90s Boy & Girl Bands: A Look At Their Past & Present

Music has definitely played an impactful role in everyone’s life. Listeners would resonate with most, if not all aspects of the song be it, the lyrics, the tune or the depth of emotions portrayed within the song. Albeit the presence of solo singers, the existence of bands has definitely evolved over time. The best thing about bands is the fact that they have an almost cult-like fan base where people would bond over their favourite bands instead of the latest movies. It has always been a uniting factor, nevertheless.

Current bands such as BTS, Coldplay, Little Mix and BLACKPINK are all the rage now. But, let’s take a step down memory lane and look at some of the most popular boy bands and girl bands in the ’90s. Yes, the era where FRIENDS debuted on NBC! We’ll also be having a look at their latest projects and work.

This famed boy band was known for their good looks and their good music. The group comprising of AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, was the brainchild of Lou Pearlman. Pearlman placed an ad in an Orlando newspaper in 1992 looking for singers to form this band, which then continued to make waves in the music industry with the release of their debut international album, “Backstreet Boys” in 1996. Their third studio album “Millennium” was the breakthrough they needed to rise to ultimate fame. However, Richardson left the group in 2006, to pursue other interests only to rejoin the band back in 2012.

In 2019, their album, “DNA” debuted at number one, more than 2 decades after the formation of the group. This was the first boy band to top the U.S. album charts in 3 decades. With a total of 100 million records sold worldwide, The Backstreet Boys are the first group since Led Zeppelin to have their first 10 albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200. That’s not all! The albums “Backstreet Boys” and “Millennium” were both certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2013.

After breaking records, touring, winning Grammys, struggling with addiction, becoming fathers, pursuing solo careers and dealing with the paparazzi, the band is still continuing what they do best; MORE MUSIC! Last year, in 2020, this band celebrated their 27th anniversary, launched an Apple Music radio show called “All I Have to Give Radio”, performed on Jimmy Fallon and released a new song with Steve Aoki called “Let It Be Me”. Wait, there’s more! This group has also completed a successful 2 year Las Vegas residency, had their own “Backstreet Boys: The Experience” exhibit at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. They’re still touring too.

This group was started by twin brothers Benji and Joel Madden, and it then, included Paul Thomas, Billy Martin and later, Dean Butterworth. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2002 and received largely positive reviews. They received major success after their second album, “The Young and the Hopeless” which sold 3.5 million copies worldwide. They then produced a darker album both musically and lyrically — “The Chronicles of Life and Death” in 2004. This album was then certified platinum by the RIAA, and sold over 1 million copies in the US alone. After the release of their dance-punk inspired album “Good Morning RevivaL”, they proceeded to go back to their pop-punk roots with the album “Cardiology” in 2010.

On the music spectrum of things, this rock band continued to soar through the years with the release of their album, “Authority” in 2016 after a 4 year long hiatus and the subsequent release of “Generation Rx” in 2018. Apart from their music, Joel became a coach on “The Voice Australia” along with his brother Benji and is now, married to Nicole Richie. They share 2 children, Harlow and Sparrow. Benji is now married to Cameron Diaz and the couple welcomed their first child, Raddix in 2020.

From releasing hit albums such as “Coast to Coast” and “World of Our Own”, Westlife is definitely a hit in their times. This Irish boy band was formed in 1998 in Sligo, Ireland and was originally signed by Simon Cowell in the UK, Clive Davis in the US and managed by Louis Walsh and Sonny Takhar. Consisting of Shane Filan, Markus Feehily, Kian Egan and Nick Byrne, this group rose to stardom with their debut international self-titled studio album, “Westlife”, followed by “Coast to Coast”, “World of Our Own”, “Unbreakable – The Greatest Hits Vol.1” and “Turnaround”.

Prior to their Turnaround Tour in 2004, one of the original members, Brian McFadden departed from the band. However, this did not stop the remaining 4 members from continuing to make more music with the release of their albums, “Allow Us To Be Frank”, “The Love Album”, “Face to Face” and “Back Home”. This band has the second most certifications for a boy band in the UK Singles Chart after “Take That” and the most singles certifications for a pop band on the UK number-one singles artists chart since The Beatles.

After winning numerous awards, the band took a hiatus for 8 years and came back with their eleventh studio album, “Spectrum” in 2019. This was an absolute joy to their fans! Previously, lead vocalist Shane was declared a bankrupt days before their final gig in 2012. This happened after a property venture he had entered into with his brother, was a failure. He then turned his life back around and released 3 solo albums. Nick has had a successful career as a TV and radio presenter and is also a big supporter of Unicef, taking part in several campaigns for the charity. Mark, owns a catering business now, selling coffee and crepes at various festivals. He has also released a solo album in 2015, “Fire”. Kian Egan was crowned King of the Jungle after winning the 2013 edition of “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” and he’s also a presenter on the Irish version of “The Voice”.

This American pop and R&B vocal group consisting of 4 vocalists, Jeff Timmons, Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey and Justin Jeffre and is quite different in comparison to the rest of the boy bands due to the fact that they were formed independently by Timmons. Then, they were picked up by a record label. Achieving a total of eight top 40 singles in the US, this boy band sold over 30 million records worldwide. The group decided to take a break to fulfil other ambitions and opportunities in 2003 right up to 2012. This was an extended hiatus. However, the group came together in 2004 to sing on “Nick and Jessica’s Family Christmas TV Special” and again in 2005 to support Jeffre in his candidacy for mayor of Cincinnati.

As of now, the band members lead their separate lives but they would still meet up to play shows, record new music and make silly videos. Therefore, the band has not been disbanded, yet! Nick Lachey is married to TV host and former TRL VJ Vanessa Minnillo and the couple has 3 children, Phoenix, Camden and Brooklyn. Lachey won Season 5 of “The Masked Singer”. Drew Lachey competed on Season 2 of “Dancing with the Stars” and won with dance partner, Cheryl Burke in 2006. He also appeared on HGTV and “American Ninja Warrior”. Jeff Timmons joined the Chippendales for a limited run in 2011 and starred in the E! reality series “Men of the Strip”. Justin Jeffre made a progress up the ladder from music to politics and ran for the mayor of Cincinnati in 2005.

This American boy band was a favourite one especially, among the girls! Formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995, N’Sync was launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. This famed group consisted of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass. They propelled to fame after their self-titled debut album was successfully released to European countries. Shortly after that, they debuted in the US market with their single, “I Want You Back”. Their first 2 studio albums, which also comprises “No Strings Attached”, were both certified Diamond by the RIAA. Not only that, their singles such as “Bye Bye Bye”, “This I Promise You”, “Girlfriend”, “Pop” and “It’s Gonna Be Me” reached the top 10 in several international charts, with the last being a US Billboard Hot 100 number one.

Sadly, the last time they recorded a new material was in 2002. However, the band has reunited for various events such as the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards and to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The band members are still on good terms with one another. However, they’ve gone ahead to lead their separate lives. Lance Bass, made a bid to become the youngest person in space at the age of 23 but sadly, producers have failed to raise the $20 million fees needed for him to blast him off from Kazakhstan. In 2006, he came out as gay and his wedding to Michael Turchin was the first gay wedding televised in America. JC Chasez pursued a solo career with his single “Blowin’ Me Up (With Her Love)” and his 2004 album “Schizophrenic”. He has also worked as a songwriter for artists such as David Archuleta and the Backstreet Boys. Joey Fatone has had roles in “Kim Possible”, “Hannah Montana”, “Jersey Shore Attack”, “Army of the Damned”, “Dead 7” and “Izzie’s Way Home”. He was also seen on Season 4 of “Dancing with the Stars”. Chris Kirkpatrick appeared in 2008’s “Gone Country 2” on CMT and “Stripperella”, “The Fairly OddParents”, “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!”, “Dead 7” and “Angie Tribeca”. He married Karly Skladany in 2013.

Justin Timberlake needs no introduction to his post- N’Sync work! His solo albums “Justified”, “Futuresex/Lovesounds” and “The 20/20 Experience” were all great hits!

With 90 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls have definitely revolutionised music and catalysed the emergence of successful girl-bands. This British pop girl group was formed in 1994 comprising Melanie Brown also known as Mel B (Scary Spice), Melanie Chrisholm or Mel C (Sporty Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) and Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice). They exuberated a girl-power mantra and targeted a young female fan base instead of a male audience. They were dubbed as the pop culture icons of the decade. With the release of the debut single, “Wannabe” in 1996, which hit number one in 37 countries, this marked their global success. Their debut album, “Spice” sold more than 23 million copies worldwide, hence, becoming the best selling album by a female group in history! Their albums, which often had the theme of female empowerment, were major bestsellers worldwide — selling 90 million records worldwide. The group decided to focus on their solo careers at the end of 2000 but they insisted that they were not splitting up. Their words were proven to be true when they reunited for two concert tours, the Return of the Spice Girls and Spice World.

The group recently shared a previously unreleased song, “Feed Your Love” to mark 25 years of “Wannabe”. But what are these women actually up to? Emma Bunton most recently served as an “architect” on the reality competition series “Boy Band” on ABC where she advised wannabe boy band members. She has 2 children. Beau and Tate with her longtime partner, Jade Jones. Halliwell released a new single in 2017 in memory of a friend George Michael and has 2 children, Bluebell and Montague. Mel B is now a judge on “America’s Got Talent” alongside Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel. Holding on to that seat since 2011, Mel B is a proud mom to daughters Madison, Angel and Phoenix. Mel C is now a solo singer-songwriter and a mother to Scarlet with her ex, Thomas Starr. Victoria Beckham is fully involved in the fashion field and is now married to former soccer star, David Beckham. She did give a glimpse of returning to singing when she talked to host, James Corden in the “Late Late Show”.

Nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, Destiny’s Child was an American girl group comprised of Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett. In early 2000, both Roberson and Luckett were replaced with Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin; however, Franklin quit after five months, leaving the group as a trio.

They propelled into mainstream recognition after their song “No, No, No” and their best-selling second album, “The Writing’s on the Wall” (1999), which contained the number-one singles “Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Say My Name”. Their third album, “Survivor” produced the hits, “Independent Women”, “Survivor” and “Bootylicious”. Although we haven’t had a Destiny’s Child’s record since 2004’s “Destiny Fulfilled”, they’ve remained close friends and have appeared on each other’s projects, including Beyonce’s Superbowl and Coachella events.

The band members of Destiny’s Child have definitely made groundbreaking achievements. Beyonce is no stranger to achievements as such.  She has dropped 6 albums and has won the most Grammys to date. Beyonce and Jay Z share daughters, Blue Ivy and twins, Rumi and Star. The icon is more family-focused these days and rarely gives interviews anymore.

Kelly Rowland has released 4 solo albums and became a judge for “The X Factor UK” in 2011, “The X Factor USA” in 2013 and “The Voice Australia” since 2017. Michelle Williams has released 4 albums and 3 of them are in the gospel genre. She ventured into acting in 2003 and has had leading roles in “The Color Purple”, “Chicago”, “What My Husband Doesn’t Know”, “Fela!” and “A Snow White Christmas”. LaTavia Robertson and LeToya Luckett formed a group called Anjel with Naty Quinones and Tiffany Beaudoin after leaving Destiny’s Child. They split up in 2013 without releasing an album.

This Irish girl group consisting of twin sisters, Edele Lynch and Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou and Sinead O’Carroll, enjoyed success in both Europe and North America between 1998 to 2000 with a total release of 2 albums and 8 singles. All of their singles have made it to the UK Top 20. B*Witched was unfortunately dropped by their record company after having sold 3 million albums worldwide in 2002. The group split up when O’Carroll decided to leave. In 2006, the Lynch sisters formed a group, Ms. Lynch which frequently performed B*Witched material at live shows. In May 2013 they unveiled a new song called “Love and Money” and on 28 September 2014, they released an EP, entitled “Champagne” or “Guinness”.

Edele turned her talents to songwriting for other girl groups, involved in “Sound of the Underground” for Girls Aloud and “Twisted” for Sugababes. She also starred in a couple of reality series including “Celebrity Apprentice Ireland” in 2013 and “Big Brother” in 2014. She’s now a mother of 3.  Keavy has had a few stints on stage in pantomimes and starred as a forest sprite in “Robin Hood” and “The Babes In The Wood at Woodville Halls Theatre, Gravesend”. She retrained as a humanistic counsellor and opened a practice in southwest London after suffering from depression following the breakdown of the band. Sinead tried managing a girl group, Minx in 2004 but didn’t manage to get them signed to a record label. In 2019, she competed in Ireland’s answer to “Strictly, Dancing with the Stars”. Lindsay currently lives in Manchester with her husband, director Indi Pahl, two kids and a cavalier king spaniel. She had a short-acting career between 2008 and 2011 and starred in a film called “Two Days in the Smoke”.

Manchester-based girl group, Cleopatra, comprised of sisters, Cleo, Yonah and Zainam Higgins. They started off as Cleopatra and the Attractions but soon dropped that name and it became Cleopatra. Their debut single was “Cleopatra’s Theme” which was taken from their debut album, “Comin’ Atcha!”. It entered the UK Singles Chart at #3 giving them their first Top 5 hit single. Their next 3 singles also reached the top 5 winning this famed girl group, the BRIT Awards and MOBO Awards nominations. Cleopatra was then introduced to the United States by Madonna and their song, Cleopatra’s Theme reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart. The group also filmed a live show for a 60-minute Disney Channel special, “Cleopatra in Concert”, where they performed their biggest hits aboard the Disney cruise ship, Disney Magic.

Cleo turned into a Bond girl in 2002 and covered “For Your Eyes Only” on ITV’s tribute show “Songs of Bond”. She then released a proper solo single titled “Feelin’ Like This”, followed 5 years later. In 2013, she made her mainstream return on “The Voice UK” — coached by will.i.am after belting out a rendition of Beyonce’s “Love on Top” and was eliminated in the semi-final stages of the competition. Zainam kept a low profile after Cleopatra was dropped by their Warner Music record label in 2001 and made a brief appearance as the mystery guest on BBC Two’s “Never Mind The Buzzcocks” in 2007. Yonah, however, turned her attention to teaching street dance and cheerleading in the deprived areas of Manchester. In 2012, she obtained a diploma in health and social care.

With an original lineup consisting of Tionne T-Boz Watkins and Lisa Left Eye Lopes, this girl group was formed in Atlanta, Georgia and with the addition of Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, they scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles “Creep”, “Waterfalls”, “No Scrubs”, and “Unpretty”. TLC also became the first R&B group in history to receive the Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for “FanMail”. With over 65 million records sold worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group in their era. Adding on to their achievements, they’ve also won four career Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and five Soul Train Music Awards. The band’s legacy included spreading awareness about safe sex.

Lisa’s life tragically ended in a car accident on 5th April 2002. Chilli and T-Boz occasionally reunited to sing together and performed as a duo for a series of concerts in Asia in 2009. After joining Agouron Pharmaceuticals in 2003, to launch a national HIV/AIDS educational program, a VH1 reality series called “What Chilli Wants” was launched. Besides that, she’s also been on several shows including Food Network’s “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off” and on an episode of “WWE Countdown”. Chilli also released a new single called “Body” in 2016. Tionne released a semi-autobiographical poetry book in 1998 called “Thoughts” regarding her time with the band. In 2009, she revealed her battle with a potentially fatal brain tumour for 3 years. Despite the fact that many doctors had refused to operate in case of potential complications relating to sickle cell anaemia, she was later able to undergo surgery at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

With some bands being disbanded, while others coming together occasionally to give their fans good music, it is no doubt that these talented musicians of the yesteryears should definitely be celebrated at all times.

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


Tune Talk & BlackBerry Pres. The Return of Paramore Live in KL

Get ready to Riot as America’s beloved pop rock phenomenon, Paramore make their stellar return to Kuala Lumpur on 17th February 2013 at Stadium Negara. Fronted by the incomparable Hayley Williams, the band is geared up for their worldwide tour in conjunction with the release of their upcoming self-titled album due on 9th April 2013.

Joining them on the tour are the ever experimental American indie rockers, mewithoutYou and Malaysia’s favourite punk rock pioneers, OBS. mewithoutYou is known for their warbling vocal style and introspective lyrics of lead vocalist Aaron Weiss, as well as their prominent bass riffs and atmospheric guitar sounds while OBS will be introducing a brand new single and playing material from their last album, “Kampong Glam”.

So, who’s ready to rock out with Paramore? (We most definitely are!)

Time: Doors open at 6pm, Showtime at 7pm

To purchase tickets, head on over to TicketPro or any of their participating outlets.

For more information, visit Livescape Asia’s website or hit up their Facebook page.


Malaysia: 9 Happenings & Events To Take Note In September

While many are referencing Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends” this month, we’re having none of that.

After enjoying some Merdeka promo recently, we’re moving on unto better things. What’s not to like about September? There are travel fairs happening, holidays to enjoy, new gadgets debuting, and new policies to take note of.

If you have no plans for this week and next week’s long weekends, here are some recommendations to check out:

In case you didn’t know, the districts of Klang, Kuala Langat, Sepang, Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam have been placed under the high alert watch. There are concerns that heavy rain and strong winds may result in flooding. According to Bernama, the high tide phenomenon are expected to occur again from 29th September – 2nd October as well as 27th – 30th October.

Starting this month, anyone leaving Malaysia are required to pay departure tax that will vary depending on the flight destination and travel class.

445,641 candidates are sitting for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination this year. The exam period has already started (4th September) and will last till 12th September.

AirAsia will be having their next Free Seats promo in September. This will coincide with the MATTA Fair that’s taking place again.

After Apple announced their 2019 iPhones, there speculations that “iPhone 11” will replace the XR while the “11 Pro” and “11 Pro Max” may replace XS and XS Max respectively. Case maker Nood Cases recently released slim protectors for the 3 different 2019 iPhones – giving us an idea of how the upcoming iPhone 11 range might look like.

The announcement is set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California on 10th September 2019, 10am. Due to the time difference, Malaysians will received the news at 1am on 11th September.

The Huawei Mate 30 series is due out and some are claiming it to be one of the best camera phones on the market. The company has confirmed that the event date will fall on 19th September where 3 variants are expected to be present.

This is a ton of activities going on this week. Besides the return of Artbox Malaysia in Subang, Dreamcatcher, Wang Leehom, and NU’EST are having their respective concerts for music lovers.

After this, K-pop fans and C-pop fans can look forward to Andy Lau’s “My Love” world tour from 13th – 15th September. Kang Daniel and Jay Park are also stopping by Kuala Lumpur for their own shows.

In addition to Unifi AIR, TM has announced Streamyx customers will be automatically converted to the new Unifi Lite. Instead of RM89 per month, Unifi Lite only costs RM69 per month for existing Streamyx customers.

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


10 Non-Tourist Places To Go Food Hunting In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah!

We know Malaysians love food hunting. Why else would we drive hours for a good bowl of our favourite Asam Laksa?

Now, if you’re planning to go to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and you wish to go on a food hunt but there’s only a slight problem here; you don’t know the local spots! You only know the usual tourist spots, and those prices are usually marked up. No one likes that! Don’t worry, we’re going to help you with that — here are 10 of our favourite local makan spots in KK:

Location: KM28.7, Jalan Tuaran, Kampung Bakut, 89208 Tuaran, Sabah.

First off from our list would be this secluded spot in Tuaran. It is located right beside a shabby car workshop and might be slightly hard to spot from the highway. But, don’t be fooled! The amount of people coming here everyday is massive! Locals absolutely love their seafood Tom Yam, and if you don’t feel like peeling the shrimps, you can also get their fish Tom Yam. You could even choose between fried fish fillet, or stewed fillets. But one of their best selling would be their Tom Yam Fried Noodles because it’s so unique and you can’t find anything like that in town!

Location: Lot 8, Ground Floor (Hilltop), 1-0-1, Kolam Centre Phase 3, Kota Kinabalu, 88300 88830 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. (Hilltop)

Next, you can either find Fatt Kee at Hilltop, Luyang, or if you don’t feel like going all the way to Luyang, you could find one inside the shopping mall in Suria Sabah. They serve one of the best fish soup in town; have it either in tomato soup, or if you like it spicy, then opt for the Tom Yam soup! The best thing is, you can even choose what goes in your soup (fish maw, fish lip, fish ball, fish roe, and many more!) If you don’t like your noodles soaked in the soup, you can order their soy sauce wantan noodles to go with it.

Location: Lot 25, Mile 3 1/2, Jalan Penampang, Taman Victory, 88500 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Now, if you’re looking for some late night noms, you could head over to Kedai Kopi Daily at Taman Foh Sang in Luyang to satisfy your late night cravings with their prawn noodles, or their curry laksa. But if you want a taste of some of that wok char, get their Char Kuey Teow! If you think noodles aren’t enough to fill your tummy, they also sell chicken rice (both steamed and fried).

You might also want to take a stroll around the area; they have night markets and another Chinese coffee shop (How Lee Coffee Shop) that sells a wide variety of congee. Although, you might want to note that it’s non-Halal.

Location: Lorong Dewan, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

If you’re in the mood for café hopping, head over the Australia Street (or also known as Lorong Dewan, and sometimes Jalan Printing) just right opposite of Gaya Street, in the heart of Kota Kinabalu city. You can hop from one type of café to another; from Mamasita, the Mexican restaurant and Tapas bar, to Nook Cafe that serves good coffee to fuel up your day. There’s even Sharikat Biru Biru if you’re in the mood for waffles!

Location: 21 Block C, Lorong Perindustrian, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

We actually have a whole list of favourite Ngiu Chap places in Kota Kinabalu to write about, but here’s one of the best! Ngiu Chap is basically beef soup. In Yii Siang, of course their beef soup is as great, but what’s also selling well is their Ngiu Chap Laksa. You can choose the beef parts that you want to go in your soup, from tripe, tendons, beef balls and many more! If you don’t like your noodles getting soaked in your soup, just like most of the shops in Sabah, you can get your soy sauce noodles separately.

Location: Lorong Singgah Mata 2, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (Right in front of D’Bundle Mania)

This shop might seem like any other normal shop, but trust us, when we say they have good food, they do. If you’re craving for a good warm Bakso (meatball soup) on a rainy day, say no more. Café Pak Elah is the spot for you! Their Bakso soup is full of flavour and unlike the ones you get in West Malaysia, you can add chicken feet and fried chicken skin! How unique is that?!

If you don’t like any of those, don’t worry, you could always ask for their normal bakso that tastes just as good. And, if you don’t feel like getting something heavy, then just order their fried chicken skin. It comes along with their to-die-for sambal Nasi Katok that is spicy yet sweet.

Location: Gayang Seafood Restaurant, Jalan Sulaman, 89200 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

We’d also like to recommend to you one of the best seafood restaurants in the heart of Kota Kinabalu that is also a popular spot. The location might be a little far from the city, but the food is fantastic! It is worth the price, and they offer a wide variety of seafood from the sweet tasting sea snails (known as Kalasiu) to the bizarre looking geoducks and even the controversial Siakap (don’t worry, won’t cost you thousands)! If you only want some small eats, they even offer various sets of meals.

Location: Jalan Kuala Laut, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Another local favourite is “Nasi Emba”. This dish might be one of the simplest one in this list, but it sure is a nostalgic food for most people in Kota Kinabalu. It comes with a plate of plain rice, batter fried chicken, their in-house chili sauce, and plain soup. Their fried chicken might seem simple, but they actually steam their chicken wings first, then dip it in their flavourful batter before deep frying it. They also serve other Indonesian cuisines like “Soto” and “Rojak”. They have closed down the famous outlet in Wisma Kosan, but you can still find them in Kampung Likas right on the left turn after the Kampung Likas Cemetery. There’s also a great Bakso stall that opens only at night, opposite of Kedai Runcit Salmin.

Also, don’t be fooled by the other “Nasi Emba” you might find around Kota Kinabalu, because it comes nothing close to this original one!

Location: Nur Dapur Tomyam & Nasi Katok, Ground Floor, Lot 114, Jalan Gaya, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

We know, you’re in Sabah, and you’re looking for Sabahan food. But the Kuching Laksa is also to die for! The Laksa comes with three different types; fish fillet, prawns, and mixed. You can even choose the type of noodles you want to go with it; Lo Mein noodles, Kuey Teow, or vermicelli. Their Kuching Laksa might be their best selling, but other options are equally as good too! Maybe try their Ngiu Chap Laksa, or even the local Bruneians favourite, Nasi Katok!

Location: Lot B-G-06, Level G, Lorong Sutera, Sutera Avenue, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Another recommended café in Kota Kinabalu is in Sutera Avenue. From their Matcha and strawberry croissants, to their Mille Feuille; even their Ebi Tempura Udon Soup and Chicken Katsu Curry Rice keep us coming back for more. Not to forget, just like any other café in Kota Kinabalu, Brown Fox is both Instagram-worthy (outside and inside!) Although we do want to remind you that their croissants get sold out real fast, so you might want to pay them a visit slightly earlier.

Considering that most of these places are non-tourist and mostly only popular locally, don’t be shy to ask the locals for directions.

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


Lady Gaga Launches Own Radio Talk Show On Apple Music

After releasing the successful “Chromatica” earlier this year, Lady Gaga is back to debut her own radio talk show! The radio segment sees Gaga pay tribute to the dance music genre on Apple Music.

Titled “The Gaga Radio”, the talk show will kick off with a discussion about the making of “Chromatica” with album producer, BloodPop. In fact, Gaga teased a portion of their conversation online a few days prior to the launch.

“Chromatica for me, was the portal that you and I opened in the studio where we would go, ‘OK, talent, creativity, voice from above, sign from above, come inside me, tell me what to say, tell me what to do,’ and most all of it was what I was truly feeling,” the Grammy winner shared.

Gaga continued on speaking about the mental and emotional release she felt during the making of the album in the preview. The duo could even be heard talking about Ariana Grande’s first reaction of the collaboration.

In a statement, Gage revealed her intentions behind this, noting; “The last few weeks I’ve been figuring out different ways at home that I can be of service to what I would call the singular global community.”

“One that I believe to be kind in nature, one that I believe to be very special to my heart and I believe to the hearts of many. I’m super thrilled, excited to have this show and this opportunity to play an incredible mix of music every week,” the singer added.

Each subsequent episode will consist of conversations with influential figures from the dance music genre. This will include dance music “DJs, divas, and producers”. In addition, the segment will also premiere an exclusive DJ mix of a Gaga tune every Friday.

So, are you guys excited to tune it? Catch the preview of the first episode here!


Ecotopia, Absolute Siam & ICONCRAFT Officially Open In Pavilion Bukit Jalil

If you can’t travel to Thailand, then allow Thailand to come to you. 3 new “Made in Thailand” brands – Ecotopia, Absolute Siam and ICONCRAFT – have just officially launch in Pavilion Bukit Jalil today (Monday, 28th February).

The 3-in-1 open-concept store encapsulates each individual brand’s personality within the 11,000 square feet retail space as Ecotopia, Absolute Siam and ICONCRAFT reflect a unique aspect of Thai culture. The partnership between Siam Piwat and Pavilion Group is an opportunity for shoppers to experience Thailand’s rich culture through creative retail concepts.

“The launch of Ecotopia, Absolute Siam, and ICONCRAFT gives local and international shoppers the opportunity to experience Thailand without leaving Malaysia. Shoppers can now explore these purposeful new brands and experience the best of Thai craftmanship and creativity through its highly curated selection of merchandise under one roof, with this unique and immersive retail concept,” said Dato’ Joyce Yap, CEO of Retail, Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn. Bhd., Retail Planner of Pavilion Bukit Jalil.

“We are proud to be taking SMEs products that have proven popular among foreigners to countries with high purchasing power while building awareness of Thai brands and designers internationally with the launch of the first Ecotopia, Absolute Siam, and ICONCRAFT stores outside of Thailand. For more than 10 years, Siam Piwat has been working with several agencies to incubate Thai entrepreneurs by training them how to design and market their products. We are proud to take our initiative further by giving them the exposure to showcase and sell their products to an international audience and introduce Thai culture, creative modern designs, and traditional handicrafts to the Malaysian market. We look forward to working with The Pavilion Group to continue our international expansion and to further strengthen Malaysia and Thai business relations,” said Ms. Usara Yongipiyakul, CEO of Retail, Siam Piwat Retail Holding.

A post shared by Pavilion Bukit Jalil (@pavilionbukitjalil.mall)

“Ecotopia focuses on bringing together an eco-conscious community of like-minded individuals with a belief that “Together, We Co-Create a Better World”. In collaboration with 12 eco-creators, Ecotopia delivers a new and friendly eco-centric experience that can be embraced by people from all walks of life. Seasun Society, an eco-friendly skincare line, and Magfish, an art and crafts business that uses recycled materials are amongst the brands on offer.”

Absolute Siam Store is focused on Thailand’s avant-garde fashion, providing a platform for up-and-coming Thai designers to showcase their creativity and fashion prowess. Over 60 fashion, art, tech, and lifestyle brands are represented in this multi-brand concept shop, which offers one-of-a-kind innovative and bold fashion pieces that set new trends in Absolute Siam style. Mahanakon, TA.THA.TA, Coralist, Sue and Anona are among the prominent Thai designers featured, with popular items including Mahanakon’s Durian Run Run graphic t-shirt, Sue’s Printed Wrap Pants and TA.THA.TA’s quirky Jam Bag.

ICONCRAFT showcases Thailand’s unique arts and crafts, with products from over 800 craftsmen, designers, and local communities all over Thailand exhibited, giving artisans the opportunity to enter modern trade. Jewellery, home decor, one-of-a-kind handicrafts, lifestyle artefacts, scents and fragrances are among the myriad of products offered in-store. Some brands featured are Bangkok Baskets that sell handmade bags with contemporary designs, and Kitt. Ta. Khon features modern hand-woven furniture pieces.

In addition to the aforementioned brands, the Thai precinct will be opening a new Thai concept dining experience called Sukhumvit 38.

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


Merdeka Wishes From Your Favourite Local Celebs!

With each Malaysian Independence/National Day, we’re reminded of how grateful we are to call this country our home. Everything from Malaysia’s melting pot of cultures, traditions galore, multi-ethnicity, unique diverse heritage, language, places, and food have become an integral part of our society.

Truth be told, it’s hard to not be proud to be Malaysian.

Today, Malaysia celebrates its 55th Independence/National Day. To commemorate the occasion, our team at Hype asked some of our friends and your favourite local celebrities what makes them Malaysian and proud to be Malaysians.

“I can’t go two sentences without saying “lah”, “mah”, or “(can) what”. I can’t imagine a world without teh tarik, roti canai, papadoms, bah kut teh, or nasi lemak! And because our self deprecating humor when it comes to different races, at the same time..our genuine love and respect that we all share for each and every different race, I’m proud to call myself a Malaysian. Through and through! Happy Merdeka, guys!”

“I’m Malaysian because..I love it. I love the country, I love the people, I love how everything works – it inspires me. I’ve been to alot of cities in the world but nothin’ comes close. Love my country! I wanna raise my flag high!!!! 55 years and still going strong. Happy Independence Day, Malaysia!”

“I am Malaysian because I was born here and fortunately, I feel blessed because of the cultural diversity that equals an amazing variety of food! And of course, that it’s available 24 hours a day. You can’t find anything like this in any other country. Thank you Malaysia for letting me eat well!”

“I love Malaysia because it’s a place I call home. Family, friends, and of course the amazing food. I travel quite a bit, but I must say, Malaysia always holds a special place in my heart. Guess that’s what makes me Malaysian. Happy Merdeka Day, my fellow Malaysians!”

“Most days of the year, I find it hard to be patriotic. That’s because there are far and few things that give cause for patriotism. We have horrible public transportation compared to say..Bangkok or Taiwan. The cost of living (dollar for dollar) is actually more expensive than Singapore. Our rights and human freedom in this country can sometimes be described as questionable. But yet, although the grass is greener on the other side, there’s always this..inexplicable feeling when I touchdown in Malaysia. It’s not the best but that’s every reason why it’s up to us Malaysians to make it better. As my feet lie on my home soil, I know that I want to stand my ground and fight for a better tomorrow rather than take the easy road and run. My Merdeka wish is that..I hope to give other people a reason to be proud of Malaysia.”

“We are what we eat and hence I’m fully Malaysian because I’m fully loaded with all the amazing varieties of food in Malaysia. Everywhere I go I’ll be sure to rave about how amazing our local delicacies are! Happy 55th birthday, Malaysia.”

“To be Malaysian is to be proud of a multi-cultural heritage, to be appreciative of a society with so many levels of trust and understanding woven into its fabric, to remain united against those who seek to divide, to be proud of both our history and our future. In our hearts and minds, in thought and in action, regardless of which corner of the earth, to have our roots in this land and call Malaysia home. This is what makes me a Malaysian, and proudly so.”

“55 years ago, we were all on horses and stuff like that. We’ve come a long, long way, Malaysia and it really is a great place to live. I’ve had friends come out here and they love it! In fact, they end up staying far too long. Everybody I know who has been to Malaysia loves it – and it’s for good reasons. We are a nation united at the end of the day. Plus, Malaysia gave us Khairul Fahmi Che Mat! Happy Merdeka to all you proud Malaysians!”

Happy holidays from us at Hype Malaysia.


13 New K-pop Releases In November That Every Fan Should Check Out

How are we feeling, K-poppers?! November brought calamity in the form of comebacks; one after the other so relentlessly that most of us barely had time to recover before being hit with the Hallyu wave.

From solo artists, to our favourite K-pop groups to fresh new indie finds; November proved that 2018 is not quite done with us yet. Catch your breath folks, we at Hype got you covered with a list to keep you in check with the times! Here’s a curated list of our favourites out of the new releases in K-pop for the month of November 2018.

1. EXO – “Don’t Mess Up My Tempo” (3rd November)

EXO-Ls, rise from the depths of the interwebs! After an entire year of leaving us with the reggae-alien-EDM experimental cocktail that was “Ko Ko Bop”, the legends of SM Entertainment are finally back with a full length album. “Tempo” brought something entirely new to their game—while not particularly outstanding—it was a complete refreshing taste to the palate.

A new concept and genre for the boys to try out, “Tempo” was exactly what EXO needed after the bright glitz and glam of “Ko Ko Bop”. The acapellas that shone through in the track was also an absolute treat for the ears (albeit the reused squeaky bed noise brings down the pleasantness of the song by a couple of notches).

The sweethearts of the nation are back again with another track that will no doubt have us addicted for days. “Yes or Yes” sounds like your average Twice track—bright, uplifting, and of course, tooth achingly cute. It seems that Twice won’t be breaking free of their concept or style anytime soon, staying safe within a formula that arguably works wonders for them. Despite not being anything out of the box, Twice’s success speaks for themselves. In terms of costumes though, it could be said to be a step in the direction of change. Maybe a more mature concept will be a possibility in the far future?

It’s been a while since we heard from our boys from CUBE Entertainment. BTOB surprised fans everywhere with a sudden release, but no one’s complaining. “Beautiful Pain” is a heart wrenching ballad, tugging at emotional strings and all. With leader Eunkwang leaving to serve in the military soon, this one has a particular sting to it. As always, BTOB never fails to deliver when it comes to powerful vocals. Perhaps they have been forgotten in the ever developing world of Kpop, but “Beautiful Pain” is no contest when it comes to brilliance.

Being the first member of BLACKPINK to have a solo, high expectations were set for Jennie when the news was announced. “Solo” delivers in a visual sense; the music video clearly being very high budget (in a typical YG fashion) however that’s as far as it gets.

As a track alone, “Solo” does not stand out in any particular way—it’s just your regular pop song. Perhaps painfully mediocre, but not a bad song either. It just is. That being said, the track is very suited for the mainstream Western world of music—perhaps YG has bigger plans for the most popular member of BLACKPINK? After all, the foursome did recently collab with Dua Lipa and topped several charts worldwide.

5. Wanna One – “1¹¹=1 (POWER OF DESTINY)” (19th November)

Being the final comeback from Wanna One, this album was both a win and a loss for Wannables. The nation’s boy group who won everyone’s hearts with Produce 101 Season 2, are finally seeing the end of their days as a temporary group. In terms of delivery however, they do not disappoint. “Spring Breeze” is a bittersweet track laced with nostalgia, and is the perfect farewell gift to their fans. With all eleven members singing their hearts out for the last time, this album may rival their previous releases as one of their best.

The queens are back as 5! The coquettish quintet is finally reunited with leader Solji after a long wait. It’s hard for EXID in general to disappoint, infamous for delivering solid tracks comeback after comeback. “I Love You” is no different,  showcasing EXID’s strong vocals in the chorus but leaving room for a catchy sing-a-long phrase as they demonstrate a new signature sexy move. The track by itself sounds like three different songs pasted together, but the 5 of them make it work by blending all of it into nothing less than the typical fresh, adventurous (of course, sexy) EXID trademark sound.

It’s been a good year for NCT. With the Seoul unit, 127, coming back with an album repackage from the previously released “Regular” only a month ago—“Simon Says” is exactly what we deserve. “Simon Says” is what one would think of when NCT127 comes to mind; gritty, raw and experimental. Chaotic from start to finish, NCT 127’s sound finally came through with this release. While “Regular” was good, it was too safe and (one dares to say) boring? “Simon Says” hit spots that “Regular” failed to, showing us that NCT 127 have not quite loss their sense of colour and will always be up for trying aggressively strange tracks.

Yes, believe your eyes, INCLEs. It finally happened. After rumours for years, Mino from WINNER has finally debuted with his solo album. “Fiancé” is perhaps one of the most memorable releases this year, completely catching everyone off-guard with the choice of genre. Blending classic Korean instruments and trot music with hip hop and heavy bass, Mino took a well calculated risk and proved himself with this highly addictive track. Touching on topics of sensual nature (as expected from his past solos of “Body” and “Turn Off The Light”), Mino seems to have found his style and will most probably be sticking to it. Hey, we’re not complaining!

We haven’t heard from the powerhouse vocalists of K-pop for quite a while now. Being the first release since “Egoistic”, fans were ecstatic for the return of Mamamoo. It seems that the quartet is in a transitional period of their sound, testing the waters with various genres. “Wind Flower” seems to be exactly that, though fortunately it isn’t another tropical house number. Playing with indie sounds of feel good keyboard and guitar, “Wind Flower” comes as a lovely song to listen to during evening drives. While Mamamoo’s trademark belting may not be present in the track, they prove to have other cards to play with “Wind Flower”.

Perhaps the most anticipated release out of SM Entertainment’s back-to-back comebacks; Red Velvet is a curious one. Fans were practically ravenous for a more sultry side after the taste they gave us with “Bad Boy” earlier this year, and the saccharine cuteness of “Power Up” was not enough to sate them. Instrumentally, “RBB” is fantastic. The brass in the song makes it an instant likeable track, the vocal layering of the girls making it heavenly—but it ends up rather questionable. Notorious for their repetitive choruses (then again, so is most of K-pop), “RBB” tries to deliver a chorus that is not present. While it still is an absolute banger of a track, it is obviously trying to overcompensate for the success of “Bad Boy”. Unfortunately, it fell flat in comparison.

11. Sam Kim – “Sun and Moon” (22nd November)

A soloist in K-indie that caught the attention of many with his release in 2016 and OSTs, Sam Kim has at last given us a full length album. “Sun and Moon” is tender touch of a feather to our senses, with Kim’s soulful crooning just slipping us under a spell. A gorgeous blend of neo-soul and R&B, this is a go-to album if milder music is more of your preference.

Yet another temporary group that will be seeing the end of their days soon, Nuest W came through with the emotional yet upbeat “Help Me”. It seems that theatrics suits the group best, as the drama and angst in the track works wonderfully in their favour. Determined to go out with a bang, this seems to be a wise decision for the quartet.

Key from SHINee has finally broken through, being the 3rd member from the group to have a solo album. Continuing the tradition set by members Taemin and the late Jonghyun, “Face” shares a similar name and style to the previous solo albums. However in terms of genres, Key knocks it out of the park. Dripping with the style of the 80s, “Face” surprises many with its refreshing yet incredibly stylish new sound.

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


From Ole Henriksen To Timberland: Dope Beauty & Fashion Drops You Gotta Cop!

As we welcome the spring season of 2023, the world of fashion and beauty is getting ready for some of the hottest drops this year. From new skincare lines to exclusive fashion collections, here are some dope new drops you gotta check out:

It’s time to say goodbye to stubborn dark circles with the new OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright+ Vitamin CC Sticks, the clinical colour fix for dark circles. Designed to brighten under eyes and colour-correct dark circles for skin correcting and make boosting results, it’s powered with energizing caffeine to reinvigorate under eyes, two forms of enhanced and antioxidant rich Vitamin C to improve elasticity, brighten and reduce the appearance of dark spots, and light-reflecting banana bright pigments for an illuminated complexion.

The OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright+ Vitamin CC Sticks come in three versatile shades – Banana (For purple dark circles), Apricot (For blue/purple dark circles), and Pumpkin (For blue dark circles).

Now available online at Sephora.my and will be available in-stores at Sephora Malaysia on May 11, 2023.

Finding the right products for your skin type can be tricky, especially if you’re just starting to experiment with skincare. So, if you’re tired of constantly switching between brands, SOTHYS has introduced their new sustainable and ethical skincare package programme – the SOTHYS VC Club!

SOTHYS VC Club is a year-long programme designed to streamline skincare routines, and it guarantees consistent and real results as well as eliminate the need for constant product experimentation. The 3-product package is a holistic skincare regimen that works synergistically to reduce wrinkles and spots, tighten pores, and reveal glowing skin, using 100% vegan and cruelty-free ingredients. The VC Club offers two cost-saving packages that save customers up to RM2,000 in retail price compared to the normal price of the combined products outside the curated package.

In celebration of Mothers’ Day, SOTHYS is offering a complimentary Perfect Shape Youth Serum with the purchase of Package B till the 15th of May 2023. At SOTHYS.

Oribe has announced their new Oil Control Collection as an addition to their Serene Scalp collection. The Oil Control Shampoo, Oil Control Treatment Mist, and Dry Shampoo Powder were created to lengthen the time between washes by reducing excess oil and sebum on persons with oily scalps. They are all designed to leave hair looking and feeling clean and lightweight for longer than ever before. The solutions are designed to restore the scalp’s delicate microbiome, the ecology of good and bad bacteria that resides on the surface of your skin, in addition to absorbing and lowering oil content on the scalp and in the hair.

The Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo (RM241), Serene Scalp Oil Control Treatment Mist (RM268), and Serene Scalp Oil Control Dry Shampoo Powder (RM214) will be available on Oribe.com and at Oribe salons (Makeover Salon Bangsar, Hairzone Studio by Michael Poh MyTOWN, Miko Galére Pavilion, Royal Salon Kota Kinabalu) beginning May 2023.

In conjunction with Earth Day, Timberland has build upon its Timberloop™ circular design platform with the latest Earthkeepers® by RÆBURN collection. With a goal to minimise waste and keep products out of a landfill, the new S’23 capsule pushes the boundaries of design using high quality materials and circular design principles across both footwear and apparel.

The new Earthkeepers® by Raeburn includes apparel pieces, highlighted by the DWR Jacket, which features reinforced seams and pockets and is water repellent; and the Engineered Knit Hoodie, which is breathable thanks to its open weave, and designed to be recycled after its life.

They’re also offering an apparel collection, Earthkeepers® by Raeburn Graphic Tee in both short and long sleeves, as well as  the Earthkeepers® by Raeburn Cargo Pants, embodying the spirit of protection and sustainability.

The Earthkeepers® by RÆBURN collection is now available at Timberland Pavilion and Sunway Pyramid.

TUMI has launched their limited-edition TUMI | McLaren 60th Anniversary Collection, celebrating six decades since the founding of luxury supercar maker McLaren. The collection is unveiled as the final instalment of the brand’s Spring 2023 campaign, entitled “Unpack Tomorrow,” featuring returning TUMI Crew member and McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris.

The collection offers a range of limited-edition styles in McLaren’s signature papaya colorway, including the Torque Sling, Velocity Backpack, and Aero International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On.

The new collection is now available to shop in TUMI stores worldwide and on TUMI.com. Keep up with TUMI on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s not too late to zhuzh up your Raya looks for this year. Add a touch of glitz to your fits with Luxottica’s picks for the best eyewear pieces that will level up your Aidilfitri styles when you visit your kawan-kawan this celebration.

Whether you’re sticking to the classics or keeping it modern, they’ve got something for you. For folks who wanna match their eyewear with their traditional Baju Kebaya or Baju Kurung, you can opt for a more classic eyewear and bold frames from Vogue Eyewear and Emporio Armani. But, if you’re planning to incorporate the Y2K trend in your Raya style, you can opt for tinted eyewear, or geometric frames from brands like Burberry, Prada, and Giorgio Armani to accentuate and achieve your Raya Y2K style.

Head over to Luxottica’s website or their Instagram page to take a closer look at all the highlighted eyewear pieces.

For their Fall 2023 campaign, Valentino’s new Garavani Rockstud accessories are given the spotlight. With just four words, “I Mean…It’s Rockstud!”, we have both a declaration of love and a justification for why you definitely can’t live without it! Ever since the stud was introduced 10 years ago, the pyramid-shaped motif has seen countless reinventions over the years, yet remains a symbol of the Maison’s powerful codes. Sharp, shining and often all-over, the Rockstud is a symbol of the aristo-punk attitude, at once high and low, defiantly rock and effortlessly bourgeois.

Now, for the Fall 2023 campaign, the Rockstud continues the narrative, making its subversive statement atop two footwear silhouettes along with a must-have bag. Kicking off the category, the Maison reissues its covetable Valentino Garavani Rockstud pumps. Mixing a radical spirit with bourgeois elegance, the Valentino Garavani Rockstud ballerinas are a balancing act bringing refined design in conversation with bold colours and materials. A roundup of Rockstuds wouldn’t be complete without a season-specific purse. For Urban Riviera Fall 2023 collection, the Maison presents the new Valentino Garavani Rockstud23 bag, offered in two distinct sizes.

Find out more about the collection here.

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


Peter Rabbit 2 Greenlighted For A 2020 Release

Sony’s “Peter Rabbit” is quite the box office hit, which is why a sequel for the CGI-live action comedy has been greenlighted.

Even though the movie was overshadowed by Marvel’s “Black Panther”, it was still a major success for Sony, earning over $320 million worldwide from a $50 million budget.

Following the success, a “Peter Rabbit 2” has been officially announced for an early 2020 release with writer-director Will Gluck returning to direct and write the sequel.

The movie is slated for a release date on 7th February 2020 in the United State, and the original cast including Rose Byrne, James Corden, Domhnall Gleeson, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, Sam Neill, and more are expected to reprise their roles in the upcoming movie.

A post shared by Peter Rabbit (@peterrabbitmovie)

Based on the stories of “Peter Rabbit” created by Beatrix Potter, the movie is an original story following the titular bunny who try to sneak into a farmer’s vegetable garden.


#IronMan4: Robert Downey Jr. Returns?

You probably already know that Forbes’ most powerful actor Robert Downey Jr. will be returning as Iron Man in the upcoming Marvel’s movie “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. But is he going to be the genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist Tony Stark once again in the 4th instalment of the popular Marvel movie franchise, “Iron Man”?

Well, the answer is yes, no, maybe, see how.

Previously, it was reported that Robert Downey Jr. will not be returning to the new Iron Man movie after his contract with Marvel expired. But it seems like the actor is reconsidering his role as the iconic superhero, as mentioned during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. The actor hinted the possibility of returning to the silver screen when answering a question regarding Iron Man 4:

It’s down to Kevin (Feige, Marvel Studios president) and Ike [Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment] and Disney to come to us with what the proposal is, and that’s on us to agree or disagree.

The answer was vague but the actor also told EW that things are going great and  “there’s a lot of agreement”. But EW speculated that the actor might be trying to reach an agreement with Marvel as he said, “This has been a really good one and it feels good and we’re having a good time.”

Well, of course the actor might be reprising his role as Iron Man. After all, he was named as one of the highest-paid actors in the world due to the profits he has made from the Iron Man franchise.

Even the actor himself feels like it’d be a waste for such a great opportunity and said, “It’s that thing of: Why give up the belt when it feels like you can barely get jabbed?”

On 24th July, the actor uploaded a picture of Iron Man-themed cake on his official Facebook page and once again hinted the possibility of returning as Iron Man in the upcoming film. However, the actor said the future is uncertain until Marvel makes the official announcement.

Meanwhile, we are still trying to guess which Marvel movies will be unveiled during the SDCC after they announced the release dates for 5 new untitled movies.


(Video) Coco Lee’s Sisters Share Final Moments Before Her Tragic Suicide

Hong Kong-born American singer Ferren Lee aka Coco Lee (李玟) touched many lives with her work as a performer and an artist. Unfortunately, it seems the world will never get to witness her performance again. Yesterday (Wednesday, 5th July), it was revealed that the highly respected singer had taken her own life.

The 48-year-old singer had spent most of her life dedicated to music. However, it seems she had also faced a different battle amidst her work. As her sisters later explained, Coco Lee had been struggling with suicide. Regretfully, despite her best efforts, the Mandopop singer decided to leave the world bereft of her.

Coco’s sisters, Nancy and Carol, broke the news yesterday evening via their socials.. “With great sadness, we (need) to tell you (some) devastating news: Coco had been suffering from depression for a few years. Although, she sought professional help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside of her (got) the better of her,” they said.

“She committed suicide at home on 2nd July and was in a coma after being sent to the hospital. Although the hospital (staff) did their best to rescue and treat her, she passed away on 5th July,” Nancy and Carol shared. The news devastated many as Coco had just released the MV on her new song “戰歌” on 27th May. And according to her sisters, 2023 would have been her 30th anniversary.

Nancy and Carol also took the time to acknowledge all their youngest sister had done, both for them and for the world around her. “In the past 29 years, Coco not only brought us endless joy and surprise with her singing, she also worked to (pave) the way for Chinese singers in the international music scene. (She) has done her best to shine brightly for the Chinese. We are so proud of her,” they added.

Coco Lee had not been silent in the days leading to her passing. She had previously shared on her socials that she had been facing difficulties in life, although she had not mentioned what they were exactly. Fans have also found and released what seems to be a voice recording from the singer, with many believing it to the last time she spoke to her fans.

“Dearest (ones), I am Coco,” her voice message said. “I feel everyone’s love and support for me. As long as you’re backing me, I will (continue) to keep going. I hope you are happy and healthy during this time. I miss you all very much. I am working hard and I miss you all. Love you thank you all for the gifts, (it’s) very beautiful.”

Fans and friends have since been mourning the loss of the singer, famous for her rendition of “Mulan”‘s “Reflection” the Mandarin version, her performance of “A Love Before Time” from the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” during the 73rd Academy Awards. There has been an outpouring of messages wishing her peace, sharings of all the ways Coco Lee has touched their lives and how much they will miss her.

Coco’s sisters have also requested privacy and space from others to heal from the devastating loss. But, they have left fans with these parting words: “(We) hope you will not only miss Coco, but share her iconic bright smile, treat people sincerely, and convey love and kindness to everyone around you. Continue Coco’s wish (which was to) let everyone around her feel her love and happiness.”

Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, friends and fans. We hope they will find peace in her passing. As for Coco Lee, while her loss has left us hurting, we do hope she finds the peace she needs in the afterlife.

Hong Kong pop singer Coco Lee has died at the age of 48 after years of battling depression, her sister Nancy Lee posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. pic.twitter.com/z5JLtfwVZl

Sources: Facebook, Twitter, Oriental Daily (1)(2)

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


Shawn Chien’s Infidelity Led to Wife’s Suicide

Alisya Yeh, the 24-year-old wife of former Taiwan variety show regular Shawn Chien, committed suicide on May 31 after an argument over his infidelity, reported Jayne Stars. Yeh reportedly jumped off a building in Macau after a heated argument with Chien, who used to appear on talent-scouting variety series Mo Fan Bang Bang Tang.

29-year-old Shawn Chien admitted in a Facebook post that the argument that led to his wife’s suicide arose because he was cheating on her:

I am sorry, my wife… I am a worthless human being, and because of my infidelity, I have killed you and my daughter has lost her loving mother. I have no ability to do anything else but stare as you said goodbye to me in front of my eyes. You have given me my biggest lesson, but my wife, can you please not give me this lesson? Can you please tell me that this was all a joke or it was just a dream? Going through 18 levels of hell is not enough of a punishment for me. I was the one who should be leaving. It’s me, not you, why did you have to be so stupid? Don’t worry. I will take care of our daughter, and I will see you again. I love you, Alisya Yeh. Sorry.

Jayne Stars also reported that the third party was a Taiwanese woman known as Hsu, and that Yeh and Hsu had been involved in altercations with each other. Chien had reportedly sided with Hsu in these incidents.


Contest: Snag Exclusive #AngryBirdsMovie Merchandise + Premiere Screening Passes

Ready to find out why the angry birds are angry?

“The Angry Birds Movie“, scheduled to arrive in cinemas nationwide on 12th May, is a film based on the video game series of the same name, and is being directed by Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly (in their directorial debuts). It also boasts an all-star ensemble of voice cast members namely Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, and Peter Dinklage.

“All the birds live peacefully in a small paradise of flightless birds, except Red (voiced by Jason Sudeikis), as he has a lot of anger for no reason. One day, they find out the mysterious appearance of pigs on the island, including Ross (voiced by Tony Hale) and Earl (voiced by Blake Shelton), lead by Leonard (voiced by Bill Hader). The flock team up to investigate about the piggies and find out their intention behind this.”

Thanks to our friends from Sony Pictures Malaysia, we’re giving away some “The Angry Birds Movie” merchandise as well as “The Angry Birds Movie” premiere screening passes!

Deets of movie screening are as follows:

“The Angry Birds Movie” is slated to be released in Malaysia on 12th May 2016.

For more information, hit up “The Angry Birds Movie” website or Facebook page.


“The Batman” Screening At TGV Had To Restart 45 Minutes In Due To VIPs Being Late?

“The Batman” movie is finally here and DC fans have booked their tickets the second pre-orders were available. Now, it’s one thing being late to watch the movie you bought tickets for, but it’s another thing when the cinema decided to restart the whole movie due to “VIPs” running late.

TGV Cinemas at Vivacity in Kuching issued an apology yesterday after it was reported that the screening for “The Batman” movie restarted after 45 minutes. “This incident does not adhere with our screening SOPs as all our movie sessions are to run on time as per schedule,” TGV said in a statement posted on Twitter. TGV Cinemas also offered 2 complimentary tickets and full refunds to all impacted guests as a token of apology.

Minmin and the team are investigating this matter guys, we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/6LHlqnx9oA

— TGV Cinemas 🇲🇾 (@TGVCinemas) March 6, 2022

Facebook user, Fazillah Raduan who was there during the incident, shared the experience on his page. According to Fazillah, the movie had already been rolling for about 45 minutes until a staff member came in, paused the movie and made an announcement.

When asked, the staff member answered that there were customers who were late. This angered a lot of people who came to watch the movie at the chosen time that best suited their schedule but had to endure another 45 minutes due to these so-called VIPs. Netizens including social media influencer, Ceddy expressed their opinions on the matter on Twitter:

Seriously even if you’re some anak menteri, the fact that you are watching the movie in a regular hall then act like a regular person. And EVEN if you’re in Indulge/Aurumn pun you don’t get to ask for a restart just because you’re late, people pay just like you lah. Fuckers.

Netizens weighed in on the original Facebook post and one user commented that he was one of the customers who came late. According to him, the movie restarting was probably not due to VIPs running late but a miscommunication on the staff’s end.

The user commented that the late customers actually came on time to watch the movie but was told by the staff that it was being delayed and asked to come back at a later time. When they returned at said later time, they discovered that the movie had already been playing for 45 minutes.

Mystery solved, probably? Maybe pic.twitter.com/tJXZYEK5XX

A spokesman for TGV told Malay Mail that the company is aware of the incident and is currently investigating the matter.  “We definitely do not cater to people coming in late, this is not the standard practice. We’re investigating the matter as we speak. It could have been a technical issue and maybe the message wasn’t conveyed properly,” they said.

So far, there has been no further updates from TGV Cinemas on whether it was a case of miscommunication among staff or actual VIPs running late to see the movie.

TGV Cinemas posted an official statement on Twitter earlier today at 1:39pm to give an update on their investigation. The company clarified that there were no late arrivals of VIPs as speculated and that the delays were due to technical issues and miscommunication among staff.

— TGV Cinemas 🇲🇾 (@TGVCinemas) March 7, 2022

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


Hype’s Now Playing: James Newton Howard Ft. Jennifer Lawrence – #TheHangingTree

Composed by James Newtow Howard,  “The Hanging Tree” is a breakout track that featured Jennifer Lawrence for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” . The Academy Award-winning actress may be new to the music scene but she has surprised the movie goers by delivering this beautiful a cappella performance through her role as Katniss Everdeen in the film.

James Newton Howard’s original version of “The Hanging Tree” is part of both the film’s score album and Lorde-curated soundtrack album. It came as no surprise that the song has sold over 200, 000 singles in its first week because it was well-received by the public. In just less than a week, the song is topping the iTunes chart around the world and ranked as the #1 Soundtrack song and #2 Overall Song on iTunes.

The song even garnered over 3 million views on YouTube.

Just recently, “The Hanging Tree” made its debut at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart while the soundtrack and the score have debuted on the Top 20 and Top 40 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart respectively.

For those of you who are curious about Lorde-curated soundtrack album, here’s full tracklist:

Directed by Francis Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” is based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling “Hunger Games” trilogy. The film was released in the cinemas on November 21st and it stars Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Woody Harrelson..


Sony PlayStation 5 Available In Malaysia On 11th Dec; Here’s How To Pre-Order

Everyone has been anxiously waiting for Sony to announce the release date of the upcoming PlayStation 5 in Malaysia.

Well, you can now start to make plans as the PlayStation 5 is arriving here next month and you can start pre-ordering it tomorrow (12th November) onwards.

Playstation Asia took to their Facebook page to make the announcement on the console’s release date and prices. The PS5 Digital Edition will be priced at RM1,869, while it’s slightly bigger counterpart, the PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive, will be available at RM2,299 on 11th December 2020.

For those who didn’t know, the PS5 will come in 2 versions, with the major contrast between the 2 is the disc drive; hence the price difference. Unlike its counterpart, the PS5 Digital Edition will only allow you to play games using digital downloads instead of discs.

The official pricing for its accessories has also been released, which includes the DualSense Wireless Controller (RM349), the Pulse 3D wireless headset (RM469), the HD Camera (RM279), the Media Remote (RM149), and the DualSense Charging Station (RM149). Some of the high-end game titles that will be available for the PS5 includes “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales”, “Gran Turismo 7”, and “Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War”.

If you’ve been saving up for the console, you can start pre-ordering it tomorrow (12th November) via the official online channel or participating retailers. As reported by SoyaCincau, here’s a list of the retailers:

In the meantime, you can mess around with the PS5 filter on Instagram by tricking your friends. Read about it here.


Jay Park Explains The Real Reason He’s Retiring From The Industry

Uh oh, did something happen to Jay Park (박재범) recently?

Earlier today (Wednesday, 17th April), the Korean American artist took to Twitter to drop a bombshell on fans. He basically announced that he’s retiring from the entertainment industry.

The 31-year-old rapper seem to have made up his mind though. “This is a promise to you guys and myself,” he wrote. However, his retirement won’t happen anytime soon as he still need to tie up some loose ends.

Fans are confused, to say the least. “Didn’t he just signed on to Jay Z’s Roc Nation not too long ago?” a fan asked. Some even reminded the entertainer that April’s Fool was weeks ago. “Maybe he’s having a mid life crisis?“, another netizen suggested.

Im gonna retire in a couple years~ this is a promise to you guys and myself. Not a lot of space for guys like me left in this game.

— JAY BUM PARK (@JAYBUMAOM) April 17, 2019

Jay recently completed his judge duties on the latest season of “Asia’s Got Talent”.

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


Alec Benjamin Announces “The (Un)Commentary Tour” In Asia; Including Kuala Lumpur

Alec Benjamin is set to kick off “The (Un)Commentary Tour” in the US and Canada, but fret not peeps, the American singer-songwriter will also be making his way to Asia later this year! Yay!

Live Nation has just announced that his Asia tour will include 5 cities that will start in Taipei, before travelling to Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and finally Bangkok. For all you Malaysian fans, mark your calendars, the date is 30th November (Wednesday) 2022.

Alec has come a long way since his early days of performing in parking lots of concert venues to promote his music. His big break came when his 2018 single “Let Me Down Slowly” reached the top 40 in over 25 countries. On 15th April this year, he debuted his second studio album “(Un)Commentary”. “His dazzling
wordplay delights in every track. But the songs also deliver profound messages both personal and worldly,” a music critic wrote.

His standout track, “Devil Doesn’t Bargain,” has also been a hot favourite on social media leading to a massive 350% increase in streams across DSPs and landed in the Top 5 Most Added at Hot AC on the second week of August 2022. Fans have also been vibing to new tracks like “Speakers” and “Shadow of Mine” – which is expected to be included in this tour’s setlist.

Alec Benjamin “The (Un)Commentary Tour” Live In KL:

Alec Benjamin “The (Un)Commentary Tour” in Asia

Brought to you by Live Nation Malaysia, Fan Club Pre-sale and Live Nation Pre-sale will go live on 5th and 6th September respectively. General On-sale will go live on 7th September from 10am onwards. More info here or here.


IBM Malaysia Employee Under Fire Over Racist Comments Towards Malay Muslims

A Malaysian woman caused a major uproar among netizens recently after she came up with a racist statement on her Facebook account.

The lady, named Welling Chang, was seen criticising Malay Muslims over their lack of fluency in speaking English. She even labelled the aforementioned group as “narrow-minded” and “undeveloped”.

Scrolling through her Facebook, netizens discovered that she is an employee at the global tech company, IBM. Netizens took to IBM Malaysia’s Facebook to lodge a report about the issue regarding Welling’s controversial statement.

As a result, the comments section was flooded with tons of negative remarks from social media users. In this case, many netizens urged IBM Malaysia to take action against the employee. Additionally, some even urged the lady to be fired from her company.

Seemingly impacted by the massive amount of backlash, IBM Malaysia finally addressed the issue in their official Facebook over the weekend. The company assured everyone that they are “investigating the matter and will take appropriate action.”

Based on our checking, the woman has since deleted her Facebook and also her LinkedIn page as at time of writing (Tuesday, 11th August), after experiencing social media’s “cancel culture”.


#KL2017: The Official Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games Video Is A Tearjerker

If this doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, we don’t know what else will.

Uploaded by the official Facebook page of the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, the video features athletes from various races and walks of life preparing for the games, with focus on their struggles. It also highlights your every day Malaysians, be it the coaches, the cook at the local “mamak”, the “roti man” passing by, or the caring neighbour, coming together to help push our athletes towards victory.

Pain, love, tears, joy, but above all, unity. It truly does take a nation to raise a champion.

The 2017 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 29th Southeast Asian Games and commonly known as Kuala Lumpur 2017, is a Southeast Asian multi-sport event that will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 19th to 30th August 2017, with 405 events in 38 sports to be featured in the games.

This will be the 6th time Malaysia hosts the games and its first time since 2001.

For more information on the games, hit up the official website.

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


Utusan’s Warehouse Clearance Sale Offers Books & Magazines At Very Affordable Price

The closing down of the longest standing Malaysian publication company Utusan Melayu Sdn Bhd (over 80 years of operation) in October this year caught many of us by surprise.

To bid farewell to loyal fans of their publications, Utusan is holding a warehouse closing sale to sell all of the books and magazines previously published by the company at a very affordable price – as low as 50 cents per copy.

The event is held at Utusan’s warehouse situated in Taman Shamelin Perkasa, Cheras. For those who are not familiar with the venue, they can always refer to Google Maps or Waze in order to get to the location.

Utusan readers as well as book worms who were lucky enough to pay their visit to the event so far have taken to Twitter to share their purchases. Most of them pointed out that the prices offered are very cheap in contrast to the original price of the book.

Buku ini, isinya sangat baik. Tajuk-tajuk yang dibentangkan bukan sahaja mengujakan, malah merangsang akal untuk idea yang berbeza. Harganya cuma RM2 di jualan gudang Utusan yang akan berakhir pada 31 Dis 2019. pic.twitter.com/l2PIRxobdi

— norsamilasamsudin (@Norsamila) December 15, 2019

The sale has already started and will carry on until this coming 31st December (Tuesday) only. So, hurry up and get your hands on this good steal!


Venue Owners & Musicians Want RM8K Entertainment License Fee Waived

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the entertainment industry has taken a hard-hit since the government disallowed live music events from taking place since March.

Live venue owners and musicians alike are currently pleading to the authorities to waive the entertainment license fees for next year as the current predicament is unlikely to resolve anytime soon.

Even though these type of shows have been disallowed to play for eight months now, entertainment outlets are still required to pay amounts of up to RM8,000 to renew their entertainment license fees (including taxes). Since it’s going to be a while before we get to see live music performances again, musicians and pub owners believe that it’s unreasonable to charge them for something they can’t do.

Musician Brian Gomez, who is the owner of Merdekarya, a live music venue in Petaling Jaya, took to his Facebook stating, “Now we find ourselves, after 8 long months of no entertainment, at Musim Pembaharuan Lesen (license renewal season). Would you be so kind as to explain to entertainment outlets how you have the gall to ask us to pay RM8000+ in entertainment license-renewal fees plus taxes, while at the same time disallowing entertainment?”

He went on to say that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with the ban even though live music is his main source of income and that most live venues have adhered to it. However, Gomez explained, “the fact remains is the ban that YOU have imposed on us, and yet you’re asking us to pay you RM8000+ for your permission for us to continue to NOT make a living.”

He added, “I’m asking you to waive the entertainment license fees and taxes for outlets in Selangor for 2021. It’s the logical thing to do. It’s the right thing to do.” Earlier in the post, Gomez mentioned that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has refused to return the RM10k license deposit paid by entertainment outlets as the process was “too complicated,” which makes it harder in general for business owners alike.

According to MalaysiaKini, Gomez is not the only one feeling this way. Keyboardist-vocalist Amizan Ariffin also agreed that the entertainment sector is in a bad shape and the entertainment fees need to be waived.

Moreover, Country group Os Pombos founding member, Jerry Singho also gave his two cents by adding, “Surely they have to waive the entertainment taxes for next year because most outlets hardly had any entertainment at all, which brings me to the point of ‘live’ music. I and thousands of musicians out there have not had it good at all.”

As of now, Brian Gomez has taken the initiative to create a petition to waive entertainment fees and taxes for 2021. Head over here to show your support.

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


Get Up Close & Personal With BIGBANG Via MTV Asia!

Global K-pop sensation BIGBANG are huge around the world and MTV is bringing you an inside look at the superstar K-pop group’s world concert tour!

MTV is bringing you the exclusive world premiere of BIGBANG’s new behind-the-scenes concert tour documentary, “BIGBANG: ALIVE Around the World”! The Korean boy band is one of the globe’s biggest acts, with a huge international audience, and were the winners of the first ever MTV EMA for Worldwide Act in 2011.

After kicking off their tour with a concert in Seoul in March 2012, the five-man act successfully completed the whirlwind tour, performing at 24 cities in 12 different countries (including Malaysia). They traveled 89,000 miles through four continents for a total of 48 shows, mesmerizing over 800,000 fans worldwide!

BIGBANG’s outstanding performances during the tour were highly praised by the international media and now the K-pop group has joined the ranks of the world’s biggest pop superstars! “BIGBANG: ALIVE Around the World” features live performances from the tour and exclusive glimpses behind the scenes:

Big Bang Alive Around The World Premiere Promo Spot
Tags: MTV Asia

You don’t want to miss this chance to get to know the group up close and personal!


iflix Offers Free VIP Access Code To Enjoy For 1 Month!

Can’t Netflix and chill cause you aren’t subscribed to one? Here’s some good news – you can enjoy iflix for free instead!

In the midst of the current restricted movement order, the streaming platform is now offering a free VIP Access code for viewers to watch all the movies and TV series they want.

For those that don’t know, iflix’s VIP Access is priced at RM10 per month and allows subscribers to enjoy premium contents and features without adverts. First timers who want to check out iflix without committing to a monthly fee can also enjoy iflix’s VIP Access beforehand.

Because of that, the free VIP Access code is also useful for those who already have an iflix account. After all, several telcos also provide a free trial period for their customers to enjoy the streaming service.

As mentioned in the voucher above, you may redeem the VIP promo code (tonton_iflix) anytime from now till 31st March 2020 for a 1-month access.


#BandarUtama: Something In The 1 Utama Shopping Centre Vicinity Is On Fire?

Netizens are sharing pictures of the smoke billowing out from what looks like the general 1 Utama Shopping Centre area in Bandar Utama.

The smoke could be seen from the nearby vicinity of Kota Damansara and even as far as Section 14.

According to one of our sources who works in the area, it is unclear what caused the fire, but the entire IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd building has since been evacuated.

“It looks like it’s coming from the area opposite Media Prima. As far as I know, the area opposite is where some construction workers are staying. When I came out, the fire trucks were already here,” our source said.

IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd has also sent out a memo to all of its employees to urge them to work from alternative locations, citing the “air quality in the building” due to the fire. “Employees in Plaza IBM are advised to work from alternative locations while the building management work on improving the air quality this afternoon. Please ensure your managers are aware of your work location,” the memo said.

There’s no cause for alarm as of yet though as we’re still gathering more information on the fire. We’ll update this post with more details we soon as we have ’em. Here’s hoping that nobody got hurt in the incident.

Sources: Charles Tyk, Maggy Wang, Pietro Felix / Featured image: Pietro Felix.

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


Netflix’s “There’s Someone Inside Your House” Review: The Only Victim Here Is The Audience

Ah, teen horror films. Who doesn’t love the raging hormones, the prom-queen screams and the wanton massacres of Stacies and Chads? Here on Netflix, you’ll find no shortage of twisted fantasies on the All-American teen dream. From the vampiric fun of “Vampires vs. the Bronx” to the wicked thrill of “The Babysitter” films. Recently, director Leigh Janiak went hard into genre with her gripping slasher “Fear Street” trilogy! A three-part long horror epic detailing a young girl’s journey to save her lover from the clutches of an evil witch. All the while monstrous killers stalk her and the gang. It wasn’t Finchian horror or anything but it delivered on the hot summer thrills of a great slasher romp. The kind that the classics like “Friday the 13th” and “A Nightmare of Elm Street” invoked decades past.

Now, Netflix is back with yet another teen slasher film. A highschool whodunnit that draws heavily from the 2000s’ “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Scream”. Will it leave its bloodied mark on slasher history as one of the greats? Or will we forget it faster than a Pendidikan Sivik class? Let’s find out!

The film opens, unsurprisingly, with the vicious murder of one of Osborne’s High football stars, Jackson Pace. It doesn’t stop there, though, his secret sins are then sent to the whole town. From then on, the killer begins to pick off the students of Osborne High, all while revealing the skeletons in the closets. Makani Young and her group of misfit friends are soon caught in the killer’s crossfire. Young must enter a deadly game of cat-and-mouse to stop the killer, lest she becomes their next victim.

“There’s Someone Inside Your House” goes to great lengths to flesh out the terrifying reality of online-shaming and performative culture. Director Patrick Brice play off the social anxiety, hoping to add an additional dimension to the horror beyond mere gore. Unfortunately, films like “Unfriended” have already beaten this film to the punch. At this point, it’s such a passé plot device; conceived in the mind of a committee of boomers trying to be topical. Which is all the film really has going for it.

At every turn, the film is trying its best to sell us on the terror of public humiliation and our characters’ dark pasts. Unfortunately, none of these so-called secrets are very interesting or unique. At times, they feel downright trivial. Then there’s the dialogue…the ear-bleeding, eyeroll-inducing dialogue. There’s no real humuor or wit to anything the characters have to say. Much like the film’s premise, they all feel artificially created in a factory. All they ever seem to do is whine or complain about their very loud labels and how they hate it. We get it, they’re misfits…so?

The film attempts to make up for its woeful lack of characterisation and originality by leaning into self-aware humuor. Admittedly, it does work in some regards. When it doesn’t, though, it bothers on being grating. It’s the typical strand of bathos that plays off a character making light of a dire situation by saying something goofy. A comedic element that needs to die quickly because it is getting very old and very tiresome.

We’ll say this at least, actress Sydney Park does a better job as a leading lady than Addison Rae. We believe her performance as the archetypal girl-next-door carrying a heavy past. She broods very well. Her character’s chemistry with Théodore Pellerin’s Ollie was somewhat endearing, if not underdeveloped. We’re sure in the original book that there’s plenty of time dedicated to explaining their relationship. Sadly, the film’s hour and a half runtime fails to capture it in any meaningful way. Furthermore, Park falters in dramatically heavy scenes. Her big lines at the climax of the film come as flat and inauthentic.

Time for the all-important question: Is “There’s Someone Inside Your House” scary? No. It’s not. As mentioned earlier, the film is so preoccupied with teenager angst and highschool ennui that it couldn’t give a rat’s ass about trying to craft a proper scare. The film is very reliant on jumpscares and its score (those damn violins) to carry its slasher scenes. The supposed meat of the film. There’s no innovative use of negative space, lighting, atmosphere or tension. There’s no artistry or any real forethought.

Perhaps the only scene that could possibly ellicit any sort of shock was the one taking place in the church. A scene in which trailer already spoils! With little to no tension or dread, the film relies on cheap blood and gore to sell its slasher horror label. Even in that regard the film fails to come up with anything exciting. There’s an amateurish quality about the entire film that constantly breaks immersion. If horror films are roller coasters that build on momentum and twists than “There’s Someone Inside Your House” is a Ferris wheel. A dull, predictable crawl simply going through the motions.

A good slasher film should be the perfect blend of scary and goofy. Striking a fine balance between corny youthful fun with dark, foreboding murder. Sometimes, they can be even cerebral as well. Look at 2011’s “The Cabin in the Woods”. It masterfully deconstructs classic slasher tropes while still delivering actual scares. “There’s Someone Inside Your House” is neither silly and self-aware enough to be funny. Nor is it competent enough to be frightening. It’s worse than bad, it’s meh.

Netflix’s “There’s Someone Inside Your House” is a bland, soulless affair hoping to ride the coattails of more successful teen slasher films. When its not beating us over the head with its cliche message, it’s busy boring us to tears over its poorly articulated highschool drama. When the action finally arrives, it feels more like an reluctant obligation than a cathartic rush. The only real victim here is the audience.

Now if you’re looking for some good ole slasher fun, then we highly recommend checking out the “Fear Street Trilogy“. It’s got everything you filthy gorehounds need to have a wicked good time!

So, what did you think of Netflix’s “There’s Someone Inside Your House”? Be sure to let us know by leaving a reaction down below!

Netflix's "There's Someone Inside Your House" is a bland, soulless affair hoping to ride the coattails of more successful teen slasher films. When its not beating us over the head with its cliche message, it's busy boring us to tears over its poorly articulated highschool drama. When the action finally arrives, it feels more like an reluctant obligation than a cathartic rush.


#GarfieldRunMY: The “Garfield Run” Is Coming To Malaysia!

If Garfield, the world’s most popular lazy cat, knows the importance of being healthy and fit, what more the rest of us?

That’s right! The “Garfield Run” is coming to Malaysia :)

#Fitspo freaks can choose to participate in the 3km category or 5km category with the characters from Jim Davis’ popular comic strip, “Garfield”. The “Garfield Run” will also feature carnival activities and performances, so you can enjoy some post-race fun after the event.

Price: RM90 (Early Birds, 1st – 31st October), RM100 (Normal Price, 1st November – 12th December)

Each participant is entitled to a “Garfield Run” T-shirt, a “Garfield Run” finisher’s medal, a Garfield cushion, and a “Garfield Run” drawstring bag.

Not convinced if you should register or not? Check out the “Garfield Run Singapore” highlights video below:

For more information, visit their Facebook page or website.

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


#Twitter: Cast Your Vote! New Feature Allows Users To Create Polls

Every once in a while, Twitter will improve their service by rolling out some cool new features that allow users to do things quicker and more efficent.

Now, Twitter users won’t have to ask a question and go through the pain of sifting through a few hundred responses as they’ve rolled out a brand new feature called “Twitter Polls”.

The online social networking service announced “Twitter Polls”, a feature that will be rolled out over the next days on both the web version and the mobile app version of Twitter.

Through this feature, users can create a poll by tapping a new icon in the Tweet compose box on Twitter. All they need to do is just construct a question and provide 2 voting options for followers to vote.

The polls will remain live for only 24 hours, and all votes will not be shared publicly.

On #BackToTheFutureDay, what's the best response to finally reaching 10/21/15?

In a blog post announcement, Twitter project manager Todd Sherman said a few lucky users were chosen to participate in testing out the polling capability earlier at the end of September this year.

For poll creators, it’s a new way to engage with Twitter’s massive audience and understand exac tly what people think.

“For those participating, it’s a very easy way to make your voice heard,” he added.

Coming soon! We're rolling out the ability for everyone to create polls on Twitter: https://t.co/pH5a8q9Ujz pic.twitter.com/ijAKEMUdf1

The new “Twitter Polls” could help drive brand engagement, but it won’t allow you to put more than 2 options along with photos…yet.

In fact, users of Tweetdeck or 3rd-party Twitter apps can simply see the questions posed. They won’t be able to cast their votes because there’s no options for them to tap on their preferred response.

So, what do you think of the new Twitter Polls? Will you use it to share your opinions? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.


LGBT Scenes Will Be Cut From Films Unless Carrying Cautionary Lessons

Dewan Rakyat has announced that films and drama series with scenes or elements that seem to be promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) content will not be approved for public viewing – unless they contain important cautionary lessons.

Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman said this was based on the guidelines set by the Film Censorship Board (LPF), which falls under the ministry’s purview. Thus, films that deemed promoting deviant lifestyles at their very core will not be approved, including films with gangsterism themes.

Di Dewan Rakyat hari ini, saya menjawab berhubung langkah-langkah diambil kerajaan untuk menyekat unsur-unsur budaya songsang seperti LGBT dalam penerbitan filem dan drama di Malaysia. @FriendsOfKDN https://t.co/AkARVmf9yX pic.twitter.com/l6LQXt0NH4

— Datuk Azis Jamman ©image (@AzisJamman) December 10, 2018

“We view this matter seriously. The Home Ministry is quite strict on film releases (in Malaysia),” he said during a Q&A session in Dewan Rakyat yesterday as quoted by NST.

“When a film (with elements of gangsterism or LGBT) is approved, it should come with a lesson,” he said, adding the ministry based its ruling on fatwa and guidelines issued by the religious authorities from time to time.

The question came from Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (PH-PKR-Kapar) who asked on steps taken by the government to ensure that youth audience in the country were not influenced by the LGBT and gangsterism elements in films.

“In some films, we do not deny there are ‘mak nyah’ (transgenders) characters. However, these films make a strong (cautionary) lessons on such characters. We approve these films as there are lessons to be learnt,” he added.

Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman also said that the government would not hesitate to ban films that promote LGBT explicitly.

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


#TheExpendables: Sylvester Stallone To Produce TV Miniseries

Well, it ain’t over for “The Expendables” yet, it seems.

According to Deadline, Fox is developing a miniseries based on Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables” assassin trilogy. Not only will it see TV action actors getting in on the action, but the man himself will also co-produce the TV miniseries alongside the films’ original producer, Avi Lerner.

The first 3 movies in “The Expendables” franchisee have grossed almost $800 million in the worldwide box office. A fourth and fifth instalment as well as a female offshoot, “The Expendabelles” are in various stages of development.

The “The Expendables” TV miniseries is described as a “fun action drama that unites iconic TV stars as a new team of highly-skilled heroes who are on a mission to stop a dangerous terrorist”. Hmm, something to think about, considering how the movie franchise more or less flopped in the later years.

No details on the cast have been announced but the world of TV aren’t exactly short of actions stars to choose from i.e. Kiefer Sutherland of “24”. Who else do you think would fit the bill of the TV extension of “The Expendables”? Leave your suggestions in the comments box below!


Red Bull Thre3style: KL Is Ready!

Slightly more than a week ago, we met and spoke to DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 fame when he was in town for the Red Bull Thre3style Showcase at Butter Factory Kuala Lumpur. He brought the house down after during his “toy set” at the club – but it was more than just another party, it was a demonstration on how to do it right.

See, Red Bull Thre3style is an annual global quest created by Red Bull Blue & Silver (Europe), to seek out the world’s best party rocker. The brief is simple; rock the crowd and keep them wind up for a good 15 minutes, and while you are at it, incorporate a minimum of three different musical genres into the mix. Simple? Yes. Easy to do?

[youtube id=”Bb4etMWgEyU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

The participating DJs are judged on their track-selection, technical skills, creativity and most importantly their ability to bring the house down. It does not matter if they know all the DJing tricks and techniques in the book, if they cannot get the feet on the dancefloor and hands in the air; they don’t stand a chance of winning a Red Bull Thre3Style contest. All participants are judged by a panel of professional party starting DJs with much experience in the industry.

This year, Malaysian DJs will battle it out for the coveted title of Red Bull Thre3style National Champion – a title that comes with bragging rights; cash prizes; a stamp of approval from some of the best DJs in the world including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Z-Trip and A-Trak; and a ticket to compete in the Red Bull Thre3style World Finals in December.

Who will win the first ever Red Bull Thre3style Finals this 8th March 2013 (Friday), and represent Malaysia in the Red Bull Thre3style World Finals in Canada? Join us and help us determine the winner.

For more deets on Red Bull Thre3style and the top eight finalists, hit up their official website.