Monthly Archives: January 2023

Concerts & Music Festivals

It’s ON, Cebu! Careless’ Wavy Baby takes over Sinulog this weekend

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Careless’ first ever music festival, Wavy Baby, is bound to make the return of Sinulog one for the books.

Wavy Baby is a two-day music festival happening on January 13 & 14, 2023 at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City, Cebu with a lineup of over 20 artists recognized both locally and internationally.

Wavy Baby will feature international performers Pink Sweat$, Bambam, Sunmi, The Rose, Bag Raiders, Manila Grey, and Yultron. All artists signed under Careless namely: James Reid, Massaiah, Jolianne, Lesha, August Wahh, Issa, SOS, Destiny Rogers, and A-Team will also be performing. Other Filipino acts include Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Urbandub, Franco, Denise Julia, and more. The Festival will also feature local Cebuano acts such as Cookie$, The Sundown, Mandaue Nights, Three Legged Men, and Wonggoys.

Careless CEO, Jeffrey Oh, says “we’re really excited to do Wavy Baby in Sinulog because it’s the biggest and most historic festival in the Philippines. We want to build a festival that brings the best of the Philippines and the world together to meet and celebrate life & culture, which is what Sinulog is all about. We call it Wavy Baby because we want a wavy lifestyle and a wavy mindset. It also pays homage to Sinulog because the Sinulog symbol are water and the baby Jesus so it’s also a nod to that as well. We’re excited to be part of the Cebu family and build something special that hopefully we can repeat year after year.”

The festival itself will be held at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City, Cebu. There will be an Artist Lounge, VVIP Lounge, a VIP Area in front of the stage, Cocktail Pods, Sponsor’s Hives, and Market Pod.

The Cocktail Pod serves as an area for anyone to purchase drinks at the venue while the Market Pod is designated for food and other merchandise that will be sold. The Sponsor’s Hive will be where Wavy Baby’s brand partners will have different booths that festival goers can visit.

Early bird tickets are currently being sold at Php6,390 for VIP and Php3,200 for General Admission. Regular tickets will be priced at Php8,510 for VIP and Php4,260 for General Admission.

For more updates, visit www.wavybabyfest.com

Music, New Music

Karencitta signs with Def Jam Philippines

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Karencitta officially signs to Def Jam Philippines, a sublabel under UMG Philippines Inc. defJam Recordings is home to superstar acts Rihanna, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, and Ludacris, to name a few.

The agency has been producing cutting-edge music for over 35 years and, as a global brand, commits itself to make creative and undeniably quality music. Def Jam eventually ventured into South East Asia talent in 2019, dedicated to honing effervescent hip-hop culture that continues to shape the world.

With operations flourishing in the Philippines, it’s now home to top Philippine talents, including JMara, VVS Collective, 8 Ballin’, Fateeha, and now, Karencitta.

Moving Back and Choosing Def Jam Philippines
After moving to Los Angeles in 2015 to pursue film, Karencitta moved back to Cebu for her music career. She’s proud to be based in the Philippines, especially since she believes working from the ground up is key to success.

Now, Karencitta is a force to be reckoned with—the messages she sings about and her overall work encapsulate the Modern Filipina and how each can break free from traditional molds and scrutinizing eyes.

Bridging her roots also makes her work more meaningful, and signing under Def Jam Philippines, under the Universal Music Group, is a dream come true for Karencitta. This move highlights one of the many things both she and the agency believe in—authenticity. In the words of Karencitta, “Authenticity is the catalyst of business.”

“One of the biggest factors is that they truly believed and invested in my vision. The team’s first impression also gave an entrepreneurial spirit. [They are] forward-thinkers with strong work ethics, as well as transparent, collaborative, and family-driven.”

And with Def Jam, Karencitta wants to be “evolved yet humanized.”

Creating An Impact
As an artist, Karencitta wants to leave an image of being carefree, witty, and impactful. She wants to create meaning out of her art—one that can inspire and uplift others.

“The main thing I want to achieve in my career is to make every song unforgettable. I want to make sure that my art is a gift to people to help their lives [be] better and brighter.”

And to ensure these messages are heard, Karencitta will release her debut song entitled “Blow,” an ode to femininity and how one can use it to empower themselves.

It’s about bossing up, ensuring that the women listening remember to reach their goals while staying true to themselves. The singer also draws inspiration from her real-life experiences, including the industry’s ugly side—hate comments and “bashers.”

“You need to face life with a bring-it-on attitude. Having agency and freedom is the best feeling in the world! We should encourage young girls to sit down in the leader’s seat, too!”

As for the rhythm and beat, Karencitta decided to stay true to her roots and draw inspiration from Cebu’s Sinulog Festival, a celebration of the region’s Patron Saint, Señor Sto. Niño.

“I hope that when they hear “Blow,” it will make them dance the way they dance during Sinulog! I also hope it will make them laugh. The lyrics to me are so funny!”

As we enter 2023, Karencitta promises the Cittababes (her fans) more music releases, collaborations, tours, and meet-and-greets! More importantly, she’s excited to grow and work alongside OPM artists she has adored for years.

Hallyu, Music, New Music

ATEEZ conquers global charts with new EP ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’

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South Korean boyband ATEEZ continues to dominate several global music charts with the release of their new EP, ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’. The eight-member pop group’s latest release debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in several major music markets worldwide, including South Korea, USA, Italy, Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and more.

The pirate kings of the K-pop high seas are starting the year right with one of the most exciting new ‘single albums’ from Sony Music Entertainment Korea so far, taking comprehensive musical storytelling one step further with the release of a spin off that recount their tales through a third-person witness account. In this extended universe, a new perspective is explored, with more questions than answers given through the cinematic trailers and powerful delivery of their new tracks.

‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ contains five tracks – featuring ‘HALAZIA’ as the title song. The title track delivers the message of finding hope in the darkness. It’s followed by three remix tracks of previously released popular songs, and makes a grand closure with ‘Outro : Blue Bird’.

True to ATEEZ style, the released preview video labeled as the prologue garnered over 2 million views on YouTube (at the time of writing) with comments noting the grandiose themes and Hollywood movie-like quality.

This EP comes after the announcement of the European leg of the ‘THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL’ tour, already making a statement with dates added due to high demand. The octet will be going on tour to Europe in seven cities for nine shows starting in Amsterdam on February 10 and closing the tour in Paris on March 8.

From the success of their North American ‘THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL’ tour to reaching new career peaks with their previously released EP ‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’ debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200, ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ is set to mark an awe-inspiring ending to 2022 that leads to an impressive 2023.

LISTEN TO SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS HERE
‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ TRACK LIST
01.HALAZIA
02.WIN (June One of Glen Check Remix)
03.I’m The One (Eden-ary Remix)
04.Take Me Home (IDIOTAPE Remix)
05.Outro : Blue Bird

Entertainment, Music, News

Give Yourself a Musical Surprise in January 2024 With Spotify’s Playlist in a Bottle

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2023 is here and in full swing! Whether you’re still feeling the holiday hangover or already welcoming the new year with a new you, there is surely a mix of perfect songs to encapsulate your mood. To celebrate the new year and add a soundtrack to your 2023 feels, Spotify is launching a timely user experience to help you capture this moment.

Playlist in a Bottle, Spotify’s latest interactive in-app experience, captures who you are musically right now and then lets you revisit your 2023 musical self one year later. Fast-forward to January 2024, and you’ll find this playlist on your account as a treat from Spotify and your 2023 self.

Here’s how to make your Playlist in a Bottle:

1.Ensure your Spotify mobile app is up to date with the latest version.
2.Click spotify.com/playlistinabottle from your mobile device.
3.Select your time capsule of choice—you can pick from a bottle, jean pocket, gumball machine, lunch box, or teddy bear.
4.Answer a series of song-inspired prompts. For example:
○“A song you’re going to kiss someone to this year”
○“A song that reminds you of your favorite person”
○“A song you need to hear live in 2023”
5.Digitally seal your musical time capsule and send it off!
6.Share a personalized card to your social channels with the tag #PlaylistInABottle.
7.Come January 2024, if you made a Playlist in a Bottle, you’ll receive your personalized time capsule reminding you what you were listening to one year prior.

Playlist in a Bottle is available in the Philippines for both Free and Premium users across iOS and Android devices. Do it soon! Spotify will seal the Playlist in a Bottle experience on January 31st!

For more information about Playlist in a Bottle, and other delightful announcements from Spotify, visit www.spotify.com or follow Spotify on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Concerts & Music Festivals

Filipino folk-pop band The Ransom Collective to stage reunion concert next month

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The Ransom Collective return to the live stage after years of remote collaborations and pursuing individual projects.

Aptly titled Hello Again: The Ransom Collective Reunion Show, the outdoor concert marks the first time that they will be performing together as a band in three years. The event is set to take place at 123 Block in Mandala Park on February 4, 2022 (Saturday), from 6 p.m. onwards.

Aside from headlining the concert, the six-piece act is also set to perform a long set, featuring some of their most notable songs, as well as new ones in their repertoire.

They’re also dishing some rearranged numbers with guest sessionists to further elevate the attendees’ concert-going experience.

“It’s been over two years since we’ve all been in the same room together,” the indie folk outfit shares in a statement. “Life has taken each of us in all sorts of different directions. After countless Zoom meetings and remote collaboration, we are so excited to finally have the chance to create and perform live together once again.”

The reunion show is also the band’s way of expressing gratitude to their fans, who have continued to support and inspire them through their journey as musicians. Sharing the stage are some of their peers and contemporaries in the music industry, including Cheats, syd hartha, and Gabba. Special merch will be available at the venue, and there will be booths and activities curated especially for the attendees.

“We’ll only be complete for about a month, so we want to make the most of it,” the Traces act explains. “We’ll be squeezing in as much time as we can jam and experiment with new material while we practice and prepare for our reunion show on February 4th. We’re planning to play a long set, maybe even our longest ever. We’ve got some special guests lined up and a few surprises planned for the evening.”

Hello Again: The Ransom Collective Reunion Show is presented by GNN Entertainment Productions and The Ransom Collective.

Tickets to the show are available for purchase starting January 5 (Thursday) at 6pm via bit.ly/helloagaintrc.

Concerts & Music Festivals

The Harder Than It Looks Tour: Simple Plan Philippine Tour 2023

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Canadian rock band Simple Plan will be returning to Manila for the first time in 11 years as part of the group’s Harder Than It Looks Asia Tour in support of their sixth studio album. The show will be held in Manila and in Davao on March 2023. This will be Simple Plan’s 1st ever show in Davao City while it will be the group’s fourth appearance in Manila. Their last show was held at the Big Dome in 2012.

Wilbros Live presents
Harder Than It Looks Tour
SIMPLE PLAN
Philippine Tour 2023

TOUR DATES
March 10, 2023 – New Frontier Theater (Manila)
March 12, 2023 – SMX Convention Center (Davao)

TICKET PRICES (MANILA SHOW)
VIP Seated (Left & Right)- Php4,725
Moshpit Standing – Php4,425
Regular Standing – Php3,675
Loge (Seated) – Php3,675
Balcony 1 – Php3,150
Balcony 2 – Php2,625

TICKET PRICES (DAVAO SHOW)
VIP Seated – Php4,740
Mospit Standing – Php4,240
Gold (Free Seating) – Php3,160
Silver (Standing) – Php1,260

Tickets will go on-sale starting January 15, 2023 – 10am via Ticketnet (Manila) and SM Tickets (Davao)

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Concerts & Music Festivals, Hallyu

2023 Best Choi’s: MINHO in Manila

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SHINee’s member and actor, Choi Minho is returning to Manila for his first solo fanmeeting event to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 2023. May 2008, he debuted as a member of South Korean boy group Shinee which later became one of the best-selling Korean artists. Aside from group activities, he debuted as an actor in November 2010 in KBS2’s drama special Pianist. He has since landed roles in television series such as Salamander Guru and The Shadows (2012), To the Beautiful You (2012), Medical Top Team (2013), My First Time (2015), and Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016). He made his feature film debut in 2016 with Canola. As a soloist, he has released the digital singles “I’m Home” (2019) and “Heartbreak” (2021). In 2022, Minho released new EP titled “Chase” with 6 tracks including lead single “Chase”.

Ovation Productions presents
2023 Best Choi’s
MINHO
Lucky Choi’s in Manila
January 28, 2023 – 8pm
Mall of Asia Arena

TICKET PRICES
VIP – Php9,400
Patron – Php8,400
Lower Box A – Php7,400
Lower Box B – Php5,400

ON-SALE DATES
-“SHINee WORLD-ACE” fanclub pre-sale: January 6, 2023 (12nn to 10pm) — For more details, visit here
-General on-sale: January 7, 2023 (12nn) via SM Tickets outlets & online

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Entertainment, New Music

MILEY CYRUS announces new single “FLOWERS” coming January 13

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Multi-platinum selling recording artist, songwriter and trailblazer Miley Cyrus announced from her NBC live special, “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party”, that her new single “Flowers” will be available globally on January 13th. In true superstar fashion, between her performances and hosting duties, Miley blessed fans’ final hours of 2022 with special clips of “Flowers”. Pre-order and pre-save “Flowers” here.

Fans had kicked up chatter of new music when Miley signaled she had a big year coming with NEW YEAR NEW MILEY posters appearing all around the world in December. It was then discovered that mileycyrus.com had launched a countdown to a forthcoming announcement, which has been revealed to be the release of “Flowers” on January 13th. Astute fans will notice a new countdown has launched and are heavily encouraged to continue to follow mileycryus.com for further announcements this week.

“Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party,” which Miley co-hosted with global superstar Dolly Parton was a major success. In addition to the announcement of “Flowers”, the live special featured an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests including Sia, Latto, Rae Sremmurd, David Byrne, Liily and Fletcher as well as Paris Hilton, SNL’s Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman and comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy.

Concerts & Music Festivals, Hallyu

Follow The Movement: AOMG World Tour coming to Manila this month

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K-Hip-hop fans in the Philippines, it’s your time to make some noise and show us your limitless energy as we welcome the crew, AOMG, to the country!

You’re all set to experience the sickest party at the start of 2023 as PULP Live World and Happee Hour proudly bring the highly anticipated K-Hip-Hop and R&B world tour to the Philippines – [FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT] AOMG WORLD TOUR 2023 IN MANILA on
January 15, 2023, at the New Frontier Theater.

AOMG, also known as Above Ordinary Music Group, is a distinguished Korean Hip-hop and R&B label founded in 2013. Currently, it houses over 20 prominent artists and producers that conquer South Korean and global music charts with every song release. The group is iconic in
such a way that you can never talk about the Korean hip-hop scene without mentioning the AOMG label. Now, they are scheduled for a phenomenal world tour that is set to showcase 5 of their most elite artists namely, SIMON DOMINIC, LOCO, GRAY, LEEHI, and YUGYEOM.

SIMON DOMINIC is one of the legendary and irreplaceable figures in the K-Hip-Hop and entertainment industry. He started as an underground rookie rapper and persevered to be the CEO/artist that he is known today. Since then, he has released powerful tracks that dominated mainstream music charts in Korea including the catchy single “Simon Dominic” in 2015. His first full-length album DARKROOM in 2018 and EP No Open Flames in 2019 have further received recognition from both critics and the general public alike. Everyone surely knows the show’s going to be lit when they hear the iconic “Simon D-O-M-I-N-I-C” chant, and finally, the Philippines is about to also scream this live and loud!

LOCO rose to fame after winning the first season of the iconic Korean Reality Rap Competition “Show Me The Money”. Since then, he has released multiple platinum singles including “Hold Me Tight (Feat. Crush)”, “You Don’t Know”, and “Too Much (Feat. DEAN)”. Loco is greatly
appreciated for his sincere lyricism and melodic flow which is evident in all his works.

GRAY is a total package performer as aside from composing and producing music, he is alsowell-versed in singing and rapping. His trendy style and intricate talent led him to be one of thetop producers in South Korea. With this achievement, he’s done collaborations with domestic
and international music artists and has received countless music awards. His works wouldspeak for his excellence in this craft. This includes production credits in hits such as Jay Park’s “MOMMAE (Feat. Ugly Duck)”, Woo’s “We Are (Feat. Loco & GRAY)”, and Zion.T’s “Two
Melodies (Feat. Crush)”.

LEEHI is known for her soulful sound that encompasses a wide variety of genres. She debuted in 2012 and since then became a remarkable artist in both K-Pop and K-R&B industries. After joining AOMG, LEEHI released her album, 4ONLY, and won R&B Track of The Year at the
2021 Korean Hip-Hop Awards for her songs “HOLO” and “ONLY”. LEEHI vows to continue releasing music for her fans and keep serenading them with her charming works.

YUGYEOM joined AOMG in 2021 as he started pursuing a solo music career. With the label, he released his first solo EP Point of View: U, and ventured out to composing and producing his own music. He’s also known for his captivating moves as a dancer and choreographer.

YUGYEOM has just recently wrapped up a successful world tour which included Manila as one of his stops.

In over 3 breathless hours of show, witness SIMON DOMINIC, LOCO, GRAY, LEEHI, and YUGYEOM hit it up together for the first time on-stage. It’s going to be hot, packed, wild, and sexy ‘coz there ain’t no party like an AOMG Party! So, make sure to grab your tickets starting
December 5, 2022, 11AM at Ticketnet outlets nationwide or online via www.ticketnet.com.ph.

Turn up and see you all at the [FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT] AOMG WORLD TOUR 2023 IN MANILA on January 15, 2023 at the New Frontier Theater.

Follow PULP Live World on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates. You may also visit www.pulp.ph for further show details.

Concerts & Music Festivals

Ebe Dancel marks 20th anniversary of Sugarfree’s Sa Wakas with campus-themed music fair

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Filipino alternative rock icon Ebe Dancel celebrates the enduring legacy of Sugarfree’s Sa Wakas with an experiential treat that brings to mind the colorful vibe of UP Fair and the intimacy of a packed, outdoor event.
SA WAKAS: 20th Anniversary Celebration marks another milestone for the multi-awarded singer-songwriter as he brings to life the classic anthems that define an entire generation.


The highly anticipated show will take place at 123 Block, Mandala Park on January 28, 2022 (Saturday), from 4:30pm onwards, and feature a full-length, all-Sugafree set by Ebe Dancel, with special participation of Mitch Singson, as well as guest performances by Cheats, Johnoy Danao, The Itchyworms and more.


To make the celebration more special and personal, important personalities who were part of making Sa Wakas will also be gracing the event, either as performers or as special guests.
Not only will there be live music, but Mandala Park will also be turned into an amusement venue with carnival games and rides, arts and crafts booths, record and book stores, food stands, and other immersive activities.


“At the core of Sa Wakas is nostalgia shaped by bittersweet memories and adolescent discoveries,” says Ian Urrutia, PR and Marketing Director of GNN Entertainment Productions. “We want to honor the impact of Sugarfree’s debut album by reliving the simple joys of going to college or university fairs with friends, family, and loved ones. Looking back doesn’t have to be getting stuck in the past. Sometimes, it’s okay to experience the old times with fondness and a different perspective as it gives new meaning to these memories. We’re finding means not to reimagine Sa Wakas, but to celebrate it: a record that feels like a tight embrace at the end of the dark days.”


Backspacer Records, one of the co-presenters of the show, also shared their excitement in mounting a celebration of this caliber. “It has always been our aim at Backspacer Records to help channel music from the past into the present through our vinyl record releases. In the past year, we have successfully produced and released Ebe Dancel’s Bawat Daan and Habangbuhay albums on vinyl. And now, for the first time, we get to bring you a live music experience with the Sa Wakas 20th Anniversary show. As Ebe Dancel’s fans since his Sugarfree days, this is such a treat for us: to mark this important milestone with a throwback celebration, complete with a fun and laid-back college fair vibe. This night will definitely be a nostalgia trip, full of reminiscing while singing along to songs that have become the soundtracks of our youth.”


Special merch will be sold exclusively at the venue, and select Ebe Dancel albums and other important local/foreign records will be available via Backspacer Records.


SA WAKAS: 20th Anniversary Celebration is presented by GNN Entertainment Productions and Backspacer Records, in partnership with 123 Block and Balcony Entertainment.


Tickets to SA WAKAS: 20th Anniversary Celebration are available for purchase starting January 3 (Tuesday) at 6pm via bit.ly/sawakas20.

Ticket prices are as follows:
Regular: ₱1,300.00
VIP with M&G and signed poster: ₱1,800.00
VIP with vinyl bundle and M&G (limited): available at Backspacer Records’ official website