Yuna Absolutely Kills It With The Release Of Her Latest Music Video, Forevermore

Posted by & filed under Art, Music.

Written by Cheong Jane-Menn

Having not released new music in the past two years, Malaysian pop star, Yuna makes a much-anticipated comeback with her latest single, “Forevermore”. Teasing fans with photos and clips of the very aesthetically pleasing music video over the course of a week; Yuna left her fans counting the days to its release.

With a perfectly curated set of locations across Malaysia, the most notable scene kicks off the video – as she sits in a ‘90s Proton Saga parked in front of an old gas station in Perlis. Directed by her husband, Adam Sinclair, coloured lights set the tone for darker shots in the music video, whilst Malaysia’s landscapes provide colourful backdrops in daylight. Filmed predominantly in the countryside of Perlis, the music video resonates well with the song’s instrumental which features a kompang prelude and a melody derived from a form of Malay poetry.

Aside from showcasing both Malaysia’s beautiful sights, the video doesn’t forget to pay homage to the people who live here, with cultural diversity displayed in the humblest way. With choreography by Karma Raines, Yuna dances along with her girl gang to the song’s up tempo, chill-hop-esque beats. The song itself is a pop tune that definitely highlights Yuna’s signature sound and mellow voice.

Set to be a part of her fourth-coming album – “Forevermore” is now available for streaming on most music-streaming platforms including, Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora.

5 Record Stores You Have To Visit In Klang Valley

Posted by & filed under Music, Travel.

Written by Cheong Jane-Menn

The idea of owning a record player may seem slightly pointless to a lot of people. It’s expensive, you’d need to have your favourite records on vinyl and Spotify is just right there on your desktop, and a single click gives access to your entire library, that’s still more songs than what a vinyl disc can hold. However, if inconvenience is your thing, then look no further.

Jokes aside, vinyl is something that has recently reemerged because listening to your dad’s scratched records definitely gives you that distinct, yet indescribable warm fuzzy feeling that you can only get with said medium. For those with the equipment to boot also know that vinyl sounds much much better than what Spotify can give you, given that it’s an uncompressed format that presents a clearer picture of the piece you’re listening to, kind of like seeing Mona Lisa on the internet and then seeing the actual thing in the Louvre. So, from one sufferer of retromania to another, if you absolutely adore an album and want to listen to it in its fullest potential, get it on vinyl.

With that said, here are a few stores to visit around Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.

Picture Credit: TimeOut

Tandang Store

Located in The Zhongsan Building, Tandang has a range of CDs, vinyl and cassettes to choose from – mainly of the punk rock genre. Admittedly a very grungy, “Mom, it’s not a phase”, basement-like aesthetic, the store blasted punk tunes when I visited my first time. Apart from that, you can find a range of zines and books at the store or maybe even an occasional gig.

Website: https://www.tandangstore.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandang_store/

Address: No.82, 2nd Floor, Zhongshan Building, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Hard Graft Records

What started off as an online record store turned physical, Hard Graft is a no-nonsense record store with plain white walls and minimal décor. With a range of genres from rock to jazz and hip hop, the store serves as a collection point for online orders or for customers who might just want to browse through their records physically.

Website: https://hardgraftrecords.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardgraftrecords/

Address: 25A, 1st Floor, Jalan 52/1, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Picture Credit: TimeOut

Crossroads Records

A pretty huge store with a wide range of vintage records from the 70s to the 00s, you can spend your time browsing through a wide selection of genres. Prices are pretty reasonable as well and they often do promos. Apart from the selection, they also offer vinyl cleaning services.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossroads.records/

Address: Palm Spring @ Damansara Shop Lot, Lot C- Seksyen 13, 106, Jalan PJU 3/31, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Teenage Head Records

One of my favourite record stores to visit, I absolutely love heading down to Teenage Head because they always have what I want. If it’s not in store, they are always helpful and will check if they can order it online. They also often update their social media once stock has arrived, so you know when you can collect something you’ve ordered. The in-store selection is arranged by genre and although not the biggest store, variety is immense. Supporting the local music scene as well, you can find albums from local artists and lots more. The store’s owner, Radzi is also great to strike conversations with.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenageheadrecords/

Address: 20, Jln SS14/1 (Back Lot), Subang Jaya

Sputnik Rekordz

Up the stairs and down one of the little corridors in Pasar Besar TTDI, this small store comes with a range of old records from both local and international artists. You’re bound to find records ranging from Morrissey to Sheila Majid and even Whitney Houston. The store also carries CDs and cassettes.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sputnikrekordz/

Address: TD67, Level 3, Pasar Besar TTDI, Jalan Wan Kadir 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Other notable mention include the Sunday vintage market at Amcorp Mall where you’ll definitely find gems if you look hard enough. All I can say is hopefully your wallet survives the ordeal.

 

Vans Commemorates The Life & Legacy Of David Bowie With An Entire Collection

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

Vans always had a good eye when it comes to commemorating legends and icons, and this time round, Vans will be commemorating the life and legacy of David Bowie with a unisex collection for both adults and toddlers. The collection is inspired by Bowie’s most influential works and colorful personas especially by the imagery of Bowie throughout his career from 1969’s Space Oddity to his final album in 2016 named Blackstar. The collection includes a five-piece apparel and accessories capsule where each style is designed to symbolize remarkable moments from the Aladdin Sane and Ziggy Stardust album covers.

Each footwear silhouette from this collection represents Bowie differently. The Vans Classic Era pays homage to Bowie’s first hit single “Space Oddity“, the Slip-On 47 V is inspired by the coat seen on Bowie on the Hunky Dory album network, the Sk8-Hi Platform 2.0 pays tribute to Bowie’s glam rock alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, Bowie’s Aladdin Sane album is reflected on the Vans Old Skool silhouette while David Bowie’s last album Blackstar is highlighted across the Vans Classic Slip-On silhouette. The younger fans of David Bowie are given a chance to pay their respects as well with a two-pair collection that includes a pair of Sk8-Hi Zip and Old Skool V, that matches the Bowie and Aladdin Sane adult styles.

If you are planning to purchase anything from the collection, head over to these selected Vans retailers and Vans authorized dealers on the 5th of April onwards:

  • Vans Mid Valley
  • Vans KLCC
  • Vans Pavilion
  • Vans One Utama
  • Vans Sunway Pyramid
  • Vans IOI City Mall
  • Vans Setia City Mall
  • Vans Dataran Pahlawan Melaka
  • Vans AEON Tebrau Johor Bharu
  • Vans City Square Johor Bharu
  • Vans Queensbay Mall Penang
  • Crossover Concept Store (every outlet)

Hypebaes Prepare Yourself, Jordan Brand Is Releasing ‘Heat’ For You

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

The sneaker community is growing and it is not stopping anytime soon.

The amount of ‘hypebaes’ in the community is gradually increasing and Jordan brand is taking notes on what they look for in terms of footwear. A silhouette favored by many, the Air Jordan 1, seems to be the pick of the ladies as well. Jordan brand is set to release a pair of Air Jordan 1 Retro High in a Blue Void colorway this summer with striking orange on certain panels, along with a creamy white midsole. Another detail worth noting is the tumbled leather material used on the panels that provides the release with a premium touch. Other observable details on this pair include a debossed Jumpman logo on the tongue, a highlighted Wings logo and the orange ripstop textile material used on the ankle collar, heel area, Swoosh, and toe box.

This pair is a women’s release and is set to release on the 9th of April on nike.com, retailing at approximately RM579.

BABY-G Celebrates The DW-520 25th Anniversary With The Latest BGD-525

Posted by & filed under Fashion.

This December marks the 25th anniversary of the BABY-G model and what better way to celebrate than to have an exclusive release. Casio Malaysia recently released the BGD-525, a commemorative reprise of the DW-520, the first BABY-G.

First released in 1994 as the sister brand of its big brother G-SHOCK, BABY-G released their first model, the DW-520 which was inspired by the concept of “Tough and Cute”. The DW-520 retained the renowned G-SHOCK shock-resistance feature, form and design but with a smaller case to better fit women’s slim wrist. The BABY-G was a hit among women in their late teens which made Casio update the concept from “Tough and Cute” to “Touch and Cool”. As Casio build up their features and designs to further diversify their line-up, BABY-G impressively sold a cumulative total of 40 million units.

The BGD-525 comes with a semi-transparent case and band, a simple square form that signifies toughness, a protector that symbolizes strong shock resistance and a pink “G” logo. As BABY-G continues to evolve, the BGD-525 has double the water resistance compared to a normal DW-520, while the case back is engraved with a special 25th anniversary logo inspired by a 1990s theme. The packaging for the BGD-525 is also given a street fashion flair featuring feminine colours such as vivid pink and purple, believed to be an adequate amount of finishing touch for a special model released during an anniversary year.

If you are keen to purchase a piece, head over to your nearest G-Factory store and grab one for only RM419.

An Initiative By Paradise Youth Club To Help Out The Least Fortunate Kids

Posted by & filed under Fashion.

Paradise Youth Club returns with another exclusive capsule collection dubbed the Academy Series, celebrating diverse elements of various influences from today’s youth during their period of growing up. Believing that everyone is entitled to their plans in achieving greatness and to be confident in their own skin, Paradise Youth Club states that these differences are what makes everyone unique in their own way. The exclusive Academy Series capsule collection consist of limited, high quality pieces inspired by Ivy League aesthetics to reflect hidden messages they wish to convey, in hopes to inspire their followers to stay true to themselves and to remind them that their youth knows no age.

Paradise Youth Club aims to give back to the community during this campaign by donating a small percentage of the sales from the Academy Series capsule collection to an educational charity called ‘Sahabat Anak’ in Jakarta to further improve the education of marginalized kids. If you’re planning to support this initiative by Paradise Youth Club, head over to Sole What now and purchase a piece from this exclusive capsule collection!

AlunaGeorge Is Taking Over KYO This April

Posted by & filed under Music.

If you’re looking for an experience this month, we have a suggestion for you.

AlunaGeorge will be performing this coming 16 April at KYO and we highly recommend the gig for you to check out.

AlunaGeorge was formed when producer George Reid first approached Aluna Francis to do a remix together. The duo released a song that launched their career dubbed “You Know You Like It“, a song from their first album Body Language. The song was later remixed by DJ Snake which was featured on the ‘Amazing Spider Man 2‘ official soundtrack, making the song an instant hit, landing it on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with a music video that garnered around 128 million views on Youtube alone. The duo have previously worked with an impressive list of artists as well including Disclosure, Avicii, Flume and more to name.

Champagne Eyes, AlunaGeorge’s latest release, is packed with some notable collaborations such as Cautious Clay and Bryson Tiller. Champagne Eyes is heavily influenced by independence and women’s empowerment movements, where Billboard gives a positive review regarding the EP such that the EP “benefits from R&B, pop and dance elements, creating a cool, fearless vibe.”

This April, Aluna will be setting out on AlunaGeorge’s first ever headlining Asian tour. Besides AlunaGeorge performing at KYO, local electronic/R&B songstress NJWA will also be performing as the opening act of the gig. If you are planning to attend, early bird tickets are priced at RM188 while door-sale tickets will be going for RM218.

FLEX | Thriftin’ For A Living

Posted by & filed under Fashion, TV.

“FLEX” is a Malaysian fashion game show.

The show consist of four different individuals with different sense of style, battling it out in various styling categories and fashion challenges. As this is the first episode of “FLEX”, check out the host’s personal Instagram account to have a better understanding of their sense of style:

 

Joshua Desmond (IG: @thejoshuadesmond)

Isaac Yeap (IG: @yeaapppp)

Benjamin Teoh (IG: @benjamin_teoh)

Ethan Curzon (IG: @ethancurzon)

FLEX Official IG Page (IG: @flexmyofficial)

 

In the first episode, the hosts explore the deep, deep world of thrifting. We Malaysians love to thrift, and we do it by the bulk. Hence, for the first ever challenge on FLEX, the hosts are given a budget to find, style, and create their own outfits , which they will then be judged by two connoisseurs of thrift, namely Deanna and Hafiz, from DeannaDeanni. Shout out to Common Ground and JBR Bundle for allowing us to shoot at their place resulting into a successful first episode!

Phil Knight’s Son Links Up With Nike To Create The Nike Air Susan

Posted by & filed under Movies, Sneakers.

In Celebration Of The Movie ‘Missing Link’

Now, it’s quite unheard of to see an Air Max model that doesn’t include a number behind its silhouette. The 1, 90, 95, 97, 98, 0 were all popular models in the range, with a few outliers lying in the Air Stab, and Air Span to name a few. At the very least, these names reference some semblance of inspiration when it came to the shoe, but none have been named quite like this one, dubbed the Air Susan.

You see, this model is a very special one. The shoe is made for the stop-motion movie, ‘Missing Link,’ model in material and colour after the main character, Mr. Link. LAIKA Studios, owned by Nike co-founder Phil Knight and run by his son, Travis Knight, once again link up to create this special shoe, playing on the aesthetic of the character and imbuing it on the shoe.

“Costume isn’t a separate entity from character design, it’s very much intrinsic,” says Deborah Cook. “If Mr. Link was wearing completely different clothes, you’d read him in a very, very different way.”

Cook explains that Mr. Link’s aesthetic plays up the character’s Pacific Northwest roots and balances it with a desire to serve as playful foil to the urbane Frost. This is also evident in the shoe’s leather-wrapped midsole, cuff links and kurim fur tufts on the tongue that lend a gleefully haphazard elegance to the silhouette.

This is also the first time that such a collaboration is released commercially. Whereas previous collabs like the Foamposite ‘Paranorman’ required participation in a contest and the Air Jordan 15 ‘Kubo’ asked you to play a mini-game and get the high score, this one should be a relatively easy cop. But from the looks of it, the Air Susan looks to be an instant future classic, so get ready to hit the link for its release, which also happens to be two days before its global drop.

The Nike Air Susan drops on the 5th of April, for a price of approximately RM 700.