#IMSAsiaPacific: EDM Sensation Alesso To Turn It Up In Shanghai

“Maybe heaven right now is a devil or angel away, that won’t change.”

It wasn’t too long ago that Swedish DJ/producer Alessandro Lindblad, better known by his stage name Alesso, was named one of the “EDM Rookies to Watch” by MTV. Lots of changed for Alesso since then, and he’s no longer “the next big thing in dance music” (to quote Madonna), but rather, the big thing in dance music. Till this very day, the duration in which the self-taught took to gain recognition around the world is considered short by many people.

Alesso has played in numerous major music festivals around the world including Coachella, Creamfields, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), and Tomorrowland. In fact, just this year, he cinched a main stage set at Tomorrowland 2016, undoubtedly a big boost to his career. It’s easy to forget that Alesso is only 25 years old!

Alesso released in first EP in 2010 but it wasn’t until 2011 that he got the attention of one “mafia” – Sebastian Ingrosso of then top DJ/producer trio Swedish House Mafia (SHM). Sebastian had contacted Alesso and later went on to become his mentor, introducing him to DJing and helping him with production  The first track that he released with the help of Sebastian Ingrosso was “Calling” (later renamed to “Calling (Lose My Mind) with an additional feature from OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder).

Later that year, Alesso made the Top 100 DJs list at #70. At that time, he was only 20 years old. A year later, he climbed the ranks and made it to #30 on the Top 100 DJs list. By the time 2013 rolled by, Alesso achieved his highest ranking on the Top 100 DJs list, at #13.

Aside from “Calling (Lose My Mind)”, almost every other single that was released by Alesso also went on to make waves including “If I Lose Myself”, “Under Control”, “Heroes (We Could Be)”, and last but not least, his remix of “Pressure” by Nadia Ali, Starkillers, and Alex Kenji, which was one of the most played EDM songs of 2011.

“Everything went really fast. Within a year, I noticed I was getting booked and doing all these shows. . . . I did shows in New York, Miami. It just got bigger and bigger, and within two years I was playing all these major festivals,” Alesso once said of his seemingly overnight success. He was the scene’s latest sensation and everyone (Calvin Harris, Usher, David Guetta, Theo Hutchcraft) was making a beeline to work with him. The dance music world was his for the taking.

In 2014, Alesso became the second EDM producer to sign with Def Jam Recordings after Afrojack. A year later, he released his debut studio album via the label, titled, “Forever”. Alesso said of the album, “It’s been an indescribable journey to get this album together. I’m so proud of it, it’s very personal to me, it’s a dream to me that this has come together and I do what I love every single day. I hope my fans will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it and all the memories and emotions that went into every song. Thank you to everyone who helped me on this incredible journey and this is just the beginning.”

Undoubtedly one of the most celebrated DJs/producers of his generation, he will be turning it up this month at the 2016 edition of IMS Asia-Pacific in Shanghai, China. Alesso will discuss how working with local Asian artistes is an important way for him to connect with local audiences.

IMS will also showcase the stories behind some of the biggest stars emerging in Asia, such as Asia’s Pop Mandarin Queen and vocalist Jolin Tsai, leading underground Thai DJ Nakadia and 17-year old Chace, who’s global profile is rapidly rising after collaborating with Yellow Claw and becoming the first Chinese artiste to ever play Tomorrowland.

Alesso will be joined by other global artistes, thought-leaders, and industry figureheads to explore the growing influence of electronic music and the issues, challenges and opportunities that face the industry globally and in Asia.

Interested? Get your IMS Asia-Pacific badges here. Meanwhile, more details for this year’s speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on IMS Asia-Pacific, visit their website or Facebook page.

Sources: Rolling Stone, Universal Music / Feature image: The Sun.


Sam Tsui’s Duet With Malaysian Singer Daiyan Trisha Receives Praises

Malaysian songbird Daiyan Trisha is lucky to be able to collaborate with popular American YouTuber Sam Tsui. The internet celebrity is known for his cover songs, original tunes, as well as some medleys and mashups.

In conjunction with the YouTuber’s upcoming visit to Malaysia on 23rd March alongside his fellow YouTuber friend and frequent collaborator Madilyn Bailey,  Sam Tsui has uploaded a cover of “Rewrite the Stars” where he duet with Malaysian singer Daiyan Trisha.

“Rewrite the Stars” which is an original sound track from the hit musical “The Greatest Showman” was originally performed by actor-singers Zac Efron and Zendaya.

Daiyan Trisha recorded the song in Los Angeles, California during her visit there.

A post shared by Daiyan Trisha (@daiyantrisha)

“Thank you, Sam for having me. You’re just amazing – it’s wild going from watching your covers in school to actually sing with you,” the 25-year-old wrote on her Instagram.

Many fans are praising the cover, asking the pair to do more covers together and requesting them to put the song on Spotify.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Sage The Gemini – Good Thing (ft Nick Jonas)

Sage the Gemini and Nick Jonas bring positive vibes.

Previously released without a music video, “Good Thing”, the latest track that will be included in Sage the Gemini’s upcoming second studio album (which has yet to be named) has now been given a much deserved music video.

Featuring the vocals of Nick Jonas, there is not a single doubt that this track is indeed a dope jam. The music video opens with a trip into the jungle where Sage the Gemini is seen surrounded by gorgeous women as he raps along. The video then shifts its attention to Nick who sings his part.

As the “Jealous” singer belts out the catchy chorus, Sage the Gemini overlaps with some relaxing rhymes to balance Nick’s vocal in the track. The synchronisation has resulted in a powerful track with strong moods and settings.

Following the song’s message in celebrating life and loving life, the duo are seen having a good time in the music video as they party it up with a bunch of smokin’ hot women. Evolving out of EDM, we’re pretty sure this smooth R&B track will a perfect alternative for a house-party.


Hype’s Exclusive: A Tuesday Afternoon Jam With #Kawehi

For some, this Hawaiian singer-songwriter may need no introduction, because she has been creating waves on the interwebs for as long as we can remember. The best part is, the extraordinarily talented Kawehi has been doing it all pretty much alone! Yes, she’s that highly talked about (and super duper envied) “one-woman-band”, the one who has done multiply “one-woman-show” type of covers ranging from Nirvana to Michael Jackson, to Radiohead and NIN, and even Maroon 5.

See, the thing is, Kawehi was in town on 7th Oct (Tuesday) as part of her tour, to play a gig at Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur! And we managed to catch her right before her soundcheck for a quick chat. So, right smack in our very own sunny city in the middle of a weekday afternoon, we got to know the internet sensation just a little bit better.

We know, we know, just how lucky did we get, right? ;)

Hi Kawehi! How are you coping with our Malaysian weather? Has it been kind to you?

Hi! The weather’s not so bad actually. I was just in Singapore earlier so I’ve kinda gotten used to it a little. It’s alright.

For those of our readers who aren’t in the know, tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Kawehi and I’m originally from Hawaii, born and raised. I moved out to Los Angeles and I kinda got into the music scene and basically, I make a lot of videos like covers and originals. And I do looping which is just like recording everything live and building track by track the entire song. That’s kind of like my thing :)

Your videos, Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” especially, was a hit! What was your first thought when you knew that it went viral?

Yeah, I know! It’s really weird and it really is the biggest compliment because..it’s Courtney Love and it was such a big deal for me! It going viral was unexpected. I couldn’t believe that it was happening and a lot of people asked, “Did you ever make these videos with the intention going viral?” and the answer is always no. I usually do cover videos that my fans have requested – it’s just something that I do and there were never really any plans for it. It’s exciting, it’s terrifying, and now it’s like, “Oh my gosh, people are actually listening. Now I really have to do a good job!”. It has been a really cool ride so far.

On your Twitter profile, it says, “Songwriter, Singer, Southpaw, Shit Talker, Lover, Musician-who-walks-like-a-trucker. Avid looper. Indie”. Shit talker?

(laughs) That, well, oh man..especially if you know me, and it doesn’t even take that long, I give so many people shit. As in I like to tease and mess around – that’s just my personality. And it doesn’t change as the years go by. I’m just like that.

And on that note, what do you think has been the greatest misconception about you? How different are you from your social media platforms and in real life, would you say?

That’s a really good question! I’m really not different at all from my videos. I’ve tried that route where I tried to be a “package material” kinda thing. I did that initially when I first moved out to Los Angeles and I hated it! It was a horrible experience. And I think after that, I just realised that I can’t be anyone else but myself. I really can’t, it’s really difficult for me. I’ve tried and I didn’t succeed because I’m one of those type of people who gets really unhappy if I can’t say what’s on my mind or if I can’t do what makes me happy. My videos are really good windows to who I am inside.

(laughs) They’re always just sleeping! A) They sleep all the time and, B) they’re always around when I practice or when I’m trying to put something together; and they’re just like, “Whatever”. Like, “Again? You’re doing this again?”. So it’s really funny because they’ve become a fixture in all of my videos. Whenever I do a video and they’re not in there, people would be like, “Where are your dogs, man? I miss your dogs”.

What has been some of the most defining moments for you, having achieved so much in such a short span of time? Does being an internet sensation come with offers & crazy requests?

Oh yeah, labels, managements. I have an agent now although I didn’t before. I also have a publicist now. The one thing I won’t do is label though. I’ve done it, I’ve gone down that path before, and I wasn’t happy. I didn’t have any control over anything or creative control even, and I was somebody that I wasn’t. But after having gone through that, that was a big eye-opener. I was in a 7-year contract and I could’ve stayed with the band and made some records or quit the band and wait 7 years. So that’s what I did. I think that after that experience..I’ve had pretty much every single label approach me and I’d always say no because it’s not for me. I really like how I’m doing things now – it’s really independent, and it’s very grassroots.

Tell us about that spread of gadgets & electronics that you usually set up for your “one woman band” music videos.

Well, everything goes through Ableton through my laptop, and then the Launchpad is basically a midi controller and it helps me record and stop recording whatever layer I’m building. It’s a good way to organise everything like all the chorus elements are in one line and the other elements are in another, and it’s a good way to turn everything on and off. Then right next to that I have a Chaos Pad which is an impromptu way of using different filters and everything just kind of goes through that. I also have a Novation keyboard, it’s a MiniNova and it’s just a keyboard in which I use to control all the different keyboard sounds, synths, guitars, and it has this really cool pitch bend in it – I can make cool sounds! On the right side, I have an interface that everything goes through and it connects the sounds like it kind of translates everything – it’s a good connector. And then all of my harmonies, I do it on this thing called the VoiceLive Touch. It’s usually perched on my mic stand and it’s a good way to do harmonies especially since I don’t have backup singers so it’s good to use ;)

And which one of those is your most prized possession? And why?

Oh man..the most prized possession. Well, for function, I can’t do anything without my laptop. But I really enjoy the Chaos Pad because you can really do a lot of weird shit with that. I mean, I can really get lost using it! It’s very visual and it has got lights moving around so it’s really cool.

How many takes does it take you to get one music video right for example, the “The Way You Make Me Feel” Michael Jackson cover that you did?

It’s common that I do 2 or 3 all the way through and out of those 3, I’d pick the one that’s the best. But there are no cuts or edits. Everything is done in one shot, you know, and you can watch me just going through the whole thing. But the Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” one, there were tonnes of mistakes in everything that I heard but that’s part of the charm when it comes to looping.

Last one for the road! What can your 87,000 odd fans expect from you for the rest of 2014? Any surprises in the pipeline?

Yeah! I’m working on the continuation of my previous EP called, “Robot Heart“, and the Kickstarter fundraising..it has been going on for like, 30 days, and I think we’re on our last week. It’s doing really well and a lot of people are interested because I do so many Kickstarter projects – I think this is probably the 6th Kickstarter project that I’ve done. It’s a good way to stay independent and raise funds, and do it in a way that you’re giving back to the people who are supporting you. It’s really amazing – people from all around the world are helping out. It’s a really great way to engage with your fans and connect with them, and make them feel like they’re part of the equation of the entire thing. I would’ve never thought that I’d get here without them, and I say it every time with every project, you guys are really why I’m putting out all this music. Starting November/December, I’ll be working on my next EP called “Evolution” and in January 2015, the whole tour cycle will start again.

I’m sure I will! I mean, A) I would love to and, B) I’m sure I will ;)

And we’ll hold you to that, Kawehi. Thank you so much for chatting with us! And thanks to our friends from Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur for making this exclusive interview happen for us.

Don’t forget to subscribe to her YouTube channel for all that Kawehi goodness!

She’s also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – if you wanna stalk her :)

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#XMenApocalypse: Wolverine Originally Had A Larger Role; Why Did It Change?

In the months leading up to the movie premiere of “X-Men: Apocalypse”, many were wondering if Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine would make a cameo.

20th Century Fox waited until April to confirm his involvement with a teaser trailer that hinted at the clawed mutant’s key role in one of the movie’s action sequence. In an interview with CinemaBlend, screenwriter Simon Kinberg has now revealed that Wolverine was initially supposed to lead the next generation of X-Men to battle Apocalypse.

Both Kinberg and Bryan Singer always intended to include Wolverine in “X-Men: Apocalypse“, but his role in the earlier drafts was decreased once they realised that it intervened with Mystique’s (played by Jennifer Lawrence) larger purpose in the story’s narrative.

“There was always a notion that we wanted Wolverine to be in the movie. We wanted to find a way to feature him in the film, partly because Bryan and I love Hugh so much. We love the character, obviously, and he’s such a huge part of the franchise. There were a lot of iterations of how Wolverine would enter and exit the movie.

“There was a version when he was going to come in at the midpoint of the film and be like the drill sergeant for the kids and take over as their leader. And we felt like that stepped on Jen’s role in the movie and becoming their leader,” Kinberg told CinemaBlend.

With Wolverine no longer acting as team’s drill sergeant, his role was dialled back to a pivotal episode where he emerged as Weapon X and went ballistic on a bunch of guards.

“As we were, again, conceptually brainstorming the script, we knew that the kids were going to be abducted, or that a lot of our main characters were going to be abducted and taken somewhere. So we thought it would be interesting to take them to Alkali Lake, and that they would naturally, potentially… that the Weapon X program would be there, and maybe that was a place to find Wolverine,” said Kinberg.

As Sandy Schaefer points outs, it’s probably for the best that Wolverine’s role was minimised. Having Logan leading the young X-Men would be out of character, especially in the film’s 1983 setting; when “Wolverine who was a troubled (and aggressive) loner after having gone through his Weapon X transformation and still years away from meeting Professor X himself”.

It also wouldn’t make sense for Mystique and Wolverine to share the leadership role. Mystique stepping up as a leader after Charles’ abduction brings the arc of Lawrence’s character (from “First Class” and “Days of Future Past”) to a satisfying closure in “Apocalypse”.

Jackman will get his own shot at going out in a blaze of glory with his final Wolverine performance in “Wolverine 3”, and concluding his time with the “X-Men” franchise altogether after he hangs up his claws for good.

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

Sources: CinemaBlend, Screen Rant, Movie Web.


7 Films That Inspire Us to Travel

Now, here’s a confession (presumably) from all the travel enthusiasts out there. Most of the time we’d travel to new places to experience their culture so that we can have real-life travel experiences to share with our friends. But when we run out of money to explore, that doesn’t mean that we should stop travelling too.

We can still travel without being there physically. How? Through these movies that are filled with breathtaking landscapes and travel inspirations. So, if you are planning a getaway soon, why not satisfy your wanderlust by watching these movies first?

Escaping his boring daily routine at LIFE magazine, archivist Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller) decides to make a change in his life by going on an epic adventure to find a missing photo. In the film, Mitty travels to places like Greenland, Iceland and Afghanistan to find the photo before returning to the concrete jungles of New York. However, Ben Stiller and the production team have never set foot in Greenland and Afghanistan as the entire film was shot in different parts of Iceland.

Following their father’s funeral, three brothers travel across India to reunite with their mother in the beautiful Darjeeling of India. Directed by Wes Anderson, the film has a usual quirky and whimsical style that has undoubtedly inspired us with their spiritual journey in India. “The Darjeeling Limited” is not the only Wes Anderson’s film that has inspired us to travel as “The Grand Budapest Hotel” has pretty amazing filming locations as well.

The film tells a story of a screenwriter, Gil Pender, who mysteriously travels back to the 1920s every night during his trip to Paris with his fiancée’s family. While the film focuses on Pender’s romantic journey in Paris during 1920s, we can’t help but notice that the backdrops of the locations in the film as they are strangely beautiful and idealistic.

Fancy going on a road trip? “One Week” might be the perfect film for you! Young English teacher Ben Tyler decides to go on a motorcycle trip from Toronto to Vancouver after he was diagnosed with cancer. Along the way, he meets people who changes his perspective on life and gives life a new meaning. The film features the most beautiful part of Canada and the whole journey showcases the scenic backdrop of the Canadian landscape.

“Mamma Mia” is a musical comedy film (adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name) that tells the story of a 20-year-old bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan as she searches for her father before her wedding day. While the film often features the upbeat songs from successful pop group ABBA, the most notable part of the film is the calm and laid back lifestyle in Greece. The entire film was shot at the small Greek island of Skopelos.

Based on an inspiring memoir by American writer Elizabeth Gilbert, “Eat Pray Love” tells a story of a woman who travels to Italy, India, and Bali, Indonesia as a mean to self-discovery and balancing her life. Because of this film, many people were inspired to embark on a spiritual trip to the places that were featured in the film, especially Bali, where Gilbert found her love.

Last but not least, “The Hobbit Trilogy” is absolutely the only reason why we want to make a trip to New Zealand soon! Most parts of the film were shot at various locations in New Zealand featuring the country’s natural yet beautiful landscapes. Although some parts of the film were computer generated for the fantasy effects, the landscape and the environment of the film remained in its most natural form. The hobbit holes in the film even went on to becoming tourist attractions in New Zealand!

Have you watched any films that have inspired you to leave everything behind and travel the world? Let us know in the comments!

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Hype’s Now Playing: Dasha Logan – Leave Your Man

Local songstress Dasha Logan empowers women with her new single.

Dasha Logan, the daughter of late Alleycats vocalist Loganathan Arumugam is following in her father’s footsteps by making waves in the music industry. In 2014, the beautiful songstress scored her first hit on the British charts with her single “Cleverly” featuring Paul Johnson.

The 27-year-old’s single peaked at #4 on the UK Soul Charts and now, she’s back with a brand new single. Titled “Leave Your Man”, the video directed by Fabian Joseph features appearances from KL socialiates including Mehrdad Razavi Mozart, Stephanie Goh Mei Yee, Nadia Heng, Isabelle Zhen, Natalia Kamarudin, Laura Lim, Adil Johan and Nabilah Hanim. Apart from truly showcasing Dasha’s powerful vocals, the jazzy and groovy single is also incredibly catchy and delivers an empowering message to women who are being mistreated by their man.

“Leave Your Man” will soon hit iTunes and Spotify, till then, keep updated with Dasha Logan via her Official Website and Facebook Page.


“Candy Crush”? What’s That?

If you’ve seen frustrated tweets and Facebook statuses recently about your friends “hating chocolates” and “not having enough lives”, don’t worry, nobody’s really hating chocolates and nobody’s dying. At least not yet. In fact, in the past few weeks or so, you might’ve gotten an influx of app invites on Facebook, for something called, “Candy Crush”. And if you haven’t fallen into that black hole, then read on.

The last time a gaming trend was this big was during the days of OMGPOP’s “Draw Something”. It was something that you were probably playing, your siblings were probably playing, celebrities were playing, and maybe your parents too. Like all trends, it came and went.

King.com’s “Candy Crush” is everywhere today. It’s top grossing in the iOS App Store, the biggest Facebook app, and the top 10 free app in Android’s Google Play store. However, it’s not something that hasn’t been done before. In fact, it kinda looks like “Bejeweled” – except that this game play requires a player to help out candy inhabitants by matching candy gems.

[youtube id=”826AfV8_zO8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Three candies in a row would get you points and clear gems from the board, four would give you a special candy that can clear rows, and five offers a candy that will destroy a wide region. So on and so forth. Oh, and if you’re asking why there are suddenly so many “chocolate hating” people in the world, it’s because a player is supposed to prevent chocolate from spreading.

And then there are multiple levels in which players will always be struggling to match candies in various combinations and trying to clear the board. When we say, “multiple levels”, we mean over 200 levels. At the same time, a player has to try to get the highest score humanly possible within the time frame allowance. Toss the “lives” system into the mix and suddenly, the number of attempts within a session is limited.

Cue angry life-hating rants. We would know – we have once or twice wanted to throw something, anything at the wall in the painful process.

Exciting, isn’t it? No prizes for guessing why people end up frustrated and begging for lives via Twitter or their Facebook statuses – or end up spending USD0.99 on a life, if they can’t wait a whole half hour for it to be replenished. Go on and try it for yourselves. Get the app (iOS or Android), play it on Facebook.

For more information, visit their official website.


#Facebook: No More Cruel Memories With Newly Implemented “On This Day” Filters

Not everybody wants to be reminded of certain people or certain events via Facebook’s “nostalgia machine”, “On This Day”.

Because whenever Facebook’s “On This Day” feature pops up above everything else on your news feed, it’s bound to ruin your day if it’s a cruel memory.

We’re not the first to complain though – the feature has been called Facebook’s inadvertent algorithmic cruelty, and obviously we can see why. It summons photos and posts, and shoves painful memories (like images of deceased friends, relatives, pets) in users’ faces without warning.

Let’s face it, sometimes you can do without memories of a person’s death or a nasty break-up, or people that you’ve had falling outs with.

As such, Facebook is now introducing filters to allow users to specify which people and dates they don’t want to be reminded of. And with that implemented, we can be in full control of what is pushed in our faces, and only have good memories.

Upon the announcement, a Facebook spokesperson said:

We know that people share a range of meaningful moments on Facebook. As a result, everyone has various kinds of memories that can be surfaced — good, bad, and everything in between. So for the millions of people who use “On This Day”, we’ve added these filters to give them more control over the memories they see.

Yay to good times and good memories! “On This Day” is available to the majority of Facebook users, with the new filters accessible today. Go here to tweak your preferences :)

Up next, Facebook Reactions! When oh when will we get those?

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Concert Review: Della Assists Fan In Proposal During Her KL Tour

It’s been awhile since Ding Dang (丁当), better known as Della, last step foot into Malaysia – 2 years to be exact. Last Saturday (19th May), thousands in Kuala Lumpur were thrilled to welcome the Chinese entertainer back to the stage.

Aside from an impressive setlist of 25 songs, Della’s “Give Me One Love” concert at KLCC Plenary Hall had plenty of highlights throughout the 2 hours and 30 minutes show. We had 2 guest performers as well as a surprise proposal! As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding was going on, another Malaysian couple got engaged.

The 35-year-old Taiwanese singer kicked off the show with a vivacious opening number “Give Me One Love” (想恋一个爱). A mermaid version of herself (yes, that same one in her music video) accompanied with bubbles, rotating starfish, and spinning hearts were projected unto backdrop. Della was dressed in a white top with long sleeves and a denim blue swallowtail skirt. However, her best accessory was her bright smile.

It was interesting to note that Della’s concert was strategically broken down into smaller themes throughout the show. For example, the first 3 songs were uptempo numbers (such as “Night Cat 夜猫”) that audiences could easily dance to. The next 3 songs including “Palm手掌心” (from the 2013 Chinese period drama “Prince of Lan Ling”) and “Why Did You Lie 你为什么说谎” were emotional ballads, whereas the following segment were acoustic songs.

Between each segment, the vocalist paused for a moment and interact with the audiences. As we followed her trip down memory lane, Della shared about the trials and tribulations she has experienced as a singer since leaving home at the age of 18 to pursue her dream.

During those early years, she would sing at pubs before signing to B’in Music company. It’s no secret that she often credits Mayday (五月天) for helping to launch her music career, and that night was no different as she paid tribute to them.

It was easy to singalong to the pop star’s songs as the lyrics were plastered on the backdrop. It also helped that most of her music videos were played during her performances. Yours truly personally found it instrumental in conveying the storyline. Storytelling was a big theme during Della’s “Give Me One Love” concert. One of the high points was when the singer came down from stage to hear some stories from the fans.

One loyal female fan named Amy Ang took the mic to publicly declare her love to her boyfriend, David Ooi. Throughout their 8-year relationship, Amy told everyone in the venue that her beau would faithfully take her to every Della activity in town. Despite her trembling voice, she shocked the audience when she announced that she was going to proposed to her lover.

The venue erupted with thunderous applause. However, David then got down on one knee and popped the question, and of course – she said yes! Thus, Della gave the newly engaged couple her blessing together with a LED balloon.

The excitement didn’t stop there. As aforementioned, 2 special guest performers were invited on stage to duet with Della. The first was Taiwanese singer Grover Lu Kuo-Wei (鼓鼓), who calls himself GBoySwag. The duo delivered “勇敢一次 Brave Once”. Their music video was released last December.

Not long after, Annabella Chua (蔡咏琪) was invited on stage. For those that don’t know, this young singer who hails from Johor competed in “The Voice” (Singaporean and Malaysian version). She was coached by Della herself. Although she didn’t win the singing competition, she made it to the finals on team Della. That night, they both sang LaLa (徐佳瑩)’s ” 你敢不敢”, which was also the song Annabella performed before she was eliminated.

It was truly a musical treat with so many nostalgic moments. Our favourite spine-tingling moment was – hands down – her “I’m a Little Bird 我是一只小小鸟” performance. Many waited for the moment she hit those high notes, and undoubtedly, Della gave us major goosebumps when she let it all out.

With more than a decade of music experience under Della’s belt, her 10-year anniversary journey showed us that there’s more to come.


#STARWARSxRoyalSelangor: The Force Is Strong With Royal Selangor (BTS)

The world’s largest pewter maker, Royal Selangor, is about to get even bigger in a couple of days with the official launch of their “Star Wars” collection!

The unveiling of the highly anticipated collaboration will also undoubtedly up Royal Selangor’s cool factor about a thousand notches as “Star Wars” is one of the most iconic sci-fi franchise of all time ;)

Recently, we were invited to Royal Selangor’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to get a sneak peek of the collection, which we found out that it’s actually made up of 16 designs.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Amongst the merchandise are cufflinks, USB flashdrives, 8-inch figurines (Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader), a Death Star trinket box, tumblers (Darth Vader, C3PO, Boba Fett, and Stormtrooper) and 4-inch figurines (Yoda, Stormtrooper, and Boba Fett).

But the star of the show is perhaps the diorama of a classic “Return of the Jedi” scene, where Luke Skywalker fights Jabba the Hutt’s rancor:

We also had a chat with Royal Selangor marketing executive director Chen Tien Yue, who gave us a quick behind-the-scenes look at Royal Selangor’s latest prized possession.

Chen revealed that the “Star Wars” collection is about 2 years in the making, 18 months committed to just the production process and ensuring that they’ve got everything down pat. After all, by nature of “Star Wars” having a 38-year-old history, a lot of research was needed and there were a lot of reference materials to sieve through as well. This also means a lot of going back and forth between Royal Selangor, Disney, and Lucasfilm to finalise even the tiniest of details.

As for the people behind the crazy labour, according to Chen, the #STARWARSxRoyalSelangor team consists of 2 main sculptors and another 2 or 3 designers who were working on PCs. But because the collection is huge (a standard Royal Selangor collection would usually only have 8 or 10 designs whereas the #STARWARSxRoyalSelangor has 16), Royal Selangor had to mobilise their entire team of designers.

When asked which item was his personal favourite, Chen said it was probably Boba Fett. He added that Boba Fett also required a lot of work behind-the-scenes as the figurine is actually 8 individual pieces put together – jetpack, cloak, upper torso, lower body, gun, antenna, base, and Royal Selangor plaque.

On top of that, he also revealed that more items are slated to be released later this year. How many? Well, let’s just say that Jedis around the world can expect up to 9 more additional pieces* in December. Perhaps a Chewbacca or a R2D2 piece?

Timed for release just a few months ahead of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens“, Chen is confident that the collection will do exceedingly well, and we can’t disagree even if we tried.

For more pictures from our visit to Royal Selangor, check out the gallery below:

Don’t forget! The #STARWARSxRoyalSelangor collection will launch a little later this week (20th August, Thursday) at Sunway Pyramid. You need to be there ;)

The #STARWARSxRoyalSelangor pieces will also be allocated for other markets e.g. Singapore, Indonesia, China, Australia, UK, and Hong Kong so keep your eyes peeled, international Jedis!

*Additional pieces’ designs still pending approval from Disney and Lucasfilm.

For more information, visit Royal Selangor’s website or Facebook page.

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The World Of Tim Burton Is Coming To KL This March!

2023 is already kicking off on an exciting note. There are so many fun and exciting exhibitions to check out! There’s the Demon Slayer Exhibition, the DC World Exhibition, the Van Gogh Alive Exhibition, and now, there’s a brand new exhibition coming to Malaysia on the 21st of March!

Fans of Tim Burton can finally come and check out the out-of-this-world, unique pieces and props at the upcoming exhibition in Pavilion Bukit Jalil. So, mark your calendars because you definitely cannot miss this one!

The upcoming exhibition in KL will showcase Tim Burton’s impressive body of work, exposing how the filmmaker’s mind works. The World of Tim Burton Exhibition will be focusing on distinctive characters and imaginative worlds that can only come from Tim Burton himself.

To enhance the exhibition experience, The World of Tim Burton Exhibition has compiled 50 years of his work into ten different sections. Paintings, drawings, photographs, videos, multimedia art, sculptures and much more will be included in each section.

To jog your memory, Tim Burton has worked with a ton of critically-acclaimed films and series like Netflix’s “Wednesday”, “Corpse Bride”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “Dark Shadows”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, and many more. Through this exhibition, you can finally see some of Tim Burton’s finest work first-hand!

Tickets for The World of Tim Burton exhibition at Pavilion Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur will be available for online purchase here. The prices for tickets are as follows;

In celebration of the exciting exhibition, the mastermind himself will be coming to our shores for a special meet-and-greet session on the opening day! Fans of the famous filmmaker can purchase the limited (100 tickets) VIP Package for RM1500 which includes:

The VIP package will be available to purchase on 25th February (Saturday) at 12pm. If you’ve already purchased the regular tickets, have no fear! You can simply upgrade to the VIP package at the same purchasing link.

Here’s a sneak peek of what the exhibition would look like:

Puteri Teja contributed to this article.


#KPop: Red Velvet’s Joy & 2AM’s Jinwoon Reportedly Filming A MV Together

Is Red Velvet’s Joy and 2AM’s Jinwoon working on a music video together?

Well, an Instagram post seems to suggest so. A videographer named Minkyu Jin recently posted a photo of a music video shooting location, and the hashtags included seem to hint that the 2 idols will collaborate on a music video.

The photo depicted a man, who seems to be a production staff member, sitting at a table while tinkering with his phone. It was captioned with “Friend, you should have a proper stand-in…“, and was followed by the hashtags, #friend, #standin, #joy #imseulong, #mvfilming, and #filmingset.

What ignited the curiousity of netizens were “#joy” and “imseulong”. Fans are speculating that the music video could be for SM Station, JYP’s duet projects, or Joy participating in Seulong’s upcoming solo release. However, some netizens are pointing out that “#joy” could just mean the word “happiness”.

Seulong, who left JYP Entertainment for Sidus HQ in March 2015, is currently focusing on his acting career, but is slated to release a solo track in the near future. Meanwhile, Red Velvet recently released their 3rd extended play “Russian Roulette” on 7th September.


#KoreanFilmFest2015: 10 Free Korean Movies At Selected GSC Outlets For 4-Day Fest

Korean movie fans, mark your calendars and catch some of the best Korean films for free at the Korean Film Festival 2015 from 20th – 23rd August!

The Korean Film Festival 2015 is organized by The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia and offers a unique chance for Korean film-lovers to experience the vibrancy of the Korean film industry. A total of 10 films will be shown in participating Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak.

Besides showcasing and promoting Korean cinema experience, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea aims to introduce Korean culture and tradition to the Malaysian community.

The Korean Film Festival presents films across a diverse selection of Korean film genres, which include recent classics as well as award winning films. Drama, action-thriller, heart-warming romance movies and animation are in the line-up to attract a wide-range of audience and showcase the diversity of Korean movies.

The much-loved Korean cinema experience will certainly please the Korean movie fans while offering cinematic insight into contemporary Korean culture.

The festival brings together 10 diverse titles which includes: multi-award winning thriller “The Thieves”, “Confession of Murder”, romance drama, “All About My Wife”, “Marriage Blue”, history movie “The Front Line”, family drama, “My Paparotti”, “Duresori: The Voice of the East”, comedy “Man on the Edge” and animation films, “The King of Pigs” and “Green Days: Dinosaur and I”.

All of the film screenings will be free based on complimentary passes which can be redeemed via their website, GSC’s website, My Maxis Mobile App, The Star, and Harian Metro. Korean movie fans can then proceed to these selected locations:

To redeem tickets while stocks last. Redemption of tickets are from 20th – 23rd August.

For the full details on the movies and the film schedule, visit their website or GSC’s website.

Featured image from GSC’s Facebook page.

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Gegar Vaganza 6: Meet The 13 Singers Competing In The New Season

Malaysian popular singing show “Gegar Vaganza” is finally back for its 6th season!

During a press conference that was held at The Gardens Theatre, The Gardens Mall yesterday, all of the contestants – consists of 13 experienced singers – for this year’s “Gegar Vaganza” were revealed.

“Gegar Vaganza (GV) could be seen as a stepping stone for these artistes as one of their source of rezeki (sustenance) for them. Through GV, they are known again, and fans will feel a sense of nostalgia by listening to all these ‘one-hit-wonderers’ back during the day. We felt that this one of our way in contributing for the music industry – by celebrating senior and experienced singers so that they will be remembered and at the same time to be introduced as an example for up and coming performers,” shared manager Emarina Kamal to channels Astro RIA and RIA HD.

For those interested, here’s a list of all 13 singers who are set to compete for the 6th season of “Gegar Vaganza” 2019:

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 12:59am PDT

Peserta kedua, Noorshila Amin. #GV6 #GV2019 #LiveUpdateSinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:04am PDT

Peserta ketiga, Naqiu Boboy. #gv2019 #gv6 #liveupdatesinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:07am PDT

Peserta kelima, Roy. #GV6 #gv2019 #LiveUpdateSinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:15am PDT

Peserta keenam, Feeza. #GV2019 #GV6 #LiveUpdateSinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:20am PDT

Peserta ketujuh untuk #GV2019, Hady Mirza. #GV6

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:23am PDT

GV6 bakal membuka tirai pada 13 Oktober depan, setiap Ahad, jam 9 mlm di Astro Ria dari Auditorium MBSA, Shah Alam. . #Mazleela #GV2019 #GV6 #HibSinar #SinarHarian

A post shared by  HibSinar (@hib.sinar) on Sep 24, 2019 at 10:42am PDT

Peserta kesembilan untuk #GV2019 #GV6, Ameer Sofaz. #LiveUpdateSinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:32am PDT

Peserta kesepuluh untuk #GV2019, GV6, kumpulan One Nation Emcees. #Liveupdatesinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:36am PDT

Peserta kesebelas untuk #GV2019, Nur Fatima. #Gv6 #Liveupdatesinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:44am PDT

Peserta yang kedua belas untuk #GV2019, Wann. #GV6 #Liveupdatesinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 1:58am PDT

Peserta terakhir untuk #GegarVaganza2019, Jadd Blackdog Bone. #GV6 #GV2019 #Liveupdatesinar

A post shared by  SINAR (@sinar_my) on Sep 24, 2019 at 2:03am PDT

Featuring familiar faces Nabil Ahmad and Jihan Muse as the host for the show. Gegar Vaganza is slated to premier on 13th October 2019.

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Wreck-It-Ralph = Full Of Win!

If you liked arcade games, oh my goodness you’re going to love this!

So, the formidable stature Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) is the villain – but not by choice. Deep down inside (and this is where it’s so heart-wrenching), he just wants to be good. The problem with being the bad guy is that everyone is naturally wary around him. Yeah you know when they say someone is “nothing but trouble”? Kinda like that.

Hence, in an attempt to do some soul-searching, however odd that might sound since he is an arcade game character, Ralph leaves his game and travels in Sugar Rush. What is Sugar Rush?

Oh, only one of the cutest, most kid-friendly cart racing games ever known to mankind. Lots of candy, that’s for sure. In other words, Ralph is totally out of place in that forsaken land but hey, anything to earn that hero status and the respect of others, right?

In Sugar Rush, he finds a bond with adorable little Vanellope (voiced by Sarah Silverman). They become fast friends and when they both stumble upon a threat that might harm the entire arcade, Ralph decides that he has to step up his game (no pun intended) and like it or not, use his natural villain skills to save the world arcade!

A good guy using villain tactics to prove that he’s a hero?

Now, isn’t that something to think about?

[youtube id=”P1Np5N98Gcw” width=”600″ height=”350″]

And as expected from a Disney animated film, all’s well ends well. But we won’t spoil it for you. Also, trust us when we say that you don’t need to be an arcade games pro to understand this one. In fact, you’ll love it!

We’re already planning to catch it in the cinema for the second time. Honest!

For more information, visit their official website.


(UPDATE) Fault In Submarine Cable Causes Internet Slowdown For Streamyx/Unifi Users

If your connection has been unbearably slow, hold up and don’t throw a hissy fit just yet. There’s a reason why it’s acting up.

According to Telekom Malaysia (TM), a fault on the Asia America Gateway (AAG) submarine cable system is causing data degradation, affecting Internet users in the Southeast Asian region accessing sites based in the US.

Note: The AAG is a 20,000-kilometre long submarine communications cable system, connecting South-East Asia with the USA mainland, across the Pacific Ocean via Guam and Hawaii.

TM didn’t specify the exact fault but the communications company did say that it affects data traffic to and from the US. This means that virtually all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Malaysia will face a similar issue – though TM (Streamyx, Unifi) is the only ISP to have confirmed the issue. So, if Facebook, Twitter, and other US-based sites are loading exceptionally slow, now you know.

Even messaging apps like WhatsApp will see some slowdown in sending and receiving messages.

#TMAlerts 1/2 we are experiencing some degradation of data traffic to and from the US due to a fault on the AAG submarine cable system.

#TMAlerts 2/2 repairs are underway to repair a fault on the AAG submarine cable system. We will share updates as they become available. — TMConnects (@TMConnects) September 17, 2014

As confirmed by TM, repairs are currently underway to fix the cable but nobody really knows when the repairs will be completed. The fault appears to be located in the cable connecting Vung Tau (a coastal city in southern Vietnam) and Hong Kong, where the incident was recorded to take place at about 11:41pm on Monday (15th September). There’s a high chance that fixing it will be a bit of a challenge considering the fact that Hong Kong is currently facing Typhoon Kalmaegi.

TM has released an official statement regarding the fault in the AAG submarine cable:

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) wishes to announce that our consortium members have detected a fault on the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) submarine cable in Hong Kong segment linking Malaysia to the United States and North Asia.

TM has immediately taken pro-active steps by optimising our networks to reduce congestion and diverting traffic to alternative routes, thus, minimising the impact to our users.

Restoration works for submarine cable faults involves the concerted efforts of all consortium members, and is expected to begin on Wednesday, 1 October 2014 and completed on Monday, 6 October 2014. However, we wish to highlight that these restoration works will be subject to sea conditions, the identification of the actual location of the fault and the challenges presented working at great sea depths and pressure.

During this period, Internet users may experience some degree of service degradation such as slow browsing and high latency while accessing international websites mainly hosted in the United States (US), North Asia and Europe. Customers using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and other critical business applications linked to US, North Asia and Europe may also experience some level of service degradation.

TM shall provide necessary updates on the progress of the restoration works, and will monitor feedback from our customers on the quality of service experienced.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to assure customers that we are undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that customers continue to experience uninterrupted service.

We wish to thank our customers for their understanding and patience during the affected period. If you have any questions or require any assistance, you can reach us at help@tm.com.my for TM Phone and Broadband customers and unifi@tm.com.my for UniFi customers. We can also be contacted via Twitter at @TMConnects.

As mentioned in the above statement, restoration works will only begin on 1st October and is expected to be completed by 6th October. That is, if the sea conditions allow for them to get it done. Oh boy. Well, patience is a virtue. Let’s just hope that it gets fixed real quick!

Meanwhile, TM is taking measures to ensure that its users can still access the Internet although it might be slow during peak hours:

@Gguzmen there is a breakdown along the submarine cable connecting Malaysia to the US. We’re rerouting traffic but peak hours may be slow

— Telekom Malaysia (@TMCorp) September 18, 2014

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“Loki” Will Be Connected To “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness”

The involvement of Disney+ into Marvel’s plans has certainly change a lot of things. This was made more evident by the various Marvel characters making their way into the streaming service.

One of which is the Asgardian trickster, Loki, who will be starring in their own self-titled series, “Loki”. But that’s not all, as Marvel’s boss Kevin Feige revealed earlier this week that “Loki” will tie into the upcoming Doctor Strange’s film, “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness”.

Now, we all know that another series, “WandaVision”, will be involved in the new “Doctor Strange” film. However, the addition of “Loki” in the mix is certainly a new development for the story, which Feige himself acknowledged, “I’m not sure we’ve actually acknowledged that before,” he said.  “But it does.”

The 46-year-old has also confirmed that the Disney+ shows will play a major role in keeping up with the upcoming Marvel’s films. Stating that, “If you want to understand everything in future Marvel movies, you’ll probably need a Disney+ subscription, because events from the new shows will factor into forthcoming films such as ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’.”

The two Disney+ series, “Loki” and “WandaVision”, will be released in early 2021. Meanwhile, “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness” is set to debut in May 2021.


#Malaysia: Citizens Can Register To Vote After 30th September, Says EC Chairman

Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah, chairman of the Election Commission (EC), has confirmed that 30th September is not the last day for citizens to register as voters if the 14th general elections were to take place in March 2017.

In a statement, the EC said that this year’s 4th quarter registration list of registrations will begin on 1st October and that 30th September is the end date for the 3rd quarter.

“In regards to the viral message (claiming) that 30th September, 2016, Friday, is the closing date for registering and qualifying a person’s as a voter in the 14th general election should it take place in March 2017 is merely the assumption of certain quarters and is not true,” he said.

Yup, you heard that right. Citizens can still register after 30th September. Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah also advised the public to register as early as they can and not “wait until the last minute”.

He said, “EC encourages members of the public who have not registered as a voter to take the opportunity to register immediately without waiting until the last minute or simply because of a viral message,” emphasising that it’s every Malaysian’s (21 years old and over) responsibility to register as a voter and to participate in the elections.

On top of that, he warned citizens to not fall prey to scams claiming that registration can be done via WhatsApp and SMS.


#Oscars2017: The Academy Fires Accountants Responsible For Best Picture Mix-Up

As many predicted, the 2 accountants responsible for possibly the biggest flub in Oscars history, has been fired.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has issued a statement, announcing that Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) representatives Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz have been permanently banned from all future academy dealings.

According to The Guardian, Cullinan was distracted backstage during the show. The academy president revealed that Cullinan had tweeted (and later deleted) a photo of Emma Stone in the wings posing with her new Oscar statue shortly after her win.

This led to Cullinan’s blunder in handing the wrong envelope (which was a duplicate of the Best Actress card) for best picture to presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. As a result, “La La Land” was mistakenly being announced as Best Picture rather than “Moonlight”.

Boone Isaacs told the Associated Press that the academy’s relationship with PwC, the accounting firm that has been tabulating the Oscars’ votes for the past 83 years, is now “under review” following the mishap.

In the moment of confusion, several media outlets that were reporting the Oscars’ live, scrambled to correct their Twitter updates. Audiences who were watching the awards live on television from around the globe, too, spent a good few minutes wondering what just hit them.

It took 2 minutes and 30 seconds before the error was corrected but that was more than enough time for social media users to come up with some of the funniest memes post-Oscars.

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Marvel: Every Spider-Man Villain In Film Ranked From Worst To Best

Ever since Disney and Sony dropped their bombshell trailer for “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, the internet has gone wild for Spidey’s past villains! Speculating to no end as to what other villains could appear in the film. Hell, even we had our own wild theories about how “No Way Home” could be the key to bringing together the Sinister Six. We’ll get out answers soon enough when it hits theaters this December.

Till then, we’re counting down all the villains that have appeared in every Spider-Man film thus far. And just to be clear, we’re only including foes that play a prominent role in the films. So folks like the Rhino from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, Dr. Olivia Octavius and the other villains who made brief appearances in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” won’t be counted.  With that of the way, let’s get to ranking them from the worst to the best!

Let’s be clear, Topher Grace’s Venom did not need to be in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3”. Two villains are plenty enough, there’s no need to shoe-horn a third, last minute addition into the film. It’s such a shame because Venom is actually a really interesting character made to reflect the darker sides of power and how it corrupts.

Perhaps if Raimi dedicated an entire film to having Peter Parker wrestle with the Symbiote and Eddie’s eventual rise as Venom, he’d have ranked higher on this list. Sadly, all we got here was an underdeveloped side-character awkwardly rushed into the role as one of the film’s main antagonist. For ruining one of Spidey’s most iconic villains, Topher Grace’s Venom lands squarely at the bottom of our list.

Speaking of iconic villains made into underdeveloped jokes…Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin manages to avoid the very bottom of the barrel by the smallest of margins. Harry’s “friendship” with Peter had the potential to form a compelling and tragic emotional fallout that left the young man in a state of mad distraught. They could’ve showed him being forced to become the monster that is the Green Goblin.

The problem is, no one believes that they’re friends! It seemed like they barely knew each other before he freaked out on Peter and declared him to be his mortal enemy! Yes, DeHaan delivered a somewhat entertaining performance as the Goblin but one that left little impression on the Spider-Man legacy.

Jamie Foxx’s rendition of Electro is actually a pretty novel take on the character. A man who idolises Spider-Man and longs to walk in his hero’s footsteps. When a horrific accident leaves him disfigured with electric powers, he places his faith in Spider-Man, only to find himself betrayed. This wasn’t really even Spidey’s fault, since the authorities were the ones who freaked out and sent him away.

Next thing we know, the guy absolutely hates Spider-Man! That’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it? One random mishap and now you want to kill your idol? At the very least, his character’s pain and frustration at Spider-Man makes more sense than Harry’s random turn to evil. Still, Electro’s rushed character arc did not leave viewers with a great impression of the character. Let’s hope Foxx can make up for it when he reprises the role in “No Way Home”.

Alright, this version of Harry Osborne as the Green Goblin isn’t so bad. Is he still has a hasty third wheel in a film that didn’t need so many villains? Absolutely. That being said, Franco’s Harry has had at least two solid films to build on before entering into “Spider-Man 3”. The main issue with Harry turning into the New Goblin, or Little Goblin Jr. as Spider-Man calls him, is that it seems like he had already come to terms with his father’s death in “Spider-Man 2”.

He had a chance to kill Peter but he didn’t. It was a painful revelation that placed Harry in a difficult moral dilemma. Should he avenge his father or spare his friend? At the end, he chose Peter…only to decide later on to kill him. This whole revenge subplot feels contrived and unnecessary, giving us a serviceable villain at best, and ruining a powerful emotional moment in the prequel at worst.

The idea of Doctor Curtis “Curt” Connors’ history with Peter’s parents was certainly an intriguing one. An old, family friend that helped Peter connect with his missing parents. Someone who could have been a father-figure to the young Peter after his Uncle Ben passed away. A kindred spirit who also shared his love of science, except he took it too far. In his pursuit to become whole, he became a monster.

The Lizard certainly made for a compelling villain for Andrew Garfield’s first outting as the Amazing Spider-Man. He had a strong familial connection to Peter and a tragic pathos. We just wished the film would focus more on the Lizard’s personal conflict with Peter and Spider-Man over his goofy plan to turn everyone into animal people.

Adrian Toomes is a complicated man. A simple working-class guy who had his whole business taken down because of Stark after the Battle of New York. Someone who initially turned to a life of crime out of desperation before becoming a dangerous arms-dealer. A ruthless killer but also a loving father and husband. It’s this kind of personal character conflict that we love to see in Spider-Man’s villains.

Nobody wakes up one day and simply decides to be evil. Actions have consequences and Toomes is a criminal built on the legacy of Stark’s sins. As a villain, Vulture is one of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) very best. As a sworn nemesis of Spider-Man? Yeah, not so much. We needed more time away from the big Avengers-level business to build up a more intimate rivalry between Parker and Toomes. Too much of the conflict here feels like its under Tony’s shadow and less on Spider-Man’s shoulders.

As badass as the other rogues are on this list, only one of them can claim to have killed a Spider-Man and that’s Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin. Throughout his time in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”, he proved himself to be not only a cunning crimelord but also a brutal fighter. The guy crushed Miles Morales’ version of Peter Parker with his bare hands! He tried to rip a hole in reality, all in the name of reuniting with his wife and son he lost.

Fisk is less of a man and more of an unstoppable force that will tear through everything in his way to get what he wants. Yet, at the heart of it, what he really desires is the one thing he cannot buy: family. So much of Miles Morales’ life, much like Parker, has been marked by familial ties and personal tragedy. To have him battle against a man whose just as desperate to have a family as Miles is to save his own is pure poetry. A fantastic foil for the young Miles Morales, but not as good as our next pick.

You know what’s more horrifying than losing a loved one? Realising that the masked maniac armed with metal claws trying to murder you is one of your closest family members. Which is exactly what Miles Morales’s Spider-Man had to deal when he faced off against the Prowler. First thing’s first, the suit design for the Prowler is gorgeous. The fearsome metal claws, the menacing Venom-like mask and that sleek cape to top it off makes Prowler easily one of the most visually striking villains on this list.

At first, he seems to be this frightening enigma hell-bent on trying to take out Miles but as we learn more about his character, we begin to understand the pain that Prowler hides as Miles’ uncle. Thinking that as long as he keeps his family at arm’s length, he never has to confront the reality of being criminal. In one stunning scene, though, we see him finally face the painful truth. Kingpin may have killed the Prowler but only Miles’ uncle could have left such a devastating mark on Miles’ journey as a hero.

Somewhere in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3” is the greatest Spider-Man story ever told in cinema. An emotionally gripping conclusion to an amazing character arc that sees Peter confront the man who killed his Uncle Ben. A damaged, broken criminal who made a mistake and now must face the wrath a vengeful hero out for blood. Forget Venom and New Goblin, the whole film should have been dedicated to Thomas Haden Church’s Sandman!

The one thing that Church so brilliant nails is his character’s desperation. He’s lived his entire life on the run, from the cops and his family. The film sees him having to finally face up for his shameful past in the form of a bloodthirsty Spider-Man. A part of him wants to own up to the truth but the other desires to go back to the only life he knows. The final scene of the film sees him and Spider-Man come to a place of peace. One that sees Spider-Man finding the power to forgive Marko, freeing himself and Marko of the guilt of not saving Uncle Ben. If you have a tear in your eye right now, it’s not because of sand!

Rarely do we ever describe a Spider-Man villain as scary. Sure the wall-crawler has plenty of powerful and menacing enemies but most of them are sympathetic, hurt individuals. Not Mysterio, though. This guy is just a straight-up psychopathic monster! Actor Jake Gyllenhaal elevates the character of Mysterio. Turning him from a goofy trickster with a fishbowl helmet in the comics into a dangerous and delusional performer who will burn the world just so he can play hero.

On the surface, he seems like a charming, decent person but beneath that facade is a disturbing hollowness and a twisted desire to capitalise off the terror of a post-Thanos world. Not unlike another character the actor plays in “Nightcrawler”. Plus, the way he psychologically tortures Peter in that hallucination sequence was pretty damn grim. For Gyllenhaal’s knockout performance and that awesome psychological horror sequence in “Spider-Man: Far From Home”, Mysterio has made it to our top three.

“I will not die a monster!”, till this day that line from Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus feels just as profound and powerful as it did nearly 20 years ago. Beyond his cool powers and quippy jokes, what makes Spider-Man such a remarkable hero is his desire to save everyone. Not just the innocent bystanders caught up in the action but the villains he battles as well. Otto Octavius was a man driven by a genuine desire to make the world a better place, not unlike the Lizard. Unfortunately, he was driven to madness by his sentient robotic tentacles. Metal demons that filled his head with nefarious thoughts.

For us, Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2” is the greatest Spider-Man film, perhaps even the greatest Marvel film, of all time. One that truly embodies everything we love about the superhero film genre before it went all dark and edgy. It was about how one individual’s life of sacrifice could inspire others to do the same. Having a villain redemption arc in the film is an insane tight-rope act. You have to be able to make your character sympathetic and charismatic enough so the audience can empathise with them but also have them pose a genuine threat to our hero. Decades from now, Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus will stand as a shining example of what masterful writing looks like, and as one of the best comic book film villains ever put to screen!

Was there ever any doubt? Of course Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin is going to be our top pick! Just as Batman has the Joker, Spider-Man’s quintessential archnemesis will forever be the sinister Green Goblin. Dafoe’s performance as Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin is immaculate. The way he modulates his voice from a low, commanding tone as Osborn to the Goblin’s demonic, high-pitch cackles is a thing of beauty! That scene where he lures Spidey into a burning building while pretending to be a crying woman is both wildly hilarious and creepy, all at the same bloody time! Then, there’s that horrific scene when he terrorize Aunt May while the sweet old lady was praying.

Prior to Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man”, we knew nothing about the Green Goblin. From that day on, he became one of the most iconic villains in all of cinematic history. Even after Norman’s death, Raimi continued to incorporate Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin into the rest of his trilogy. Lurking in the mind of Harry like some sort of spirit. The same monster that possessed his father slowly taking over Harry as well. The Goblin is here to stay and until someone manages to unseat Dafoe from the throne, his Green Goblin will remain the greatest Spider-Man villain on screen to date.

So what do you think of our list? Who do you think should take the top spot in Spidey’s rogues gallery? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

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#SexyTime: 20 Songs That Will Get You In The Mood

Embrace yourselves – our playlist is about to whisper sweet nothings into your ear before leading you straight to the bedroom.

Before we go on, let us just say that we know that the word sexy is a relative term. Let’s face it − what some find sexy, others may not. However, if there’s one thing almost, if not everyone can agree on, it’s this – more than just the food of love, music is also the food of loving.

From steamy R&B slow-jams to dirty beats and high-octane rock, the one thing that these songs have in common is that they are in one way or another incredibly sexy. You ready?

4. Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford “Sun & Moon”

7. Ellie Goulding – “Love Me Like You Do”

8. Calvin Harris featuring John Newman – “Blame”

9. Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink – “Worth It”

10. Drake featuring Majid Jordan – “Hold On, We’re Going Home”

11. Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre – “No Diggity”

12. Boyz II Men – “I’ll Make Love To You”

17. Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams – “Beautiful”

18. Slash featuring Fergie – “Beautiful Dangerous”

20. Disclosure – “You & Me” (Flume Remix)

No explanations needed, it’s really nearly impossible to not get turned on when listening to any of the songs in the list above. Do you have more to add to our list? Let us know by sounding off in the comments section.


Contest: Win Tickets To Catch The #iLuminate Show

Created by one Miral Kotb, iLuminate is based on her inspiration of fusing dance with cutting-edge technology. What is iLuminate, exactly?

A show where dancers don trademark light-up suits that are controlled wirelessly and then the dancers take the darkened stage to perform choreographed dances and illusions, taking the audience to another world of entertainment experience.

If you’re thinking that this act seems familiar, chances are you’ve seen them on TV. Reality TV aficionados may remember this artistic bunch from season six of America’s Got Talent where they clinched the second runner-up spot and were touted as “the best new act in America”.

Since then, the technology has been used in performances by some of the biggest names in the music business such as The Black Eyed Peas and Christina Aguilera. iLuminate has been featured on shows like X Factor, Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Good Morning America, as well as at music awards shows including the Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.

Held at Resorts World Genting from 3rd April 2015 to 28th June 2015. iLuminate is scheduled to take place at Genting International Showroom, 8:30pm from Monday to Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. Meanwhile, there is also matinee show available at 4pm on Saturday.

The good news is, thanks to our friends from Resorts World Genting, we’ve got 10 pairs of tickets (worth RM138 each) to give away to 10 of our lucky readers! Yes, we’re treating you to a chance to catch the magnificent 75-minute show that engages the audience through a clever combination of art, music, choreography, and precisely-timed lights!

Here’s what you got to do to win ’em! Tell us:

E-mail your answers with your details (Name, IC, Contact number) to submit@hype.my. Each winner walks away with 2 tickets per person!

iLuminate is exclusively brought to you by Resorts World Genting in conjunction with Genting’s 50th anniversary celebration.

For more information, hit up Resorts World Genting’s website or call 03-2718 1118.

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Grammys 2018: 8 Memorable Moments From Music’s Biggest Night

Don’t have time to watch the 2018 Grammy Awards but still want to know what went on? Don’t worry, we’re here to give you the lowdown on the more memorable moments that took place at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Whether your favourite music artist won or lost (winners list here), the 60th Annual Grammy Awards also had many amazing performances on stage. Having said that, there were a couple of interesting happenings that took place before and after the award show. Here are the memorable moments that everyone’s talking about:

No one had a bigger night than Bruno Mars, who took home 6 Grammys including the big 3 – album, record and song of the year. In addition, he also dominated in the R&B categories. Recalling his earlier days in his music career as a teenager, the 32-year-old singer said, “I would put together a setlist of like 10 to 12 songs and I’ll be honest, I was incredible at 15.”

He continued, “I remember seeing it firsthand, people dancing that had never met each other from two sides of the globe, dancing with each other, toasting with each other, celebrating together. All I wanted to do with this album was that. Those songs are written with nothing but joy and for one reason and for one reason only, and that’s love – and that’s all I wanted to bring with this album.”

Everything Mars touches seems to turn to gold. Is that why Miley Cyrus wanted some of that? Well, we would all like to be in her position too, wouldn’t we?

Later in the show, Cyrus performed “Tiny Dancer” with Elton John.

It’s unfortunate that only a handful women took home the gong at this year’s Grammys. Alessia Cara who won the Best New Artist category, may be the only female solo to win. Other female winners were either in a group/duo (Little Big Town) or as featured artists (Rihanna). The hashtag #GrammysSoMale was even trending on Twitter. Don’t blame the winners for winning though, it’s the voters fans should be questioning.

The performances from Mars and Kendrick Lamar (another big winner with 4 Grammy wins) were top notch. However, our favourite performances came from the ladies – namely, Kesha, Pink, and Lady Gaga.

Joining Kesha in her powerful #MeToo statement for “Praying” were Cyndi Lauper, Julia Michaels, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, and Camila Cabello. Her comeback single has become more than just a personal mini-memoir but an anthem for a generation. The performance ended with an emotional group hug. She deserved Grammy gold, but too bad she couldn’t walk away with a trophy.

Pink, who performed bare feet in a ripped T-shirt and jeans for “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken”, and Gaga, who dedicated her medley to her father’s late sister, Joanne, both gave emotionally raw performances.

Although many stars opted to wear white in support of the Time’s Up movement, Lorde went with a fiery essay sewn onto her dress. According to Entertainment Weekly, the message is taken from artist Jenny Holzer’s “Inflammatory Essays”.

“Rejoice! Our times are intolerable. Take coverage for the worst is a harbinger of the best. Only dire circumstance can precipitate the overthrow of oppressors. The old and corrupt must be laid to waste before the just can triumph. Contradiction will be heightened. The reckoning will be hastened by the staging of seed disturbances. The apocalypse will blossom.”

6. Blue Ivy signalled her parents to calm down

Blue Ivy is everything! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/JSxtyGORhU

— billboard (@billboard) January 29, 2018

Her parents may be music royalty, but when they’re being embarrassing, someone has to tell them to calm down. Sometime during the show, Blue Ivy made a point to stop Jay-Z and Beyonce from clapping. Maybe they were overdoing it a bit?

7. Camila Cabello squeezed her boobs mid-interview

Camila Cabello discussing her successful album: "Having it out there in the world feels really good — hold on, I have to squeeze my boobs." pic.twitter.com/N2EJRFj0W7

— David Mack (@davidmackau) January 28, 2018

To quote a famous saying, “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do“.

8. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are having a baby boy

A post shared by chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen)

Last November, Chrissy Teigen took to Instagram to reveal that she and hubby John Legend were expecting their second child together. Today (Monday, 29th January), the supermodel captioned a photo of herself from the Grammy red carpet. “Mama and her baby boy,” she wrote.

So what were your favourite moments? Let us know in the comments below.

The 60th Grammy Awards airs live on 29th January at 8:30am on FoxLife (Astro Ch 711). Encore presentation is at 8pm the same day.

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Pokemon GO To Discontinue Support For Older iPhones & Android Devices

Pokemon GO announced in a tweet yesterday (Monday, 1st September) that its upcoming update will hinder older smartphones from accessing the game.

The update that takes place this mid-October, will end support for iPhone devices running iOS 11 or lower, and Android version 5.0 “Lollipop”. Older iPhone devices including iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 will also be affected.

In an upcoming update to Pokémon GO in October, we will end support for Android 5, iOS 10, and iOS 11, as well as iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 devices. Trainers with devices not specifically listed here will not be affected and don’t need to take any action.

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) August 31, 2020

Even though both the iPhone 5S and 6 are able to run on iOS 12, it is being taken out due to its outdated specs which could hinder optimal playing experience for users. Niantic, the software company behind Pokemon GO, told The Verge, “iPhone 5S and 6 have just 1GB of RAM, and we don’t want to hold back development and implementation of features for the vast majority of players who have more robust phones“.

The fact that Pokemon GO is an AR-based game, it demands more performance from devices because it heavily relies on the phone’s GPS and cameras. It makes sense for the developers to take out older generation smartphones, especially with an ageing battery.

The new update will introduce a new augmented reality feature known as, “reality blending” to the game. This feature allows Pokemon in the game to hide partially or fully behind real-life objects making the feel and experience of catching Pokemons more realistic.

Despite losing these devices, Niantic user base won’t be affected greatly. Nonetheless, if you are a committed Pokemon GO player, make sure your device is compatible for the new update.


Smash Presents Moguai Supported By BATE & Nick Haydez

Number 1 hits, global headline tours, gold and double platinum awards for highly acclaimed releases are just some of the things André Tegeler, better known by his stage name as Moguai, has established for himself ever since he started producing. Over the course of a highly successful career thus far, his talent and a mixture of pioneering endeavours in the studio as well as spellbinding DJ sets and live shows have given Moguai worldwide fame and recognition.

Through this, a highly devoted and diverse global fan base has arisen, hungry to experience what this German dance music legend has in store as he looks to break the mould that is the common perception of electro artistes in his always-unique style.

Since the start of his career during his youth in Germany, Moguai has worked outside the parameters that are often set around other artistes. Moguai’s two highly successful albums “We Are Lyve “(2010) and “Mpire” (2012), both came out on megastar and deadmau5’s own mau5trap imprint which lead to Moguai becoming the only artiste outside of deadmau5 himself and Skrillex to bring out a full-length album on the label.

A string of singles came alongside and around these LPs on mau5trap and other heavyweight dance labels including Spinnin’ and house icon Steve Angello’s Size to name a few. All coming at the same time as extensive headline tours to all four corners of the globe and mega festival slots including Tomorrowland and Berlin’s Love Parade where he had a crowd of 750,000 people all moving to his beat!

On top of this he is continually in demand to deliver his ever-miraculous technical touch to remixes for a host of A-list superstars; Moby, Afrojack, Britney Spears, Underworld and Beyonce and many more have received his
astounding re-imaginings. All executed with unwavering professionalism, technical ability and intuitive flair, it’s no surprise at all that requests for more keep coming.

Moguai will be making his way to Kuala Lumpur this January 30th (Friday) for a one night only performance at Zouk Club KL. Supported by local heroes BATE and Nick Haydez, event details are as follows:

Admission: Ticket entry RM50 before 11pm (Men/Ladies) RM60 after 11pm (Men/Ladies). Ticket entry comes with 1 drink.

For reservations: please call 03-2171 1997 (12pm – 6pm) or 0163323191 (after 6pm) or email rsvn@zoukclub.com.my

*Entry is only applicable to those age 21 years and above

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#Tomorrowland: Top 10 Most “Shazamed” Tracks At Tomorrowland 2015

For all intents and purposes, Shazam is the music discovery and identification app to have. It’s useful when you’re trying to find out “that new song that’s playing on the radio”, or “that track that DJ played at Zouk Club KL“, or heck, even at festivals when an artiste drops a new-ish song that no one has ever heard!

Tomorrowland festivalgoers are no different.

This year’s Tomorrowland festival played host to hundreds of the world’s top acts (both staple festival headliners and newcomers) as well as thousands and thousands of partygoers from all around the globe. Some things to note from this year’s festival are such as David Guetta dropping a nursery rhyme during his main stage set and also, the moving closing ceremony which featured the “Daughter of Tomorrow”.

But you know what, though? Even so, the party ain’t really over yet.

And it’s all because Shazam has released a top 10 ranking of the most “Shazamed” songs at Tomorrowland. Amongst the songs are some of today’s chart-toppers as well as Avicii’s latest release. So go ahead and update your playlist!

1. Major Lazer Feat. MØ & DJ Snake – “Lean On”

2. Robin Schulz Feat. Ilsey – “Headlights”

3. Lea Rue – “I Can’t Say No!” (Broiler Remix)

4. Jack Ü & Justin Bieber – “Where Are Ü Now”

6. Felix Jaehn Feat. Jasmine Thompson – “Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better)”

7. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Feat. Ne-Yo – “Higher Place”

8. DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge – “You Know You Like It”

10. Kygo Feat. Parson James – “Stole The Show”

Thanks to Shazam, you can now keep this year’s Tomorrowland festival memory alive. Until next year, of course ;)

Source: Your EDM / Featured image from Tomorrowland’s Facebook page.


#MissSunshine: Penang Chosen As Filming Location For Hong Kong Movie

Here’s another reason to be proud of our very own “Pearl of the Orient”.

“Miss Sunshine”, a Hong Kong romantic comedy starring several famous actresses such as Maggie Cheung and Annie Liu, will be shot mostly in Penang, revealed helmer Clifton Ko.

On why Penang was chosen, Hong Kong-born Ko said that it was because “the island feels like 2 different places at once”. He also found it easier to base the production in Penang as there won’t be any barrier of communication.

At the press conference for the movie, he also declared his love for Penang, stating, “I like Penang. At a glance, it’s like Hawaii. But it also feels like home, since there is a strong continuation of the Chinese culture in Penang.”

It was also revealed that the director approached Christopher Lee, who is already a household name in Singapore and Malaysia, to offer him a role in the movie. Explaining that he has never worked in a Hong Kong production before, Lee said he found working with the Hong Kong cast interesting. The actor would be playing a “flirtatious guy” in the movie.

Apart from the aforementioned actresses and actors, Michelle Wai, who is known for her work in “Love Thy Family”; Shirley Yeung, who was crowned Miss Hong Kong in 2001; Louis Cheung, a popular Hong Kong singer and actor; and Alex Fong, an Olympian-turned actor will be starring in the movie too.

Sources: Sin Chew Daily via Cinema Online, Yahoo / Featured Image: Every Nation.

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#ItTakesCourage: Aspiring Malaysian Drummer Thought He Was Testing A VR Headset Until..

Over the long Hari Raya break, we chanced upon a video that featured one aspiring Malaysian drummer who was led to believe that he was testing a VR headset but little did he know, he was in for the shock of his life.

26-year-old city slicker Yup Shinz Joh aka Joh is a part-time drummer for 3 bands. Although gifted and passionate about the art, Joh, like most young aspiring musicians/artistes, had one problem – in reality, he’s simply too shy to pursue “larger than life” dreams.

When asked how he would feel if he had the chance to perform in front of a big crowd, Joh said, “I will be very nervous. And I will mess it up big time.”

Perhaps due to stage fright? A lack of experience? His low self confidence? Or maybe, he just needed to be taken out of reality so that the environment wouldn’t dictate his performance. And that’s exactly what happened.

On 21st May 2016, Joh was invited to KL Venue in Bangsar on the pretense that he was testing a VR (virtual reality) headset for a drumming software.

In the video, he can be seen jamming along to a “virtual reality rock concert”, only to have the curtains abruptly come down for the big reveal. He was in fact on stage with one of Malaysia’s biggest names in the indie alternative rock music scene, HUJAN. The band’s main man, Noh Salleh, then personally invites Joh to play alongside them.

Needless to say, it gave the young Malaysian a chance of (and perhaps also the shock of) his lifetime, and in the most inspiring, touching way :)

The video above, which was first published via Ray-Ban’s Facebook page, has since received over 900 likes and garnered over 200 shares as at time of writing.

A deeper search on the interwebs landed us on more information on the above video; Joh’s surprise was a part of Ray-Ban’s newest global campaign to inspire unique creatives to be themselves. Because it isn’t just about having the guts to perform on stage before a high-energy concert crowd as a part of HUJAN, it’s about owning the moment, to embrace imperfection, and accepting yourself for who you are.

What do you wish you had the courage to do or to do more of? Let us know in the comments below!

For more information on #ItTakesCourage, go here.


Hype’s Now Playing: Lee Hi – Hold My Hand (손잡아 줘요)

Lee Hi (이하이) is back and it comes with 2 music video releases.

Her album, titled “Seoulite”, features 2 titles tracks as well as some impressive names that sound like promising collaborations such as Dok2, Incredivle, and WINNER‘s Mino. We just checked out the music video for the as-recommended-by-Tablo title track, “Hold My Hand” (손잡아 줘요) and dare we say that we’re in love!

The cute music video complements the cheerful, uplifting song with its semi-reality, semi-8-bit graphics. It was previously assumed that the songs off “Seoulite” will be based mostly on hip hop sounds but this one turned out to be the complete opposite we had expected. The sweet yet retro-sounding track goes really well with her signature jazzy voice and it’s bound to put a smile on your face.

And is it just us or has she matured quite a bit (read: beautifully) since we last saw her? Watch:

Lee Hi’s “Seoulite” is out now. Like it? Get it off iTunes here.

For more information on Lee Hi, visit her Facebook page.

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Queen Elizabeth II Hospitalized

The Queen of England has been hospitalized with a stomach bug, according to the Buckingham Palace. The 86-year-old monarch had been taken to King Edward VII Hospital in central London where she is being assessed for symptoms of gastroenteritis. Hence, all official engagements for the week, including the Queen’s trip to Rome (she and the Duke of Edinburgh were to fly out to Rome for a two-day vist) will be either cancelled or postponed.

News of her illness emerged over the weekend after she was forced to cancel a trip to Swansea to mark St. David’s Day. The Buckingham Palace has also confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II will remain in the hospital around two days. They’ve also stressed that the hospital assessment is just a “precautionary measure”.

The Queen rarely misses royal engagements due to ill health. She was last forced to pull out of an investiture ceremony in October 2013 after suffering a bad back. We wish her a speedy recovery!

Queen Elizabeth II has been discharged and is seen bearing a smile as she leaves hospital after being assessed for a stomach bug.


#StarWarsEpisodeVII: It’s Called #TheForceAwakens

The movie has wrapped (filming), the after-party has been thrown, and now, the highly anticipated “Star Wars: Episode VII” finally has a subtitle. Disney quietly made the announcement on Twitter this morning so if you missed it, fret not! That’s why we’re here ;)

We must say though that the approach is perhaps a little strange considering the fact that this is the “Star Wars” movie that everyone has been waiting for.  From what little we know and from what we gather, the subtitle still retains the classic “Star Wars” feel. But it doesn’t give away the film’s storyline/plot too much.

.@starwars: The Force Awakens has completed principal photography. #TheForceAwakens #StarWarsVII pic.twitter.com/w4gvSELQU1

Despite the tear-hair-from-scalp suspense felt by “Star Wars” fans and the sarcastic response (#rejectedstarwarstitles) the reveal garnered from people on the interwebs i.e. “I didn’t realise the force was asleep?”, it’s good to keep in mind that “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” (we can officially call it that now!) director J.J. Abrams did previously make clear that the film is meant to feel like an extension of the original trilogy.

After all, he did bring back much of the original cast.

“Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” is directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan. The previous film in what was a 6-movie series, “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”, was released in 2005.

Whether or not this film is going to sink or fly, we’ll only find out when it’s eventually released in cinemas. And there’s a little over a year to go before you can finally watch the movie. Patience is a virtue!

“Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” scheduled for a release on 18th Dec 2015.

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


Contest: Win Concert Passes To OneRepublic Live In Malaysia

Raise your hands if you want to attend OneRepublic’s concert but haven’t bought your tickets yet.

In collaboration with WGW Entertainment, we are giving away concert passes to several loyal readers of Hype Malaysia. If you weren’t one of the top 10 finalist at last week’s “Hunting For New Voices” singing competition, here’s your chance to catch the pop/alternative band live. And for free!

Frontman Ryan Tedder is well known across the music industry as a songwriting guru, having written chart-topping hits for the megastars like Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, and many more. Other members including Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brent Kutzle, and Eddie Fisher are also expected to appear in Malaysia this month.

Deets of OneRepublic’s “Live in Malaysia” tour are as follows:

We will be giving out Rock Zone tickets and Cat 2 tickets to a few lucky winners. Wanna know how to win a ticket? All you need to do is follow the instructions below.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

For more information, hit up WGW Entertainment’s Facebook page.

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#FathersDay2015: 10 Songs To Dedicate To Your Hero On This Special Day

With Father’s Day just around the corner, it is now time to think of the man who stood tall in your life from day one. Of course, not all of us are lucky to have had one and yes, as much as we hate to admit it, a father figure is one of the most crucial things in a person’s life.

That being said, a father figure can come in many ways. It doesn’t always have to be one’s biological father that can take on that role – single moms can play both roles. An older brother, an uncle, and even a grandfather can take on that role.

Father’s Day falls on 21st June this year and personally, we think it’s time to celebrate that bond and relationship that you have with your dad or with the father figure in your life so we’ve put together this list of song about fathers and children.

Show that main man in your life some love by dedicating these songs to him:

2. Luther Vandross – Dance With My Father

5. Phil Collins – “You’ll Be In My Heart”

There you go – our favourite 10 songs to show appreciation to dads this Father’s Day!

Dedicate this to your old man and show them how much they mean to you ;)


Swedish House Mafia No More

It only took them all of, well, less than five years of touring and recording as a trio to have taken the world by storm. Known as the EDM superstars, DJs and producers Axwell, Angello, and Ingrosso are arguably the largest act in their world, playing exclusively as “Swedish House Mafia” and gaining a gargantuan fan base faster than you can say their names.

A whole lot faster than their peers could’ve done, if you asked us.

Did we also mentioned that their unprecedented success in dance music was also rightly justified when they became the first dance act to headline both Milton Keynes and Madison Square Garden? And that their Madison Square Garden tickets sold out in just nine minutes? Yes, nine. Count the seconds!

But just yesterday, Swedish House Mafia or SHM, as they were affectionately called by EDM fans, announced that they will be going their separate ways after their last tour. In an official statement on their website, the trio said, “We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey. We came, we raved, we loved.”

Admittedly, this came as a shock to EDM fans worldwide and the media is still on fire with reports and reactions to the announcement.  But at least partygoers on the other side of the world will still have opportunities to catch them before they’re over for good.

And let’s not forget that Ingrosso, Axwell, and Angello will still continue to work independently.

SHM will play their final show in the UK at Milton Keynes Bowl before finishing their residency at Ushuaia in Ibiza. Their last show in slated for their home country, Sweden, on the 24th of November 2012. There’s also one additional date that will be their last ever gig as a trio that will only be announced in August.

[youtube id=”PkQ5rEJaTmk width=”600″ height=”350″]

For what it’s worth, thanks for the epic tracks, Swedish House Mafia. And goodbye.

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#FiftyShades: #Grey, Novel Told From Christian Grey’s Perspective, Now Banned In Malaysia

In February last year, it was confirmed that the film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey” will not be shown in Malaysia. This was followed by a ban of the popular erotica “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy — “Fifty Shades of Grey”, “Fifty Shades Darker”, and “Fifty Shades Freed” — a few weeks later.

At that time, the books were already selling in bookstores throughout the country for about 3 years before its sales got axed.

Mid last year, “Grey”, a new version of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” story written from Christian Grey’s point of view, was released. “Grey”, by EL James (the same author who wrote the “Fifty Shades” trilogy) was published in paperback and as an eBook by Vintage Books, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House.

It didn’t take long for the novel to arrive in our bookstores and we knew that it was only a matter of time before it gets banned too.

True enough, the Home Ministry just announced that “Grey (Fifty Shades of Grey As Told By Christian)” has officially been banned on the grounds of being “prejudicial to morality as it contained pornographic elements”.

Along with “Grey”, 5 other publications have also been banned including Alvin Tan‘s “Sex, Pork, And Persecution: How’s One Young Man’s Fight Against Conformity Led to Imprisonment and Vilification” and “Orang Ngomong Anjing Gong Gong” by Mutalib Uthman.

“Sex, Pork, And Persecution: How’s One Young Man’s Fight Against Conformity Led to Imprisonment and Vilification”was banned as it was likely to be prejudicial to morality as it contained pornographic elements while “Orang Ngomong Anjing Gong Gong” is believed to be detrimental to public order, security, and morality as it contained elements against the Malaysian norms and moral ethics.

Note: It is an offence under subsection 2 Section 8 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 for anyone to print, import, produce, reproduce, publish, sell, issue, circulate, offer for sale and distribution, as well as to possess such banned publications. Those convicted of the offence can be sentenced to a jail term of up to 3 years and a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or both.

Source: TRP / Featured image from Washington Post.


Disney Fixes Princess Tiana’s Look In “Wreck-it Ralph 2” After Backlashes

The people’s voices have bean heard! Disney has decided to do the right thing by reanimating its 1st African American princess, Princess Tiana in its upcoming “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2”.

Not too long ago, the studio faced tons of criticisms in regards to Princess Tiana’s whitewashed appearance in “Wreck-it Ralph 2” as seen from the 1st trailer during the Disney Princess reunion scene.

On top her having lighter skin tone, Princess Tiana was also given a smaller nose and lips, which looks very different from how she originally appeared in “The Princess and the Frog” movie.

According to Wall Street Journal, Disney animators actually met up with Anika Noni Rose, the voice actress of Princess Tiana and representatives for Color of Change, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy organisation which fights for the voice of African-Americans.

A petition was created regarding Princess Tiana’s whitewashing stating, “The whitewashed image of Tiana you created for your new film, ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2’, is unacceptable. You have removed Princess Tiana’s full lips, wide nose, dark skin and kinky hair and replaced them with Eurocentric features — a slimmer nose, loose curly hair and significantly lighter skin tone. These characteristics are a huge part of who Princess Tiana is and what makes her beautiful. Princess Tiana is a pivotal Disney character, and it is irresponsible of you to change her appearance considering all of the young Black girls and boys who watch and love Princess Tiana. “

Big news. Because of COC members and convos with @DisneyAnimation, Princess Tiana has been restored to her original depiction. Now when Black girls watch #WreckItRalph2, they’ll see Tiana and other princess of color that actually looks like them on screen #BlackGirlMagic pic.twitter.com/4ZPJm4aZyz

— Rashad Robinson (@rashadrobinson) September 20, 2018

But after Disney decided to redo Princess Tiana’s looks, the organisation praised the studio’s decision on taking action.

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