Fun Facts: 6 So-Bad-But-So-Good Reasons Why You Need To Watch “Bad Moms”

Home is where your mom is. Unless your mom is always at the bar.

Written and helmed by the geniuses behind “The Hangover” trilogy and “21 & Over”, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore’s “Bad Moms” is an upcoming R-Rated female-fronted comedy film that is based on their own original script. If you are a fan of the funny duo’s work, this not-so-wholesome mom movie is definitely not something for children. As movie lead Kristen Bell puts it, “It’s a very adult movie”.

The official synopsis of “Bad Moms” is as follows:

“Young Amy Mitchell (played by Mila Kunis) has a great husband, overachieving children, beautiful home and successful career. Unfortunately, she’s also overworked, exhausted and ready to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other misfit moms, Carla and Kiki (played by Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell) to get away from daily life and conventional responsibilities. As the gals go wild with their newfound freedom, they set themselves up for the ultimate showdown with queen bee Gwendolyn (played by Christina Applegate) and her clique of seemingly perfect moms, Stacy and Vicky (played by Jada Pinkett Smith and Annie Mumolo).”

To best prepare you for the badass comedy, here are some interesting facts about the film that you might not have known about :)

1. Directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore wrote the movie as a tribute to their hard-working wives

During a recent interview with This & That With Olivia, a blog about all things mom and children, Lucas and Moore revealed that the movie was inspired by their wives. “We each have a home office, and we’re sitting at home like trying, racking our brains, and just watching our wives in this like stressed-out life trying to be a great parent. We’re like maybe that’s a good thing for a movie. And so, the inspiration was basically our wives, and we spent a lot of time sort of talking to them and talking to their friends, and stories would just start flowing,” said Moore, adding that the research process helped him understand his wife a little better. Aww :)

2. It’s the first movie that Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell are starring together in since “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in 2008

Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell first met on the set of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” 8 years ago where they played Rachel Jansen and Sarah Marshall respectively. If you didn’t already know, the chick-flick also stars “How I Met Your Mom” actor Jason Segel and British comedian Russell Brand. Though the duo didn’t win any awards, their performances were very well-received by critics and the film was considered as the 2 actresses’ breakout roles.

3. All 6 lead actresses in the movie are real-life moms!

In Hollywood, you don’t exactly have to share the same traits as a character in order to get a part. And although “being a mom” wasn’t in the film’s casting criteria, directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore realised that that hiring moms would make a big difference. “I think women who aren’t moms often play moms really sweet, and I think people who actually are moms play moms way more badass. It wasn’t a criteria that we hired moms, but we met with one actress, who will remain nameless, who was like, ‘oh, I’m not a mom, but I have a dog,’ and we’re like ‘oh, well, it’s really, really different’,” said Lucas.

Fun Fact: Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Annie Mumolo are moms of 2; Mila Kunis is almost a mom of 2; while Christina Applegate is a mom of one.

4. YouTube “Superwoman” Lily Singh will take on a hilarious cameo in the movie

Here’s another reason to watch “Bad Moms”: YouTube star Lily Singh will be appearing in the film as a cameo! For those who aren’t familiar with the vlogger, Singh shot to fame with her funny skits and inspirational talks as “Superwoman” on her YouTube channel, which has attracted over 9 million subscribers. The news first came out when she posted a photo of her posing with Mila Kunis on Instagram. “SURPRISE! I have a small cameo in the new Mila Kunis/Christina Applegate movie called #BadMoms,” she wrote, adding that Kunis and Applegate was “awesome as eff” and “hot as hell”.

5. The directors knew Kristen Bell was meant to be Kiki the moment she came to the first meeting

“Frozen” voice actress Kristen Bell plays Kiki, an organised stay-at-home mom and Mila Kunis’ Amy Mitchell’s best friend. Despite the extensive casting process, the directors immediately knew that Bell was perfect the minute she arrived at their first meeting to audition for the role of Kiki. Lucas said, “I remember sitting down with Kristen Bell and we’re like, ‘She’s so Kiki’.” In addition, Bell wears a small block-bead necklace throughout movie that was made for her by her real-life daughter, Delta Bell Shepard.

6. Mila Kunis and Christina Applegate have had some real-life bad-mom moments

When asked about the cast’s own bad-mom moments, Mila Kunis admitted that she once dipped her baby’s pacifier in a glass of alcohol. “When they’re teething, apparently, it’s great. No judgment. It disinfects. It’s fine, you guys… It’s a natural disinfectant,” she said. Besides that, Christina Applegate, who plays the “perfect” mom in the film, confessed that she and her girlfriends would drink some booze in the park while their kids play at the playground. She added, “That’s essential for some days”. We feel ya, girl.

Bonus fun fact: Stay until after the end of the movie because the directors promised that some more “Bad Moms” behind-the-scenes fun will run during the ending credits! Don’t say we didn’t share ;)

Produced by award-winning producer Suzanne Todd (from “Alice Through The Looking Glass”), “Bad Moms” is slated to be released in Malaysian cinemas on 28th July 2016.

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

Sources: Bustle, Collider, This & That With Olivia, Earn The Necklace, Today (1), Today (2).

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#Glamping: 12 Absolutely Gorgeous Glamorous Camping Spots In Asia

Did you hear? There’s a new holiday-ing trend called “Glamping”. Gla-what?

“Glamorous camping”, otherwise known as Glamping, is a global trend which offers holidaygoers a chance to be with the great outdoors without having to sacrifice modern comforts (read: 5-star luxury comforts). Or sacrifice their sanity while trying to adjust to the great outdoors. Whichever way you want to think of it. The only problem is, there are close to no Glamping sites in Malaysia (well, only one as of now).

But if you really want to go, we’ve found some of the best Glamping spots/sites in Asia! You may thank us later for this:

1. La Cocoteraie Ecolodge, Gili Trawangan

La Cocoteraie is a Natural Luxury Tented Resort located in Gili Trawangan (Lombok, Indonesia) that allows nature lovers to enjoy a return to the sources but with the luxury and comfort of a chic hotel. Situated in the beautiful coconut plantation of Gili Trawangan with only 8 tents, the Ecolodge brilliantly combines the outdoor vacation, exotic living and respect of the environment. All air-conditioned units have a private terrace with comfortable seating and garden views. La Cocoteraie Ecolodge features a restaurant, bar and eco-friendly accommodation with rustic wood interiors, 250 metres away from the sunset-viewing point on Gili Trawangan Beach.

For more information, visit their website.

Raventree Glamping Resort is South Korea’s answer to the worldwide glamping trend. Raventree mixes the traditional with the modern in this comfortable resort destination. Their duplex glamping lodge-style tents provide all the modern comforts you can expect. Each glamping tent is set on a permanent wood foundation. The lower level of this two-story tent is the kitchen and living area that extends out onto the wooden deck. The sleeping area upstairs is accessed via a ladder. The raised firepit is great for gathering around at night under the stars.

3. Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass, Thailand

Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass is an exceptionally safari tented camp stunningly nestled on a historical piece of land upon the pinnacle of Hintok mountain in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, overlooking the historic river, River Kwai. Being close to the rhythm of nature with 32 spaciously deluxe canvas tents, featuring a private bathroom and an outdoor shower with hot water, air-conditioning, private veranda, and luxury furniture, delivers the most convenient whilst stay in touch with nature and enjoy a wide range of recreational activities. The remarkable nature ambience and unique tented canvas absolutely gives you the world’s unparalleled experience ever.

On the “Island of Gods”, considered one of the most exclusive destinations of the planet was born the first glamping site in Bali. The Sandat Glamping Tents is nestled in a slice of heaven where the inhebriating green of the rice fields creates unique landscapes made of sinuous terraces. The Glamping site offers 8 luxury eco-design structures that allow you to enjoy the exotic charm of unspoiled places favouring the contact with the nature: 5 magnificent Luxury-Tents Safari Style – camouflaged in the nature (including 2 suites) with a structure in a resistant khaki color cotton fabric, and 3 Eco-Lumbung – typical local buildings originally intended to storage the rice and here convenrted into charming homes structured on 2 levels.

5. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand

Just 40 miles from Chiang Rai International Airport, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle offers an unforgettable experience of elephant trekking. The property comes with free Wi-Fi, a riverside free-form pool and a spa. Tents at the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle features a private balcony, air conditioning, and a minibar. Guests can relax in a custom-made wood hot tub on an outdoor deck covered by an extended roof. The resort offers a 24-hr desk service and guests can enjoy recreational activities at the garden area or relax with pampering spa treatments, or enjoy a casual cocktail or dine on local delicacies in open-air at Burma Bar. A local-style thatched-roof building, Wine Cellar stores a collection of international and Thai Wines. Tented Camp Golden Triangle is a 4-hour drive from Chiang Mai City.

The Montego Bay is a boutique resort which lies across the Chapora River and Fort, along the North Goa coastline on a beautiful, secluded white sand beach called Morjim. The nesting site is protected by the forest department of the Government of Goa and there are also ample opportunities for avid bird watchers. The resort consist of Log Cabins, Luxury Tents, Casa de Mudanc’a, and a Beach Villa spread over an area of 100,000 sq ft of beach front property. The Beach tents are perfectly suited for couples, as they are closest to the beach and have the best view of the beach – a pretty ideal place for those who practice Yoga. The Beach Tents are fully furnished with a double bed, a fan and a balcony, and a European standard en suite bathroom with complimentary luxury bath products.

Kamu Lodge is a private eco-lodge engaged with low-impact travel, seeking for a balance between tourism and conservation of local culture and ethnic heritage. Settled on the banks of the Mekong River, in a remote valley of paddy fields, between small villages and forested mountains, Kamu Lodge is located 2-and-a-half hours upstream of Luang Prabang. It is accessible only by boat. Kamu Lodge is a deliberately rustic retreat – beyond WiFi, beyond satellite television, beyond an unlimited flow of electric current, but upon the threshold of serendipity. From a base camp set with 20 safari tents, the possibilities are as close as a neighbouring Kamu Village, or as distant as your legs will carry you. Thick-walled tents shut out the elements while a sturdy thatch roof guards against rain and sun.

8. 4 Rivers Floating Lodge, Koh Kong, Tatai River, Cambodia

Situated along the Tatai River, 4 Rivers offers a peaceful treat with its overwater tented villas, stunning views, and restaurant. Offering a view of Cardamom Mountains, each villa features a private terrace. They are equipped with a flat-screen TV, DVD player, minibar and private bathroom with shower. DVD rentals are free-of-charge. Guests can enjoy kayaking down the river or have a relaxing massage. A daytrip to the nearby Tatai Waterfalls or coastal mangrove can be arranged by 4 Rivers Floating Lodge. Located between Bangkok and Phnom Penh in Tatai, 4 Rivers Floating Lodge is a 20-minute drive from Koh Kong City. The Lodge is a 4-hour drive from Phnom Penh or a 2-hour drive from Trat.

The award-winning Amanwana (peaceful forest) is the only resort located on the island of Moyo, a nature reserve east of Bali. Set on a beach in a secluded cove overlooking the Flores Sea, Amanwana is a wilderness hideaway with accommodation in luxury tents. The protected marine park offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in Indonesia, with pristine reefs boasting a rich array of sea life. Amanikan is the camp’s 32-metre coastal cruiser which hosts adventures to Rinca and Komodo islands where the legendary Komodo dragons can be seen. Jungle treks on Moyo offer guests the chance to discover waterfalls and a variety of birdlife. The island is also home to a deer sanctuary for the indigenous rusa deer.

This bamboo cottage is a secluded eco retreat down a quiet foot path nestled in the rice fields and only a five minute walk to central Ubud. Its open air basket weave bedroom with mini loft, modern elegant bathroom and outdoor living area make this a truly unique Bali experience. The woven house is made almost entirely of bamboo, is open air, and as close to living in nature as you get. Guests will be provided with morning coffee and a light breakfast daily. You can even enjoy the many hiking trails, order a massage in the natural surrounds or enjoy a home cooked meal organically grown out of the garden as you feast on the stunning views of rice terraces. Otherwise, a walk to town will only take you 5 minutes.

11. Bangkok Tree House, Bangkok Green Lungs, Thailand

With its ulcer-inducing traffic, smoggy air and preponderance of concrete, Bangkok doesn’t often come to mind as a green destination. But one innovative innkeeper is hoping to boost its eco-credentials with the Bangkok Tree House. The 12-room boutique inn is nestled amid a wilderness of mangroves and palm trees on Bang Krachao, a small island known as Bangkok’s “green lung” in the Chao Phraya River. The Bangkok Tree House is a green haven and a celebration of nature perfect for those who find beauty in our natural environment. With exceptional views of the Chao Phraya river and surrounding forests from up above, you’ll be whisked away into Mother Nature’s arms. Then Bangkok Tree House is just 10km from Sukhumvit Road and minutes from the BTS Skytrain.

12. Elephant Hills Floating Luxury Camp, Surat Thani

Elephant Hills is Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp combining the camp idea of African national parks with the Thai tropical forest environment. 30 luxurious tents are tailor-made and set in the largest area of rainforest in Southern Thailand. Each tent features twin beds, fan, kettle, and a luxurious bathroom with toilet and hot/cold shower. The tents provide ample space and are well protected against mosquitoes and other possible intruders. The furniture is handmade by their very own skilled craftsmen using natural materials and provides all the comfort a guest would normally find in a hotel room.

Wanna go? To give you a little “push”, here are some upcoming Malaysian public holidays for the rest of 2014 and 2015. Go ahead and take that time off and be a kid again!

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Hype Eats: The Best Places To Dine In The Klang Valley This Week (20th June – 26th June)

As Julia Child once said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” We believe that all of you reading this right now are definitely the best people and we want to provide you with the materials to help you have the finest eating experiences possible and become an even best-er person (if we say the word exists then it does).

After all, the best people deserve only the best choices. This weeks picks include places for desserts, fine dining and even snacks from convenience stores! So without further ado, here are our picks for this week:

A post shared by Afloat Coffee Roaster (@afloatcoffeeroaster)

Location: 2-15, Second Floor, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 13, Arked Esplanad, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

Located in the heart of Bukit Jalil, a micro specialty coffee roaster. Through continual cooperation with local micro bakers and sustainable food suppliers, they aim to deliver top quality freshly roasted coffee and provide an amazing dining experience.

A post shared by SoftcloudMY (@softcloudmy)

Time: 1pm – 10pm (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday) / 1pm – 11pm (Friday & Saturday)

Location: L1-03, VERVE SHOP, Jalan Kiara 5, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

This cafe specialises in Japanese souffle pancakes; the cloud-like pastry is created with eggs and beaten egg whites for an ultra-fluffy texture, then stacked with fruits, cream, syrup, and other toppings in Instagram-worthy stacks. Unlike your money, these pancakes do in fact jiggle jiggle.

Location: Residensi Park, 2-13, Persiaran Jalil Utama, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

Located just next to Pavilion Bukit Jalil, CC by MEL offers Japanese fusion meals and desserts. This popular place is filled with greenery and delicious IG-worthy dishes. Not only pleasurable to the eyes, but for your pallet as well, you do not want to miss out on visiting this beautiful restaurant.

A post shared by Shin’Labo by James Won (@shinlabobyjameswon)

Location: G-13A & G-13B, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport, Bukit Bintang City Centre, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Fusing the modernism of French techniques with fine Japanese produce and local Malaysian ingredients in a masterful way. Chef James Won’s limitless interpretations of superior Yshoku masterpieces provide “transcendental dining.”

A post shared by CU Malaysia (@cu_malaysia)

This is the new plant-based Dak Gang Jeong from CU Mart. It’s the brand’s debut partnership with Phuture, and it’s available in two delectable flavours: Sichuan Spicy and Zesty Cream. It’s made entirely without meat, but it still tastes fantastic while staying on the healthier side of eating.

A post shared by DABOBA Malaysia (@dabobamalaysia)

DABOBA has launched a new egg waffle series and one of their must-try egg waffles is the ‘Sweet Potato Mochi With Cheese Cream’. The inside of the egg waffle is filled with sweet purple potato mochi paste paired with cheese cream & roasted brown sugar on top. That’s a triple-flavour bite!

7. World’s Loudest Silent Whisky Tasting by Monkey Shoulder

Banish start-of-the-week blues and immerse yourself in Monkey Shoulder’s cheeky world of whisky. For three nights only, this 20 – 22 June, Monkey Shoulder Global Brand Ambassador Joe Petch will be rolling up his sleeves and heading behind the pass to bring the World’s Loudest Silent Whisky Tasting to some of Kuala Lumpur’s hottest watering holes.

Daniela Dogliani contributed to this article.

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#JayPark: Korean Rapper Surprises Fans With Upcoming English Single Announcement

One Korean solo artiste has been secretly working on a huge surprise while we weren’t looking.

American singer, dancer, rapper, music producer, songwriter, model, choreographer, entrepreneur, and actor Jay Park (real name Park Jaebeom; 박재범) just dropped an exciting announcement for his fans!

Having previously released English tracks in the past, such as “Bestie” (2010) and “Demon” (2011), it was only a matter of time before he decides to release more songs to add to the colleciton.

On 27th April, Jay Park (who recently turned 28 years old) took to his Twitter account to officially annoounced that his first official English single is coming soon. The announcement came just hours after he thanked his fans, friends, and family for wishing him a happy birthday, which was celebrated on 25th April.

my FIRST OFFICIAL ENGLISH SINGLE COMING SOON~!! #AOMG #FOLLOWTHEMOVEMENT

— JAY BUM PARK (@JAYBUMAOM) April 26, 2015

No doubt, the single will be released under his label AOMG. The hashtag #AOMG is a big telling sign, after all ;)

Jay Park hasn’t released further details about the release but just how excited are you guys to hear new English material from this hottie? Also, we wonder if this upcoming release will eventually lead to more English releases! The possibilities are endless.


#Thailand: Student Left With Horrific Scars After Laser-Free Tattoo Removal Treatment

Ouch! 21-year-old Pasuda Reaw was left with horrific scars on her chest after going through a non-laser tattoo removal treatment called Rejuvi.

For the uninitiated, Rejuvi uses a small tattoo gun to raise ink pigments to the surface of the skin and create a scab that can be peeled off. According to The Sun, this method is widely used in the UK.

The Thai arts student, who got the chest tattoo last year, said that she wanted it removed to “look more professional at work”. She did the tattoo removal treatment at a clinic in Thailand on 4th February and several days later, her chest was filled with pus and her skin started to come off.

“At first Rejuvi seemed like a good way to remove the tattoo. I did not want to use lasers. I began the treatment and immediately it was itchy and hurting a lot. The skin has taken a long time to come off. It was like torture and I could not sleep,” she shared.

Reaw also added that she does not recommend this method. “Laser is a lot of money but I wish I had done that. At times the pain of the itching and the scar were unbearable. I shared the pictures as a warning to others to be so careful about what they do,” she explained.

After her story went viral, Rejuvi’s manufacturer, Rejuvi Labs in California, is reportedly investigating Reaw’s case with its distributor in Thailand.


#Thefin: Japanese Indie Band The fin. To Perform In Kuala Lumpur & Singapore

Japanese indie band The fin. is bringing their dreamy music to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur on 30th March (Thursday) and 2nd April (Sunday) respectively.

Formed in 2010 in Kobe, Japan, The fin. consists of 4 members – Uchino (vocals and synthesiser), Ryosuke Odagaki (guitar), Takayasu Taguchi (bass), and Kaoru Nakazawa (drums). The band is currently based in London, England.

Influenced by chillwave acts Toro y Moi and singer-songwriter Washed Out, the band’s creations sound like a crossover between French electronic music group m83 and rock band Phoenix. They are also described as a yōgakuppoi (which means Western music-esque) by Japanese media.

The fin. has performed at several major festivals in Japan including Fuji Rock, Viva La Rock, and Rising Sun. And that’s not all, they also completed their first US tour last year.

Details for The fin. live shows are as follows:

Tickets are available at http://thefin.peatix.com.

Tickets are available at http://thefinkl.peatix.com.

For more info, hit up The fin.’s website and Facebook page.

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Adidas YEEZY Slide ‘Bone’ Will Be Available In Local Stores This Week

The Adidas x Kanye West collaboration project YEEZY will be releasing their latest footwear collection here in Malaysia.

The all-new collection, YEEZY Slide ‘Bone’, is priced at only RM240. Based on the Facebook post below, the collection will be available in-stores starting from tomorrow onwards (Friday, 6th December).

These premium-quality sliders will be available online as well as exclusively at the Adidas Originals Concept Store in Suria, KLCC. In conjunction with this special occasion, Adidas Malaysia will be organising a special public launching party held at its Suria KLCC concept store tomorrow.

In this case, the event will start at 10am as soon as the gate opens. Therefore, people are advised to come to the venue earlier to avoid any unwanted circumstances. For those who are interested to take part in this special events, feel free to read the terms and conditions here.

For more info, visit Adidas Malaysia’s official Facebook.


Hype’s Exclusive: The Trance Punk Is Set To Bring His A-Game To #FMFA15

Whether you know him as System F, Moonman, or Gouryella, it’s safe to say that we can probably agree on one thing – Ferry Corsten is one of the few pioneers of trance. The Dutch DJ/producer is known for his legendary classic trance tracks but has, in the recent years, expanded his portfolio to everything from electro to melodic trance. Since the early 2000s, he has been routinely playing at events all the world as well as hosting his own ongoing tour, “Full On” (previously known as “Full On Ferry”) for his legions of fans. On top of that, he also has his own weekly radio show, “Corsten’s Countdown”.

It’s no wonder that Ferry remains one of the world’s Top 100 DJs.

Just a few days ago, he released the first of his 3-part EPs, “Hello World” and he’s set to take the stage at Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) 2015 as himself as well as to play alongside a buddy of his, fellow DJ/producer Markus Schulz, as part of their duo project, New World Punx. We caught up with the “trance punk” real quick over the phone yesterday to find out what’s cookin’ in his studio ;)

Hi, Ferry! Thanks for taking time off to speak to us. Where are you and what’s happening?

No problem! I’m at home in Holland, actually. I just came back from a snowboard trip and I’m kinda sad, in a way, that I’m home (laughs). But I’ll be able to get back in the studio which is great.

First of all, it’s been awhile since we last heard from you, so congratulations on your EP, “Hello World”. I must say that the name is pretty interesting because of what it represents. Does this mean that it’s like a Ferry Corsten reboot, almost?

You know, “Hello World” is the first line in computer programming and for me, personally..this is the first time I’ve ever done a project like this. Hence the name, because “Hello World” is sort of like, “the first thing”, almost like a wink. And doing a 3-part EP throughout the year – “Hello World Part 1” has 7 tracks including the 2 remixes, and then doing the similar thing for “Hello World Part 2” and “Hello World Part 3”..and then ending up by the end of the year with a series of up to 25 tracks – it’s quite an undertaking but it’s going to be fun.

I heard about that! But why did you decide on making “Hello World” a 3-part release and not like, say, a full-length double disc album?

A lot of people asked me about that. Like, “Why haven’t you done an album?” or “Why are you not doing an album?”, and the simple reason really is just because when it’s an album, you work one for about a year or a year-and-a-half. So by the time the tracks on the album comes out, the tracks will be a year or a year-and-a-half old, they all come out at once, you get a bit of momentum there, and then it’s gone. It’s done, it’s over, it’s dusted. By the time you come out with singles for your album, the album is old, everything feels tired, so..I wanted to switch things up. I was like, “You know what? I’m gonna come up with a series, with a project that will be spread out over a year. But every EP would have very current tracks including remixes, instead of doing an album and then doing a remix album 6 months later, you know, this is like..you get a bundle of 5 new tracks with 2 extra remixes. And then a Part 2, with the same thing, but all of those tracks would’ve been produced in the last 3 – 5 months at most. It’s a lot more current and fresh.

“Back to Paradise” caught my attention almost immediately! I’m not sure if that’s your personal favourite but it’s mine now because it made me feel like I was traveling back in time, if you know what I mean. I was wondering, what inspired you to make that track?

Yeah, I know what you mean! (laughs) It’s the lyrics. When I received the acapella from Haris (who is featured on the track), he said, “Okay, I have this. What do you think?” and I was like, “Wow!”, and I think I wrote for the track straightaway in my head. Because the lyrics are such..like an unity sort of story, you know? You and me, or me and the crowd, a big us sort of factor. So I really wanted to come up with something very melodic for it and yet at the same time, something that is played at festivals now. It’s just a combination of all those elements. I really feel that music is getting a lot more melodic again, or should be getting more melodic again. We’ve just come out of this harsh, big room, “Put your f…king hands up!” kind of thing, you know? That should be behind us right now, we need to move on and put smiles on people’s faces.

Yes, because I think everyone’s tired of “the drop”, you know what I mean?

Exactly! That’s really exactly what it is. If you look at that sound as well, why it’s gone is because it’s slowly evolving into this deep house thing that you see right now, which is very much based on the old..late 90s sounds. And I think that’s where trance will go as well. The next step for trance will be..the sound of the big trance tracks from ’98, ’99, 2000.

You’ve played your “Full On” show in Indonesia before, but out of curiosity, will you ever bring a “Full On” show to anywhere else in the Southeast Asian region i.e. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia?

Absolutely. We’re doing TomorrowWorld again, TomorrowLand again, we’ve got a full Ibiza summer at Space again with “Full On”, and we’ve got a few dates lined up for the US although I’m not sure exactly when. I’m definitely looking to bring it to other parts of Southeast Asia, it’s time for “Full On” to go to other places. I need to come back to Malaysia! It’s been awhile and it’s always an amazing scene over there – very enthusiastic, very energetic. I think a “Full On” in KL would be amazing.

I’m going to throw in a fun question: What is the one thing that you wish more dance music fans of today were aware of?

Wow! What do I wish more dance music fans were aware of..hmm. You know, I think I wish people were more aware of the whole process. When a DJ plays a track that has his name above it, it doesn’t mean that he made the music, like ARGH! You know? It also doesn’t make that person playing up there an incredible artiste because it’s just music. A lot people aren’t aware of that. As soon as they see a name above a record they’re like, “Ah hah! That’s his track!” But if people knew more about the process then the scene would have a very different look and feel.

This is going to be your first time playing at FMFA. Just how excited are you and what exactly have you got in store for your fans?

On a scale of 1 – 10 of how excited I am, I’m definitely 8.5. I’m not at “10 excited” yet because I’m not sure what I can expect myself, in the sense of the festival itself. But, that having said, I know that playing at a festival in Southeast Asia is always really good because of the melting pot of cultures and people from all around the area e.g. the travellers, the expats, the people from Australia, from Europe, from America, as well as from all the Southeast Asian countries. It’s just really cool to play there. What can my fans expect? Of course, a lot of the “Hello World Part 1” stuff and also a lot of the “Hello World Part 2” tracks that I’ll be testing out for the crowd.

Thank you so much for the chat, Ferry. Always a pleasure. See you at the festival!

Special thanks to our friends from Milk PR and Livescape Asia for making this interview happen!

To everyone else, don’t forget to check out Ferry Corsten’s set in 2 weeks. He’ll be playing at FMFA 2015 as both himself and also as part of New World Punx with Markus Schulz.

The full FMFA 2015 lineup can be found here.

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#WeAreFave: Groupon Malaysia To Be Officially Rebranded As Fave

Groupon Malaysia will officially be known as Fave from now on.

The e-commerce marketplace has been consolidated with the Kuala Lumpur-based O2O (online to offline) restaurant platform of the same name, thus the change.

Users won’t have to worry about creating a new account, as the newly-combined site will be porting over all existing users. Deals from businesses such as restaurants, spas, fitness centres, hotels, and more will also be integrated into Fave.

This move will affect the businesses and users in Malaysia, but if you’re a user, don’t panic just yet. Your vouchers and purchases will be brought forward.

Joel Neoh, the founder of Groupon Malaysia and Fave Group also explained the merge in a Facebook post. He explained that he gave up control of Groupon Malaysia in 2015 to work on the fitness sharing platform Kfit, and was planning to expand the latter to “offline categories such as restaurants, beauty, wellness, and leisure”.

Neoh then found out that it coincided with Groupon’s business model and reconnected with his friends back at the company. What resulted was Fave – a consolidated O2O platform that “allows subscribers to buy both fitness classes and other lifestyle deals”.

Existing Groupon Malaysia subscribers will also be entitled to an additional 15% off their purchases with the promo code “FAVENOW”, which is valid until 31st March. Another promo code they can use is “WELCOME”, which will shave off an extra 18% (valid on 22nd and 23rd February). Both promos are only available for users’ first purchases on Fave.

You can find out more about Fave via their website and Facebook page.


#BiggerThanBIG: AirAsia Offers Free Seats Promo

It’s almost the end of the year and that means, our long awaited holiday is almost here too! But, how do we secure our holiday? By booking the flight tickets to our favourite destinations, of course!

Lucky us, low cost airline AirAsia is now offering free seats to both local and international destinations including Taipei, Perth, Krabi, Da Nang, Tokyo and many more.

According to their Facebook page, the #BiggerThanBIG seats sale will run from 10th Nov 2014 (that’s today!) until 16th Nov2014 (Sunday). Guests can also fly from other cities including Kuching, Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Jakarta, and Bangkok.

A total of 3 million free seats will be made available for their promotion and the traveling period is set between 10th June 2015 to 17th January 2016. The promo seats are inclusive of airport tax, fuel surcharge, and other applicable fees.

Furthermore,Malaysians definitely have it better with the long weekends in 2015. But of course, one common thing that everyone can enjoy is the awesome wi-fi service that will be made available by the second quarter of 2015!

The inflight WiFi service enables guests to use selected Instant Messaging applications (IM apps) such as WhatsApp, WeChat, and LINE while flying. However, the service is based on first-come first-served basis on each flight and is limited to only 90 users per flight.

For more information, log on to AirAsia’s official website or visit their Facebook page.


10 Things You Need To Know About The Colorado Shooting

In this time of difficulty, our hearts go out to the victims, families, and friends of the people involved with the theater shooting at Colorado. While investigations are still underway, here are some of the things you need to know about what happened at Aurora’s Century 16 movie theater and the man behind the devastation.

1. Alleged gunman, 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes, a neuroscience graduate (PhD) student from the University of Colorado, dyed his hair red for the “occasion” and told police that he was “The Joker”. (Source)

2. James is a University of California-Riverside graduate with a degree in neuroscience. He was remembered as an outstanding “top of the top” student who attended on a merit-based scholarship. Neighbours said that as a person, he appeared to be a typical American kid to kept to himself. (Source)

3. Prior to the shooting, James went firearms shopping. He legally purchased four guns over the course of 60 days from local shops, as well as multiple magazines (each one holding up to 100 rounds, for an arsenal of 6,000 rounds of ammunition) off the internet. (Source)

4. The shooting began about 15 minutes into the midnight screenings; which would put the movie at the airplane scene (the gunshot-heavy opening scene). (Source)

5. In an eerie life-imitating-art turn, “The Dark Knight Rises” centers in part of Bane (played by Tom Hardy), a murderous rebel who wear a gas mask and incites violence. James was seen with goggles, guns, and a gas mask too. (Source)

6. The movie mass massacre has left 58 injured (30 wounded and 11 in critical condition) and at least 12 dead, including aspiring sportscaster Jessica Ghawi aka Jessica Redfield. Authorities have yet to identify the 10 victims who died at the theater. (Source)

7. James’ apartment where he lived alone was entirely booby-trapped with sophisticated explosives. Preliminary investigations into it revealed a grim labyrinth of chemical and incendiary explosives, along with buckets of ammunition. (Source)

8. It is likely that “The Dark Knight Rises” screenings will now be turned into shows of support for the victims of the Aurora violence. Warner Bros. have announced that out of respect for the victims and their families, they will be holding off on releasing data regarding the movie’s weekend box office. (Source)

9. Broadcast and cable channels across US (including NBC, CBS, and ESPN) have since started pulling “The Dark Knight Rises” ads from airing on national and local programs.

10. The strangest finding so far has been just the one of “ClassicJimbo” on AdultFriendFinder – a sex site. The profile appears to have been set up by James Holmes and it features pictures of James with red hair. Thorough investigation ensues. (Source)

“Will you visit me in prison?” send shivers down our spines. For more timely updates and live coverage on the Colorado shooting, hit up CNN.

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Voice Of Elmo Resigns After Sex Allegations

On Tuesday, after weeks of suffering from allegations that he sexually abused underage boys, the voice of Elmo, Kevin Clash, announced that he has resigned from “Sesame Street”.

The allegations started when 24-year-old college student, Cecil Singleton, sued the puppeteer for more than USD5 million, accusing him of engaging sexual behavior with him when he was 15 years old. But Cecil’s story wasn’t the first.

A week prior to that, an unnamed man in his 20s claimed that he had sex with Kevin Clash when he was only 16 years old. However, he retrieved his claim the very next day by saying that their relationship was adult and consensual. That doesn’t change the fact that sex with a person under 17 is a felony in New York if the perpetrator is 21 or older.

In any case, being Elmo lasted Kevin 28 whole years, in which he branded and turned the furry little red monster into one of the world’s most beloved characters. Did we say most beloved? We forgot to mention that the “Sesame Street” character is also one of the most lucrative ones in toy stores globally.

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Sesame Workshop has since released a statement addressing Kevin Clash’s resignation stating, “The controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want. This is a sad day for Sesame Street”.

Who would’ve guessed that such thick controversies surrounded this childlike dream?


#HelloKitty: Malaysia’s First Hello Kitty Vending Machine

We don’t care if she’s a cat or not a cat, she’s still cute and therefore we want everything in this thing.

If you’re a fan of Hello Kitty, then you might want to head on over to Avenue K in Kuala Lumpur right this very moment because they’ve got a new vending machine in the hizzle. Yes, one that sells Hello Kitty goodies! We first saw the pictures and didn’t think much of it but after Avenue K confirmed it, we were just like, “Take our money!”

The Hello Kitty vending machine is the first in the Malaysian market and is located at Level 1 of Avenue K. What does it sell, you ask?

It offers hand lotion, shampoo, lip balm, and makeup pouches at very reasonable prices:

Be right back, going to Avenue K (156, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur).


Zedd’s Debut Is Full Of Win!

We can’t say enough how long we were waiting for his debut album – since we first heard “Spectrum”, we think. That track alone spun over 2,000 remixes by various aspiring DJs/producers. Yes. 2,000. Count them. (Source)

Would it surprise you if we told you that Anton Zaslavski aka Zedd is only 23 years old?

The German electro-house producer was born into a family of musicians and is a classically trained musician himself. He began playing the piano and drums at a tender age of four. Imagine that!

However, it was French electronic duo, “Justice”, that got him interested in producing electronic music and by 2009, Zedd was doing just that.

His first big breakthrough came when he was rewarded that very same year with two Beatport remix contest wins.

Three years later, he’s dominating dance floors, headlining music festivals, touring, and working with international artistes such as Lady Gaga, Eva Simons, and more recently, teen pop sensation Justin Bieber:

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On 6th October 2012, Zedd officially announced the release of his debut full-length album, “Clarity“. Enter, his entire portfolio of fiery tracks that, if he should ever play live, will not give anyone room to breathe. Not you, and certainly not us. It’s that amazing, and we can testify to that.

Starting with none other than the semi love song-ish lead single, “Spectrum”:

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Breathing you in when I want you out, finding our truth in a hope of doubt,

Wearing your heart like a stolen dream, opening skies with your broken keys,

We’ll run where lights won’t chase us, hide where love can save us,

Those are killer lyrics and they’re laced with incredibly powerful vocals by Matthew Koma. Toss all of that together and you get really solid, groundbreaking electronic dance music (EDM) stuff from both Zedd and Matthew. Who’s Matthew, you ask? Oh, just a really talented singer-songwriter.

More recently known as Carly Rae Jepsen’s boyfriend.

But back to “Spectrum” for a bit – Zedd also released a video of a piano version of the track, with him on a grand piano:

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Yes, pick your jaws off the floor please.

Next, “Clarity“. We can’t go without talking about this one. Heck, it’s like an explosion in your face. Zedd proves that he creates and then tunes his tracks into perfection, coupled with an awesome taste in his choice of vocals to go with it. Using Foxes‘ painfully emotive voice to sing the following words?:

Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn’t need.

Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don’t know why.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?

If our love’s insanity, why are you my clarity?

And finally, both “Shave It Up” and “Stache“. Our honest opinion? They’re yummy and we can already see ’em make their way into the “club bangers” list. So stand up and pay attention already!:

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Excuse us while we turn up the volume on this one.

“Clarity” is available for purchase on iTunes. Go get!

For more information, hit up Zedd’s Facebook page. Don’t forget to LIKE him! He’s also on Twitter, if you want to show him some love.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Cosmic Gate ft. Emma Hewitt – Going Home (Club Mix)

German trance DJ/producer duo have once again teamed up with very talented vocalist Emma Hewitt (yes, the once with a haunting voice) to produce a beautiful track titled, “Going Home”.

At first listen, it’s pleasant to the ears although it might remind you of the other projects that the duo have worked on previously with the same voice e.g. “Be Your Sound”, “Not Enough Time”, “Calm Down”. But the idea here is to focus on their production, something that these pioneers have become very proud of and very vocal about.

In our exclusive interview with Nic and Bossi a couple of months ago, they said that they’re very into and very committed to producing the right music that they like. As Cosmic Gate, between the release of “Wake Your Mind” in 2011 and “Start To Feel” in 2014, they’ve also starting identifying with as well as taking pride in knowing how not to sound.

As such, the album version of “Going Home” off their album “Start To Feel” is pure quality and downtempo, enough to pull at your heartstrings. The album version was released in 2014 and it didn’t pick up as much pace as the other tracks i.e. “Falling Back”. But that’s all going to change because just a couple of days ago, the club mix for “Going Home” was released.

Like we said, it’s pleasant to the ears as the track maintains the pureness of the original while picking up the pace enough for it to qualify as a dance floor trance jam. We’re fast fans!

Cosmic Gate and Emma Hewitt’s “Going Home” is part of “Wake Your Mind Sessions 001”. Wanna snag a (digital) copy? Head on over to iTunes here.

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


#Malaysia: Malaysians Waste 15,000 Tonnes Of Food On A Daily Basis

It is widely known that Malaysia is a foodie’s paradise. But did you know that the food-loving Malaysians are wasting an alarming amount of food everyday?

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Nogeh Gumbek, 15,000 tonnes of food is wasted daily, including the 3,000 tonnes that is still fit for consumption.

Just in case you didn’t know, 15,000 tonnes is equivalent to 1.5 million bags of 10kg rice!

“Research conducted by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) shows that 28.4% of the padi produced is wasted. As for fruits and vegetables, 20% to 50% is thrown away,” said Nogeh during the “MySaveFood” forum on Tuesday (24th May).

He also added that the increasing food wastage, especially during festive seasons like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, should be controlled. The government and MARDI are currently conducting several programmes nationwide to educate the public on the consequences of food wastage.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) senior enterprise development officer Dr Rosa Rolle said that the Food Loss and Waste (FLW) Standard would be launched next month to address the country’s food wastage issue.

“The FLW Standard will enable a wide range of entities, countries and other regions to account for and report in a credible, practical and internationally consistent manner, how much food loss and waste is created and identify where it occurs, thus enabling the targeting of efforts to reduce it,” said Rosa.

According to Bernama, the development of the standard was being coordinated by the World Resources Institute, the Consumer Goods Forum, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The “MySaveFood” forum was a joint effort by FAO and MARDI aimed to create awareness about food life cycle and food waste reduction.

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#CNBLUE: Jung Yong Hwa’s #OneFineDay Ft. JJ Lin, Verbal Jint & More

Two weeks into the new year and we are loving the Korean music scene in 2015 already. Just few days ago, SHINee‘s Jonghyun made his solo debut with his 1st mini album, “BASE”. Needless to say, it was a successful debut as the singer has received many praises for the album that featured various other prominent singers such as Wheesung and Younha.

But we must say that CNBLUE‘s Jung Yong Hwa’s solo is another debut that we’re looking forward to seeing in 2015.

Having seen how CNBLUE heightens the crowd’s energy level through their music, we know for a fact that the anticipation for the leader’s solo debut will continue to grow until the release of the album.

It was previously reported that Yonghwa’s new album will feature 4 collaborations, one of them has been revealed to be a collaboration with South Korean Yang hip-hop artiste Yang Dong Geun/YDG. Both Yong Hwa and YDG collaborated for a pre-release track titled “Mileage” and the music video for the song was released on 8th Jan.

However, it seems like Yonghwa has developed a new singing style for the album as the melody of the song “Mileage” is rather light, which is surprisingly a perfect match to YDG’s husky voice.

Other than that, Yonghwa’s agency FNC Entertainment continues to tease the fans with various teaser images that featured the artistes he had worked with for the album. The lineup sure looks like an interesting lineup as the featured artistes have all reached international fame through their music.

Better known for his work in the underground hip hop scene, South Korean rapper/lyricist Verbal Jint is one of the artistes that were featured in Yonghwa’s album. The rapper had collaborated with various other artistes such as Epik High and SISTAR in the past and he has been regarded as one of the most influential rappers in Korea.

Besides that, Yoon Do Hyun of Korean legendary hard rock band YB is also joining YDG and Verbal Jint in the featured artistes lineup for Yonghwa’s 1st mini album. The singer recently released his US single “Cigarette Girl” and his rock band is scheduled to perform at the upcoming SXSW 2015, which takes place in Austin, Texas in March 2015.

A new teaser image also confirmed that Yonghwa has collaborated with Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin for his upcoming album. Yes, that JJ Lin.

The singer, who got his own wax figure at Madame Tussauds Singapore in December last year, collaborated with Yonghwa for a track called “Checkmate” but it is unclear whether it is a Korean single or an English single.

So far, FNC Entertainment has only confirmed that Yonghwa’s new album is going to be called “One Fine Day” and it is slated for release on 20th Jan.

What do you think of Yonghwa’s solo debut? We must admit that we are a little surprised to hear that JJ Lin is going to be featured in his album too. Now we can’t wait to hear what else Yonghwa has in store for us. :D


EDM x Mandopop: Avicii’s Collaboration With Leehom Wang For “Lose Myself”

When it comes to music, Avicii definitely knows no boundaries and his various collaborations coupled with his dabbling in various genres have often led him to mixed results.

After his K-Pop collaboration with 2AM’s Seulong, Avicii is breaking boundaries once again as he is currently producing a new song, “Lose Myself” with American-born-Chinese singer Lee Hom Wang!

Best known for his song “Wake Me Up”, the 23-year-old Swedish DJ/producer spoke about working with Leehom in a “behind-the-scenes” video. In the video, Avicii can be seen getting along just fine with Leehom and praised even Leehom for his talent in producing music. He said, “Leehom is amazing and super talented and it worked out really well.”

Leehom, who just became a new father said that working with Avicii is a bit different from all the artistes he worked with before but it’s something fun and new for him. “You need to figure out how to fit in with him and together create an amazing song,” said Leehom.

The behind-the-scenes footage also gives us a sneak preview of the song and we must say that it is definitely an interesting and good collaboration!

What do you think of the collaboration? This isn’t the first Asian-American collaboration as K-Pop sensation PSY previously worked with American rapper Snoop Dogg for his new song “Hangover”.

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Singapore’s Singing, Songwriting Genius Gentle Bones Is Coming To Malaysia

Singaporean singer-songwriter, Gentle Bones aka Joel Tan, is coming to Malaysia!

Gentle Bones, who first shot to stardom when his debut single, “Until We Die”, rose up the ranks and claimed the #1 spot on Singapore’s iTunes charts a day after its release, is the first homegrown Singaporean artiste to cinch a deal with Universal Music Singapore. Talent aside, his popularity is not unjustified, as he has amassed a huge following of fans in only a short period of time.

In fact, in 2016, he was handpicked by Forbes to be one of Asia’s “30 Under 30” alongside BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, Super Junior’s Choi Siwon, “My Love From The Star” actor Kim Soo Hyun, and Malaysian darling Yuna.

Last year, he played a 2-night sold-out concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, during which he introduced songs off his “Geniuses & Thieves” album – and we were there. The verdict? This is one guy you have to watch live because it’s such a treat for the eyes and ears.

We’ve been raving about this guy to just about anyone who is willing to listen since we met him a year ago and we can’t wait to see him again!

Gentle Bones is slated to perform at The Bee, Publika on 24th September 2017 as part of his promo tour in conjunction with the release of his brand new single “JU1Y”. Tickets for the show are available at gentleboneskl.peatix.com ranging from RM155 for the Early Bird Bundle, which includes 2 tickets + 1 Album; the Geniuses & Thieves Bundle selling at RM175, which includes 2 tickets and 1 Album; and General tickets at RM105.

Ticket sales starts on 21st August 2017.

Source: Universal Music Malaysia’s Facebook page.


#Instagram: App Introduces New Comment Filter Tool; Users Can Now Save Their “Stories”

There are some new Instagram features for y’all Instagrammers to try out this week.

First, the photo sharing app has introduced the comment moderation tool that will enable users to filter out “potentially offensive comments from their posts”. Users can not only block a pre-selected set of offensive words chosen by the app, but also customise a list of keywords they don’t want to see.

To activate the tool, which was made available on Monday (12 September), simply click “Comments” under “Settings” and turn on the “Hide Inappropriate Comments” option.

In speaking with Mashable, Facebook’s director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand stated that the words (including hashtags and emojis) selected by Instagram for its default list will not be revealed, as it fears persistent users will figure out how to get around the filter. But don’t worry, the company has become pretty good at knowing which words are likely to offend.

The 2nd update is another Snapchat-inspired feature that allows users to save the photos and videos that they post to their “Stories” automatically. By tapping the “Settings” icon in the “Stories” camera interface, users will be able to switch on the “Save Shared Photos” option.

In addition, they can also mute the stories of people they follow. If you aren’t interested in someone’s story, tap and hold their profile picture in the “Stories” bar. This will move that person’s “Stories” to the end of the bar and it won’t appear until you un-mute it.

What do you think about the new features? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Mashable, Gizmodo, The Verge, Instagram.

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Agency Behind Controversial #GE13 Political Ads Revealed

Marketing agency Rapp Kuala Lumpur is said to be the agency behind controversial print election ads for a political party, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). The MCA is part of Malaysia’s ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (National Alliance), and is a majority share-holder in national English daily The Star, which has been running the print ads.

According to multiple sources who requested anonymity, the agency that created the ads is Rapp Kuala Lumpur. Campaign Asia-Pacific tried to reach out to Lim Wai Yee (COO at Rapp KL), via email and mobile, but no reply was received by press time.

Like The Star, Rapp KL links back to the MCA as it is part of the Foetus Group in Malaysia, which also includes Naga DDB, DDB International, Milk PR, Beyond Events, and Vizeum Media Services. Foetus Group’s executive chairman is Vincent Lee, who is also chairman of The Star.

The ads have drawn the ire of Malaysia’s online community for the insinuations it makes about MCA’s rival, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and its ties to the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). DAP decided to stand for election under the banner of PAS in Peninsular Malaysia after the Registrar of Societies announced on 18th April that it would no longer recognise DAP.

The ads not only remind Malaysians of this unexpected turn of events, but they have also been criticised for inciting Islamaphobia in Malaysia’s non-Muslim constituency by portraying PAS as an extremist Muslim organisation. The ads close with the slogan “A Vote for DAP is a vote for PAS” and urge Malaysians to vote for current PM Najib Razak, who represents the ruling coalition, and “stability and prosperity”.

One ad in particular, which ran Sunday, a day after nomination day, has been shared on Facebook more than 1,300 times with posters condemning the move as “childish”, “disgusting”, and “the act of scum”.

One industry veteran told Campaign Asia-Pacific that the agency which created the ad “crossed a line”, while another said that the ads were “not only annoying but people are furious”.

The Malaysian government dissolved the parliament earlier this month to pave way for the country’s 13th general election, which is said to be the toughest battle that the ruling coalition has ever had to face in its 56 years in power.


#Rio2016: Astro To Broadcast Malaysia’s Badminton Stars Live On YouTube

Astro is supporting Malaysia’s badminton stars competing in the semi finals and finals today first with the live Youtube broadcast of Dato’ Lee Chong Wei in the men’s badminton singles semi-final at 7:30pm on Astro Arena’s YouTube channel.

Chong Wei, who coolly smashed out Taiwan’s Chou Tien-Chen during the quarterfinals of the Rio Olympics men’s singles badminton is now one step closer to achieving his dream – cinching the elusive Olympic gold medal.

But first, he has to go head-to-head with archenemy and 2-time defending champion, Lin Dan of China, in the men’s singles badminton semi-finals.

This is followed by the live streaming on Youtube for Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong in the men’s badminton doubles final at 10:15pm on Astro Arena’s Youtube channel.

Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong are the first Malaysian pair to make the final since Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock won silver in the 1996 Atlanta Games. They will play China’s Fu Haifeng/Zhan Nan in the final later tonight.

Astro subscribers can also watch live on Astro SuperSport CH765/785 (HD) and Astro Arena CH801/802 (HD) available for all Malaysians on Astro and Astro on the Go.

Join us support of our Malaysian athletes as they create history for the nation in Olympics!


#Viral: Video of Topless Man Doing Stretches On PLUS Highway Draws Attention

There are a lot of unsolved mysteries in the world and we are going to add this bizarre incident to the list.

A 45-second clip of a topless man lying and stretching in the middle of a busy Malaysian highway has recently gone viral.

The video was posted online on 20th October. In the video, the man seemed unaware or perhaps was being oblivious to the oncoming traffic when he was stretching on the road.

With his feet and hands lifted in the air, the man then continues to perform other stretches right beside a stationary car that is parked opposite direction of the road. Both the man and the car have apparently blocked 2 lanes of the 4-lane highway.

The man’s identity has yet to be identified, but a Facebook user named Norzuliana Binti Zakaria commented on the video and claimed that she witnessed the whole incident.

This event happened in front of my very eyes, his car was going really fast on the KL-Seremban Highway.

She added that the man lost control of his car and nearly hit the road divider after he cut her off. “His car spun, and after that he came out of his car and immediately slept on the road. He had no shirt and his body had bruises from cupping,” she said.

She said he lied on the road for around 5 minutes, got up, and then drove off. “To say that he is crazy, I don’t know. And after we overtook his car, he was casually smoking with his car hazard lights on,” said Norzuliana.

Regarding the incident, PLUS Malaysia Berhad confirmed to multiple news outlets that it actually took place at approximately 11:30am on 4th October.

The PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre received a call from a highway user notifying the centre about a man lying on his back in the middle of the highway at KM268.2 (northbound) on the North-South Expressway near the Bandar Ainsdale Interchange, Seremban.

They added that the man left the scene before the PLUSRonda arrived at the location.

As of time of writing, the video has been viewed close to 800,000 times and shared 6,000 times.

Sources: The Star Online, Free Malaysia Today.

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Hype Travel: Our Fabulous Club Med Cherating Vacay Left Us SHOOK!

Want to escape city life? Have a craving to feel ocean breezes? Want to be one with nature? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then it’s time you pack your bags and head to Club Med Cherating!

Club Med Cherating is part of the Club Med organisation, which was founded in 1950 and is renowned for its top-notch resorts and picturesque locales. Known as an eco-friendly jungle beach resort in Malaysia, Club Med Cherating Beach is tucked away in the middle of 80 hectares of lush greenery and offers the ideal environment for an amazing family vacation. The resort is filled with tree-top adventures and numerous wildlife discoveries. We at Hype recently dove headlong into all that Club Med Cherating has to offer.

We travelled by bus from Kuala Lumpur to Club Med Cherating Beach, which took around four hours. However, taking a flight is preferable if you want to save energy for Club Med Cherating’s outdoor activities. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by a group of friendly GOs (Gentil Organisateurs) at the entrance.

Since it was only the first day, there wasn’t much on the agenda. So, we had a quick buffet lunch at The Mutiara, before undergoing a short briefing session, where we were introduced to Mr. Oliver Monceau, the new General Manager of Club Med Singapore and Malaysia. He spoke quite a bit about Club Med and how it came to be, which made us all the more excited to explore the resort.

We were each then given a wristband, room card, Club Med essentials and a bucket list challenge. To complete the bucket list challenge, we needed to tick off 10 things from the list, and the first three winners were in for a treat (free massage session!). Next on the agenda was a cocktail party and dinner. The cocktail party was simply amazing. There was a DJ, assorted finger food and unlimited booze! Once we were done with the cocktail, we headed to Mutiara Restaurant for dinner (we’ll talk more about the food later!)

Now comes the fun part. In our schedule, we were told that our outfits needed to follow the theme of the day (not compulsory, but encouraged). Little did we know that at Club Med Cherating, there’s a theme every day. So, on our first day, the theme was cappuccino. All of us were dressed in shades of white and brown. At 9pm, we were ushered to a theater show. Here’s the surprising part: none of the performers were outsiders, as they were all the GOs themselves! Today’s show was more a mix of digital dance, ballet and trapeze artistry. It was simply amazing how they all worked together to put on an amazing show for us. The sound, lighting and screen were all super amazing.

Right after that, it was time to party. At Club Med, it’s all about coming together. Literally all the guests of Club Med were on the dance floor. The signature dance is known as the Crazy Sign Dance. And each department did their own dance for us to follow. The night was just so alive. Despite being a resort by the coast, we really didn’t expect them to be this extra! After all the drinks and the party, we headed back to our rooms.

If you’re an early riser, you’ll definitely catch the beautiful sunrise. To kickstart our day, we had an amazing breakfast at The Mutiara. Then, we headed to the theater area where we met representatives of the Turtle Conservation Society. Actually, the Turtle Sanctuary is next to Club Med Cherating (before entering the resort area). If you want to, you can pay this place a quick visit. The Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) was established in 2011 by co-founders Drs. Chan Eng Heng and Chen Pelf Nyok who realized that despite the country being home to 18 natural species of tortoises and freshwater turtles, there was no organization to care for them. Dr. Chen Pelf gave a short briefing on turtles, which was pretty cool. TCS even brought along three baby turtles and we got to hold them.

Right after the sharing, we had handmade soap workshop. Everyone was going wild with their soaps and they didn’t just stop at one. We made a few ourselves. It was indeed a meaningful session, as we got to learn more about these beautiful creatures and how to conserve nature. To show support to the society, as well as to local women who are part of the society, handmade merchandise were sold. From scrunchies to tags and bags to batu seremban, all the products are handmade with love – and a small part of the contributions go to the Turtle Conservation Society. You can even purchase the items on Shopee.

Next up, we had a quick lunch at The Mutiara, and we were all ready to explore the resort! It doesn’t matter if you’re a leisure-seeker or thrill-hunter – Club Med ensures that there’s always something for everyone at this resort. Here are some of the activities we indulged in:

The mode of transportation from the main resort to the other side is the tram. It’s like one of the trams you see at Zoo Negara. The tram is scheduled every 30 minutes throughout the day. Just jump on the tram and go for a quick ride through the lush green forest. The pick-up point is Enak Restaurant (just by the main pool) and the private beach. It was indeed a fun ride.

The main beach at the resort is off-limits. You can walk by the beach, but no swimming is allowed, as it can be dangerous. So, if you want to swim or do some water sports activities, you should head to the private beach located on the other side of the resort. You can get there on foot or take the tram. Since we wanted to try out the nature walk, we decided to hike. Just when you reach the end of the hike, you’ll see two signs. Take a left for rock climbing and take a right for the water sports area.

The Rocky Viewpoint is like a tree house at the end of the beach. Climb a few stairs and you’ll get an amazing view of the beach and the back portion of the resort. There’s also a bench where you can sit and unwind to the sounds of the ocean.

The nature walk is connected to the Rocky Viewpoint. You just have to take a few stairs up and you’re in the jungle. If you love nature and photography, this nature walk will give you an elevated view of the mountain’s summit. You might observe creatures like monkeys, birds and reptiles during your hike. Remember to wear your sports shoes as the trail might be slightly slippery, especially if it rains. And carry bug repellant! This hike’s route is well-lit and secure. Hence, it’s impossible to get lost. Simply stick to the trail, and you’ll soon be on the other side. Depending on your speed, this hike takes about 30 minutes.

If you want a calm atmosphere with an infinity pool that faces the ocean, Zen Pool is one of the places you would want to visit. To get here, you’ll either need to climb or ride the shuttle train. Without being bothered by children, you may relax on the sun lounger, or enjoy the sea view while dipping in the Zen Pool. You can also get unlimited drinks from the poolside bar while you’re in Zen mode. The mango coconut drink called the Coco Loco is one of their specialties. Undoubtedly reviving! Club Med also offers water sports activities such as sailing, paddle boating and kayaking. But these activities are held depending on the weather and tide.

The rock climbing area is located at the resort’s private beach. You can either hike or take the tram to get there. Although it seems simple, we assure you that it is quite challenging. If you haven’t the slightest clue about rock climbing, no problem. There’ll be GOs to direct you through each step. At the hut, we first geared up. You’ll be given a harness, hairnet and helmet. We then made our way to the sandy area for the safety talk. Simply pay close attention to the GO’s instructions. Because the GO will hold your rope for assistance, don’t worry about falling. It was a wonderful and unsettling experience, but it’s an activity you should definitely try out.

Wish you could embody Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games”? Then make your way to the archery area. Each time you step up, you’ll receive 3 arrows, and you’ll have at least an hour of unrestricted shooting. Kids can shoot too, and a special kid-sized bow is available.

If you’re not much of an outdoor person and crave piece of mind, we suggest going for batik painting. Batik painting is a common thing in Malaysia, but most of the time, we see readymade products. At Club Med, you get to paint your own batik and get to know the process of how batik came to be. We had Pak Cik Ayam (not sure if it’s his real name) who guided us with our paintings. The canvas is not just florals. You can find animals, sea life, unicorns and other types of designs too. Each canvas size is differently priced. Ours was RM60. The best thing about painting your own batik is that you’re free to be creative. Of course, Pak Ayam would help and make a few suggestions, but you can go wild sometimes.

With all that hardcore activity, you’ll definitely feel the urge to pamper yourself. Ease all your muscle pain with a good spa session at Mandara Spa. There are many packages to choose from and they even have spas for kids. Right before your session, you’ll be served cold ginger tea. You can also pick your own scented massage oil – Mandara, Island Spice, Harmony and Tranquility. Since we won second place in the bucket list challenge, we were entitled to a 30 minute massage. We could choose from facials, or back and foot massages. The massage session was epic. The environment is calm, the room was cozy and the massage was good.

Later that evening, we had another cocktail party, but this time, it was at The Rembulan, by the private beach. For dinner, we had a 4-course-meal at Rembulan Restaurant, which is more upscale. You can reserve a table for a candlelit dining experience. Simply make a reservation when you have breakfast at the Mutiara Restaurant. Take the shuttle train to go to this peaceful restaurant. Overall, we thought the food served that night was excellent and filling. However, it might be creepy at night, because it gets really dark. We do hope they install more lights on the path way.

After dinner, we headed to the main lobby for yet another party night. Tonight’s theme was Asian. For the 9pm theater show, we had a lion dance. Then, we had a walk down memory lane with all sorts of traditional games and activities prepared for us. There was batu seremban, batik painting, guli, Chinese caligraphy, pemadam, mahjong, card games, massage station, henna and many more. It was so nice to see guests of different races and cultures getting to know Malaysian traditions and games. Our favourite part was the teh tarik station, where we had a good dose of freshly brewed teh tarik.

With 2 fun-filled nights, our stay eventually came to an end. On our last day at Club Med Cherating, it was a gloomy morning, because of the rain. We headed for breakfast and got all ready to check out.

Club Med is indeed a one-of-a-kind resort. There are so many amazing resorts out there – but Club Med has an entirely different concept going on. Not only do they have an all-inclusive formula where accommodation, dining, entertainment, childcare and a range of curated experiences and activities are all included within the holiday package, but they also emphasize on everyone being a part of something. At Club Med Cherating, there’ll never be a moment when you’ll be left alone or left out, because there are friendly GOs everywhere. Sometimes, they’ll even ask if they can join you for lunch or dinner.

As for the rooms, we really admire the ‘rumah panjang’ concept the resort has. Focusing more on conserving nature, we think the ‘rumah panjang’ concept is brilliant. There are no lifts in this resort, and everything is wood-based. Even the room floors are made of quality wood, making the them super cooling and convenient. Despite being surrounded by nature, we’re glad to say we didn’t experience insect disturbance of any kind during our stay. Not even mosquitoes!

We absolutely loved the food! They have six different cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s Western, Japanese, Italian and the common three, which are Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine. There’s also a variety of desserts, salads and healthy meals (for those on a diet). All their food was simply amazing, and there’s just so much to try. The fact that Club Med Cherating’s restaurants and bars serve food and beverages 24 hours a day is one of its attractions. Three dining options are available: Mutiara, Enak Noodle Bar, and The Rembulan.

Although we had three days to explore the resort, it definitely wasn’t enough, as we felt there was always something new to explore each day. If you’re planning a family holiday or a leisure staycation, be sure to add Club Med Cherating to your list, because it’s definitely worth it!

For more details on Club Med, check out their website and Instagram page.

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#ZikaVirus: Singapore Confirms First Case Of The Zika Virus

In January this year, the Zika virus was said to be active in 20 countries around the world. At that time, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the mosquito-borne virus may infect up to 4 million people.

A month later, WHO declared the rise in birth defects linked to the Zika virus outbreak a “public health emergency”, underscoring the seriousness of the problem and paving the way for research and aid to be fast-tracked to tackle the infection.

What is the Zika virus? Here are some things you need to know:

But here’s an alarming reason for caution: what seems to be happening in affected pregnant women, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy, is that the virus has been shown to pass through amniotic fluid and interfere with how the fetus’ brain is developing.

An even more alarming reason for caution is the fact that Singapore has just confirmed its first reported case of the Zika virus. Yes, that’s pretty close to home for us Malaysians.

According to Singapore’s Ministry of Health, the government confirmed that a 48-year-old man, a permanent resident of Singapore, tested positive for the virus following a trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 27th March to 7th May. The man in Singapore developed a fever and rash on 10th May and was admitted to a hospital 2 days later, where he subsequently tested positive for Zika. The statement said he will be transferred to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital for treatment and isolation.

Additionally, Singaporean parliament member Sim Ann announced that the government would be conducting house visits to inspect the residential compound where the man lived.

This is the 4th time the WHO has declared a public health emergency. WHO declared 2 emergencies in 2014: the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and a resurgence of polio in Syria and other countries. The H1N1 swine flu pandemic prompted an emergency in 2009.

More information on the Zika virus here.

Sources: CNN, The Diplomat, Ministry of Health Singapore.


Hype’s Must Watch: The Walk

In 1974, French artist Philippe Petit became a worldwide sensation for walking on a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers.  It was a daring and dangerous stunt, as the artist is risking his life to walk on a the tightrope. However, the astounding event became the highlight of his life.

Philippe Petit later released a memoir called “To Reach the Clouds”, which include the story that has been detailed in James Marsh’s Oscar-winning documentary, “Man On Wire.” But the book alone isn’t enough to glorify the highlight of his film.

His story has now been adapted into a live-action feature film with Joseph Gordon-Levitt portraying Philippe Petit.

Titled “The Walk“, the film centres on Philippe Petit, a young dreamer who dared to do the impossible by doing an illegal wire walk between the World Trade Center towers. The film is set to bring an emotional, character-driven story with innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX 3D wizardry.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film also stars Charlotte Le Bon as Petit’s long-time girlfriend Annie, whom he later breaks up with after the walk. British actor Ben Kingsley plays Petit’s real-life mentor Papa Rude while Petit’s gang will be played by James Badge Dale, Ben Schwartz, Clément Sibony, and César Domboy. Petit and his gang will overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension, and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan.

“The Walk” will be released in cinemas near you on 2nd October 2015.

For more information, check out the movie’s official website or Facebook page. They’re also on Twitter here so follow them for more timely updates!

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Diplo, Pharrell & More To Appear On 808 Music Documentary

As the dance music scene continues to grow and make its way to the top, it is to no surprise that documentaries following its success and evolution are becoming increasingly as popular. One sure documentary is 808. Set for a 2015 release, 808 is a documentary following the rise and sudden fall of the Roland TR-808, one of the most influential instruments in recent memory, and a vital element to the birth of electronic music.

The documentary directed by Alexander Dunn will explore the instruments role in the development of both hip hop and house music. It will also answer the puzzling question of why the 808 was discontinued at the peak of its success. To no surprise, the documentary will feature appearances by some of the music industry’s heavy hitters including Diplo, Pharrell Williams, Lil Jon, David Guetta, Fatboy Slim and more.

In regards to the interesting and unique subject matter of the documentary, Alexander stated:

“Making a documentary about a drum machine, a piece of electronic equipment, is an interesting challenge. It has no voice of its own, so as a protagonist it’s rather difficult to mold a story around. 808 has really been a journey of discovery for me. One that led myself and the team to meet over 50 musicians and artists from all around the world, hearing their personal stories about the 808 and the music they created using its iconic sounds. Those artists and musicians are the real protagonists of the film and the 808, in the hands of our contributors, would change music forever.”

808 will be out sometime in 2015 from You Know Films in association with Atlantic Films. Check out the trailer below as you wait in anticipation for this exciting project.


Spotify Reveals Top Emotion-Inducing Tracks

Spotify has released a new researched into the emotional response people have towards music to reveal the tracks that are most likely to trigger certain emotions. In order to conduct this research, Spotify worked alongside Jacob Jolij, a Professor in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Groningen to reveal the songs that trigger the clearest emotional responses — be it nostalgia, anger or happiness.

For example, Katy Perry’s “Birthday” is proven to encourage active movement and dopamine that leads to happiness while Coldplay’s “Magic” leads to one gaining positive feelings.

According to Jolij,“Music can have powerful effects on our emotions: from making us happy, to enabling the ability to overcome fear, certain music can trigger emotions and hormones that directly affect our moods. The list of tracks compiled with Spotify highlight some of the most effective songs to take us from sad to happy or angry to optimistic.”

Here’s seven of the top emotion-inducing tracks found by the research:

Happy songs are usually upbeat with a strong rhythm that features positive lyrics. The upbeat tempo of Katy Perry’s “Birthday” encourages active movement which is brilliant for the mood of people listening to it.

The opposite of happy songs, sad songs are slower with generally more negative lyrics. One Republic’s “I Need” unconsciously reminds the human mind of a rising pitch that is linked with defeat and uncertainty.

Described as a complex emotion by psychologists, optimism is not built in our system by nature but it is an emotion that people experience over time. In order to feel optimistic, people have to be happy so the major key for songs that fit this emotion is it’s upbeat tempo. American Author’s “Best Day of My Life” goes best with this emotion as it is not only upbeat, it also features positive lyrics that build optimism.

Just like happiness and sadness, anger is a basic emotion. Linked with songs in a minor key, anger is a negative emotion that involves movement. David Guetta’s “Bad” works well with this emotion as its up-tempo rhythm in minor key helps people channel their angry feelings to something to distract them.

Fear is a negative emotion characterised by a stress response and in order to overcome fear, the first thing one has to do is to minimise their stress response. Music that helps with overcoming fear needs to be slow and relaxing while featuring major chords to evoke positive feeling and lyrics at the same time. For example, Coldplay’s “Magic”.

Adrenalin and endorphins are what keeps someone excited and music that is positive with yet more upbeat and stronger beats is what excited people crave. Lyrics are not as important as its beats when it comes to this emotion which is why Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” is proven to be one of the top songs that gets people excited.

John Legend’s All of Me is the perfect example of a song destined to be a nostalgic hit. Its sentimental lyrics will without a doubt remind people of that someone special, linking the song to provoking nostalgia in listeners for a long period of time.

Listen to these emotion-inducing songs here:

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#HeroesReborn: The Heroes Are Back!

It has been four years since the sc-fi TV show “Heroes” ended, and we know it was probably one of the most iconic series in the history of television (that eventually went downhill due to the WGA strike) But that doesn’t mean we despise the show! If anything, we desperately wanted the creator or the writers to bring back the magic from season one. And that’s probably what’s going to happen soon.

Earlier in February, NBC made a surprise announcement that the cancelled drama will return as a 13-episode event miniseries as “Heroes Reborn” in 2015. Tim Kring, the mastermind behind NBC’s “Heroes”, will be back to work on the show with a NEW cast. Fret not, the show’s original cast members (possibly Masi Oka?) may return to join the production of the show. Furthermore, NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke stated in a press release that they will not rule out the possibility of some of the show’s original cast members popping back in.

For those of you who are not in the know, the show may remind you of the popular Marvel comics, “X-Men”, which also turned into a film series. However, “Heroes” is not a show based on any comics. But it was, however, adapted from the American comic books’ aesthetic style and tells the story of ordinary people who discover their superhuman abilities and how these discoveries eventually led them to a series of events – including changing the world.

The TV’s greatest catchphrase “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” and the trailer below will give you a short glimpse of how this series was the “it” show in the past!

Excited about the reboot? Join the discussion on the upcoming show #HeroesReborn on Twitter and follow them for the latest updates!


Hype’s Now Playing: BIGBANG – We Like 2 Party (Live Via “MADE” Tour Report Videos)

You’ve seen their silly antics in the official “We Like 2 Party” music video as well as their first live performance of the song n M! Countdown, now get a taste of what you can expect from the “BIGBANG 2015 World Tour (MADE)” concert at Putra Indoor Stadium.

But first a little history lesson, in case you missed it ;)

Ahead of the “We Like 2 Party” music video release, it was made known that BIGBANG actually drank alcohol during filming for the music video of their new song, “We Like 2 Party”.

In fact, their rep was quoted as saying, “We wanted to portray a more natural vibe, and after much consideration we thought it would be better to do a video that captures the true feeling of the song rather than have them act it out. So (BIGBANG) drank in the studio and then filmed the video. Fans will therefore get to see a more relaxed BIGBANG than normal in the video.”

BIGBANG also gave an explanation for the music video of “We Like 2 Party”:

We have always put a lot of effort into our videos, but this time we wanted to do something that was more cute and innocent, something that showed our natural sides. You can expect this to be different from our other videos, it will show us looking more normal and not dressed up.

T.O.P also admitted to having had around 4 cans of beer.

As you would expect, in line with the mood of the official music video, BIGBANG kept their live performances for “We Like 2 Party” at their world tour as lively as (if not livelier than) the music video. They even took turns with the selfie stick and made it into a semi first-person camera concept type of tour report videos.

Check ’em out because these are bound to put a smile on your face ;)

1) BIGBANG 2015 World Tour (MADE) tour report in Wuhan ft. “We Like 2 Party”

2) BIGBANG 2015 World Tour (MADE) tour report in Hong Kong ft. “We Like 2 Party”

Have you gotten your tickets to BIGBANG’s “2015 World Tour (MADE)” concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yet? Get the deets here. There are also opportunities for you and your friends to win concert tickets as well as exclusive access to the “Soundcheck Party” via Hotlink here.

Source: BIGBANG’s YouTube channel / Featured image from BIGBANG’s Facebook page.

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2012 SBS Entertainment Awards on ONE HD

The “2012 SBS Entertainment Awards” was held on 30th December 2012 to celebrate another successful year for entertainment and variety shows on SBS. Needless to say, the big winner that night was none other than “Nation’s MC” Yoo Jae Suk, who won the coveted Daesang for the second year running for his highly successful Sunday variety program “Running Man“.

Not surprising though, since “Running Man” has one of the highest ratings (if not the highest rating) for a South Korean variety show both within their home country as well as internationally.

The rest of the “2012 SBS Entertainment Awards” are as follows:

Best Excellence Award (Talk Show Category): Lee Kyung Kyu

Best Excellence Award (Variety Show Category): Kim Byung Man

Best Excellence Award (Comedy Category): Jung Hyun Soo, Hong Hyun Hee

Best Excellence Program Award: Laws of the Jungle

Excellence Program Award (Variety Category): Survival Audition K-Pop Star

Excellence Program Award (Talk Show Category): Healing Camp

Viewers’ Choice Popularity Award: Yoo Jae Suk

Viewers’ Choice Program Award: Running Man

Excellence Award (Variety Category): Gary, Ji Suk Jin

Excellence Award (Talk Show Category): Han Hye Jin

Excellence Award (Comedy Category): Hong Yoon Hwa, Kim Yong Myung

Best Entertainer Award (Variety Category): Kim Ji Sun, Jun Hye Bin, Choo Sung Hoon

Best Entertainer Award (Talk Show Category): Boom, Leeteuk

Broadcast Writer Award: Ryu Hye Jin, Kim Mi Kyung, Kim Eun Sun

Radio DJ Award: Cultwo, Park Mi Sun, Park Young Jin

Best Teamwork Award: ‘Honey’ cast and crew members

Best Family Award: Jung Eun Pyo, Yeom Kyung Hwan, Lee Jung Yong

Best Couple Award: Shin Dong Yup, Lee Dong Wook

Rookie Award (Comedy Category): Kim Won Goo

Rookie Award (MC Category): Lee Dong Wook

And now, we’ll be able to catch the “2012 SBS Entertainment Awards” when it airs first and exclusively on 9th February 2013 (Saturday) at 11:15pm on ONE HD (Astro B.yond Ch393). We hear that it also features special appearances by some of your favourite K-Pop idols/idol groups namely SNSD’s Yuri, SISTAR, and Lee Hi:

[youtube id=”KACnZDiU45Y” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Best way to ring in the “Year of the Snake”? We think so!

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#StarWars: Parody Twitter Accounts “Very Lonely Luke” & “Emo Kylo Ren” Are Funny AF

If you haven’t watched “Star Wars: The Force Awakens“, turn back because this post may contain some spoilers. Also, if you haven’t watch it until now, what’s wrong with you?

Now, if you’re a “Star Wars” fan who’s active on Twitter and love following very “punny” character parody accounts, you probably are already following Depressed Darth and Yoda. The Depressed Darth Twitter account has been around since 2010 and even has it/his own Instagram account whereas the Yoda Twitter account was created in 2008 and has since spawned its own Facebook page.

Both accounts have tens of thousands of followers because they’re awesome like that.

Since the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, 2 new character parody Twitter accounts have gained attention and are rapidly gaining followers: Very Lonely Luke and Emo Kylo Ren.

And as one would expect, Very Lonely Luke tweets about being in solitary like when we last saw him in the film – alone and staring at the sea. Which clearly gave him a lot of time to ponder his “space soap opera about family issues” life while everyone tripped over each other, getting killed or almost getting killed over a map which will eventually point towards his hideout.

— Very Lonely Luke (@VeryLonelyLuke) January 4, 2016

Lightsabers cut deep, but words cut deeper.

— Very Lonely Luke (@VeryLonelyLuke) January 2, 2016

— Very Lonely Luke (@VeryLonelyLuke) January 3, 2016

Meanwhile, Emo Kylo Ren aka Ben Solo aka son of Han Solo and Leia and former student of Luke is very much like how he is in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – battling with his demons. The new, raven-headed Dark Side kid rants just like how any other emo teenager approaching the strange realms of puberty would e.g. hating everything, being awkward, worshipping the ground that Darth Vader walks on, generally being a brat “at home”.

Oh, he also shares the secret to his perfect hair. Would you have expected any less from this kid anyway?

*approaches you at party**clears throat*has anyone ever told you your eyes are the color of Darth Vader's helmet glinting in the moonlight

— Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) January 1, 2016

dad the wookiee used all my garnier fructis

— Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) December 23, 2015

mom please don't even pretend you know what I'm going through right now also we are out of conditioner

— Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) December 22, 2015

*hands Rey a crossword*don't worry if it takes a while Wednesday puzzles can be a bit challengi–*Rey hands back the completed puzzle*

*sings sadly into mirror*when will my reflection show who i am inside?*puts on dark helmet*

Go follow the accounts for your daily bite-sized dosage of “Star Wars” fun :)

Okay, we’ll throw one more in for good measure just in case you’re not convinced if you should.

i hate everything pic.twitter.com/KThW6oSwNB

— Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) January 4, 2016

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#CottageIndustry: SM Entertainment Project Duo M&D Returns With New Album

SM Entertainment project duo M&D, which consists of Super Junior‘s Heechul and TRAX’s Jungmo, has dropped the official music video for their latest single, “I Wish”. It was released in anticipation of their latest album, “Cottage Industry”.

“Cottage Industry” is their first mini album since the release of their hit single “Close Ur Mouth” in 2011.

Although the song carries an upbeat and catchy tune, G-Friend‘s Yerin, who was featured in the video along with Heechul, can be seen being stuck in a relationship fraught with arguments. Celebrities like Jang Dong Min, Gun Hee, Lee Jin Ho, and Cho Jae Geol also starred in the music video.

Shortly after the release of the video, SM Entertainment surprised its fans again by releasing the highlight medley of the album. It featured the snippets of all the songs from the album such as “M&D (Midnight&Dawn)”, “Moon Crystal”, “Silhouette”, and “Soul”.

According to Soompi, Heechul wrote the lyrics of all the songs in the album while Jungmo composed and arranged the tracks.

It was also revealed that the official meaning for M&D is “Midnight & Dawn”. However, the name brought a deeper meaning for the both of them as it also represents the name of their respective hometowns, “Miari and Dangye-dong”.

Can’t wait to listen to M&D’s latest offering? Watch the music video below:

The album will be released digitally on various music sites Genie, Melon and Naver Music on 16th April. They will also hold their comeback stage on Mnet’s “M! Countdown” on the same day.

The physical album will be made available in store from 20th April 2015 onwards.


#ReachOut2013: 1M4U Event Featuring Jason Chen, David Choi, & Chester See!

Founded by PM YAB Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak, 1M4U is a nonprofit organization that seeks to nurture youth volunteerism while also providing small funds for youth volunteer activities via its “Drea1M Fund”. By helping to nurture and cultivate volunteerism amongst the Malaysian youth, 1M4U will inspire the sense of social responsibility and together, help all needy causes.

Tomorrow, 1M4U will be holding the “Reach Out: Youth Volunteer Convention & Celebration” event featuring some of our favourite local as well as international celebrities. Held at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, “Reach Out” will include world-class sharing as well as performances/concerts by YouTubers Chester See, David Choi, and Jason Chen, who have all flown halfway across the world to meet their Malaysian fans.

The event will also feature local celebrities such as Mizz Nina, Altimet, Kyoto Protocol, JinnyBoyTV and more!

Venue: Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya

Free T-shirts, wristbands, and bags will be given out to the first 1,000 registrants.

For more information, visit their Facebook page or website.