7 Local Singers Entertain Fans With Live Performances From Home

With the movement control order period being extended, it’s safe to assume that almost all scheduled plans have been affected. As a result, our favourite celebs have come up with creative ways in countering the growing boredom at home.

It’s really heartwarming to know that a lot of artistes in our country have been spending more time on social media to virtually greet their fans with live performances straight from their residence. They also took been urging their supporters to obey the order to stay at home.

For those interested, check out this list and be entertained by these homegrown talents:

Everything was going so well before my IG live got hijacked Thanks everyone for hanging out with me and my special guest today! #stayhome

A post shared by  Y U N A (@yuna) on Mar 26, 2020 at 3:39am PDT

#JOOXOriginals — Strim #GerakDulu eksklusif di JOOX #JOOX #JOOXMY #JOOXMUSIC #stayhomestaysafe

A post shared by  Dayang Nurfaizah (@dayangsayangkamu) on Mar 29, 2020 at 6:00am PDT

Harusnya kau patuhi perintah berkurung Bukannya beli tiket balik kampung Berita yg membuatku panik takkan berakhir Hanya engkau yg mampu hentikan virus ini Duduk rumah ooohh Duduk rumah ooohh #dudukrumah

A post shared by  Aizat Amdan (@aizatamdan) on Mar 18, 2020 at 8:19am PDT

Remember guys, stay safe and don’t forget to #StayAtHome!

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K-Pop Superstar CL Collaborates With The Black Eyed Peas

While CL works on her upcoming solo album, it looks like the K-pop superstar has also spent some time with the Black Eyed Peas. The 2NE1 leader who has been working very hard for her upcoming US debut is known to have been working with some talented producers and artistes including Diplo and Skrillex.

Also rumoured to be collaborating with Florence + The Machine, CL recently posted photos of her with the Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am and Taboo on her Instagram account:

A photo posted by Twitter:chaelinCL (@chaelincl) on Feb 4, 2015 at 5:43am PST

@officialtaboo #THEBLACKEYEDPEAS#20thANNIVERSARYALBUM#COMINGSOON A photo posted by Twitter:chaelinCL (@chaelincl) on Feb 4, 2015 at 5:31am PST

To which will.i.am later replied with a tweet saying:

CL we have a problem..the song we just did is #awesome “@chaelinCL: WILLLLLLLLLL@iamwill http://t.co/IMSA5TrDk0”

While this probably came as a shock to fans of the will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas, the collaboration between the K-Pop idol and the producer has actually been a long time coming.

You see, speculations regarding the collaboration between CL and the Black Eyed Peas started in January when will.i.am posted a tweet for CL saying, “We have to collaborate 20th anniversary album Black Eyed Peas.”

@chaelinCL we need to collaborate with you on the new @bep release…#20yearsOFbep pic.twitter.com/ziViCHKIfO — will.i.am (@iamwill) January 11, 2015

Without skipping a beat, the K-pop superstar later replied, “Yes!” to will.i.am, got people talking even more.

And now, after recent pictures, it looks like we’ll soon be blessed with new Black Eyed Peas music featuring CL!

YAY!!! Let’s go!!! “@chaelinCL: @iamwill @bep YESSS :)))!!!” — will.i.am (@iamwill) January 11, 2015

This isn’t the first time CL linked up with will.i.am in the studio either. The super talented producer enlisted CL and her 2NE1 bandmates for a feature on “Getting Dumb”, a cut off his #willpower LP and he also produced 2NE1’s dance track “Take the World On”, which was recorded for an Asian Intel Ultrabook commercial.


Nicole Jung Finalises Solo Contract With B2M Entertainment

She may have left K-Pop idol girl group KARA but it doesn’t mean that she has given up on the scene altogether!

Ex-KARA member Nicole, real name Nicole Jung, has long been rumoured to have plans with an agency to pursue a solo career. Insiders have long pointed out that the idol and the said agency had already made an agreement, but the agency had previously put off the confirmation stating that they were only in talks.

Ah but it was just confirmed today that the rumours were indeed true! The speculations were confirmed by none other than B2M Entertainment, the very same agency that is current housing Lee Hyori.

Preparations for Nicole’s solo album, which she has been quietly preparing for on her own, is set to officially kick off under the complete support of her new agency. Nicole has put her trust in CEO Gil Jong Hwa in terms of her contract conditions and negotiations, and we needed to prepare a deal that suits Nicole, who is receiving high popularity in South Korea, Japan, and all of Asia. We recently finished our preparations to support Nicole, and naturally signed a contract.

It has been reported that the idol chose B2M Entertainment because she prioritized an agency that understands her well enough to support her endeavors. She also had a connection with CEO Gil Jong Hwa from when they were both with DSP Media, and thus, this naturally led to her signing with her new agency.

The agency rep concluded, “From now on, Nicole will be preparing her solo album, which she has been preparing by herself quietly until now, under the full support of her new agency. Please show a lot of interest and support for Nicole, soon to stand on her own”.

Welcome back, Nicole! We’ve missed you :)

Who else is excited to see Nicole back in her game again? What kind of concept do you think she’ll be going for this time around since she’s going to be a solo artiste? Share your thoughts with us in the comments box below!

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TGV Cinemas Pres. “Hantu Gangster”

Last week, the highly anticipated Malaysian-themed movie “Hantu Gangster” officially previewed at TGV Cinemas Sunway Pyramid.

Directed by Namewee and produced by Fred Chong, the movie is a second collaboration from the duo that brought you “Nasi Lemak 2.0”. And this exclusive preview is another championing effort by TGV Cinemas, that has always been in the forefront to support the local entertainment scene in Malaysia.

When asked, Kenny Wong (CEO of TGV Cinemas) said, “TGV Cinemas is fully committed and supportive of the Malaysian film industry be it the casts, producers or directors. We are keen in exploring and providing our cinema halls as an alternative event venue for local film premiers such as Hantu Gangster. Our partnership with RAM Entertainment and ProdiGee Media is a testimony of our continuous commitment to distributors, local producers and the burgeoning industry.”

“With a remarkable untapped potential in the industry and a growing demand for locally produced movies among Malaysians today, I believe Hantu Gangster will do exceptionally well. It has all the right ingredients from an exciting plot to a multi-racial cast, making it a movie not to be missed!”,he added.

The event was a great success with participation from the movie cast namely Namewee, Farid Kamil, Diana Danielle, Amber Chia, Mizz Nina, Taiyuddin Bakar, Dennis Lau and Abu Bakar Siddiq with members of the media, movie partners and distributors.

Hantu Gangster will be premiering in all TGV Cinemas outlet nationwide on 9th August 2012 (Thursday).


Godfrey Gao Had Plans To Promote Penang As An Ambassador

As if the passing of the Godfrey Gao wasn’t enough… It turns out that the Louis Vuitton model wanted to be a tourist ambassador for his mother’s hometown, Penang, before his untimely death.

For those that don’t know, Gao’s parents came from two different backgrounds with his father being Taiwanese, while his mother is a Malaysian from George Town. He was born in Taiwan but moved to Canada during his childhood years before returning to Taiwan to pursue modelling.

According to Guang Ming Daily, the “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” star would return to Malaysia often. This allowed him to meet up with his friends and relatives as well as celebrate Chinese New Year together with his family.

It is said that the “Min & Max” star wanted to promote Penang and its food via a short film. However, the 35-year-old’s collapse on the Chinese reality show “Chase Me” has put a stop on those plans. His death is being mourned by many, which you can find in our previous article here.

Rest in piece, Godfrey Gao, you left us too soon.


Super Junior Returning To Malaysia For Concert With 3 Other K-pop Groups

Don’t feel “Sorry, Sorry” that Super Junior (슈퍼주니어) came to Kuala Lumpur and left. Guess what ELFs? The popular K-pop group will be returning to our local shores in just 4 months time! This time, it’ll be for an upcoming K-pop concert.

Super Junior won’t be coming alone though. The concert organiser has announced that the K-pop concert will feature at least 4 K-pop groups with Super Junior as the main headliner. They will be joined by Teen Top (틴탑), ViViz (비비지) and MCND (엠시엔디).

While Super Junior needs no introduction, here’s a brief introduction on the other K-pop acts for those who might not be familiar:

Details to their upcoming concert are as follows:

Psst, MCND is also scheduled to hold a fan meeting the day after their concert. Unfortunately, it won’t be taking place in Klang Valley.

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#AStarIsBorn: First Look At Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper In Remake

The first official photo of Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, “A Star Is Born”, has hit the Internet!

In the photo, Cooper looks at Stefani Germanotta aka Lady Gaga as she sings passionately into a microphone. She can also be seen wearing a much darker hair colour. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the scene was filmed at the 2017 Coachella musical festival, where the actress was headlining.

In an Instagram post, Gaga wrote, “I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I’m so lucky to call my friend. I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen. The story of ‘A Star is Born’ is so special and I’m so grateful to Bradley (Cooper) for making my dream come true. Can’t wait for you to meet Ally.”

It was reported that Gaga was the one Cooper wanted after things didn’t work out with Beyoncé, who is currently pregnant with twins. Previous versions of the story were released in 1937, 1954, and 1976. The 1937 film starred Janet Gaynor while Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand played the female leads in the 1954 and 1976 remakes.

The 4th remake of “A Star Is Born”, which will be penned by Will Fetters, sees Jackson Maine (played by Cooper), a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented singer named Ally (played by Germanotta). As the pair begins a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally’s career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory.

In addition to playing Ally, the “Million Reasons” star has composed and will perform original songs in the film. The main cast also includes Andrew Dice Clay aka “The Diceman” and veteran actor Sam Elliott.

“A Star Is Born” is slated for release on 28th September 2018.

Sources: PEOPLE, Huffington Post, The Ringer.


(UPDATE) #GreenChristmas: Meet & Greet Session With Innisfree Ambassador Lee Min-Ho

It was merely 2 months ago when we last saw Korean superstar Lee Min-ho in Malaysia. As he is the ambassador for multiple brands in South Korea, it makes perfect sense that he would come to Malaysia again for the launch of a new Korean product in Malaysia.

On 24th November, Innisfree announced on their Facebook page that a meet & greet session with their global ambassador Lee Min-ho will be held in Malaysia soon! However, it is unclear which day he will be coming to Malaysia.

Best known for his starring role in Korean hit TV series “Boys Over Flowers”, the charming actor and Girls’ Generation‘s Yoona are the latest ambassadors for Innisfree. All thanks to Innisfree, the Korean superstar will return to Malaysia again for meet & greet session with his fans.

This will mark the actor’s third visit to Malaysia as he was previously here as a singer for his global tour in 2013 and as OSIM uDiva’s ambassador in September 2014.

Innisfree’s first store in Malaysia will be open its door on 5th Dec and 500 limited edition eco-bags have been designed specifically for this much anticipated launch. Fans who spend RM300 and above at Innisfree Sunway Pyramid will receive eco-bags that contains gifts such as the innisfree Green Tea Balancing Kit and a limited edition Lee Min Ho photo book and. stand a chance to win Lee Min Ho Meet & Greet passes. However, the passes are only limited to 100 lucky fans.

Purchases must be made in single receipt only and all gifts are subject to availability as it is on a first-come-first-served basis. No further details were given about the meet & greet session yet but do stay tuned for more updates!

Now, isn’t that awesome? Not only did you get to buy Korea’s best-selling skin-care products in Malaysia, you also get to meet the Korean superstar in Malaysia soon! But will YoonA make a surprise appearance for the meet & greet session too? We certainly hope she will! ;)

UPDATE (Nov 28th): An earlier version of this post had incorrect information about Lee Min-ho’s meet & greet session in Malaysia. We regret the error.

For more information, visit Innisfree Malaysia’s official Facebook page.

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ZE:A Illusionist Concert Live in Malaysia 2014

Calling all Kpop fans out there — boy, do we have good news for you!

Following their successful showcase in Malaysia slightly over a year ago, Korean Male group, ZE:A will be making their way back to Malaysia for the third time! In celebration of the success of their Illusion album released in August this year, ZE:A will be holding their first full scale concert in Seoul and will be bringing a piece of the concert to Malaysia as part of their South East Asia leg!

The group first made their debut in 2010, released their latest album Illusion in August which peaked on the Top 10 list of the Korea album charts. The albums single Ghost Of The Wind is the band’s most successful single to date as it peaked on the Top 30 list in Korea.

Bringing great news to fans this coming January, ZE:A’s concert will also include Fan Signing, Group Photography and a Hi-5 Session with a total of 500 passes up for grabs. VIP ticket holders will be given complimentary passes to a Group Photo Session and An Autograph at Vivatel, Jalan Loke Yew. This is set to take place after the concert.

Illusion ticket holders on the other hand are eligible to win either the Fan Signing passes or Group Photography passes while Spectacular ticket holders are up to win Hi-5 session passes. Winners will be selected by their ticket serial number and information will be posted online.

For those interested, event details are as follows:

Venue: Starstage @ Kenanga Wholesale City Shopping Male

For more information on the concert, check out the event page on Facebook.

Here’s a shoutout video by the ZE:A members!


(UPDATE) #BritishIndia: Local Brand Takes Legal Action Against KLCC’s Relocation Order

Local fashion house BritishIndia is crying foul after its Suria KLCC branch was told to move to another location in the mall or to face eviction by the management. BritishIndia, a tenant of Suria KLCC since 1998, was given 4 days to unconditionally accept the offer to relocate.

According to BritishIndia founder Pat Liew, they were served the letter in July 2014 despite being a competitive paying tenant and the management receiving rental for the same month.

“After receiving our rental and the monies clearing into their account, they issued BritishIndia the vacate-within-four-days letter. Their actions towards tenants such as BritishIndia calls to question their motive,” said Liew.

Liew said that BritishIndia was seeking an injunction to prevent the management of Suria KLCC from carrying out its threat. The injunction hearing is scheduled for 24th Feb.

“We found out that our current premises is intended to be leased to a foreign fashion brand that already has an existing location in Suria KLCC. We are left with no choice but to resort to legal action to protect our rights and be treated fairly,” she said.

Liew said the brand used its store frontage in Suria KLCC to promote Malaysia and prove that a Malaysian brand can be on par with international global brands.

“If BritishIndia is forced to leave, it will mark the end of a successful Malaysian fashion brand having a presence in the country’s iconic shopping mall,” she said.

This isn’t the first time BritishIndia is taking action against Suria KLCC as the clothier sued Suria KLCC Sdn Bhd in 2010 for allegedly failing to offer a new lease on the premises it has occupied for almost 12 years in the shopping mall. BritishIndia has more than 40 stores in leading malls in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.

What are your thoughts on this? Do let us know in the comment section.

The High Court has set the date of March 23rd (Monday) for case management over an undertaking proposal by BritishIndia to Suria KLCC. The court had initially fixed Thursday to hear the injunction applied by the fashion house against the mall.

Justice Nor Bee Ariffin also fixed June 29th and 30th to hear the main suit. According to N. Sivaraj, the lawyer representing BritishIndia, his client would know Suria KLCC’s response to the proposal on March 23rd.

BritishIndia will still maintain its location space in Suria KLCC pending the decision of the injunction.

The fashion house claimed on May 28th, 2014 that it was informed that the mall were not planning to renew the former’s tenancy. It also claimed that it was told to unconditionally accept the terms of the offer to relocate to the second floor, or have its premises boarded up.

BritishIndia is one of the mall’s original tenants and have rented the premises for 16 years.

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(UPDATE) #Twitter: Videos, Photos, & Quotes No Longer A Part Of 140-Character Limit

Most of us use Twitter to post short messages about our daily lives, random thoughts, inspirational quotes, favourite snacks, and so many more. Nevertheless, the space can feel awfully limited at times.

Add in usernames or multimedia (such as images, videos, GIF, polls as well as quote tweets ) and it’ll eat into the 140-character limit. Luckily, changes are coming that will allow Twitter users more room to tweet without using up the valuable characters.

“Over the past decade, the tweet has evolved from a simple 140-character text message to a rich canvas for creative expression featuring photos, videos, hashtags, Vines, and more. So, you can already do a lot in a tweet, but we want you to be able to do even more. In the coming months we’ll make changes to simplify tweets including what counts toward your 140 characters,” Twitter product manager Todd Sherman said in a statement.

The changes, as outlined by Twitter, are as follows:

To quote Andrew Hayward, up to 4 photos can be attached to one tweet without cutting into the characters, or otherwise a single video, poll, GIF, or quoted tweet. These changes are certainly going to be a step forward for the social media service.

People wouldn’t want to spend time remembering the rules of Twitter engagement. They don’t want to mention 2 usernames, add an image, and only have 5 characters left. Thus, making it easier for Twitter users to post photos and videos is a smart move. Soon, you’ll get 140 characters just for text alone. The rest is Twitter’s problem.

However, contrary to several reports, links will still count towards the 140-character limit count.

Hey William! Links will still count for characters, but attaching photos, videos, GIFs, polls and Quote Tweets won't.

So when are these changes taking place? Twitter isn’t offering any specific time other than “over the coming months”.

Great news Twitter users! The social network company is finally relaxing its 140 character limit.

As aforementioned, media attachments such as images, GIFs, videos, and polls will no longer be counted against the valuable 140 characters that make up a tweet. The same goes for quotes and retweeted messages, but keep in mind that links to another tweet still counts.

Say more about what's happening! Rolling out now: photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and Quote Tweets no longer count toward your 140 characters. pic.twitter.com/I9pUC0NdZC

Twitter will also extend this latest update to @names, giving users more room for discussion when replying to others. However, it’s only available to a selected group of users for the time being.

What are you waiting for? Start tweeting away ;)

Sources: Stuff, E! News, Wired, Free Malaysia Today, Twitter, Lowyat.


Panic! At The Disco: Drummer Spencer Smith Officially Quits The Band

Spencer Smith, the founding drummer of pop-rock band Panic! At The Disco, has announced his official departure from the band, following his leave of absence in 2013 due to his battle with addiction. Having been with the band for a decade, Smith’s departure means that frontman Brendon Urie is the only remaining member from Panic! At The Disco’s original lineup.

“To our fans…After 10 years of being a part of this unbelievable journey it saddens me to say that I will be leaving Panic,” Smith begins a long letter posted to the group’s website on Thursday morning (Apr. 2). “This was not an easy decision to come to, but after a lot of thinking it became clear that this is what’s right for me and the band. I love this band with all my heart, and getting to see it grow from 4 kids in my parents garage to what it is now has been incredible. I loved it all. But, at a certain point, I realised that I wasn’t able to be there for the band the way I wanted to be, and more importantly, the way they needed me to be.”

Throughout his lengthy statement, Smith also mentioned his past struggles with substance abuse, and thanks his bandmates for their continued support.

“They helped me through those rough times, and now, on the other side, with two years sobriety from prescription medication, and working on a year sobriety from alcohol, I am nothing but grateful for all they have done,” he writes.

Panic! At The Disco made headlines in the pop scene in 2005 with the single “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” which peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The flamboyant video for the single won the MTV VMA for Video of the Year in 2006 and according to Nielsen Music, the band’s debut album “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” sold 1.98 million copies since its release in 2005.

Following the band’s 2008 album “Pretty.Odd.”, guitarist/songwriter Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker quit the band to form the band the Young Veins. Since then, Panic! At the Disco went on to release two more studio albums, 2011’s “Vices & Virtues” and 2013’s “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!”

Spencer Smith’s full note to fans can be read here.

We now leave you with one of our favs from Panic! At The Disco – “The Ballad Of Mona Lisa”.

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CONTEST: Win Exclusive KANDYPOP! Passes

You might’ve seen our post yesterday on “KANDYPOP!” and you know us, we always try to be the bringer of good/GREAT news. So it’s no different this time around.

Totally irrelevant relevant and necessary pictures of Big Bang’s Taeyang and 4minute’s Hyuna.

On behalf of the good people of KNUKEast, we’re giving away FIVE PAIRS of exclusive passes to FIVE LUCKY WINNERS. It could be you. Right? But not without some work, of course. Here’s what you gotta do:

2) Take a picture of yourself in your best impersonation of your favourite K-pop star.

3) Post it up on your Facebook wall. Include the following phrase, “I deserve to be at KANDYPOP! at Milk Club on the 19th of May and here’s why!”

4) As always, remember to tag us otherwise we wouldn’t be able to see your entry.

And that’s it! Our judges will then sieve through the pictures and of course, the best pictures will win. Think about it. YOU could be in the running to score exclusive KANDYPOP! passes to party up, Korean style, for ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Go on, get camwhoring. We can’t wait to see your entries!

[youtube id=”Gn8mfNvGVYQ” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Contest is open to those residing in Selangor only and it ends on the 15th of May 2012 (Tuesday).

For more information on KANDYPOP!, visit their official Facebook page.


Join 5 Seconds Of Summer’s Youngblood Party & Win Tickets To Their Concert

Come and join 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS)’s Young Blood Party in Malaysia this August and stand a chance to win the ultimate flyaway experience to their concert in Asia.

Universal Music Malaysia has announced that they will be hosting the ultimate 5SOS album party on 5th August 2018 at Paradigm Mall in an effort to promote the boys’ 3rd studio album, “Youngblood”.

A post shared by Universal Music Malaysia (@universalmusicmalaysia)

“Calling all 5 Seconds of Summer fans! Mark your calendars for the ultimate Youngblood party! You don’t wanna miss this. #MY5SOSParty,” read the post.

The Youngblood Party will feature various booth and stage activities. Fans of 5SOS will need to join the activities and collect all the stamps for the lucky draw session and win The Ultimate Fan Experience Flyaway to 5SOS Concert!

A post shared by 5 Seconds of Summer (@5sos)

Made up of Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin, 5SOS previously came to Malaysia in 2016 during their Sounds Live Feels Live tour.

Though the guys will not be returning to our shores anytime soon, fans can look forward to experiencing their concert in one of the Asian countries as part of the band’s Meet You There Tour.

The location of the concert will be announced by Universal Music Malaysia soon. So stay tuned.

Details for 5SOS Youngblood Party are as below:-

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American Footwear Foot Locker Is Opening First Outlet In Kuala Lumpur

Get excited fitness junkies! Foot Locker is coming to Malaysia!

A few months after opening in Singapore (at Century Square shopping mall in case you’re curious), the famous American sportswear and footwear retailer will be debuting its first store in Kuala Lumpur.

No word yet on the exact opening date but we do know that the first Foot Locker store will be located at 1 Utama Shopping Centre. This news comes courtesy of KL Sole, who dropped the exciting announcement last night (Sunday, 28th October).

For the uninitiated, Foot Locker hails from New York City. The American sports and footwear retailer is well-known for collaborating with leading athletic brands such as Adidas, FILA, and Nike. Sneakerheads can now snag the latest shoes without having to travel out of the country.

A post shared by KL Sole ( KL.Malaysia ) (@klsole)

A post shared by Foot Locker (@footlocker)

Foot Locker 1 Utama Shopping Centre is part of the company’s initiative to open 40 more new Foot Locker outlets worldwide. The company is currently hiring sales associates on JobStreet.com.


#PenangHill: CM Lim Guan Eng Says Casino On Penang Hill Rumour Not True

A casino on Penang Hill? Hold your horses!

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has dismissed the claim by an assemblyman that the Penang government will build a casino in the state. He said it was the policy of the state government not to allow a casino in Penang because it was not suitable for the local economy and the people.

“I was shocked by the statement (of the assemblyman) because it is slanderous. When I assumed the post of chief minister in 2008, I stated that it was my stand and that of the state government that we will not allow a casino to be built in the state,” he told a press conference.

Chinese newspapers had reported on June 22 quoting Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu as saying that he had heard rumours that a casino would be built on Penang Hill.

Penang Hill is located in Penang, within the area called Air Itam, 6km from the city. Situated about 823 meters (2750 feet) above sea level on this northern part of Penang, this oldest hill resort and the first in Malaysia has cool, unpolluted air and historical feature. It stands prominently from the lowlands as a hilly and forested area.

Meanwhile, Lim said the state government was spending RM1.1 million on Asia’s 1st Transformers Street Art to be held at Padang Kota Lama from 19th July 19 – 17th Sept. The event would give the people an opportunity to meet and pose for photographs with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, the main characters “Transformers”, on 10th July.

Source: Bernama via FMT / Featured image from Malaysia Tourism Guide.


#NationalDoughnutDay: Have A Sweet Friday With FREE Krispy Kreme & Dunkin’ Donuts!

This Friday is officially going to be the best Friday ever!

Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day is not the “sweetest” holiday of the year because the world would rather celebrate National Doughnut Day on 5th June.

National Doughnut Day falls on the first Friday of June each year. Created by The Salvation Army in 1938, this particular day honours the men and women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. Since then, National Doughnut Day is celebrated worldwide, with most major national doughnut chains giving out doughnuts for free.

Krispy Kreme Malaysia will be celebrating the National Doughnut Day this Friday by giving out fresh hot Original Glazed doughnuts for the first 100 walk-in customers starting at 2pm. However, the leading global doughnut brand will only be giving out the one-of-a-kind complimentary treat at its Berjaya Times Square outlet.

Dunkin’ Donuts will also be giving customers who purchase a beverage one free doughnut of their choice this Friday. The promotion will continue throughout the day while stocks last, subject to terms and conditions.

For more information, visit Krispy Kreme Malaysia’s Facebook page and Dunkin’ Donuts’ Malaysia’s official Facebook page.

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#ThisIsLove: Eric Chou To Hold Live Showcase In Malaysia This December

Heads up, Mandopop fans. Eric Chou (周興哲) is coming to Malaysia!

The Taiwanese crooner will be coming here for the first time ever as part of his “This Is Love” live tour at KL Live, Life Centre on 4th December.

Born in Taiwan, Eric moved to Boston, US when he was 12 years old and at 18, he returned to his home country to become a singer. He was scouted by an entertainment company at his uncle’s wedding, where he was performing onstage.

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter is best known for his warm, smooth voice and he made his debut on Christmas 2014 with his self-composed first album, “My Way to Love”. One particular song from the album, “Let’s Not Be Friends In The Future” (以後別做朋友), was taken to be the OST for “The Way We Were” (十六個夏天), a hit Taiwanese drama starring Ruby Lin and Weber Yang.

He recently dropped his latest studio album, titled “What Love Has Taught Us” (愛，教會我們的事), that consists of 10 beautiful songs including “Let It Go”, “This Is Love”, “No One Like You”, “How Are You” (你，好不好).

Details for Eric Chou’s live show are as follows:

Ticket pre-sales launch will be on 15th – 16th October at Sungei Wang Plaza’s 2nd Entrance (beside Starbucks) at 11am – 4pm. tickets are also available online via PEATIX from 18th October.

For more information, visit Eric Chou’s Facebook page.

Sources: Eric Chou’s Facebook page, Taipei Main.


#Toll: LDP & Johor’s SDE To Go Electronic On 9th November

Many tolls in the Klang Valley have already gone cashless, and the toll plazas on the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) are amongst the last to still use the cash system.

But this is all about the change, as the stretch of highway will be switching to the full electronic toll collection (ETC) starting 9th November at noon. Johor’s Senai-Desaru Highway (SDE) will also go electronic at the same time.

The date is more than 2 weeks away, so those who still pay by cash should have ample time to buy themselves a Touch N’ Go card or Smart Tag.

The toll plazas on the LDP that are affected are as follows:

To ensure that there are less hiccups and to prepare for motorists who are caught unaware, a few 24-hour “Lorong Tambah Nilai (Reload Lane)” will be provided at the toll plazas. Motorists will be able to buy new Touch N’ Go cards or reload their current ones there.

For more info, the public can contact the Communications Department of Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak). For enquiries about the LDP concessionaire, the number provided is 03-74947012 while the number for SDE is 07-8612222.


Interview: Kyoto Protocol On New Music & The Best Thing They’ve Received So Far

Formed in 2009, you may know Kyoto Protocol from their chart-topping single, “Pussycat” from their debut EP released in 2011 titled “An Album”. They subsequently released two albums in 2015 and 2018, titled “Catch These Men” and “The Pen is Mightier”.

Still keeping it going with the original line-up since 2009, the five-member band have performed with acts such as Ariana Grande and The Chainsmokers at the 2017 Singapore F1 and were the opening act for Death Cab for Cutie (2016) and Yuna (2012). They were also nominated for the category Best New Artist at the 2011 Anugerah Music Industri.

Something new is bubbling. Hmm…what could it be?Mark your calendars >>> 16 June 2022#new #single #release #music #localmusic #localartist #kyotoprotocol #kp #kyotoband #malaysianartist

♬ original sound – Kyoto Protocol – Kyoto Protocol

Now, they are coming back with a new song, specially dedicated to that special someone. Their upcoming single “Best I Ever Had” is set to release on the 16th of June. They took the time to answer our questions where they share more about the inspiration for “Best I Ever Had”, touring plans, and their favourite memories being on tour.

1. We understand the song, “Best I Ever Had” was written as a way to propose to a special someone. Could you share with us the idea behind the song and how the proposal went?

The inspiration started just as the song starts, with that bass intro. This tiaroundund, it was a happy boppy bass line. Soon enough, the more I let that small piece sit, the inspiration would come in bits and pieces.

I had been in a steady relationship for a little over 2 years at that point. My girlfriend, who never paid too much attention to my music before, started to get deeper into Kyoto Protocol’s music. You could say she became a big fan.

Eventually, she started asking when I would write a song for her. Initially, I told her that it can’t be forced. That songs need to come from an organic source otherwise it would sound too forced. Not content with my answer, she would keep asking occasionally for “her song”: a Kyoto Protocol song that was about her.

That was the breakthrough! “I should write a song about how she’s always asking me for a song,” I thought to myself. So, the process of coming up with the bass line and finishing the lyrics probably took about 6 months in total.

In the meantime, she was persistent about when she’ll get her song. Feeling that the song reveal would have been an opportunity too good to pass up, I searched for the right occasion. Birthday? Not bad. Marriage proposal? Now THAT would be epic. So I planned an elaborate surprise that involved a cuti-cuti Malaysia and valentine’s day.

After a wonderful dinner, I surprised her by pulling out a Bluetooth speaker and an iPad. The speaker’s use would have been quite obvious, but the iPad was less so. I had made a minus one version of the song so that I could sing it to her live for the very first time. The iPad showed a white screen for most of the song, until the outro when I would flick to the next slide where it said, “Will you marry me?” She said yes.

2. What were the challenges you faced when writing the song?

As alluded to in the answers for question 1, that period when I already had the song in mind while she was persistently asking for her song was the challenging part… I don’t like lying!

A post shared by Kyoto Protocol (@kyotoband)

3. “Best I Ever Had” is part of a trilogy. Could you explain to us what the trilogy is all about? Was there a specific mind map for it?

Actually, there was nothing specific to the trilogy… it just happened to be 3 separate song ideas that came to me during the pandemic. So we took it upon us to put them in whatever order of release that we feel would’ve worked the best.

4. Can we expect a music video for the new song?

Definitely, yes! Expect the unexpected hahaha.

5. Now that there is a new song out, is there a new album in the works? How many songs do you have so far?

Not sure if we have enough for a new album at the moment. We’d like to see the reception for ‘Best I Ever Had’ before we decide on our next creative move.

6. With travel restrictions more relaxed, what are your plans for touring?

We’re just happy to be booked for gigs and festivals again. We’ll be playing at Undercurrent by Breaking Music at REXKL on 9th Jul and BLOCKFEST in September (final date TBC).

7. For each member, what’s your favourite memory about performing on stage or being on the road?

Our favourite memory is the victories for sure. When we put it all out there, taking the risk to put money upfront for a tour and never really being sure if people will turn up, and in the end when it all works out and we have a ball of a time! We’ve had many tours over the years so it’s hard to pick between them. They’re like our babies!

8. Planning for a tour can no doubt be challenging. What’s the toughest part – is it the set list, building stamina or something else?

Good question! At this age the stamina is more of a concern than the setlist, since we’ve built up the experience and the repertoire for a setlist… but the stamina continues to fade as we get older.

9. Based on your new song, what is the best thing you have each received?

Shaq: Education…
Hairi: A job offer.
Shan: First drum set at 15 years old.
Gael: Life.
Fuad: My first electric guitar, the Fender Stratocaster was a gift from my uncle. I still use it today… 30 years later!

10. How would you compare your music now to how it was 13 years ago?

We’re glad that it has evolved into something that we’re proud of, but we’re also proud that there’s a thread that binds our music, old and new, no matter which direction we inevitable float towards.

11. Are there any music trends/ culture from former years that you miss? We personally miss collecting physical CDs & cassettes.

Honestly, we don’t hate the digital era! We look forward to the future with open arms.

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#PowerRangers: Bootleg Film Depicts A Darker, Grittier, & More Violent World

“Power Rangers” fans, prepare to have your collective childhood morphed because your favourite 90s kids show just got a mighty morphin’ makeover. For real.

While Lionsgate is hard at work making a big screen adaptation of “Power Rangers“, a new 14-minute “Power Rangers” film was released on YouTube recently.

The work of art, titled “POWER/RANGERS” is produced Adi Shankar (of “A Walk Among the Tombstones” fame) and directed by Joseph Khan, and it offers a glimpse of what a full-fledged, gritty “Power Rangers” movie would look like – their own interpretation, of course.

“POWER/RANGERS” stars James Van Der Beek (of “Dawson’s Creek” fame) and Katee Sackhoff (of “Battlestar Galactica”fame ) as former rangers at odds in a bleak future controlled by the machines.

Instead of the multi-coloured “Power Rangers” world that you’re used to, the project depicts what happens to the popular colour-coded rangers Tommy, Jason, Kimberly, Billy, Zack, and Trini after they are recruited to fight in an intergalactic war that they have no business being in.

It’s bloody, it’s grim, it’s somewhat more mature than 90s kids would expect. What, you don’t believe us? Watch the 14-minute, darker version of “Power Rangers” you probably never expected to see. Oh, and we need to add that you really shouldn’t be watching this at work:

“POWER/RANGERS” is Ali Shankar’s fourth “Bootleg Universe” project and it follows previous online shorts following popular comic book characters The Punisher, Venom and Judge Dredd.

As to why he decided to make the above film, he said:

When I was a child I had 2 favourite TV shows – the X-Men animated series and Power Rangers. I eventually came to the realisation that high school kids weaponised to fight an intergalactic threat would turn those kids into some seriously disturbed adults.

Meanwhile, the actual “Power Rangers” reboot (by Lionsgate) is set to be released on 22nd July 2016.


Hype’s Now Playing: Alle Farben Feat. Graham Candy — She Moves

“All alone she moves, into a broken paradise surrounded by the coloured lights”

Frans Zimmer, more commonly known as Alle Farben is known for his skills of combining styles and musical components that might not fit when you first listen to it but his unique sound could get the shyest dances to groove along to his music.

Alle Farben dropped the official video to his debut single “She Moves” featuring New Zealand singer-songwriter Graham Candy  on June 19th, 2014. The track features a mellow tune with soothing guitar licks that build for an uplifting baseline, effortless beats and Candy’s quirk, soul-stirring vocals makes the track a very uplifting and refreshing one.


Fazura To Hold “FAZTIVAL FAZURA 2022” Concert With Various Singers

Fazura has been a very busy woman with her cosmetic and fashion business but we haven’t heard new music from her in such a long time. The 38-year-old’s last single “Noktah” was back in 2021 and fans have been wondering when they will get to hear her sing and see her perform live on stage again.

The mother-of-one is planning something special next month to give back to her fans and she won’t be doing this alone! Speaking at Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL a few days ago, the actress officially announced her latest project “FAZTIVAL FAZURA 2022” featuring a line of amazing artists that will be joining her on stage!

Malaysian actress and singer Fazura, fondly known as Faz, recently announced the “FAZTIVAL FAZURA 2022” where she will be joined by some of her favourite local and international musical acts for a one night only show. The singer revealed that this has been a dream of hers for the longest time, especially during the pandemic, and hopes to do this yearly.

“Alhamdulillah, I’m so grateful that this concert is finally coming true as I’ve been wanting to do this with my fellow artists that I admire,” she said during the “FAZTIVAL FAZURA 2022” press conference. The “Can’t Forget Me” songstress explained the main reason for her to do this festival is to celebrate her fans who have been supporting her over the years for her work in the arts as well as for her beauty and fashion brands.

The star-studded lineup will include local acts such as Zizi Kirana, Ruffedge, Amir Masdi, Ippo Hafiz, M Nasir, and Ella as well as Ahmad Band and Mulan Jameela from Indonesia. Fazura also assured that ticket prices will be affordable for everyone and teased that there will be lots of surprises. We even asked the singer if we can expect new music from her to which she answered, “Of course!”

“FAZTIVAL FAZURA 2022” will be happening on the 11th September later this year at the AXIATA Arena, Bukit Jalil at 8:30pm and tickets will go on sale next week on 19th August starting at RM147. Fans can purchase the tickets here.

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Where Are They Now?

Remember this sweetheart? She’s best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on “Full House” from 1987 to 1995. Some of us, if not all, grew up with her. But almost no one of us knew what happened to the cast of the TV series (save for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen).

After “Full House”, at the age of 20, Jodie Sweetin married Log Angeles Police Officer, Shaun Holguin. They divorced in 2006. She then met Cody Herpin (a film transportation coordinator) and the couple got married in Las Vegas in 2007. In 2008, Jodie gave birth to Zoie Laurelmae. The very same year, Jodie filed for legal separation from Cody. But the drama doesn’t stop there.

Shockingly, she is also a recovering drug addict who began using methamphetamine because she was “bored”. In fact, Jodie tells all in her memoir, “unSweetined”, which chronicles her downward spiral of alcohol and drug abuse that began right after her role as “Stephanie Tanner” ended.

In December 2010, California officials filed document alleging that Jodie Sweetin owes nearly USD30, 000 in back taxes from 2009.

She achieved an incredible worldwide fame in the original “Star Wars” trilogy for her portrayal of Princess Leia. At her time, she was known as one of the most beautiful actresses of her day. And who can forget that iconic gold bikini that made her one of the reigning Hollywood sex symbols for years to come?

By the early 1980s, Carrie Fisher was on top of the world, casually breezing past the fame and fortune. However, what she didn’t know then was that her career was at its peak and when it crashed, it would crash hard. Because roles for movies were fewer and farther in between, Carrie spent her time penning a book titled, “Wishful Drinking”. It was based on her rocky personal life.

Carrie was an alcoholic and a drug addict – so bad that her abuse of codeine was said to have driven Bryan Lourd, a man she dated, away. Lourd even claimed that it was the abuse that caused him to turn gay.

In recent years, Carrie Fisher came out with one of the most shocking confessions one can expect from someone like her. In numerous interviews, she said that she was experiencing a bout with mental illness, that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and spent some time in a mental hospital. She also “let herself go” when she ballooned up from 100 lbs to 180 lbs and blamed it all on her addiction to McDonald’s, Hostess Twinkies, and Ding Dongs.

He was the host of one of the biggest British children’s television series, “Art Attack” that revolves around art. The series was one of ITV’s longest running programmes (from 1990 to 2007) and every episode encompasses a mad style of art to make art more fun for children.

Especially the messy ones where Neil Buchanan would first do a small version, and then doing an over the top, giant version. We bet some of you even went digging around the house in search for things that you could use to replicate the art that was shown on the series! His gift was simply being able to make such great things when he rarely used shop bought art materials.

But when they show ended, so did the kids’ fondness for Neil. It’s as if he disappeared into the sunset or some dramatic effect close to it.

Well, the truth is, he kind of did. Except, his career as “the clever art guy on TV” dissipated into his stint as a guitarist for a heavy metal band called, “Marseille”. Apparently, the band has made two albums and five singles, and were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene.

Can’t say we’ve heard their music though.

Most famous for his cute cherubic looks in his “Home Alone” movie series roles, he was one of the world’s most successful child actors since Shirley Temple at the height of his fame. When he was just 11 years old, he was paid a reported USD750, 000 by the World Wrestling Federation to serve as the ring bearer in Macho Man Randy Savage’s wedding to Miss Elizabeth at “SummerSlam”.

But his family conflict overtook his desire to pursue his acting career and when he was 14 years old, Macaulay Culkin announced that he was retiring from acting. In 1998, when he was only 18 years old, he got married to Rachel Miner.

Four years later, the couple divorced. He then began dating Mila Kunis. It was perhaps one of Macaulay and Mila’s longest relationships before they too split at the end of 2010. A few years before they broke up, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and two controlled substances – for which he was jailed briefly. Following which, Macaulay received three one-year suspended prison terms, forced enrollment into a probationary drug treatment programs, and a fine.

Macaulay Culkin is slated to appear in “Scream 5”.

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Nasi Bungkus Cinema Presents “Memoirs of a Burning Tree”

Guess what? Nasi Bungkus Cinema is back! This time with “Memories of a Burning Tree”.

Produced by Singapore-based Sherman Ong (filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist), “Memories of a Burning Tree” was made in Tanzania and shot in Swahili. Said to be a riveting ensemble piece that is truly a global piece of cinema, the film gives a striking impression of urban African life without pushing violence, poverty, or disease.

Sherman Ong (who will be present at the screening in Monash University Sunway Campus) has premiered his works in art biennales, major film festivals, and museums around the world including the Venice, Singapore, Jakarta, and Japan. Just to name a few. His practice has always centered on the human condition and our relationships with others within the larger milieu:

Smith comes to Dar es Salaam to tie up some loose ends. He meets Link, a tourist guide, who agrees to help him. Along the way they are offered help by Abdul, a grave digger, and Toatoa, a metal scavenger, who themselves are searching for answers to their own journeys. Their search eventually leads them to realise that this is a never-ending journey of dreams and disappointments. With an ensemble cast of non-professional actors and an improvised script, this film is homage to the road movie genre, where ultimately the road ends when you want it to end.

[youtube id=”F2dGl-mOX0A” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Venue: Plenary Theatre (2-1-01), Monash University Sunway Campus

For more information, visit its official blog.


Sammi Cheng Considers Having A Baby

Guang Ming Daily reported that Hong Kong singer Sammi Cheng may consider having a baby even though she has openly stated that she is afraid to go through pregnancy.

The daily reported that the 41-year-old had frequent arguments with her 46-year-old boyfriend, Andy Hui, over the issue. However, there is speculation that Cheng has recently softened her stance after seeing her good friend Andy Lau’s daughter, whom Cheng described as “very cute”.

According to Hong Kong magazine Eastweek, Cheng would often hear Lau describe how wonderful it is to be a parent, and it eventually changed her mind. However, she has said that she would ‘leave it to fate’ whether she has kids or not. The magazine also added that the couple were recently spotted keeping fit by jogging together, fuelling rumours of their baby-making plans.

Cheng and Hui were together for several years in the 90s before breaking up. Since reuniting two years ago, friends and family have been pushing them to get married. Sources added that the two are planning to get hitched by the end of the year, and will try for a baby.

According to media reports, although Cheng was spotted wearing a new ring on her finger in Feb this year, she denied that she was engaged, and said she is ‘comfortable’ with her current relationship status.


Calvin Harris Teases With Preview Of Upcoming Collaboration With John Newman

A man of many titles including singer, songwriter, producer, DJ and now the world’s highest paid DJ for the second year in a row, Calvin Harris has teased fans with a preview of his upcoming collaboration with John Newman. Calvin Harris who has had a pretty strong summer thus far with the release of “Summer” and “C.U.B.A” posted a 15 second video on his Instagram account, revealing the details of his next single “Blame” with Newman who is the creator behind mega pop hit “Love Me Again”.

“Blame”, is currently available to be pre-ordered on iTunes, the expected release date is September 7th. For now, enjoy the snippet of this upcoming single below:


#Kesha: Singer Writes Heartfelt Message To Fans; Teases New Music

Kesha (real name Kesha Rose Sebert) has been experiencing many ups and downs since her lawsuit with producer Dr. Luke back in 2014.

But don’t worry, Animals (as Kesha’s fans are lovingly known)! Kesha is not letting any negativity stop her from doing the thing she loves best – music.

On Thursday (22nd December), the singer took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message to her 1.8 million followers. In her caption, she wrote, “Just got back a mix of me and someone singing a duet crying happy tears never in my life imagined this dream could ever actually come true…Please pray one day y’all can hear this music. It’s the most vulnerable and honest I have ever been to myself and it’s literally documenting me growing up.”

She continued, “Merry everything and happy every day and thank you for not abandoning me while I fight the good fight. I just want to make art. and let you hear it. That’s all I want for Christmas. and my New Years resolution is to finish my record and give it to you. Thank you animals. Love y’all.”

While Kesha released “True Colours” alongside music producer Zedd in April (thanks Kemosabe and RCA Records), she has not been able to release any new music due to her legal battle against Dr. Luke, which was dismissed over the summer. Luckily, Sony announced that the singer will be back with an album soon.

“Creating a new album takes time, and everyone’s goal is to deliver a high quality album consistent with Kesha’s past releases. We hope to share exciting new music with Kesha’s fans soon,” said Sony in a statement.

We can’t wait to hear your new songs, Kesha! We’ll be waiting :)

Sources: E! Online, Entertainment Weekly.

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#CafeHopping: Cosy Up With A Cup Of Coffee At These Visually Pleasing Cafés

There used to be a time where a damn fine cup of coffee is all we need to stay in a cosy coffee shop for hours. But alas, times have changed.

With the amount of cafés mushrooming all over the Klang Valley, patrons are starting to take a lot of things into consideration whenever they visit a quaint little space filled with the smell of freshly grounded coffee.

Whether you’re just ordering a cup of coffee or having a brunch date with a couple of friends, a dining environment is probably the first and foremost thing that you will notice when you step into a cafè. Sometimes, even the least palatable coffees doesn’t concern patrons if the dining environment exudes a relaxing vibe. It goes on to show how the interior of a cafè could be a total game changer. Not to mention, a fun and stylish coffee shop can set itself apart from the other typical coffee shops due to its distinct characteristic.

In the past, we’ve featured cafés like DR.Inc, LOKL, and VCR for the uniqueness of their names. One thing we’ve noticed from the list is that all these cafés have another thing in common – their exquisite interior design and unique decorations. It suddenly hit us that they aren’t the only visually pleasing cafés in town, of course.

With that in mind, take a look at some of our current favourite dreamy cafes in town:

From the team behind Wondermilk comes Rimba & Rusa, a 2-level café located at Sunway Nexis, a newly-opened shopping complex in Kota Damansara. With furniture mainly made out of wood and steel, Rimba & Rusa is blessed with a very chilled-out ambience, making patrons feel cosy and at home. It is very well-lit due to the natural sunlight that penetrates through the full glass window panels.

The interior features a distinctive visual palette, which almost felt like the place was extracted from an Wes Anderson film. The lightbulbs hang from the ceiling like a chandelier, lighting up the whole café when night falls. The café may get noisy at times as a children’s play corner is located on the 2nd floor.

Blink and you’ll miss it. PULP by Papa Palheta is considered one of the best hidden gems in Bangsar as it is located just beside Riong’s Balai Berita building, the head office of the New Straits Times Press. The name Pulp derived from the word “depulping”, which is a process of extracting seeds to make coffee. Once a former paper-cutting room for the nearby Art Printing Works factory and storehouse in the early 1960s, the café is run by respected Singaporean coffee boutique Papa Palheta. It’s no wonder why people may find it hard to locate this café as its exterior looks like a warehouse.

Designed with subtle attention to detail, PULP is especially great for those who just wants to sip high quality coffee or nibble on light bites while feeling the warmth of the sunlight that pours in through the window. It has also earned quite the reputation for trendy travelers who are looking to buy freshly roasted espresso blends and single-origin beans or coffee gadgets. With coffee that is brewed professionally to perfection, this is also a place for professional training, cupping sessions, and workshops.

At first glance, it seems as if this shop is a page taken out of an interior design magazine, as Massimo Vignellil, the name of the iconic Italian designer is seen on the window wall. However, a sudden realisation may hit you upon entering the café that Battery Acid Club is no ordinary coffee shop; it is a discussion space for design enthusiasts or those who simply appreciate art. You may notice that the crowd is a mix of casual customers and artsy people who seem productive even when they’re just hanging out.

Co-founded by resident barista Aaron Tan and veteran desginer Swiss Ooi, the sharp-looking café takes on a contemporary minimalist approach to design. The back of the space is where retail store Objekt-Object is situated and it is devoted to a rack of clothes, as well as accessories, objet d’art, and furniture. Though it doesn’t provide breakfast food, it serves a wide selection of pastries from Petiteserie Desserts and Ling’s Kitchen. There’s no free wi-fi here, as the owners encourage patrons to engage in quality conversations. In fact, you can spend hours sitting in the café, sipping a cup of espresso-based coffee (creatively named after famed designers) while reading a book from their bookcase.

This beautiful coffee shop just opened in May, but it’s quickly becoming a local favourite due to its eclectic interior design. This is all thanks to husband-and-wife team Aiman and Alia, who hired interior consultant Adrien Kent to create this quaint, little space in Pacific Place Commercial Centre, Ara Damansara. According to EatDrinkKL, the married couple decided to create this charming little café after taking a break from their corporate work.

Double A Café is uniquely designed to give patrons a homey, friendly feeling as it is furnished in a Scandinavian minimalist style. The flooring pattern is almost impossible to be overlooked as it makes the café a charming spot. Similar to most cafés, Double A features a wide selection of home made cakes from local bakers, including Gateauxlicious and Gulabakery. This is definitely a place for you to park yourself for hours while sipping a cup of coffee that was supplied and trained by Johor-based Monsta Cafe.

One must wonder about the meaning behind the name of the café when they are about to step into Otherwise Café, one of the many coffee joints located in Petaling Jaya. It gives off a very eerie feeling as it is tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood in Kelana Jaya. Don’t let the café’s location fool you though, because Otherwise Café has got to be one of the most eccentric coffee shops we’ve ever seen. It is a quaint coffee shop that doubles as a wedding photography studio and hair salon by day.

Founded by Malaysian fashion photographer Chuan Looi, the café is mostly furnished by local furniture company Dumpwerk. The café supports local talents by providing a performance space for live music events. Though most of the patrons chose the café for coffees and cakes, it’s clear that they were also there to check out the unique antique decorations. The most impressive feature is represented by a rack of decades-old antiques collected from all over the world by the owner. These antiques perfectly embodies the retro theme of the cafe, making it more otherworldly beautiful.

Jalan Mesui is perhaps best known as a place for fine dining and partying. But if you looked carefully, you’d notice the café located one block away from The Mesui Hotel as well. This clean-looking café, adorned with vintage styling and rustic touches, is better known for its brunch than its coffee. When it’s sunny, patrons can take a seat in the little courtyard outside the café. Though the space can get really crowded during the weekends, the atmosphere is relaxed nonetheless.

The name “Feeka” derived from a Swedish term, meaning “have a break with a drink and some food”. With an impressive array of freshly-baked pastries and cakes, patrons will most likely visit this place for a quick catch-up session with their friends while nipping at the light bites. The interiors of Feeka is softly lit, but it is beautifully decorated with a few unique decorations and contemporary elements.

There’s something about greyskymorning that makes us feel at peace, but we can’t really put our finger on it. Perhaps it’s the high ceiling that let light go further into the café, or perhaps it’s because almost everything was furnished in wood and metal, bringing a modern industrial feel to the space. It’s clear that the owner took a raw minimalist approach to create this quiet “hideaway” in Subang Jaya.

When we say “hideaway”, we really mean it because greyskymorning rests in the shadow of the industrial factories nearby. In a way, it’s meant to be accidentally discovered by patrons or for those who are seeking for a temporary hideaway from the city’s hustle and bustle. Admittedly, this place can get noisy during the weekends, but that didn’t stop some patrons from bringing their laptops over just to spend the rest of day working peacefully in this cosy home away from home. Not to mention, it seems as if every nook and cranny of the café was meticulously designed for a picture-perfect view.

Thursday is the new Friday, because it is a perfect day for us to start looking forward to the weekends! Our feeling about this particular day is best represented by “Thursdvys”, a quirky coffee bar located in TTDI. Opened by best friends Hadri and Hanif, this café quickly became cafe-hopping Instagrammers’ favourite hangout spot due to its creative interior. From the angled wall to the designated “spotlight” corner (as seen in the picture above), every corner of the place is uniquely designed based on the owners’ imaginative minds.

The owners goes slightly bolder with the visual palette as well, making it visually pleasing for anyone who would walk pass the coffee bar. The owners made full use of the slanted wall by placing the window panels on it too, allowing ample amounts of natural sunlight to go into the café. Patrons can easily sink into the long window seat with a good book and a big cup of joe.

A modern take on the heritage of Petaling Street, Merchant’s Lane is a cafe and restaurant that sees the transversing of local charm. But its history may surprise you, for Merchant’s Lane was actually formerly a Petaling Street brothel that has been refurbished into a beautiful cafe that’s sure to get you snapping away for photos to spam your Instagram feed with.

An oasis in the older part of the city that’s dotted with the kind of old world charm reminiscent of the cafes in Ipoh and Penang, Merchant’s Lane is perfect getaway from the concrete jungle. Its menu boasts a range of East-meets-West fusion dishes, perfect for those seeking comfort meals and brunch noms. It’s safe to say that once you’re there, you’d stay for not just the atmosphere but also the food. Oh, and the coffee/tea too of course.

Got any personal favourites that you think should be added to the list? Share with us in the comments box below or you know, just keep it as a secret so that no one will ever come and ruin your favourite spot ;)

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Ex-Drummer Brian Kresna Shocked & Upset At Being Dropped From Sheila On 7

18 years of ups and downs together with Sheila On 7 (SO7) are now over for its drummer, Brian Kresna Putro. He is unaware of the reason why he has been dropped from the rock band just before their 26th anniversary. His ‘departure’ was officially announced on Sheila On 7 Facebook page on 10th May after it was reported that he left the group on 7th April.

The controversy that stems from Brian’s alleged departure shocked and saddened the drummer who hails from Yogyakarta. He refused to comment on the issue to refrain from the truth being twisted. He also requested any questions regarding the incident to go directly toward the other members of SO7.

“I still cannot talk about the ordeal because honestly I am still surprised and upset. I’m confused. I still love SO7 and there was no way I would leave this group on my own. It would be appropriate for you (media friends) to ask SO7 themselves for an assuring answer. I’m afraid if I alone give the statement, they would have their own answers too,” Brian explained to Detik Hot.

During this trying time, he added that SO7’s fan club, Sheilagank, has given him plenty of encouragement. Brian said, “Sheilagank strengthens me. I read all their comments and thank you so much (for) them.” The drummer also disclosed that he still plans to keep working in the music industry, be it on-stage or backstage.

Brian joined the group back in 2004 when he replaced the original drummer, Anton. Sheila On 7 has sold more than 8 million copies of albums in their home country, Indonesia and are famous for their hit singles such as “Melompat Lebih Tinggi” and “Berhenti Berharap”.


Heineken Presents Will Sparks Live At Gravity Club KL

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, 21-year-old Will Sparks has cemented his position as the undisputed King of the globally loved Melbourne sound. Since then, Will Sparks has been unstoppable and has been voted as “Breakthrough Artiste Of The Year” in his home country and #1 DJ in Australia.

Since his genre-defining track, “Ah Yeah!” hit #3 on Beatport overall charts at the end of 2012, Will Sparks has become unstoppable, producing hit after hit. His original tracks like “Catch”, “When the Lights Go Out” and “This Is What The Bounce Is” has garnered him the attention of global heavyweight dance label Ultra Records.

Following his success, Will Sparks was recently named one of Billboard Magazine’s most exciting young talents as well as landed himself a residency at XS Las Vegas, a gig at Jay-Z’s “Made In America” festival, a headlining spot at Paradise Ibiza as well as a set at the world’s biggest Electronic Dance Music festival, Tomorrowland.

No stranger to this side of the world, Will Sparks who played at Future Music Festival Asia last year, is making his way back to Kuala Lumpur! This time round, the Australian DJ will be making it bounce at Gravity Club KL! Event information are as follows:

Event: Gravity Club KL: Heineken Presents Will Sparks

For more information, head on over to Gravity Club KL on Facebook.


Tony Leung Seen In Sydney For Marvel’s “Shang-Chi”

Production for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is well underway, but details have mostly been kept under wraps.

However, someone recently spotted Tony Leung Chiu-wai (梁朝偉) in Australia for the shooting of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film. In case you didn’t know, Tony has been cast to play main villain The Mandarin.

Although the 57-year-old actor wasn’t not seen with main star Simu Liu (劉思慕) or Awkwafina, onlookers noticed that he was accompanied by 3 other female companions at Golden Century Seafood Restaurant in Sydney. They apparently ordered a whole bunch dim sum dishes.

Wife Carina Lau (劉嘉玲) wasn’t with Tony at the Chinese restaurant, but the actress took to her Instagram to post some scenic pictures from her trip around Sydney – they include the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. As Tony’s manager, Carina is in charge of overseeing her hubby’s day-to-day operations.

A post shared by Carina Lau (@carinalau1208)

Twitter user Eternalsnews, who provides updates on upcoming MCU movies, updated followers that Tony has been filming his scenes in Centennial Park in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Co-star Awkwafina also revealed that she has been in Sydney since 23rd January.

A Malaysian residing in Sydney named Adrick Wong was lucky to get a photo with Tony himself when he was dining at The Eight Modern Chinese Restaurant.

A post shared by Adrick Wong Chin Hoe (@adrickwong)

Awkwafina has arrived in Australia, likely to begin filming #ShangChi! pic.twitter.com/Amml3PNCGI

— Cooper Hood (@MovieCooper) January 22, 2020

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is scheduled for release in February 2021.

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


#TransformersMY2016: Autobots All Set To Roll Out In 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Transformers started off as a comic series in the 1980s before evolving into animated television series that depicts a war amongst giant alien robots that can transform into vehicles and other objects. Set against the outerworld Cybertron and Earth, it centres on factions of the Autobots and the Decepticons in an endless struggle for dominance or eventual peace.

Since the first Transformers was adapted onto the big screen in 2007, its cinematography and special effects have captivated audiences from around the world – both adults and children alike. Now, Malaysians will have the chance to relive the Transformers experience live!

Organised by Hasbro Toy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, the robot-aliens will be making an appearance in 1 Utama during the next school holidays:

As an added bonus, the exclusive Chevrolet Camaro that made its film debut as Bumblebee will also be on display at the event on 26th May, 3pm to 6pm. Only 5 of these cars are known to exist in the country, making the car’s display in 1 Utama a rare opportunity.

Besides meeting their heroes and the opportunity to purchase exclusive Transformers merchandise, children of all ages can look forward to a host of exciting activities at the roadshow to keep themselves well occupied during the holidays.

Children aged 8-12 years old can participate with a minimum purchase of RM120 in 2 receipts. The challenge will require them to assemble a complete Transformers combiner figure in the fastest time possible. The winner of each session of the challenge, which takes place over the weekends during the roadshow period, will take home a Generations Combiner Leader figure worth RM249.90.

With a minimum purchase of RM80 in 2 receipts, children aged 5 to 12 will have the chance to bring out their inner Transformer character in the “Dynamic 5 Challenge”. Designed to promote teamwork and leadership, this activity is centred around Transformers characters Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Grimlock, and Strongarm. Everyone emerges a winner in this activity as participants will receive a Transformers gift upon completion.

They will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with a live-sized 10-feet Bumblebee and Optimus Prime statues in front of a cinematic Transformers visual background.

Adult fans are also not excluded from the roadshow as there will be a special display consisting of collectors’ and limited edition figure over the course of the roadshow period.

On top of that, One Card members who arrive at the scene early can have their children participate in these activities and contests without a minimum purchase. However, these are limited to 50 children per day on a first come first serve basis.

Meanwhile, 3 more “Transformers” movies are slated to be released in 2017, 2018, and 2019, including a spin-off movie centred around Bumblebee.

The iconic Transformers is an action-packed fictional movie and animation series, featuring robot aliens armed with advanced weaponry and combat skills. The relationship between these robots and humans make up much of the essence of the Transformers story.

For more information, hit up Hasbro Transformers’ Facebook page.


Hype’s Exclusive: The Marquee

Discovering and supporting local talent, Hype.My brings you an exclusive interview with alternative rock band, The Marquee. Consisting of vocalist Michael Leaner, two guitarists Kieran David Jumawan and Maskurnia, bassist Andrew Tan and drummer Jonathan Voo, the band is made up of five very talented guys who come from very different backgrounds. Having perform at various places for gigs and festivals in Kuala Lumpur, The Marquee have been in the studio working on their first single which is set for release this month.

How did you guys first meet?
Some of us met through gigs and a series of random events. I guess everyone sort of knew each other while being in the band scene. A few of us were also college mates as well. So it all started with being acquaintances and then friends and now bandmates.

How did The Marquee come together?
The band was initially started by our drummer, Jon Voo along with our bassist, Andrew Tan. In a way, the band just came along slowly and perfectly with the right people after a year.

How did the name The Marquee come about?
We wanted the band’s name to be something simple but yet special with its meaning. So our guitarist, Kieran David named our band The Marquee, which represents the signage on a tent or shelter. Indicating hope and a safe place.

How long have you been performing together as a band?
The band has been around for two years, as almost everyone in the band was active in the band scene. Before the band was properly established, the band had a few transitions of members. However, we have officially been performing together for more than a year now.

What inspires your songs?
You know when you have the adrenaline within you to express something that you feel so strongly about after an experience or even by hearing or witnessing other people’s story either through narrative gestures or by artistic interpretations. We believe in honesty. So basically our songs are very much bridged with thoughts & emotions. It is always the story that counts for us.

Who usually writes the songs in the band?
Well, that depends actually. Usually one of us would have some tune going on in our head and then the next thing is we are already jamming and fine tuning the song. Each and every one of us would play our role as a musician in the band and chip in constructive ideas but Andrew is usually appointed for overall music arrangements. Lyric compositions are mostly done by our vocalist, Michael Leaner.

Are your songs usually based on personal experiences?
Yes and no. Well the thing about writing is, if it is too much relating about personal issues or experiences, it can be very narrowly self relating. We want our songs to be honest and ambiguous, so people can conclude themselves on the perspective on it. However, most of our composition talks about life, relationships, pain & gain and introspective stuffs. Our upcoming first official single titled Free Fall talks about the forces of nature and also the reaction of human to it. It really depends on what is the inspiration behind each song.

How important are lyrics to you?
A song’s lyric is the breath of the whole composition. It’s like life itself. At least that’s how we’d like to view it, because music can only touch you emotionally, helping us sense the whole soul of it, but what triggers and help a person understand the song is, the lyrics. Good lyrical writing whether conventionally or artistically, gives life to the song, and it does so by connecting people with it.

Favourite singer or band?
For vocalist, Jared Leto of 30 Second to Mars and Halley Williams  of Paramore would be our ideal favourite. For bands, we love Deftones, Circa Survive, and the many more bands that people don’t usually listen to.

If your band can collaborate with a local artist who would it be?
It has to be Yuna or if we could bring P. Ramlee back to life, it would be him. Funny and intriguing must be for all to hear this. That is because we believe that it is a great idea to fuse alternative rock with the symphony orchestra. Or perhaps, jazz and rock. The whole musical journey would be amazing.

What about an international artist?
Mike Einziger from Incubus.
Where do you guys normally perform?
Well, so far we have been performing for festivals and gigs around Kuala Lumper, and some corporate events. Our upcoming gig will be on October 19th, 2013 at in KL live for the Gen Y Music Festival and also on October 25th, 2013 for the Indie PG festival in Penang.

What’s next for The Marquee?
We will be releasing our first official single by this month. We are also in the midst of recording two more songs in the studio. Lots of work to be done, but we are definitely excited and anticipating it.

Where can our readers listen to you?
Please do follow us on Instagram : themarqueeband. Your readers can also receive updates regarding our music endeavours and gig updates through our facebook fan page : www.facebook.com/TheMarqueeOfficial

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


6 Things You Should Know About WINNER’s New Album, ‘EVERYD4Y’

K-pop boy group WINNER has finally dropped the music video for ‘Everyday’. The song is the title track for their sophomore album, ‘EVERYD4Y’, which contains a total of 12 songs.

It has been 8 months since the group’s previous release, and understandably, fans went crazy when YG Entertainment dropped a mysterious teaser with the group’s logo in early March.

After a month-long wait, the MV is finally here. We’re not kidding when we say that the group killed it. While the heavily auto-tuned track might be a miss for some, we really liked how they incorporated that into the catchy tune. From their suave looks to the fun choreography, it is one enjoyable watch.

In case you haven’t kept yourself updated, here are some things you should know about their latest album:

1. Despite having made their debut 4 years ago, this is only their 2nd full album.

After going through high-profile survival show ‘WIN: Who Is Next’ in 2013, it took them almost a year to drop their debut album, ‘2014 S/S’.

Since then, they’ve dropped 2 single albums and an extended play, but in typical YG fashion, ‘EVERYD4Y’ is only their 2nd full album. In the cutthroat K-pop industry, where idol groups typically release albums every 3 or 4 months, WINNER surprisingly has only 19 songs to their name.

Fans have been clamouring for more music, and the group has finally granted Inner Circles their wish – a full album with 12 songs.

2. The members worked on every song from the album

Inner Circles couldn’t be any prouder of the idol group – the members have been credited in every single song from the album.

Rapper Mino worked on almost every song from the album, with him being credited as co-songwriter for 11 songs and co-composer for 5 songs. Leader Seungyoon worked on 9 songs, with him co-writing the lyrics for 7 songs and co-composing the melody for 9 tracks.

Seunghoon, who has only took part in the lyrics writing for their past albums, tried his hand in composing. Aside from co-writing the lyrics for 10 songs, he also co-composed 2 of the tracks.

3. The MV was directed by Grammy-winner Dave Meyers

Dave Meyers, who directed Missy Elliott’s Grammy Award-winning MV ‘Lose Control’, took charge of WINNER’s ‘Everyday’ MV. This is WINNER’s 2nd collaboration with Myers, as he also directed the MV for ‘Really Really’.

“Since it was our second time working together, we were able to communicate a lot better than before,” revealed Mino.

The MV was shot at a mansion in Malibu, California, and from what we glimpsed from the teaser, the boys certainly looked like they had fun!

4. They tried their hand at different genres in ‘EVERYD4Y’

From pop to disco, WINNER proved their versatility in ‘EVERYD4Y’.

Title track ‘Everyday’ is described as ‘bright pop’ and of the trap genre, but track number 7 ‘We Were’ is described as a ‘rock ballad which features a guitar blue’s melody’.

Other standout tracks include ‘For’ (a sad acoustic song about a heartbreaking breakup), ‘Hello’ (a hip-hop track with a bright playful tone), and ‘Luxury’ (a trap song with heavy piano and drum melodies).

5. ‘Raining’ and ‘Have a Good Day’ were included in WINNER’s Japanese album

‘Raining’ and ‘Have a Good Day’ might sound familiar to some, as the songs were originally released in WINNER’s Japanese album, ‘Our Twenty For’. It was the group’s first official Japanese album.

The songs, which tugged on our heartstrings, was well-received by fans. Inner Circles were also extremely excited as ‘Raining’ marked Seunghoon’s first composer credit.

6. Track number 12, ‘Have a Good Day’, is rumoured to be written for late Ladies’ Code member EunB

It isn’t common knowledge, but member Mino was classmates with late Ladies’ Code member EunB. The latter passed away in a tragic car accident in 2014, which also claimed the life of member RiSe.

After ‘Have a Good Day’ was released in February, fans began speculating that it was a tribute to EunB due to the sad lyrics. In an interview, Mino also revealed the song was indeed a memorial song. He continued, “I made it a long time ago when a friend of mine left for the heaven due to a sudden accident, I made it with the heart of cherishing the memories about the friend.”

There you go, 6 things you should know about WINNER’s ‘EVERYD4Y’.

To keep up on updates on the group, visit their Twitter. ‘EVERYD4Y’ is also available on Apple Music and Spotify.

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


#SCANDAL: All-Girl Japanese Rock Band Set To Perform In Singapore

In support of their 7th studio album, “Yellow”, the girls from SCANDAL (スキャンダル) are hoping to wow Singaporean fans once again.

The all-female Japanese rock band from Osaka will be performing at The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa on 4th June 2016.

SCANDAL – which consists of Haruna Ono, Mami Sasazaki, Tomomi Ogawa, and Rina Suzuki – has been a band since August 2006. Their debut single “Doll” was awarded for Power Play from over 40 FM/AM/CS radio stations in Japan.

Since then, the band has went from strength to strength, garnering themselves a huge following after performing popular theme songs for various anime series including “Bleach” and “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”.

The quartet are certainly no strangers to Singapore, having performed in the country during 2011’s Anime Festival Asia, and 2 live concerts in 2013 and 2015. SCANDAL will be kicking off their “Yellow” tour next month in Japan before making their way to Southeast Asia.

Brought to you by SOZO in partnership with ZEPP Live INC, under the Japan Music Festival platform, the details for “SCANDAL Yellow Tour in Singapore” are as follows:

Tickets are available via SISTIC. You can also check out Japan Music Festival Asia for more information.


CONTEST: Win Official “Dirty Jobs Down Under” Merch!

In conjunction with “Dirty Jobs Down Under” , Discovery Channel is offering FIVE lucky readers a chance to walk away with exclusive “Dirty Jobs Down Under” posters autographed by Mike Rowe himself, Discovery Channel duffle bags, notepads, and Post-It memo blocks. 10 consolation Discovery Channel goodie bags are also up for grabs:

To stand a chance at winning, answer these simple questions:

E-mail your entries by 3rd May 2013 (Friday) to submit@hype.my.

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#Malaysia: Tourism & Culture Minister Denies Issuing “Spouse” Business Cards For Wife

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has debunked an image of a business card, purportedly belonging to his wife, that is being shared on social media.

The origin of the picture is unknown, but several Facebook users took to the social media platform today to share it and of course, their utter disbelief as well. “Can anyone use the official Malaysian crest so wantonly?” said one netizen, who shared the post on his personal Facebook profile.

As seen in the screenshot above, the card bears a small picture of her, her name (Datin Seri Haflin S), her “position” (Spouse-Minister of Tourism of Culture Malaysia)”, the address of the ministry’s office in Putrajaya, as well as contact numbers. The public Facebook post has since been shared over 1,200 times, garnering more than 1,900 reactions.

However, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has since debunked the image. When contacted by MMO, he said, “I checked with her. She didn’t do it and my office did not give permission.” adding that anything that comes from his office using the state emblem will need his permission. More importantly, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz stressed, the said person has to be working there.

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz also told The Star Online, “She doesn’t work for the ministry. It is fake. There are always people out there who try to get us.”

‘Shopped or not? What do you guys think?

Sources: MMO, The Star Online / Featured image: Facebook.

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#BeautyAndTheBeast: Dan Stevens & Luke Evans Join Cast

The whole world cheered for Emma Watson when she announced that she was going to play Belle in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast“. However, the “The Perks of Being a Wallflower“ actress won’t be the only one we are cheering for because not one, but two oh-so-charming actors are reportedly in negotiations to play the famed characters from the Disney classic.

Following the success of the live-action adaptation of “Maleficent”, Disney is set to bring another Disney classic to the big screen soon. Dan Stevens and Luke Evans are currently in talks to play the Beast/Prince and Gaston respectively.

Dan Stevens is best known for his role as Matthew Crawley in the British period drama television series “Downton Abbey”. The English actor began his professional acting in 2004 when Peter Hall cast him as Orland in his touring production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”. He received positive reviews from the prominent critics in England and the US due to his outstanding performance in the play. His departure from “Downton Abbey” even caused a huge uproar with fans as they were upset at his character’s untimely death.

The actor last starred in last year’s cult-ready thriller “The Guest” as a psycho killer named David Andersen Collins. He also had supporting roles in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” and “A Walk Among the Tombstones”. Before he plays the Beast/Prince in “Beauty and the Beast”, he will be playing Noah in “Criminal Activities” and James in “The Ticket”.

As for Luke Evans, he is set to play Gaston, the villainous antagonist who tried to hunt down the Beast after his failed attempts to win Belle’s heart. The Welsh actor got his biggest break when he was cast as Apollo in the “Clash of the Titans” 2010 remake. He is also known for his role as the main antagonist Owen Shaw in the blockbuster “Furious 6” and as Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy.

After playing the vampire Dracula in the character’s film origin story, “Dracula Untold”, he will star alongside Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Irons in Ben Wheatley’s “High Rise” and “Free Fire”.

Based on a French fairy tale, “Beauty of the Beast” is about a young woman who takes her father’s place as a prisoner in a monstrous being’s castle, only to fall in love with the creature, who turns out to be a prince.

Director Bill Condon (of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” fame) is set to direct the film while Stephen Chbosky will pen the script based on the draft written by Evan Spiliotopoulos. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman will produce the film under their Mandeville Films production company. However, the movie will not hit cinemas until the release of the new “Cinderella” movie in March 2015 and Jon Favreau‘s “The Jungle Book” in 2016.

No further casting news have been announced yet but who do you think should join the film too? Are you excited to watch this movie? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.


#FiftyShadesDarker: Eric Johnson To Play Christian Grey’s Rival

Up to this point, most of the new castings for “Fifty Shades Darker” have all been women, so it’s nice to see a new eye candy other than Christian Grey. Some of you may recognise Johnson from Cinemax’s “The Knick” (also starring Clive Owen) or the Canadian cop drama series “Rookie Blue”.

In the “Fifty Shades Of Grey” sequel, Johnson will play Jack Hyde who happens to be the new boss and news editor to Dakota Johnson’s Anastasia Steele. Jack also falls for Ana and begins pursuing his personal assistant. That is a big no-no in Christian Grey’s book. When things start to get weird and kind of freaky for Ana, Jack inevitably feels the wrath of Mr Grey.

As aforementioned, Johnson was last seen in Cinemax’s medical drama “The Knick”. There, he played Dr. Everett Gallinger who is a talented young medic under the apprenticeship of Clive Owen’s character. According to Variety, the erotic-romance “Fifty Shades Darker” would mark his biggest film role to date.

Actor Eric Johnson is the latest edition added to the “Fifty Shades Of Grey” franchise. He joins Kim Basinger (who is Elena Lincoln a.k.a. Mrs. Robinson, the lady responsible for introducing Christian Grey to the world of BDSM) and Bella Heathcote (as Leila, who is another of Grey’s ex).

Jamie Dornan and co-star Dakota Johnson will be reprising their roles respectively in the sequel films. Both films will be shot back-to-back with “Fifty Shades Darker” slated for a release on 10th February 2017 and “Fifty Shades Freed”, targeted to be released on 9th February 2018.


40-Year-Old Malaysian In Singapore Receives Covid-19 Vaccine

Everyone around the world has been eagerly awaiting the Covid-19 vaccine, and it is finally here.

On 21st December, Singapore received its first batch from Pfizer-BioNTech. They began vaccinating their citizens on 30th December and this included a group of Malaysians who are working there.

Imra Astata Ibrahim, who is from Johor, took to Facebook to share his experience. The 40-year-old stated that he and 10 other Malaysian colleagues did not hesitate to get the vaccine. They took the first injection on 13th January 2021.

They were informed of the possible side effects before the process. “So far my friends and I are healthy after taking the jab. Only on the first day I did feel a slight numb and pain at the injection area,” he was quoted as saying.

He hopes that being vaccinated will allow Malaysians like himself to travel back and forth to Johor. Currently he is renting a house in Jurong West. His second injection will be on 3rd February, 21 days after his first dose.

Singapore’s Ministry of Health is currently prioritising those working in the marine, construction and process sectors, as well as migrant workers. According to them, more than 6,200 Singaporeans received their first injection as of 12th January.

The vaccine will be given freely to ensure that everyone has access to it. This will allow for a higher rate of inoculation among the citizens. The Singapore government hopes that all citizens and permanent residents of Singapore will be vaccinated by the end of 2021, barring unpredicted disruptions to the shipments.

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


Homosexual Romance Storyline Cut From Black Panther

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” is set to debut in local cinemas. It will not only shine the spotlight on the fictional African nation of Wakanda, but also focus on members of the Dora Milaje.

Screen Rant reported that one central subplot featuring a lesbian romance between the Dora Milaje’s Okoye (played by Danai Gurira) and fellow female warrior, Ayo (played by Florence Kasumba) was left on the cutting room floor.

In April last year, it was rumoured that Marvel was considering injecting a love storyline of Okoye and Ayo from the comic “World of Wakanda”. As per the description, “Okoye eyes Ayo flirtatiously for a long time as the camera pans in on them. Eventually, she says, appreciatively and appraisingly, ‘You look good.’ Ayo responds in kind. Okoye grins and replies, ‘I know’.”

Unfortunately, that scene never made the final cut. In fact, Okoye is depicted as a hetrosexual and in a romantic relationship with W’Kabi, played by “Get Out” actor Daniel Kaluuya. Co-writer Joe Robert Cole recently confirmed that a romance between Okoye and Ayo was a possibility at one point but it had to go.

“I think the short answer is yes. I know that there were quite a few conversations around different things, different directions with different characters, and characters that we may have. We thought, ‘Well, maybe we’ll work it this way with an arc or work it that way with an arc’,” Joe Robert Cole told Screen Crush.

He added, “The scene you’re talking about, I don’t remember. I can’t remember the exact exchange you’re talking about, but I think it was really brief. I’m not sure. I know that it was not – there wasn’t some major theme through that we were looking to explore with that in terms of the story. We didn’t like, pull out a full thread of some theme. But your friend quite possibly could be right, or I’m maybe having a brain fart here and just can’t remember.”

Cole seems to suggest that Okoye and Ayo’s relationship was never the central focus to begin with.

While you’re here, get to know more about the main characters in our “Black Panther” featured article.


Contest: Hype x Nando’s Malaysia’s #MakeFriends Makan Fest Winners

Alright, we hear you loud and clear. Apparently, quite a handful of you are excited about our Hype x Nando’s Malaysia’s #MakeFriends “makan fest”! As such, we’ve quickly picked out 10 lucky winners (and their equally lucky friends) who will be treated to #NandosMakeFriends platters on 29th Dec (Monday).

Congratulations, peeps! Looks like you’ll be ending 2014 with a big bang and a feast after all ;)

IMPORTANT: Winners are required to pick up their vouchers from our representative on 29th Dec (Monday) at 7pm, Nando’s Citta Mall. Vouchers are strictly non-transferable. Hype Malaysia reserves the right to refuse the collection of vouchers for those who attempt to transfer it from one contest winner (in whose name it is registered) to another person.

Details of the Hype x Nando’s Malaysia’s #MakeFriends makan fest as follows:

Date: 29th Dec (Monday)
Time: 7:30pm onwards
Venue: Nando’s Citta Mall

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


Metal Band Does Community Service

Last seen: At a Metallica concert in October 2009, wearing a black T-shirt with “Pantera” written on the front in tan letters, a black miniskirt with black tights and knee-high, black boots.

She left her friends during the concert to go to the bathroom. Morgan Dana Harrington somehow ended up outside the venue and security wouldn’t let her back in. Following that, she called her friends to say that she would find her own way home.

Found: By farmer David Dass, who was driving his tractor on his 700-acre farm which is 10 miles away from Metallica concert venue (John Paul Jones Arena).

Not only was the farm quite a distance from the arena, the location where she was found was more than a mile from a road. Technically, there is no public access to the area. By the time her remains (believed to be very violent due to broken bones) were discovered, it was end January 2010.

Mystery: What happened and how Morgan Dana Harrington ended up there in the first place, and who the killer is.

In May 2010, it was confirmed that Morgan was abducted, raped, and murdered. But there were blanks that were unfilled and remained unfilled for more than two years.

Solution: The band whose concert Morgan was last seen at to film a public service announcement video offering a USD50,000 reward (on top of Crimestoppers’ USD100,000) for information leading to a conviction.

While the search for the killer(s) continue, metal band Metallica announced that they’re pledging USD50,000 to help catch the person responsible for the brutal murder of Morgan.

Frontman James Hetfield is seen in the video begging the public to come forward, saying, “If you’ve seen the person in this sketch or have any information about this case, or any others, please contact your local police or submit your information online. Remember, any information, no matter how small you might think it is, could be that crucial piece that investigators need to help solve the case.”

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Our take? It’s heartwarming to see Metallica take off their heavy metal masks and contribute a little a lot back to the society. Well done, James and team.

Launched two days ago (13th June 2012) the multimedia campaign will involve other social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, and it will also be up on electronic billboards.

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


Contest: Want To Be Part Of The Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege Collection 5 Launch?

Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege Collection 5 hits the clubs!

Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege Collection 5 (PC5) will be making its debut in clubs and entertainment outlets this April, accompanied by a series of nationwide Hennessy V.S.O.P signature parties, celebrating a fresh image of modern abstraction and Hennessy’s revered heritage.

The Privilege Collection 5 spots a matte-gold progressive coloured gradient limited edition bottle, designed by acclaimed British art director and designer, Peter Saville. PC5 which makes the latest addition to the V.S.O.P Privilege Collector’s series, exudes a distinct modern design that truly showcases Hennessy V.S.O.P’s celebrated heritage.

The Hennessy V.S.O.P Series of Parties will kick off with the official launch of the PC5 on 10th April (Friday) at Soju, Sunway. Partygoers can expect to be immersed in a spectrum of colours beset upon an avant-garde setting as Hennessy V.S.O.P brings the boldness and colours of PC5 to live in an exciting journey of sight, sound, and taste.

The launch of Hennessy V.S.O.P PC5 is an invite-only event and we bring you good news! ;)

Thanks to our buddies at MHD, we will be giving away FIVE (5) pairs of invites to the launch party. Want to win invites?

E-mail your answers with your details (Name, IC, Contact number) to submit@hype.my.

For more information on Hennessy V.S.O.P Parties and on-going promotions, as well as how to get your hands on this limited edition offering kindly log on to Hennessy Malaysia’s Facebook page.