Rachael Yamagata & Ray LaMontagne

Thanks to a fellow Malaysian fan, ChesC, I was made aware of this beautiful song sung by TWO of my most favourite sultry-voiced crooners.

The merging of the voices: SUPERB.

Now if only the movie NEW MOON (Twilight Sequel) actually picked it up for one of its soundtrack then it'll be perfect. I'm sure most tweens nowadays would go 'Huh? Who?' at the mere mention of their names but atseriously I think mainstream music world should discover the beauty that is Rachael Yamagata and Ray LaMontagne. I personally believe that their talent is not fully appreciated by the music world even though their music and lyrics are to die for.

So for now relax... and enjoy the sheer beauty of this song.

Zee Avi debuts in May

Note this date, people!!

May 19th, 2009.

Nona Stylista

Announcing the GRAND OPENING of the latest blogshop on the net...

A collaboration between 3 fashion forward gals, who never seems to have enough time to go shopping. Thus through an ingenious move, they decided to combine their love of fashion, online shopping, and blogging to come up with their very own shopping portal.

Catered for classy, young fashionistas on the go this blogshop will not disappoint. So GO... check it out now!

Nona Stylista

The Reluctant Academic Strikes!

A: So Shan... you going to the seminar this weekend?

Me: Yeah, I am. Should be interesting.


Seminar Day

7.30 am

B: [SMS] Do you need me to pick you up?

Me: [SMS] naw.cangomeself

B: [SMS] ? U sure?

Me:[SMS]xya. (Sambung Zzzz...)


9.15 am

A: Eh... you're here. Was wondering where you where.

Me: Yeah... err... I couldn't get a cab.

A: Ye ke? Sayang. You missed Muhammad Haji Salleh.

Me: Aww dang. Oh well... (pause) Jom gi makan.


11.30 am

MC: We shall now commence with session 2. Let's invite our distinguished speaker, Prof. P to give his presentation.

*clapping

Prof. P: Clinical experience, public perceptions, and research have indicated that the Indian community has been over-represented in attempted suicide and suicide rates in Malaysia. A computerized search of the literature back to 1966 ...

Me: (YAWNS)

Prof. P: ... Patterns of migration experiences, religious and cultural beliefs, higher suicide risk in rural areas, the use of toxic biocides...

Me: Zzzzz...


12.30pm

Me: (In a cab... heading home).


12.40pm

Me: Zzzz....

*The Seminar was supposed to end at 5pm

Yuna @ Bijou Bazaar!

Yuna will be selling a few of her stuff at Bijou Bazaar tomorrow and this is also your chance to get the EP if you still haven't got it!

So come on!

Click here for more details:

Bijou Bazaar @ Soho KL, Solaris Mont'Kiara (Facebook)

p.s. Happy Valentine's Day to all of ya out there. Go spread the love. Support the local music scene!!

Alahai Mak Datin Oi...

Datin-datin sekalian...

What is it with you people? Jadi Datin tu best sangat ke? Gah sangat ke sampai antara kengkawan baik sendiri pun kene bahasa-kan diri as Datin? Nama yang dianugerahkan oleh mak bapak korang tu tak cukup bagus ke? Bila kengkawan sendiri pun jadi Datin, dok sesama panggil each other Datin camne korang differentiate antara satu sama lain? Saya tak paham... bebetul tak paham.

Wahai mak Datin...

Do you think people care that you're a mak Datin? Do you think people actually give a damn to know that they're sitting next to a Datin when they're having a lovely meal at a nice restaurant with family and friends? Tak payah la nak cakap kuat-kuat. Kami kat sebelah je. Boleh dengar you all menjerit-jerit panggil each other "Datin". Reality check mak Datin oi... orang pergi restaurant sebab nak enjoy makanan yang dihidangkan bukannya nak mencari alasan nak jumpa memana orang yang kononnya "berpangkat". And yes, people without the "pangkat" nowadays can afford to go to the places that you go to too. You're not the only one with the money nowadays.

Oh mak mak datin sekalian...

Is it wrong for me to wear something casual to a kenduri? Granted la I was supposed to wear baju kurung since it was an Islamic thing but salah ke aku memakai seluar? Perlu ke pandangan sinis dan jelingan-jelingan tajam yang dilemparkan ke arahku itu? Sekurang-kurangnya aku berpakaian kemas, sopan dan yang penting sekali aku menutup aurat dari hujung rambut hinggalah ke pangkal kaki. Not an inch of my aurat was exposed. Betapa teringinnya hati tak ber"pangkat" aku ni nak tuding jari kat jambul korang tu and your jarang figure-hugging kebayas and say 'Sedar tak korang di mata pandangan Tuhan, you're the one that's underdressed'. Mau terjojol biji mata korang kalau aku cakap macam tu. But I didn't say that. I may not have a title but I was brought up with dignity. I need to respect my elders. Emphasis on the word elders ye. Sedarlah wahai datin-datin oi, kebaya jarang are only flattering to those whose skin don't sag.

Datin...

Bukannya saya tak respect you. But you're making it too easy for me to NOT respect you. Ingatlah sikit, pangkat Datin tu bukannya anugerah. You dapat pun secara proxy. All because you married a guy who was good enough to be given the honour of Dato/ Datuk or rich enough to buy himself that particular title. Lain la kalau you yourself have the honour to carry the Dato' / Datuk title in front of your name like Datuk Zeti Akhtar Aziz or Datuk Siti Nurhaliza. In cases like that, you don't have to demand people's respect. You'll get it just like that.

So sedarlah diri sikit wahai warga-warga Datin sekalian. Jangan nak menyombong diri di atas perkara-perkara kecil seperti title tu. It's what you make of that title that will give you the respect that a mak Datin deserves. As Shakespeare said it 'A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet', so even if you don't have the Datin title but you contribute to the people then in their hearts you are a deserving Datin.

You dig?

Tig Tag Toe (or: 'My Puns Are Stupid')

As a newbie in the Order of the Coffee Guzzlers & Shisha smokers, High Priestess Zetty Amny has prepared my initiation rites. I am supposed to do as follows:

Rules: The rules are simple. Use Google Image to search the answers to the questions below. Then you must choose a picture in the first page of the results, and post it as your answer. After that tag 6 people.

I am:

Let's see what you make of this ;D


I really want to go:
Yes! I realise that I am over 20!!


My favourite place:
Penang to be axact.

My favourite thing:

I wish my laptop was as cool as this one though :P


My favourite drink(s):

Mamak makes the best Teh O' Ais

My favourite food:

and also:

Ye... saya suka makanan omputih. Nak buat camne?


My favourite colour:

I live in:

But in reality, I live...

and also:

I was born in:

I attend:

My favourite show(s):

as well as:

In this sense... yes, I'm a bimbo.


This is my hobby:

but I also like:

I definitely wish for:

and:

I tag:

1. Fynn
2. Elyna
3. Sue Anna Joe
4. Sarah B.
5. Azreen
6. Azman

Disclaimer: The statements expressed here are entirely based on present/current circumstances and are time-sensitive; changes may occur to the blogger's state of mind and well-being that can affect this opinion. The blogger also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from posting this but will accept them from generous donours out there.

Thank you.

Koko Kaina / Zee Avi

*pic credit to takemeonline.blogspot

Following Fynn's reccomendation, I decided to check out another local indie musician Koko Kaina who now goes by the name of Zee Avi. And again, twice in the same week, I was blown away by this girl's sheer talent.

Dayyum!!! The voice on this girl.

So naturally I became an instant fan. I am now a subscriber to her Kokokaina Channel on Youtube and has also signed up to be in her mailing list at her official Zee Avi website. So yeah, I gotta give a shoutout to Fynn: I owe you one!! Am loving like this girl like mad!

So how talented is she?? So talented that she’s been picked up by Jack Johnson’s music label, Brushfire Records. Brushfire manager Emmett Malloy calls her a cross between Norah Jones and Billie Holliday. She's currently recording her debut at the Solar Power Plastic Plant, Brushfire's home studio in L.A. Backing her are Jack Johnson's band: drummer Adam Topol, bassist Merlo Podlewski and keyboardist Zach Gill. With a group of talents backing her up like that you know her album is gonna be a bomb.

She's already made her debut with Brushfire records through their christmas album with the song "No Christmas for Me". Aside officially being the first Malaysian singer to be part of the Brushfire Records roster, She's also the first female! This is the video for her "No Christmas for Me" single. Check it out.



However still no word on when her album is going to be out but rest assured, as soon as it is out I'm gonna be the first to lay my hands on it!!

Lisa Hannigan - NOW SOLO

Formerly a part of Damien Rice's act, Lisa Hannigan has broken free and now debuts her solo album "Sea Sew". Been a fan of hers since her Damien Rice days, and her latest single "Lille" does not disappoint. Check out the official music video for "Lille". Wouldn't you love to have a pop-up book just like that? I'd have hours and hours of fun. (Yes, I know I'm over 20)

Learn more about the lady with the velvety voice on her official website: Sea Sew.

p.s. HappyThaipusam to all Malaysians. Yeay! Yeay! Esok cuti!!

Yuna - local IT indie girl

I have just discovered Malaysia's local 'it' indie scene girl. Yuna, an amazing singer/ song writer. Totally reminiscent of Fiona Apple, Rachael Yamagata and Alanis Morissette.

Yeah, I know am lightyears 'ketinggalan zaman' but I have never been much of a follower of the local indie scene. Aside from the usual indie-gone-mainstream kinda bands like Meet Uncle Hussain and Hujan, I'm totally clueless on who's who in the Malaysian indie music scene. Not that I don't appreciate the indie scene but Malaysian iindie music before this were the type that made my ears itch and my skin crawl. For a person who appreciates lyrics those kind of bands were the bane of my existence. Then came the bands who were heavily influenced by the Indonesian indie music scene. Whew! My ears now rest easy.

So when I suddenly discovered Yuna, totally by chance ( I was actually surfing for online shops :P), I was totally blown away. She plays the type of music that I liked. That I listened to. That I enjoyed. It was totally a dream come true. Not only she has a great voice, her lyrics are superb! And the best part part was the fact that her pronunciation for English songs was perfect! I can never stand local performers butchering an English song through their pathetic pronunciation. I just can't help myself. I am an English language major after all.

Here's Yuna performing my favourite song, Deeper Conversation. Check out her other songs: Rocket, Dan Sebenarnya, Missing a Star, Polaroid etc. Her EP is already out but only sold at various stores around KL.

1. THE SUPERSUNDAY Concept store. How to go there?
   
2. Wondermilk. 41 Jalan SS21/1A Damansara Utama (same row as TM Point and IACT college)
3. The Dolls Store. 87 Basement , Jln Bulan, Bkt Bintang , Kuala Lumpur (in front of Metrojaya, BB Plaza)

Yuna usually sells her EP album at her show venues as well. So if you want to check her out here are her upcoming performance dates:

February, 20 2009 08:00 PM - Festival Tunku Bahiyah Kompleks Perdanasiswa, Universiti Malaya

Petaling Jaya

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March, 7 2009 03:00 PM Graphic Day UiTM Lendu

Melaka,

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March, 15 2009 08:00 PM Mosaic Music Festival: Nokia Music Station (Indie Air) Esplanade Outdoor Theatre Singapore

So anyways I'm just glad that I finally found a local artist worth supporting. Won't even mind becoming her groupie XP For those living round Gombak area and wishes to purchase her EP, Good News!! A supplier is more than happy to help you. Contact this lovely lady and she'll hook you up. Remember.. buy original. Support the local music scene. Go Yuna!

Supplier: Zaina Wardah
Tel. No: 012 3401545
Email: cheq2wawa2@yahoo.com