#KPop: Idol Boy Groups Go Head-To-Head In An Intense Comeback Battle This April

Spring is all about new beginnings. Blooming flowers, the warmer wind breeze, and not to forget the return of our favourite K-Pop boys (and men).

Brace yourselves K-Pop fans (especially you ladies out there) because this month, we will see an intense battle between some of South Korea’s most popular idol boy groups. Here is the lowdown on the 8 male groups that will be returning in April:

Hip hop oriented group Block B (블락비) has finally made their Korean comeback! Fans have been patiently waiting for 2 years for the boys’ return as they have been focusing on their Japanese activities since their last album, “H.E.R”.

For the first time ever, the group dropped a noir-ballad as their lead track. “A Few Years Later (몇 년 후에)” is a bittersweet song about a break up accompanied by smooth beats that complement the members’ vocal talents and rap skills. Although the name and release date of the new album is still not known, we look forward to hear from Block B soon!

For more information on Block B, visit their official website and Facebook page.

“Remember That” time when BTOB (비투비) serenaded us with a beautiful song for Spring? That’s right, the members of CUBE Entertainment’s boy band are ready to sweep you off your feet with their 8th mini album. Their title track, “Remember That”, is an acoustic folk-pop song that is warm like the Spring breeze, yet sad and blue like the Spring rain. Other tracks such as “Killing Me”, “Draw”, “Anymore”, and “So Pretty” will be included in the album as well.

The album was released on 28th March 2016. For more information, hit up on BTOB’s Facebook page.

DAY6 made their debut last year as JYP Entertainment’s first rock band and has gained a great deal of attention with their alternative rock musical style. Now, they are back with their 2nd mini album “Daydream” as 5-member group after Junhyeok’s departure. Despite having less one member, the boys sound awesome in their new track “Letting Go (놓아 놓아 놓아)”, which is about letting go of a relationship that has been holding up for too long.

All members participated in songwriting for the 6-track album. Other songs include “First Time”, “Blood”, “Sing Me”, “Hunt”, and “Hope (바래)”.

“Daydream” was released on 30th March 2016. For more information, visit DAY6’s official website and Facebook page.

It has been nearly 7 months since CNBLUE (씨엔블루) came out with “Cinderella” and now they’re back with their 6th mini album! Their latest mini album, titled “Blueming”, is a clever play on words by combining “blooming” (because it’s Spring) and “blue” from CNBlue. The album will consist of 5 tracks which are “You’re So Fine (이렇게예뻤나)”, “The Seasons”, “Young Forever”, “Without You”, and “Stay Sober” – all written and composed by members Yonghwa, Jonghyun, and Jungshin.

Though not much information was revealed by the group’s agency, from the looks of their Facebook cover photo, we are assuming that “You’re So Fine” will be the title track. We can’t wait to hear it!

“Blueming” drops on 4th April 2016. For more information and teaser images, you can visit CNBlue’s official website and Facebook page.

Any Starlights in the house? Get super hyped because the boys from VIXX (빅스) are preparing to blow your minds away with “Conception“. Jellyfish Entertainment released their video teaser on Tuesday (29th March) and it shows an image of a white metallic heart against a black background with the words, “VIXX 2016 Conception”. It is said that this new concept might have been the product of the “maknae” (youngest member) Hyuk’s creativity. Fans should definitely expect something dramatic as VIXX is known for their unique concepts, such as the take on a love slave in their previous album, “Chained Up”.

The album will be released on 19th April 2016. For more information, visit VIXX’s official website and Facebook page.

The boys of HISTORY (히스토리) have not been having any promotional activities for a year now and we are definitely hyped to see the boys’ transformation! The group’s agency announced that a 5th mini album, titled “HIM”, will be released in April. No details about the album’s songs yet, but this comeback will surely be a treat for fans who have been patiently waiting for their idols.

“HIM” is due out on 11th April 2016. For more information and teaser images (hint, there will be abs!), visit HISTORY’s Facebook page.

Get ready to chant “Na Na Na” with Boys Republic (소년공화국) because they are back with  their 3rd mini album “[BR:evolution]” and a totally different look. From being sweet pretty boys to tough baddies, their title track “Get Down” is a dark rock song with an incredibly catchy chorus that is bound to get you hooked! Other tracks from the album include “Eyes On Me (지켜만 봐)”, “V.I.P”, and “Song For You (널 위했던 노래)”.

“[BR:evolution]” was released on 30th March 2016. For more information on VIXX, hit up on their Facebook page.

Power vocal duo Homme (옴므) consists of 2AM’s leader Chang Min and Lee Hyun of the former group 8Eight. Their latest single, titled “Come To Me”, is a sweet and refreshing song that you would expect to hear during Spring. The music video is also a cute one-sided love story about a cameraman and an actress.

“Come To Me” was released on 1st April 2016. For more information on Homme, visit their Facebook page.

Which of the above groups/idols top your list? Are there other boy bands’ comebacks that we’ve missed out on? Let us know in the comment box below :)

Sources: All Kpop, Officially K Music, Soompi.

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Hype’s Exclusive: Feeling The Good Vibes & Being “Cool Kids” With Echosmith

American indie pop band Echosmith has been making a splash in the music industry as of late despite not being a new band. But they are, however, only very very young!

Raised from a musical family and trained to play instruments from as young as they can remember, Echosmith is made out of 4 siblings who share one thing in common – passion for music. Sure, it helps to have a music producer and songwriter Daddy-o, which kinda paved the way for them, but their respectively talents contributed greatly to their success too!

Formed in 2009, Echosmith is composed of 4 siblings: Graham, Sydney, Noah, and Jamie Sierota. The youngest sibling, Graham (16 years old), plays drums. Sydney (18 years old), the only female member, is the lead vocalist but also contributes on tambourine and keyboard. Noah (19 years old) plays bass and sings back-up vocals for the band while the oldest sibling, Jamie, (22 years old) sings and plays the guitar.

In 12 shorts months, Echosmith have gone from little-known Los Angeles alt-pop gem to Warped Tour‘s undeniable breakout band. They were originally slated to play just the first half of Warped Tour but the reaction was so overwhelming that they were invited to stay until the end! Of course, that only meant that more people got to hear music off the band’s debut album, “Talking Dreams” ;)

The siblings were in town just last weekend (Saturday, 8th August) for a “Good Vibes Presents” gig at KL Live. Well, all except Jamie. And we got to meet them real quick before their show for a one-on-one chat.

Welcome to Malaysia, you guys! How is Malaysia treating you so far? Have you seen much of the city yet?

Noah: I have! I walked today and went to the KL Tower, and went up to the top. It’s really incredible.

Sydney: The tower’s really pretty – I haven’t seen anything else aside from that yet (laughs). I saw the KL City GP race outside. So crazy! And it’s so crazy that we’re here at the same time. So cool.

What were you looking forward to most when you heard that you were coming here?

Noah: It’s interesting to kinda find out what the food here in Malaysia is like. Because you hear about all types of food like Indian food and Vietnamese food but in America we don’t hear very much about Malaysian food. So it has been fun to come out here and try all the food! It really is incredible – obviously you’d know better than us..

Noah: Yeah, spices and all the different kind of flavours. It’s kinda like the food we know but slightly different. That’s something that we’re very intrigued by. We love to travel and eat food, and try the food at different places and the different cultures we go to so..to be here..there’s a market I wanna get us all to go to tonight.

Sydney: There’s even..you know, even the food on the plane, it was awesome! It was so good, the best airplane meal I’ve ever had. It’s some sort of rice like, chicken..a little spicy. And it had some cashews in it..

You guys could probably go for supper after the show!

You’re all in a band together but you’re also siblings. Does being around each other this much annoy you sometimes?

Sydney: Some times. But we definitely get along really well and we really enjoy each other’s company, for all the crazy things that we get to do. But there are times, of course, that we annoy each other.

What are some bad habits about each other that you can’t stand?

Sydney: Um, chewing with our mouths open! We all do it some times and we get super annoyed when one person does it. During between us we’re always like, “Guys, close your mouths” and then the next person would do it.

It wasn’t until recently that we heard “Cool Kids” but that song was actually off your 2013 album, “Talking Dreams”. Did you know it was getting played a lot here?

Sydney: Not here at least. We’ve heard about the UK and stuff because they were one of the first to play it internationally. And I knew about the Philippines because I remember hearing that they were the first. So it was really cool to hear about the few countries but it was hard to keep track. We didn’t know about Malaysia playing it this much until recently! They just gave us plaques for 400 thousand and double platinum for here and we had no idea until we got here, which is so cool.

So the lyrics to “Cool Kids”, were they inspired by real life experiences?

Sydney: Yeah! It was really just inspired by the fact that we all had that desire to fit in at some point in our lives. And, you know, we all went through that in different ways. It’s something we all felt before so we just wrote the song that sorta naturally came. We just wanted to get out the message of accepting yourself and we remind ourselves every time we sing it.

What do you think the cool kids would most likely be saying to you now that Echosmith has shot to international fame?

Sydney: (laughs) I don’t know. Especially people in school that we were always like, “Oh, she’s so cool I wish I looked like her!” or whatever. Um, I don’t know what they would say to us now.

Also, “Talking Dreams” was released 3 years ago. Is there a new record in the works?

Sydney: Next year, we’ll be working on one. We just haven’t had the time to write or record or anything. Next year will be the year to really work on it.

You’ve recently collaborated with Zedd for “Illusion”. Did he approach you guys to do it?

Sydney: Yeah! Like his management or something reached out to ours and was like, “Hey, Zedd would love for Sydney to sing on one of the songs!” and then he sent a few, and we kinda just picked which ones we wanted to sing on and that was it. It was actually a really simple process, it happened almost instantly. We went and recorded it and we didn’t even get to meet until after it was done. It was a really great experience to do that because it was our first collaboration with a DJ and we’ll see what else we can do with Zedd and with everybody else in the future.

Do you still get nervous when you have to go on stage? How do you kinda..zen out?

Noah: For me, I don’t think about it. As soon as I get really excited, I’m just like, “Okay, it’s gonna be a really fun show” but I don’t think about it until I walk on stage and see a sea of people, and they look excited and then you’re just in the moment. You don’t really have time to get anxious or be scared so..for me it kinda just works. I just think about other things and just go on stage and then I’m super excited. That helps a lot.

Sydney: I do vocal warm-ups, maybe some stretching,maybe a little running in place..

Sydney: Yeah a lot! Or do some jumping or something to get the energy up because sometimes, you know, we’ll be waking up from a nap and then going on stage because..you gotta sleep when you can (laughs) Anyway, it’s kinda like a funny thing before stage. It’s not a typical band, I don’t think. Oh, we also pray a little before going on stage – that’s something we always do.

If you could have free, unlimited service for 5 years from an extremely good cook, chauffeur, or masseuse, which would you choose?

Sydney: Masseuse! For sure! For the past few days we’ve gone and gotten massages just because Asia is so awesome with that. So, I’d definitely go with the masseuse.

Sydney: That’d be awesome! I seriously was just talking about bringing one on tour with us. It’d be so cool. Then they can travel the world with us.

Thanks for the chat, you guys! We hope you’ll find that masseuse some time soon. And also thanks to our friends from Warner Music Malaysia for making this interview happen :)

We’ll leave you now with our favourite Echosmith song, also their chart-topper, “Cool Kids” (but of course):

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

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Was The Mother Of DJ Royce Tan Murdered By His Lover?

MyFM Radio DJ Royce Tan admitted in a magistrate court in Kuala Lumpur that he and the man charged with the murder of his mother in 2011 were lovers.

Royce said that the deceased, his mother Lai Kam Lian, had been supportive of his relationship with the accussed, Kenny Lim Kang and always interfered and patched things up between the two men when they had arguements in a cross examination by counsel Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden.

“The relationship wasn’t healthy. It was anything but healthy, seriously,” said Royce, adding that he and Kenny were willing to “put up with it” as they loved each other too much.

31-year old, Kenny is charged with stabbing Lai to death outside her house at Taman Sri Segambut at about 9.45pm on December 1st, 2011. When Royce was asked if his mother knew that Kenny was his lover, Royce told the court that he had revealed the nature of the relationship when she became concerned over their fighting.

“I told her we weren’t just friends but lovers and she was happy for me. I was the happiest son in the world,” said Royce.

Royce also agreed when asked by Mohd Yusoff if Kenny had moved in with him and if they had an active sex life at the time. Royce testified on Tuesday that the last time he saw Kenny before the murder of his mother took place was after an argument which ended with Royce taking back his house key and kicking Kenny out.

Royce later said that his head was injured and bleeding due to the fight with Kenny after he suspected Kenny of having an affair with another man.

The exchange took place two days before Royce’s mother was murdered at their family home.


This Is What Ryan Reynolds Thinks Of Stray Kids’ “Deadpool”-Inspired Stage On “Kingdom”

Ryan Reynolds is loving Stray Kids (스트레이 키즈)’ “Deadpool”-inspired performance during the recent episode of “Kingdom: Legendary War”.

The boys put their own spin on BLACKPINK’s 2018 hit, “Ddu-Du Ddu-du” (remixed with their own song “God’s Menu”) and wowed fans with their powerful performance. Member Felix kicked off the performance as he appeared in the beloved antihero outfit and parodied a scene from the Marvel movie.

felix and deadpool 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Oe2U4bBdaC

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) May 20, 2021

Shortly after the episode aired, a fan took to Twitter to share a fun edited clip of the Aussie idol’s intro from the performance, as well as the original scene from the Hollywood film featuring Ryan. To everyone’s delight, it even caught the attention of the Canadian heartthrob, when he responded, “Oh hello @stray_kids.”

In fact, the 44-year-old was even spotted liking the aforesaid video! Following that, both Ryan and Stray Kids have since became a trending topic online, as fans continue to talk about the actor’s warm response to the K-pop group’s performance.

Ryan Reynolds is on the trending page and the description highlights Stray Kids' Kingdom stage! pic.twitter.com/iIKFskH2M6

— Stayville Updates (@stayvilleupd8s) May 20, 2021

the way stray kids the most successful fans..

IU noticed seungmin ryan reynolds noticed skz

chan is probably running around the dorm right now..

— Seungmin 승민 Central ☆ (@KSMBRAND) May 20, 2021

@.VancityReynolds liked a tweet about @Stray_Kids performance and commented on an edit!

Chan seems to already know about Ryan Reynolds having noticed them!

— Stays Newspaper (@StaysNewspaper) May 20, 2021

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#BatmanvSuperman: Zack Snyder Offers First Look At Teaser Trailer

Just yesterday, Latino Review’s Umberto Gonzalez reported that director Zack Snyder will release the first teaser trailer of his upcoming DC Comics film,  “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”. He revealed that the director will tweet about it an hour (at that time) before Lucasfilm kicks off the Star Wars Celebration.

We took that piece of rumour with a grain of salt, but waited in anticipation too. The movie is, after all, one of the highly anticipated superhero films in 2016.

And today, DC Comics fans dropped some nerd-tears as the director finally gave us a first look at the teaser via the tweet below:

Confirmed 4.20.15 #BatmanvSuperman @IMAX special teaser screening events. Limited space. RSVP http://t.co/TasYGlJGighttps://t.co/fnxFIERUlv

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) April 16, 2015

As first reported by Gonzalez, there’s a sign-up system for fans to attend the special screening events on 20th April (Monday) at selected IMAX theatres in the US.

This is not the first time a special trailer screening event was held for a movie as Warner Bros. used the similar marketing strategy for Christopher Nolan‘s “Batman” trilogy. At that time, fans who signed up for the event were able to watch the first 6 minutes of the film in selected IMAX theatres.

It is unclear when the trailer will be released online, but we can’t wait to watch the film as it will feature Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.

Check out the previously released teasers:

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” marks the beginning of the DC Cinematic Universe after Warner Bros. revealed that there are 10 DC films currently in development.

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


Cinema In Malaysia Implements Separate Seatings For Male & Female

A movie theatre in Malaysia is making nationwide headlines for implementing separated seating zones for men, women and family members.

The cinema in question is the Lotus Five Star (LFS) Cinemas located in Paya Bunga Square, Kuala Terengganu. This came following the government’s announcement that all cinemas nationwide are allowed to reopen.

In an interview with Sinar Harian, manager Zulmajdi Razali said the implementation of the new rule was enforced in accordance with the state’s Entertainment, Culture, Tourism and Sports Guidelines. In addition, the company revealed that they received instruction from the local authorities to introduce and implement the new instruction to visitors.

“The implementation of the new rule was enforced by the Majlis Bandaraya Kuala Terengganu (MBKT). This is to ensure that all of the events and activities are conducted in accordance with the Islamic law and Shariah compliance,” Zulmajdi was quoted as saying.

During the interview, he elaborated that the newly introduced regulation covers a number of matters. The aforementioned includes separation of seats between non-mahram (non-family related) male and female, as well as families depending on the capacity of the hall.

“For halls that are relatively small in terms of size, family members may choose to sit in any seats provided by the cinema. Whereas for a more spacious theatre, we have divided the middle part of the hall solely for families only,” shared Zulmajdi.

He continued, “But this depends on the situation where there are also male and female cinema-goers placed in the middle of the area just in case circumstances require. But both of them need to maintain their boundaries.” Apparently, the rule also applies to non-Muslim visitors as well.

Do you think other cinemas will follow suit?

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6 Magical Things We Love About Disney’s The Nutcracker and The Four Realms

Snowy landscapes. Glittering castles. Ornate costumes. There’s nothing like Disney magic to wow us with extraordinary worlds and interesting characters that come in stunning outfits. Disney’s “The Nutcracker and The Four Realms” is the movie to kick off the holiday season.

When Clara receives a golden key that unlocks a whole other universe, the young girl discovers 3 realms — the Land of Flowers, the Land of Sweets, and the Land of Snowflakes — but soon discovers that she has to face a the dangerous 4th realm: Mother Ginger. Here are 6 reasons why we love “The Nutcracker and The Four Realms”:

“The Nutcracker and The Four Realms” has a cast of Hollywood A-listers taking on lead roles. You may remember her from the “Twilight” franchise but childhood star Mackenzie Foy is all grown up and playing the role of Clara. Morgan Freeman plays Clara’s godfather, Drosselmeyer; Keira Knightley plays the Sugar Plum Fairy; and Helen Mirren plays terrifying Mother Ginger.

A post shared by Disneys Nutcracker (@disneysnutcracker)

One of the highlights of the movie is the stunning set. Created by Guy Hendrix Dyas (a twice Oscar-nominated production designer for “Inception” and “Passengers”), the studio spared no expanse in bringing the dreamlike fantasy playground to life. The ideas of the four realms came from flowers, snowflakes, sweets, and the dark final dimension.

Vanity Fair reported that Dyas “dove into the history of London in 1879” and researched Russian art and architecture. “He designed functional 14-foot puppets, as well as gigantic origami-like flowers that opened up for the ballet scenes. Dyas also went the extra mile for simpler aesthetic details; a throne room used in the film, for example, was thronged with ‘thousands and thousands of peacock feathers’, so he wouldn’t have to cheat on depicting their special iridescent blue,” the publication wrote.

Costume designer Jenny Beavan previously won Oscars for dressing the English past (“A Room with a View”) and the apocalyptic future (“Mad Max: Fury Road”). For this film, she’s marrying the 2 worlds together. For example, Knightley’s Sugar Plum Fairy outfit is embellished with beading, ruching, and layers and layers of ruffles. Of the approximate 1,500 total outfits in the film, Eugenio Derbez’s floral getup also gains attention with its intricate floral pattern complete with three-dimensional leaves.

Some of you may be familiar with French writer Alexandre Dumas’s 1844 short story of “The Nutcracker”. While Disney’s “The Nutcracker and The Four Realms” takes on a more contemporary spin, it doesn’t stray to far from its roots. It’s truly riveting to watch renowned classical ballet dancer Misty Copeland pay homage to the traditional version during her solo number.

Things will get a little darker when Clara ventures into the fourth realm and comes face to face with Mother Ginger. “She’s fabulous and funny, and becomes bitter and angry,” describes Helen Mirren. The antagonist is an evil sorceress who rules the fourth realm and wants to take over all other 3 realms.

World-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli and his 20-year-old son Matteo Bocelli on the theme song, “Fall On Me” (which can also be found in Andrea’s new album “Sì”). It features orchestral strings backing the pianists building to a big cinematic and chill-inducing sound. “Fall On Me” is such a beautiful by this father-son duo, so turn up the volume for this one!

Psst, we’re also giving away some charming goodies from our Disney “The Nutcracker and The Four Realms” contest here.


#BurstAsia2014: Malaysia’s Largest Water Balloon Fight

And by big, we mean the largest water balloon fight in Malaysia with 10,000 participants and 200,000 balloons! Well, at least an attempt to be the largest water balloon fight recorded by the Malaysia Book of Records.

Slated to be held in November this year, the event is open to all Malaysians and even non-Malaysians aged 16 and above. There’s a headcount limit so registration for the event will either close on 1st November or when the first 10,000 targeted participants’ registration is reached.

Fee: RM48 (Early bird, from 1st July – 15th August), RM68 (Normal price, 16th August – 1st November)

All you need to do is head over to AirAsia RedTix to register and pay the fee to take part in the water balloon fight! Each participant will receive a custom T-shirt, a goodie bag, and a finishing certificate upon completion of the event. Participants are also required to wear attire that they’re most comfortable in because it’s going to be a huge soak-fest.

Oh, yes, that means no electronic items are allowed during the event too, for obvious reasons:

Sounds like something you want to be a part of?

Hit up AirAsia RedTix or Burst Asia 2014’s Facebook page for more information.

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“Money Heist” Part 5 Vol. 2 Review: An Intense & Satisfying Bella Ciao To The Popular Crime Series

It started with a heist, it grew into a revolution and now, it’s all out war. In the first half of the grand finale, we saw some insane twists and turns. The Professor and his team have lost many friends and lovers along the way but they’ve also gained new ones. The plan to extract gold from the Bank of Spain, the very financial heart of the nation, hasn’t exactly gone smoothly. The first half of Part 5 served as a sort of contemplation on the bonds, the joys and losses our beloved rogues have had incurred thus far.

Sure there were some amazing maneuvers and intimate character moments throughout, but it felt like it was merely the prelude to something bigger. “Money Heist”, much to our infinite joy and frustration, takes its time in setting up the board. Making sure that all the key players are in place. This journey has taken over three years but alas, we’re finally here. So, will Part 5 Vol. 2 prove to be a the magnificent bella ciao to the most popular Spanish series of the last decade? Let’s find out!

Still reconvering after the death of Nairobi in Part 4, “Money Heist” proceeded to rip our hearts (along with Denver’s) to pieces with Tokyo’s bloody last stand against the Spanish Army ending in death. Little time is left for the thieves to mourn as they begin to tighten their grip on the Bank of Spain. After a devastating loss for the armed forces, Sagasta and his soldiers are at the robber’s mercies. Colonel Tamayo and his forces are scrambling to find the Professor and Alicia Sierra, who have forged a temporary alliance of convenience. All the while, there is a hidden third player in this game. One that threatens everything Tamayo and Professor have fought for throughout the entire series. The walls are coming down and this is the end of the heist!

There was never a moment in which our sphincter wasn’t clenched tight enough to crack a walnut in half. Vol. 2 is a beautiful case study in orchestrating organized chaos. In every episode, there is always a heart-breaking takedown, a jaw-dropping revelation or a fantastic action sequence.

In Vol. 1, we had issues with the fact that the show didn’t really make use of the robbers’ wider socio-political influence but this time around, Vol. 2 more than makes up for it. It gets downright metatextual, the way the show leans into its characters’ popularity within the narrative. It becomes as much of a plot device as any other physical element of Palermo, Berlin and Professor’s plan. There were definitely a few moments in which it felt like the showrunners were winking at the audience.

In typical “Money Heist” fashion, the plot tends to get a little, too convoluted near the end with double-crosses, secret contigency plans and dramatic flips being thrown left, right and centre. For the most part, you’ll roll with the punches; mourning and rejoicing as our beloved anti-heroes battle with the Spanish government.

While Vol. 2 triumphantly delivers on scale, it doesn’t quite have the same biting rivalry as the previous parts. With Alicia Sierra now on the side of the robbers, we’re left with the wormy Colonel Tamayo to fill the shoes as Vol. 2’s main antagonist. While Fernando Cayo does an excellent job as a self-serving, corrupt bureaucrat, his character can’t quite measure up to Sierra. Thus, his evolution from middling side-character to the gang’s main foil feels more of a evolution out of necessity than genuine creativity.

Then, there’s the hidden third player, and the major role they play in the series finale that will definitely rub some viewers the wrong way. Now, while we thoroughly enjoy “Money Heist” for its uber-absurd complexity and gripping emotional drama, there have been some late-night telenovella style twists that left us rolling our eyes. None of them can compare to the one you’ll be witnessing this time around. The kind that feels deeply unearned, especially if you’re a mega-fan of the show’s lore.

Regardless of these issues, “Money Heist” still manages to deliver on all the heart-pounding thrills and brain-breaking sleights of hand fans have come to expect. It all culminates in the final episode that leaves us with a sentimental and catharthic send-off that will have fans bawling their eyes out.

The most memorable performances in Vol. 2 goes to Álvaro Morte and Najwa Nimri as Professor and Alicia Sierra. Watching the ebbs and flows of their complicated relationship is by far the most entertaining aspect of the series. There were even some moments we sensed romance in the air between them, or could it be begrudging respect? Rest assured, they’ll definitely be folks there shipping them. Rodrigo de la Serna’s Palermo takes a more prominent role this around, since Tokyo’s death, as the leader within the bank. Serna really comes into his own in Vol. 2, as we learn more about what drives his character’s obsession for the plan.

While Jaime Lorente’s Denver brings the same insane energy we’ve come to expect from the character, his post-Tokyo romantic arcs detract from the overall impact of the previous half of Part 5. Jennifer Miranda, though, as the ruthless Arteche is the true dark horse of Vol. 2. The way she stalks and hunts the team throughout Vol. 2 created an additional element of tension throughout the final episodes. That being said, we would have liked to see more of her in the finale. She certainly made quite the impression.

Netflix’s “Money Heist” Part 5 Vol. 2 strikes gold with fans, ending the series on an emotionally satisfying note with plenty of high-octane action that would make previous parts blush. While it occasionally buckles under the weight of its many, many plot threads, it prevails where it matters most: its characters and their stories. Creator Álex Pina has done Spain proud and has solidified “Money Heist” as the quintessential heist series.

Years from now, people will talk about this show the way critics talk about “West Wing” and “Game of Thrones”. Truly, truly a bella ciao. You can now catch Vol. 2 on Netflix today!

So what was your favourite moment in Netflix’s “Money Heist”? Be sure to let us know in the comments and if you can’t get enough of the series and want to know more about the cast, click here to find out more!

Netflix's "Money Heist" Part 5 Vol. 2 strikes gold with fans, ending the series on an emotionally satisfying note with plenty of high-octane action that would make previous parts blush. While it occasionally buckles under the weight of its many, many plot threads, it prevails where it matters most: its characters and their stories. Creator Álex Pina has done Spain proud and has solidified "Money Heist" as the quintessential heist series.


#WafflesFrenzy: Where To Get The Best Ones In KL & PJ

“We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.'”

If you’ve watched NBC’s comedy TV series “Parks and Recreation”, then you would know about Leslie Knope’s (played by Amy Poehler) obsession with waffles, preferably with extra whipped cream on it. Well, her waffle obsession has begun to take effect on us because we’ve been craving for waffles since forever! In fact, why would anybody ever eat anything else other than breakfast food?

So, we began our waffle hunt to search high and low for the best waffles in town and believe it or not, you can get waffles just about everywhere or make one yourself if you have a waffle maker in your kitchen!

Feeling hungry now? This post we’re about to show you is going to make you cry for food:

For some, the waffles at LewisGene are hands-down the best waffles in town but others may argue that you can get better waffles elsewhere. We’ve taken a liking to the waffles on LewisGene because the cafe offers both savoury and sweet waffles for us to choose from. Our favourite? Denitely the chocolate chip waffles – and yes, there are chocolate chips in the waffle too! If you’ve noticed, the presentation of the waffles (especially for the Belgian waffles) is one of the major plus points that keep us coming back for more Instagram-worthy shots. But overall, it is a great place to chill on a Sunday afternoon as the cafe exudes a peaceful and laid-back atmosphere.

Boy, oh boy. Leslie and Ron are going to love this. Because what’s better than waffles and bacon? BBC Waffles! And what’s BBC Waffles? Oh, you know, just one of the cafe’s signature dishes that comes with crispy pork bacon strips, sliced bananas, and Fatbaby cornflakes ice cream.

Sounds heavenly good, right? That’s because it is the ultimate breakfast food! Some may find it the ice-cream addition (to bacon) a little strange but having tried some unique-flavoured ice cream in these awesome ice cream places, we don’t mind it at all as long as they taste good! Don’t say we didn’t share but for those who are planning to visit the cafe, you should know that the signature BBC Waffles wouldn’t be as fluffy as you’d like them to be. But! Once you sink your teeth in ’em crunchy waffles, you’d find that it’s a completely different texture as it’s much softer than you’d expect it to be!

Oh, so you think a plain old waffle topped with maple syrup or whipped cream would be sufficient to satisfy you? Well, think again. We always love being a little adventurous so that we can get out of our comfort zone and try some truly unique waffles. Kaffeine is one such example that plays around with the idea of putting a fresh twist to their waffles.

A little obsessed with Korean culture or more specifically, Korean food? Try their kimchi waffles! But how about those who are obsessed with Japanese culture? No worries because the chicken ham and fresh cabbage waffle is served with mozzarella and cheddar cheese as well as takoyaki mayonnaise sauce. Rest assured though, original waffles topped with peanut butter or maple syrup are served at Kaffeine too.

There’s no denying that third wave coffee movement in Malaysia is growing as more and more people are willing to pay a little extra for nicely-brewed coffee. But for now, we want you to forget about the third wave coffee movement because it seems like waffles are slowly and steadily becoming a trend in our country.

No, it’s not a third wave waffles movement but Thirdwave is one of the coffee shops that has jumped onto the bandwagon by including waffles into their extensive menu. While there’s nothing truly special about the waffles at Thirdwave, we love that the waffles are topped with sliced bananas, fresh berries, and most importantly, New Zealand’s iconic Kapiti vanilla ice cream!

Buttermilk waffles, ’nuff said. Because let’s be honest, we wouldn’t be so happily eating our waffles if it weren’t for buttermilk. Despite being less crispy than usual, buttermilk waffles have always been extremely crowd-pleasing at The Point. The fragrant lingers in our mouth that make us crave for more!

Sure, the price may be a little too high for the waffles but it’s worth it for a huge waffle that can be shared between 2 or even 3 people? On top of that, it comes with 2 huge scoops of ice cream, topped off with resh berries and sliced bananas! Hands down a winner.

As compared to the waffles we’ve tasted before, we find that the waffles at The Library Coffee Bar aren’t as crunchy as the rest. But again, all waffles are good waffles and it’s all very subjective as some people may prefer the warm and fluffy ones instead of the crunchy and crispy ones.

Similar to LewisGene, The Library Coffee Bar serves savoury waffles and you can choose to pair it with bacon or creamy scrambled eggs and smoked salmon slices. If you asked us, we still prefer their sweet waffles that comes with either whipped cream or ice cream on top. Extra toppings such as blueberries and bananas can be added on top of the waffles as well.

The Library Coffee Bar has opened its outlets at various locations including:

Well, believe it or not, Standing Theory isn’t the only place that serves waffles with bacon because La Hagen at 1 Mont Kiara in KL has included pork bacon strips on their waffles too! La Hagen was once Hagen Bake & Crew, one of the most famous bakeries located in Mont Kiara. After putting an end to their baking business, Hagen Bake & Brew changed its name to La Hagen to become a restaurant that primarily serves pork dishes from grilled meats to pasta to pizza. However, one should not simply skip the dessert section of the menu as they have so much to offer.

For those who aren’t too keen to try the waffles with bacon on it, there are ordinary waffles that are topped with vanilla ice cream and flower-shaped strawberry available in the menu as well. You may also add some sunshine to the dreariest of days with our combination of fresh bananas on waffles with lashings of chocolate sauce, whipped cream and coated peanuts!

8. Whimsical Gelateria & Caffe by Cielo Dolci

After impressing us with their unique gelato flavours, we just can’t get The Whimsical Gelateria and Caffe off our mind because we simply want to try their everything on their menu! Operated by the owners of Cielo Dolci, Whimsical Gelateria & Caffe is a cafe that serves most of their food especially their creative breakfast set with their unique gelato flavours.

By creative breakfast set, we mean the cafe has replaced muffins and buns with savoury waffles instead for their burgers and Eggs Benedict. Thus, a waffle burger is born! Topped with Hollandaise sauce and smoked salmon, the Eggs Benedict goes surprisingly well with waffles. Savoury waffles aren’t the only option though as the sweet waffles are made available at the cafe as well.

Patrons who are planning to visit the cafe should definitely visit during brunch hour as they have an extensive breakfast selection to choose from. The breakfast set is made available until 5pm only.

So, what do you think, waffle connoisseurs? Still can’t get enough of waffles?

Well, you can get some other waffles at the following cafe/restaurants too:

If there’s a place that serves great waffles, don’t forget to recommend them in the comments box below because we would love to visit them! :D

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Batman v Superman: Director Zack Snyder’s Awesome Twitter Activities

So, “Batman v Superman” director Zack Snyder is having a ball of a time, as seen on his Twitter timeline. He doesn’t tweet very often but in the very rare times that he does, he spews gold.

Here’s the thing, rumour has it that security is so tight on the set of the upcoming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” that Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman), and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) all have to wear big black robes when they’re on set and not filming a scene. Well, you can’t let the paps get away with shots that easily now, can you?

But! Despite being kept under wraps, the “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” team decided to take a picture of Henry Cavill in one of those robes and then Photoshop it to turn it into..this:

— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) July 24, 2014

That having said, on another note, Zack Snyder did upload a more legit movie-related picture today on his Twitter account. Just as well, since fans are expecting a full reveal of Batman at Warner Bros’ Saturday panel at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con (SDCC). As such, he uploaded a picture of Ben Affleck wearing the Batman cowl aka Ben Affleck as Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” aka Batfleck:

The above picture has since been retweeted 6,039 times and favourite-d 4,539 times – because, you know, anxious fans are anxious. And it’s probably because “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice” is slated for a 6th May 2016 release.

Fret not! While you wait, check out the list DC Comics x Warner Bros films (among other exciting things) that you can expect to be unveiled/confirmed at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con.


Hype’s Now Playing: Hailee Steinfeld – Love Myself

Hailee Steinfeld spreads love, inspires all.

The “Pitch Perfect 2” actress has not looked this fierce since her appearance in Taylor Swift‘s “Bad Blood” music video. Declaring that she doesn’t need anyone but herself, Hailee has released the music video for her empowering single “Love Myself”.

A photo posted by hailee steinfeld (@haileesteinfeld) on Aug 11, 2015 at 11:37am PDT

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the video shows the 18-year-old actress-turned-singer strutting her stuff on a city rooftop. Hailee is seen wearing a shirt with “Self Service” written across the front and belts out her lyrics while people on streets catch a glimpse of themselves in mirrors tagged with #lovemyself”.

Much like the song, the video promotes self-empowerment and happy vibes. Watch it here:

For more on Hailee Steinfeld, stalk her via these platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


Aunty vs Security Guard: Video Documenting Fiasco Goes Viral

A 3-minute video showing a female security guard slapping a middle-aged woman has gone viral on the interwebs.

The fiasco allegedly took place in Pearl Avenue, a condominium residence situated at Kajang. A Facebook user who claimed that she was the original uploader of the video has further explained the situation in the video.

According to the uploader, the middle aged woman, who knocked over a cone and parked her car in a no-parking zone, started making a scene when the security guard reprimanded her over the issue. The former claimed that she had the “privilege” to park in that area, and even uttered racist and vulgar remarks directed to the security guard. The eye witness said that the woman even told the guard to stop putting her “finger on my face”, though the woman was the one who started the shouting and gesturing.

Things got heated up between the 2 parties as the woman took a move forward to slap the security guard. However, she missed, which resulted in the security guard retaliating with another slap on the woman’s face.

“Apa you mau? You mau apa? Jaga sikit mulut you! (What do you want? What do you want? Watch your mouth!),” the guard was heard shouting.

After the slap, a man in blue was seen to be intervening, acting as the mediator between the 2 parties. The conversation in the video wasn’t clear but another man, believed to be the husband of the woman, looked agitated as well and was seen to be giving the security guard a stern warning.

The video was first uploaded at 11pm on 22nd June and has since been re-uploaded on the “Wartawan Jalanan” Facebook page with the title “pergaduhan Aunty VS Security Guard”. The original video has amassed more than 8,000 views while the re-uploaded version has around 12,000 views as of press time.

Majority of the people on social media have tasked themselves to commend on the actions of the security guard and condemn the woman’s unduly behaviour. While some of them commented that the woman “deserved it”, others stated that no matter how extreme the woman’s actions were, the security guard crossed the line when she resorted to physical actions.

On a separate note, this is the not the first case regarding the security in the condominium. On 13th October 2014, a resident posted a complaint on Pearl Avenue’s Facebook page, highlighting the problems with the condominium’s security. According to the resident, her foreign tenant was wrongly blamed by the security guards for causing disturbances in the area. The tenant was also “treated like a convict” and the management of the condominium even went so far as to instruct the resident to “chase (the tenant) out”. When asked for prove and an explanation, no satisfactory answer was given and the issue was soon swept under the carpet.

The offense wasn’t disclosed in the post, until another resident left the following question in the comments section, “Are you referring to the case thrown down the bottles from high floor into the swimming pool?” To this, the original poster answered in the affirmative.

Take a look at the viral video in this link.

Do you think that the woman deserved the slap? What would you have done if you were in the security guard’s position? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments box below.

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DC FanDome: A Sneak Peek At Ezra Miller’s “The Flash” Film

If the rumuors are to be believed, then Ezra Miller’s “The Flash” (not to be confused with CW’s series and Grant Gustin’s character) is going to be nuts! The short trailer doesn’t show much in terms of plot seeing that the film doesn’t quite have enough material for a full trailer. At least according to actor Ezra Miller.

What we do see though is Barry travelling across different places and times, including a house. The trailer later shows him tapping an older woman on the shoulder.

Those familiar with the “Flashpoint” comics and “Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox” film know that in the story Barry travels back in time to save his mother. Inadvertently changing the timeline and needing to meet with an older, different Batman to try to fix everything. Could this woman in the teaser be Barry’s mother, Nora Allen? All signs seem to be pointing to it.

The trailer ends with two Barry Allens (yes we said that right) and Supergirl appearing in the Batcave. One that belongs to Michael Keaton’s Batman instead of Ben Affleck’s. It’s starting to look a lot like DC’s “Flashpoint”, let’s hope it lives up to the hype. The film’s cast will feature Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / the Flash, Kiersy Clemons as Iris West, Temuerra Tom Curry (Aquaman’s father) and Sasha Calle as Supergirl.

So what do you guys think of Ezra Miller’s “The Flash”? How do you think director Andy Muschietti is gonna shake up the DCEU? Let us know in the comments!


What Does Lindsay Lohan Think Of Ariana Grande’s Mean Girls-Inspired MV?

Everybody went oh-my-gaga when Ariana Grande revealed that she will be referencing “Mean Girls” in her highly-anticipated music video, “thank u, next”.

There’s plenty to be excited about since 2 OG film stars – Jonathan Bennett and Stefanie Drummond – will be returning to reprise their roles. Fans are also ecstatic at how eerily similar “Dynasty” star Elizabeth Gillies looks like Cady Heron. So what does the original Cady Heron, Lindsay Lohan, thinks of the casting choice?

“Behind the scenes ? ain’t nobody Lindsay Lohan like the real Lindsay Lohan. But so flattered by @arianagrande loving #MeanGirls so much! Also, I love #dynasty,” the 32-year-old actress caption her Instagram post with a behind-the-scenes selfie. Lilo is currently on the set of the Netflix drama series “Dynasty”.

Lohan wrote that she’s “flattered” that Grande loves the 2004 original movie so much that she’s using it as an inspiration. It’s a pat on the back, saying she did THAT, and now pop girls are using her work as a reference point.

Here’s the real shade though: despite tagging Grande, Lohan couldn’t be bothered to mention Elizabeth Gillies by name or tag her. “Also, I love #dynasty” implies that Lohan knows that Gillies is playing her former character. Oh, the shade!

Besides “Mean Girls”, “thank u, next” will also be paying homage to iconic chick flicks like “Bring It On”, “13 Going on 30” as well as “Legally Blonde”.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed.


“Resident Evil: Retribution” Slated For A September Release

Written and directed by Paul W.S. Andreson, “Resident Evil: Retribution” is the fifth installment in the Resident Evil film series, and the third by the same director. The films are based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil and, well, some of you might already be familiar to the story Alice, the laboratory freak accident, and the flesh-eating creatures.

In Resident Evil: Retribution, the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of zombies and monsters.

The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (played by Milla Jovovich), is captured once again and awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex.

Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; her quest is a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true.

She is forced to finally find out the truth about herself, and the Umbrella Corporation. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape the undeads and a hostile world on the brink of oblivion:

[youtube id=”e7LWCKMFKk8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

The countdown has begun. Resident Evil: Retribution premieres 13th September 2012 nationwide in 3D, IMAX 3D, as well as 2D.

You know you want to catch it when it comes  out.

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

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Hype’s Movie Review: #Fast8 Is A Thrilling Car Ride Filled With Twists

When “Fast and Furious 7” played in 2015, we thought that it had to be the end of the series. How many explosions, exhilarating car races, and girls in skimpy outfits we can take?

Plus, the death of Paul Walker, who portrayed one of the main characters, Brian O’ Conner, would serve as a nice ending to the series, right? We were wrong.

The 8th movie was officially confirmed in 2015. Although it was speculated that Paul Walker’s brother, Cody Walker, will be joining the cast as a new member or to replace his brother, the news proved to be false. Instead, the movie focused on the dynamics of the rest of the characters.

“The Fate of the Furious” starts off with Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel) and Letty Ortiz (played by Michelle Rodriguez) on their honeymoon in Havana, Cuba. They live a seemingly normal life, enjoying each others’ presence. There’s of course the occasional street race, but nothing major. However, things take a turn for worse when a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime that he can’t seem to escape. This also means a betrayal to those closest to him, and his team has to learn to live with it and overcome the trials headed their way.

The movie also sees the addition of 3 new characters, Charlize Theron’s Cipher, Helen Mirren’s Magdalene Shaw, and Scott Eastwood’s Eric Reisner.

So how did the movie and the new characters fare?

The mother to Owen and Deckard Shaw had a wry sense of humour, which appealed to us immensely. Although she didn’t have that many scenes, her interactions with her sons caught our attention. It made us chuckle and wonder about the kind of relationship Deckard Shaw has with his mother. It compelled us to want to know more.

Meanwhile, Eastwood’s portrayal of Reisner was extremely adorable. He was spot on as the clueless and slightly annoying newbie who was relentlessly teased by all the other characters.

While Mirren and Eastwood’s characters were lovable and left an impact on us, the same can’t be said for Cipher.

Sadly, we have to admit that Cipher was underwhelming as the main villain. There was so much more room to develop her character but she remains one-dimensional and stoical throughout the whole movie. We couldn’t relate to her but we didn’t hate her either. Theron’s character just did not elicit strong emotions from us. As much as we didn’t want to admit it, Cipher was just a filler character to fill in the plot lines.

Needless to say, the regular cast members give us stellar performances, like they always do.

With 7 instalments in the bag for the “Fast & Furious” film series, it might get a little tiring for the audience. Franchise fatigue is a real thing and many fans felt that the producers have been pushing it a little too far with the constant stream of sequels. But not only did they manage to pull through the 8th movie, they did so spectacularly.

They played with the dynamics, they made one of the good guys turn to the dark side, and well, it worked. Frankly, when the official synopsis was released, we were sceptical. We’re sure many of you scoffed too. How do you convince the audience that one of the pivotal character of the series, who gave us some of the most heart-warming scenes, has suddenly turned rogue? Sure, Dom is a tough guy, but we all know how important family is to him. What would persuade him to turn his back against his team and even his wife Letty Ortiz?

Thankfully, the twist given was understandable and believable. When thrown into that position, we’re sure that plenty would have reacted the same way. He took what he had and did the best he could. Twist after twist were introduced in the movie, and it did not disappoint.

The Rock’s prison scene was highly-anticipated, but unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. It’s not every day that you successfully break out of a high-security prison 38 feet underground so when you do it, you’re expected to go out with a bang. Somehow, it all seemed a little too easy to us. We expected more gravity-defying stunts but all we got were easily defeated opponents. They all fell apart like dominoes and no one was there to keep Luke Hobbs in check.

Thankfully, the seemingly useless sequence did give us one of the best highlights of the movie – the “bromance” between Hobbs and Deckard Shaw. As we see the pair bicker and try to outdo (or rather, out-talk) each other, we can’t help but smile at the violent yet weirdly engaging exchange. Abusive words are part of their relationship and we see the partnership evolve from grudging acceptance to sincere alliance.

Hands down, their interactions were one of the best parts of the movie.

All in all, “The Fate of the Furious” is a solid movie, we say. As a standalone movie, it’s commendable, but as a movie off the “Fast and Furious” film series, it’s a must-watch. There’s also a homage to Paul Walker’s character towards the end of the movie and trust us, it will make you go, “Aww..”.

Directed by Gary Gray with a screenplay by Chris Morgan, the action thriller zooms into Malaysian cinemas today (Thursday, 13th April).

BONUS: Check out some fun facts about the movie and its characters here.

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

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DJ Marc Spills About Butter Factory!

So, it has been more than a month since The Butter Factory opened its Malaysian branch. Much has happened since then and we know some of you have been frequently the place.

We thought this would be a good time to catch up with one of their residents DJs and find out what’s been going on at The Butter Factory KL. Luckily for us, he has wild stories to share!

Let’s find out the goss on the club from DJ Marc:

Hi Marc! Thanks for taking time off to speak to us. What’s up, what’s been happening?

“It’s my utmost pleasure! The past month has been really hectic with me coming back to KL after an absence and with me joining Butter Factory KL. Hectic but totally awesome.”

Butter Factory has been open for more than a month now. How has it been treating you so far?

“Let me start by saying..WOW!!! I’ve been having the time of my life since day one. The club really emphasizes a lot of the champagne culture, so I had my fair share of it and I have to say that I’m so in love with the idea of expensive ones. There are also the awesome party goers that patronize Butter Factory KL – we get a nice blend of the “ballers” (if you know what I mean) who party like mad, to the working middle-aged peeps who swing by to let loose after a hard week, to the crazy crazy crazy party freaks who just want to get wild. Conclusion: Even if I’m really exhausted after a hard day at work, I just love The Butter Factory KL!”

Is it still too soon to ask you what was the craziest moment you’ve ever witnessed/experienced in Butter Factory KL?

“Actually, I’ve got loads to share! For starters, the opening weekend launch was insane! Nothing like I’ve experienced in my entire career. The hype which was in like every corner of the place and the crowd was just totally awesome. Initially, I was under the assumption that it was the way it was because The Butter Factory KL has just opened – I didn’t think it could get any better than that. I was wrong. The following day was an even more ballistic night. I’ve never seen champagne trains and showers like how I did that night. Plus, playing alongside five other DJs who were also party freaks just made it even better. I will always remember that night.”

Did you ever think that you’d someday be doing this (being a resident DJ at one of the most reputable clubs)? How did you first start out?

“This is going be a long one. All this time, I’ve been working towards that direction – but me getting call on board The Butter Factory KL was the pinnacle in my nine-year career. I couldn’t have asked for more. Like most DJs in the country I wouldn’t say I had a dreamy and rosy start to my career. It was a really hard one and there were a lot of bumps along the way. By profession, I’m a college graduate in two different disciplines but somehow I kept coming back to DJ-ing. Not many people get to have a job they really love while getting paid to have fun so I would say I have pretty much one of the best jobs in the world. I started off playing in the states like Malacca, then I moved on to Kuantan before coming back to Kuala Lumpur for about three years. I had an offer on a new project in Kuantan which was my base for about four years, which lead me to video mixing till today and boy..was that a journey. Over the years (while being based there) it was really hard to get my name out there while I was there but somehow, after a few years, it did start to get out, which led me here now.”

We take it you’d be playing alongside some big names in the future, now that you’re a resident DJ for Butter Factory KL. Are there any DJs or producers that you’re hoping to share the same stage with someday?

“Ehmmmmm a tough one, this question. I have two; Cash Money and Hardwell.”

“Cash Money because, well, which hip hop DJ wouldn’t love him? He is the first inductee in the DJ Hall Of Fame plus he is the co-founder of my favorite scratch the Transformer. And Hardwell because he is the one main reason why I like EDM. He’s so young but he’s already making big waves. Have you seen his videos? I just love his videos. They are amazing.”

Alright last one for the road! Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers at Hype Malaysia?

“A big thank you to all that have been supporting me through all these years! I would love for all of you to come for my nights at The Butter Factory KL and again, thank you Malaysia. Thank you Hype Malaysia!”

For more information, visit The Butter Factory KL’s official website or hit them up on Facebook!

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Hype’s Now Playing: David Guetta ft. Sam Martin − Dangerous

Start your engines for David Guetta is in it to win it!

Having recently announced his tracklist featuring massive collaborations with A-Listers including Nicki MInaj, Sia and John Legend on his forthcoming album “Listen”, the French DJ/producer has released the director’s cut of his music video for “Dangerous”.

Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the superstar DJ’s latest video tells a story of rival Formula One drivers. Starring James Purefoy (JP) as the lead, the video follows David and JP who grew up racing toy cars together but their relationship got strained somewhere along the way. The video leads to the “Bad” hitmaker facing off against his frenemy in a big race.

Featuring sexy female stunners and a race between Guetta and JP, the video offers a classic storyline accentuated by spectacular visuals − a cinematic work of art that viewers won’t want to miss.


New KL Decathlon Outlet Comes With Its First Exclusive Sports Centre In Southeast Asia

Sports lovers, brace yourselves. Decathlon Malaysia will be opening its newest flagship store in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Located at Shoppes @ Four Seasons, the grand opening will commence on 14th May 2022.

The 4,000 sqft store will be the first of its kind in Decathlon’s history to give its customers unique sports experience. It is not just another outlet that houses 12,000 exclusive quality products with over 60 different types of sports. The new Decathlon flagship store also boasts a Sports Experience Centre.

A post shared by Decathlon Malaysia Sdn Bhd (@decathlon.my)

The Sports Experience Centre incorporates exciting lifestyle elements which customers will be able to fully enjoy. It offers services such as physiotherapy services, fitness studios with workout classes, a healthy eating restaurant, and the first ever hotpod yoga in Southeast Asia.

According to Arnaud Sauret, Chief Executive Officer of Decathlon Malaysia, “This concept is a first test for Malaysia and also first in the world in Decathlon History”. In regard to adapting to the local sport market and making sport accessible to more sports lovers in Malaysia, he explained “As Decathlon Malaysia, we adapt our business model to Malaysia and Malaysians. We launched our production “Made in Malaysia”, we do business with Malaysians, we complete our exclusive offer – yes, we design and conceptualise our own products with a R&D centre of 300 designers and 850 engineers – with our local partners which projects across our products and services. We achieve our mission, locally, and we are different in this market.”

Decathlon’s new flagship store aims to give customers the best and holistic shopping satisfaction. The store will give customers the chance to test and buy sports products on the spot, while at the same time discover and practice it at the premises. Sports classes, assistance of physiotherapists and healthy food are also available on the site.

Customers are urged to join the MY Decathlon Club by Arnaud as Decathlon aspires to build a sustainable sporting community through this flagship store. With three Decastudios available partnered with Manic Studio by Evomania and Hot Yo Studio, Decathlon is keen to give members a world-class workout experience. What’s more, Decathlon also partnered with Protech, Evomania Nutrition and Garmin to give customers the best of other sporting brands.

The new Decathlon Sports Experience Centre will prioritise the comfort of their customers with specially designed bathrooms and changing rooms that allow them to cleanse their body and mind in luxurious comfort. Two medical rooms are also available by Physiowerkz – a Movement Dysfunctions Centre ready to tend to pain, disabilities, and other movement related problems.

The centre utilises Physiowerkz Movement Analysis and Treatment System (PMAT). It has been designed to accurately diagnose and help patients understand what sort of treatment their body needs. Full body check-ups will also be available to customers to help them achieve maximum performance while engaging in their favourite sports.

The pre-opening ceremony of Decathlon Sports Experience Centre was held on 11th May. Promotions and various activities await during the grand opening this Saturday, 14th May only at Shoppes @ Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur.


“The Sound Of Music” Tickets For KL Shows Now On Sale!

Musicals are one of the best stress relievers on earth. It features singing, dancing and a whole lot of entertainment. Did you know that watching a live performance can have the same impact on your heart as almost half an hour of cardio exercise?

Good news for you, because for the first time ever, the world’s most beloved musical – “The Sound Of Music” – is finally coming to Malaysia. With a stunning cast, this musical would definitely be “Something Good”!

The unique part of this musical is that it will be performed by extraordinary Broadway cast members – Jill Christine Wiley as Maria, Trevor Martin as Captain Von Trapp, and Lauren Kidwell as Mother Abbess – alongside 17 talented Malaysian child actors!

Viewers can expect a great show with these three as the main cast. Because collectively, they have years of experience and have done numerous shows like “Sweeney Todd”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “White Christmas” and the list goes on. The talented children are also something you should definitely look forward to!

If you don’t already know, “The Sound Of Music” is an uplifting true story based on the 1949 memoir of Maria Von Trapp – The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. This production tells the story of a governess who changed the lives of widowed Captain von Trapp and his seven children by re-introducing them to music during the outbreak of World War II.

The original 1959 Broadway production of “The Sound Of Music” won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a Grammy Award for Best Show Album, and was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s biggest success. The 1965 movie, starring Julie Andrews, won five Oscars including Best Picture and remains one of the most popular movies of all time.

Ticket pricing starts from RM320 for the Category D seats, while the highest is RM630 for the Premium seats. Prices also vary depending on the day. Additionally, do bear in mind that these prices don’t include the processing fee of 6%.

The musical, with its amazing family-centric story, will premiere in Istana Budaya this 27th December and will run until 15th January 2023. Head on to the link right here to secure your tickets.

Puteri Teja contributed to this article.

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#LoveWins: 10 LGBT Films That You Should Watch At Least Once In Your Life

Recently, the Malaysian online community was abuzz with the topic of LGBT, mainly due to the postponement of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” as well as the review of Lionsgate’s “Power Rangers”. Both blockbuster movies feature “exclusive gay moments” (read: LeFou and Trini) and as homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia, the Malaysian Censorship Board (LPF) had to re-evaluate them.

In light of this, we’ve compiled a list of LGBT films that you should watch at least once in your life. Be it sentimental love stories or based on real-life events, here are our top 10 LGBT film picks:

(If you are a homophobe, please leave this page because we don’t want any hate here. #LoveWins.)

There’s no shortage of toxic relationships in movies, but none is as destructive and honest as the one seen in Wong Kar Wai’s award-winning film, “Happy Together” (春光乍泄). Starring the late Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung, the film follows a dysfunctional gay couple who travels to South America from Hong Kong in hopes of rekindling their on-again, off-again relationship. While Cheung plays an impulsive playboy named Ho, Leung takes on the role of being Ho’s responsible yet sensitive boyfriend, Lai.

Paired with beautiful cinematography by Christopher Doyle, we think that the melancholic film perfectly captures Lai’s extreme loneliness and the main characters’ desire of finding happiness really well.

“Boys Don’t Cry” is a powerful based-on-a-true-story film that is helmed by Kimberly Peirce. The film follows the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a young transgender man who was raped and murdered in 1993. Although the plot focuses on the relationship between Brandon (played by Hilary Swank) and his girlfriend, Lana Tisdel (played by Chloë Sevigny), it also highlights various social issues like violence against LGBT people and homophobia. Moreover, to make the film more realistic, Peirce’s script used dialogues directly the 1998 documentary “The Brandon Teena Story”.

After its release, the movie was very well-received and Swank was awarded an Academy Award for “Best Actress”.

What happens when you combine a trans woman and some awesome glam rock music?

Based on Stephen Trask’s cult musical of the same name, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” stars John Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig, an East German who escapes his communist country by marrying a male American soldier after performing a sex change surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery goes wrong, leaving Hedwig with a one-inch lump of flesh between her legs. One year later, her husband leaves her and she finds herself alone with a failing music career. But don’t worry, everything eventually works out in the end for Hedwig, albeit rather oddly.

With 4 Golden Globe Awards and 3 Academy Awards under its belt, “Brokeback Mountain” is arguably the most popular LGBT film in the 2000s. Directed by Taiwanese-born filmmaker Ang Lee, the movie follows the complex and tragic love story of 2 cowboys/sheep-herders – Ennis Del Mar (played by Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). Not only is the film one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride, it is also the highest-grossing gay romance of all time (it made over USD178 million worldwide!).

In the words of Cynthia Fuchs of Common Sense Media, “‘Brokeback Mountain’ is a thoughtful, lyrical, eventually frustrating examination of 2 men’s romance over many years.”

We’re no movie expert, but one thing’s for sure – Felicity Huffman’s portrayal of Sabrina Osbourne in “Transamerica” is exceptional. Known for her role as Lynette Scavo in ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”, the actress plays a transgender woman on an unexpected road trip with her 17-year-old son who is unaware that she is his father. Erm, we mean mother.

While it’s obvious that the film is mainly about family, it also explores other themes such as self-discovery and acceptance. Furthermore, the film earned Huffman a Golden Globe Award for “Best Actress”.

“All men are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.”

Adapted from 1984 documentary “The Times Of Harvey Milk”, “Milk” is an award-winning biopic that tells the story of Harvey Milk, a San Francisco politician who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in America. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Sean Penn, Victor Garber, Josh Brolin, and James Franco, the film is directed by Gus Van Sant with a script penned by Dustin Lance Black.

We don’t want to give you any spoilers but let’s just say that the film is impactful, life-changing, and well-crafted.

In director Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are Alright”, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore play 2 big-hearted lesbian mothers who gave birth to 2 kids (played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson respectively) using the same sperm donor. Life for the unconventional family turns upside down when the kids bring their biological father (played by Mark Ruffalo) into their life.

“The Kids Are Alright” is the only film in this list that discusses real marriage problems such as marital fidelity, family values, and parenthood.

Based on Julie Maroh’s graphic novel of the same name, “Blue Is The Warmest Colour” is a beautiful yet erotic French romance film about exploring one’s own sexuality. Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, the movie follows Adèle, a high school student who meets and falls in love with Emma, a graduating art student with blue hair.

Although lesbian sexuality is the film’s main theme, it also shows how social class affects the teenagers’ exploration of love. For example, Emma’s upper-middle-class family is more accepting of the homosexual relationship than Adèle’s conservative middle-class household.

Another one of our LGBT film favourites is Eddie Redmayne’s “The Danish Girl” directed by Tom Hooper. Inspired by the lives of Danish artists Einar and Gerda Wegener, the 1920-set movie follows the former’s groundbreaking journey to become Lili Elbe, the world’s first transgender women.

The film was very well-received and many critics dubbed it “the most important film of 2015”. However, “The Danish Girl” was also criticised for casting a cisgender man to play a transgender woman. It was also excoriated for using a fictional novel (“The Danish Girl” by American writer David Ebershoff) as its source. Despite the controversies, the film flawlessly portrays the struggles of a man trying to live as a woman in a conservative society.

Note: “The Danish Girl” did not make it to Malaysian cinemas as the film was banned by the LPF.

This list wouldn’t be complete without this year’s Oscar-winning film, “Moonlight”.

Directed by Barry Jenkins, the coming-of-age film sees a black gay man named Chiron through 3 stages of his early life. Black men in movies are usually portrayed as strong and tough, so its pretty rare to see a film centring on a vulnerable black character who is struggling to come to terms with his sexual identity. Moreover, the film also addresses other topics like poverty, bullying, homophobia, and drug addiction. We won’t give away any spoilers, but “Moonlight” is a meaningful film that will give you all the feels.

The film stars Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, and Mahershala Ali.

Were there any LGBT movies that we’ve left out? Do you have a personal favourite that is not in the list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below ?

Sources: Advocate, Time Out UK, Salon, BFI, Dazed, LA Weekly/ Featured image: IMDb/Wikipedia.

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American Rock Trio Paramore To Hold Concert In Singapore

Calling all Paramore fans, your prayers have been answered!

Pop-punk favourites –  lead singer Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro – are scheduled to perform in Singapore this coming August. The anticipated concert is set to take place at Zepp @ BigBox.

Paramore was originally due to kick off their Southeast Asia tour in February. Due to Williams’ illness, the band was forced to postponed their shows in Jakarta and Manila. Those shows will resume after they perform in Singapore. The trio will tour Manila (Philippines) on 23rd August and Jakarta (Indonesia) on 25th August.

This latest tour is in support of their 5th full-length album, “After Laughter”. This album saw the exit of longtime bassist Jeremy Davis and the return of drummer Zac Farro, who quit the the group in 2010. Following the release of “Hard Times”, “Told You So”, and “Fake Happy”, their 4th and latest single “Rose-Colored Boy” received a music video treatment earlier this year.

Brought to you by LAMC Productions, the details to “Paramore Live in Singapore” are as follows:

Tickets for their show go on sale at 10am on 3rd May via Sistic at www.sistic.com.sg, via the Sistic hotline 6348-5555, and at all Sistic authorised agents.


What We Know About BLACKPINK Jennie’s New Music With Ryan Tedder & New HBO Series

BLINKs, are you guys ready? Apparently, fans are getting a Jennie and Rosé sub-unit soon! Recently, Ryan Tedder appeared to drop some hints about his upcoming project with the two BLACKPINK (블랙핑크) members.

In case you missed it, YG Entertainment announced that the group will be releasing new music next month. The good news didn’t stop just there, ladies and gents! It was also revealed that the girls will also embark on a new world tour following that.

Earlier this month, one fan came up with a post on Twitter, saying that Tedder might be involved in BLACKPINK’s upcoming release. Tedder previously co-wrote the song “Bet You Wanna” (feat. Cardi B), which was included on their first studio album. As per Twitter user @RoseannTheAce, the music producer was spotted reposting Hypebeast’s Instagram post about the group’s comeback.

In addition, the OneRepublic frontman also reposted Rosé’s Instagram post in July of last year. Allegedly, the post features the Aussie vocalist recording with her fellow member in Tedder’s studio, to which he commented “(It) wuz a good day.” The picture was taken when the two BLACKPINK members were in Los Angeles. At that time, YG Entertainment revealed that both Jennie and Rosé were “working on new music”.

Recently, Tedder appeared to have confirmed that he had worked with Jennie and Rosé on a new track. Having said that, the music producer didn’t provide any specific details on whether the two will be debuting as an official subunit for the group, or perhaps coming up with a unit song to be included in BLACKPINK’s upcoming album.

In a recent interview during “Good Morning America’s 2022 Summer Concert” series, Tedder shared, “All I can confirm is that I have worked on BLACKPINK material. I did write with the girls themselves.” He then added, “I did, I think, one of the only sessions they’ve done outside of Korea, we did in LA. With Jennie, Rosé, a handful of them.”

When asked to describe the two BLACKPINK members, Tedder responded by saying, “They’re phenomenal, they’re so sweet, they’re so talented.” He also revealed that he has been a huge fan of the “Kill This Love” hit-makers. To quote the Grammy winner, “I’ve got their posters all over my wall, my wife thinks it’s weird.”

“I genuinely love BLACKPINK, so I can’t tell you what’s coming out. I think one or two of my songs have made the album from what I’ve been told,” Ryan further revealed during the interview session. “And the stuff that I did with them, I can just say that it’s very true to their sound. They wrote it, so it was very much me just supporting them and their ideas.” He then concluded by stating that their upcoming music will be “cool as hell”.

Speaking of BLACKPINK, hawk-eyed fans recently spotted Jennie in the first trailer for HBO’s upcoming TV series titled “The Idol”. Last month, it was reported that the 25-year-old idol had been offered a role in the series. So far, YG has yet to confirm Jennie’s casting on the show. That said, fans were still able to spot her in the teaser trailer for the series. You can check it out here (and fast forward to 0:33):

Sources: KpopStarz, Twitter (1)(2), Soompi.

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#TreatYoSelf: Start Making Plans For The Awesome Long Weekends In Malaysia (2016)

If you’ve been following us for long enough, you’d know that we thrive on long weekends. Awesome long weekends!

Heck, we love long weekends so much, we’ve even featured the 2014/2015 roster previously.

We’re not sure about you but we’re still trying to get back into the momentum after what was one of the longest weekends this year – the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break. Some of you may have gone on a quick getaway, while others might’ve just chosen to stay in and enjoy the free time off because there’s nothing better than not having to battle through the rush hour mornings and evenings.

Of course, the trick is to properly time your annual leaves, coupled with official public holidays, to get your well-deserved long stretch of break. Because let’s face it – annual leaves are hard to come by.

There are only a few more long weekends in the coming months (August, September, October) before 2015 is over but fret not! Next year is also looking quite positive because thanks to Holiday Tours, we’ve got a calendar of more long weekends to look forward to in 2016 :)

As seen in the Holiday Tours calendar above, there are a total of 8 official long weekends in 2016:

But you can have all 9 long weekends if you take that 1 day off on 8th July for an extended Hari Raya break. Hari Raya is on 6th – 7th July (Wednesday and Thursday). So that’s one solid reason to whip out your AirAsiaGo app and start booking ’em deals.

On top of that, some places in Malaysia have different national holidays according to the state. For example, if you live in Kedah, you could have an extra few days off i.e. Sultan of Kedah’s birthday.

The additional official long weekends, filtered to state, are as follows:

Get your 2016 calendar out and start planning, peeps. Need a calendar? Print one out from here.

You might like these long weekend getaway plans:

Note: Dates shown above are only preliminary and could be subject to change.

Sources: Holiday Tours, One Stop Malaysia.


Militants Planning To Sabotage The Better Beer Festival? Beer Will “Make You Gay”?

ALIFE, a Malaysian organisation that advocates live arts and entertainment events, has spoken up about The Better Beer Festival 2017 fiasco.

The organisation’s vice-president Rizal Kamal said that not only would the controversy rack up losses worth hundreds of thousands in ringgit from the event’s cancellation, it has also dealt a heavy blow to Malaysia’s image as a moderate country.

Last week, it was announced the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has rejected an application to hold The Better Beer Festival 2017. DBKL did not elaborate if the rejection had anything to do with the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) objecting to the event, but The Better Beer Festival organisers later released a statement to confirm that they were informed that the decision was made “due to the political sensitivity surrounding the event”.

A couple of days later, 25 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) gathered outside Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque to protest against festivals that celebrate alcohol and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Malaysia, fearing that The Better Beer Festival 2017 would be held in Selangor instead.

Among the NGOs were Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia, Biro Aduan Masyarakat Selangor, Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia, Gabungan NGO 1Malaysia, Pertubu han 99 Kebajikan Insan Selangor, Gerakan Team Boss 38, Alif Ba Ta Srikandi Mahsyur and Gerakan Biru Bersatu ABATA.

At the same time, Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia head Abdul Rani Kulup called on the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) to forbid liquor and gay festivals.

“This should not be our culture and practice. Alcohol consumption is the mother of all immoral acts that could lead to other bad habits. When you drink alcohol, you will get involved in gambling, sexual activities, become gay… all things that are bad will happen,” NST quoted him as saying.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun also revealed that the police had advised DBKL against allowing the beer festival to be held in Kuala Lumpur for security reasons. Apparently, the police had received information that militants planning on sabotaging the event.

Meanwhile, the cancellation has since gained international attention, as several publications have picked up on the story, including the UK’s The Telegraph, Germany’s DW, and the US’ Newsweek.

Sources: MMO, NST / Featured image: Prison Planet.

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#TreatYoSelf: 8 Of The Best Omakase Restaurants In Kuala Lumpur

Omakase (pronounced as oh-ma-kah-seh) literally means “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese. It is also the Japanese tradition of entrusting a chef to choose your meal for you.

Truth be told, an omakase meal doesn’t come cheap. A set is priced between RM450 to RM1500, depending on which restaurant and chef you go to. Though you don’t exactly know what you will be getting, expect to get the best of the best because these chefs know their stuff. However, your meal can be customised according to your dietary restrictions.

An omakase meal usually comes with an appetiser, several small-plated entrées (typically sushi and sashimi), and dessert. As most Japanese fine dining restaurants import ingredients directly from Japan, guests will be presented with the freshest seasonal items that they might have never seen or heard of.

Whether you’re a curious foodie or just have a taste for expensive food, here are 8 restaurants that serve critically-acclaimed omakase sets:

Established in 2013, Sushi Hinata (which means sunny place in Japanese) is quietly tucked away at the ground floor of St. Mary Residence along Jalan Tengah. The restaurant has 2 main chefs – Master Chef Yuki Iwai and Executive Chef Shigeo Akiba. While Yuki can be found working at the sushi counter, Akiba prepares delicious cooked meals at the back kitchen. If you’re looking to try something special, the restaurant also offers seasonal specials such as fugu (pufferfish).

Headed by Japanese Executive Chef Ricky Kamiishi, Iketeru has built and maintained its reputation as one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in the city. The restaurant emphasises a lot on freshness, quality, and creativity. One regular customer commented, “This is the best Japanese omakase that we had in Kuala Lumpur. You just need to let Assistant Chef Johnny know what you feel like eating and he will surprise you every single time.”

Furthermore, Iketeru boasts an variety of premium set lunches ranging from RM80 to RM320.

Opened in 2014 by former Sushi Hinata Master Chef Hideaki Oritsuki (or Chef Ori for short), Sushi Oribe takes its name from the famed Oribe ceramic wares. Unlike their competitors, Chef Ori prefers to source his ingredients from Osaka and Kyushu Island instead of Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market. Featuring an array of sublime sushi, the restaurant also offers seasonal items like monkfish liver, Hokkaido uni and king crab, Hiroshima oysters, as well as fish milt. However, don’t expect to find tempura at Sushi Oribe as Chef Ori prefers to focus on making traditional sushi.

True to its name, SOU Omakase specialises in the art of omakase. Without an a la carte menu, guests have to leave it up to Chef Fukuchi from Yokohama and his team. But fret not, they won’t disappoint. Located near the entrance of the Gardens Hotel, Chef Fukuchi is unafraid to incorporate new ingredients into their meals. For example, he serves grilled abalone with a thick gooey cheese sauce.

As Tien Chew of Malaysian Tatler puts it, “SOU Omakase is an interesting modern Japanese restaurant that doesn’t stray too far from its roots but welcomed the addition of other ingredients to offer diners a new way to enjoy the popular cuisine.”

Sushi Azabu is a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant from New York that is located at The Table, Isetan The Japan Store. Headed by Chef Toshihide Terado, the restaurant serves traditional Edo-mae sushi that are made with freshest seafood. Moreover, Sushi Azabu uses Akitakomachi rice, which is sourced from the Akita prefecture in Northern Japan. Besides sushi, there is a small selection of cold and hot appetisers.

Note: The Table features 4 other different Japanese eateries: The Tokyo Restaurant, Yakiniku Toraji, Toriden, and Tonkatsu Anzu.

Hanaya will give you an authentic Japanese dining experience unlike any other. Managed by the same team behind Ten Japanese Fine Dining at Marc’s Residence, the restaurant uses only the finest ingredients from Japan. Aside from the omakase menu, they also have an extensive a la carte dishes including grilled teppanyaki and tempura. Hanaya is also famous for their trademark omotenashi (which is the art of selfless hospitality) spirit. You’ll definitely feel like a king here.

7. Taka by Sushi Saito @ The St. Regis KL

Located at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, Taka by Sushi Saito is founded by Chef Takashi Saito, who is the youngest sushi chef to be awarded with 3 Michelin stars. Decorated with woven mat walls and hand-painted doors, the restaurant’s 16-seat traditional sushi counter is made of 300-year-old Hinoki wood, which is said to have antimicrobial properties.

In terms of food quality, the restaurant’s ingredients are flown in from Japan 3 times a week. But be warned that you might not get what you want in this prestigious restaurant. Taka only offers omakase dishes and there is no a la carte menu.

From appetiser to dessert, Ginza Sushimasa’s exquisite omakase menu is like a symphony of flavours for your mouth. Owned by Amino Co Ltd, the franchise has a string of outlets in Tokyo’s Ginza area and Sendai. The restaurant takes pride in using fresh wild fishes brought in from Tokyo and Fukuoka about 3 times a week. According to Time Out KL, they even have a special license that allows them direct access into the world-famous tuna auction, giving them the right to pick the best.

Sources: MMO (1), (2), Buro 24/7, Star 2, Time Out KL, Eat Drink KL, TripAdvisor, Sushi FAQ.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Kaskade Featuring Ilsey – Disarm You

Will you let Kaskade and Ilsey disarm you?

Keeping the momentum and hype going for his upcoming 10th studio album “Automatic“, which is slated for a release this fall, dance music maestro Kaskade has now shared the music video for his latest single “Disarm You”.

Featuring the vocals of Ilsey, the single makes for the latest track off the album and is accompanied by an animated music video. Stencilled lovebirds and silhouettes of the physical world walks fans through the song, verse by verse. Simple yet incredibly powerful, the video shows a lot of signs of love throughout, with fire portraying a burning passion as a couple tries to make it through this life together while dealing with flashes of negativity.

Ilsey’s powerful vocals truly gives meaning to what is being said, portraying the kind of emotion one goes through when having true feelings for someone. The second chorus of the track will send fans into a hyperdrive, blazing through time and space trying to get to the other person.

As the track hits its gentle ending, the couple are reunited with their love holding them together. Check out the powerful video for “Disarm You” here.


“Zouk @ Sepang” Pre-Party; It’s On!

We know how excited you party people must be, counting down the “sleep”s and going to bed every night wishing it was Friday already. You’ll be happy to know that Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur will never quite quit it with the surprises just yet.

Looking to get your rave mood on? Push that button sooner!

Set to warm you up for Zouk’s party of the year this Friday at none other than Zouk Club itself is the “Zouk @ Sepang Pre-Party”, NASTYHYPE, featuring your friendly neighbourhood android, Mr. Nasty, and Hypeembeats!

If you’re already a ticket holder for the “Zouk @ Sepang” event, it’s FREE ENTRY for you before midnight. Party like a boss! Otherwise, details are as follows:

So? Ready to start early and party on right until early Sunday morning or what? Then head on over to you-kn0w-where!

For more information, visit the event page or call +60321711997.


Avengers: Infinity War Poster Reveals Thanos’ Villainous Black Order

While the released date for “Avengers: Infinity War” draws closer, Marvel’s latest posters shine the spotlight on Thanos and his children, the Black Order.

As the Mad Titan seeks full control of the galaxy, he will aided by his subservient children in gathering the Infinity Stones. Thanks to Trends International, we now have a better look at the Black Order in all its glory.

In “Avengers: Infinity War”, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will come face-to-face Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, Cull Obsidian, and Corvus Glaive. Only a brief snippet in the trailers have shown the Black Order doing Thanos’ bidding, including the scene of an epic battle in Wakanda.

Although Marvel boss Kevin Feige hasn’t confirmed any of the voice cast for the Black Order yet, these characters were revealed at last year’s D23 expo. Despite Thanos being front and centre, the poster does a clever job in hiding the stones in the Infinity Gauntlet. Having said that, the most interesting aspect is still the personal tease of the bad guys.

A post shared by Maik Strange 🎬🍿 (@maikstrange)

If the artwork is any indication, it shows that the highly-anticipated film will be giving fans a comic book-accurate version of the Order. Each of the characters look almost identical to their comic counterparts.

Get to know the backstory of each member from Thanos’ Black Order here.

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#DBKL: RM92 Mil To Improve Kuala Lumpur’s Flash Flood Mitigation System

Remember the flash floods that happened 2 weeks ago? Well, it was reported that the heavy rainfalls are expected to last till the end of 2016.

To help prevent potential flash floods, Federal Territories (DBKL) Deputy Minister Datuk Dr. J. Loga Bala Mohan said that RM92 million will be spent on upgrading Kuala Lumpur’s flash flood mitigation system. The large sum of money will be used to replace old pipings, install water pumps, build retention ponds, and road diversions.

“This includes RM5mil for an integrated traffic management system to better manage traffic during flash floods,” said Dr. Loga at the Dewan Rakyat Special Chambers on Tuesday (24th May).

Apparently, the city’s drainage system was unable to handle the amount of water that was caused by the downpour 2 weeks ago because the rainfall exceeded the retention capacity of 70mm.

Dr. Loga also added that a study is being carried out to determine the cause of the flash floods. As aforementioned, the president of the Institute of Engineers, Tan Yean Chin, said that clogged drain outlets is the cause of the flash floods.

In regards to damage compensations, he stated that DBKL will not be responsible for something that is “an act of god”. “There is a difference between negligence and an act of god. In this instance, it is an act of god as the extraordinary rain is not something which DBKL can control,” he told The Star.

On 12th May, a series of flash floods occurred in the city as a result from the heavy downpour. Several major roads were submerged including Jalan Pudu, Jalan Pantai Bahru, Jalan Semantan, and Jalan Bangsar which affected more than 100 vehicles.


#KLMonorail: Rapid Rail Monorail Line Service Halted As Coach Tyre Catches Fire

In a statement on Monday, Rapid Rail Monorail Line said the service was suspended from 8:50am, Monday (30th March) after 2 incidents involving its trains.

In the first incident, a rubber tyre of a four-car train caught fire at the Titiwangsa station, resulting in heavy smoke. According to Kuala Lumpur Fire Station Chief operations officer Shamsol Maarif Saibini:

The station received a call at 8.52am regarding the fire and a team of firemen arrived at the scene about five minutes later.

In the second incident, a 2-car train was stranded between the Imbi station and Bukit Bintang station due to technical problems, prompting the dispatch of a rescue train to push the stopped vehicle and clear the passengers.

Upon arrival, all train passengers were asked to evacuate the coaches and the monorail operator was directed to move the burning coach to a location further way from the buildings. “Currently, work to extinguish the fire is still ongoing,” he said in a Bernama report. He added that 22 firemen and 3 engines were rushed to the location to put out the fire.

Drivers were advised to find alternative routes as the delay of Monorail services is causing for a major traffic holdup.

The public transport provider is investigating both incidents, and has apologised to commuters for the inconvenience caused.

Sources: The Malaysian Insider, The Star Online.


Dadi Cinema To Open In Pavilion KL In October 2020

Back in February, we reported that Dadi Cinema or Dadi Theater Circuit (大地院线) will be replacing GSC (Golden Screen Cinemas) in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

We recently visited Pavilion KL and was pleasantly surprised to see that the new China cinema chain is set to debut this coming October. It looks like it’ll launch according to plan as the mall previously announced its opening in Q3 2020.

As seen in the banner attached, Dadi Cinema has been in the business for more than a decade and is one of the largest China-based cinema chain with 500 outlets overseas. As the first cinema in Malaysia, the Pavilion KL branch will house at least 4 halls – STARMAX, VIP, Giant Screen as well as one catered for kids.

To give you an idea of how Dadi Cinema will look like, the entertainment company recently shared photos taken from its homeland cinemas. Take a look:

Stay tuned to this space for more updates.

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CNY 2013: Gong Xi Fa Cai With Jaya One

Gong Xi Fa Cai! It’s the “Year Of The Snake” and everyone is invited! Last year’s outdoor Chinese New Year party filled up the area from Scot’s to “Add Me Kopitiam”. This year, join their very long table for a community yee-sang, be thrilled by dragon and lion dances, as well as a mask-changing performance.

So come one, come all, because Jaya One would like to wish you a very happy and prosperous year ahead. After all, you know what they say – they more the merrier!

Itinerary of the Chinese New Year Celebration:

6:30pm Welcome Speech , 24-Season Drums Performance, Speech by Mr. Charles Wong, Executive Director of Tetap Tiara Sdn. Bhd

6:45pm Acrobatic Lion Dance performance, “Lou Sang” ceremony, Face-Changing performance

8:00pm Mingling session with light snacks at Sales Gallery Lvl. 1

For more information, visit their Facebook page or follow then via their Twitter account for more timely updates.