Author: Ista

REVIEW | Malaya Relived: The Penang Riots

REVIEW | Malaya Relived: The Penang Riots

Posted by | Jul 10, 2019 | |

All images credit Liver and Lung Productions. In a secluded alley of GMBB mall, just as the evening started, I found myself entering into a portal of another world. It was of another time and another place, at least, it felt like that despite small bits of cellophane tape glittering at me from the edges of traditional Chinese stickers and streamers on the wall. But it wasn’t the Chinese lanterns that evoked the old world charm, nor the beaded curtains or antique looking dresser and chair inside the small shop lot, with shutter doors drawn down. If anything, the...

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10 Amazing Ways To Support The Malaysian Music Industry

10 Amazing Ways To Support The Malaysian Music Industry

Posted by | May 24, 2019 | , |

Image credit: All Is Amazing This is Part 3 and the final article in a series that looked into the factors influencing how Malaysian music gets selected for radio and the challenges musicians face in the process. You can read  more on that in Part 1 and Part 2 for further context. Getting more Malaysian music on radio, specifically English songs, is a feat that requires collaboration between multiple stakeholders. Some of the key people involved are local musicians, radio executives, the communications and multimedia ministry and local music fans; that’s you and me! How can we make this...

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Teacher gets 45 non-English speaking students to stage a play in English!

Teacher gets 45 non-English speaking students to stage a play in English!

Posted by | Aug 24, 2018 | |

Over the past few months, a group of secondary school students have been toiling together to put up a play. The performance is set to be in English; a language that is not native to most if not all the participants. Yet, these teenagers, from five “high need schools” in Kedah, have decided to embrace the challenge to raise awareness against the destructive behaviour of bullying. For this reason, “Singing for the Lions” is not your ordinary theatre piece. The ensemble cast and crew consist of 45 students from SMK Lubok Buntar, SMK Serdang, SMK Serdang Baru, SMK Sultan Ahmad...

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Rozella on making music and what it means to be truly beautiful

Rozella on making music and what it means to be truly beautiful

Posted by | Nov 30, 2017 | , |

The Dark Side is not bad if Rozella’s there. Image credit: Joshua Chay  In Malaysia, there are many singer-songwriters and voice over artists. But there are very few who have the vocal and literary flair of Rozella Marie. The United Kingdom born and Kota Kinabalu bred musician is also one of the go to people behind True Complexion, a digital project on transforming people’s perception on the word “beautiful”. What inspired her project was her birthmark on her face which caused her much ridicule and scorn from people. You can read more about it here! (Fun fact: Rozella is...

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What does it take to be Art Battle Malaysia’s champion?

What does it take to be Art Battle Malaysia’s champion?

Posted by | Oct 27, 2017 | , |

First timer Eidlan Lakhawlez is Art Battle Malaysia #3 winner! All images credit Raj Photography The winner for Art Battle Malaysia #3 is Eidlan Lakhawlez, a first time participant who took on the big guns and won! He faced stiff competition from fellow artists such as Arif Rafhan Othman, Ellie Yong, FayFay XIao Ting, Jerome Liew Chai, Karthine Maniam, Komeil Zarin, Mariyam Shany, Riharu Harun, Shaq Koyok, Elly Nor Suria and Gerald Ong. What was his secret? Is it beginners luck or full on strategy savvy to win the recently held Art Battle Malaysia? Afterall, Eidlan’s win marks the second time a first timer has championed Art Battle Malaysia, since...

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