#Aladdin: 8 Fan-Favourite Actors Who Could Play The Titular Role

“Aladdin” is one of Disney’s most popular animated movies. Released in 1992, the beloved film is based on an Arabic folk tale called “One Thousand and One Nights”. The story follows Aladdin, a street rat named who finds a magic lamp that unleashes Genie, a blue-skinned spirit who grants him 3 wishes.

In true Disney fashion, “Aladdin” is also getting a live-action remake. However, director Guy Ritchie and the studio are having a hard time trying to find the right actor for the titular role.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, auditions were held in London, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, as well as India. Besides that, around 2,000 actors and actresses have auditioned for the lead roles of Jasmine and Aladdin.

However, casting a male lead in his 20s, who is of Middle Eastern or Indian descent, and both act and sing has proven difficult. Although the studio is interested in Dev Patel (of “Slumdog Millionaire” fame) and Riz Ahmed (of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” fame), the male lead will likely be a newcomer.

Upon seeing the news, Disney fans have come up with a list of Middle Eastern and Indian actors who would be perfect for the role of Aladdin.

They are (aside from Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed):

@Disney: if it's not @emanesfandi I'm not watching pic.twitter.com/D12cz3OiW8

Who do you think could play the sweet, charming, and brave Aladdin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Sources: BuzzFeed, The Hollywood Reporter, Huffington Post / Featured image: Alchetron, Pinterest, The Express Tribune.

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(UPDATE) #Malaysia: Lone Ostrich On The Loose Along Federal Highway

Nevermind the odd stray cat, stray dog, “biawak” (monitor lizard), snake, or monkey, because today’s strange sighting takes the cake.

Jeff Sandhu, a producer for BFM Radio, was heading back home after visiting his aunt this afternoon when he chanced upon a sight that made such a lasting impression, he probably isn’t going forget it for the rest of his life. Just as he was exiting Jalan Gasing and turning into Federal Highway (near the University Malaya bus stop), an ostrich ran past his car.

The rare sighting was believed to have happened at around 4pm this afternoon (Thursday, 16th June).

“I was wondering why the traffic was slowing down just as I turned into Federal Highway, then I saw the ostrich running on the road, along the highway. It caused a jam because people were either slowing down or stopping behind it not knowing what to do,” Jeff said when we contacted him upon seeing his Instagram video.

“It was running really fast at first and it kept looking back like it was panicking. The ostrich kept switching lanes from the emergency lane, all the way to the fast lane, then to the second lane, then back on the emergency lane again. Maybe because it thinks that the cars and the bikes were trying to attack it although everyone kept a safe distance away from it. But later on, it started to slow down just as it was reaching the RTM building (Angkasapuri Broadcasting Centre),” he added.

A post shared by Jeff Sandhu (@itsjeffsandhu)

We asked Jeff if he knew where it came from. “I have no idea. And there were no authorities around either,” he said. And to our knowledge (though we could be wrong), there are no zoos or animal farms in the vicinity either.

Of all things to see on Malaysian roads, eh? On the other hand, we do hope that the ostrich is alright and that the wildlife authorities are out there rescuing it.

The mystery has been solved because the runaway ostrich has been rescued and more importantly, it has a name!

Peekaboo/Chickaboo, the Federal Highway sprinter, apparently jumped out of a Toyota Hilux truck that was transporting it as it passed in front of University Malaya. It was later cornered and retrieved by its owner and brought back to a farm, Ostrich Wonderlands in Semenyih.

Glad to know that Peekaboo/Chickaboo is safe!

Sources: Jeff Sandhu, malaysiakini, The Star.


Hype’s Must Watch: American Ultra

“The Bourne Legacy” meets “Pineapple Express” in this action comedy flick that involves, well, 420-related things.

Jesse Eisenberg is Mike Howell, an everyday stoner kid whose biggest worry in life was how to propose to his girlfriend Phoebe (played by Kristen Stewart). But everything changes for the pair when it’s revealed that Mike is a sleeper agent for the government now being hunted by other agents. So it’s up to Mike to unlock his former spy training that he apparently has no memory of whatsoever. The major buzzkill turns into actual kills as Mike must defend himself from enemy agents and stay sober enough to rescue Phoebe, too.

Topher Grace (of “That 70s Show” fame) and Connie Britton (of “Nashville” fame) star as part of the force tracking Mike, with Topher playing what appears to be the role of a suited up douche.

Considering Eisenberg and Stewart’s success in another 420-friendly flick, “Adventureland”, there is great expectation for a repeat performance in “American Ultra.” Plan on plenty of sincere laughs and explosions of epic proportions.

Heck, it could be the action movie every pothead has been waiting for.

Max Landis (of “Chronicle” fame) wrote the script. Nima Nourizadeh (of “Project X” fame) served as director. “American Ultra” is set to be released on 21st August 2015 in the US.

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

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#LeeChongWei: Malaysian Shuttler Records Fastest Smash In Badminton History

Oh yay, Malaysian shuttler Dato’ Lee Chong Wei has given Malaysians another reason to celebrate!

The former world number one’s smash in last year’s Hong Kong Open has officially been recognised as the most powerful smash in badminton history. He proceeded to win the November 2015 tournament.

His 408kph smash was recorded by Hawk-Eye Innovations, which provides instant-review services at major sports tournaments. Lee’s smash is close to the top speed recorded by the fastest car in the world, a Hennessy Venom GT, which is around 435kmh.

Prior to Lee, the fastest smash recorded was by Chinese badminton doubles player Fu Hai Feng in the 2005 Sudirman Cup. His smash went as fast as 332kph.

Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen’s record followed close behind Lee’s, with his smash going as fast as 407kph in the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open, which took place earlier in April this year.

The women shuttlers were not too far behind, with Thailand’s number one Ratchanok Intanon clocking 372kph in the same tournament as Jorgensen.

The top 5 smashing speeds by male and female shuttlers respectively are as below:

Former national player, Tan Boon Heong, who partnered with Koo Kien Keat to reach the number one spot in men’s doubles from 2007 until 2010, achieved a smashing speed of 493kph in 2013. However, it was not officially recorded, as the Russian National Badminton Federation revealed the information as part of a special experiment.

The Federation did not reveal how they recorded the information, nor when and where the smash occurred.

Sources: The Star, Sputnik News, South China Morning Post.


It Chapter 2: 9 Side-by-Side Comparison Of Child Actors & Adult Cast

Thanks to the newly-released trailer, fans have finally gotten the first taste of “It Chapter 2”.

Now that the “Losers Club” members are all grown adults, their pasts and terrifying childhoods are all coming back to haunt them – along with Pennywise, the evil, murderous, shape-shifting clown. Here’s a breakdown of every major character in comparison to their younger versions:

The older Bill Denbrough is played by James McAvoy, who is now a successful novelist. The protagonist seems like he’s still pretty haunted by the death of his little brother Billy almost 30 years ago.

Many fans wanted Jessica Chastain to play the older Bev Marsh and their wishes came through. Her return to Derry brings back bad memories from her abusive father. Now a successful fashion designer, she finds herself trapped in an unhappy, abusive marriage.

The hair, the glasses, Bill Hader is the perfect shoe-in for Finn Wolfhard’s Richie. Although he has put his loud mouth to good use by taking up a profession as a DJ in Los Angeles, he finds himself being pulled back to Derry.

Played by Jay Ryan, you can see that Ben Hanscom has gotten rid of his childhood weight and has grown to become a thin, successful architect.

Isaiah Mustafa looks eerily similar to Chosen Jacobs’ young Mike doesn’t he? Mike Hanlon is the only member who remained in Derry. The now-town librarian ultimately calls his friends back to confront the evil force once more.

We don’t see much of James Ransone as the older Eddie Kaspbrak but he is now in charge of limousine company. Similar to Bev, his poor choice resulted in him marrying someone super controlling.

Andy Bean plays the older version of Stan Uris, where he’s now the most successful of the bunch. After becoming a partner in a large Atlanta accounting firm, one would assume he’s on top of the world. But he is perhaps the one who has retained all the scary memories from those yesteryears.

The adult version of Henry Bowers (played by Teach Grant) is almost as scary as Pennywise himself. After being locked up in a mental institution for almost 3 decades, he only has one thing on his mind – revenge.

Bill Skarsgård is reprising his role as the big baddie. Pennywise the Dancing Clown hasn’t really changed much. One thing movie-goers can anticipate is this monster taking on various disguise including the deceptively pleasant Mrs Kersh.

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#Malaysia: AirAsia & Firefly Take Jabs At Malindo Air’s “Strip Check” Controversy

Malindo Air is in hot water for requesting female candidates to strip down to their bras at a walk-in interview that was held in March. The Malay Mail first broke the news on Wednesday (5th April).

In response to this, the airlines’ competitors – AirAsia and Firefly Airlines – took to social media to poke fun at the controversy.

In a new recruitment ad, AirAsia took an obvious jab at Malindo Air with the phrase, “We won’t ask you to strip down – Just zip up and be a part of the world’s best low-cost airline team.”

On the other hand, Firefly used word “strip” to highlight its low airfares. In their ad, they wrote, “The only strip down we do is our prices, only RM99.”

However, these punny ads were short-lived as they can no longer be found on AirAsia and Firefly’s respective Facebook pages. But luckily for you, netizens were quick to screenshot it.

Meanwhile, Malindo Air has denied the “strip check” report. In a Facebook statement, they said that the grooming checks are conducted privately by female supervisors. This is to ensure that the candidates have no visible scars, tattoos, or pimples that could be seen through the uniform.

They added, “Herein candidates are briefed ahead and consent from each candidate is required prior proceeding to ensure there is no prominent marks will be visible while wearing the uniform.”

What do you think about AirAsia and Firefly’s response ad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!


5 Awards Categories Ben Affleck’s “Air” Could Be Nominated In For 2024’s Oscars

The reviews are out for “Air” and it seems like critics are on cloud nine for the film with a staggering 99% on Rotten Tomatoes as of the time of writing. The film recounts the story of Matt Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro, a shoe salesman and basketball guru, and his team at Nike as they hustle, negotiate, scream and work their way into closing a deal with the greatest basketball athlete of all time. This is the story of how Nike went from a mildly popular choice for joggers to becoming the premiere shoe brand for athletes and celebrities across the world. All because they took a chance on an NBA rookie…Michael Jordan. Personally, we loved “Air”. Though simple in its premise, director Ben Affleck goes the distance to tell a compelling story that is both equal parts nerve-wracking and side-splitting,

With near-universal acclaim for the film, it’s hard not to imagine them making it into the Oscars in some way. We’re calling it here right now, these are the Oscar categories we predict “Air” could land on and even possibly win!

While “Air” is significantly more comedic in tone than perhaps some of the more sombre and self-serious Oscar contenders revealed this year, by no means is this necessarily a hindrance to it possibly gaining a spot for Best Picture. Last year, we saw two comedy-drama films “The Banshees of Inisherin” and “Triangle of Sadness” breaking into the category. Furthermore, films like 2022’s “King Richard” is proof that there is a place for sports biopics to at least be nominated as well.

It’s been over a decade since Affleck took home an Oscar for Best Picture with “Argo” and there’s a chance he may yet do it again. Now personally, do we think “Air” could take home Best Picture? It’s a bit of a long shot but with a ton of heart, a strong character-driven direction and some outstanding performances, it’s definitely a shoe-in for a nomination.

Don’t let the age fool you, Matt Damon is still a force to be reckoned with after all these years. He captured the academy’s attention with his soulful angst in “Good Will Hunting” and his seemingly endless positivity in “The Martian”. In “Air”, Damon plays an abrasive but brilliant sports marketing executive who follows his gut, even when everyone in the room is screaming for him not to. That being said, the film doesn’t simply fall into the cookie-cutter underdog formula for his character. There are consequences in taking major risks and the film makes it a point to let Damon’s character come to that sobering realisation.

Damon does a great job of bringing a tired world-weariness to the role that is slowly interrupted by sparks of passion and frustration as he sees the future in the eyes of Michael Jordan. Simply put, his excitement is infectious and it’ll make you root for him and the folks over at Nike. Long enough for you to forget that you’re watching a giant ad for the company. With his killer speech at the film’s climax, he’s definitely got a fighting chance for Best Lead Actor.

Viola Davis’ performance as the matriarch of the Jordan family, Deloris Jordan is nothing short of phenomenal. While most people will probably know the actress for her role as Amanda Wallace in the DC Universe (DCU) with “Peacemaker” and “The Suicide Squad”, the academy is well acquainted with her work in films like “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. In every single of them, she gave an absolute powerhouse performance. Needless to say, we’re fairly certain that Viola Davis will at least be nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Now, does she get to deliver some fiery confrontational monologues in “Air”? Well, no. The power of her performance here lies in her dry wit and quiet authority over every scene. That phone call between her and Sonny where she explains to him the value of an athlete and their rights is a powerful moment.

Sidenote: We also can’t wait to see what she brings with her solo series “Waller”.

There was rarely a moment in the film when you weren’t hooked by the gripping drama or wonderful bits of comedic banter. Alex Convery understands the subject matter of securing a shoe deal with Michael Jordan might not exactly be the most interesting premise out there. However, he wisely makes the decision of making the characters surrounding Michael Jordan infinitely more engaging than the man himself. Around every corner of this film is a pithy wisecrack, an emphatic argument or a pretentious piece of sagacious advice that keeps you tuned in.

The idea of making a film about Michael Jordan, Nike and basketball while not placing the actual basketball matches at the centre of the film is an insanely gutsy move. It could have easily backfired in the wrong hands. However, thanks to an incredibly intelligent script and great performances all around, “Air” will no doubt land a comfortable slamdunk in the Best Original Screenplay category. Seriously, we dare any of you not to chuckle at Chris Messina’s rants as David Falk or Patrick Bateman’s Rob Strasser when he’s lecturing Sonny.

C’mon, we’re talking about the legendary Air Jordan sneakers here! Throughout the film, Sonny and Matthew Maher’s Peter Moore constantly remind us that the shoes are just as much a character in the film as Michael Jordan. Everything from the form and design to the nature of the shoe violating the NBA guidelines every time they show up on the court does a wonderful job building a mythology around them. So when they’re finally unveiled and we see them in all of their material glory, there’s a richer context behind their presence and creation.

Yes, yes we’re aware that their presence in the film as a prop is probably also a very smart marketing ploy on the part of Nike to send shoe sales skyrocketing. That being said, it’s done with so much panache and style that we can’t help but give it a pass. A good costume and piece of fashion should always tell you something about the character or the world they inhabit. Like Sauron and the One Ring, the Air Jordan shoes are indeed Michael Jordan in all his ambition, effort and talent.

Be sure to catch “Air” in theatres today!

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#KualaLumpur: EDM Duo W&W Set To Perform In KL Live On 5th May

EDM duo W&W is set to perform in the country once again on 5th May! Organised by Future Sound Asia, the show will also star Justin Oh, Maurice West, Chukiess & Whackboi, as well as Hypeembeats.

After meeting at the Trance Energy Festival in 2007, Willem van Hanegem and Ward van der Harst clicked and decided to form W&W. The duo is known for combining the uplifting and melodic elements of trance with the raw intensity of electro and progressiveness of house to create a sound that is uniquely their own.

Boasting a partnership of around 10 years, W&W has also worked with Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta, and more. Over the years, they have produced hits such as “Mustang”, “Don’t Stop The Madness”, “Arcade”, and “Live The Night”.

Tickets are available for purchase via www.boxtix.asia.

For more information, visit Future Sound Asia’s website and Facebook page.

Sources: The Hive Asia, Future Sound Asia.


Video: Liam Payne & Rita Ora’s Duet Track For ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ Is Here

For months, both Liam Payne and Rita Ora have been teasing fans with photos of them working together on a track for ‘Fifty Shades Freed’.

The wait is finally over – their duet track “For You” has officially dropped today. Both Liam Payne and Rita Ora posted the track on their official social media pages today, calling for fans to listen and share.

It’s HERE! Listen to my new single #ForYou with @LiamPayne – from the #FiftyShadesFreed Soundtrack 💖💖 https://t.co/MLis2oU0o4 pic.twitter.com/3DJ3sJY8gR

The track is an energetic, upbeat, number – with Rita and Liam’s vocals perfectly complementing each other.

“For You” is one of the songs that will be featured on ‘Fifty Shades Freed’, the official soundtrack will out later this week.


Fun Facts: 8 Things To Know About The Chainsmokers Before Their KL Debut

There’s no denying that the first thing that comes to mind when we hear The Chainsmokers is #SELFIE. After all, the duo did make their way into the mainstream spotlight thanks to their infamous hit “#SELFIE”. However, before their vanity-inducing single became a international craze, the duo could be found making house remixes of indie acts.

SOURCE: The Chainsmokers – FacebookHaving released songs including “Let You Go” featuring Great Good Fine Ok and “Kanye” featuring SirenXX, the duo are looking to break past their “#SELFIE” craze in order to re-establish their identity. Heading to Kuala Lumpur for the first time ever this June 4th (Thursday), we’ve prepared some interesting facts about The Chainsmokers based on their recent “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit.

SOURCE: The Chainsmokers – FacebookThere you go – 8 things about American DJ/producer duo The Chainsmokers to prep you for their show here at Gravity Club Kuala Lumpur.

Ticket Pricing: RM 78 (pre-sale) / RM 98 (at the door)

For more information, hit up the Facebook event page.

We leave you today with “Good Intentions” the latest by The Chainsmokers featuring Bullysongs

Want more on The Chainsmokers? Stalk them via these platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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#UltraSingapore: Road To Ultra Singapore Unveils “A-List Style” VVIP Packages

Ultra Worldwide, the world’s premier electronic music festival, is proud to announce that it will be bringing 3 of the world’s most popular DJs to Singapore to perform at the inaugural Road To Ultra Singapore.

Taking place on 19th September (Saturday) during the Formula One race weekend, the event will be headlined by award-winning American music producer and songwriter Skrillex, Swedish powerhouse Alesso, and Dutch DJ Nicky Romero.

Supporting acts include rising progressive house star Ansolo, Skrillex’s OSWLA label mate Mija, Costa Rica’s Ale Mora, and regional standout duo, Rave Republic.

Thousands of fans are expected to attend the event at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, joining more than 2 million attendees of Ultra Music Festivals worldwide.

Alexander Chew, Executive Producer and Partner of Ultra Singapore says, “We are excited to be able to launch Road to Ultra Singapore with such a robust artist line-up. Skrillex, Alesso and Nicky Romero are three of the most sought-after DJs in the industry and I am sure that they will put on a show-stopping performance.”

“We are also pleased with the response that we have received so far for the event. Our early bird ticket release sold-out in a recorded breaking 21 minutes and we continue to see excitement grow as the event draws near. The Ultra Worldwide team sees Singapore is a key market to grow the brand and we look forward to hosting an exciting event!” adds Raj Datwani, Executive Producer and Partner of Ultra Singapore.

Road to Ultra Singapore early bird tickets and Phase 1 tickets have already sold-out and Phase 2 tickets are on sale now at S$168 for general admission and S$198 for premium admission.

Road To Ultra Singapore Event & Ticketing Information:

Road to Ultra General Admission Tickets: S$168

Road to Ultra Premium Admission Tickets: S$198

And for those wanting to celebrate in A-list style, Road to Ultra has announced unrivalled once-in-a-lifetime VVIP experiences to ensure their most discerning guests can drink Dom Perignon in prime view a of the world’s best Djs, with 5-star hospitality and service throughout the evening.

All VVIP packages include a private table/sofa inside the strict VVIP zone, champagne bottle service from VVIP staff, exclusive access to the event via a VVIP entrance, access to the the Ultra VVIP concierge, exclusive use of the VVIP restrooms, and a complimentary Ultra VVIP Gift Bag! VVIP table tiers available on request.

Please e-mail tables@ultrasingapore.com for more information.

For more information about Road to Ultra Singapore, or to purchase tickets please visit their website or the Ultra Singapore Facebook page. Tickets are also available from here. Alternatively, you could also book in person at Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby) or book by phone at +656688 8826.

For more information, visit Marina Bay Sands’ website.


#GDA Artiste Profile: Juniel

Born Choi Jun-hee in 1993, she’s better known by her stage name, “Juniel”.  The young and talented South Korean singer-songwriter began her career in Japan before eventually debuting in South Korea. Thus, her official introduction kicked off with the release of her first EP, “Ready Go” in Japan in 2011. In July 2011, she cinched the role of F.T. Island’s “Messenger” tour’s opening act.

Without skipping a beat, Juniel released her second EP, “Dream & Hope”. Just three months after “Ready Go”.

Juniel wrote and released the single, “Forever” which was one of the songs in “Dream & Hope”. “Forever” was written to give support to those who suffered from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The single was later selected as a monthly recommendation by stores in Japan. Its whirlwind success was followed by being picked as the ending theme song for Gamers Yoasabi Sanshimai.

Slightly more than half a year later, on 7th June 2012, her debut Korean single, “illa illa” was released. “illa illa” consists of her self-composed songs which were previously released in Japan. Juniel’s Korean debut was said to be highly anticipated and it garnered the attention of eager fans almost immediately. “illa illa” was later chosen as the theme song for the character Im Mae-ari (played by Yoon Ji-ni) in the popular Korean drama series, “A Gentleman’s Dignity”:

[youtube id=”EDp1bzjC4t8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

In 2012 alone, Juniel has won two awards, Cyworld Digital Music Awards’ “Rookie of the Month” and 19th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards’ “Rookie Singer”, alongside numerous award nominations for Mnet Asian Music Awards, MelOn Music Awards, and Seoul Music Awards. She is also currently in the running to bag the “Song of The Year” award for “illa illa” and the “New Rising K-Pop Star Award” at “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur”!

Here’s another fact: Juniel is slated to make an appearance at “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur” (GDA).

To purchase tickets, hit up TicketPro or any of their participating outlets right now! Tickets to the event are available in three tiers, priced at RM999 (Samsung GALAXY Zone), RM688 (Rockpit), and RM199 (Hallyu Zone). We hear that tickets are going to go fast so hurry!

For more information, visit their official website.

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10 Things Not Allowed Into Blackpink’s KL Concert; Venue Layout Unveiled

Are all you Blinks counting down the days to Blackpink’s concert here in Malaysia?

This weekend, K-pop stars Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé are set to light the stage Malawati Indoor Stadium, Shah Alam on fire (not literally of course). In preparation to their show on 23rd (Saturday) and 24th (Sunday) February, the concert organiser has released a few key notes for fans.

To ensure everyone’s safety during the concert, MacpiePro has issued a list of 10 items that are not allowed into the venue. They include:

A layout of Malawati Indoor Stadium has also been printed out so concert-goers can avoid confusion on the day of the event. The details are as follows:

2. Soundcheck and send-off pass redemption

Free bus shuttle service will also be provided this weekend. It will start at 10am and end at 9:30pm.


#Apple: Can Apple Answer These #iPhone6Questions Now?

The world has once again spiralled right into the Apple hype with the latest release of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus!

Not only do we get 2 new iPhones with larger screens, Apple has officially introduced their first smartwatch, the Apple Watch. And because of that, it has proven that innovation and technology has gone way beyond our control, so much so that some people may have become a little confused about the new iPhone 6 and its functions.

Don’t judge. There are a lot of things that we need to know about the new iPhone before we get them too. So, Apple, mind answering these “important” questions for us?

— bob mortimer (@RealBobMortimer) September 9, 2014

People who goes on a gluten-free diet are dead serious about this. We need to know, too.

No, seriously though. Cabbages are hulk roses, right?  4. “Will the battery lif”

Probably. You can throw away your current iPhone now.

I’ll make this quick because I’m tweeting from an iPhone, but will the battery lif #iphone6questions — Moose Allain (@MooseAllain) September 9, 2014

Not sure if this is a question or a statement.

Will it fit up Piers Morgan’s arse #iphone6questions

Very important, Apple. If your products can change the world, we assume that iPhone 6 can shift the Earth’s poles, right?

Will it shift the Earth’s poles? #iphone6questions — Oddie Octaviadi (@OddieGETAH) September 10, 2014

We will see how iPhone 6 will transform a man then.

Will it make me a better person? #iphone6questions

— Henry Sumargo (@henrysumargo) September 10, 2014

Good question. We think it’s lighter than feather.

— Muscle & Fitness (@muscle_fitness) September 9, 2014

A phone that can be used as a self-defense tool? We want one!

Will it attack if cornered? #iphone6questions

And lastly, here’s our question for Apple: Can iPhone 6 magically appear in our bag now? #iphone6questions

So, do you have any interesting #iphone6questions? Leave ’em here and perhaps Apple will answer them!

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Samsung GALAXY S4: Leaked Pics

Ah, leaked pictures – it’s the only thing that would get us all excited and ready to scream at the top of our lungs right now. If not for the need to restrain ourselves for the fear of being branded crazy Samsung fans.

Previously, we talked about the supposed leaked specifications of the highly anticipated Samsung GALAXY S4 smartphone that’s slated for an “Unpacked” event in New York City in about two days. Now, some images of a previously-unseen Samsung smartphone have surfaced. Supposedly, a Chinese variant of the yet-to-be-announced GALAXY S4!

We know, we know, it has the home button, it has the glossy back, and therefore it looks pretty legit.

The pictures were uploaded to a Chinese forum, “52 Samsung” a couple of hours ago and it has fueled all the heavily rumoured speculations over the past few months even more. Customized for local Chinese carrier, “Unicom”, the phone is described as “GT-19502”, has a 1080p display, runs on the Android 4.2.1 platforms, and has a “Universal5410” 1.8GHz processor with 2GB of RAM. What a mouthful!

What about the eight-core processor and all that other good stuff? We’ll just have to wait and see.

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

[youtube id=”YzkfC7–jog” width=”600″ height=”350″]

The Samsung Unpacked 2013 event will take place on 14th March 2013 (Thursday) in New York, where the firm is expected to unveil its latest flagship model. The livestream will begin at 7am (Malaysian time) on 15th March 2013 (Friday) from Samsung’s official YouTube channel.


(UPDATE) Who’s Next: YG Entertainment Drops Teasers For 01.04.2015

Could this be one of the biggest YG Entertainment news yet?

A few minutes ago, the South Korean entertainment powerhouse dropped a “Who’s Next” teaser via their official Facebook page. In case you haven’t been following them closely enough, the “Who’s Next” series first started in 2013, where they teased fans prior to their artistes’ comebacks or debuts.

The first artiste who was revealed in the “Who’s Next” series is 2NE1‘s CL who made her solo debut, “The Baddest Female“. The “Who’s Next” series was then followed by other YG artistes’ comeback including Akdong Musician, Epik High, and BIGBANG‘s Taeyang. They’ve also debuted a new sub-unit duo Hi Suhyun, made up of Lee Hi and Suhyun from Akdong Musician, as well as BIGBANG leader G-Dragon and Taeyang with their “Good Boy” collaboration.

VIPs (as BIGBANG fans are lovingly called) are already quickly speculating that this could be indicative of BIGBANG’s comeback. When so many dynamites go off at once, it’ll produce a big..bang?

The speculation is also due to the fact that in February 2015, YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk himself revealed that all 3 of their idol boy groups e.g. BIGBANG, WINNER, and iKON, will be making their comebacks and debut consecutively one after another in the first half of this year.

As such, it was presumed that all 3 groups will be making their appearances via comebacks/debut in the months of April, May, and June 2015. BIGBANG first with a comeback album, then WINNER with their comeback album, and finally rookies iKON with their first debut single.

And we have a date! Well, that didn’t take them too long ;)

Wait, 1st April? This is not a joke, right?

So, could it be? Will BIGBANG finally be making their comeback after 3 years? Or not? Maybe it’s 2NE1 leader CL’s long-awaited solo debut album?

Wednesday, 1st April 2015, 9am. That’s Wednesday, 1st April 2015, 8am Malaysian time.

Sit tight, peeps! A YG artiste’s debut/comeback is just a matter of hours away now. Who are you really hoping to see? Who do you think it is?

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


UPDATED: “An Evening With John Legend – The All of Me Tour”

Since it was announced that John Legend will be part of the 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix on 21st September, rumours have been rife that the R&B/soul singer John Legend might just make Malaysia his next stop!

According to The Star Online, John Legend, whose latest single, “All Of Me” has sold over 4 million copies is said to be making a pitstop in Kuala Lumpur. And not just any pitstop – he is to hold a concert at the Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre. Details of his show have yet to be officially announced but there’s news that tickets will go on sale on 18th July.

This will not be John Legend’s first time in the country though. He previously performed at the Sunburst KL Festival in 2008. Since then, John Legend has released 2 new albums, “Evolver” and “Love in The Future”. If this rumour of his concert is indeed true then expect to hear a lot of new material from the artiste!

Meanwhile, have a listen to one of our all-time favourite John Legend songs, “All Of Me”:

Details of John Legend’s “An Evening With John Legend – The All of Me Tour” have officially been made available by tour promoter PR Worldwide:

Venue: Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre

Ticketing: From RM195 onwards via TicketPro outlets and online on 1st August. Citibank cardholders will get an exclusive pre-sale discount beginning July 18.


Elderly Male Suspect Arrested For Turtle Slaughter In Sabah

A 60-year-old male in connection with the massive turtle slaughter in Sabah has been arrested.

Last Wednesday (27th September), a disturbing photo of 8 dead turtles lying on a beach at Bum Bum Island went viral online. It was later revealed that there were approximately 100 more turtle skeletons found scattered within the vicinity Semporna.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said that the aforementioned fisherman has been remanded for 5 days for investigation. “Meanwhile, the department is continuing the search for the other identified suspects in the days to come. The search is to cover several islands in Semporna waters,”  Tuuga was quoted as saying.

It is believed that the killing of seas turtles is to supply the tourist’s demands for exotic meats when vacationing in Sabah. “There could be illegal supply of exotic meats and we are trying to look into the allegations,” said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

He added, “There are even allegations that say with the influx of tourists, there has also been an increase in the number of turtles and wildlife killed. So there is a theory that it may have been for the purpose of providing exotic food for some tourists but that is one area that we are still investigating. At this point of time, it is just a theory.”

At this rate, if turtle-poaching continues to go unnoticed, these already-endangered green sea turtles may become extinct.


#TWDOnFOX: The Walkers Are Back

In conjunction with the fifth season of “The Walking Dead”, FOX International Channels (FIC) held an exclusive event which included a special screening of the series’ premiere season episode and a tour of the “Terminus, A Sanctuary No More” set up at Publika.

“The Walking Dead” is one of the 7 series of FIC and Astro’s programmes which will be shown on the “Same Day as the US” to Malaysian viewers. Hence, hardcore fans of “The Walking Dead” can expect to watch the upcoming S5 just hours after the US premiere!

This season, viewers can expect another riveting season full of twists and mysteries. The true motive of the people of the Terminus will be revealed while hopes of finding a cure in Washington DC. Which begs the questions, will the latest season see a beloved character fall prey to the walkers?

Will old alliances break apart? Will a cure be found? And above all, after all they’ve seen, all they’ve done, all they’ve sacrificed, lost, and held on to no matter what the cost, will they survive?

Find out by tuning into FOX (Astro Channel 710) on 13th October at 9pm!

For more information, visit The Walking Dead’s official website.

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6 Major Story Plots That Will Probably Be Explored In Fantastic Beasts 3.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” left us with many questions at the end of the movie. We see Gellert Grindelwald expanding his followers and igniting a war.

Director David Yates previously said that each “Fantastic Beasts” film will take place in a different city. It makes sense to assume that Grindelwald might be returning to Berlin, Germany to build his base there. But what else can we expect for “Fantastic Beasts 3”?

In the 1st movie, we were discovering “What is Credence?”. In the sequel, the character was finding out “Who is Credence?”. For the 3rd instalment, actor Ezra Miller suggests that the film will delve into “Why is Credence?”. J.K. Rowling dropped a bombshell when she revealed that Credence Barebone is actually Aurelius Dumbledore.

How is Credence connected to the Dumbledore family? How did Grindelwald learned about Aurelius’ identity? Does Albus Dumbledore know that Credence is connected to him? The dark wizard believes that Credence is the powerful weapon he needs in order to bring down Albus Dumbledore.

What a pity… Nagini’s presence was barely felt other than the fact that we know she’s a Maledictus and is a close friend to Credence. It’s interesting to note that she chose not to join Credence in siding with Grindelwald. Her friendship with Credence’s friendship might give Albus an advantage in swaying him back. In addition, there’s still so much more about Nagini’s origin story that hasn’t been explored yet.

What is wrong with you Queenie?! Oh right, she’s “crazy”. Our jaws dropped when the sweet-natured witch made the decision to join Grindelwald. Queenie is a powerful Legilimens but will she be easily manipulated by the dark wizard? There’s no way Jacob and her sister Tina will sit ideally and leave her at Grindelwald’s side.

Newt has always considered himself as an outsider. He’s been comfortable contributing by the sidelines while his brother Theseus became the poster boy hero. However, the death of Leta Lestrange has united the Scamander brothers. His biggest advantage is that he understands the creatures in a way wizards don’t.

He was able to restrain Grindelwald with the Swooping Evil and rely on his Niffler to steal the Blood Troth. No doubt, this will all come in handy in the next few movies. Don’t forget that Newt is the only wizard so far who has shown compassion to Credence.

For the longest time, the Blood Pact has restricted Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore from openly going at each other due to its limitations. If you know your Potterverse well, you’d know that Dumbledore doesn’t defeat Grindelwald in a battle until 1945.

In the latest instalment, we see that Dumbledore already has a network of agents whom he works with secretly. One of the key members is French alchemist Nicolas Flamel. In one key scene, Flamel opened a rolodex (that reveals a Phoenix insignia emblazoned on it) to discuss matter with a witch.

That witch is Professor Eulalie “Lally” Hicks, a Professor at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States. Rowling has already confirmed that Professor Hicks will have a bigger role in “FB3”. Perhaps more of Dumbledore’s agents and allies will be unveil in time to come.

“Fantastic Beasts 3” will only debut on 20th November 2020.


Baby Spears Is Engaged, Big Sis Britney Is Happy!

Recently, Britney Spears’ baby sis Jamie Lynn Spears took to Twitter to announce that she’s engaged to Jamie Watson. The former child star Jamie Lynn has been dating 30-year-old Jamie for the past three years after splitting with Casey Aldridge, the father of her four-year-old daughter Maddie. Oh, and might we add that Jamie Lynn is only 21 years old – and she’s getting married!

We know what you’re thinking – pics or it didn’t happen, right?

She announced the news posting a picture the beautiful engagement ring:

Although Jamie Lynn is already a mother, this will be her first marriage. And although older sis Britney Spears recently just called it quits with fiancé Jason Trawick, she was only too happy about her sibling’s news. Britney, too, took it to Twitter to congratulate her little sis when she wrote, “So excited and happy for my sister, congrats @jamielynnspears – love you”.

Aww. Yes, we believe some congratulations from us is in order too so congratulations, Jamie Lynn! Here’s to many, many years of wedded bliss!

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#TheHuntsman: Cast To Attend Red Carpet & Fan Premiere In Singapore

With 45 days and counting until “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” begins its worldwide release starting 6th April 2016, Universal Pictures announced today that it will host a Red Carpet and Fan Premiere at Universal Studios Singapore in Resorts World Sentosa on Sunday, 3rd April 2016.

The all-star cast, featuring Chris Hemsworth, Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, and Jessica Chastain, will grace the red carpet and attend a fan premiere.

The star-studded event will also see Pantages Hollywood Theater at Universal Studios Singapore transformed into an ice palace, replicating the icy empire scene of the movie. Fans will be treated to front row seats as their favourite movie stars walk down the red carpet inside the theme park and pose for a few photo moments.

“We are honoured to partner with Universal Pictures to host the Asia Red Carpet and Fan Premiere for The Huntsman: Winter’s War at Universal Studios Singapore. This is the first time we are hosting a blockbuster premiere, and we are very excited to go beyond the screen to let our guests experience the excitement of Hollywood. We look forward to bringing more iconic events to Universal Studios Singapore, and take fun and entertainment to the next level of excitement for all of our guests,” said Jason Horkin, Senior Vice President for Attractions, Resorts World Sentosa.

Discover the story that came before Snow White in “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”. Chris Hemsworth and Oscar-winner Charlize Theron return to their roles from “Snow White and the Huntsman”, joined by Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain.

Theron stars as evil Queen Ravenna, who betrays her good sister Freya (played by Emily Blunt) with an unforgivable act, freezing Freya’s heart to love and unleashing in her an icy power she never knew she possessed. Retreating to a kingdom far to the north, Freya raises an army of Huntsmen as her protectors, with the only rule that no two of them should ever fall in love.

As a war for domination escalates between the 2 queens, the hero standing between them is Freya’s most elite Huntsman, Eric (played by Chris Hemsworth). Alongside fellow warrior Sara (played by Jessica Chastain) – the only woman who has ever captured his heart – Eric must help Freya vanquish her sister or Ravenna’s wickedness will rule for eternity.

Producer Joe Roth (of “Maleficent” and “Alice in Wonderland” fame) once again leads the team in this breathtaking prequel in the legendary saga that is directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan. This spring, find out who will win the war between good and evil in the epic action-adventure “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”.

“The Huntsman: Winter’s War” will be released in Singapore on 14th April 2016.

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


#Selangor: 10% Property Discount On Selected Houses Available For All

Good news for anyone of you out there who is currently looking to buy a house.

Selangor Investment Committee chairman for Industry and Commerce, Small and Medium Enterprises and Transportation Datuk Teng Chang Kim has just announced that homebuyers will get to enjoy a 10% discount for certain properties starting next month.

“The 10% discount is applicable to all, regardless if they have the Bumiputera status or not. The article which said that the Selangor state government will abolish the 10 per cent discount for Bumiputera is inaccurate because the deduction is for all,” Teng was quoted as saying.

The 3 properties in question that falls under the state’s affordable housing category are:

Teng explained that the new government’s implementation of new guidelines for housing development is to be fair to those who are less capable of purchasing the properties regardless of race. He added that it wouldn’t make sense if the discount is given to only selected group when other communities have the same purchasing capability.

The Selangor exco also revealed that the ceiling price for serviced apartments is RM270,000 while a Soho or Sovo unit can cost up to RM230,000. Soho properties are generally catered to young singles, newly- weds, and budding professionals since its modest size can function both as a home and a work space.

Sovo, on the other hand, are units that come with “telecommunication and infrastructural facilities that allow for immediate business start-ups”. Property owners of Sovo are required “pay assessment, water, and electricity and telephone bills based on commercial rates, which are generally higher than residential rates”.

If you’re wondering what’s the household income required before applying, Teng stated that the amount has been increased from the previous RM8,000 a month, to now, RM15,000 a month.

“However, buyers with household incomes of less than RM10,000 will be prioritised. If they fail to secure loans, only then will the sales (of units) be extended to those earning more than RM10,000,” he said.

Sources: Malaysian Digest, NST, Property Guru.

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#FindYourHarmony: Andrew Rayel Announces Deluxe Edition, Includes New Material

Andrew Rayel has positioned himself to be one of the most influential producers in the trance game. That’s a lot of pressure for an ordinary person, but then again, Andrew Rayel is far from ordinary.

Achieving more before his 20th birthday than many do in their entire lives, it was about time for the young talent to show what he could really do in an album.

Taking his cues from the legends before him, “Find Your Harmony” is constructed like an impenetrable tank – everything about the record is designed to fit right in with the upper crust of trance albums.

A quick glance through the credits of this record, and you’ll see that just about every tune is a solo effort from Andrew Rayel.

The fact that he can produce such a large volume of massive tunes without any help whatsoever is a feat in and of itself, but when he teams up with Armin for the instantly recognisable “EIFORYA”, the record kicks into an even higher gear.

Exceptional vocalists join the young prodigy, such as Christian Burns, Jonathan Mendelsohn, Alexandra Badoi, Sylvia Tosun, Lira Yin, Jano, and Jwaydan. One such track you can expect to be hearing from the “Find Your Harmony” deluxe edition is none other than the newly released, “We Bring The Love”, which features vocalist Sylvia Tosun.

With this record, Andrew Rayel not only realizes the talent that’s always been inside him – he also forever carves his place in trance history.

“Find Your Harmony” deluxe edition will be released on 22nd May 2015. Pre-orders are now open via iTunes here.

For more information, visit Andrew Rayel’s website or Facebook page.


Producers Hit Pause On Ashton As Steve Jobs

“Jobs” was scheduled to be released on 19th April 2013 in conjunction with tech giant Apple’s 37th anniversary. But we hear that the April date has now been scrapped. We also hear whispers that it’s because Ashton Kutcher’s (who plays Steve Jobs in the biopic) performance wasn’t quite up to par.

However, other sources have quickly jumped in to say that the delay is really because of the timing. Some said that it was too soon and that the marketing materials couldn’t be put together fast enough while others commented, “The campaign just needs more time. April was too ambitious. They’ll move it to later in the year, and a new release date’s coming soon”.

[youtube id=”TMycbkYPci8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

“Jobs” actually debuted at Sundance this year though. The movie, produced by Mark Hulme, received mixed reviews at Sundance and perhaps that’s the reason why they think it’s not good enough to launch just yet?

Nevertheless, we really, really do want to watch it so bad.


False News Stirs Up Security Issues

In the past few weeks, the local news have been rife with reports of women’s safety and parking lot thefts. It all started with the case of 25-year-old Chin Xin Ci, who was bundled into her car before being assaulted and robbed at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara. Since then, many other occurrences have surfaced across all news channels and spread through an “engine” that currently holds more power than word of mouth alone – social media.

We have, however, been taught time and time again to not believe everything that we read via mass message broadcasting (SMSes, Whatsapp, BBM) or over the Internet.

Malaysian women were kept on their toes, with wary looks, and ready to retaliate all of yesterday when an anonymous message was circulated via mass message broadcasting. The message contained a supposed report that came from Channel NewsAsia Singapore that was “blocked” by Malaysian authorities.

Keep in mind that despite the efforts that are currently underway to beef up various shopping malls’ parking lots, the average Malaysian female is still reeling from reports  that have taken over our mainstream media – what more having to worry about thieves that won’t hesitate to stab and kill, on top of robbing.

Or at least that’s what the supposed report said:

Although the news channel has always been known for being the quickest to report the most “sensational” news, they have taken to their Facebook page to deny allegations of having ever reported such atrocious rumours.

As a matter of fact, even our very own Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) have stepped up to post a rebuttal to the vicious fictitious news via Facebook:

It’s always better to be safe than sorry but also, and we must reiterate, don’t always believe everything that you read on the Internet.

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#KoreanEmbassy: 2016 K-Pop World Festival In Malaysia (The Malaysian Preliminary)

Dear all the K-Pop lovers in Malaysia, the K-Pop World Festival is back in Malaysia for 2016. If you are chosen as the Malaysian winner, you will invited to Korea to join the final contest together with the representatives from other countries!

Remember, the Finals will be organised by Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and aired throughout a number of countries.

It is very simple to join: just create a video of yourself singing, dancing or doing both to a K-Pop song and send it to koreanembassypubdip@gmail.com and cixuan1216@gmail.com by 2nd May 2016. The submitted videos will be thoroughly reviewed, and only top 12 teams will be chosen to actually compete in the preliminary contest in Malaysia, which will be held on 29th May 2016 at HELP University.

Please note that your song of choice should be the exact same song that you will be performing at the contest itself.

1. Team Composition Requirements
o Vocal Performances
– number of singers: no limit
– number of backup dancers: maximum two (2)
o Dance Performances
– the same number of members of the original K-Pop band is recommended (ex. BIGBANG: 5 members)

2. Deadline for Video Submission
o 2nd May 2016, Midnight
* Submissions after the deadline will NOT be considered
** Minor applicants are required to prove that they have earned their parents’ consent (statement with signature, ID photocopies)
o Please fill out and sign the application form and send the scanned version together with the video to both koreanembassypubdip@gmail.com and cixuan1216@gmail.com
※Please visit their website to download the application form

3. Regional Preliminary in Malaysia(“2016 K-Pop World Festival in Malaysia”)
o 29th May 2016, Sunday, 3 – 5pm, HELP University ELM Business School
* The performances of the top 2 winners will be reviewed again by KBS, and only the chosen one by KBS will be invited to Korea for the Finals.

4. 2016 K-Pop World Festival in Changwon, Korea
o 30th September 2016
* The show will be aired throughout a number of countries including Korea

For more information, visit the Korean Embassy’s Facebook page.


ZoukOut Singapore 2017 Announces Exciting New Additions – DJ Snake & Bungee Jumping!

Asia’s largest beach EDM festival, ZoukOut Singapore 2017 is inching closer and we have exciting news!

Set to take place at the Siloso Beach in Sentosa this 8th and 9th December, the 17th edition of ZoukOut promises partygoers 2 days of intense dance music experience with world-class stage productions. Some of the names that have already been announced for the festival are notable DJs and music producers like Axwell & Ingrosso, Claptone, Flume, MarshMello, Rehab, Robin Schulz, Yellow Claw, and Guiboratto. In addition to that, ZoukOut has added French EDM producer DJ Snake, Belgium-based techno aficionado Amelie Lens, and Dutch trance phenomenon MaRLo to further spice things up at the festival.

Not just a dusk-to-dawn beach front dance music festival, this year’s ZoukOut focuses on the lifestyle experience with its music, food village, and adrenaline fuelled activities. In fact, ZoukOut 2017 has partnered with renowned bungee jumping company, AJ Hackett, to cater to all the adrenaline junkies out there. So there’s your chance to enjoy the spectacular view of the festival from the top at Singapore’s very first bungee jumping tower ;)

And, you can be sure that festival goers will definitely not go hungry with ZoukOut’s curated Food Village with sumptuous food options like The Lime Truck, Three Buns (by Potato head folks), Red Tail Grill, Keisuke Ramen, and Udders Ice-cream.

Doors will open earlier this year at 6.30pm for festival goers to catch the sunset whilst having dinner amidst chill out beats with DJ Jeck Hyde on Day 1 and DJ KFC on Day 2.

Oh yum. That’s just about every excuse to start your festival journey early! Hop on-board the ZoukOut party bus and pre-party with your squad on-board the festival party bus from Clarke Quay to the festival and after-party back to Clarke Quay.

A non-stop EDM beach party paired with adrenaline pumping activities, there is absolutely no reason why you should miss out on this :)

For more information, hit up ZoukOut’s website.

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#Bii: Taiwanese-Korean Singer To Hold His 1st Overseas Solo Concert In Malaysia

Not only do we get to see Christina Perri and Ed Sheeran perform live in Malaysia this March, Taiwanese-Korean singer Bii (畢書盡) is coming to Malaysia for his 1st overseas solo concert as well.

But that’s not all! The singer will be making a double trip to Malaysia as he will be here for his promo tour this month.

A few weeks ago, Bii released his long waited album, “Action Bii”. The album is his first full length album as his has only released an EP and 2 mini albums,”Bii Story” and “Come Back to Bii” previously. Through his new album, the singer challenged himself by showcasing his talent in composing his own music. He composed half of the album and even mixed up Mandarin, English, Hokkien, and Korean lyrics in a song titled, “Action Go”. Bii even surprised his fans by shooting 7 music videos in England for 10 days.

Bii was born and raised in Korea by his mother but the 25-year-old singer decided to launch his music career in Taiwan. He made his debut in 2010 with the stage name Bii 畢書盡 and gained a huge following in the Asian region through his hit songs such as “Shi Zai Bi Xing” (勢在必行), “Yi Tian Tian” (一天天), “Zhuan Shen Zhi Hou” (轉身之後), “Come Back To Me”, “Liu Xing Fei Guo”（流星飛過）, etc. A few of his songs were even used in a Taiwanese drama, “Zhong Wu Yan (鍾無艷)”.

With all the support he has gained from the fans, Bii is gearing up to showcase his best performance and to create a memorable night with his Malaysian fans this year with his first overseas solo concert, “Bii My Love Live In Malaysia 2015”.

Organized by Absolive Entertainment and co-organizer Click Entertainment, the concert details are as follows:

The ticket launch will be held on the 17th of January from 2pm to 9pm, at Parkamaya, Level 3 of Fahrenheit 88, KL. The first 200 VVIP ticket buyers will be given away a goodie bag that includes Bii’s merchandise. With terms and conditions applied, 10% discount will be offered to those who purchase VVIP, VIP, and PS1 tickets on the spot (limited 6 tickets for each person).

Fans can also buy their tickets online via TicketCharge and the online sale will begin at 6pm onwards. Outlet sales will commence from 18th Jan at 10am while phone purchase (Tel: 03-9222 8811) can be made starting from 10am on 19th Jan.

Before coming here for the concert, Bii will be meeting his Malaysians fans through several autograph sessions in KL, Penang, and Johor this month. Fans who have purchased the concert tickets or Bii’s latest album “Action Bii” will stand a chance to obtain Bii’s autograph. Others can also win the promo tour tickets by visiting Parkamaya and Escape Room (Sutera Mall, Johor)’s Facebook page.

The “Bii My Love Live In Malaysia 2015” promotional tour schedule is as follows:

“Bii My Love Live In Malaysia 2015” Ticket Launch

We’ll leave you now with one of Bii’s popular music videos, “I’m Still Missing You”:

For more information on Bii’s tour to Malaysia, visit Absolive Entertainment or Click Entertainment.

Don’t forget to get updates from Universal Music Malaysia Chinese Facebook page as well.


Pregnant Cashier Is Slapped In The Face For Not Arranging Groceries Properly

An employee at a convenience store in Klang was slapped by a customer in the face, just because the former hastily placed his partner’s purchased items in the plastic bag.

Kosmo reported that the wife got angry at the cashier, before complaining about the incident to her husband who was outside. Out of anger, the husband entered the shop and started arguing with the employee, before smacking her left cheek.

The CCTV footage of the commotion has since gone viral online. The victim, Nor Ain Shafinaz Nor Azmi told the news outlet that the incident took place when the supermarket was in the process of closing its daily operations, and explained that she was rushing at the time. Several other customers were also waiting in line to make their purchase transaction.

“After a few minutes, the woman’s husband came in and yelled at me. He told me to quit if I’m not sincere in doing this job. The man then slapped my left cheek, and the incident was witnessed by other customers,” the 5 months pregnant mother told the publication.

Following that, Nor Ain Shafinaz then lodged a police report at the Bukit Raja Police Station at about 11:30pm. “The report was made out of concern about my safety, in case the man seeks revenge on me again in the future,” the 24-year-old lady explained.

North Klang District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Nurulhuda Mohd Salleh revealed that the 38-year-old man was arrested at his house. Investigations found that the suspect works as an ice truck driver. He also has four previous records involving criminal and drug cases.

The man has since been released on police bail and the case is being investigated under Section 323/506 of the Penal Code.

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Tiger Pounces On The Year Of The Rabbit With ‘The Boldest’ CNY Campaign!

The Year of the Rabbit is just around the corner – but to celebrate this auspicious season, we need to pause, celebrate and re-energize for an even bolder tomorrow with… a Tiger.

Life’s small wins are often left unacknowledged in the daily hustle of chasing after tomorrow. So this Chinese New Year (CNY), Tiger inspires fans to take a pause and celebrate past moments to re-energize their inner Tiger with the recent launch of its ‘Cheers to Bold Beginnings’ CNY campaign. During the new campaign’s unveiling, Tiger introduced ‘Gan Gan Chong’, which means the ‘spirit to break through’, as a blessing of boldness this CNY.

Bringing this blessing to life, Tiger partnered with three homegrown artists – Dato Maw, Han Xiiao Ai and Danny Lee – to create a CNY song and music video, entitled ‘The Boldest Chase’. The three artists were chosen to represent the brand as they embody the same courageous spirit to boldly overcome the odds on their journey, as seen in some apt references in the song lyrics. The song is available on the campaign’s microsite, YouTube and Spotify channels.

‘The Boldest Chase’ is a one-of-a-kind campaign that invites consumers to interact with the content and win exclusive prizes. By tapping on the screen of mobile devices, or pressing the ‘T’ key on their desktop when they spot the lucky Tiger logo, viewers will be able to unlock rewards. The music video was revealed at the campaign launch event that took place at the concourse area of Tropicana Gardens Mall, which has been transformed to depict the vibrant streets of Chinatown, and included various interactive activities for consumers and shoppers to enjoy.

Guests were treated to an energetic performance by the three artists upon checking out the interactive activities, such as the ‘Trail of the Tiger’, ‘Roar Challenge’, ‘Gold Bar Challenge’, ‘Gan Gan Chong Dance Challenge’, and ‘Lou-A-Fortune’ game, where they got to take a pause and indulge in the festive spirit. These activities are running from now until 23rd January at Tropicana Gardens Mall, for consumers to experience and win exciting prizes.

With the energy at an all-time high during the launch, guests were then ushered to the Extra Super Tanker Restaurant for dinner. There, they enjoyed an energizing lion dance performance, a yee sang toss to commemorate the occasion and invite abundance for the Year of the Rabbit, as well as stage performances, all while celebrating bold beginnings with Tiger.

According to Roland Bala, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, this year, they encourage Tiger fans to have courage in facing the challenges of 2023 with the spirit of “Gan Gan Chong”. With their nationwide activations and promotions, they want fans to take a moment to celebrate the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better Year of the Rabbit.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

For more information on the Tiger CNY 2023 campaign, merchandise, promotions, contest and giveaways, check our their website, as well as Tiger’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Tiger Beer and all related promotions and activities are strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above only. As always, drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive.


#RayaniAir: Airline Company Promises No More Handwritten Boarding Passes

Earlier this week, Rayani Air came under fire after Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San posted a photo of his handwritten boarding pass that went viral on the internet. This was just one of many complaints about the airlines including reports of flight delays and cancellations.

Yesterday, Rayani Air issued a public apology and stated that it will stop issuing handwritten boarding passes with immediate effect. “Rayani Air apologises to all passengers who were affected by the flight delay and the confusion caused,” the statement reads. Moving forward, passengers would only be receiving printed boarding passes for its flights.

The Syariah-compliant airline had previously defended the handwritten passes, justifying that it was written on Rayani Air’s official thermal paper, the same material used for a normal boarding pass, with the company logo printed on the top left corner.

Referring to the issue, general manager of public relations Anisah Azharuddin added that the incident happened because of a system technicality that prevented it from printing the boarding passes electronically. The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching was scheduled for 11:30pm on Friday (18th March) but was delayed to 5am on Saturday (19th March).

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has since issued a warning saying that Rayani Air is under investigation and will likely face suspension if the Transport Ministry receives more complaints in regards to the airline regulations.

Rayani Air, which was launched on December last year, placed itself as Malaysia’s first “Syariah-compliant” airline.

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Take Home A Piece Of “The Avengers”

TGV Cinemas is delighted to celebrate with Marvel’s hit blockbuster movie Marvel’s The Avengers. To mark the excitement of this epic blockbuster, TGV Cinemas introduced a range of collectibles for all movie buffs and fans of Marvel’s The Avengers.

Kick starting the premiere was the inaugural launch of “The Avengers Tiny TUMBO Assemble”. This new novelty by TGV Cinemas showcases the four main characters in the movie namely:

The Avengers Tiny TUMBO Assemble is a collector’s item that is only available for a limited time. Collectors have a choice of purchasing the Tiny TUMBO in a set of four, packaged in a collector’s bag, for RM 65.00 or individually for RM17.90.

Every purchase of Tiny TUMBO comes with a set of Smokin’ Hot Minis and Coca Cola.

TGV Cinemas will also be hosting The Avengers Assemble and Win Contest in conjunction with the movie. To be in the running, movie-goers only have to submit TGV ticket stubs of Marvel’s The Avengers, together with the original purchase receipt of a complete Marvel’s The Avengers Tiny TUMBO set, answer three simple questions and think up a creative slogan.

The Grand Prize winner will walk away with a highly coveted Marvel’s The Avengers themed Diorama Display set and a Lenovo Netbook!  There are also five consolation prizes which include:

Participants will need to mail their contest entries by 31st May 2012.

In addition, TGV Cinemas is collaborating with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures to give movie-goers the opportunity to win the limited edition Avengers Movie Booklet in their Watch and Win Contest. The Avengers Movie Booklet is a limited edition compilation of The Avengers made only available at TGV Cinemas. The Avengers Movie Booklet will be yours when you purchase two IMAX or four normal 3D tickets of Marvel’s The Avengers at TGV Cinemas.

“TGV Cinemas is always at the forefront in enhancing the cinematic experience for our patrons. The pleasure of watching a movie at a highly sophisticated cinema is now complete by allowing patrons to own or even win limited edition collectibles. We want to make going to the movies fun.  I assure you this is just a sneak peek of more excitement to come from TGV Cinemas”, said Kenny Wong (CEO of TGV Cinemas).

TGV Cinemas will also be premiering Marvel’s The Avengers at the IMAX Theatre at TGV Sunway Pyramid for movie-goers who want to have an immersive movie experience with crystal-clear images, powerful digital sound and customized theatre geometry.

For more details on Marvel’s The Avengers movie screenings and collectibles, visit TGV’s website or their Facebook page.


#RAIN: Korean Superstar Brings The Squall Tour 2016 To Malaysia

Get ready K-pop fans! Your favourite Korean heartthrob, Rain, is officially making his way back to our shores again.

Called “Rain: The Squall Tour 2016”, the 33-year-old entertainer will be performing at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands, on 21st May 2016. “The Squall Tour” is his first concert tour (and 7th overall) since completing his compulsory military service in 2013.

Rain (real name: Jung Ji Hoon), is arguably one of the top Korean entertainers of all time. Having been included in Time magazine’s 2006 most influential people in the world, the multifaceted performer is equally popular for his music and his acting roles. He has 7 albums to his name and is currently starring as the lead in his latest Korean drama series, “Please Come Back, Mister”.

He was supposed to perform in Kuala Lumpur as part of the Twin Towers @Live free concert in March 2014, but the event was cancelled at the 11th hour due to the unfortunate MH370 tragedy. If you had missed out on the opportunity to meet your K-pop idol when he was in Pavilion Shopping Mall last November, here’s your chance to watch him live.

Brought to you by Galaxy Group, the details for “Rain The Squall Tour 2016 in Malaysia” is as follows:

Tickets for the show are available at all Galaxy ticketing counters at Mid Valley Megamall and Sungai Wang.

To purchase tickets online, visit Buytickets at www.buytickets.com.my and phone purchase via 03-2282 2020. For information, check out www.galaxy.com.my.

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#FindingDory: Plot Details & New Characters Unveiled At Disney’s D23 Expo

While Woody will go on a quest to find love in Disney Pixar‘s “Toy Story 4“, Dory will go on a quest to find her family in the upcoming “Finding Nemo” sequel.

In fact, Dory will “just keep swimming” until she reunites with her mom and dad.

Contrary to popular belief, the animated sequel is not going to be known as “Finding Nemo 2”. Because it will centre on the origins of Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), it will be known as “Finding Dory“.

Fans of the Academy Award-winning animated feature film recently flocked to Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California to catch a glimpse of the highly anticipated sequel.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the filmmakers presented a clip from the upcoming film, featuring Dory the forgetful blue fish muttering about “the jewel of Monterey, California” when Nemo the clown fish wakes and find her sleep-swimming. When she wakes up the next morning, she tells Nemo, “I don’t remember what I remembered, but I remembered that I remembered something.”

As she stares into the blue void of the ocean, it hits Dory that she has a family in California and she needs to get there to see them again. Nemo’s father, Marlin, is reluctant to help her, but decides to accompany her for another death-defying quest in the ocean.

The ocean's full of surprises. Meet Hank the cantankerous Octopus, voiced by Ed O'Neill. #FindingDory #D23EXPO pic.twitter.com/cb3lvur5nu

Along the way, they meet some new friends namely Hank the cantankerous octopus, Bailey the misguided beluga whale, and Destiny the kind-hearted whale shark.

At the D23 Expo, DeGeneres herself took the stage to excitedly announce the new cast members for the sequel. It was revealed that Ed O’Neill is voicing Hank while Ty Burrell and Kaitlin Olson are voicing Bailey and Destiny respectively. Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy will voice Jenny and Charlie, Dory’s parents who are stuck in a facility in Monterey, California.

Original actor Alexander Gould is not returning to the film to voice Nemo as producer Lindsey Collins explained that he is now 21 years old. Thus, his role has now been replaced by newcomer Hayden Rolence. Albert Brooks is returning to reprise his voice role as Marlin.

Director Andrew Stanton, who directed the original “Finding Nemo” movie, didn’t think that he would be helming the sequel as he thought that “the story was done with the first movie”. However, when the idea to pursue Dory’s journey came up, he knew he had to make the 2nd film.

I wanted to know that if this charming forgetful fish ever got lost again, that she would be OK, that she would find her way home. And at the end of “Finding Nemo”, I wasn’t confident about that. So that’s when I knew I had another story.

The sequel will take place 6 months after the first instalment. Stanton will write the script and direct it alongside co-director Angus MacLane. According to Pixar President Jim Morris, the majority of the film will take place at the Marine Biology Institute of California, where Dory was born and raised before she was released into the wild.

“Finding Dory” is set to be released on 17th June 2016.

Stay tuned for the movie’s official Facebook page for more updates ;)

Sources: The Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly.

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#BoyceAvenueLiveInKL: YouTube Sensation Delivers Heartfelt, Honest Performance

No matter how much we’d like our favourite bands such as Coldplay or Arctic Monkeys to perform in Malaysia, it’s still a no go. They would probably perform in the galaxy before coming to our city. Sure, we’re totally fine with that because if we can, we would be booking our flight tickets to the city they’re going to perform at, anyway. However, all thanks to the wonders of YouTube, we discovered a bunch of musicians that have been a world stage to showcase their talents online. From performing cover songs to releasing their own self-written albums to touring around the world, these musicians proved that they are more just online personalities.

In an effort to connect with their fans offline, many well-loved YouTube sensations such as Wong Fu Productions, Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider, David Choi, JR Aquino, Alex Goot and Against The Current, Ryan Higa, Victor Kim, and Andrew Garcia has been to Malaysia as pair of their Asia tour. It’s always our pleasure to have them perform here and all thanks to Livescape Asia, YouTube sensation Boyce Avenue finally performed their first-ever Malaysian concert at KL Live, Life Centre on 12th Feb.

Formed in Sarasota, Florida, Boyce Avenue is an American rock band that comprised of Alejandro Luis Manzano and his brothers Daniel Enrique Manzano, Fabian Rafael Manzano. They are most viewed independent band in the world with over 6.6 million subscribers on YouTube. So, it came as no surprise to us that their one-night-only show in KL would attract over 2,000 fans like us.

Despite the slight delay, the concert kicked off with a bang with lovely performances from our very own local musician, Narmi. Together with his band (who called themselves the “Slingin’ Sampins”), Narmi performed a few of his own songs and cover songs such as Shaggy’s “Angel” and Innuendo’s “Belaian Jiwa”. They were later joined on stage by Elizabeth Tan, the young musician who made a splash in 2013 with her own cover songs on YouTube. While most fans came to see Boyce Avenue, Narmi and Elizabeth managed to get the crowd pumped up as they sing along to” to their own renditions of Jason Mraz’s “Lucky” and Michael Jackson’s “Love Never Felt So Good“. We were especially amused by Hitz FM’s Goatzilla, which made a surprise appearance.

Awwyisss! @elizabethtsm & @narmi_i are up on stage to perform a lovely rendition of “Lucky” now <3 #BoyceAvenue #BoyceAvenueLiveInKL

A video posted by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy) on Feb 12, 2015 at 4:43am PST

Not long after their performances, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrived as Boyce Avenue finally took to the stage to perform. Needless to say, the venue instantly came to life as fans erupted in screams and applause. The band also seemed excited to perform in KL as Alejandro greeted the crowd twice by shouting “Malaysia!” with great enthusiasm. After performing a few of their own songs and cover songs in a row, the band took a break and spoke to the fans briefly. It was definitely great to see them perform with such high levels of energy even although they were on a very tight schedule for their Asia tour.

Best known for their superbly awesome renditions of pop songs, the band did not shy away from performing songs like Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”, Ne-Yo’s “Because of You“, Bruno Mars’ “Locked out of Heaven“, and so on. Although Alejandro sang the most, Fabian and Daniel managed to serenade the crowd with their guitar and bass solos while drummer Jason Burrows snagged the spotlight with his drum solos. The crowd was definitely pleased to hear Fabian and Daniel singing when they performed One Direction’s “Story of My Life“.

Omg <3 #BoyceAvenue just performed their self-written song for the first show in Malaysia :D can you guess which song is it? @boyceavenue

A video posted by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy) on Feb 12, 2015 at 6:01am PST

But when it comes to the real deal of their show, it’s definitely the self-written songs from their debut album “No Limits”. Now we definitely know why they didn’t need to sign a record deal because this band is mad talented! The band charmed the crowd with “Find Me“, a song the crowd was familiar with as most of them were singing along to the song. As Valentine’s Day was fast approaching, the band also dedicated “On My Way” to the people who were still looking for their soulmates.

During the encore session, Alejandro came back on stage to do a solo performance of “Broken Angel”. He mentioned that the song was dedicated to all the girls who had a tough time growing up because it was a song he that wrote for his best friend who had a rough childhood. It was definitely a touching performance as we truly felt that he sang this song from his heart.

“Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you’ Omg you gotta love the crowd at #BoyceAvenueLiveInKL tonight! #BoyceAvenue @boyceavenue A video posted by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy) on Feb 12, 2015 at 6:49am PST

The climax of the night? It was definitely during their rendition of Coldplay’s “Fix You,” in which Alejandro noted that Coldplay is one of their favourite bands. His voice merged with the crowd as everyone sang along, creating a perfect harmony. Before leaving the stage, the band once again had the crowd jumping along to their song as they performed their own track, “Every Breath”. Alejandro promised that the band would come back to perform again if they ever had chance to do so.

I must say, I was deeply impressed with their efforts to interact with the fans and the crowd’s enthusiastic response. When combined, these two elements prove that Boyce Avenue’s first showcase in KL was definitely a successful showcase.

Having a post-concert depression? Curb your withdrawal symptoms here with the photos that we took in the gallery below:

Special thanks to our friends from Livescape Asia for bringing them down and we certainly hope they will come back to perform again! :)

For more updates, check out Livescape Asia’s Facebook page or follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe Boyce Avenue’s official YouTube channel.

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Michael J. Fox Preps For The Role Of His Life

It has been years since he (lead) starred in anything that was a franchise of a series. After all, he did leave the limelight for more than a decade to concentrate on fighting Parkinson’s disease. Yet, no one has really forgotten the actor, who previously starred in the epic “Back to the Future” movie franchise.

Yes, you know that one. The one with the DeLorean.

Michael J. Fox came out in the open about Parkinson’s disease in 1991, while he was halfway into “Spin City”. A year later, he left the series because he had intended to focus on helping find a cure for the disease.

But that also meant that his workload had to be reduced, causing him to step away from the Hollywood limelight:

[youtube id=”ECkPVTZlfP8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Just a few months ago, however, five-time Emmy Award-winner Michael J. Fox told ABC News that he’s taking a new drug regimen that helps him control the tics and thus, allowing him to take on more roles.

So it comes as no surprise when an official announcement was made just hours ago that the actor will be returning to TV!

The 51-year-old actor will star in a Sony Pictures Television comedy for 2013, more than a decade since his last project. Said to be inspired by Michael J. Fox’s own life, the series is developed with director Will Fluck (“Friends with Benefits”, “Easy A”) and writer Sam Laybourne (“Cougar Town”, “Arrested Development”).

Michael J. Fox’s publicist and Sony has yet to comment on the breaking news, but the people in the know of the project has spoken to Associated Press, dishing out the dirt albeit anonymously. (Source)

He also has a foundation under his name that funds the research for a Parkinson’s disease cure.


Pavilion Embraces Earth Hour 2013

This month, Pavilion KL will be joining the world in the largest movement for the planet in human history. Held for the fifth consecutive year in Malaysia, Earth Hour has reached over 7,000 cities, 152 countries across the globe.

Joining the world in spreading the message of hope and action against global warming, the hub of experiences will be turning off all non-essential lighting on and around its premises with an exciting line-up of fun activities that include a Glow-in-the-Dark Hand Print pledge to save Mother Earth, as well as a Glow-in-the-Dark Fancy Dress Competition from 8pm til 9.30pm.

So don’t miss the fun at Bukit Bintang Entrance this 23rd March 2013 (Saturday)!

For more information, visit Pavilion KL’s Facebook page.


Hype’s Now Playing: Hardwell ft. Jolin Tsai – We Are One

One of electronic music’s biggest and most watched stars Hardwell has teamed up with one of Asia’s biggest pop sensations Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) for a white-hot new release titled, “We Are One”.

As part of this highly anticipated studio release, the duo has partnered with China’s biggest mobile operating China Mobile Cooperation who have made the record available to its 800 million subscribers as a first listen premiere of an enormous pop-meets-dance collaboration. Early support for ‘We Are One’ has already put the single at #1 in the Taiwanese iTunes chart and on the Chinese download platforms QQ and Kuwa – which is an impressive feat for an English speaking dance record.

This exclusive version of “We Are One” for the Asian region puts the twice voted #1 DJ Hardwell right back in trademark territory with energetic melodic builds, distinctive Hardwell-flavoured beats and plenty of drive to ignite the largest of festival mainstages. Jolin’s voice on the top line brings a unique pop zest that will embed itself in your head proving it’s catchy, and almost certainly ageless, quality.

Talking about the partnership Hardwell said, “Asia is one of the most exciting, emerging markets on the planet for dance music right now! Working with Jolin on this record was a great experience and we wanted to find a way to deliver it to the fans in a unique way. Joining forces with China Mobile opens up a direct doorway to many of Jolin’s and my Asian fans so it felt the perfect opportunity for us to bring our world’s together on ‘We Are One’ and deliver some fresh new music to millions of fans!”

An alternative version will be coming soon via Revealed Recordings on a forthcoming Hardwell EP.

For more information on Hardwell, hit up his website or Facebook page. Hardwell is also on Twitter and Instagram.

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11-Year-Old Fathers Child With 36-Year-Old

An 11-year-old New Zealand boy was reported Saturday to have fathered a child with the 36-year-old mother of a school friend, raising questions on why women cannot be charged with rape in the country.

Counsellors working in the area of child sexual abuse said the case highlighted a lack of attention to women as potential offenders, according to the New Zealand Herald, which reported the story. The case has also prompted an examination of the law, under which the crime of rape applies only to men. Justice Minister Judith Collins said she would investigate, the paper reported.

“This case raises an important point. I will seek advice from officials on whether or not a law change is required”, Collins said.

The woman and boy, whose names were not released, live in the main North Island district of Auckland. The boy’s school principal told the New Zealand Herald that he was shocked when the child told him what was happening. “You won’t be very happy with me”, he recalled the boy saying late last year. He said he had been having sex with his friend’s mother “and it needs to stop”.

The organisation Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse said if the case is proved then the woman should be held accountable.

Under New Zealand law, the crime of rape applies only to men and carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years. Women who force a male to have sex face a charge of sexual violation which carries a maximum 14-year sentence.

According to the newspaper, government welfare officials — who took the  baby into care about two months ago — confirmed they were dealing with a case  at the boy’s school and that it was before the courts, but refused to comment  further. The police also refused to comment. The Herald reported that the young father, who has now turned 12, was also understood to have been taken into care.


MACC Investigates Into Millions Of Ringgit Being Unpaid To Musicians

Recording artists are claiming that they have not received millions of ringgit in royalties from certain Malaysian companies for the past two decades. These claims were made by the Malaysian Artistes Association (Karyawan) in early October.

Following this issue, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has allegedly raided four companies on Wednesday (25th November) to carry out further investigations into the case.

According to The Star, a source revealed that the four offices raided by the MACC include Public Performance Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PPM), Recording Performers Malaysia Berhad (RPM), Music Authors Copyright Protection Berhad (MACP) and the Performers’ Rights and Interest Society of Malaysia Berhad (PRISM).

“Several related documents have been taken by the MACC for further study and research. Certain individuals will also be called up to facilitate with the investigations,” stated the source.

MACC deputy chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, confirmed that the authorities are indeed investigating the case. The investigation is reported to be categorised as a false claims issue under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009. However, the deputy chief commissioner asserted that it was too early for him to comment on the matter.

“To be fair, all quarters involved should refrain from sensationalising this issue and give ample time for the MACC to investigate this matter in a transparent and professional manner,” stated Yahaya.

According to FMT, PPM had refuted these claims of malpractice by stating that it does not have the authority to distribute royalties to performers. Thus, all royalties collected by PPM are said to be given to a licensing agent who remits the performer’s licensing bodies for distribution.

PPM is reported to have lodged a police report against Karyawan for alleged defamation, and also submitted complaints to MACC and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).


Our Lil Adventure With Narmi!

How odd is it for a person who’s so used to being the drummer of a local pop punk band (One Buck Short aka OBS)  to be performing his own solo songs, armed with nothing but a genuine voice, a mic, and his trusty guitar? We’re not only talking about the abrupt change in musical style per se – but also the quite obvious (and literal) shift in stage spots.

Oh, you might also recognize him (if not for his role in OBS) from NTV7’s “What Men Want”, a reality TV series where six Malaysian men were picked to represent the different segments of Malaysian men. Yes, he was one of the six. The apparent “hopeless romantic”, they said.

Let’s hear it now from the multi-talented Narmi, who has finally made his songwriting and singing skills public and is ready to release his first ever EP. Like his solo career, he takes center stage in our exclusive interview with the man himself:

Hi Narmi! Thanks for taking time to speak to us. We heard you just got back from a gig in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru. How was it?

“Hellooooo, it is my pleasure! Oh yes, the JB Arts Festival. It was very good thanks, the reception was good and the organizers were really nice. It’s actually my first show in JB as Narmi.”

So, you’re about to release your first ever solo EP. You must be super excited! What took you so long?

“Yes, I am very excited, but a bit scared as well. I’ll be releasing it on the 30th of this month and the launch will be on Livestream. So you can watch it wherever you are, as long as there’s a decent internet connection. It took a lil longer than expected because the tracks were done last year. My Music Director (Jeremy Lim) advised me to wait for the right time to release. Now I see his reasoning behind it – we needed that time to build a fan base and also to gain some experience.”

Tell us a little bit more about the songs that will be released in your EP. Are any of those songs based on real life experiences?

“Actually, all the songs on the EP are based on experience! There are three main tracks on the EP, ‘Tweet in Defiance’, ‘Make Me Whirl’, and ‘The Road Home’. ‘Tweet in Defiance’ is about Twitter as an outlet for our generation, cause that’s where we complain about things when there’s no one else to complain to. ‘Make Me Whirl’ is basically about a girl. ‘The Road Home’ is actually a song I wrote about death. Yeah pretty morbid. There will also be two additional tracks, which are recorded live – ‘Cair’ and ‘Trying to Sleep’. These two tracks will actually be recorded properly for the future album. “

[youtube id=”C_6EVBJfI8w” width=”600″ height=”350″]

In terms of songwriting, where do you find your source(s) of inspiration? Are there any musicians that your draw your inspirations from?

“My inspiration comes from anything and everything that can stir emotion in me. It could be a particular line from a song, or a passionately told story from a friend, or it could be the way a certain person makes me feel. There are several musicians that I draw my inspirations from – mostly John Mayer. But that really depends on how I’m feeling at the moment. In different emotional states, the same songs can sound different and mean different things. I try to find double meanings in the same lyrics.”

Answer the following question: You’re stranded on an island, what are the top five things that you must have with you?

“I would actually like to say..a boat. But that would defeat the whole purpose of this..haha! Guitar, sleeping bag, pocket knife, lighter, and 20 cartons of cigarettes.”

Name the oddest job you’ve ever had. Also, tell us what you’d most likely be doing if you weren’t in the music industry.

“I haven’t done many jobs actually. I did translate 100 pages of a booklet from Bahasa Indonesia to English before though! If I weren’t in the music industry, I’d probably be a hobo.”

Now that your EP is (almost) out, what other big projects or surprises do you have in the pipeline for the rest of 2012?

“My team and I are working some things at the moment. The website – which will be accessible after the launch. It’ll be a one-stop site where you can find everything related to my adventures. The new YouTube channel where content will come with better sound, video quality, and interaction. We’ll have themed videos so it’ll be fun, fun, fun! And once iTunes Malaysia sorts itself out, it’ll become another platform for fans from overseas to purchase music. We also shot a video for ‘Make Me Whirl’ last year in Bali and it’ll be released during the launch. Several tours are in discussion for 2013, along with a full album. But let’s save that for next year.”

Talk about keeping us in suspense! We can’t wait to hear his long-awaited EP though.  Meanwhile, for more Narmi goodness, hit up his Facebook page or stalk him via his Twitter account.

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Good Vibes Festival 2018: Lorde To Headline With alt-J & Odesza

The line-up for Good Vibes Festival 2018 has finally been announced!

The majority of the We The Fest 2018 international acts are also coming to Malaysia later this year. Headlining the two-day music event are Lorde, alt-J, Odesza, and The Neighbourhood. Unfortunately, no James Bay :(

As the pop headliner, Lorde is no doubt the main draw to this year’s Good Vibes Festival. There are also rockers alt-J and The Neighbourhood. But like music duo Odesza, many of the other international acts are of the electronic genre. They include HONNE, French DJ Petit Biscuit, and EDM duo Louis The Child. Representing the local bands are Altimet And The Kawan Band, Noh Salleh, Kyoto Protocol, and more.

Last year, Good Vibes Festival took place in August with the likes of Phoenix, G-Eazy, The Kooks, Kodaline, and Dua Lipa performing at The Ranch. Set to take place in Genting Highlands again this coming July, tickets will go on sale as early as this week.

U Mobile subscribers will get first dips on exclusive early birds and VIP pre-sale tickets starting this Friday (20th April 2018 at 12pm onwards). General public sale will take place the following day on Saturday (21st April 2018 at 11am onwards).

U Mobile customers will also be able to purchase VIP tickets worth RM550 at 10% off. VIP ticket holders are entitled to perks like quick entry into the festival via exclusive VIP Lanes, as well as access to the VIP Viewing Deck which offers the best stage views. It also comes complete with its own F&B area and restrooms!

U Mobile customers need to follow these steps for the Good Vibes Festival benefits:

For more information, please visit www.goodvibesfestival.com.


Concert Review: Alec Benjamin Blew Our “Speakers” At KL Convention Centre!

Singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin from Arizona, USA is not slowing down anytime soon. The 28-year-old is currently on his “(Un)Commentary World Tour” and kicked off the Asia leg in the Philippines, a week ago before moving on to Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, and then Malaysia, making our shores his 5th stop.

Malaysian fans have been dying to see the young musician ever since his concert was announced. Some had already arrived and gathered at LIVE8, Hall 8 KL Convention Centre as early as 3:00pm yesterday (Wednesday, 30th November) and we can confidently say that Alec definitely did not let us down.

As soon as the lights went out, fans can be heard cheering from all corners of the venue. Members of the audience quickly took out their smartphones to capture the moment the singer went up on stage to join his band and open his show with “Devil Doesn’t Bargain” and “If I Killed Someone”. The red-lit stage perfectly captured and even elevated the emotion and overall feel of the two songs.

The atmosphere of the free-standing hall definitely felt very intimate as Alec made everyone feel right at home and believed we were all friends having a good time listening to live music. Without ever relying on over-the-top stage design or production, the American musician managed to keep our eyes and ears glued to him with just his voice and guitar.

After tracks like “Dopamine Addict” and “Mind Is A Prison” from his new and previous album respectively, the singer slowed things down by performing solo with “Hill I Will Die On” and “Death Of A Hero”. Fans were also treated to a fun medley of some favourites like “One Wrong Turn”, “Hypocrite”, “Must Have Been The Wind”, and ending it with “Annabelle”.

It’s basically impossible to not sing along to Alec’s music regardless if the songs are fast, mid, or slow tempo. The reverb of his voice went straight from the speakers and into our hearts, basically bewitching us to sing along with him. Fans gave the singer their full attention throughout the night as they were excited to hear every word that came out of his mouth whether he was singing or speaking to the crowd. It felt almost like Gospel.

And speaking of Gospel, it definitely felt like a worship service when everyone sang along to “Jesus In LA”. The 28-year-old then sat down on the keyboard and shared the story of how he was let go from his previous label back when he was 18 before revealing he recently received the rights to his previously released song “Paper Crown” which he performed right after. If that wasn’t amazing enough, the singer announced that he’ll re-release the song in just a few days!

Fans were very well-fed last night as surprises didn’t end with “Paper Crown”. Alec then invited special guest singer and influencer Gaston Pong on stage to perform “The Way You Felt” with him in 3 different languages; English, Mandarin, and Malay! After the impromptu duet with the Malaysian influencer, a certain suspense built up in the room as everyone tried to guess the next song just by carefully listening to the otherwordly yet familiar instrumental. Screams of excitement soon followed as the solo artist played the first few chords of “Let Me Down Slowly” on his guitar.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper show without an encore. Fans’ voices filled up the hall by chanting, “WE WANT MORE!” before Alec came back on stage to strike another chord in our hearts with “Water Fountain” while playing the keyboard. Before ending the night with one last song, one lucky fan got the best present ever as the singer sang them “Happy Birthday”.

The intimate showcase unfortunately had to come to an end as all things do. Alec Benjamin thanked his fans for coming and for their support before closing the show with “Speakers” accompanied by a sea of lights illuminating from the audiences’ smartphones. Though the venue may be small, we couldn’t have asked for anything better after the amazing show Alec and his team put on for us. We very much look forward to the next time he brings his tour to Malaysia.

Stay tuned for our full interview with the singer!

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