Neon outfits, hip hop and urban inspired head-to-toe looks, outrageous and daring hairstyles filled the streets of Downtown, Los Angeles on Friday night, August 24, 2012. If you didn’t know any better, you would’ve thought there was a costume party somewhere in the middle of L.A. Live. No, there wasn’t a costume party nor an early prep of Halloween that night; instead, it was 2NE1’s “New Evolution” concert at the Nokia Theatre – their first official World Tour. After wowing Newark, New Jersey, the melting pot of Los Angeles got the chance to witness South Korea’s very own piece of swag, urban, and pop: Dara, Minzy, Park Bom, and 2NE1’s leader, CL live. South Korea’s hip-hop girl group of YG Entertainment, one of South Korea’s biggest and prestigious recording label, brought together people of all ages, race, and gender that night. Strobe neon lights and urban stage props filled the stadium as 2NE1 danced and performed songs from their debut album, To Anyone, to their latest single, “I Love You.” Continue reading for more details and photos from the concert!
Courtesy of Live Nation
When asked to describe the new and emerging Malaysian singer, Yunalis Zarai, or her stage name Yuna, the word “unique” should come up. Everything about Yuna, who hails from one of Malaysia’s federal capital, Kuala Lumpur, is simply unique. From her music to her journey to where she is right now is just unique. Her hit single, produced by Pharrell, “Live Your Life,” and the rest of her songs on her first album, “Yuna,” is the type of music you can’t categorize or label it a genre. Even Yuna, herself, can’t seem to classify it, let alone describe it. However, that’s the beauty of Yuna and her music. As she claimed during our interview, her voice is the only component in all of her songs that holds them together – the rest is just a little bit of everything: everything from Malaysia to America. Her soft, folk-like voice with a twist from her Malaysian accent that sings songs that were inspired from her travels is another element that makes Yuna unique and is what made Pharrell want to jump in the studio with her and her recording label, Fader. In a society where its pop culture is a pool of artists with a pattern of similar types of music and personas, Yuna isn’t afraid to be herself – especially when it comes to her music.
Having an updated vlog on YouTube is another way that Yuna shows to her fans who she really is and how genuine her music is. She claims that she doesn’t need to put up an act around her fans and she most definitely prides herself in not being a gimmick in current day’s pop culture. This is why she is not afraid to reveal that she has learned and grown from working with Pharrell and that her knowledge in music has expanded since her music days in law school. That’s right, Yuna was once a law school student and once had dreams of becoming a lawyer. However, she discovered her talent in songwriting and music during her final year in law school when she began to hang out with independent musicians and decided to chase after a career in music. Letting her strong intrigue in their mere independence in music guide her, she soon began to teach herself how to play the guitar, write songs, and produce them. Her unique style in music and her voice is just what this society needs: genuine, real music with no outrageous costumes, smoke machines, and flashy lights. Continue reading for the full interview and for her music!
Courtesy of www.ThisSoundGoesAround.com
With hard-hitting beats, profound lyrics, and a killer voice, Teesa is not your average pop princess.
Joseph Vincent, 21, has been on our radar ever since the baby-faced crooner took the stage on “The Ellen Show” in an Ellen’s Wonderful Web of Wonderment competition. After battling with other young Youtube wonders for a month-long competition, Vincent was invited back a second time on the Emmy-winning daytime show and awarded a surprise $10,000 even though another contestant, 12-year old Greyson Chance, had already won the competition.
Talent aside, we wanted to get to know this Filipino music artist a little better. He’ll be featured in the Personalities section of the Winter 2010-11 issue of Audrey, but here’s a couple of Joseph Vincent facts to tide you over until the issue comes out early December. (Subscribe here.)
Joseph Vincent…
Started to play guitar to get the girls.
When I was 15, in Spanish class, this high school heartthrob who was a year older than me, went up in class with a guitar and started singing. I was like, that’s pretty cool. I want to do that.
Likes the fact that he’s never had taken a singing or guitar lesson ever in his life.
I think (taking lessons) would kill it. When I go in for recording sessions, producers usually are great musicians and I just pick it up from them. It’s a really good learning experience.
Curses. A lot.
I don’t really feel nervous posting up the videos. Except for this next one I’m about to post. It’s the f-u song with the cuss words by Ceelo. We put tracking and it sounds really nice but it might not be appropriate for a lot of the younger audiences. Especially after Ellen, people think you’re a sweet boy you shouldn’t tarnish your reputation. I do like it. I do curse but I don’t like to put it too much in my music. I think it’s a good song and the message is really funny. We decided to censor it though. It had too many curse words.
Is a Public Health Policy major at UC Irvine.
I also worked at a company that worked with autistic kids. I would probably go into that if music didn’t work out. Or nursing.
Didn’t get star-struck when he met Ellen (maybe a little)…
When I met Ellen, yea, it’s cool but if you keep the mentality that they’re just another person. And she is so cool despite her status or what not. Yea, she is so cool.
…But he did get star-struck when he saw Kobe.
I saw him at the Bluffs in Irvine. And I ran up to him with a sharpie and a hat. He was with his kids. I was like, “Kobe can you sign my hat?” And he was like, “uh it’s kind of hard right now.” So I said, okay! And I walked away. I was more nervous to talk to him than my first show. My heart was like, dum dum dum dum. I’ve never felt that before. Kobe’s so cool.
Is not the owner of the messy bed in his videos.
I do my videos and (my fans) keep complaining about my bed but it’s not my bed, it’s my roommates’ bed. They complain ‘cause it’s messy. My side is messier but I put his on camera. He hates it.
Can pass for being 14.
There were three other contestants in the segment and they were all 12 years old so I was looking at the pictures, 12… 12… 12… 20 year old! They were like, look at that old guy and a bunch of kids. But the funny thing was, after the second time, after I got out, people were like, you’re really good for being 14! I was like, I’m actually, um, 20. They thought I was really young.
Can’t touch the $10,000 he won on Ellen.
I put it in an account and I can’t touch it for 9 months. It’s a great idea. I didn’t want to touch it. If I were to touch it, it would be bad. I’d buy a house. (imitating father) No son, you can’t buy a house with that. What am I going to do with the money? Not sure. Live off of it? I bought a Mac though.
Photo credits to Carmen Chan.
Far East Movement’s hit, Like A G6 has been blowing up everywhere! The catchy single is off the electro-hip hop –dance- rap quartet’s first album Free Wired, with major recording giant, Cherrytree/Interscope record label.
Most main-stream music lovers might assume Far East Movement’s (aka FM’s) only other hit was party anthem, Girls on the Dance Floor but us in-the-know peeps understand that this group, with original members Chinese/Japanese-American Kev Nish, Koreans Prohgress and J-Splif and the most recently added Filipino DJ Virman, have been around for a long time, paving the way for Asian American musicians everywhere.
To celebrate FM’s recent success on the charts, (#1 on iTunes chart and peaked at #2 on Billboard 100 last week!) we’re taking it back old school and introducing you to some of our other favorite FM jams.
Round and Round by Far East Movement & Storm (2006)
Part of the soundtrack for The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, this upbeat tune had just one message: to never stop having fun. The mixture of Storm’s higher pitch in the chorus and FM’s playful rap makes this an enjoyable listen.
Folk Music by Far East Movement (2006)
The title of this song definitely raises doubts in our minds. Folk music reminds me of cultural happy tunes with a basic instrumental arrangement; nothing mainstream. What FM means by folk music is definitely not as I described. Instead, they mean that this is a song for their folks, who they referred to as ‘homies’ and ‘homeboys’. This track is rapped throughout, but it has a really chill attitude.
Dance Like Michael Jackson by Far East Movement (2008)
It’s awesome that they honored the legendary Michael Jackson here. Different aspects of MJ can definitely be picked up, such as in the lyrics “man in the mirror” and “black or white.” Since this song is influenced by Michael Jackson, it’s not a wonder that you feel like getting up and grooving to the beat. The video is equally entertaining because it features the ultra-talented Quest Crew.
Fetish by Fast East Movement (2008)
I love the feel and beat of this song. The main tune of this track is relatively simple, but the distinctive musical phrase that you hear throughout the song in the background keeps it catchy. It definitely fits the party/clubbing theme of songs that are making the top hits recently. FM plays with stuttering in their vocals, such as ‘fe-fetish in these jeans’, a feature that seems to be increasingly prevalent.
3D by Far East Movement & Bruno Mars (2008)
This song is actually Bruno Mars’s first musical appearance as a singer. Who knew that the two fastest rising artists of these months had collaborated before? Once again, FM seems to use terms that bring up questions. What exactly is a 3D girl? Nonetheless, this collaboration is the perfect mix, blending Bruno Mars’s soulful voice and FM’s slurred phrasing to create this alluring track.
To check out more of Far East Movement’s tour schedule and music, click here.
Boom Boom Pow! The Black Eyed Peas in 3-D. Photo by Dimitri Daniloff.
If you’ve never seen The Black Eyed Peas in concert, you are missing out. There I said it. Taboo, apl.de.ap, will.i.am and Fergie know how to get a crowd of thousands jumpin’, turning an entire stadium into a massive, beat-thumping club for just one night. On Tuesday, March 30, the six-time Grammy Award-winning group takes to the stage once more before a sold-out crowd at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Don’t have a ticket? No worries. Continue Reading »
