Hype’s Pick: Local Indie Bands That You Should Look Out For

Let’s say you’re not part of a major record company, should you stay underground forever and never let the world acknowledge your talent in music? Of course not! Fame and money may not matter to you, but having a bunch of people, be it local or foreign, who appreciate your musical talent is enough to give you the real motivation to continue working for your passion.

From Arctic Monkeys to The Black Keys to CHVRCHES, many musicians began their careers on independent record labels, writing and composing their own music. However, there are no magic spells or shortcuts when it comes to building a successful music career.

These days, indie music acts are successful not just because of how great their music was, but also because of the enormous support and opportunities that were given to them. Local art and music festivals like Urbanscapes or Good Vibes Festival have always been the perfect platform for emerging artistes to expose themselves, but isn’t it time for them to shine on global stage as well?

Malaysia-based musicians like One Buck Shot and Yuna made the nation proud by creating ear-pleasing music that attracted millions of followers from all over the world. Though overseas listeners are not exposed to the local music scene in Malaysia, with all things considered, the music produced by some of the local bands have certainly caught their attention.

If you still think local music scene isn’t blossoming, well, take a look at the bands that you should look out for in the future.

Amoura may be relatively new to the local music scene, but they are no strangers to the stage.

Formed in April 2014, the young and diverse band consists of leader/bassist Wesley Wong, vocalist Carolyn Park, guitarist/backup vocalist Adrian Lim, drummer Jo-vi Pan, and guitarist Maskurnia Sayuti. Though the band was mainly inspired by artistes like Beyonce and Paramore, their genre is widely versatile as the members are in control of the sound they wanted to achieve.

They made their debut performance at the May edition of Sound Struck that was hosted by Wanted Symphony last year. They went on to perform as contestants in several acoustic competitions and as a guest for “YIQIN & DEVON – IT’S ABOUT TIME” live at Merdekarya. They were also invited to perform as feature act in various university events and most recently, they performed at one of the satellite shows for Tiger Translate 2015.

With Carolyn’s tender yet strong R&B voice, Amoura teeters between a mid-tempo and rock ballad status. It is unclear when the band will release their debut album, as they mostly perform cover songs and their original track. Titled  “니가 그립다 (Niga Guripta)”, their first original track is about family members missing each other, which perfectly illustrates the homesickness one may have while living abroad.

Not to be “mistaken” (no pun intended) with the song of the same name by American alternative rock band The Bravery, An Honest Mistake is a punk rock band that first emerged in the local music scene as a solo acoustic project in 2008. The band once consisted of 6 members but now, it only comprises of lead vocalist/guitarist Darren Teh, electric guitarist Leonard Chua, bassist Tomas Tam, and drummer Ian Ng.

The band stayed under the radar for quite a while, but that doesn’t mean they have faded from popularity. Having played at multiple music festivals in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Singapore, the band accumulated over 30, 000 fans on Facebook due to their energetic live performances. With 3 albums under their belt, the band continues to make waves in the music scene via countless gigs.

With their explosive yet melodic pop-punk music style, they were invited to perform as supporting acts for a couple of international acts like Boys Like Girls and Motion City Soundtrack. Their fun yet professional showmanship also made them one of the most likable bands in Malaysia.

Formed in 2004, Bittersweet is a 4-piece rock band with a music style heavily influenced by British-pop-rock bands like Oasis and Arctic Monkeys.

Originating from Ipoh, the band consists of guitarist/vocalist Herri, keyboardist/vocalist Emai, lead vocalist Fizan, and guitarist/vocalist Moon. Titled “A Perfect Match”, their debut album, which was released in 2006, is one of the hotly tipped records in the local music scene. They later released their 2nd album titled “Empire’s Transition” in 2011.

Despite being relatively low-profile, the band is a major mainstay in the scene due to their unique music style that comes with a hint of Brit-rock music. They amassed huge amount of fans from all around Asia after touring all around Malaysia, Jakarta, Bandung, and Singapore. They are currently gearing up for a comeback with their long-awaited 3rd album.

It shouldn’t take long for you to realise that Malaysian band Enterrpise is obsessed with the “Star Trek” franchise. Not only did they name themselves after a fictional spacecraft, their fans are also lovingly known as “Trekkies”.

Of course, you should expect no less from the band as their 1980s-style cinematic music will take you on a journey through time. French electronic music duo Daft Punk may have partially influenced their showmanship in vocals, but they’ve established themselves as a band that focuses on creating hair-raising music, combining synthpop with sci-fi references.

Although the Subang Jaya-based band is a little underrated, they’ve never failed to bring us some great indie pop music with danceable grooves at every music event. The band previously performed at huge music festivals like Urbanscapes 2014 and St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2015.

When Fazz performs, a strong wave of energy surges through our bodies. Lots of local bands are playing rock music today, but only a few resemble Fazz, an independent musical band that’s big on blues and swing music. Some may say they’re like a modern-day vaudeville band, but they play a strong blend of musical pop and swing.

The 4-piece band consists of vocalist Kevin Michael, keyboardist Grace Cho, electric double bassist Raja Farouque, and drummer Jone Yeoh. Kevin has a voice so mesmerising that it’s almost chilling. Their original track, “That’s Life”, was awarded “Best Song Composition” in the Sonica Song Composing Competition 2012, which was held in Hard Rock Cafe KL. They were crowned champion for the first “Diamond in the Rough” competition in March 2013 and were later invited to perform on the Fringe Stage at the Penang Island Jazz Festival 2013.

The quartet made their debut with a 6-song disc that they often sell at their gigs and music festivals. The album is also available for purchase at Drum-Asia.

The first thing you’ll notice about our country is the excessive amount of ferns. And then we have this indie pop band that decided to name themselves “Ferns”, which will completely take your attention away from the plant so that you could focus on their music instead.

In a way, the band’s name is a metaphor, signifying that they will stay true to their roots and that Kuala Lumpur is the city that brought them together. Formed in 2006, Ferns is made up of keyboardist/vocalist Abby, bassist Adrian, guitarist Johan, vocalist/guitarist Warren, and drummer Rudy. They have been a major mainstay in the local music scene as they were named one of Rolling Stone’s “25 Best Bands on MySpace”.

Titled “On Botany”, their debut album, which was released in 2007, was one of the most talked-about albums as it earned top spots on multiple local and foreign publications. After 4 years of hiatus, the band made their triumphant return to the music scene with their 2nd album, “Fairweather Friends”. It was as if they have spent almost a decade to perfect this album, as their tunes are still as soothing as ever.

Whether you’re going to have a road trip or just driving back home, Ferns’ carefully crafted pop songs are so idyllic that they bring smiles to our faces.

Up until now, Jumero has been painted as a laid-back hero of the independent music scene. The band boasts the kind of chill persona that one might think that their songs are almost perplexingly simple if you’re unfamiliar with their laid-back aesthetic.

Jumero consists of drummer Ryan David Gomes and brothers Jared and Michael Lim. After winning The Star R.AGE open-mic competition, the acoustic trio made their debut at one of the most celebrated music festivals in Malaysia – Urbanscapes. They went on to play several gigs and perform at multiple music festivals like Island Music Festival 2013, Indie PG 2013, Urbanscapes 2014, and Guinness Amplify 2014.

As an independent band, Jumero their forthcoming debut album entirely on their own. However, they don’t refrain themselves from adding their personal touch to some of their covered tracks too.

There probably won’t be another band that can stay on the radar as long as Kyoto Protocol. Yet this is the band that signifies that the local music scene is not dead, as their energetic showmanship constantly proves that they have this undeniable appeal.

They may not be the band that posses eternal appeal, but their music will certainly cross generations with remarkable ease. In fact, Kyoto Protocol may indeed be the gifted band that will become part of our collective consciousness. When the 5-piece act first started, they would play cover songs for 3 hours a night in bars. In less than a decade, they became one of the most successful bands in the local music scene, with multiple albums and an award nomination under the belt.

After performing as the opening act for the likes of MGMT and We The Kings, the band had their first nationwide tour for their latest album, “Catch These Man”, in February this year.

One must be living under the rock if they’ve never heard of Paperplane Pursuit. The independent electropop group has been everywhere lately, as their addictive, sing-along tracks are constantly playing on the radio. Even those who don’t recognise their name have likely seen them at the latest live music event.

Formed in 1998, the band was initially named “Stop Sunday”. They then changed it to “SilenceScream” and managed to release their debut single “Unspoken”, with the help from local R&B singer-songwriter Reshmonu. However, they were forced to go on a hiatus as frontman John Oommen reportedly had a near-death assault. While they weren’t performing, they worked hard on producing their self-titled debut album, which was eventually released in 2007.

By 2015, they already had 3 albums under their belt, with “Higher” being their latest and also the most well-received album to date. Their song, “Beat of Your Love”, a collaboration with Darren Ashley, also shot them to fame.

KL-based duo Pastel Lite is known for their unique music flavour, as their synth pop sound such as “Gold” and “Underdog” are downright infectious. They are one of the first few bands that lead the experimental synth-pop movement in our local music scene, bringing us the hair-raising, intoxicating beats.

The band comprises of vocalist Eff Hakim and multi-instrumentalist Mohd Faliq. They met through Facebook in 2012, when a mutual friend introduced them to each other. Once they noticed that they had the same goals, they joined forces to form their current band and released a series of demos. With their rich musical background, the duo managed to strike a balance between organic and synthetic sounds for their debut album.

Having played at music events in both Malaysia and Singapore, Pastel Lite is certainly not one to be overlooked.

Stellar Dreams didn’t need much, but they certainly deserve much more recognition in the local music scene. Their music alone is enough to prove that they could be the next big thing.

Formed in 2012, the synthwave duo is made up of Iqwan Ridzuwan (Jake) teamed up with Khairil Shah. Their very first EP, which consists 4 of their original tracks, was released for free on the last day of 2012. Heavily influenced by the likes of Kavinsky and Daft Punk, their remixes have already been making waves in the European music scene. They also caught the attention of Kiez Beats, a famed German record label that featured “Nightvoid”, the band’s first single. It is a song that bears a slight resemblance to Kavinsky’s “Nightcall”, which was used in the title sequence for the Ryan Gosling-starred film, “Drive”.

Their synthwave-fused tracks can be considered as masterpieces, even though they come with a hint of 80s disco revivalism. All of their songs set their live sets nicely for a dramatic and fantastical world that they strive to create too. With support from international acts like Le Casette and Betamaxx, it seemed like they’ve already conquered the music scene on an international level.

Tenderfist has been keeping themselves rather low-profile lately, but that’s only because they are brewing some new materials for their fans, including those who have been following them since 9 years ago. Yes, time flies and they’re almost a decade old now.

It all started with a bedroom project in 2006, where Edzwan, Faiq and Nazri gathered to write and compose their own songs. Not much later, the band started to stall out as they charm listeners with their enchanting tunes. Dreamy pop tracks became their collective sound, resulting in their debut album,”This Wasted Heart”.

Their music is lively and danceable, as the lyrics are incredibly relatable. They have since received tremendous support from the local music scene and their popularity is well-documented, as they have toured across various European countries such as Germany and Finland. While quietly working on their comeback, Faiq enticed fans by releasing his solo project titled “Half-court“.

There’s little about The Impatient Sisters that suggests that they have trouble breaking out of the local music scene. Their work, usually rooted in folk pop, can range from expressive love songs to peculiar observations of the city. They skillfully crafted their melodies that are wrapped with soulful stories, with a tendency to end beautifully.

Formed in 2011, the sisters originating from Kuantan have helped folk-pop songs make the leap from underrated to something that is deeply appreciated by music enthusiasts. It’s a refreshing twist to our local music scene that is often occupied by hard-edged aggressive loud music.

Hearing their early material elicits a strong pleasant emotion that seem to take some introspection of our lives. They captivated their fans more than ever through their self-titled debut album, which was released last year. Having played at countless gigs, The Impatient Sisters were the opening act for The Jezabels and Dia Frampton.

If you listen to The Fridays’ debut album, you’ll realise that they aren’t trying to be sell outs. They aren’t trying to undersell themselves either, because it’s just the way they present themselves in modesty.

The humble Ampang-based band comprises of vocalist Acap F, bassist Yazid Beruang, keyboardist Muhammad Said, guitarist Wan Bellon, drummer/percussionist Afniaz “Kakak” Afiq, and guitarist Pak Iran Squire. The music they produced can be described as a gleeful collision of dream pop and alternative rock, quietly becoming the soundtrack of our generation.

Plenty of their songs are festival-ready bombs, and we know this because they instantly put us in good mood, which is how we want to feel at every music event. A band as talented as this one can certainly flesh out more catchy pop gems for us.

There are some bands that would leave a lasting impact on the music scene that they seem to lead a musical movement on their own. Little did we know, They Will Kill Us All (or TWKUA) is one of the bands that lead the experimental music movement here in Malaysia.

All thanks to this 5-piece indie rock band based in Kuala Lumpur, experimental music is very much alive and no longer considered the underground musical movement. The band consists of Edwin Raj, David Leong, Amir Shazlan, Ihsan Ariffin, and Herwandi Saat. TWKUA was established in 2003 as a weekend project between best friends Edwin and David. By 2005, they recruited the key members for the band and started working on “Secret Episodes”,  their first EP which was later released in 2008.

Despite the departure of founding singer Hafizul Azim and 2nd vocalist Sharon Chong, the band survived the breakup and reemerged in the music scene with Edwin taking over the role of lead singer. They went to release their 2nd full-length album, “Vulture”, which consists of 15 self-written songs. Most recently, they debuted “Procession”, their latest single which went on to prove they are the one of the finest indie-rock bands in Malaysia.

It’s almost hard to believe that Free Deserters is a Malaysia-based band, as their latest single “Galaxy” bears a strong resemblance to works from Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones. But it’s even harder to believe that they may no longer perform together, as leader Zack Yusof (of BFM 89.9’s “33rpm” fame) cited his involvement in new musical projects as the reason for his departure.

The psychedelic rock band, which made their debut in 2006, have recorded tonnes of albums, singles, and EPs. Over the past 8 years, they have played at both local and international gigs, proving that their music is well-received by worldwide audience.

Though they are parting ways as a band, their legacy lives. The band recently released “Crowd Control“, their 3rd and final album which can be downloaded for free.

So long, Free Deserters. Let’s hope they will make a reunion in the future, yeah?

Think we left someone out of the list? Well, just share with us in the comments box below! We can talk about them all day if you want ;)

(Sources: Red Mouse Avenues, Musician Cube)

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#SeventhSon: Trailer & Poster Released

It has happened. Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures have released the new trailer and poster for Seventh Son!

Directed by Sergei Bodrov, the action adventure stars Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Olivia Williams, Antje Traue, Djimon Hounsou and Julianne Moore. It is based on the book “The Spook’s Apprentice” (AKA “The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch”) by Joseph Delaney.

In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (played by Oscar winner Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesised hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (played by Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom.

“Seventh Son” is slated for a 6th February 2015 release.


#SYABAS: Areas In Shah Alam, Klang, & Petaling To Face Temporary Water Disruption

If you reside in Shah Alam, Klang, or Petaling, we’ve got bad news for you.

Water supply in selected areas in the aforementioned districts will be temporary disrupted due to repair works on a burst pipe. The pipe is located in Shah Alam, behind the JVC factory at Section 21.

Repair works started at 9pm yesterday (Thursday, 15th June) and is expected to take up to 48 hours. Water supply will be restored at stages after the repair works are completed.

Water aid will be sent to affected areas via water tankers. To apply for water aid, a SMS can be sent to 15300 under this format, “Tanker Name Address”.

To check the recovery status, you can visit SYABAS’ website or download their smart phone app via Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

For more details, free feel to visit their Facebook page.


Jason Mraz Reveals Three Songs In Short Film

Grammy award winner Jason Mraz’s latest album, Yes! is set for release on July 15th and to build up the hype for his album drop, he surprises fans with a short film, We Can Take The Long Way. Directed by Jeff Nicholas and Jonathan Craven, the short film features three songs from the album.

The short film which focuses on love and life makes for the perfect film to be watched with loved ones as it is just oh-so-heartwarming and beautiful!

Pre-order for Yes! is now available and fans can also listen to playlist on Spotify.


6 Reasons We Love Le Petit Chef’s Marco Polo Fine Dining

What happens when you combine food with cinema, theatre and technology? 2Spicy Entertainment and Elements Kuala Lumpur have partner up to come up with a new novel experience unlike anything you’ve come across before.

Titled “Le Petit Chef: In The Footsteps Of Marco Polo”, this culinary adventure combines theatre, film, and fine dining (or fun dining) that allows your inner child to come out. Some have even dubbed this as a unique “dinner theatre for Insta-eaters”.

Using 3D table projection, diners will follow the culinary journey of “Le Petit Chef”, a small animated chef, in front of you, as he embarks on the journey of Marco Polo’s expeditions. A menu book will be placed on the table in front of you. The pages are blank but an optical illusion technique will be used to project the little chef on it.

A tiny man with a French accent will appear and introduce himself as Le Petit Chef. You’ll probably laugh when he points out that “you have a funny look on your face”. Be amazed as he moves around the table, flipped some pages and virtually cook for you. The best part is? You don’t even need special glasses to see him.

Taking off from his home town of Marseille, diners will get to follow Le Petit Chef as he travels across 5 different regions. Marco Polo’s journey is so well known as he’s journeyed to various exotic locations that are famous for their food and spices.

As we follow him from France to Arabian and Indian markets, up Mount Everest (Himalaya) and across to China, be prepared to engage in a 5 senses spectacle with its sights, sounds, and aromas. Look out for birds, boats, and fire-breathing dragons to fly over your plates during this immersive experience.

Of course, foodies will want to know – are the food served up to par? It’s not everyday we get to experience 5 very different traditional cuisines at one go and immerse in their culture. Naturally, there are bound to be favourites. Ours were the Middle Eastern set and the final dessert.

The Marco Polo menu is divided into 3 packages. They include:

The Journey Begins
– Pacific oyster, oyster cream, cucumber jelly, caviar
– Fourme d’Ambert, toasted walnut brioche, honeycomb

Middle Eastern
– Charcoal roasted beetroot, chickpea hummus, parsley, feta cheese
– Marinated lamb, shallots, pomegranate, yoghurt dip
– Lebanese onion, raisins, smoked duck, hazelnut

India
– Rasam, green lentil, mint leaf, deep fried sweet neem leaves
– Polos salmon, green pea masala, curry leaf, spicy shallot
– Rice Idli, tikka chutney, kurkuri bhindi, salted chili

Himalayan
NO2 raspberry sorbet, kaffir lime soda, mint jelly

China
Corn fed chicken, monkey ear mushroom, candied ginger, mushroom foam, baby leek, flat rice noodle

France
Tonka crème brulee, chocolate mousse, blackberry, freeze dried orange

Proving that “Le Petit Chef: In The Footsteps Of Marco Polo” is a family affair, parents are also encourage to bring their kids along and experience this together as a family. According to their website, the minimum age to experience Marco Polo is 6 years old.

What we enjoyed about this dining experience is the social interaction throughout the 90-minute event. In between courses, diners are encourage to interact with one another while they watch the tiny chef travel across the globe on your table.

“We think the timing to launch this is perfect, as we are 3 months away from Visit Malaysia 2020. This product will set the excitement for our other upcoming experiences, which will also be the first of its kind in Malaysia,” said Arvin Randahwa, CEO of 2Spicy Entertainment.

The details to “Le Petit Chef: In The Footsteps Of Marco Polo” are as follows:

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Mila Kunis Crowned Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire

And this years Sexiest Woman Alive award goes to (cue epic drum roll)

She used to be the 15-year-old teenager in “That 70s Show”, but now Mila Kunis is the “Sexiest Woman Alive”, as crowned by Esquire magazine replacing the title from last year’s winner our very own miss RiRi (Rihanna). Mila Kunis graces on the cover of Esquire magazine showing off that sexy back of hers wearing nothing but a pair of black leather skinny pants.

From TV sitcom to the silver screen, Kunis had successfully made her transition well. Her performance as Lily in “Black Swan” gained her worldwide awards, including receiving the Premio Marcello Mastroianni for “Best Young Actor or Actress” at the 67th Venice International Film Festival, and nominations for a Golden Globe Award for “Best Supporting Actress” and a Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor” in a Supporting Role.

Watch this sexy video of Mila for Esquire :-

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

Mila now replaces Rihanna as Esquire’s sexiest woman alive. Former beauties owning that excellence have included


(UPDATE) Hello Kitty & Friends Are Coming To Malaysia For Our Sanrio Times Exhibition

Get ready to meet global icon Hello Kitty and all of her friends from Sanrio in Malaysia for Our Sanrio Times exhibition this coming school holiday from 24th November 2018 to 6th January 2019 at Quill City Mall, Kuala Lumpur!

The 1,500 sqm large exhibition features 13 Sanrio-themed zones where visitors can view and take photos of the 100 out of 400 adorable Sanrio characters in a variety of colourful settings, offering a visual experience like never before.

Set to be the largest exhibition of its kind in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, Our Sanrio Times – Kuala Lumpur will not only be an attraction to families and the little ones, but also to those who are young-at-heart, enabling them to relive their memories while capturing new ones.

Here are the 13 exciting zones at Our Sanrio Times – Kuala Lumpur

The main entrance to the adorable Sanrio world is decorated in Sanrio’s adorable and colourful style, depicting the main theme of the exhibition and officially unveiling the memorable journey for every generation of Sanrio fans.

An array of 100 Sanrio family members created from 1960s until now are vividly illustrated on the wall. Through the Sanrio Time Tunnel, Sanrio lovers can go down the memory lane and remember all the unique Sanrio characters they grew up with.

The replica of Hello Kitty coin purse, the 1st ever Sanrio’s merchandise, will be on display at the exhibition.

This zone features a giant Hello Kitty plush toy as tall as 3.5 meter and over 2,000 plushies of Sanrio characters including My Melody, Badtz-Maru, Pekkle, Kiki & Lala, Gudetama and more.

Relive your childhood moments by mixing and matching various outfits on Kiki & Lala paper dolls with the twins’ fantastic paper wardrobes.

Check out a range of Sanrio classic and vintage stationary items from 1970s and 1980s at this unique zone.

Designers in charge of Sanrio are invited to engage with audience in this exhibition. The designers will provide hand sketch demonstration for 9 main Sanrio characters. In the classroom, fans will be able to witness how the Sanrio characters are drawn step by step.

Get your loved ones some the most adorable small gifts from Sanrio and see the big smiles on their faces!

Get your hands on some exclusive Sanrio merchandise by shopping at Sanrio Gift Gate and share them with your friends and family!

The Sanrio village is the key focus of the exhibition. A classical design of Sanrio Train which imitates Sanrio Gift Gate of Gotanda at Tokyo in 1970s. 100 members of Sanrio family will appear in this village, for example, Patty & Jimmy and Minna no Tabo will be waiting for fans to board the train.

Published by Sanrio Japan since October 1974, Strawberry News is a global monthly magazine that shares the latest update and information of Sanrio.

The primogenitor and soul of Sanrio which hides plenty of Sanrio secrets! Can you uncover it?

This enchanting photo booth gives visitors the chance to grace the cover of Strawberry News!

Ticketing details to Our Sanrio Times Kuala Lumpur Exhibition are as follow:-

For more info, log on to oursanriotimes.my.

Our Sanrio Times Exhibition period has been extended to 17th February 2019 due to popular demand by members of public. During this festive month until 1st January 2019, free cash voucher and cookies will be given away with every 4 tickets purchased.

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Coachella 2012: Celebs Spotted On Weekend 1

We can’t be there physically so we’ve been streaming Coachella 2012 live via their official YouTube channel. What? You mean you haven’t? Then you’re missing out because it’s the closest you can get!

Here’s the 411 (before you question what exactly are we raving about): The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual three-day music and arts festival by Goldenvoice. We’re talking a live showcase of a plethora of music genres from rock to indie, to hiphop and EDM, spread across a few main stages.

But this year, Goldenvoice announced that due to great demands, Coachella 2012 will be held over two separate weekends, the 13th of April to the 15th of April weekend and the 20th of April to the 22nd of April weekend.

Oh my gosh! Hold us from fainting please.

Amazing acts and a wonderful explosion of music aside, some A-list celebs were spotted livin’ it up at this year’s first weekend event. Sure, it takes place in a Californian and it gets really hot and all. But hey, even celebs have their own fangirl/fanboy moments.

And trust the internet to have them up so quickly because, uh, some of them weren’t spotted in the live YouTube streams.

It always worries us when Lindsay is photographed by the paps looking like that, or walking into a courtroom, or smoking something that looks questionable, or trying to hide behind a TRANSPARENT umbrella. Haha!

Okay, okay. All jokes aside, we really wish we were there. Sigh.

For more information, visit Coachella’s website. Or get live, minute-by-minute updates via their Twitter account.


La Traviata: Opera. In English!

Over the last five years, the Merry Opera has staged 200 performances, reaching an audience of over 20,000 people across southern England, Greater and Central London. The company has trained – and paid – over 80 performers and production personnel under the tutelage of stage and music directors of international standing. This year, they’re touring “La Traviata“.

In the cultural melting-pot of London’s galleries, clubs and cafés, burlesque artiste Violetta is the reigning queen, adored by everyone from barristers to baristas. But she’s hiding a fearful secret. When she unexpectedly and unconditionally falls for young city trader Al, neither has any idea where it might lead, especially since Al harbours a secret too…

“…beyond the fact that it was good fun, it was also surprisingly affecting” – The Daily Telegraph.

The Merry Opera Company aims to widen the appeal of opera by staging professional shows in modern English to be appreciated by audiences more accustomed to musical theatre, while staying true to the core of the original.

Next month, Gardner & Wife Theatre presents the UK’s Merry Opera Company’s critically-acclaimed production of “La Traviata”, complete with a witty English libretto and a refreshing stage setting with a multi-cultural cast.

Date: 27th November (Tuesday) till 9th December (Sunday)

To purchase tickets online, click! Otherwise, call +6017-2BUY-TIX (+6017-2-289-849). Online packages are also available at Gardner & Wife Theatre’s website.

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#YourNutella: Nutella Malaysia Spreads The Love With Personalised Jars

“What’s in a name? That which we call Nutella, by any other name would taste as yummy.”

We all have different ways and means of enjoying our Nutella. Whether you spread yours on pancakes, enjoy it with fresh fruit, have it on toast, or eat it on its own, there are many ways to make Nutella your own. But now, you can take it to the next level with your very own personalised name label for yourself, your family, a friend, or a special someone!

That’s right. Nutella has a new name. Yours. All you need to do is fill in the blanks, and we know just the place where you can do it :)

Fresh from the successes of #YourNutella in both Singapore, Europe, and the Middle East, the campaign aims to get people to share their stories through the @NutellaSEA Instagram handle and the #YourNutella hashtag.

On 9th March, Nutella Malaysia is launching #YourNutella in Malaysia, to thank you for your support of the yummy hazelnut cocoa spread and also, allow you to customise your own jar. You know what this means, right? It’s bragging rights plus no pesky sibling, colleague, or housemate will be able to steal your Nutella and get away with it anymore, not when it has your name on it! Plus, it’d also make for a nice surprise for a fellow Nutella fan that you know, don’t you think so? ;)

All you need to do is purchase a jar of 350g Nutella at RM15.90 and have your jar personalised at the #YourNutella factory onsite.

The #YourNutella launch in Malaysia will be held at One Utama Shopping Centre in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya from 9th March (1pm onwards) to 13th March. Fans will be able to take part in a variety of fun activities on top of snagging their very own personalised Nutella jar on the spot so be sure to drop by!

BONUS: From mid-April to the end of May, participating supermarkets and hypermarkets will also carry the name label standees, with selected stores running promotional events for fans to get their own name labels. The list of stores can be found on the official website.

For more information, hit up Nutella Malaysia’s Facebook page or the event page.


#xXx: Vin Diesel Teases Third “xXx” Movie; Says Filming To Start In December

Vin Diesel announced on Instagram that he is returning to reprise his “XXX” role in a third movie, with filming to start in December. Diesel’s post on Instagram was accompanied by the caption:

“While I was filming XXX, guys on set called me Air Diesel… The time to return has come. Filming starts December in the Philippines.”

While I was filming XXX, guys on set called me Air Diesel… The time to return has come. Filming starts December in the Philippines. #ILiveForThisShit

A photo posted by Vin Diesel (@vindiesel) on Aug 23, 2015 at 1:36pm PDT

The “Fast & Furious” actor originally appeared as the extreme-athlete-turned-government-agent in the 2002 film, which also starred Samuel L. Jackson and Asia Argento. Diesel was originally signed on for the 2005 sequel, “XXX: State of the Union”, but dropped out. His departure led to Ice Cube taking on the lead role as another agent in the XXX program.

Rumours about a third “XXX” supposedly titled “The Return Of Xander Cage” with Diesel has been going on for years. As of now, no further details has been released so stay tuned as we will continue to update this post when news roll in.

Diesel’s next film is “The Last Witch Hunter”, which will hit theatres on October 23rd.

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


Is Kuala Terengganu’s Crystal Mosque Now Abandoned?

Malaysia has some of the most magnificent architectures in the world. Unfortunately, many have been left abandoned and unmaintained.

All these abandoned architectural sites are often brought up after a few years by netizens, just like the MAPS Theme Park in Ipoh. This time around, the Crystal Mosque in Terengganu has been making rounds on social media.

Save the best for last. Petang tadi punya sunset pun cantik betul 🥺

📍The Abandoned Mosque, Masjid Kristal Terengganu. pic.twitter.com/dwu4d3OCvE

— i'mISKNDR (@aazmeeriskndr) January 13, 2022

Recently, a Twitter user, Aazmeer (@aazmeeriskndr) posted a picture of the used-to-be-famous Crystal Mosque in Terengganu that is now apparently abandoned. The picture was an aerial view of the mosque with a majestic golden sunset overlooking it. Despite looking untended and rusted in some parts, it was still picturesque, especially the crystal domes.

He captioned the picture with “Save the best for last. The sunset earlier this evening was as beautiful. The Abandoned Mosque, Masjid Kristal Terengganu.” The tweet has since gained netizens’ attention. Some said it’s not really abandoned, but just under renovation; while some stated that it has been years since the renovation sign was put up.

The Crystal Mosque was constructed somewhere between 2006 and 2008 but was said to only be temporarily closed down for renovation. This was almost half a decade ago in 2017. The reason being? There were reportedly leaks from the roofs and the repair cost was too high, hence the repair postponement.

What a shame that such a picturesque spot had to be closed down. We hope the government will quit abandoning sites; start investing in repairing and maintaining rather than building new ones every few years.

Short cinematic video pic.twitter.com/KJgXA6QCDh


Contest: You Better Be Good, For We Have #Krampus Premiere Screening Passes

Santa Claus will be coming to town soon and he’s gonna check his list twice to find out who’s naughty or nice.

We certainly hope if you’ve been good because if you have been really naughty, Krampus the child-eating demon will punish you for the lack of holiday spirit.

This December, be prepared to face your worst nightmare through Legendary Pictures’ upcoming holiday horror movie, “Krampus“.

Best known for his 2007 horror film “Trick ‘r Treat”, director Michael Dougherty is helming this movie based on a screenplay co-written by Zach Shields, Todd Casey and Dougherty himself. Alex Garcia serves as the producer alongside Dougherty and Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni.

For “Krampus”, Dougherty took his inspiration from the look and character of horned figures through some postcards and illustrations that he retrieved over the years. His take on Krampus is that the creature is not just “judge, jury and executioner”, but also the “shadow” of Santa.

Emjay Anthonhy (of “Chef” fame) is starring in this movie as young Max, who has reached the age where he clings to the idea of Santa.

However, he is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas when his fractured family clashes over the holidays. The lack of festive spirit in Max’s family unleashes the wrath of Krampus, a horned-and-hooved anthropomorphic figure that punishes non-believers every Christmas.

All hell breaks loose as Krampus and his mischievous helpers lay siege to the dysfunctional family’s home, forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

All thanks to our friends from United International Pictures Malaysia, we’re going to embrace the Christmas spirit and give away exclusive premiere screening passes for “Krampus”.

Deets of the premiere screening are as follows:

To win the passes, all you gotta do is tell us:

E-mail your answers with your details (Name, IC, Contact number) to submit@hype.my. Each winner walks away with 4 tickets per person!

There are limited tickets and this will be based on a first-come-first-serve basis so go on and start sending in those e-mails. The faster your are, the higher your chances will be.

Slated for release on 3rd December 2015, “Krampus” also stars Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Lavie Owen, and Krista Stadler.

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

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#TheLionKing: Director Jon Favreau Wants Beyoncé To Voice Nala

Queen Bey as Nala in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of “The Lion King”? Hell yeah!

According to Variety, Beyoncé is director Jon Favreau’s (of “The Jungle Book” fame) first choice to voice the film’s lead lioness. However, sources added that the Grammy-winning songstress has yet to make a decision as she is pregnant with twins.

But it seems like Favreau will do whatever it takes to get Beyoncé on board. Sources also said that he’ll even shift her voice recording sessions according to her schedule.

If she agrees to voice Nala, this would mark her first film role since lending her voice Fox’s “Epic” in 2013. Beyoncé’s other movie credits include “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002), “Obsessed” (2006), “Dreamgirls” (2009).

Disney’s “The Lion King” was originally released in 1994 and is one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time (it grossed USD968.5 million worldwide!). The upcoming live-action adaption will star Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino (of “Atlanta” fame) as Simba. Moreover, James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the 1994 animated classic, will reprise his role as Simba’s father.

Other Disney’s live-action adaption include “Alice in Wonderland” (2010), “Maleficent” (2014), “Cinderella” (2015), “The Jungle Book” (2016), and “Beauty and the Beast” (2017). It was also reported that the studio is also planning to remake “Mulan”, “Aladdin”, “Sword in the Stone”, and “The Little Mermaid”.

Sources: Coming Soon, Variety, Screen Rant.


(Photos) Grey V Cafe: Eat Behind Bars In Malaysia’s First Prison-Themed Cafe

Are you a fan of horror movies? Or do you just simply love the thrill of getting spooked out? Or maybe you just want a unique dining experience surrounded by skeletons and fake blood.

If you’re always on the search for the next place to creep you out, and maybe somewhere out of the norm, we’ve got just the place for you. This venue is apparently the first prison-themed cafe in Malaysia.

If you’ve never stepped foot into a jail, perhaps the next best thing would be the jail themed cafe in Subang Jaya, Grey V Cafe. You might have always heard about anime cafes, and all sorts of nice themes used for a cafe, but a macabre themed doesn’t come by very often. Both the decors and the food make this cafe a must-visit!

The dark ambience of this cafe accompanied by the chains donning the ceilings and statues’ torsos pinned on the wall do not only increase the aesthetic value of the cafe, but will also gives you goosebumps while you’re there. There’s also mannequins being tied up, and the murals do excude some sort of purgatory/jail vibes. And to complete the whole jail aesthetic, you can even take your own mugshot with Mr. Skeleton there.

In addition to the whole look, they also have a wide variety of meals and snacks that you can choose from. When we say a wide variety, we mean it because they have a hundred items on their menu that you can try! From their three course meals, to light snacks and even creative eccentric mocktails.

However, if the wide array of menu is making it hard for you to choose, then we have a few recommendations for you. If you want to go on the healthier side, opt for the Pesto Chicken Rice Box. But, if you would want something spicy with a burst of flavour in your mouth, order the Gochujang Chicken Burger (made with their in-house Gochujang sauce). The Black Truffle Pasta and Seafood Aglio Olio are also popular among diners.

So, would you go to dine in purgatory-esque jail?


#SISTAR: K-Pop Girl Group To Make Comeback In June

The queens of summer are coming back! According to Soompi, SISTAR (씨스타) will be releasing a new album this June.

In a statement, the girls’ label, Starship Entertainment, said, “SISTAR is preparing for their new album, aiming for a June comeback. The exact release date and album details are still in discussion.”

Yonhap News also confirmed that the sexy K-Pop idol group is currently working with producing team Black Eyed Pilseung, the duo behind SISTAR’s hit songs including “Touch My Body” and “I Like That”. This would mark the girls’ first release since “Insane Love” (몰아애), which was dropped last June.

During a recent episode of MBC’s “Section TV Entertainment Relay”, Hyorin hinted a group comeback. She said, “Summer is almost here, and you can count on SISTAR’s return.”

After the released of “Insane Love”, the members focused on individual activities. While Dasom appeared in SBS series “Sister Is Alive”, Soyou participated in OST projects for hit K-Dramas like “Love in the Moonlight” and “Goblin”. She recently dropped a duet, titled “Rain”, with EXO’s Baekhyun.

On the other hand, Hyorin released her solo album “It’s Me” in November. Last month, rapper Changmo and Hyorin released their collaboration “Blue Moon”.

Excited for SISTAR’s comeback? Stay tuned to their official website and Facebook page for more details!

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#Singapore: All Gong Cha Outlets Now Rebranded As LiHo

Taiwanese bubble tea franchise Gong Cha has officially been replaced by homegrown tea brand LiHo in Singapore.

Rodney Tang, the found of RTG holdings – responsible for introducing Gong Cha to Singaporeans in 2009, decided on the big change after finding out that Gong Cha’s parent company (Royal Tea Taiwan) had sold their franchise to Gong Cha Korea.

So why the name LiHo, you ask? In Hokkien, Li Ho means “Are you doing well?” or “How are you?”. Along with the change in raw ingredients and tea suppliers, LiHo will be introducing bubble tea lovers to cheese teas and smoothies in their new menu.

When asked what will set LiHo apart from Gong Cha, Tang replied, “Tea is tea – there is only so much I can do to make it different.” By adding traditional teas with cheese, it’ll out the lightness and slight bitterness of the drink.

Among the flavours are Cheese Guan Yin, Honey Milk Tea with cheese, Cheese Yam Smoothie with custard pudding, and Hot Cheese Jing Syuan Tea.

Come 5th June, all 84 outlets in Singapore will be replaced with the brand LiHo. Rest assured Malaysians, since Gong Cha Malaysia is owned by someone else, we don’t see the franchise here being affected by the change in Singapore.

Feel free to check out LiHo’s new Facebook page and Instagram account.

Sources: AsiaOne(1)(2), The Straits Times, Goody Feed.


APINK Returning To Kuala Lumpur For 2018 Asia Tour

Rejoice Pink Pandas (as fans are lovingly known) cause APINK (에이핑크) will be bringing their 2018 Asia Tour to Malaysia.

The K-pop girl group – Park Cho-rong, Yoon Bo-mi, Jung Eun-ji, Son Na-eun, Kim Nam-joo and Oh Ha-young – were here for 2017’s K-Wave Music Festival. The music event took place at Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach in last August. Y’all stoked to see them again?

APINK recently announced that they will be making their comeback with the group’s 7th mini album, titled “One & Six”. The 6-track album, which includes songs like “Alright”, “Don’t Be Silly”, “I’m So Sick”, “I Like That Kiss”, will debut on 2nd July 2018 (Monday). Individual teaser images have also been gradually unveiled.

As at time of writing, only 2 countries have been included in APINK’s Asia Tour. The K-pop girls will be stopping by Hong Kong on 11th August before visiting Kuala Lumpur on 9th September. Fret not if you’re living in other parts of Southeast Asia as more dates will be announced soon.

The details to APINK’s “Live in Malaysia” are as follows:

For the full ticketing details and seating plan, go here.


Hype’s Now Playing: Hardwell & Afrojack – Hollywood

Finally, Dutch dance music heavyweights Hardwell and Afrojack have released their long-awaited collaboration, “Hollywood”.

After offering up the massive “Blackout” as a free download earlier this month, Hardwell now returns with fellow Dutch megastar Afrojack for their hotly anticipated collaboration. With both artistes representing the current cream of the dance music crop, it is fitting that the “Hollywood” is audibly a cut above most other current releases, with their combined studio skills coming together to form the year’s first true banger.

Frantically alternating from bona-fide dancefloor filler to exotic hip shaker, the track brings together an eastern music vibe with typically huge Hardwell beats, and the big room attitude Afrojack is synonymous with. “Hollywood” represents these artistes at the top of their respective games, their complementing attitudes towards dance music synergising to form a track that encapsulates the best of both Hardwell’s euphoric big room sound and Afrojack’s energetic rhythms.

Through the combined might of Hardwell and Afrojack, undoubtedly 2 of the biggest DJs in the world, “Hollywood” has become the track to top in 2016, a highly charged and immaculately produced big room anthem that will be a staple of sets worldwide come summer.

“Hollywood” is out now and available on Beatport via Revealed Recordings!

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#SarawakBlackout: Double Circuit Trip Causes Major Power Outage In Sarawak

A power outage occurred in large parts of Sarawak, East Malaysia a couple of hours ago, leaving the affected areas in near darkness for about 2 hours.

Kuching and Sibu, as well as rural areas like Lundu, Bau, and Sarikei all reported blackouts. However, there were no reports of power disruptions in Miri. Twitterjaya was in a frenzy for a couple of hours with users taking to the social media platform to confirm the outage, with some saying that even their mobile coverage was affected:

Blackout and no coverage for one hour. What happen to Kuching?

— Bad A. Rm 💍 (@Su_B_Adron) January 23, 2016

I guess Kuching is not welcoming me here. Blackout and no coverage for celcom until just now. @… https://t.co/2TBYEQBqBu

Blackouts hit Kuching, Sibu and other parts of Sarawak https://t.co/NS31dSYacp pic.twitter.com/SgABHFNcw4

— MiriCommunity.net (@miricom) January 23, 2016

About an hour ago, RTM Sarawak posted up an official statement from Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) with regards to the incident.

SEB explained that power supply to parts of Sibu was restored within half an hour, Kuching within an hour, and the majority of the remaining affected areas within 2 hours. They added that the incident was caused by a double circuit trip and that their technical team is currently focusing all its efforts on addressing the issue.

“To improve overall system reliability, Sarawak Energy is constructing the 500kV Transmission Backbone from Bintulu to Kuching which is expected to be completed by mid-2016,” they added.

According to The Star Online, the last time a Kuching to Sibu blackout occurred was last November. That incident occurred around noon lasting until late afternoon.

Sources: The Star Online (1), RTM Sarawak’s Facebook page, The Star Online (2).


MyBalloonFiesta 2020: Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Returns To Putrajaya In March

Update (6th March): MyBalloonFiesta 2020 has officially been postponed. Those who have purchased tickets may proceed with the refund here.

Ready to experience the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta all over again? MyBalloonFiesta is set to return to Putrajaya in March 2020.

For the 11th year, visitors will get to experience free flying and tethered balloon rides. Plus, there will also be a balloon display with various special shaped balloons.

This time around, you can look forward to hot air balloons coming from more than 10 different countries. They include Brazil, United Kingdom, United States of America, Italy, Japan, Spain, Thailand, Canada, France, Taiwan, and of course, our very own country Malaysia.

For the uninitiated, you’ll get to witness up close how hot air balloons are set up and inflated at MyBalloonFiesta. It’s also a sight to behold when numerous hot air balloons take off into the sky. Let’s face it, your experience wouldn’t be complete without riding on a hot air balloon as it floats 60 feet above Putrajaya.

A post shared by MYBALLOONFIESTA (@myballoonfiesta)

The details to MyBalloonFiesta 2020 are as follows:

Entrance to the event is free and tickets are available for a variety of access as follows:
1) Tethered Balloon Ride
2) Launching Field Access
3) Night Glow Access

Tickets will go on sale from 27th December 2019 onwards at early bird rates. For great offers, don’t miss the early bird period and be sure to get all that you need. Do note that early bird promotion is from 27th to 29th December 2019.

For more information, visit their official website here.

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#Travel: Experience A Splashing Good Time At These White Water Rafting Spots In Malaysia

Calling all adrenaline junkies and nature lovers, do you have a thirst for adventure? What are you waiting for? Strap on your life vests and helmets and get ready to conquer some turbulent rapids.

White water rafting has been increasing in popularity over the years, and lucky for you, Malaysia is blessed with many fine rivers that cater to this water sport. Some rivers will take you through Orang Asli (aborigines) settlements while others will flow past limestone caves and prehistoric archaeological sites.

Of course, white water rafting is no easy feat. This thrilling adventure can also be dangerous and among the common injuries include getting hit by a paddle, dislocating a shoulder, foot entrapment, and sustaining cuts. As such, all white water is graded using an international system.

The following grades range from safe to life threatening:

Don’t know where to go white water rafting in Malaysia? You’ve come to the right place as we’ve listed down some of the best rafting spots in our country.

As mostly class 1 or 2 rapids with only 1 class 3 rapid, Jeram Besu (Besu Rapids) is an excellent introduction to white water as it is suitable for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. Located on Sungai Lipis, Jeram Besu is roughly 6km from the town of Benta. The run here is shorter than most rivers, so it’s best to combine your trip with fun outdoor activities such as flying fox, 4-wheel drive adventure, and caving.

If you’re interested, there’s also the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary (National Elephant Conservation Centre) nearby. You and your family can feed, bathe, and safely ride on elephants while you’re there.

Located in one of the world’s oldest Tropical Rainforest, Taman Negara National Park, visitors will need to take a boat to Sungai Tembeling. The excitement will be on the river but take a moment to admire the scenic view of the surroundings. While you’re in the area, sign up for a visit to the Orang Asli villages, or canopy tours and jungle trekking.

Sungai Padas has been hailed as Sabah’s most popular rafting destination. Located in the interior of the southwestern part of Kota Kinabalu, the adrenaline rush excursion covers a distance of 9km of this 200km-long river. It holds 7 exciting and tough rapids that has amusing names such as Headhunter, Scooby Doo, and Merry-Go-Round. Do note that this class 3-4 rafting is physically challenging and hardcore. For those who want something safer, we recommend 2 other locations in Sabah – Kota Kinabalu’s Sungai Kiulu or Ranau’s Sungai Liwagu.

Unlike many other rivers, the water source comes straight from the mountains, which makes it more predictable for organisers to plan white water rafting activities. The river in Gopeng provides a fantastic introduction for beginners to enjoy the serene beauty of a gentle paddle through lush rainforest. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the location from Ipoh.

For KL-ites who don’t want to travel too far to experience a splashing good time, Kuala Kubu Bharu is just a mere 1-hour drive away from the city. There are at least 10 sets of rapids throughout the duration of the rafting run. Passengers will be instructed by guides on what to do. Don’t worry, the simple instructions mostly consist of forward and backward paddle.

Those visiting Kuala Kubu Bharu town can also enroute to other nature destinations such as Chilling Waterfall, Frasers Hill, and Raub.

If you’re interested in exploring Malaysia’s richest archaeological caves, then Gua Musang is the place to be. The river here in Ulu Kelantan will take you through virgin jungles and some historical caves (namely Gua Cha, Gua Chawan, and Gua Jaya). Since the only route to the caves is by river, it has been relatively left undisturbed.

A package deal would include checking out these caves, wildlife, and a visit to the Orang Asli village in addition to rafting.

Sungai Sedim is located in the Gunung Inas Nature Reserve, Sedim Recreation Park, which is also near Karangan town. In case you didn’t know, the river is the only location in the north-west states that allow people to carry out white water rafting and kayaking. There are up to 24 rapids within a 16km run, so prepare yourself for some major excitement!

If you’re still interested to explore this lush rainforest, there are more spectacular activities to try out. Mountain trekking, nature walk, bird spotting, paintball, and flying fox are available. Alternatively, you could take part in the longest Tree Top Walk in the world, which stands at 925m.

Situated approximately 80 minutes from Cherating and 60 minutes from Awana Kijal Resort, Hulu Dungun’s Sungai Loh offers customised activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Step into the unspoiled Bumbung Raja Nature Reserve and you’ll be surrounded by nature sights and wildlife sounds.

Aside from riding some wild rapids, visitors will get to explore the Big Cengal Tree. It has a diameter of 16.35 meters, about 13 persons grasping hand to hand circling the tree. We can already imagine ourselves hugging the giant tree together and doing a kumbaya.

Sources: IRoamingHoliday, Malaysia Truly Asia, Impressions, Whoa Adventures (1)(2)(3)(4)(5).

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Dom Pérignon: The Release Of Second Plénitude (P2-1998)

Undeniably the most famous champagne on earth,Dom Pérignon, is one of the most prestigious wine of any kind. The brand’s label and bottle design have been icons for the longest time, and during this whole period, very little about Dom Pérignon has changed. Until now, that is.

Dom Pérignon celebrated the global reveal of P2-1998 in breathtaking Iceland by way of a special event that showcased the spirits of its Second Plénitude in the presence of Chef de Cave, Richard Geoffroy.

The launch of Dom Pérignon P2 in the beautiful and mineral landscape of Iceland was truly a spectacular event, during which guests from across the globe had the timeless experience discovering both the country and the wine from Hautvillers.

A land like no other, Iceland, was an obvious and perfect choice as the location for the launch of Dom Pérignon P2 to illustrate energy at its peak. P2, the Second Plénitude of Dom Pérignon, is an intense, detailed and vibrant facet of the wine, similar to the landscapes of Iceland.

The experience unveiled Dom Pérignon’s Second Plénitude around four magical places in Iceland: Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Gígjökull glacier, Dyrhólaeyjarviti lighthouse, and a private party in a hidden place.

All four magical places gave guests an experience charged with energy that matches the personality of Dom Pérignon’s Second Plénitude.

Dom Pérignon P2-1998 will available in 75cl from March 2015 onwards. For further enquiry, please call (603) 2053 8611 or email Eric or Hazel from MHDM directly.


Oscars Nominations 2021: “Mank” Leads The Pack With 10 Nominations

The 93rd Academy Awards are set to recognise the very best of yesteryear’s cinema. Without a doubt, the pandemic has caused various changes in the film industry with multiple film delays and consistent shifts in schedules. Of course, the Academy Awards were not spared but after some major tweaking, the show is poised to make a grand return 14 months after Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” won Best Picture.

It is worthy to note that, in a year where theatres were unable to operate, streaming largely took centre stage as more and more films began releasing digitally. As such, many streamers such as “Netflix” and “Hulu” are taking the spotlight this year.

David Fincher’s “Mank” currently holds a firm lead in the front with 10 nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Cinematography. Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” ties with “Judas and The Black Messiah”, “Minari”, “The Father”, “Sound of Metal”, and “The Trial of The Chicago 7” with 6 nominations across the various categories.

So, without further ado, here is the full list of nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards:

Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”

Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Lakeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Sacha Baron Cohen, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”

Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”

“Husavik”, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”

“Fight for You”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

“Hear My Voice”, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”

“Quo Vadis, Aida”, Bosnia and Herzegovina

As the Oscars race will only get hotter from here, which of these nominees will prevail? The 93rd Academy Awards will be taking place on the 26th of April (Malaysian time), so stay tuned for more!

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(UPDATE) Hype’s Must Watch: The Hateful Eight

In a world where remakes and sequels are dominating Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino brings a breath of fresh air via his upcoming original feature film, “The Hateful Eight”.

The movie marks a continuation of Tarantino’s long-standing collaboration with the Weinstein brothers, who previously produced all of Tarantino’s films such as “Reservoir Dogs”, “Django Unchained”, and “Pulp Fiction”.

Written and directed by Tarantino, “The Hateful Eight” features a stellar cast which includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern.

The movie’s development was announced by Tarantino back in November 2013. However, the director decided to publish the script as a novel instead after it was leaked in January 2014. He changed his mind after directing a live read of the leaked script at the United Artists Theater in Los Angeles. Filming officially began earlier in January this year in Telluride, Colorado.

“The Hateful Eight”, which said to have set “6 or 8 or 12 years after the Civil War”, is about a group of 8 gun-toting outlaws who have been forced to take refuge in the same tiny shack known as Minnie’s Haberdashery due to a brutal Wyoming storm.

As seen in the trailer, bounty hunter John Ruth (played by Kurt Russell) and his fugitive Daisy (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) are on their way to the town of Red Rock when they are joined by 2 strangers: union-soldier-turned-bounty-hunter Major Marquis Warren (played by Samuel L. Jackson) and Chris Mannix, a Southern renegade who claims to be the town’s new sheriff (played by Walton Goggins).

The group is forced to seek refuge at Minnie’s Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass. At Minnie’s, they are greeted not by the proprietor but by 4 unfamiliar faces: Minnie’s temporary caretaker Bob (played by Demián Bichir), Red Rock hangman Oswaldo (played by Tim Roth), cow-puncher Joe (played by Michael Madsen) and Confederate General Sanford Smithers (played by Bruce Dern).

However, as the storm takes over Haberdashery, the 8 strangers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all.

Produced by Richard N. Gladstein, Stacey Sher and Shannon McIntosh, the film is executive produced by Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, and Georgia Kacandes. Coco Francini and William Paul Clark are associate producing while spaghetti-western legend Ennio Morricone is expected to provide an original score.

The Weinstein Company has relesed the first official trailer of Tarantino’s upcoming film, “The Hateful Eight”.

From what we’ve seen from the trailer so far, this movie is a reminiscent to “Reservoir Dogs”, which is one of Tarantino’s critically-acclaimed films.

“The Hateful Eight” is slated for release in 70mm on 25th December 2015. It will open with a digital theatrical release on 8th January 2016, while continuing to be shown in 70mm as well.

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


SNSD Girls’ Generation’s “Girls & Peace” In Malaysia!

Hello, Sones in Malaysia. Have we got a great piece of new for all y’all!

Late yesterday, JPM Music (yes, the same people who will soon be bringing TVXQ! to our shores) announced via their Facebook page that they will be bringing yet another super duper mega K-Pop idol group to Malaysia as part of their world tour:

Yup! It’s official. SM Entertainment’s K-Pop idol girl group SNSD Girls’ Generation will be coming to Malaysia on their Girls’ Generation World Tour 2013 ” Girls & Peace”. This would also mark the group’s first full concert tour in Malaysia.

However, no further details (date, time, venue, ticketing) have been announced yet, although rumour has it that the girls are due to perform in Malaysia sometime in August. We’ll update this post with more confirmed information as soon as we know.

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Studio Ghibli Might Halt Production On Feature Films

After the legendary anime film maker Hayao Miyaziki announced his retirement, it is reported that Studio Ghibli might be taking a break from film production as well.

The article about the unconfirmed rumour first appeared on Rakuten, one of Japan’s largest web portals. An insider claimed that the studio’s latest feature film, “When Marnie Was There” might be the last film they’re producing.

According to Kotaku, the insider explained that there are rumours regarding the studio’s dissolution after Miyazaki’s retirement. The studio’s co-founder Toshio Suzuki has also recently stepped down from producing films to become the studio’s general manger.

Because the feature films are incredibly expensive to make, the films have apparently yet to turn a healthy profit despite being tremendously successful. This is largely due to the fact that Studio Ghibli is hiring permanent full-time employees in Japan instead of having their jobs shipped overseas to save money. Thus, the insider said it is likely that the studio will be making money off the anime they’ve produced so far by managing the films’ copyrights.

The rumour was “apparently” backed up by Miyazaki’s interview with Cut Magazine in 2010 as he mentioned Suzuki’s dissolution program for Ghibli. He said:

No joke, we talked about it the other day. For example, Ghibli should be able to continue with about five staff members as a copyright management company even if we smash the studio. So, Ghibli can say, “We stop film production. Goodbye”. I do not have to be there.

For the past few years, we’ve become so familiar with Studio Ghibli’s films that we tend to rekindle our childhood imaginations through his iconic anime such as “My Neighbour Totoro”, “Spirited Away”, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and so on. It’s bad enough to know that Miyazaki will be retiring. Now we are utterly saddened by the rumour about Studio Ghibli’s productions coming to a halt.

Regarding the rumour, Kotaku has reached out to Studio Ghibli to get an official statement from the studio. So for now, let’s just hope for the best!


Netflix’s “The Sandman”: Season 1 Review & Season 2 Predictions

When it comes to the surreal and fantastical works of author Neil Gaiman, there’s a magic in his writing that is difficult to translate to the audio-visual medium. His prose are so dense with subtext and hidden layers of meaning. A whole page of vivid, masterful details has to be conveyed in the span of a scene. Whether it be the inner thoughts of complex characters or the intricate history behind the setting. Honestly, there are times the guy writes like he’s some mad prophet peering into another world! So, when we heard that he would be bringing his most iconic comic book series to life, “The Sandman”, with what is essentially a blank check from Netflix, we were terrified.

For the most part, the stories in “The Sandman” are often anthological, meaning it doesn’t always follow a linear structure. Sometimes the Lord of Dreams is wrestling with demons and holding council with the various gods of human culture. Sometimes, he’s swept up in ancient romances and visiting the artists of antiquity. Other times, he’s literally talking to dreaming cats!

A post shared by The Sandman (@thesandmanofficial)

There are a million and one ways “The Sandman” could be ruined, and yet if nailed correctly, it could be one of the greatest comic-book TV series ever made. So with Gaiman’s heavy involvement in producing the show, will the character Dream of the Endless and his tales be done justice? Or will be this be a nightmare for fans and newcomers? Let’s find out!

As fans of Gaiman’s original graphic novel series, we totally understand that certain creative liberties had to be taken to allow “The Sandman” to be told in a linear fashion. Certain plot threads had to be streamlined and characters like the Corinthian and Rose Walker given larger roles. As long as it honours the spirit of the classic text, we’re all good. So…does it? Well, we absolutely enjoyed the first half of the first season which covers the “Preludes and Nocturnes” arc. “The Dark Knight” writer, David S. Goyer along with Gaiman and Allen Heinberg demonstrate a profound understanding of what makes Dream and the people and things inhabiting his world such compelling characters.

We were looking forward to seeing Dream’s verbal and rhetorical clash with the forces of Hell in the episode “A Hope in Hell” and it is everything we hoped it would be! Gwendoline Christie’s performance as the elegant, but ever malevolent, Lucifer is an utter gem, one that we’re sure has big plans in future seasons to come. Then, there are episodes of the series that dip deep into the horror pool to bring nightmares into the waking world. Seriously, you are not prepared for “24/7”. David Thewlis’ John Dee will continue to haunt you long after the credits roll.

That being said, the episode we enjoyed the most has got to be “The Sound of Her Wings”. No hair-raising thrills or macarbe action here. Just a quiet, contemplative story that follows Dream and his sister, Death discussing about the meaning of life and mortality. A conversation that plays a key role in developing Dream as a being who begins to see life outside of the confines of his all-powerful control. Someone who has to learn to appreciate the little beauties of life.

While the second half of the series following “The Doll’s House” attempts to do justice to the story of Rose Walker and the Corinthian are valiant, we couldn’t help but feel that it waned in quality near the end. Particularly with how Dream’s character arc is given a more traditional and heroic aspect which doesn’t really fit with his cold, sombre nature. Sure in time he does begin to soften up and is humbled by the power of dreams in the hands of mortals but that’s a long way to go! It feels like this was done to make Dream more sympathetic but it comes at the expense of a longer, more profound journey of self-discovery. Besides that one gripe, we still found the second half of the series capable of offering up plenty of jaw-dropping moments and creepy fun.

Speaking of Dream, Tom Sturridge does a marvelous job of bringing Morpheus to life! He expertly nails Dream’s voice and personality. More that shows more than his seemingly detached, cold nature, but rather betrays an emotional immaturity and lack that Dream must learn to overcome. A flaw that begins to work be refined as he learns to care for those around him. It certainly helps that Sturridge’s performance is bolstered by highly talented actors such as “Game of Thrones” actor Charles Dance who plays Sir Roderick Burgess and Boyd Holbrook as the nefarious, sadistic Corinthian. Holbrook has come a long way from his “Narcos” days. We particularly enjoyed Jenna Coleman a gender-swapped version of the famed occultist John Constantine, as Johanna Constantine. She embodies all the swagger and nastiness we’ve come to know and love from the British sorcerer.

For the most part, Netflix’s “The Sandman” is a Dream come true for fans of Gaiman’s original graphic novel. It manages to balance out its weighty themes and concepts with gripping human drama, all neatly packaged into a solid 10-episode season. From here on out till the end of time, Tom Sturridge shall be known as the definitive live-action version of Dream of the Endless. Through stunning production quality and strong vision, “The Sandman” confirms its place as the best live-action DC series out there right now!

Now, the first season of the series adapted two volumes of Gaiman’s graphic novel, “Prelude and Nocturnes” and “The Doll’s House”. So it stands to reason that Gaiman would probably adapt the stories of the next volumes “Dream Country” and “Season of the Mists”. “Dream Country”, unlike “Season of the Mists”, tells multiple stories of Dream meeting different historical figures and creatures. In one of the issues, he intervenes to free the Greek Goddess Calliope from captivity. In another, he meets up with Shakespeare to watch his performance “Midsommar Night’s Dream” before a crowd of faeries and magical creatures. There’s also one involving Death helping a deformed superheroine come to terms with her existence.

By far, the story we’re most interested in seeing the series adapt into a live-action episode is “Dream of a Thousand Cats”. One that reveals the secret history of cats in which they used to rule the Earth as gods over men. They would chase us, cruelly toy with us and finally devour us. That all changed when humans discovered the power of dreams and how they could shape reality. All of this is told by Dream in the form of a cat. How will Netflix handle the episode? Will they go the hyper-realistic route via Disney’s live-action “The Lion King” or will it be more animated and surreal in their representation? If the series decides not to do an episode on “Dream of a Thousand Cats”, we’ll riot in the streets!

Based on the ending of the first season, it looks like Gwendoline Christie’s Lucifer Morningstar will be playing a major a role in the second season, with Gaiman probably adapting the next two volumes of his graphic novel per season. In the fourth volume of the graphic novel series, “Season of the Mists”, the fallen angel decides to relinquish his control over Hell. This was also seen in FOX TV series “Lucifer” starring Tom Ellis as the titular character. In the TV series, it made it seem like the only reason Lucifer gave up Hell was because of his desire to find freedom from the Presence. In “The Sandman”, there’s more to the story though.

One of the reasons he made his decision was to punish Dream for challenging his authority. We see Dream do likewise to Gwendoline Christie’s female version in the episode “A Hope in Hell”. In the comics, Lucifer wished to trap the Sandman in a dilemma of who will be responsible for the souls of the damned within the DC Universe by handing the Key to Hell over to Dream. It eventually results in the Lord of Dreams having to contend with various gods, demons and other cosmic beings for the right over the domain. These beings include the Norse Odin, the Egyptian Bast, the Lords of Order, the demon Azazel and even the Angels of Heaven. We’re curious to see if the gods of the Greek pantheon, as seen in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” and “Wonder Woman’ will make an appearance too.

Technically, “The Sandman” does exists within the wider DC Extended Universe (DCEU) so it could be possible. For those who can’t get enough of “The Sandman”, you can check out our breakdown of how Dream is connected to the DCEU and just how powerful he really is.

Be sure to check out “The Sandman” on Netflix today!

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

For the most part, Netflix's "The Sandman" is a Dream come true for fans of Gaiman's original graphic novel. It manages to balance out its weighty themes and concepts with gripping human drama, all neatly packaged into a solid 10-episode season. From here on out till the end of time, Tom Sturridge shall be known as the definitive live-action version of Dream of the Endless. Through stunning production quality and strong vision, "The Sandman" confirms its place as the best live-action DC series out there right now!


#GalaxyS7edge: Be One Of The Elite 500 Malaysians To Own The Injustice Edition

Genius billionaire and philanthropist by day and caped crusader by night, everyone’s favourite hero from Gotham City now comes in the form of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge exclusive and limited version, the special Injustice Edition.

In collaboration with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment, Samsung Malaysia Electronics today announced that 500 units of Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition will arrive on Malaysian shores on 17th June 2016.

The Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition set comes equipped with a sleek deep black Galaxy S7 edge, accentuated by gold detailing and an iconic bat insignia on the back, inspired by DC Comics’ Batman. The set additionally offers a Gear VR (Black Edition), Back Cover (Injustice Edition), as well as exclusive contents and services vouchers*.

Also to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the popular mobile game, “Injustice: Gods Among Us”, the companies came together to bring Samsung’s technology and one of the game’s central characters, Batman, in a suave, high-performance smartphone.

Developed from the ground up by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, the “Injustice: Gods Among Us” mobile game delivers stunning graphics and a completely unique fighting gameplay experience. The game features a collectible card mechanic and engages players in 3-on-3 tag team combat that features many of DC’s most iconic characters. It’s available as a free download on Google Play.

The Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition set is available for online order starting from 10am, 17th June 2016 at recommended retail price of RM4,099 (inclusive of 6% GST) at www.samsung.com/my/gs7injustice.

*Enjoy “Injustice” game credit worth USD$100 and Oculus VR contents voucher worth USD$50 with each purchase of The Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition set.

For more information, visit Samsung Malaysia’s website or Facebook page.


Daughter NJWA To Make A Tribute Song For Muhyiddin Yassin?

After the news of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation made headlines this week, the comments section on his celebrity daughter, NJWA‘s Instagram has been flooded with several heart-warming comments from the public.

In this case, many of them left well wishes for the political figure, apart from expressing their upmost gratitude for his efforts and contributions throughout his 17-month-long tenure as the 8th Prime Minister.

On the same occasion, there was also this one particular Instagram user, known as @zufaiyri, who asked the “Got To Go” singer to produce a special tribute song for her father on his achievements as PM. The IG user commented, “Hi can you please make a song for your dad this Monday?”

That being said, NJWA (full name Najwa Mahiaddin) continues to remain silent and has never responded to any of the comments left by her followers. Based on our checking, her last post on Instagram was dated back in January.

Check out some of the comments left by them below:

In case you missed it, Tan Sri Muhyiddin had officially tendered his resignation as the 8th Prime Minister earlier on Monday (16th August), and his resignation was accepted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Following that, His Majesty agreed for Muhyiddin to be assigned as caretaker PM, until a new Prime Minister is appointed.

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May The Force Be With J.J. Abrams

Currently, his name bears honours of being director of “Star Trek” and famed creator of the TV show, “Lost”. As a matter of fact, he’s currently working on “Star Trek: Into Darkness” as we speak. Soon, J.J. Abrams will have another milestone to add to his bursting curriculum vitae.

You may remember how the world of geeks and Jedi fans flipped out when Disney announced that they were acquiring Lucasfilm back in October 2012. All in one breath (read: announcement), Disney also announced that they will be planning to release a seventh “Star Wars” movie.

While George Lucas got busy with a wedding proposal and some wedding preparations,  Disney also got busy in search of a director to work on the said “Star Wars” movie. The search included the likes of some of the world’s most talented directors such as Steven Spielberg, Guillermo Del Toro, Brad Bird, and many more. But the final choice was locked down on Emmy Award-winning director, J.J. Abrams.

Oh, what? “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” (two of history’s most beloved sci-fi franchises), too? This must be J.J. Abrams’ lucky decade!

Before you geeks and Jedi fans start flipping out again, chill! We hear that “Star Wars” creator, George Lucas, isn’t exactly out of the picture. While Disney has committed to making the final “Star Wars” trilogy, they’ve also ensured that George Lucas will be sticking around to take an advising role on the project.

See? Not so bad after all. “Star Wars: Episode VII” is scheduled for a 2015 release. Start holding your breaths now.


#CaptainMarvel: The Reason Why Brie Larson Decided To Play The Superhero

Recently, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that Captain Marvel “has powers that far surpass many of her heroic counterparts”. He also added that Brie Larson was chosen to play the superhero because she possesses “the depth and energy that can fuse firepower, guts, and a great story”.

In speaking with Vanity Fair, the “Kong: Skull Island” star revealed the real reason why she decided to lead her own solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Academy Award-winning actress said, “It took me a really long time. I had to sit with myself, think about my life and what I want out of it. Ultimately, I couldn’t deny the fact that this movie is everything I care about, everything that’s progressive and important and meaningful, and a symbol I wished I would’ve had growing up. I really, really feel like it’s worth it if it can bring understanding and confidence to young women—I’ll do it.”

Larson also mentioned that the company has been open to hearing her thoughts, adding, “I think that’s why they cast me: I have a lot of similarities to this character… and they want me to bring that into the movie.”

For the uninitiated, Captain Marvel aka Carol Danvers first appeared in “Marvel Super-Heroes #13” (1968) where she was a security chief in the United States Air Force. After being exposed to Kree alien technology from an explosion, she gained a set of new powers. This includes super strength, energy project, and the ability to fly into space.

Written by Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman, the upcoming “Captain Marvel” movie will be directed by “Mississippi Grind” helmers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Moreover, Feige will serve as the film’s producer.

“Captain Marvel” is slated for release on 8th March 2019.

Sources: Variety, Coming Soon, Bleeding Cool, Vanity Fair.


Hype’s Exclusive: MLTR, Still Rockin’ After All These Years

Michael Learns To Rock, better known as simply MLTR, doesn’t actually know who Michael is. It was just a band name that came to them 25 years ago when they submitted a tape (yes, tape) for a contest.

Little did they know, they would win the contest, shoot to stardom, and be forever known as Michael Learns To Rock.

Would they have had it any other way? Maybe.

And while people often joke about their band name, them including, there’s just one thing that’s no laughing matter – their music. After all, how many bands can stick around for this long and still produce easy-to-love, delightful to sing along to, evergreen songs?

Recently, the multi-platinum Scandinavian band was in town as part of their 25th anniversary tour. Their Michael Learns To Rock “25 Live” The Anniversary Celebration in Malaysia concert was met with high demand from their Malaysian fans as ticket sales shot up immediately upon announcement, after which, MLTR extended their tour dates in Kuala Lumpur to 2 nights.

Thanks to our friends from Warner Music Malaysia, we got to speak to the legendary band right before their show and ask them all the questions that we’ve waited, well, more than a decade to ask ;)

Welcome back to Malaysia, guys! How excited are you to be back in Kuala Lumpur?

Kare: It’s always good to be in Kuala Lumpur. The first time we were here was in 1994/1993 – it was the first time we were in Asia together as a band. Everything was very new to us, all these impressions like the smells, the air, the heat..and now it’s like almost coming home cause we’ve been here so many times. We feel very attached to Malaysia. And we can walk around the city without a map now! (laughs)

You’re celebrating your 25th anniversary this year so congratulations! What’s your secret formula to staying together for this long?

Kare: Well, we love music and we also like each other. It’s almost like a family, like brothers, because we know each other very well and we spend a lot of time together. You know, we don’t really think much about it, it just feels right. And of course, the fans. The fans are the real reason we’re here now. Especially when we’ve been together for 25 years and we’re still here, it has been a privilege.

Mikkel: We get several hundreds of messages every day on Facebook and all that. People just keep telling us that they like our music and they want us to come and play at their countries..it just gives us a lot of energy. And when we sit at home, and think about it, should we go on? Yes, of course, we have to go on! Because these people really want to see us.

Also, MLTR is one of those groups who have never had any scandals or bad rumours at all. How do you maintain that image?

Mikkel: We just don’t tell people about what we do! (laughs) No, but really..it’s funny enough that we’ve ever had any scandals. Maybe it’s because we don’t throw TVs out of windows, we don’t feel the need to do that. As human beings, we don’t feel like..we’re not so rebellious. We don’t feel like we need to be in the papers all the time.

Kare: I think people would be really disappointed if they saw the lives we live back home. Because we have families, we’re fathers..we go to the grocers and buy food..we lead very normal lives..

Well, now you’re telling us too much. Now, we have something to write about!

Kare: I mean, yeah, that’s the wildest I can tell you.

If you could go back to a time 25 years ago, what’s the one thing that you would change?

Kare: (shrugs) I don’t know? It has been years! It’s quite funny, you know, we were taking part in this music competition and we just needed a name. We recorded our demo on a cassette tape and Jascha wrote “Michael Learns To Rock” on it and we won the competition. And we felt famous. But it was too late to change the name. Actually, I like it now..

You have so many Asian fans though, and MLTR primarily focuses on the Asian market. Why is that?

Mikkel: In the beginning, it wasn’t a decision that we made. It was because our songs became very popular here and it was all due to radio requests. Then after the 2nd album, MLTR’s success in Asia just grew and grew..and then we saw that there was definitely something going on in Asia. And then we started promoting here and doing concerts here but in the beginning, we weren’t deliberately focusing on Asia alone.

My personal favourite MLTR song is “25 Minutes” because it tells a nice story. How do you guys come up with stories to write into your lyrics?

Kare: “25 Minutes” is like a fairy tale, yeah!

Mikkel: Jascha wrote that song. He’s the songwriter.

Jascha: I think many of our songs weren’t based on real or true stories. They’re made up stories. But when it comes to writing the songs..the melody always comes first. Then I make up random words that don’t exist, that probably aren’t English, and match them to the song. Then I change the words later.

Kare: To something less meaningful (laughs)

Thanks for the chat, you guys! It was quite a dream come true to meet the “original gangsta” pop rock stars, we must say :)

Special thanks, again, to our awesome friends from Warner Music Malaysia for making this interview happen.

For more information on MLTR, hit up their website or Facebook page.

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DJ Shogun Brings “UFO”-ria To Zouk

American born Taiwanese DJ and producer, Andrew Chen aka Shogun, is the first Asian DJ and producer to be signed to S107/Armada.

Whether it is remixing for the world’s number one DJ – Armin van Buuren, or for Grammy nominated singer and songwriter Nadia Ali, Shogun’s productions have gained him full support from the biggest names in the industry including Ferry Corsten, Paul Van Dyk, Above & Beyond, Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery, and Markus Schulz just to name a few.

With some of the biggest anthems to date, “Save Me”, “Imprisoned”, “Lotus”, “UFO”, and “Skyfire”, Shogun has cemented his place as one of the most influential and biggest trance/progressive acts today and his songs have regularly been featured on the world’s leading radio shows such as “Vonyc Sessions”, Above & Beyond’s “Trance Around The World”, Ferry Corsten’s “Corsten’s Countdown”, Global DJ Broadcast, and the world-renowned “A State of Trance” radio show/podcast.

With consistent productions, top quality releases and the DJ skills to rock the best clubs in the world, the future of electronic music is bright with Shogun behind the decks:

[youtube id=”ItvzR6y_kjA” width=”600″ height=”350″]

He continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his mad skills. Let him captivate you when he rocks up to Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur on the 31st August 2012 (Friday) for the monthly “Fired Up Fridays”.

Ticket entry: RM35 Ladies / RM45 Men (inc 1 drink)

Bottle entry: RM351 / 4pax (Before 11pm)

Reservations*: Please call 03-2171 2075 (12pm – 6pm) or 0163323191 (after 6pm) or email rsvn@zoukclub.com.my

Can you think of a better way to spend your Merdeka celebration? That’s what we thought! For more information, hit up Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur’s Facebook page.


#FiftyShadesOfGrey: Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Drops Out Of Sequel

Although the film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey” received vastly negative reviews from the movie critics, director Sam Taylor-Johnson was praised for her visual take on this highly anticipated erotic film.

However, it is a well-known fact that there were some disputes over the film between the director and the book’s writer, E.L. James. Thus, their toxic relationship may have caused Taylor-Johnson to leave the director’s chair.

The British director confirmed her departure from the franchise with the following statement:

Directing Fifty Shades of Grey has been an intense and incredible journey for which I am hugely grateful. I have Universal to thank for that. I forged close and lasting relationships with the cast, producers and crew and most especially, with Dakota and Jamie. While I will not be returning to direct the sequels, I wish nothing but success to whosoever takes on the exciting challenges of films two and three.

Taylor-Johnson did not mention her reasons for leaving the franchise, but she is certainly not the first director to have given up on a successful franchise. Screenwriter Robert Orci was originally set to direct the 3rd film for J.J Abrams’ rebooted “Star Trek” franchise, but he later decided to remain as the producer of the film. “Scott Pilgrim vs the World ” director Edgar Wright also dropped out of Marvel‘s “Ant-Man” due to the creative differences between Wright and Marvel.

Similar to Wright’s situation, Taylor-Johnson had been experiencing creative clashes with James. It only gotten worse after James demanded more control over the script and the creative direction of the sequels.

Kelly Marcel, who is the screenwriter of the first film, is not expected to return to pen the script of the sequel as well. Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson will, however, return to the sequel to reprise their respective roles as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

What do you think of Taylor-Johnson’s decision to leave the franchise? Who do you think should direct the next film? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

(Source: THR, Daily Mail / Featured image)

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