Interview: Keshi On Completing His EP Trilogy, Maintaining His Sense Of Self & His Admiration For BTS

Casey Luong, popularly known as Keshi, is a singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose art has a deeply profound soul to it. The 26-year-old’s music has touched over a million hearts and continues to grow its reach everyday.

Fans love Keshi, and it’s easy to understand why. His songs talk to you and always has a valuable message behind it. This indie artist was named an “essential new artist for 2020” by NME, and also recently released his EP “Always”.

Take a deeper look into the “like I need u” star’s creative process, his future albums and more, on our exclusive interview with Keshi:

1. What made you want to stick to the theme of “always” for your recent EP?

It (‘Always’) is the last chapter of a trilogy of records that I made. And I was thinking about what to title it. I was going to name it ‘Us’, because that was the last track on the record. But in the end I decided on ‘Always’ because when you put it all together and think of ‘Skeletons’, ‘Bandaids’ and ‘Always’ – that title – it sort of illustrates what I love about relationships and interpersonal connection. It’s about being vulnerable and there’s a bitter-sweet tinge to it; Like you have your own secrets, which is ‘Skeletons’, you’re going to hurt each other, which is ‘Bandaids’. But you both resolve to try to stick it till the end – so ‘Skeletons’, ‘Bandaids’ and ‘Always’ just wraps it up really nicely for a record.

2. In the song “Always”, the lyrics talk about losing someone. Do you love that aspect of a relationship?

I love all parts of relationships. You can’t not appreciate the bad like you appreciate the good, because they’re all a part of this learning process and discovering yourself. It’s so important, you know. Relationships are a mirror, absolutely a mirror. Because you learn things about yourself that you would have never known if you didn’t jump into that relationship. It’s so important to your own growth. You can never stop learning about yourself.

3. Is there anything that you hope to “always” have with you? What is it?

I feel like I have a job now where it’s very easy to confuse yourself with the character that you’re creating. Especially in the midst of people that are around you, trying to have ulterior motives and everything. It’s very easy to be introduced to the wrong kinds of people. It’s very easy to let the smoke get to your head a little bit and let your head get too big. You just want to grow and I just want to be the person I always intended to be since I was 20-years-old.

4. You speak about being “as real as can be”. To what extent is that really possible when you’re a public figure?

There’s definitely going to be a wall in terms of privacy. It’s a very natural thing. But the emotions are real. Just because you have a facade to help preserve the semblance of a ‘normal’ life, that doesn’t mean that what you create and what you talk about is disingenuous. Real in the sense that it’s honest, that’s the best way I can put it. Nothing is written to pander to anybody. It’s all art because I wanted to make art. That’s how I keep it as honest as possible.

But yeah, there’s definitely a certain line I draw in the sand. There have definitely been instances where fans have crossed that line and it’s taken me aback a little bit. Especially with Keshi, where a persona is created and there’s a stage name associated with it and this is arms length, you say it. That’s always been the wall for me. But sometimes they (fans) get through it and you’re a little shaken. But it’s something that comes with the territory, I think, and it’s something that you have to get used to.

wow thank u RM hooooly shit lol 🖤🖤🖤 https://t.co/zuyuPGJIRl

5. Did you anticipate the impact that would come about with you being featured on BTS’ 20 recommended songs?

Absolutely not. I didn’t realise how much reach that would create for me. I’m just so grateful for it. So grateful to have listeners in general. I’m glad, because I found so many listeners because of it. So what can I say, other than thank you so much.

6. What are your thoughts on the K-Pop industry?

When you think of pop music now, you think of K-Pop. When you think of pop music, BTS is at the forefront. They’re undeniable and I think it’s amazing. I know English is a very universal language, but that does not mean that all art needs to be in English or a certain language. I admire them and I can’t even imagine what it’s like to have that level of prestige. They’re all so incredibly talented, I strive to be as amazing as they are.

7. What artists do you hope to collaborate with in the future?

I’m a very self-contained artist at the moment. It almost sounds arrogant to want to collaborate with a hero. Of course, Stromae would be a dream. But I think I’m trying to just focus on myself. But for the record, there are a few artists who I’m close with and working with for some collabs in the near future. So I’m excited for you guys to hear that.

8. Your recent merchandise shows that you’ve used a single rose as one of the items. What does this mean? What are you trying to convey?

I have a gold necklace that I’ve come to be known for wearing, I guess. And I have so many fans asking me ‘where did you get it’ and ‘where can I get one like that?’. And I hear them, and I know that they love it. I wanted to respond to that by creating a couple of necklaces that they can also try wearing.

9. We’ve noticed that you try to have a deep connection with your fans. Why do you feel it’s important to be closer to them on a personal level?

I would not be here without them. I am grateful to them – it should not be the other way around. An artist is nothing without an audience and I’m just thankful to have listeners at all. I guess in a way this is my subconscious not forgetting that the fans are the most important thing, and I just want to remind them of that. I’m here, I’m around, you can actually reach me, I’ll reach out.

10. You have spoken out about standing up against systemic racism. In what ways do you actively support this movement?

I think the strongest way that I could possibly have activated (this movement) was to utilise the platform in order to bring additional awareness to something that we all know is there, yet for some reason choose to act like it’s not. And it got to a point where standing by is just not enough. The third party is the most important party. Because, if there’s two sides to a coin, one side thinks there’s nothing wrong being done and the other side thinks there’s everything wrong being done, it’s up to the other party to decide what to say about it.

11. How does your time as a registered nurse influence your music? Did this experience create a greater sense of empathy?

I would refute that (it created a greater sense of empathy). I was miserable working as a nurse on the floor. I turned off my brain, do tasks like a robot. That’s not to say I didn’t show kindness on my face, of course I did. But I kept my domains very separate. It was very clear in my heart that I would never let this offhanded decision I made, going into a career that I didn’t care about, taint or touch what I held closest to my existence as a person.

After a while it takes a toll trying to divide out your life like that. You just can’t do it anymore. And one day, I had to leave and now here we are. That’s not to say that I don’t admire the work that nurses do. They’re very necessary. Maybe it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

12. How does it feel now that you have concluded your EP trilogy after 3 years?

I didn’t think I could do it. I did not think I would be able to deliver it. And the fact that in the end I did, it’s just a testament to take it one day at a time, and if you put your mind to it you can really do it. So, I’m very proud. I’m very relieved that it’s finally all out. It feels like everything I wanted to make. It feels like an album quality EP trilogy. I loved it – the whole concept. I ordered my own vinyl! I am more excited to have it than anybody else.

I’m trying to figure it out, I couldn’t really put a finger on it. I don’t know what makes an album a great album. It’s scary to think about. But what I do know is that when I look into an album the songs sound better when listened top down than when they are in a playlist. I think that’s the goal I want to achieve.

14. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic artists can’t perform live. What other forms of expression of music are you exploring during this time?

(In terms of) expression of music, it’s not like there was a new avenue I could explore in that regard. But because of Covid-19, I was able to learn the piano. I bought a piano in January because I was like, might as well figure out how to play it. I wouldn’t have used certain chord progressions if I had not got it. It was so refreshing to change my understanding of music, and half of the record was written seated at the piano.

We hope you enjoyed Keshi’s exclusive interview as much as we did! It was an insightful experience into his talent, wisdom and music style. We’re definitely looking forward to more from this artist.

Watch Keshi’s music video for “Always” here:

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MAGGI Continues To Inspire Women Through “Resipi Berani MAGGI”

As part of the Program Mentor Wanita Cukup Berani MAGGI (PMWCBM) campaign, MAGGI unveiled its first ever reality TV show consisting of 6-episode miniseries – “Resipi Berani MAGGI”. The show complements the campaign’s learning and empowerment journey, as it has provided skills and leadership enhancement opportunities for the show’s contestants – also known as mentees.

The show will also showcase the contestants’ transformative journey towards achieving success. One of the main goals of the PMWCBM campaign is to inspire more women to step outside their comfort zone to try something new and embrace the Tak Kenal, Tak Cinta spirit.

“We at Nestle have always been committed to empowering women and advancing gender equality both in business and in global society. And the foundation of the Program Mentor Wanita Cukup Berani Maggi is based on the ethos, Tak Kenal, Tak Cinta. So we want to inspire and empower women out there to step out of their comfort zone to try something new. Something challenging. And you’ll never know, you may ‘fall in love’ with it!” Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer, Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad spoke at the launch event.

Close to 1,000 women participated in the Bengkel Online Wanita Cukup Berani MAGGI which was conducted in partnership with Google’s Women’s Will program last year. 8 mentees were selected as finalists in the TV series.

The mentees were selected based on their resilience, courage and determination to succeed in their fledgling home-based food businesses, especially in today’s new reality. The 8 finalists featured in the TV series Resipi Berani MAGGI are home-based food business owners – Aza Syima Abdullah, Bibiaminani A. Ghani, Haslina Mohd Idris, Mazzaton Miza Wahab, Nur Azreen Masera Albakri, Nur Hidayah Jeffri, Roslina Mohd Isa, and Siti Aishah Abd Razak.

In Resipi Berani MAGGI, the mentees will receive a series of challenges in the following areas such as business acumen, digital and cooking skills, and feedback mentorship sessions with the 3 MAGGI Mentors – Food Enthusiast and Brand Ambassador of MAGGI CukupRasa Datin Paduka Eina Azman; Director, Producer, Actress and Owner of The Dim Sum Place, Sheila Rusly; and Young Entrepreneur Icon 2019 and Owner of My Mum’s Bakery, Anne Idris.

The grand winner of the Resipi Berani MAGGI will receive seed capital of RM8,000, and an 8-week mentorship programme with business icon, Anne Idris. The 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive seed capital of RM5,000 each.

Speaking at the launch event, Geetha Balakrishna, Business Executive Officer of MAGGI, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad said, “The launch of Resipi Berani MAGGI is very rewarding and exciting, as it marks the successful conclusion of the Program Mentor Wanita Cukup Berani MAGGI 2020. The series’ main objective is to highlight the transformation and emotional journey of the mentees, which will inspire other women to take that first step to try something new and bring a positive change for themselves and also their loved ones. We see how the mentees are able to step outside their comfort zone, overcome challenges and experience personal growth under the able guidance of the Mentors. We hope to be able to support more women through Program Mentor Wanita Cukup Berani MAGGI Chapter 2021.”

For those interested to sign up for the workshops, Bengkel Online Wanita Cukup Berani MAGGI co-organised with Google’s Women’s Will, will be held from 27th to 29th July 2021 and 12th to 14th October 2021. Selected participants will also have the opportunity to attend the all-new exclusive Masterclass: How To Run A Food Business.

The 6-episodes reality TV series will be broadcasted weekly and commences on 14th July 2021, featuring 8 contestants going through a series of culinary and business-entrepreneurial challenges set by 3 MAGGI mentors.

For more information about the TV series Resipi Berani MAGGI and workshop registrations, please log on to https://www.maggi.my/ms/aktiviti-maggi/maggi-cukup-rasa/


#SuicideSquad: Margot Robbie Says Kissing Scene With Jared Leto In Full Makeup Is “Messy”

Admit it, who thinks the highlight of “Suicide Squad” is Harley Quinn and Joker’s relationship?

Margot Robbie, who plays Harley Quinn in the film, recently told PEOPLE that their kissing scene in full makeup was “so messy”.

“It is so messy. I’ve done kissing scenes where I have lipstick on and that’s a nightmare but to have 2 of you having the lipstick on, it’s terror,” said the 26-year-old actress during the film’s world premiere at New York City on Monday (1st August).

The “Legend of Tarzan” actress mentioned that they had to make time for 10-minute makeup touch ups in between each take. She also added that she wasn’t afraid of kissing The Joker, even though he looks intimidating. She said, “Once you get over the initial shock of meeting Mr. J, you kind of become desensitised to it I guess so it seemed normal after awhile”.

Based on the original DC Comic of the same name, “Suicide Squad” centres on a group of super villains who find themselves going on a most unlikely mission for a shot at redemption.

Slated for release on 4th August 2016, the movie also stars Will Smith as Deadshot, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

For more information, visit the movie’s website and Facebook page.

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#ALSIceBucketChallenge: deadmau5 Is The Charlie Sheen Of The Dance Music Industry

While the world goes crazy calling out and nominating people to do the #ALSIceBucketChallenge in the name of ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease awareness and charity, including some of the world’s top DJs/producers, one producer doesn’t share the same sentiments.

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” was started in July by Pete Frates, 29, a former Boston College baseball player who has been battling ALS since 2011 and it has now become a worldwide craze. It’s actually part of a campaign to raise money in fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks the brain and the spinal cord.

One such person who has suffered from the disease for many years now is none other than the world’s most celebrated brilliant physicist, Stephen Hawking.

The campaign requires an individual to dump a bucket of ice water on their head. After which, they’re allowed to challenge 3 more people to do the same within 24 hours. If someone refuses, the penalty is donating USD100 to the ALS Association. The stunt has raised millions for ALS so far!

But, deadmau5 has purposely not want to share the same sentiments. Kinda like Charlie Sheen.

Known for his constant back-and-forth of trolling people (so much so that it’s sometimes hard to take him seriously) Toronto-based Joel Zimmerman aka deadmau5 confirmed that he is in no way getting involved with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Nope, no siree, he ain’t buying it. He took to his Twitter to confirm that, no, he’s not going to dunk a bucket of ice water over himself. But he is, however, donating to the cause.

Who knew dumping buckets of ice cured Lou Gehrig’s disease. And all this time, i thought stupid things like “research” helped… — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) August 18, 2014

…so on that note, i’ll be donating 10k to Lou Gehrig’s disease research while the rest of the circus does fuck all. — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) August 18, 2014

…and email has been sent to accounting n stuff.. feels good :D … and… I’m totally dry. :D — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) August 18, 2014

Okay, at least he didn’t go on a complete trolling rampage on this one this time, right?

Oh wait, who are we kidding? He wouldn’t be deadmau5 if he didn’t finish this off on a high note:

awareness is great. awareness does this. does that. does good shit. does bad shit. YES. I AM AWARE OF HOW AWARENESS WORKS. thanks internet! — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) August 19, 2014

this is going to down down a real treat when the worlds water supply runs thin. thank god ill be dead before then… maybe. ill drink to that! — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) August 19, 2014

my thoughts and prayers, well wishes and many blessings. — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) August 19, 2014

Oh well, kudos to you anyway, deadmau5, for doing your part for the ALS Association in your own little special way.

Meanwhile, check out these other ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos of people who actually did it, which blew our minds:

Let’s not forget that whether or not you get called out to take on the challenge, you can also make a donation to the ALS Association here. If you want to do your part, you know where to go.

For more information, visit the ALS Association’s official website.

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#ZoukClubKL: Relocation In 2nd Quarter + TREC Unveils Electric Boulevard’s Tenants

It has been a long time coming and when we say long time, we mean 2 whole years in the making.

Last July, we wrote about the impending Zouk Club KL relocation from its current site at Jalan Ampang to its new home at TREC, Kuala Lumpur’s largest F&B enclave located along the bustling downtown Jalan Tun Razak.

A couple of weeks later, it was officially announced that the new club will share a home ground with TREC, Malaysia’s first and only purpose-built, urban F&B, lifestyle and entertainment district – a one-stop integrated entertainment hub similar to the likes of Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong, Shanghai’s Xin Tian Di, and Singapore’s Clarke Quay.

TREC aims to assimilate a variety of different atmospheres through its 5 zones that offer an eclectic mix of fine dining, indie cafes, pubs, clubs and lounges, attracting both local and international patrons.

Here, have a first look at some of the above zones:

Just today, more details on what we can all expect from TREC have been revealed as Electric Boulevard first wave of tenants have been announced.

Poised to be a high energy, highly-charged street destination, Electric Boulevard is inspired by the bright lights, big city atmosphere. It comprises 2 blocks of inter-connected, double-storey outlets of contemporary design (35 units in total) which house entertainment outlets such as bars, bistros, eateries, and lounges, making it an ideal destination for after-work gatherings and a magnetic entertainment destination that allows customers to bar hop, exploring the eclectic mix of venues.

The first wave of tenants taking up units ranging from 1,400 – 4,000 sq ft are:

These form 76% of its 35-unit tenancy and the remaining tenants will be announced closer to Electric Boulevard’s Phase 1 launch in July 2015.

As for the new Zouk Club KL, the only nightspot to have a 5am operating license in the city, we hear that it’s slated to open in the 2nd quarter of 2015. With a built-up club space of 60,000 sq ft, the new RM38m (US$10.6m) is the most expensive club ever built in Malaysia and will be the beacon of TREC and KL’s entertainment. The new club at TREC comprises several clubs, one Members’ Lounge, 1 café and an alfresco area.

Word has it that the new club will also offer a dedicated VIP concierge service. Ace!

From what we know, the construction of the new club is 93% completed. More details of Zouk Club KL will be announced in April 2015. That’s next month so hang tight ;)

Meanwhile, here are some quick fun facts about TREC:

Don’t forget, Zouk Club KL will be celebrating its 11th anniversary next week and we’ve got 5 pairs of exclusive VIP passes to giveaway to our lucky readers! Deets here.

For more information, hit up TREC’s official website or Zouk Club KL’s interim website.


#SarongPolicy: MPs Asks For Review Of “Dress Code”; JPJ Apologises

The “sarong policy”  issue is perhaps a matter that has gone way out of control.

In case you missed it, The Star Online reported that a woman named Suzanne G L Tan wrote on her Facebook that she was forced to wear a sarong at the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Malaysia (Road Transport Department Malaysia). At that time, she was wearing a white-and-pink blouse paired with a skirt that ended just above her knee. While waiting in line to get her queue number, an officer asked her to cover up to meet the JPJ’s dress code or be refused service.

As soon as her post went viral, JPJ responded to the issue by uploading a “dress code” image on their Facebook page.

In regards to the situation, Liang Teck Meng, Barisan Nasional’s MP for Simpang Renggam questioned JPJ’s dress code while debating the 11th Malaysian Plan yesterday (9th June). He asked whether the “sarong policy” was issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government and urged the Government “to review its dress code for all agencies”.

What she wore is something seen everywhere. I feel we have become a laughing stock.

On the other hand, Barisan MP for Putata Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh urged the Transport Ministry to clarify whether the rules are imposed by the JPJ officers or issued by the minstry. Teo Ni Ching, DAP MP for Kulai also threw a question at JPJ by asking, “We understand that for Muslims, they need to cover up, but what about Indians and Chinese whose traditional outfit is not necessarily fully covered because some outfits are sleeveless?”

PAS MP for Kota Baru Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan also had his say in this situation by stating that “the officer’s action was not a form of Islamisation of government bodies”:

It is not Islamisation, I think. Even in Kelantan for Muslims, we encourage them to cover their aurat. It is not a must. We just encourage it. For non-Muslims, it is “pakai sopan (be decently dressed)”. I was a state exco member and for licences issued by the government to non-Muslim traders, they just needed to be decently dressed. We do not even give a definition of what is decently dressed, so long as it is sopan (decent) from your point of view, it is okay.

“So, even though the skirt was slightly above the knee, it was not like she was wearing hot pants or a bikini or something like that,” Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who thought the officer might have been “too rigid” in handling the situation, said.

“That is my personal opinion,” he added outside Parliament.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai took to Facebook to clarify that there was no such thing as a “sarong policy”. Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie also called JPJ “a little Napoleon” for forcing a woman to don a sarong according to its “own whims” and urged the authorities to punish the officer involved.

With our multi-ethnic communities, it is important for Malaysians to nurture harmony among the races and national unity via the spirit of mutual respect and inclusiveness.

The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), which was endorsed by 8 women’s group, also commented in a statement that it was “unwarranted” and “unprofessional” for an officer to refuse service to Suzanne:

Such mistreatment is reflective of the growing conservatism in Malaysia which seeks to police the dressing and behaviour of ordinary Malaysians. While it is acceptable to have a dress code for religious houses such as mosques or temples, the Government on the other hand has no business adopting such stringent dress codes.

JAG urged the Government to end “this unnecessary moral policing” by removing rigid dress codes that are “tied to narrow and arbitrary definitions of modesty”.

The JPJ office later admitted that its officers went overboard and apologised to Suzanne by stating that the “sarong policy” does not exist. The department said in a statement:

JPJ would like to firmly state there is no regulation that says visitors must be provided with a sarong. Clearly, this was an inconvenience to the visitor.

The department also noted such dress code are imposed in its offices like every other government ministries and departments and their priority was to ensure “the public is provided with pleasant and efficient service”.

Sources: The Star Online (1) (2) (3) / Featured image: sarongmanufacturer.com

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Checkin’ Up On Kyle Patrick

For years, he was with American power pop band, “The Click Five”. So when we heard that he was launching his solo career consisting of his own sounds, we were super curious and excited to hear it. Our excitement went through the roof when our friends from Warner Music Malaysia told us that Kyle Patrick was paying us a surprise visit last week.

Of course, we took the opportunity to check up on 26-year-old singer-songwriter. You know, just to find out what’s been happening and stuff.

Hi Kyle! Welcome back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. First things first, we have to say you totally surprised us! What brings you our way this time?

“That’s how I’m operating at the moment! I was in Singapore for MTV session on the 15th and it was amazing. It was my first show as a solo artiste and I had my own stage. It was beautiful. It’s my fourth, maybe fifth time here in Malaysia. I’ve always wanted to come back so we put together some stuff and I’ll be performing a live show tomorrow night at Club Neverland. I’ll also be doing some TV stuff while I’m here.”

So you’ve got a solo artiste album out now – what’s that like? Tell us more about the writing process for the songs.

“I wrote and co-wrote the songs. I wanted this album to be very collaborative and very different so I brought a lot of people in who co-wrote the songs with me. I worked with all my friends and I’m lucky to have a really amazing network of talented fans. I also worked directly with my fans to create it – yes, my fans were my record label at that time. Ultimately, they’re the ones who are following me and supporting me.”

As a singer-songwriter who is constantly meeting other singer-songwriters like yourself or performing alongside other musicians, are there any artistes who stand out (in your eyes)? Especially those who inspired you and continue to inspire you, or those whom you’d like to someday work with.

“I think I have a few..wait. If I were to make a recording, I’d like to work with Robyn, La Roux, and David Bowie. I mean, if let’s say today, I could write a song with Robyn or open for her in a show, I would be over the moon. Or you know what? Katy Perry. She’s great! She’s awesome and she’s a great person. I’d love to do something with her.”

We’re really interested in your social work. We understand that you’re sort of like an activist who’s speaking out against human trafficking..

“I was introduced to the MTV Exit campaign in 2008 and we (The Click Five) performed an acoustic show at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. That’s when we discovered it. We had no idea all of that was going on – I didn’t know all of that was happening. We played at a shelter for survivors of human trafficking such as girls who have survived prostitution and brothels, and it was terrible to hear their stories. What this means for me is to play shows and concerts to raise awareness. I’ll continue to be a part of it as long as it’s still happening.”

Aww. Kyle is such a sweetheart. It’s hard to not love him. Props to the boy for standing up and speaking out against human trafficking. Thanks for speaking to us, Kyle.

And thanks to the awesome Warner Music Malaysia for making the interview happen!

To hear all his songs, click! For more information on Kyle, hit up his official website. For more timely updates (or, you know, to stalk him), follow Kyle’s via his Twitter account.


deadmau5 Hits Back At Disney With A C&D Letter

Whenever drama unfolds for the notoriously controversial producer deadmau5, you can be sure of one thing – he’d usually not let up so easily. Such is the case of his current drama, the battle between himself and major corporation Disney.

In case you missed it, Disney is trying to stop deadmau5 from trademarking his logo, claiming that allowing the trademark to pass would hurt Disney’s business in both the US and, well, the entire world. Thus, they’re doing it the best way they know how – by sending him a 171-page document and sending him to court (should he choose to go with trademarking the mau5 logo). But like we said, the mau5 wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Recently, he discovered that a minute and a half long Disney video titled, “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff Re-Micks” uses a familiar soundtrack – “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff”:

It sure gave deadmau5 enough ammo for his ongoing battle with Disney because apparently, Disney never sought authorisation from deadmau5 to use his track. Ah hah! And the plot thickens.

Hence, upon discovering the above video, deadmau5 went to town (on social media) to “share” the information. We say “share” but what we really mean “go on a ranting spree”. He accused Disney of wanting to “cash in on EDM” because Disney recently worked on a “Dconstructed” remix album with big names in the dance music industry such as Armin van Buuren, Kaskade, Avicii, and Mat Zo.

He also tweeted, “okay mouse … i never gave disney a liscene to use my track. So. we emailed you a C&D.” After which, he uploaded images of a cease-and-desist letter, in which deadmau5’s attorneys argue that Disney has been infringing his copyrights.

Having said that, Disney’s not about to back down so easily either. After all, it is a war amongst the mice!

A Disney spokesman told Rolling Stone that Disney “vigorously protects its trademark rights”. The full response to deadmau5’s complaints reads as such:

Disney vigorously protects its trademark rights, and we oppose Mr. Zimmerman’s attempt to register a logo that is nearly identical to our trademarks for his commercial exploitation. Our opposition is not about the use of the Deadmau5 costume. The music was appropriately licensed, and there is no merit to his statement.

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(UPDATE) #KlangValley: Water Disruption Scheduled For 27th & 28th September Postponed

Several parts of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya will be facing water disruptions, as announced by Syabas (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd/Selangor Water Supply Company). This is caused by the upgrading works on the water distribution system, which will be carried out in the affected areas from 3am on 27th September (Tuesday) ’til 8pm on 28th September (Wednesday).

The affected areas in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:

The affected Petaling Jaya areas are as follows:

If your area is affected, don’t forget to store sufficient water beforehand for your daily usage!

Syabas has announced that the water disruption scheduled from 3am on 27th September (Tuesday) ’til 8pm on 28th September (Wednesday) has been rescheduled.

This is due to the postponement of the upgrading works. As such, the aforementioned areas won’t be affected by the water disruption on the above dates.

However, the upgrading works are still scheduled to happen in the future, but no definite date has been given.

For more info, visit Syabas’ official website and Facebook page.


Hype’s Exclusive: Usher Digs Deep & Proves That He’s Not At All #HardIILove

Over the weekend, Usher (real name Usher Raymond IV) returned to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to perform for the F1 After-Race Concert in Sepang International Circuit (SIC). The multiple-Grammy award-winning artiste, who last performed in Malaysia back in 2010 for his Usher Live In Kuala Lumpur concert, brought his A-town A game and swept his fans off their feet as he crooned and moved along to some of his biggest hits.

But before he took the stage at SIC, we met the R&B superstar for a quick chat.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Hi Usher. What’s up? How are you feeling?

I’m pretty tired. A little bit jet-lagged, I’m nursing a neck injury, so I’m just tired. I’ve been promoting my album, promoting my movie, travelling around world, travelling from coast to coast in America, and then I had this long 16-hour flight to get here, so I’m just really trying to recuperate and get back body back up to the standard so that I can do the show tonight.

Oh no. Did you get any sleep last night?

You know what, I got a little sleep. I went over to the soundcheck..it went a little bit longer than I thought it would’ve because we had some slight difficulties with our equipment getting in but it’s all situated now. But I did stay up until about 3 this morning just rehearsing and getting everything together for the show. When I finally got back to the hotel..it was about a 45-minute drive..my neck was once again cramped because of that long drive. But I’m trying to get prepared, I’m trying..(whine)

(laughs) Are you trying to get pumped up for tonight?

You know, one thing that happens when I’m on stage, is that I don’t really feel pain. So I have to be very careful not to re-injure or hurt myself because my adrenaline is going so fast that I won’t feel something until the end of the show. And then..all of a sudden there’s an ache in my chest, or an ache in my neck, or leg, or toe, or knee, or something and I’m like, “Uh oh!”. So I have to go through this whole process of..you know..kind of this regimented thing that I do in terms of icing and working with physical therapists or a masseuse to try to get me reset before I have to do the next show.

Your shows are usually so high energy, right? How would you usually come down from a show like that?

Sometimes going to a party and being social..it helps because you make use of the energy. And although you’re in a loud and also too energetic environment, you’d just start kinda calm yourself down. You may enjoy the music a little bit, but then you’ll rest, you have some water or have a drink, whatever that may be, to just kind of..inebriate yourself to just kind of balance out.

Does it feel good to be back in Malaysia?

It does! It feels really good. I had a great time the last time I was here and I really enjoyed myself. Happy to be back once again. And you know what? I come back this time and now having had success with a very popular, well-known Malaysian artiste..I mean, I don’t know if it was kinda planned or destined to happen that way, but I just happen to be a fan of Yuna’s. And you know, in terms of what your affinity is with her and your celebration of her, I celebrate her and all women here in that way. I really wanted America to understand what we did together as a collaboration.

Tell us about your new album, “Hard II Love”. Is there anything that we don’t know about it that you’d like to share?

Here’s the beautiful part about what has happened: I can tell you what I think each and every song is, but it’s a raw emotion that happened and I put it on wax or I put it on the album, and it’s left now to your interpretation. It’s not different than a piece of art on the wall – you look at it and it may simply look like what it is or it could fuel your imagination to go different places. And maybe assist you in some things that you’re feeling or experiencing with your significant other or whatever. So, it’s there, and I hope that people enjoy it. It’s been a very successful album here and I’m really excited to be here to perform some of those songs. But I’m going to give you guys a collective of all the songs that I felt kinda led us up to this moment tonight.

What’s the theme of “Hard II Love”? Were you trying to send out a message?

I don’t know if I was aiming for a message, I was just aiming for honesty. It was kinda my transition…every album somehow has this bit of tension and this dichotomy, where there’s a good and a bad. Every album. I think the one that I was most focused on was “Raymond v. Raymond” (2010), just in the name. Like, what does that mean? The dichotomy of who we are as people. And then, you know, that balance – the good, bad; that love, hate; that up, down; that left, right; that left right brain conversation – all of those things happened on this album so the if messaging is perceived that way then that’s exactly what it is. It’s a piece of who I am, in hopes that what I’m talking about – dealing with relationship, love, sex, and personal reflection – helps you. I hope that it will help you in your relationships, I hope that it will help you kind of deal with yourself.

Let’s talk about your upcoming movie, “Hands of Stone”. Tell us how you got the role and your experience in playing the character.

I think part of me getting the role has something to do with the fact that there was a common ground between me and Sugar Ray Leonard. One, we both started very young. Two, we use movement as a great tool so it’d be easy for me to pick up the box and because of how choreographed I am as a performer. But Jonathan Jakubowicz, an independent Venezuelan director, he reached out to me directly and wanted a meeting with me. We sat down and I wasn’t 100% certain exactly what he wanted me to do and how big or major or small a role I was would play in the story of Roberto Durán’s life because the story is not about Sugar Ray Leonard, it’s 100% about Roberto Durán, who was a Panamanian boxer. When he began to tell me about the story and kind of opened up to different chapters, I felt like it would be something that would not only be a challenge for me because I had to lose weight, I had to learn how to box, and I had to really get to know Sugar Ray Leonard’s character. But it became an incredible journey for me. I think it put me in the best shape that I’ve ever been in my life. I mean judging from the nude pictures – take a look at the movie and you’ll get it. I really did enjoy getting to know his character and getting to know him. I trained with Sugar Ray Leonard in the process, I read his book. Up until that moment, I don’t think..I mean..I would consider myself an exhibitionist in some way because I’ve never been afraid to just be naked. But I think I was more comfortable than ever.

Special thanks to our friends from Sony Music Malaysia for making this interview happen! Usher’s new album, “Hard II Love”, is out now on iTunes.

For more information on Usher, hit up his website or Facebook page. He’s also on Twitter and Instagram so go ahead and stalk him ;)

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(UPDATE) #GE235: TransAsia Plane Crash Lands In Taipei River

A TransAsia Airways plane has crash landed in a Taipei river, injuring more than 10 people, reported Reuters on Wednesday (Feb 4), citing television reports.

The plane, TransAsia B22816, had 58 people aboard when it crash landed  at 10:56am, local time, reported TVBS. Of the 58, there were 51 adults, two children and five crew members. Ten people have been rescued and dozens more are trapped, and rescuers are trying to reach them, reported AFP citing television reports.

The plane was an ATR-72, which just arrived in Taiwan last year, reported TVBS. The plane was on a domestic flight when it hit a road bridge before ploughing into the river, the AFP reported.

Taiwan’s TransAsia Airways was involved in a deadly crash in July last year, when its plane, GE222, attempted to land in stormy weather and crashed on a small Taiwanese island, killing 48 people and wrecking houses and cars on the ground.

Footage taken from TVBS shows the plane hitting a vehicle while passing close to a highway while unverified images from a Twitter user in Taiwan have shown images of the plane flying close to a highway and going almost sideways before it hit the river.

According to BBC, reports suggested that the final communication from one of the pilots had been “Mayday, mayday, engine flame out” and that the plane had stalled as a result of the engine failure. Meanwhile, news on the number of dead varied, with TransAsia Airways stating on Facebook that at least 16 people lost their lives. Several people suffered injuries and many were still unaccounted for.


Hype’s Now Playing: Lean On (Jauz & Dillon Francis Remix)

Jauz creates music on his computer for one reason and one reason only: to make people dance.

L.A. based DJ/producer Jauz, pronounced as Jaws (like the shark) has been in a hot zone this year with countless of releases and remix including “Feel The Volume” and his remix of A$AP Mob’s “Hella Hoes”.

His original single “Feel The Volume” which was premiered last year was nothing short of impressive and has been supported by many big names including Diplo. In addition to his latest achievement, his flip of Tiga’s “Bugatti” and A$AP Mobs’s “Hella Hoes” have become the biggest hits in festival anthem today.

Following the release of “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ, DJs all around the globe have tried to combine their creative synths into the track – including Dillon Francis and Jauz. The duo took to the studio to come up with a genre-defying production that rumbles with Dillon’s trademark synths and Jauz’s spick and span drum work.

Apparently, the SharkSquad honcho debuted the track live at goHARD Tour Dallas, without Dillon.

Release date has yet to be announced but we reckon it won’t be long so stay tuned for more updates.

We’ll now leave you with the duo’s remix of “Lean On”. Enjoy!

For more on Jauz, stalk him via these platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Source: Dancingastronaut , featured image via Jauz’s Facebook page.


Twitter’s “Biased” Algorithm Prioritises White Faces In Preview Picture

Twitter is looking into its neural network on why their system favours white faces over black faces when selecting the image preview.

Tests by Twitter users have found out that the social media’s algorithm seemed to be racially biased and it does raise a question.

One user posted 2 stretched out images which show former US President Barack Obama and American politician Mitch McConnell, to see which face gets picked as the preview picture. It picked McConnell’s face as the preview and ignored Obama’s face completely, even after switching the position.

Furthermore, one user even tried it with The Simpsons cartoon characters, Lenny and Carl, with the latter being black. Despite them being cartoon characters, the algorithm still chose Lenny as a preference.

More tests by users have been made to demonstrate the “racial bias” and it got Twitter’s attention to take action. They said the feature is currently under review with Twitter chief design officer Dantley Davis adding that there are “some variables that we need to look into.”

The social media platform might get a bad reputation from this, but let’s not ignore the good things they’ve done. Twitter is currently spreading awareness reminding people to wear a mask through a custom “like” animation.

With all the new “like” animations for certain hashtags, Twitter has made one specifically for #WearAMask. Anytime people hit the like button on tweets with this trending hashtag, they’ll get a cute animation of an emoji wearing a mask.

We would also like to remind everyone during this pandemic to wear a mask when leaving your home. Let’s break the COVID-19 chain together!

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Taiwanese Singer Jam Hsiao Returns To Malaysia After 4 Years

Award-winning Mandapop singer-cum-actor Jam Hsiao (萧敬腾) will finally return to Malaysia for a concert after 4 long years!

Hsiao who is often dubbed as “The King of Golden Melody” previously performed in Malaysia back in 2010, 2012 and 2015.

Now, organiser Star Planet has finally confirmed that the 31-year-old singer will be making his way to Malaysia in July as part of his “Mr Entertainment” world tour.

Though the exact date has yet to be revealed, the tour is the continuation of Hsiao’s “Mr Rock” tour in 2009 where he will once again return to perform at Axiata Arena.

Jam Hsiao started his singing career in 2007 when he became famous in the Taiwan “One Million Star” singing competition at the age of 20.

He has released 4 new production albums and 2 cover albums. His masterpieces include “Collection”, “New Endless Love”, “The Prince’s New Clothes”, “Forgive Me”, “A Fei’s Little Butterfly” and so on.

In 2011, Hsiao played the lead role in the action film “The Killer Who Never Kills” and won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer for his performance.

For more updates on Jam Hsiao’s “Mr Entertainer” tour in Malaysia, visit www.starplanet.com.my.


(UPDATE) #B1A4: “PAS Fears Hidden Agenda Behind K-Pop Concert”, Says Mahfuz

So, the piece of news from The Star completely shocked us.

According to a PAS leader, the acts of hugging and kissing tudung-clad female fans by South Korean K-Pop band B1A4 at a recent concert may be a “hidden agenda” to tarnish Islam. PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said he feared that the girls may be used by certain quarters to discredit the religion.

“I fear that the organisers may create an atmosphere deliberately to degrade Islam. I fear that the girls may be paid to wear tudung to do immoral acts on stage,” he told reporters here, Monday (12th Jan). He then went on to compare the probability of the controversy taken place was akin to the theory where Israeli intelligence Mossad was behind the Paris shootings.

Mahfuz said although the party was not against entertainment, he said such concerts must be done with a guideline, which he believed under the purview of the Ministry of Communications Multimedia. “We are disappointed with the ministry for giving greenlight to the organisers without providing a proper guideline. The ministry should explain this because from what we saw, there seems to have no guideline at all,” he said.

On Sunday, a three-minute video clip of the South Korean boyband’s members hugging and kissing female Malay fans on stage went viral on social media, courting criticism from netizens.

The concert organiser, TGM Events, has since apologised for the incident and said in a statement that the female fans had gone on stage willingly. The company also said it had never nor would it ever condone any form of sexual harassment or molestation during its events:

Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) also said event organisers have been told to abide by entertainment guidelines issued by the religious body.

Also, to add on to that, as reported by MMO, the event organisers will be summoned to meet officials from the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) over the molest claims, according to the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha.

What do you guys think? Was anyone trying to discredit the religion (Islam) with acts of what is otherwise known as the average South Korean idols’ “fan service”? Would the organisers really have gone as far as paying some random girls to wear tudungs and participate in immoral acts on stage?

A rep from B1A4’s agency WM Entertainment has responded to the controversy and told domestic outlet Star News:

It was done after prior approval from the event winners early on… The captured scene shows the members conducting a “drama scene parody” segment with fans. The atmosphere at the venue was good, and considering the Muslim culture, we are aware that the MC asked for consent (from the winners) once more… It all depends on one’s perspective. We will be more considerate of various cultures and customs in the future, and we will work hard to prepare a fanmeeting that all global fans can enjoy. We will be more careful.

Another rep also stated, “The rumours of molestation are only false rumours… The event was a parody of movies and dramas, and prior to the fanmeeting, we announced the event and received approval (from the winners) beforehand.”

Do you share our sentiments when we say that this has gotten completely out of hand?

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8 Future Heroes Set To Appear In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

While 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” has come and gone, Disney’s Marvel is showing no signs of slowing down. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been busy at work, churning out a slew of new releases on the way. Unfortunately, the first entry into its new Phase 4, “Black Widow”, is once again being further delayed. This means, fans will have to wait just a little longer to see what new heroes will grace the big screen.

This new age is boasting a fresh cast of diverse heroes no one could have seen coming. The age of the Avengers has passed, it’s time for a new age of heroes to rise.

Whether they’re heroes who have long been teased within the MCU or have yet to make their debut, we’ve got you covered. We’re counting down our most anticipated heroes who will appear in future MCU properties.

Yes, you read it right. Thor’s ex-girlfriend, played by Natalie Portman, will be taking up his mantle. Just to clarify, Thor in Marvel comics isn’t so much a name as it is a title. The Thor we all know and love, played by Chris Hemsworth, is known as Odinson in the comics. During the comic book event “Original Sin”, Odinson becomes unworthy of the mantle of Thor and Mjolnir selects Jane Foster to be his replacement. During her tenure as the God (or Goddess) of Thunder, she battled the forces of evil and cancer as well.

After the events of “Thor: The Dark World”, we don’t get much information about Foster. A part of us is hoping that we’ll see some version of the character from Jason Aaron’s “Mighty Thor” series. In lieu of the brash child learning to be a king, Foster was depicted as a sickly mortal showing what true godhood and heroism looks like. Now, that would be a fresh, captivating take on Thor.

The next hero on our list is one we frankly expected to have seen earlier. We were so sure that he’d at least show up in some way in “Avengers: Infinity War” if not “Endgame”.  The character is supposedly being saved for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3”. In any case, we can’t wait to see the intergalactic superhuman wizard, Adam Warlock appear in the MCU. In one of Marvel’s most popular comic event “Infinity Gauntlet”, Warlock played a crucial role in stopping the Mad Titan. At some point, the cosmic being even wielded the Gauntlet itself.

Warlock was first teased in a post-credits scene at the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2”. The High Priestess of the Sovereign race, Ayesha discusses the creation of an artificially evolved superhuman being created in her golden pod. She names the creature “Adam”.

Much like his MCU counterpart, his comic book origin has him being a genetically altered godlike being. He was also a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics. Looks like Thor isn’t the only one joining the team.

As it turns out, the Mandarin isn’t a myth after all. Apparently, he’s the very real terrorist leader of the Ten Rings organisation. He’s also rumoured to be an immortal who possesses magical powers. That’s about all we learn about the REAL Mandarin from Marvel’s “All Hail the King” short film, found on the digital download release of “Thor: The Dark World”. With Iron Man out of the picture, a new champion must rise to meet the Mandarin’s machinations. That noble warrior just so happens to be Shang Chi, who will be facing off against the Mandarin in 2021’s “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings“.

We know that the titular Shang Chi will be played by Simu Liu, an Asian-Canadian actor and stuntman. Truth be told, Shang Chi doesn’t have a ton of powers. Sure he has displayed a few feats of superhuman strength in the comic but really his true power is his martial arts skills. We’re curious to see if Marvel will lean into his more practical and human side. Or if they’ll have a more mystical approach to the character.

Vampires of the night beware! The bane of your existence is about to enter the MCU. It’s the half-vampire, half-human hunter Eric Brooks, aka Blade. Those who grew up around the early 2000s may have remembered the Wesley Snipes’ incarnation of the character. A badass, antihero draped in a black trench-coat, wiping out the undead with steel and fury. So to see Disney’s Marvel announcing that they’d be bringing this old relic back out into the sun was a real blast from the past.

Disney is currently working on a “Blade” solo film. Not much is known about the film’s casting beyond the lead actor who will be playing Blade, Mahershala Ali. He’s best known for his role as the villainous Cottonmouth in the first season of Netflix’s “Luke Cage” series. Seeing that the show was cancelled in 2018, Ali is freed up to once again enter in the MCU with a new name. The release date in which we’ll see Blade slash his way onto the silver screen is yet to be confirmed.

Move over Avengers, it’s time for the Eternals to enter the scene. The Eternals are a race of superhumans who have tasked themselves with defending humanity. Their ancestors were once early humans until a group of god-like beings called the Celestials began tampering with their DNA. The Eternals are essentially mankind at its most evolved state. Some of them have powers such as flight, energy manipulation, super-strength and enhanced durability. Quick fun-fact, in the comics, the reason why folks like the Hulk and Captain America get superpowers instead of getting…you know, cancer is because of the Celestials. They gave humanity the ability to gain superpowers.

The cast of Marvel’s “Eternals” is shaping up to be a star-studded one. Some of the film’s biggest names include “Game of Thrones” actor Richard Madden, comedian Kumail Nanjiani and “Atlanta” actor Brian Tyree Henry. Then, of course, there’s the incomparable Angelina Jolie. The film was initially slated to be released in February 2021 but with the current COVID-19 situation, it’s probably going to be delayed.

The Hulk has a high-flying lawyer cousin. Who knew! When lawyer Jennifer Walters is shot, only a risky blood transfusion from relative Bruce Banner can save her. It works and the Green Giant doesn’t just give Walters a second chance at life. She now has a fraction of the Hulk’s amazing powers. She is the She-Hulk. What makes the character of She-Hulk so interesting is that in spite of her newfound strength, she still chooses to keep her day job. Furthermore, she has a much better time controlling her rage compared to her hotheaded cousin.

Recently, we’ve gotten news with regards to who will be playing Jennifer Walters in Disney’s upcoming new series “She-Hulk’ and we couldn’t be happier. The heroin will be played by none other than “Orphan Black” actress, Tatiana Maslany. A perfect fit for the silver-tongued, Hulked-out lawyer who fights injustice using her wits instead of her fists. We’re sincerely hoping that we see at least one scene of her yelling “She-Hulk object!”, now that would make our day.

For the most part, the more mystical and supernatural aspects of the MCU have been represented through the eyes of Thor and Doctor Strange. Ghost Rider does make an appearance or two in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” but it just isn’t enough to scratch our itch for some hellish magical action. That’s where Disney’s new series through Hulu, “Helstrom” comes in. A web series that follows the adventures of Daimon Helstrom, the son of a powerful demon, and his sister Ana. Together, both of them walk the Earth, punishing the very worst of humanity.

In Marvel comics, Daimon has always been depicted as a conflicted hero. Someone who struggles to do what is right, in spite of his demonic heritage. We look forward to seeing how this tension is explored in “Helstrom” and what spooky surprises the show has in store for us. So far, the series seems to be a fantasy detective thriller along the lines of CW’s “Supernatural”. It looks like it’ll be a hell of a good time!

The final hero on our list isn’t so much a super-powered do-gooder as he is the literal embodiment of balance in the Marvel multiverse. A being so powerful that he makes Thanos and his Infinity Gauntlet look cute. A guardian who only ever intervenes when a cosmic threat is deemed too great for the heroes of a native universe. For those not exactly in the comic book know, we’re talking about the Living Tribunal.

The character was first referenced in a scene in 2016’s “Doctor Strange”. During a training scene with Mordo, the sorcerer reveals to Stephen Strange a powerful magical relic. A weapon called the Staff of the Living Tribunal. So based on the reference alone, we now know that the character does exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps we could see this multiversal guardian appear in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness“. It would make sense seeing that he was introduced in the first film.

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Sinead O’Connor Posts Alarming Video About Being Mentally Ill & Suicidal

The 50-year-old Irish singer-songwriter, who achieved worldwide success in 1990 with her cover of Prince‘s “Nothing Compares 2 U” recently posted up an alarming Facebook video.

In Sinead’s 12-minute long clip, which has since been viewed over 1.4 million times, she pleaded for help from her family and revealed details about her mental illness, while sitting in a New Jersey motel that she has apparently been living in. The singer explained that she’s begging to be brought home and that she’s “fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting – like all the millions and millions that I know I’m one of – to stay alive every day”. She also said that if it were up to her, she’d “be gone”.

Note: In 2007, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sinead disclosed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder 4 years earlier, and had attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday on 8th December 1999.

Shockingly, she also talked about how she lacks support from her loved ones, saying that “strangers on Facebook” are kinder to her than her own family. Sinead later posted the address of a Travelodge in South Hackensack.

A couple of days later, a follow-up Facebook post emerged on Sinead’s Facebook profile.

It is not known who wrote the post but the statement, allegedly made on the singer’s behalf, reads, “Hi everybody, I am posting at Sinead’s request, to let everyone who loves her know she is safe, and she is not suicidal. She is surrounded by love and receiving the best of care. She asked for this to be posted knowing you are concerned for her. I won’t respond to any questions, so please understand. I hope this comforts those of you were concerned.”

Source: Sinead O’Connor’s Facebook profile / Featured image: Facebook video screengrab.


Jimmy Fallon Suggests Henry Golding To Be The Next James Bond

Though Idris Elba is the top contender to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond, the actor appears to be dismissing the rumours in some recent tweets. However, a new actor may also be in the running to play the new Bond – and he’s Asian!

The latest episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” features “Crazy Rich Asians” lead Henry Golding as the guest who was there to promote the recently released movie based on Kevin Kwan’s novel of the same name.

A post shared by Henry Golding (@henrygolding)

On the show, Golding talks about his high school life and how he went from a hairdresser, to a travel host and now, a Hollywood actor. He even shows off some of his singing chops on the show as he crooned to Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”.

At the end of the interview, Fallon who was amazed by Golding’s life journey suggested that he should be the next James Bond. “I’m telling you, this is first. James Bond is next!” Fallon exclaimed.

Fans seem to be supporting the idea as well especially after watching Golding’s suave performance in “Crazy Rich Asians”. Plus, he looks really good in a tuxedo.

Hey, so I checked around, and apparently there is absolutely no buzz around the idea that Henry Golding should be the next James Bond, so maybe let's use Crazy Rich Asians as an opportunity to change that? pic.twitter.com/7QZeTXG7DL

Golding doesn’t seem to be against the idea too as he previously told Esquire Magazine that he “would love to be in a Bond movie”.

So what do you all think? Should he be the next Bond?

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Actor Mena Massoud Hasn’t Had An Audition Since “Aladdin” Came Out

Disney has been rolling out a lot of live adaptation of their classical animation films lately with one of them being “Aladdin”. Despite getting mixed reception from critics, the film still earned a whopping $1 billion at the box office.

In most cases, starring in a film that earned over the billion dollar mark would seem like a gateway to Hollywood stardom for many. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case for actor Mena Massoud, who revealed that he hasn’t been in an audition once since the release of “Aladdin”.

In an interview he did with The Daily Beast, the 28-year-old let loose about his frustration over his current situation. The star shared he was getting tired of keeping quiet over the ordeal and wanted to tell people that it’s not all “dandelions and roses” even if you starred in a big time Hollywood film.

“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it,” the Egyptian said. “I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like “Aladdin”.”

He continued by saying that many people had assumed that he became super rich and has received plenty of offers, all of which he revealed was far from the truth, “‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since “Aladdin” came out.”

Massoud further added that he didn’t expect people to just hand him big time roles, but he would have preferred if Hollywood just gave his a chance, “I’m sitting here being like, OK, ‘Aladdin’ just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance?”

This experience has caused the “Aladdin” actor to “pull back” on some of his expectation. “I think since ‘Aladdin’, my expectations for things releasing and what they’re going to do in my career, I’ve had to really pull them back,” he told the interviewer.

The Hollywood newcomer continued, “Because, you know, I got the same question about ‘Aladdin’ and it was like, ‘Oh, you know, ‘Aladdin’s’ coming out. How do you feel about what that’s going to do to your career?’ The big truth is I haven’t really seen a big anything from it.”

He concluded the interview by stating that he doesn’t know what the future holds for his career, “As for whether people are gonna discover me from it or what it’s going to do, I literally have no clue,” he says. “I can’t tell you I know how things are going to work out anymore.”

We do hope that he will be given more opportunities in the future, as it will be ashamed if Hollywood cast out an actor that has been in such a successful film.


Students Couldn’t Escape Tahfiz School Fire; Screams & Cries Heard; 25 Die

Earlier this morning (Thursday, 14th September), a blaze broke out at a religious school called Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah at approximately 5:15am. Unfortunately 25 people, mostly teenage boys, didn’t make out in time and were killed.

Located in Jalan Keramat Ujung, Kuala Lumpur, Shahirman Sharil, who lives close to the school told Free Malaysia Today that he heard screams coming out of the building around 5am. “It was dark, except for the raging fire on the third floor of the school. Along with other people in the neighbourhood, I tried to help the students. Some were already burned. We were just trying to do whatever we can to help them while waiting for the firemen to put out the fire,” he shared.

“The children were desperately trying to escape the flames. There were metal grills which prevented them from exiting the burning building,” Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was quoted as saying. Due to the fact that there was only one entrance, the raging fire prevented them from escaping.

The City Fire and Rescue Department was alerted around 5:40am. When the fire department officials arrived at the scene, the blaze had already broke out. It took them roughly 25 minutes before they managed to get things under control. “The number of confirmed dead are 23 students and 2 wardens,” Khirudin Drahman, director of Kuala Lumpur’s fire and rescue department told AFP.

“We sympathise with the families. It is one of the worst fires involving so many lives in the capital in recent years. We urgently want the authorities to quickly probe the cause of the deadly fire so that we will be able to prevent future disasters,” said Loga Bala Mohan, the federal territories deputy minister.

Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

Sources: FMT, The Malaysian Insight/ Featured image: Hasnoor Hussain.

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Hype’s Exclusive: Tricia D’Cruz Sings Her Way Into Your Hearts

Tricia D’Cruz is a mass communications graduate who decided to turn her love for singing into a career. Bubbly with a fun and vibrant personality, Tricia took part in the reality singing competition Malaysian Idol in 2005 and made it to the Top 9.

From there, she started singing at various pubs as well as restaurants around the country, and she also performed for private and corporate events. She was a member of a commercial club band for a year and half before parting ways with the band as she wanted to take on something more challenging.

Having always had jazz music be part of her life from a very young age, Tricia moved in the direction of singing jazz and making it her career. With the guidance from her musically inclined family, The Solianos, Tricia has matured into a polished jazz singer with great poise on stage. She has her own style of injecting soul when singing jazz, making her a breath of fresh air. Apart from jazz, Tricia often includes R&B and pop into her repertoire making her shows highly entertaining and appealing to an audience of all ages.

Hype.My caught up with this down to earth singer in an exclusive interview recently. Here’s what Tricia has to say.

You were a Malaysian Idol contestant, tell us what it was like being on the show?

Being on Malaysian Idol was a lot of pressure! I actually joined the show to challenge myself. My friends and those closest to me say I’m a very loud person but I’m extremely shy when I’m on stage. I wanted to be a singer so badly and I knew I had to get over my shyness so I joined the show. I was the most inexperienced finalist and it was pretty amazing that I even made it to the top 12.

It’s been an awesome journey since! I’m doing what I love and I have no regrets! I’ve been in different bands of different genres, getting to know the industry and most importantly; discovering myself as an artiste.

You’ve been singing and performing since 2005, in your opinion how has the music industry in Malaysia change since then?

It’s getting a lot easier for musicians nowadays. With the help of social networking sites available today, it’s easier for musicians to get their materials out. Musicians nowadays have the luxury of working independently — from promoting themselves the way they want to, making music without any pressure from A&R managers from giant companies and so forth. Also, trends don’t really affect listeners nowadays. Malaysian listeners know what they like. From acoustic sounds of Yuna to punk rock music from Bunkface and hip hop from Joe Flizzow, it is all appreciated by the listeners here and it’s great!

You come from a musically inclined family, The Solianos, would you say that the pressure to perform better is stronger and higher due to that?

Honestly, no. Yes, music is in my blood and I idolised my musically inclined family. Growing up around music and working with them has taught me so much but I also do what I do because I love music. I am still learning, still growing but there isn’t any added pressure from my family. I am my own worst critic.

Who were your major influences growing up?

My first cassette was Erykah Badu’s Baduizm. I was 13. Loved her then and I still love her now!

What do you think about the local talent in Malaysia?
Malaysia is home to quite a number of fantastic musicians! And I must say,  I LOVE Yuna! She is such an inspiration.

If you could change one thing about the current music industry in Malaysia, what would it be?

I would love to see the day our industry changes the mindset of our listeners. Imagine if people could really appreciate music as an art form and not just as a form of entertainment, everything will change! People will go for shows, not just for free concerts, people would start paying more attentions to songs, deeper into the music itself. From lyrics to arrangements to the sound and style of music, to everything that goes into making a song. Appreciation will also change people’s perception towards musicians and they will being to realise how much effort and energy is channeled into making good music — from writing, producing and performing.

Do you normally perform covers or originals?

For now, it’s all covers but that’s gonna change real soon :)

What do you hope to achieve with your career in the next 5 years?

To complete my first solo album (all originals), to perform at music festivals around Malaysia and outside of Malaysia, and to perform on The Ellen Show! Hahahaha hey, the sky is the limit! ;)

Is there an album in the works?
Yes! And it is set to drop mid this year.

Where can our readers watch your perform or get updates from you?

Updates on my music can be found on my Facebook page.

And that’s a wrap! Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us Trish!

Thank you so much for taking the time out to interview me! Cheers!

Here’s Not Today, an original number by Tricia D’Cruz.

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4 Shows To Get Into During This December’s School Holidays

School holidays are finally approaching and it’s time to start planning the best ways to fully take advantage of your break. Not sure where to start? There’s no need to look too far as Disney+ Hotstar has all the shows you to turn your home into your next best adventure.

From the latest Marvel Studio’s Special to the return of Malaysia’s favourite animated hero – choose your adventure from the list below.

Ejen Ali made a whirlwind comeback earlier this year as fans from all around the country tuned in for the third season. After much anticipation, Malaysia’s national animated hero will return to the small screen for Part Two of Season 3 where we return to the chaos at the Cyberaya Science Centre. As the Arena competition continues to evolve, Ali struggles to adapt yet again while the remaining competitors eye the top four spots in the final challenge.

2. “The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special”

The school holidays aren’t complete without a superhero film and this year, we get to celebrate with some of the most relatable heroes in the galaxy. On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. With a mix of holiday hijinks and heartwarming family bonds – this show is a must watch for family and friends this holiday season.

The holidays are all about spending time with your friends and family. So, when a mysterious stranger reveals a puzzling secret about her father, Jess Valenzuela sets off on an adventure to find history’s greatest lost treasure and uncover the truth about her family’s past.

4. “Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again”

A family favourite gets reanimated as eight years after Larry Daley says goodbye to the Museum of Natural History, his son returns to take up his father’s mantle. His journey as the museum’s night guard seems to go well as he reunites with old friends but things start to take a turn when Kahmunrah rises again. Now fate rests on Nick’s shoulders to save the museum once and for all.

Managed to watch all these shows before the school break ends? Worry not as there are more films and series spinning tales of adventure and discoveries awaiting you on Disney+ Hotstar.


#HistoryChannel: Enter The Wild #Alone With Oculus Rift 4D Experience

If you’re a fan of the wild and reality shows, “Alone” would be the perfect TV programme for you.

HISTORY Channel will be launching a brand-new reality TV series, “Alone”, and in conjunction with that, they are giving Malaysians the opportunity to journey into the wild all by themselves. Thinking that you’ll be transported to some secluded jungle, that is full of scary wild animals and poisonous plants?

Well, fret not, because you’ll be experiencing the wild all from the comfort of a local mall!

Everyone is welcomed to join the event, as HISTORY channel is inviting Malaysians to experience surviving the wild through an immersive next-generation virtual reality – the Oculus Rift brought out in 4D.

The experience, which will keep you on the edge of your seats and test your limits, is modelled after an upcoming TV series titled “Alone”. This one-of-a-kind experience will challenge all your senses, as you hear the sounds of wildlife, grab hold of survival tools and be transported into a real-life simulation of the wild and untamed jungle!

Still don’t believe it? You better do, because it is happening this weekend!

“Alone” is the boldest and longest extreme psychological experiment attempted for television. With no camera crew, producers or support teams, 10 hard core survivalists will have to endure the mission to stay alive in the wilderness for as long as possible.

The 10 of them will be entering the wilderness of Vancouver Island only carrying what they can fit in a small backpack. They must hunt, build shelters, fend off predators, and endure extreme isolation and psychological distress as they plunge into the unknown and document the experience themselves. At the end of the programme, $500,000 will be awarded to the participant who lasts the longest.

The highly-anticipated reality programme will premiere on 22nd June (Monday) at 11pm on the HISTORY channel (Astro Ch 555 & 575).

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Kat Von D & deadmau5 Says Bye To “Katmau5”

Breaking up is definitely a trend. After two months of dating and being madly in love, Kat Von D and Joel Zimmerman aka deadmau5 has gone their separate ways. Well known for her 79 engagements and break ups with Jesse James (WOW), the tattoo artist used Twitter to declare that they are no longer together.

She first tweeted, “Man… Can’t say I didn’t give it my best”. And then a flurry of tweets followed:

Joel took it to social media to say something about their split too – in the form of a Facebook status:

Following which, he tweeted, “It happened too fast, I lost my balance and fell into a familiar dark place that I’m having difficulty with, she deserves someone stronger”.


“Lady Gaga Is Doing Unbelievable”, Says Manager

More than a month ago, Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her “Born This Way Ball” tour. The “Mama Monster” revealed that she can’t walk due to a condition called “synovitis”, better known as severe joint inflammation. The condition was due to an injury she sustained while performing some time ago. She needed surgery and was ordered to have a strict down time while she recovered.

But all is well in the land of Monsters now!

Lady Gaga’s manager, Vince Herbert said that “Mama” is doing unbelievable after she had hip surgery. In an interview on Tuesday, he revealed that the 26-year-old Grammy award winner is “doing wonderful, doing great, and ready to get back to work”. He also praised Lady Gaga for continuing to push the envelope with her new album, “ARTPOP”.

Ah! That’s feeding our curiosity right about now. We can’t wait to hear it!


iPhone 12: Comparing Prices Of All Models From Maxis, Digi, Celcom & U Mobile

With all four models of the new iPhone 12 simultaneously released today (13th November) in Malaysia, local telcos have put up their prices for keen-buyers.

The newly-released models include, the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro, and also the iPhone 12 Pro Max. To help make up your mind, check out the full list of prices from major telcos down below:

As usual, Maxis offers you all the range of configurations available for all the models of the iPhone 12. If you notice, Zerolution deals tend to cost more, but it’s a good choice if you don’t want to spend a large sum to pay for the phone upfront.

There’s not much to say about the price that Maxis offers, other than it’s one of the most expensive options in this list. However, if you’re a long time Maxis user, you would know the benefits outweigh the downsides.

Compared to the other three telcos, Digi is the only one that doesn’t offer the new iPhone devices with an upfront payment. If you’re sticking with Digi on this one, you are limited to paying for their PhoneFreedom 365 plan, which comes with a 24-month contract.

The benefit of signing up for the new iPhone 12 with Digi’s PhoneFreedom 365 plan is getting a free 3-month 50GB iCloud storage plan. The promotion will last until 30th October 2021.

Celcom is the only telco on this list to offer a 30-month instalment contract, as part of their Mega Lightning XL plan. However, this option is only limited to the iPhone 12 64GB model and the iPhone 12 Pro 128GB model.

Nevertheless, you always have the choice to pay it upfront or use the 24-month installment payment options. If you choose to take the 30-month contract option though, the phone will cost a bit more as compared to the usual 24-month contract.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that U Mobile offers a more affordable option to get the iPhone 12. Upfront payment asides, Digi is the only telco that is comparable with U Mobile in terms of affordability.

Unlike other major telcos though, U Mobile falls short on the list of postpaid plans it offers. However, it’s the only telco that offers the iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB model for less than RM9,000.

If you’re interested to learn more about the iPhone 12 plans offered, you can head over to the telcos respective websites – Maxis, Celcom, Digi, U Mobile.

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Michelin-Starred Tim Ho Wan Now Open In KL

Known to be “The Dim Sum Specialist”, Tim Ho Wan is a hole-in-the-wall eatery hailing from Hong Kong that has truly defied all odds. In fact, it battled its way (some would say quite effortlessly) into the Michelin guide, having been named the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. This is because Tim Ho Wan’s dim sum have won the hearts of food critics and any Asian epicurean you can imagine.

But now, you need not hop on a plane to savour its delectable Baked Bun with BBQ pork, Steamed Egg Cake, Pan Fried Carrot Cake, or Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver because a Tim Ho Wan outlet has invaded Malaysia – at Boulevard, Mid Valley City to be exact. In fact, Tim Ho Wan Malaysia officially opened its doors just yesterday to a large crowd, all vying to sink their teeth into the restaurant’s offerings.

Tim Ho Wan promises that their dim sum dishes are made using only fresh and premium quality ingredients. The dishes also delectably fresh as they are not pre-steamed and then reheated but made-to-order so as to retain the dim sum’s flavour and texture. Aside from Tim Ho Wan’s “The Big 4 Heavenly King” star dishes, other menu mainstays include the Steamed Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce, Steamed Pork Dumpling with Shrimp. and many more.

So if you’re up for pork buns which are crumbly on the exteriors yet fluffy and filled with barbecued pork with oozing sauce, or egg cakes with are so light and spongy with a nice caramelised taste to boot, and velvety-textured vermicelli rolls, just to say the least, you know where to go ;)

Prices for Tim Ho Wan’s absolutely mouthwatering dim sum dishes range from RM7.80 – RM12.80. Be sure to head over early though because trust us, there’s going to be a cray long queue!

Tim Ho Wan is located at Unit 27-G, The Boulevard, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

For more information, visit their Facebook page.


f(x): Victoria Reveals A Group Comeback Is On Its Way

It seems like another K-Pop comeback is in the pipeline.

SM Entertainment’s f(x) is reportedly going to make a comeback this year as the group’s leader Victoria revealed in an interview that the members are currently preparing for a comeback.

On 29th March, several Chinese journalists were invited to the press conference of Victoria’s upcoming Chinese TV series “Beautiful Secret”. Starring Victoria and Peter Ho, the series is the sequel to the 2013 Chinese drama, “Shining Days”.

When asked whether she enjoys being a singer or an actress more, she answered, “Be it singing or acting, I hope that I can develop myself as an all-rounded individual with my work both in China and in Korea.” She further revealed that f(x) is already in the process of planning for a comeback.

However, details about the group’s comeback are scarce and SM Entertainment did not respond to the report yet.

As of now, it is unclear whether f(x) member Sulli will return to the music scene via the group’s comeback because it has been 8 months since she went on an indefinite hiatus from the group’s activities. After making her solo debut, the group’s rapper Amber is expected to make a group comeback alongside Victoria, Krystal (who recently re-joined Instagram) and Luna.

Do you think Sulli will join the group’s comeback? What do you think their comeback concept would look like? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.


#KurtCobain: Posthumous Solo Album To Be Released 21 Years After His Death

It’s true. There’s a chance that we might be hearing music from beyond the grave soon because there’s a forthcoming Kurt Cobain solo album.

According to “Montage of Heck” director Brett Morgen, a posthumous Kurt Cobain solo album is in the works. “We’re going to be putting out an amazing album this summer,” Brett Morgen said in an interview, according to Forbes. The album will be made up of previously unheard recordings from the Nirvana front man.

In case you didn’t know, “Montage of Heck” is the recent highly acclaimed documentary on the late Nirvana frontman’s life. The film, co-produced by Cobain’s daughter Francis Bean and featuring never-before-seen footage of the family, debuted on HBO earlier this week but has been doing the rounds at various film festivals.

It has been widely praised for its portrayal of Cobain, who committed suicide at the age of 27 in 1994.

Morgen went through over 200 hours of audio while putting his film together, and says the album that will result from some of the recordings he came across will give fans the feeling of “hanging out with Kurt Cobain on a hot summer day in Olympia, Washington, as he fiddles about”.

Morgen also clarified that “it’s not a Nirvana album, it’s just Kurt and you’re going to hear him do things you never expected to come out of him”.

Nevertheless, Nirvana fans, are y’all excited? A Kurt Cobain solo album? It’s about damn time!

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#Christmas: 20 Of Our Favourite Christmas Carols

More than just a season, Christmas is a feeling. A feeling of warmth, love, and happiness all bundled up in one.

It’s Christmas and that means mince pies, marathon of TV-watching sessions, candy canes, gifts and yes, Christmas songs. A Christmas song is complex organism. At their best, our classic yuletide anthems have always managed to find the balance between timelessness and nostalgia − tapping into a sort of greater, collective memory of a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Whether they’re blasting from the speakers at a mall, or being sung by your family and friends, once you get into December, Christmas songs are inescapable and honestly, we’re not complaining. There’s really no point in fighting it, you might as well come to terms with the fact that for the next month, you’re frequently going to be told tales of last Christmas, wonderful Christmas times and have people be merry around and with you.

This being the case, it’s time to set aside the worries, stress, and moodiness to enjoy the festive season. To help you get into the holiday mood, we present our favourite 20 Christmas song of all time. Enjoy!

Yes, like most other Christmas carols, there are various versions of this particular song. We love Nat King Cole’s version the most because his warm, soothing voice just makes us feel all fuzzy on the inside. So beautiful, so magical, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole is a masterpiece and it will instantly up your Christmas spirit.

Ahhh…we love Elvis, how can anyone not? His rendition of “Blue Christmas” is our favourite because he adds his rock ‘n’ roll feel to it, making it different from your typical Christmas songs.

Cheeky yet undeniably charming is what you get when Rod Stewart and Michael Bublé teams up. We love their collaboration for “Winter Wonderland” – it’s intimate, heartwarming and just, oh-so-perfect, we almost feel like they’re singing directly to us.

So innocent, so harmless this makes for the perfect song to be sang by a child and Michael Jackson’s voice just shines through in this.

So soulful, Chris Brown shows off his beautiful voice and versatility with “This Christmas” and we love it.

Andy Williams’ deep and haunting voice is perfect for this song because it’s so hauntingly beautiful that it can give anyone who listens to it goosebumps.

Martina Mcbride’s version of “Silver Bells” is so sweet and happy, it’s impossible to not love it.

Yes, we know this isn’t your traditional Christmas song but this is too good to let up. “Christmas in Harlem” posses everything you’d expect from Kanye and friends – a slick soul-sampling beat that is guaranteed to make you dance along with it.

Stevie Wonder doesn’t just share with us what Christmas means to him, he also gives us the perfect Christmas treat with a Motown swing and harmonica solo in this track.

So cheeky, so sexy, and so seductive, Cynthia Basinet has everyone drooling over her with her rendition of “Santa Baby”.

So very different from the cutesy jive of The Ronettes’ original, TLC’s 1993 cover is a sexy R&B slow jam. Accompanied by their sultry harmonies and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ most fun-filled raps, this track is perfect with a glass of wine and your boo.

There are so many versions of this song – covers from Bublé to Bieber, but Michael and his brothers’ efforts are the grooviest and funnest! Plus, it only makes sense to have kids on the mic considering that the song is mainly used as a bargaining tool by parents.

It was tough picking between Dean Martin’s version and Lady Gaga and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s version but we’ve decided that we enjoy this one better. Joseph Gordon-Levitt adds such a sexy touch to this track, it’s almost impossible to resist.

Sung by a 13-year-old Brenda Lee, this easy-on-the-ear rock ‘n’ roll tune really needs no introduction now, does it?

Euphoric and fierce, as hopeful as it is resigned, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s definitive festive peace-on-earth song has surpassed its original anti-Vietnam War purpose to become a Christmas stalwart.

Truth is, the power of Christmas’ nostalgia by itself is greater than real memories. Hence, all of us can hark back with Bing on this classic “White Christmas” for a feeling that is tenuous yet so wonderful at the same time.

Composed in 1847, “O Holy Night” has become a favourite carol for solo vocal performances and Céline Dion’s deep sound and big voice to the classic is just simply brilliant.

“Rat Pack” star Dean Martin’s cover of “Let It Snow” has become a staple during the festive season that we enjoy because it’s cheery and so homey.

Wham!’s 1984 smash hit “Last Christmas” is filled with winning elements that its status as a solid gold Christmas staple has been covered by diverse talents including Taylor Swift and Coldplay. A ballad of doomed romance, “Last Christmas” features sleigh bells, synths, and some memorable knitwear in the video.

Yes, we saved the best for last! Originally released in 1994, this selfless plea to be with a loved one has everything: sleigh bells, pop hooks, the right balance of soul and schmaltz, and uplifting vibes. Catchier than a Christmas cold, this is one Christmas song that we will never get bored of.

If your favourite Christmas song didn’t make our list, share it with us by sounding off in the comments section! :)

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Lee Chong Wei Proud Father To Son, Kingston Lee

Yesterday, Malaysian hero and badminton world #1 singles shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei and his wife, Datin Wong Mew Choo celebrated the arrival of their much awaited first born son.

Prior to this, Chong Wei confessed to the press that he was feeling nervous and edgy but excited at the same time to finally be a father:

All I want is for them mother and child to be safe and healthy. This is my first child and naturally, all kinds of emotions are going through my mind. I just can’t wait to hold the child in my arms.

The baby boy, Kingston Lee, was delivered at Gleneagles Hospital in Ampang, was brought into the world through Caesarean section. On the decision to name his son Kingston, Chong Wei said that his wife, Mew Choo did all the hard work by going through many names. After which, they settled with “Kingston” because it sounded nice to Chong Wei.

Chong Wei skipped this weekend’s Axiata Cup knockout round at Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium to be by Mew Choo’s side. Aww. Congratulations, you two!

Whaddya guys think? Next Malaysian badminton champion in the making?


Scalper In Malaysia Slapped With 45 Charges For Selling Fake Westlife Tickets

When both days of Westlife’s “The Twenty Tour” in Malaysia had sold out, it was inevitable that scalpers would try and take advantage of the situation.

We previously caught scalpers selling Westlife’s tickets up to RM3500 per ticket on Viagogo. And that is just 1 example from many other transaction on the internet.

Today (Wednesday, 7th August), FMT reported that a man received 45 charges from the  Magistrate’s Court here for his scalping activities. He had apparently cheated a saleswoman into purchasing 751 tickets (all which were fake) for Westlife’s concerts taking place in Stadium Malawati this week.

According to the publication, Kelvin Raj Selvaraj had sold the concert tickets to Sim Ting Ting for RM151,756. He pleaded not guilty in regards to the 45 charges under Section 420 of Penal Code. If found guilty, the scalper could find himself behind bars up to a decade.

As a result, he was given a RM30,000 bail by Magistrate Nor Ariffin Hisham. In addition, he has been asked to surrender his passport to the authorities. Looks like karma has come to bite him in the butt.

What a show Thailand! ?? Thank you for the love. #TheTwentyTour

A post shared by  Westlife (@westlife) on Jul 25, 2019 at 2:57am PDT

For those worried that Westlife’s shows might get cancelled, rest assured that the concert organiser has obtained all relevant permits including the Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA). See y’all there ;)


Hype’s Now Playing: Steve Aoki, Chris Lake & Tujamo — Boneless

Hype.My has got the perfect song for you to keep you pumping and get you through the last two days of the week before the weekend hits!

DJ and producer Steve Aoki is one of the most exciting DJs and talents on the planet. His latest hit single Boneless featuring Chris Lake & Tujamo has hit number #1 on Beatport, peaked on the top 10 of the iTunes Dance Chart  and has sold 63,000 units since it’s release a couple of months back. The official music video which was released in August has gained over 2.3million YouTube views and plays and is bound to garner more.

If you’ve not heard Boneless, here it is!

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#PacificRim2: “Star Wars” Actor John Boyega To Star In & Co-Produce Sequel

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” actor John Boyega will be starring in the “Pacific Rim” sequel.

The star confirmed on Twitter that he will be joining the cast of the sequel. In his post, he wrote, “I’ll be taking on ‘Pacific Rim’ franchise with Steve S.DeKnight. Very excited!”

I'll be taking on the Pacific Rim franchise with Steven S.Deknight directing. Very excited!

— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) June 6, 2016

The sequel to Guillermo del Toro’s machines versus monsters movie will be helmed by director Steven S. DeKnight (from “Daredevil”) and Derek Connolly (from “Jurassic World”) was enlisted to pen a fresh new script for the upcoming film. Besides that, Boyega will be co-producing the movie through his company, UpperRoom Productions.

The young star will be playing the son of commanding officer Stacker Pentecost (played by Idris Elba) from the first movie. Elba’s character gained immense popularity among fans after the release of “Pacific Rim” in 2013. So this is one sequel that many fans and movie-goers are actually excited to see.

In Legendary Picture’s press release, del Toro said, “I am very proud and happy to welcome John into a fantastic sandbox. The ‘Pacific Rim’ universe will be reinforced with him as a leading man as it continues to be a multicultural, multi-layered world. ‘The World saving the world’ was our goal and I couldn’t think of a better man for the job”.

So far, it’s uncertain whether other characters from the previous film will returning for the sequel, especially Rinko Kikuchi’s Mako Mori, Pentecost’s adoptive daughter, and Charlie Hunnam’s Raleigh Becket.

No release date for the “Pacific Rim” sequel have been confirmed yet, but we’ll be updating this post with more information as soon as details become available.


#TheChroniclesOfNarnia: “Captain America” Director Joe Johnston To Helm “The Silver Chair”

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair” has finally found its director!

IGN has confirmed that Joe Johnston, the director of “Captain America: The First Avenger”, will helm the upcoming fantasy novel-turned-movie.

David Magee (of “Life of Pi” and “Finding Neverland” fame) will be adapting the script, while Mark Gordon, C.S. Lewis’ stepson Douglas Gresham, Vincent Sieber, and Melvin Adams are on as producers.

In speaking about Johnston, Gordon has nothing but praise for the director. He said, “Joe is a wonderful storyteller who is equally at home in the biggest franchises and the most intimate character pieces. Because C.S. Lewis’ story is iconic and epic, but also tender, personal, and emotional, he’s the perfect choice to bring ‘The Silver Chair’ to the screen.”

Based on C.S. Lewis’ original novel of the same name, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair” sees Eustace Scrubb, the cousin to the Pevensie children, on a journey to save the kidnapped child of Prince Caspian.

The author’s 7-novel series was first adapted for film with “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” in 2005. The highly-successful film was followed by “Prince Caspian” in 2008 and “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in 2010. The 3 films have raked in nearly USD1.6 billion worldwide.

Here’s a trailer of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” to refresh your memory:

It was previously reported that The Mark Gordon Company will be resetting the franchise with a new set of cast. “It’s all going to be a brand new franchise. All original. All original character, different directors, and an entire new team that this is coming from,” he said.

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