.00 for ticketing fee

All ofter supporting musical activities of the festival: Free.

Tickets for An Evening With Casey Abrams and Jazz By The Beach are available online at TicketPro or via hotline at 03 7880 7999.

For more information visit Penang Jazz Festival’s website, Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram account as well as Youtube Channel.


#1600Pandas: The Globetrotting Pandas Travel To Bangkok In March

Sawadee ka! What is the best way to promote the message of animal welfare and environmental conservation? Well, you go ahead and take 1,600 sculpted pandas on an extensive world tour!

After traveling across the globe to countries such as France, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Malaysia, the pandas (all 1,600 of them) are ready to bring their cute invasion to the “Land of Smiles” next month.

The 1600 Pandas World Tour project first began in 2008 when World Wildlife Fund (WWF) collaborated with Paulo Grangeon, the renowned French sculptor artist responsible for creating 1,600 papier mache pandas.

With over 30 years of experience under his belt, Grangeon was able to create the pandas in various poses, emotions, and sizes using recycled paper, as a symbolic representation of the amount of pandas left in the wild.

The 1600 Pandas+ not only refers to the population of wild giant pandas living in the wild at the project’s inception 8 years ago, Sukhumvit reports, but the plus symbol also celebrate the 17% increase in the giant panda population since then.

Jennifer Chan from Marketing Interactive also stated that this project has since “increased public awareness of ongoing wild giant panda conservation and an always symbolic reminder of the importance of sustainability in our natural environment”.

Following their would tour theme of “Initiating the Culture of Creative Conservation”, the 1600 Pandas World Tour in Malaysia made its debut at Dataran Merdeka on 21st December 2014, marking their third stop in the Asian region.

During their tour on our home soil, the 1,600 pandas left their adorable “paw prints” on more than 15 iconic locations in Peninsular Malaysia, with their final pit stop at Publika Shopping Gallery in Mont Kiara last year.

During their 2 weeks at Publika, the public had the opportunity to check out the pandas at close proximity. Apart from hugging and taking selfies with the pandas, visitors were also given the option to bring one of the pandas home to keep through an online adoption programme at RM150 each.

This year, the pandas are gearing up once again to remind people the importance of appreciating the richness of flora and fauna, and the on-going necessity to protect them from further deterioration in order to conserve these precious resources for the next generation.

It is likely that the format will see the 1600 pandas making their appearances at national landmarks and outdoor spaces throughout Bangkok. Thai organiser, Central Embassy, has not reveal the details of the locations but the 1600 Pandas World Tour Thailand will be a 1-month event – from March to April.

You can follow their journey and get their latest updates on their Thailand Facebook page here.

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Scalpers Caught At Jacky Cheung’s Malaysia Ticket Launch

Tickets for Jacky Cheung’s concert in Malaysia “A Classic Tour” officially went on sale on Sunday, 2nd September and plenty of fans had already started lining up 2 days before the ticket launch.

But of course, for a huge name like Jacky Cheung, it is expected that scalpers will also be around to purchase and resell the tickets at a higher price.

A post shared by Quill City Mall Kuala Lumpur (@quillcitymallkl)

So, in an effort to minimise the number of scalpers, organisers of Jacky Cheung’s concert have requested for buyers to present their proof of identification in the form of IC or passport when purchasing the tickets.

During the concert itself, purchaser will need to present their proof of identification once again for verification before they can enter the concert hall. For those with unmatched identification will be denied.

On the 1st day of ticket sales, the organisers have caught several foreigners who are unable to provide proof of identification, thus they are denied from purchasing the concert tickets.

A post shared by 马来西亚东方日报 (@orientaldailynews)

There were also a group of people who seem like scalpers boldly counting the tickets in public. As a warning, the organisers announced at the venue that they will be catching scalpers on the spot. For those who are caught, their tickets will be invalid and they will not be refunded.

Around 4,200 tickets were sold in less than 5 hours at  Quill City Mall on 2nd September. Tickets are priced at RM988, RM888, RM748, RM618, RM488, RM368 and RM258. Each customer is entitled to purchase 4 tickets only.

Jackie Cheung’s “A Classic Tour” concert is slated for 5th, 6th and 7th October 2018 at the Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil. We were informed that concert tickets have been sold out.


#Ripped: Russell Peters To Star In Stoner Buddy Comedy Flick

“When you smoke herb, it reveals you to yourself.” – Bob Marley

Stand-up comedians Russell Peters and Faizon Love will star in upcoming stoner buddy comedy titled “Ripped”. Peters whose been in NBC’s Last Comic Standing and the Jon Favreau directed comedy “Chef” will be taking a break from his “Almost Famous World Tour” to shoot the film. Love’s credits include “Couple’s Retreat,” “Zookeeper” and “Elf.”

Directed by Brad Epstein from a screenplay written by Epstein and Billiam Colonel, the film will also star Alex Meneses, who will next be seen in the upcoming NBC show “Hot and Bothered” starring Eva Longoria (of “Desperate Housewives” fame).

Pelican Point Media has worldwide rights to finance, produce and distribute, and the film will be produced by Ike Suri, Epstein and Javier Chapa. Esptein produced “Ghost of Girlfriends Past”, “Dan in Real Life’ and “About A boy’. He also served as president of production at Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Productions.

Suri, the co-CEO of Pelican Point Media, recently co-financed and exec produced “Cabin Fever: Reboot,” with Eli Roth and Cassian Elwes, and “Daughter Of God,” with Keanu Reeves and Elwes. He’s also exec producing the upcoming film “The Brits Are Coming,” starring Uma Thurman.

The release date of the movie has yet to be revealed and we’re not too sure if “Ripped” will be similar to upcoming comedy “American Ultra” starring Kristen Stewart but we’re sure excited to watch Peters and Love team up.

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#SteveAoki: “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” Documentary In The Works

Steve Aoki gets in on the documentary game.

It’s time we accept the fact that Steve Aoki has reached international stardom in a way few electronic music superstars have in the past. Although he has been heavily criticised for his emphasis on creating a wild party instead of churning out an immersive and extraordinary musical experience during his live performances, it is without a doubt that the Dim Mak boss has been hugely successful in building one of EDM’s strongest brands.

The announcement of Aoki splitting his highly anticipated “Neon Future” album into two parts, built an even stronger case and support for Aoki’s fame. The capability to release two albums in less than a year of each other, each filled with intense electro-heavy vocal cuts, is indisputably impressive.

Agreeing with this fact is none other than Relativity Media, as they’ve officially obtained the rights to the DJ/producer’s upcoming documentary “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”, which will launch exclusively at the Cannes International Film Festival this week.

The documentary will follow Aoki’s journey through the anticipation that leads up to one of his biggest shows ever. “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” will also cover other sensitive and taboo topics for Aoki, including a special highlight on his family’s famous “Benihana” business.

While many DJs have tried their hand at creating an appealing story for their brand through documentaries, Aoki’s venture into the new media arena is supported by film moguls to help take the project to a new level. With producers Matthew Weaver and David Gelb, the same duo that recently worked on the “Jiro Dreams Of Sushi” documentary, on board his project, it’s obvious that Aoki isn’t messing around.

As of now, publicly available details of the film have not been released so stay tuned as we will continue to update you once we’ve garnered more information.

We leave you today with Steve Aoki’s “Heaven On Earth” featuring Sherry St. Germain, a track of his “Neon Future II” album.

For more on Steve Aoki, stalk him via these platforms: Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


#VacayWithAirAsiaX: Beautiful Busan’s Calendar Of Events By Season

Last week, I wrote about my #VacayWithAirAsiaX Busan experience. I made a small mention in my write-up that I was there in Autumn, hence the lack of activities.

No regrets though for I did put my camera to good use as Busan has sprawling landscapes of nature as well as its towering city skyline.

That having said, Busan is actually home to a host of activities all year round including the prestigious, star-studded Busan International Film Festival. By virtue of it being a port-city with the best of both worlds (beach and city) equals opportunities to really experience South Korea for everything that it has to offer.

And all year round, might I add! Here’s the annual calendar of activities (subject to change) for Busan according to seasons:

Held on Haeundae Beach, the festival’s program is full of events inspired by the beach’s beautiful white sand. One of the highlights of the festival is the hot sand bath that’s believed to be beneficial for health and beauty, where visitors are buried in the sand from head to toe. Other events include a beach volleyball competition, an exhibition of different types of sand from around the world, and a marathon race. The festival will then continue into the night with spectacular fireworks displays, concerts, and other entertainment events.

The Busan Lotus Lantern Festival is an annual tradition that provides visitors with an opportunity to experience Buddhist cutlure through the many activities being offered. To celebrate Buddha’s birthday, splendid lotus lanterns in different shapes and sizes will be on display. Around 1,700 temples, groups, and related organisations prepare diverse programs such as making lotus lanterns, sharing traditional tea, eating temple food, and celebratory performances. The main events are the Grand Buddhist Ceremony and the Lotus Lantern Parade, both of which attract a lot of spectators regardless of religous order. The Lotus Lantern Parade, followed by the Buddhist ceremony, will take place from Busan Station, Gudeok Playground, and Gwangbok-dong.

Every year in April, Gwangalli Beach becomes the venue for the Gwangalli Eobang Festival. This festival reconstructs the customs and warm memories of traditional fishing villages with a variety of events and programs. The most eye-catching are the “Draw-in the Eobang Net” and “Jin Du Eo Hwa” programs. With the use of torchlight, the “Jin Du Eo Hwa” program restores the traditional fishing method of the past. Flaming torches floating on Gwangalli waters is a magnificent sight to witness. The “Draw-in the Eobang Net” program uses a giant fishing net and encourages visitors to join. There is also the “Catch Live Fishes by Hand” program, which invites anyone of any age as long as they are willing to roll up their pants and wade through the water in the fish tank. Freshly caught fish can be cooked and enjoyed on the spot! Don’t forget to join in on the traditional folk games, enjoy the many foods, and at the end of the night, catch the fireworks show that decorates the night sky over the Gwangalli Beach.

Spring time is the best season to get a glimpse of the pretty cherry blossoming trees in Busan! The Cherry Blossom Tree Festival is celebrated during the month of April at Gwangalli Beach. Exhibitions are a part and parcel of the Cherry Blossom Tree Festival in Busan, which includes a market for Korean traditional food, Korean agricultural, and special products. The traditional Korean games like archery and Sirum which is Korean wrestling alike the Sumo of Japan will be enjoyed by the visitors attending the Cherry Blossom Tree Festival, Busan.

The Busan International Dance Festival (BIDF) is one of the largest dance festivals in Korea. Dancers taking the stage in Haeundae hail from all over the world. This year, the festival was themed under the title “World Dances, Busan Moves!” In the festival, visitors can be assured to experience an eclectic mix of dancing that showcases a variety of excellent dance styles: classical ballet, modern dance, and more.

The Busan Sea Festival was first held in 1996 to promote Busan as a beautiful harbor city. The festival takes place at Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach, Songdo Beach, Dadaepo Beach, Songjeong Beach, and at other places in Busan. The festival offers various cultural events and unique hands-on programs. As Korea’s first general ocean festival, it puts on many exciting programs including a great opening ceremony, cultural performances, and other special events. With a total of 6 beaches holding the event, each beach has different programs and performances for all ages.

Busan International Magic Festival is the largest magic festival in Asia. Taking place on the famous Haeundae Beach and at Busan Citizen’s Hall, this year’s festival introduced 100 magicians from different countries to perform in various magic shows. What more, fans of magic had the chance to interact with noted magic gala shows, Busan International Magic Contest, attend lectures by noted magicians, magic dramas and more, making this festival a unique type of magic festival. Amongst the other programs were such as the guerrilla magic tour, international magic competition, night gala show, child/silver magic show, magic dealer show, international traditional magic project (China), global kids magic show, invited planned performance (magic drama), etc.

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held from 13th to 21st September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea. The focus of the BIFF is introducing new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. The 16th BIFF in 2011 saw the festival move to a new permanent home, the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City. The Busan Cinema Center is an about USD150 million structure designed by Austria-based architecture collective Coop Himmelblau. The about 30,000 m² Cinema Center includes a 4,000-seat outdoor theatre; 4 indoor screens under an LED-covered roof; media centre; archive space; and conference rooms; allowing the festival to include industry forums and educational activities.

Gamcheon Culture Village – Alley Festival

The Gamcheon Culture Village Street Festival is an annual event organised entirely by the local residents, from the planning stage to the operation. The festival offers a variety of new and exciting performances and cultural arts for visitors to enjoy. Gamcheon Culture Village was formed after the Korean war, when many refugees settled in the area, building houses one on top of the other. The area is now famous for its multi-colored roofs, maze-like streets, and the beautiful murals decorating the walls of each house. Festival programs include an alley tour, hands-on experiences to get to know the joys and sorrows of the village’s history, and explanations on over 40 cultural art pieces throughout the village. Wandering through the streets and alleys, you will discover the hidden stories of the grandfathers and grandmothers living here. Small performances will take place on the rooftops above, adding a lively feel to this unique festival.

The Busan Fireworks Festival takes place every October along Gwangalli Beach. The festival’s diverse programs of cultural events, high-tech laser light shows, and myriad of unique and colourful fireworks make this one of the area’s most popular festivals, drawing crowds of over 1 million visitors each year. Though most people flock to the beach for a closer view of the festivities, nearby Hwangnyeongsan Mountain also offers a great view of the fireworks. The festival is open to attendees of all ages and also features other activities such as the Busan Fireworks Festival eve concert and various street performances.

The Korea Open Busan International Dragon Boat Festival is held annually along Suyeong River in Haeundae, Busan. Dragon boating is a water leisure sport in which about 20 paddlers per boat row in time to the beat of a drum. Anywhere from 12 – 30 people can sit in one dragon boat (also called yongju or yongseon in Korean) and the crew consists of paddlers, pacers, a drummer and a sweep. The sweep controls the direction of the boat and the pacers control the pace, while the drummer beats the drum to generate excitement. There are three kinds of matches (men’s, women’s, and mixed teams) competing to be the fastest. Dragon boat festivals are now held in various places around the world, and international competitions take place every year in Europe, America, and Asia.

Busan International Rock Festival is a leading music festival in Korea, representing the openness and youth of the coastal city of Busan. The festival is organised with the goals of discovering new musical talent, revitalising the music industry, and celebrating indie bands. Along with the international film festival in October, the Busan International Rock Festival has played a vital role in promoting the artistic affluence of Busan, the largest port city in South Korea. The festival is widely recognised as strengthening ties between renowned musicians worldwide. It is a fun and widely attended event that is a must-see for any rock music lover in Korea.

The Sea Art Festival was started in 1987 as a part of the pre-Olympics cultural events of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It continued every year with the aim of providing a distinctive outdoor exhibition using the spaces of Haeundae and Gwangalli to hold events from 1987 to 1996. The Sea Art Festival has grown into an independent and specialised exhibition of local art that reflects the natural environment and conditions of the region. From 2000 to 2010, the Sea Art Festival was merged into a part of the Busan Biennale. It was separated from the biennale in 2011 and became an independent festival held every odd year on the beach in Busan in order to transform the Sea Art Festival into unique cultural brand. The friendly public atmosphere and communicability that the Sea Art Festival has become naturally connected with is a driving force to build a more familiar and popular image. The Sea Art Festival is also the earliest oceanic art festival is a pioneer in events of its kind.

Sunrise Busan Festival (The New Year Festival)

The Sunrise Busan Festival has established itself as the premier coastal cultural festival, taking place on land, sea and sky, and including an air show and a ship flotilla at sea. Among those eager to greet the first sunrise of the new year after bidding farewell to the final sunset, the Sunrise Busan Festival is a popular winter festival, particularly among foreign tourists. At Yongdusan Park, there will be an array of artistic and festive events for the new year – as well as an opportunity to watch the first sunrise of the year, from this panoramic vantage point in downtown Busan. Events both large and small will be staged at many other popular tourist sites around Busan, including at Dadaego Beach, Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach and Dalmaji Park, for those intent on seeing the year’s first sunrise.

The Dalmaji Festival draws some 200,000 to 300,000 moon watchers on each year’s first full moon day (usually around 15th January). They gather and pray for their wishes, watching the full moon rise over Haeundae Beach. The festival consists of a variety of games including kite-flying, nol twigi (seesawing), farmer’s music, traditional mask dance, and other customs. “Feeding the Dragon King” ceremony takes place on Haeundae Beach where people contribute specially prepared rice cakes and fruits as an offering to the sea, hold candles in their hands, and pray for year-long peace and happiness. A grand feast reaches its climax by the burning Daljip (Full Moon House) as the full moon rises above the sea.

The Polar Bear Swim festival is not meant to be a competitive event. It is more an opportunity for the participants to run on the beautiful white sands, feel the cold winter wind on their faces, and wish for a year of good health as they enjoy swimming and playing in the ocean water. The energy of the young demonstrated by running into the cold winter ocean is enough to fight back the winter cold. Visitors can also go to Dalmaji Hill near Haeundae to relax at any of the well-known cafés there. From here, you will be able to take in the breath-taking sight of Haeundae, along with exciting performances. There are some events like Aerobic dance performance, ice carving display, body-painting model’s walking and belly dance. And there is time to draw for accommodation’s tickets or airline’s tickets. Every participant is offered T-shirts, towel, and a polar bear doll.

How to get to Busan, you ask? AirAsia X, the world’s best low cost airline* flies from Kuala Lumpur to Busan 4 times a week.

Alternatively, you could also fly in to Seoul via AirAsia X, then take the high-speed KTX train into Busan from Seoul.

AirAsia X operates 14 times weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul, South Korea.

As the flight takes about 6 hours and 20 minutes, you might want to also pre-book baggage allowance and save up to 88%, or use the “Manage My Booking” function to add-ons e.g. Hot meals, Seat options, Premium flatbed, entertainment, and others. Hey, gotta get comfy, right? ;)

Not from Malaysia? Fret not! AirAsia X also offers “Fly-thru” service (connecting flights), with over 43 Fly-thru for Seoul, South Korea spanning across 15 countries in Asia region, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, and over 29 Fly-thru for Busan, South Korea spanning across 9 countries in Asia region and Australia.

Book your flight at the lowest fare via AirAsia’s website now! Happy holiday-ing :)

For more information, visit the Busan Tourism Organisation website and AirAsia’s website.

Sources: Visit Korea, Hotel Travel, Busan Tourism Organisation.

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(UPDATE) #Thailand: 2 Explosions Hit Tourist Town Of Hua Hin; 1 Killed, At Least 19 Injured

Back to back explosions hit Thailand’s tourist town of Hua Hin late last night (Thursday, 11th August), resulting in 1 dead and at least 19 injured victims, including 4 who were gravely wounded.

The accident happened at a tourist bar area, a day before Thailand’s “Mother’s Day”, a public holiday to mark the birthday of Queen Sirikit, the current Queen of the country.

At 10:20pm Thailand time (11:20pm Malaysia time), the first bomb, which was hidden in plant boxes outside beer bars in Soi Bintabaht, ripped through the town’s main intersection. The first and only victim who died so far is a female food cart operator, who died after she was rushed to hospital. The second bomb exploded around 20 to 30 minutes later.

Hun Hin Police Chief Sitthichai Srisopacharoenrat said that 9 foreigners were among the victims, and this is corroborated by the founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation, Edwin Wiek, who was at the location. He stated that at least 7 foreigners were injured, with 1 seriously wounded. The foreigners were believed to be from UK, Austria, Italy, and Germany, though it is unsure if any Malaysians are involved in the blast.

Wiek also stated that police stopped him from filming the bombsite as he “might tarnish Hua Hin’s reputation”, and described the scene as containing “a lot of blood, towels, tissues”. He added, “I mean all kinds of stuff that people use to stop the bleeding of the wounded people“.

He also allegedly saw the 2 bombs planted in pot plants 50 metres apart from each other, 1 in front of a bar while another was placed next to a temple. According to Wiek, both bombs were detonated via mobile phones and the second blast was the one which caused the most damage.

Briton Mark Gainsford, who was there at the scene, told BBC:

“I heard people shouting ‘bomb, bomb’ but I didn’t hear any blast. I ran out to see if I could help, I saw 8 to 10 people injured on the floor. The police arrived very quickly.”

No terrorist groups have stepped up to take responsibility for the attack but police has ordered all entertainment places to close as a safety measure.

According to Bangkok Post, this method of “double-tap” bombings are common in the southern area of Thailand, where insurgents set off a bomb, and after a set timing, explode a second bomb, which is usually larger than the first. This is to “maximise casualties among officials who arrive to investigate, as well as curious bystanders”.

Thailand authorities have already ordered security to be tightened at Thailand’s other tourist hotspots following the blast. The country has been the target of many bomb attacks in recent years, with 3 unfortunate incidents last year, the largest one in Erawan temple which killed 20 people and injured 125.

Hua Hin, a resort town on the Gulf of Thailand, is a famed tourist town and is only a mere 3 hours’ drive from Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Thailand’s King and Queen, who are currently unwell in Bangkok hospitals, also visits the place for their traditional summer retreat.

It was reported that a Malaysian mobile phone was allegedly used to detonate one of the bombs that exploded in Southern Thailand. According to Bernama, Thai police is cooperating with Malaysian authorities on the matter.

“We have contacted our (Malaysian) counterparts on the matter and have received good cooperation from them (Malaysian police),” Police chief Gen Chakthip Chaijinda told reporters.

The alleged mobile phone had a Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) serial number and it has been handed over to the Malaysian authorities to trace the origin of the device.

When asked whether the said handphone was used in other criminal activities, Chakhthip declined to comment due to its confidential nature.

Sources: Sydney Morning Herald, Khaosod English, BBC, Bangkok Post, Bernama via NST.

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#ASOT2015: Armin Van Buuren’s Long-Awaited Trance Compilation Is Out Now

Never ceasing to be the most highly anticipated trance compilation of the year,”A State of Trance 2015” is now officially available on all digital stores. In the weeks leading up to the release, Armin van Buuren premiered one record per week during his “A State Of Trance” radio show, offering fans a sneak preview into the 12th instalment of the annual compilation.

Coming off of a year that saw Armin van Buuren receive a Grammy nomination and several platinum awards for “This Is What It Feels Like”, a world tour that reached over 500,000 visitors across 5 continents, and a slew of other prestigious awards — what could be next for the man fuelled by an undying passion for trance, Armin van Buuren?

Never one to rest on his laurels, Armin has constantly sought to expand and build upon the genre he helped define, opening up new worlds for not only himself, but also for his fellow performers and of course, audiences around the world. A quick glance at recent tour photos reveals the new scale of the “A State of Trance” experience, especially when compared to the humble beginnings of it all so many years ago.

The 12th instalment in the series, “A State of Trance 2015” marks the start of life on a bigger stage.

With a brand new collaboration with Mark Sixma entitled “Panta Rhei” and a selection of Armin’s personal favourites, the excitement for 2015 has only just begun. In addition to an exclusive Gareth Emery remix of Cosmic Gate, the album also has a whopping 26 exclusive and unreleased tracks, including never-before-heard songs from Armada Music artists Protoculture, Alexander Popov, Orjan Nilsen, 2 new Gaia songs, and the fan-anticipated Armin van Buuren presents Rising Star feat. Betsie Larkin – “Safe Inside You”.

Armin will once again seamlessly mix his top picks into a continuous journey, taking listeners new and old with him for a wild experience. The first set is titled “On the Beach”, and the second is called “In the Club”, representing the 2 sides of the coin of a perfect musical experience. It’s this diversity that has led the compilation to be once again nominated for an IDMA in 2015, after having won the award in 2014 and having either won or been nominated every year since 2005.

Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt – Going Home (Gareth Emery Remix) [Armin van Buuren’s Intro Mix]
Protoculture – Pegasus
Dawn – The Truth We Can’t Escape
Adam Szabo & Willem De Roo – Looking Back
Orjan Nilsen – The Edge
DRYM – Calipso
Denis Kenzo & Sarah Lynn – Ashes
Fabio XB & Liuck feat. Christina Novelli – Step Into The Light
Ruben de Ronde feat. Victoria Ray – Dreams Come True (DRYM Remix)
ilan Bluestone – Tesseract
Moiez & Alina Renae with Mike Shiver & Rapha – What I Need (Ronski Speed Remix)
Mino Safy – When The Sun Smiles
Eximinds & Yan Space – Atlas
Venom One & Tomas Heredia – Moments
Canberra & Astrid Suryanto – UP (Mike Saint-Jules Remix)
Timmus – Still Alive
Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat Natalie Gioia – 4Ever (Dub Mix)
Simon Patterson feat. Matt Adey – Time Stood Still

Armin van Buuren – Together (In A State of Trance) (Intro Mix)
Talemono – Overload
Alexander Popov – Multiverse
Andrew Rayel – Find Your Harmony (Driftmoon Stellar Mix)
Craig Connelly & Dan Thompson – Welcome To Earth
Faruk Sabanci – Albino
Fisherman & Hawkins and Gal Abutbul – United
Armin van Buuren & Mark Sixma – Panta Rhei
Eximinds & Vigel – Handprint
Arisen Flame & Driftmoon – Live Your Dream
Gaia – Carnation
Jorn van Deynhoven – Freaks (Festival Mix)
Gaia – In Principio
Gai Barone – Mr. Slade (Solarstone Pure Mix)
Standerwick & Philippe El Sisi feat. Ana Criado – Magic Light
Armin van Buuren presents Rising Star feat. Betsie Larkin – Safe Inside You
Allen Watts – Gravity
Dan Stone – Proteus
Aly & Fila feat. Roxanne Emery – Shine (Club Mix)

This year will celebrate ASOT Episode #700, with the ASOT Festival touring the world in what will surely be one of the most ambitious trance tours ever devised. The world’s first festival based upon a radio show, ASOT Festival proves the growing strength of not only Armin and A State of Trance, but of the genre itself.

Once you get to the top, the only way forward is to dare to dream even higher. This is “A State of Trance 2015”:

After weeks of eagerly awaiting the release of Armin’s iconic compilation, the moment is finally here. “A State of Trance 2015” is out now!

Want it? Download it on iTunes or listen via Spotify.


Hype’s Now Playing: Carnage feat. Timmy Trumpet & KSHMR – Toca

Ladies and gentlemen, a new summer anthem has arrived!

Chiptole Gang’s finest, Carnage, who is also known for his crazy antics, party beats and ASOC brand, recently joined forces with KSHMR and Timmy Trumpet on a new big room track, “Toca”. Featuring influences from all three artistes, the song’s distinct sounds meshed together make for an interestingly smooth and dance-floor breaking track.

Featuring Timmy Trumpet inspired melody trumpet kick, Carnage’s influence on build up accompanied by his vocals and an ultimate big room drop spurred from KSHMR, “Toca” takes on the lively and vibrant personas of all three artistes and is guaranteed to get everybody dancing.

The official music video follows the trio around their tour of Australia and features appearances made by Martin Garrix, Yellow Claw, Will Sparks, Joel Fletcher, Blasterjaxx, Tchami and Drake.

Watch the mayhem and chaos in the video for “Toca” below:

For more on Carnage, stalk his social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Hugh Jackman’s Painful Past

Back when he wasn’t “Wolverine”, actor Hugh Jackman dealt with a blow that would change his life forever. He was just an eight-year-old boy living a normal life in Sydney’s northern beaches with his two brothers and two sisters when something tragic happened.

Hugh’s mother, Grace, decided to leave the country and move back to the UK. She sent a telegram to them the very next day. Sadly, only at the age of 12/13 Jackman realized that his mother was never coming back.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had to deal with the repercussions that followed after. Yup. Hugh Jackman confessed that he was tormented by the way people were behaving towards him differently, all because his mother left him:

One of the main things I remember is that horrible feeling that people were talking about you and looking at you because it was odd for the mother to leave. The thing I never felt, and I know this might sound strange, I never felt that my mom didn’t love me. I’ve spoken about it at length with her since and I know she was struggling. She was in hospital after I was born suffering from post-natal depression. There wasn’t a support network for her here. There comes a certain point in life when you have to stop blaming other people for how you feel or the misfortunes in your life. You can’t go through life obsessing about what might have been.

Although her absence damaged him, he knows that his mother never stopped loving him. In fact, Hugh Jackman is now happily married to Deborra-lee Furness and a proud father of two. He said that it was only after he became a father that he finally understood the pressure his mother was under.

Aww, Hugh. We’re sure she loves you. And if it helps, we love you too!


#Wolverine3: Hugh Jackman Shares Shocking New Look For Old Man Logan

Our beloved Wolverine gave fans quite a scare when actor Hugh Jackman uploaded a startling photo of himself on Instagram in which he appears dramatically aged.

In the pic, the Australian star looks decades older than his 47 years with dark eye bags under his eyes and bulging veins on his forehead. A flurry of comments flocked in with fans expressing concern for his unusually haggard appearance. So what does this all mean?

A better guess would be that since the actor is currently shooting for the next highly anticipated “X-Men” spin-off, this teaser may be Jackman’s way of giving fans a first glimpse of the old Wolverine. This also strongly suggests that “Wolverine 3” will be based on the Old Man Logan storyline from the comic books, as previously reported.

It’s worth noting that Old Man Logan is set in the post-apocalyptic future, where Wolverine loses his mutant abilities and begins to age for the first time. This new look could be where Logan is after his powers are lost. But until plot details for the 3rd instalment of “Wolverine” is revealed, this is our best guess.

Previous rumours have also hinted that the Weapon X program (which was shown during the post credit scene in “X-Men: Apocalypse”) will play a significant role in “Wolverine 3” after it was announced that 20th Century Fox will either name “Wolverine 3” as “Wolverine: Weapon X” or simply “Weapon X” for short.

We also know that the film will be introducing a new mutant, X-23 aka Laura Kinney. The female mutant clone is said to be created from Wolverine’s DNA. Jackman also shared that the R-rated “Wolverine 3” will unfortunately be his last outing as the mutant with adamantium claws.

Patrick Stewart will be returning to the “X-Men” spinoff to reprise his role as Professor X, and he will be joined by Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Richard E. Grant, and Eriq La Salle.

“Wolverine 3” is expected to hit theatres on 3rd March 2017.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Movie Web.


Hype’s Now Playing: Chris Brown & Deorro – Five More Hours

As a dance music fan, you should be used to Top 40 artistes taking a perfectly good track and adding their vocals to it. This happens all the time, but this latest crossover collaboration definitely took us by surprise.

Deorro‘s “Five Hours” was one of the most critically acclaimed electronic music songs of 2014, but that sure doesn’t make it safe from a new vocal version. The PandaFunk leader who shocked the dance music scene by deciding to quit DJing, has teamed up with hip-hop superstar Chris Brown to take “Five Hours” into the pop spotlight with newly-minted Breezy verses.

Renamed “Five More Hours”, the original remains fully-intact while Brown adds his own verse-work over Deorro’s bouncy baseline. Destined for Top 40 radio play, the pair makes for an interesting duo and are bound to receive a significant amount of recognition from this collaboration but we honestly don’t quite fancy this collaboration.

Listen to the full version of “Five More Hours” below:

We’re also adding in the original here for your listening pleasure.

Let us know what you think about this collaboration by sounding off in the comments section.

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Malaysian Model Featured In Latest Nike Modest Swimwear Collection

Following the success of the Pro Hijab collection that went on sale back in 2017, Nike has finally launched its latest modest swimwear!

Aptly called the Nike Victory Swim Collection, active sportswear including leggings, hijabs, tunic tops as well as full-coverage swimsuits – all of them are specifically made for water sports activities.

“I think a lot of women will be excited for this swimsuit. It’s not just Muslim women. A lot of women are modest as well.” ⠀ Making waves in the Nike Victory Swim Collection, featuring lightweight, full-coverage swimsuits designed to give you freedom of movement in the water.

A post shared by  Nike Women (@nikewomen) on Dec 10, 2019 at 1:44am PST

What’s more interesting is that the promotional lookbook for the collection features our very own Arinna Erin Wira as one of the female models. For those who don’t know, this stunning Malaysian has just graduated with a Master of Science In Business Intelligence and Social Media from Brunel University in London. We love beauty with brains!

In addition, the hijabi bombshell is currently signing with renowned modelling agency BAME. The UK-based agency is responsible for managing talented and aspiring models coming from various regions outside of Europe.

Bismillah… In 2013, my dad told me I didn’t need to go for my diploma graduation ceremony because I’d be going for my undergrad and Masters graduation ceremony in the future. I thought he was crazy and was dreaming way too big especially when I literally just finished my diploma, the fact that he was already thinking about Masters was too much for me to comprehend. One thing about me is that I have the biggest self doubt anyone could ever possess. I look down on myself more than anyone else could. My parents are the reason I am who I am today, the constant lectures, repetitive arguments, pressuring me to do things I didn’t want to do only because I had no self confidence, telling me I could do so much more if I just push myself and go beyond my insecurities. Ngl, it took me 6 years to believe them. I thought I knew myself more than they knew what I was capable of doing. I thought I was a failure even without trying. They didn’t see that obviously, they saw something in me that wasn’t even there yet. My dearest sweetest mummy has always been there from my lowest lows to my highest highs. She’s the main reason why I became a model, she’s the person who encouraged me to try new things and just ‘go for it.’ I had the best of both worlds, striving in my studies and experimenting with the creative/ artistic side. I had THE WORST year in London, hated my parents for sending me here to suffer. Stayed in my dorm for an entire year, refused to live life. Was thinking way too much about not spending money so I won’t be a burden, everything became an issue because I was just miserable. But they knew it would change if I just put the effort to change the direction of my view. Long story short, they were right about everything. It’s 2019, I am now a degree holder of Master of Science In Business Intelligence and Social Media and I am happy and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. This is for my parents, I am forever indebted to them. Daddy’s back home in Malaysia but he made sure I knew I made him proud. I love you both so much ♥

A post shared by  Arinna Erin Wira (@arinna.erin) on Dec 11, 2019 at 4:26pm PST

A post shared by  Arinna Erin Wira (@arinna.erin) on Nov 25, 2019 at 5:04am PST

So what are some of the tips she would like to share with fellow young girls out there? In this case, she wrote on her Instagram account that everything she has achieved now is a result of her determination to challenge herself more.

According to Arinna, she is definitely up for challenges. However, her habit of comparing herself with other people has in turn become one of the major setbacks for her. To counter-attack all that self-doubts, she used all the negative feelings as a motivation for her to move forward.

Feel free to check out her lengthy post below and hopefully be inspired:

Just Do It ••• Everyone has their own insecurities. One of mine is my body. It’s the body strength and stamina that I don’t possess. I’m on a journey to build my self confidence through keeping fit. It builds my physical and mental strength. Most of you know how much I struggle to be consistent in working out or even eating healthy, why? It’s because I didn’t have enough trust or discipline in myself, I doubted myself and thought that I’d never be able to keep up without even trying it out first. Constantly comparing myself to others and complaining that I will never reach that goal that I desired. I was lazy and negative. That’s the truth. I complained for so long but had the least effort to do anything about it. What changed? I was tired of making up excuses, bored out of my minddddd, and I wanted a challenge. I’m a sore loser, so I used that as a form of motivation. Got my butt up and joined BRC @beni.lab , signed up to multiple classes just to see what suits me best and just have fun with it. Excuses and self doubt slowed me down, that ends now.

A post shared by  Arinna Erin Wira (@arinna.erin) on Oct 18, 2019 at 5:45am PDT

Major props to Arinna for making Malaysia proud with her achievement! We’re definitely looking forward to what she has to offer in the international fashion world in the future.

The all-new Nike Victory Swim collection is set to launch on 1st February 2020.

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Remembering Michael Jackson, 5 Years Later

Five years ago today, the world lost its most prominent pop icon. He rose to fame in a time before Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, boy bands (N*Sync, Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, Westlife, etc.) and claimed the pedestal as his own. A position that was and still is rightfully his anyway.

We didn’t know it at that time but singer-songwriter (and one hell of an awesome dancer) Michael Jackson’s award-winning career as the “King of Pop” went on to change the face of pop forever. From “Billie Jean” to “Beat It”, to “Remember the Time” and “Black or White”, and even the more recent-yet-not-so-recent “Love Never Felt So Good”, there’s one thing that’s certain about Michael Jackson – his signature swag:

Today marks Michael’s 5th death anniversary. While we’ll always miss him dearly but we’re also taking this day as a day to remember the times that have inspired so many people around the world, to honour his work, and his music.

Here as some surprising facts about the high profile, multiple award-winning pop icon:

1. Throughout his youth, Michael Jackson had a medium-brown, African-American complexion. In the 80s, his skin lightened considerably. He said that he had a condition called “vitiligo”, but people didn’t believe him. Years later, his autopsy report confirmed the claim.

2. Michael’s Spider-Man obsession was very real.  In the late 90s, he tried to purchase Marvel Comics, which had filed for bankruptcy. His dream was to produce a Spider-Man movie starring himself.

3. In 1988, He paid $17 million for the Californian land that became the Neverland Ranch. The 2,700-acre property had a theme park, a menagerie, and a movie theatre. Its grounds were protected by a security staff of 40. By 2003, Neverland was valued at $100 million.

4. He once had a pet chimpanzee named, “Bubbles”.  Bubbles ate at the dining room table with Jackson, slept in a crib, and learned to use the toilet. Michael even taught him to moonwalk. He also once owned a boa constrictor called, “Muscles”.

5. In the music video for “Smooth Criminal,” he is seen standing at a 45-degree angle, far beyond any human’s capability. How did he do it? With a pair of “Method and Means for Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion” shoes. It’s basically footwear with slots in the heels to hook onto retractable pegs in the floor.

6. “Thriller” is the world’s best-selling record of all time with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide. Two of his other albums – “Bad” and “Dangerous” – are also among the world’s best-selling records. In total, he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

7. Throughout his entire career, he has won a whopping total of 13 Grammy’s. In 1984 alone, he won 8 Grammy’s – the joint highest amount ever won by one person in a single year. He also has 2 stars on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame” (one for himself and one as part of the Jackson Five).

Thank you for the music, Michael. We love you!

To stream his albums, hit up Spotify here. To watch his music videos, check out his YouTube channel.


#D23Expo2017: Disney Releases Full Movie Slate Through 2021 Ahead Of Expo

Disney has announced their full slate of movies ahead of the highly anticipated D23 Expo 2017.

While Disney is scheduled to present all the latest from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar at the annual expo, fans can first feast their eyes on an impressive list of new and changed releases.

Psst, fun fact: The “D23” in D23 Expo 2017 stands for “Hall D23”, the 6,800-seat venue located in Hall D of the Anaheim Convention Center in California. D23 Expo 2017 will take place 14th – 16h July 2017.

By now you would’ve already heard that Colin Trevorrow‘s (of “Jurassic World” fame) “Star Wars: Episode IX” has been given a new date: 24th May 2019.

Some fans are baffled by the earlier release (Lucasfilm has been scheduling its “Star Wars” movies for the holiday season in the recent years), claiming that it’s cutting to close to Marvel’s “Avengers 4” (Infinity Gauntlet?), which is supposed to premiere on 3rd May 2019. But here are a few things to consider:

On top of it all, Disney owns both Lucasfilm and Marvel. Chances are they’re not really worried about competition between the 2 movies.

In other news, Disney also revealed the release dates for “Frozen 2” and the live-action remake of “The Lion King”, as well as adjusted the schedule for the untitled “Indiana Jones 5” (10th July 2020 instead of July 2019) and “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2” (March 2018 t 21st November 2018).

Check out the updated Disney movie slate through 2021 below:

What other surprises does Disney have in store for their fans? Watch this space for more updates come D23 Expo 2017 ;)

Sources: @adambvary, d23.com / Featured image: Paste.

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#FantasticBeast: Get To Know Newt Scamander In New Featurette With J.K. Rowling

“J.K. Rowling invites you to a new era of the wizarding world.”

Following the extended teaser trailer that was released in April at the MTV Movie Awards 2016, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them” has now released a new featurette focusing on Eddie Redmayne’s character, Newt Scamander.

“My heroes are always people who feel themselves to be set apart, stigmatised, or othered. That’s at the heart of what I write, and it’s certainly at the heart of this movie,” said the “Harry Potter” author.

The writer also mentioned that when she was writing about Harry Potter aka the boy who lived, she was already quite interested in Newt Scamander. Actor Eddie Redmayne also added that his character feels “more at home” with magical creatures than he does with human beings.

The latest teaser video also features never-before-seen footages of the Magiczoologist such as the magical suitcase, some small magical creatures, and a little bit of wand action.

Watch Newt Scamander’s featurette below:

The “Harry Potter” spin-off movie is based on J.K. Rowling’s novel series of the same name and it is set in New York City during the 1920s, which is about 70 years before the events of “Harry Potter”. The story follows the adventures of a distinguished Magiczoologist known as Newt Scamander and it features the wizarding community in the US.

Directed by David Yates, the film also stars Dan Fogler as Jacob the “No-Maj” (American for Muggle), Katherine Waterston as Porpentina Goldstein, Alison Loren Sudol aka A Fine Frenzy as Queenie Goldstein, and Ezra Miller as Credence.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them” is slated for worldwide release on 18th November 2016.

For more information, visit the film’s official website or Facebook page.

Source: Screen Rant / Featured image: Screen Rant.


10 Mayday Parade Nostalgic Hits To Check Out Before Their KL Show

Who’s excited to see pop punk band Mayday Parade live at Rockiss Festival 2019? Formed in 2006, the band made a name for themselves with their first EP, “Tales Told By Dead Friends” but it was first full-length album that truly cemented their name in the world of pop punk. To this day, “A Lesson In Romantics” is still regarded as one of the greatest pop punk and emo-pop releases of all time despite making its debut in 2007.

With that being said, perhaps it’s time for a walk down memory lane. Mayday Parade has come a long way in terms of their sound since and what better way to wrap it all up for your convenience? Here’s our list of top 10 best Mayday Parade songs to check out in time for their show!

The title track from their latest release, “Piece Of Your Heart” is a classic Mayday Parade release. Pulling at all the right heartstrings, Mayday Parade successfully captured the essence of emotional honesty that they do so well. “Sunnyland” is the perfect comeback album, reminding all of us that they never truly left.

“Black Lines” was a curious album for the band. It was them trying to experiment with their sound, playing with darker themes and different genres, often catching us off-guard with certain tracks. Though perhaps “Hollow” was the most notable jump in genre (giving us a pure angsty sound that is reminiscent of the early 2000s alternative rock bands like Brand New), “All On Me” is what aptly balances Mayday Parade’s original colour and the new stripes of black they’ve dipped themselves in.

Despite earning the title of being “what emotions sound like”, Mayday Parade does a decent job when it comes to being a rock band. “Last Night” does exactly that, with its heavy guitar riffs and group harmonies in the chorus that send chills down our spines.

For an EP, “Amber Lynn” has a surprising amount of fame considering how it could have been an obscure release. One of Mayday Parade’s more acoustic numbers, it gradually turned into a crowd favourite to sing along to at concerts.

Ah, the beginning. “Three Cheers” was essentially the reason why most of us had “Another night, another dream wasted on you” as permanently embedded into our Myspace profiles… or scribbled onto our skin with Sharpie ink. The raw, emotional factor was what truly captured everyone’s attention with this release, and true enough got the right crowd excited for Mayday Parade’s full album.

As we move into the Top 5 of the list, we get into the good stuff. Out of all of Mayday Parade’s acoustic stuff, it’s this song that probably got us the best (and was the culprit behind all those guitar lessons when we were 15). Written in the sweetest way possible, “I Swear This Time I Mean It” is the lullaby every high school couple wanted to serenade each other with. The natural dreamy factor of the lyrics adds to the fantasy as well, truly making it feel like the perfect teen movie soundtrack.

The opening track to their self titled album begun on a seemingly happy note, but “Oh Well, Oh Well” packs punches we never expected. What started as an honest, heartfelt remark was actually bitterness with a twist (particularly evident in the line, “Oh well, oh well, guess I’ll see you in hell!”)

Disarming you from the very start with such raw vocals, “Jaime All Over” is arguably one of Mayday Parade’s best songs. For many, it was the first introduction to the band–considering how it’s the first track off their debut full-length album. What makes the song particularly notable is what later became Mayday Parade’s trademark sound— the emotions invested in it. The song itself just fills you with that naive hope that as a teen that you’d just function on. It’s the thrill of not knowing to expect, and being in the best years of your life.

Mayday Parade’s self-titled album had the quality that none of us truly expected. It was very hard to live up to “Romantics”, especially considering how they peaked with their first release. With that being said, their self-titled album comes pretty damn close. “Stay” especially, feels like a movie with the progression of the song changing up from start to finish. Complete with an exposition, rising action, climax, and all— it’s hard to believe that the track is only a mere 3 minutes and 35 seconds long!

And of course, we saved the best for last. Mayday Parade are infamous for their genre of emo pop which stemmed from this track, aka the heartbreak anthem for emos everywhere. “Miserable At Best” tells the tale of a heartbroken boy who is forced to end his relationship, and struggles to let go of it despite the circumstances. The perspective of the song is written in such a human way that it’s no surprise that it resonated so well with all of us as teenagers. Besides, who didn’t cry when they hit us with that line of, “I can live without you but without you I’d be miserable at best?”

Which songs are you most excited to see Mayday Parade perform this weekend? Catch them live in the flesh, throwing it back to the emo days on 28th of April at Rockiss Festival in Taylors University!

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Stop. Listen. Fall In Love With Mika.

If you haven’t heard about Mika, then you don’t know what you’re missing. After all, he is known to be quite the cartoon character in terms of his electro-pop-ish musical style. As a matter of fact, his last album “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” was pretty whimsical. Cute, if you may.

With this new release, “The Origin Of Love”, Mika is proving to have grown up (just a bit), producing a much more serious album compared to the last one.

The song that shares the same name as the album, “The Origin Of Love” is a happy song. This track is the lead single for this album. If you’re having a bad day, not to worry, blast this in your car or in your room and you will be smiling instantly. Heck. Break into a shimmy, if you want.

[youtube id=”vKBLLbwbqiY” width=”600″ height=”350″]

If you’ve always been a fan of Mika, this is “the Mika experience” all over again (read: bouncy, twirly, happy).

Also, for the first time ever, Mika aces a collaboration with American rapper/producer, Pharrell Williams, for “Celebrate“. Odd coupling, some might say. But that’s the beauty of being Mika – music doesn’t always have to make sense. To be honest, we say it turned out pretty well:

[youtube id=”sIBXTHB0QDw” width=”600″ height=”350″]

“Lola” is another track available on the album. Though it’s simple but it’s good. Imagine yourself sitting outside the yard, with your shades on, accompanied with a glass of lemonade while listening to the piano work in the background. Bliss, much? “Do nothing all weekend” vibe, much?

And I’m not going to fall in love with you this time .

Slightly retro, this song will definitely take you to another era.

“Emily” was originally “Elle Me Dit”, one of the lead singles. “Elle Me Dit” is also known as the French version of “Emily”, so you kinda get to hear it twice.

[youtube id=”NiHWwKC8WjU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Fine by us, really, because it’s super catchy! Also, let’s not forget how “feel good” the lyrics are:

Emily, it’s your life and you can’t live it twice

One day you’ll understand and then you’ll take my hand

Emily, I love you, and do know you do too

You never make no sense, screaming at me in French

Shut up listen to me, dance with me Emily

This song was originally “Elle Me Dit,” one of the lead singles. “Emily” has some catchy versus and chorus. Mika is showing some good range in this track. Way to go Mika!

Mika’s “The Origin of Love” is out at a music store near you. Get it, get it! For more information, visit Mika’s official website.

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Ho-Oh Is Now Available In Pokemon Go For A Limited Time

Good news trainers, looks like an early Christmas gift has arrived just in time for the holiday season. The Johto region’s legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh, is now available in Pokemon Go.

Normally, Niantic would debut a legendary Pokemon with a bit of fanfare. So it comes as a surprise that Ho-Oh has appeared out of nowhere.

Earlier this morning (Tuesday, 28th November), Niantic announced that they are releasing Ho-Oh raid battles worldwide. However, it looks like this rare Pokemon is only going to be around for a little while. That’s right players, you only have from now till 12th December to see Ho-Oh in raid battles.

It’s not going to be easy to catch Ho-Oh though. Reports show that this powerful Fire/Flying dual-type Pokemon has a base capture rate of 2%. This low percentage ties it with Lugia and other Legendary Beasts such as Entei, Suicune, and Raikou – making it one of the hardest Pokemon to capture in the game.

Thanks to all your hard work last week, Ho-Oh will appear in Raid Battles until 12/12! #PokemonGOtravel #GlobalCatchChallenge https://t.co/YfyBGwfTux pic.twitter.com/mdGoFByyQl

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) November 27, 2017

In conjunction with the recent Global Catch Challenge, Niantic also released Kangaskhan in East Asia and Farfetch’d around the world.

Sources: Comic Book, Tech Crunch / Featured image: Niantic.