MISSY ELLIOTT KICKS OFF NEW YEAR WITH “I’M BETTER (FEAT. LAMB)”

Press release

Atlantic recording artist Missy Elliott has announced the release of her hugely anticipated new song. “I’m Better (Feat. Lamb)” will be available this Friday, January 27^th at U.S. and Canadian DSPs and streaming services, followed by worldwide release on Saturday, January 28^th.

WATCH THE “I’M BETTER (FEAT. LAMB)” MUSIC VIDEO:

https://missyell.io/tt/imbettervideo

The track, produced by Lamb (Beyoncé, SWV, Monica) and written by Elliott, is accompanied by a groundbreaking companion video, co-directed by Elliott and her longtime GRAMMY® Award-winning collaborator Dave Meyers (“Lose Control,” “Work It,” “We Run This”). “I’m Better (Feat. Lamb)” premiered today via Missy’s official YouTube channel.

One of the most significant female artists in contemporary music history, Elliott has returned to her rightful place in the spotlight in recent months, include this week’s announcement of an impending guest star appearance on FOX’s new Lee Daniels-produced series, Star, airing Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT (check local listings). Last year saw the GRAMMY® Award-winning icon making a wide range of high-profile appearances, spanning Amazon Echo’s “Dance Party” commercial for Super Bowl 50 co-starring Alec Baldwin and soundtracked by her 2016 fan favorite, “Pep Rally” to a remarkable collaboration with Marc Jacobs on the designer’s Fall 2016 campaign.

Elliott officially returned to the music scene with 2015’s “WTF (Where They From) (Feat. Pharrell Williams),” available now at all DSPs and streaming services. Produced by Williams (Adele, Kendrick Lamar), the track was first unveiled as the official theme to ESPN’s kickoff coverage of the 2015/2016 NBA season and had its official world premiere with hourly plays across all iHeartRadio Urban Mainstream outlets. In addition, the “WTF (Where They From) (Feat. Pharrell Williams)” companion video – directed by Elliott and Meyers – premiered high above New York City’s Times Square via Apple Music’s massive Beats 1 billboard and has earned over 48 million individual views thus far via YouTube alone.

March 2016 saw Elliott unite with former First Lady Michelle Obama for “This Is For My Girls,” an all-star anthem to female empowerment executive produced by AOL’s MAKERS and performed by Kelly Clarkson, Chloe x Halle, Missy Elliott, Jadagrace, Lea Michele, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Rowland, & Zendaya. Elliott also joined the First Lady for a number of public appearances, including her 2016 keynote address at Austin, TX’s South By Southwest (SXSW) as well as a surprise drop-in on CBS’ The Late Late Show With James Corden’s classic “Carpool Karaoke.” “This Is For My Girls” is available now exclusively on the iTunes Store, with all proceeds going to support the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund.

Missy Elliott is of course a groundbreaking solo superstar, pioneering producer/songwriter, and across-the-board cultural icon. The four-time GRAMMY® Award winner – with nominations spanning three decades – has achieved unprecedented success, including U.S. sales in excess of 30 million. Missy’s six studio albums (including 2001’s landmark “MISS E… SO ADDICTIVE” and 2002’s blockbuster “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”) have each been RIAA platinum certified or better, marking her as the only female rapper to achieve that milestone accomplishment.

The last half decade has seen Elliott featured on tracks from artists including Ginuwine, Ciara, K. Michelle, Demi Lovato, The Black Keys, J. Cole, G-Dragon, Fantasia, Monica, Busta Rhymes, Jazmine Sullivan, and of course, Katy Perry, with whom she famously teamed up for 2011’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Remix).”

Missy lit up 2014 with a series of surprise event appearances, joining Pharrell Williams to open the BET Awards with a “Come Get It Bae/Pass That Dutch” mash-up, reuniting with Da Brat and Lil Kim at the Soul Train Music Awards for their 1997 breakthrough, “Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)” – the trio’s first live performance together in more than 16 years – and of course her unforgettable performance at 2015’s Super Bowl XLIX. Missy joined Katy Perry for the historic happening, wowing 118.5 million viewers – the largest ever audience in Super Bowl history – with a medley of “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It,” and “Lose Control.” Digital sales skyrocketed in the following days, with both “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It” returning to the top 40 on Billboard’s “Top Singles” chart more than 10 years after their initial successes.

In addition, Elliott has been heard on such tracks as Faith Evans’ 2014 single, “I Deserve It (Feat, Missy Elliott & Sharaya J),” Jack Ü’s 2015 “Take Ü There (Feat. Kiesza) (Missy Elliott Remix),” and Janet Jackson’s “BURNITUP! (Feat. Missy Elliott).”

For more news and information, please visit www.missy-elliott.com, www.facebook.com/missyelliott, www.twitter.com/missyelliott (@missyelliott), www.youtube.com/missyelliott, https://instagram.com/MissyMisdemeanorElliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott), and www.atlanticrecords.com.

MAJOR LAZER’S “RUN UP” FEATURING PARTYNEXTDOOR AND NICKI MINAJ

Press release

“Run Up,” the new single from international superstars Major Lazer—the group comprised of Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, premiered last January 27. The track, inspired as ever by the group’s Caribbean roots, features PARTYNEXTDOOR and Nicki Minaj. “It’s always important for us to work with people who are on the same wave,” says Diplo. “Nicki and Party really helped us bring the classic Major Lazer style to create this perfect party record.” “Major Lazer is all about making the world smaller by making the party bigger,” says Walshy Fire. “This felt like the perfect song to start off 2017.” The band’s documentary Give Me Future, filmed at their historic 2016 show in Havana, Cuba, premiered last week at Sundance and is set for release later this year.

Gallant x Tablo x Eric Nam Unveil ‘Cave Me In’

Press release

Grammy®-nominated artist Gallant presents a new single, Cave Me In in collaboration with Asia’s superstar artists Tablo (from EPIK HIGH) and Eric Nam on January 26th at 9:30 A.M. (PST) via Warner Bros./Mind Of A Genius.

 Cave Me In, is a true organic collaboration of three artists from different sides of the world. What started off with no pressures from the business side, just pure chemistry resulted in a chilled R&B track that “has a bit of a throwback 90's vibe but remains trendy and easy to listen to,” says Eric Nam. Tablo adds "feelin' blessed to be a part of this beautiful song. With my verse, I wanted to talk about the inherent double-bladed nature of love. As the title of the song implies, love is often simultaneously gentle and violent. Hope it hits close to home for ya.” 

"When we all met for the first time, our energy just clicked-- and that synergy manifested itself into this record,” Gallant stated. “Everything just happened so naturally,” Tablo said. “It was just jamming together between performers,” Eric said. None of the three remember the exact date they started on this project, according to their interview with W Korea, despite the unexpected combination of individuals who come from different backgrounds and places. Since they all constantly travel the world, this song took some time to be officially released. Cave Me In turned out to be simply “a song three talented guys wanted to sing together.” 

 Cave Me In, produced by Lophiile, will be premiered worldwide on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 show on January 26th 9 A.M. PT, broadcasted in more than 100 countries. The single will be released globally on the same day at 9:30 A.M. and will be released on local DSPs in South Korea on the noon of January 27th. The music video will also be released. The video was shot in Hong Kong. 

Gallant, one of the most talked about R&B artists in the world, is making a name for creating new sounds with his own blends of R&B, soul, alternative rock, and more. His 2016 debut album, Ology, has been Grammy® nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The legendary Elton John, who has performed Weight In Gold together with him says “when I hear his voice, I just lose it” In 2017, Gallant made it to Forbes 30 Under 30, and was introduced as “the next big thing in R&B”. 

Tablo is a Seoul born rapper, record producer, songwriter, author, and entrepreneur who established a legendary Korean Hip-Hop group Epik High, and founder of the music label HIGHGRND. He has lived around the globe in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Canada, Korea, and California, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in English Literature at Stanford University. As Epik High, Tablo released 8 Hip-Hop albums and also released hisfirst solo album in 2011, which hit #1 on the US and Canadian iTunes Hip-Hop chart and #2 on Billboard’s World Album Chart. In 2016, Epik High became the first major Korean music group to ever perform at Coachella, which is where Tablo first met Gallant. 

Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, is a Korean-American singer-songwriter who first appeared in Korea’s music scene in 2013 and released a mini-album Cloud 9 with the title track Heaven’s Door. He was praised for his smooth vocals and known for his approachable character. Now he is a multi-talented musician, television host and entertainer. His recent EP Interview with title track Good For You was well received in both in the Korean and International markets. In 2016, he took a further step to the international scene, with singles Into You (with KOLAJ) and BODY, co-written and produced by Timbaland.

JAMES BLUNT NEW SINGLE “LOVE ME BETTER”

Press release

BRAND NEW ALBUM ‘THE AFTERLOVE’ ON MARCH 24TH.

Britain’s very own Twitter all-star is back… James Blunt will release his fifth studio album, ‘The Afterlove’ on March 24th through Atlantic Records. The new album is the follow-up to ‘Moon Landing’, which reached platinum status in the UK and spent 33 weeks in the UK Top 40 after it was released in 2013. James worked with a wide range of talent when writing and recording ‘The Afterlove’ including Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder, Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran, Shannon Saunders), Johnny McDaid (Example, Biffy Clyro), Stephan Moccio (Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd) and MoZella (Miley Cyrus, One Direction). James Blunt will also be embarking on a UK headline tour, The Afterlove Tour, which includes a date at London’s Eventim Apollo. This is the first tour for James following his extensive Moon Landing Tour, which saw him perform over 140 shows across the world over the course of twelve months. James Blunt has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and 12.8 million singles. He’s also amassed over 625 million views on YouTube and over 680 millions global streams on streaming platforms. 

Celine Dion to Perform Original Song "How Does a Moment Last Forever" for Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"

Press release

New Soundtrack Art Now Available for download: https://www.relayit.net/pickup.php?c=s4wtnfD3mfnrxsDtBM7HFvm5qdR4KR9HtFjw

BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2017) – Five-time GRAMMY® winning and best-selling recording artist Celine Dion will perform an all-new original song, “How Does A Moment Last Forever,” for Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast.” The song will also be included on the film’s soundtrack.

Written by eight-time Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin”) and veteran lyricist and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (“The Lion King,” “Evita”), “How Does A Moment Last Forever” is an emotional ballad about holding onto life’s precious moments. Portions of the song are performed throughout the film and interpolated into the underscore before Dion’s full-length version debuts in the film’s custom main-on-end title design.

Says Dion, “Being a part of the original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was such a magical experience in my life, and I'm truly honored to be a part of this film again.”  

President of Music for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production, Mitchell Leib, approached the artist on behalf of the project with the idea of recording one of the three new songs written for the film. “Celine was the unanimous choice of the filmmakers and studio to perform this song,” says Leib, “And everyone involved with the film is thrilled she agreed to be part of this new live-action adaptation.”

Dion originally performed the duet “Beauty and the Beast” – featuring Menken’s haunting melody and two-time Oscar-winner Howard Ashman’s unforgettable lyrics – with Peabo Bryson for the animated film. The song became an instant classic and went on to receive an Academy Award®, Golden Globe®and three GRAMMY Awards.

Menken also provides the film score along with new recordings of the classic songs from the animated film written by himself and Ashman. The original motion picture soundtrack will be released by Walt Disney Records on March 10, 2017. 

About the film:

The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic “Beauty and the Beast,” a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s father; Josh Gad as LeFou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Ewan McGregor as Lumière, the candelabra; Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Audra McDonald as Madame de Garderobe, the wardrobe; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, the feather duster; Hattie Morahan as the enchantress; and Nathan Mack as Chip, the teacup; with Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts.

Directed by Bill Condon based on the 1991 animated film “Beauty and the Beast,” the screenplay is written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos and produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman, p.g.a. and Todd Lieberman, p.g.a. with Jeffrey Silver, Thomas Schumacher and Don Hahn serving as executive producers. “Beauty and the Beast” will be released in Philippine cinemas onMarch 16, 2017.

For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/ disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic and Instagram.com/disneymusic/.

ARIANA GRANDE, JOHN LEGEND SINGS “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” THEME SONG

Press release

GRAMMY nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time GRAMMY, Oscar®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend are set to perform the Oscar and GRAMMY-winning duet “Beauty and the Beast” as the title track for Disney’s upcoming soundtrack to the live-action film adaptation “Beauty and the Beast (read my review here).” The song will also be featured in the film.

The enchanting ballad, originally performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson featuring eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken’s beautiful melody and two-time Oscar-winner Howard Ashman’s unforgettable lyrics, received an Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY Award,among other accolades, upon its release in 1991.

The new rendition of the classic song is produced by GRAMMY-winning veteran Ron Fair, whose music career spans 37 years as a major-label record company leader and accomplished producer, arranger, recording engineer and musical director. Fair was brought in to produce by Disney’s president of Music & Soundtracks, Mitchell Leib, who also brought Grande and Legend to the project. The history of collaboration between Leib and Fair in film music goes back to the highly-successful “Pretty Woman” soundtrack. “Ron was the first and only choice to make this particular record,” says Leib. “No one is a better vocal producer and he also has a great understanding of the filmmaking dynamic.”

Fair’s recordings have won six GRAMMY Awards and have been nominated 18 times. Fair discovered and shepherded Christina Aguilera, selling over 50 million albums and winning numerous GRAMMY Awards. He A&R’d Aguilera’s first five albums and championed the Black Eyed Peas to 27 million albums, 4 number-ones and multiple GRAMMY wins, as well as co-producing and arranging the strings on their global breakthrough # 1 hit “Where is The Love?”

Says Fair, “Stepping into the shoes of an Oscar and GRAMMY Award-winning classic is not small potatoes. But with today’s two greatest plutonium singers – John Legend and Ariana Grande – we are bringing the song back with a new school-old school fresh treatment that shows the soulfulness and power of what a great melody and lyric can inspire.”

The music video will be directed by Dave Meyers, the innovative visionary whose long-time collaborations with major artists like P!nk, Janet Jackson, Ice Cube and Britney Spears have resulted in dozens of award nominations and many wins, including a GRAMMY in 2005 for Best Music Video and 11 MTV Video Music Awards, including one for Katy Perry’s smash hit “Firework.” He recently directed the music video for P!nk’s hit single “Just Like Fire” from the Walt Disney Records soundtrack for “Alice Through The Looking Glass.”

Menken also provides the film score, with new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Ashman. Also featured are three new songs written by Menken and veteran lyricist and three time Oscar winner Tim Rice. The original motion picture soundtrack will be released by Walt Disney Records on March 10, 2017. The pre-order is available now at http://disneymusic.co/BeautySndtrkP.

Postponed: DEBBY BOONE SINGS KAREN CARPENTER AT BIG DOME ON MARCH 8

Press release

UPDATE: CONCERT IS POSTPONED. WATCH OUT FOR FURTHER UPDATES FROM THIS BLOG.

The singer behind one of the top-selling pop hits of the 1970s pays tribute to an iconic singer and her music when Debby Boone performs the greatest hits of Karen Carpenter during a major concert on March 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The presentation from Ovation Productions will kick off the three-night, three-city local tour of the acclaimed American singer, actress and author that also includes shows on March 10 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City and on March 11 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City.

Dubbed “Debby Boone Sings Karen Carpenter,” the concert series marks the local debut of Debby as she extols the musical achievements and legacy of the late Karen Carpenter, one-half of the ‘70s pop duo, The Carpenters, who, with her brother Richard, made up one of the era’s biggest and most successful soft rock groups.

Touted as the ultimate Karen Carpenters tribute act, the show is expected to evoke happy and  wonderful memories of the magical sound and spectacle of a Carpenters live performance featuring Karen on the drums and lead vocals in her typical contralto vocal range and Richard on the piano with back-up vocals.

Debby brings with her on her first foray in singing Karen Carpenter the superb vocal quality and style that have produced numerous hit records and sold-out tours during a brilliant and successful musical and entertainment career spanning nearly 50 years.

While there were past tributes to Karen Carpenter by other artists, they were less than impressive and didn’t have the kind of skills, style and appeal in coming out with the familiar soft rock sound and carefully crafted songs associated with The Carpenters and that have captivated millions worldwide.

Among the Carpenters hits Debby is expected to sing are “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Top Of The World,” “Superstar,” “:Hurting Each Other,” “I Need To Be In Love,” “For All We Know” and many more.

She will also perform her best-selling song the mega-hit “You Light Up My Life”.

Debby’s career as a singer, artist and actress  traces its roots to a life full of music as she was growing up in New Jersey with her family led by her father, Pat Boone, the popular singer of the 1950s.

At the age of 14, she began touring with her three sisters and her father, with whom she  earlier recorded as the Pat Boone Family and later as The Boones or The Boone Girls.

She launched a solo career with the release of her debut solo album, “You Light Up My Light” (1977), which became the biggest hit of the 1970s, spending 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – longer than any other song in Hot 100 history until that point.

(In 2008, Billboard ranked the song No. 7 among all songs that charted in the 50-year history of the Hot 100.)

“You Light Up My Life” earned Debby a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single of 1977.

She also received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance-Female and Record of the Year.  The song likewise succeeded on Billboard Adult Contemporary (No. 1 for one week) and Country (No. 4) singles charts.  The single and the album of the same title were both certified platinums.

Debby’s overnight success led to a tour with her father and frequent appearances on major television shows.

Other albums that followed include “The Best Of Debby Boone,” “Songs Of Debby Boone” and “Friends For Life.”

In the 1980s, she recorded Christian music which garnered her four Top 10 contemporary Christian albums, as well as  two GMA (Gospel Music Association of the United States) Dove Awards  and two more Grammys, including the winning “With My Song” (1980).

As a musical theatre actress, Debby toured the United States during 1981-82 in a production of the stage adaptation of the film, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” which was a commercial and critical success nationwide before opening on Broadway in July 1982.

She appeared in several musical theatre productions, starring as Maria in the 1990 Lincoln Center production of  “The Sound Of Music” and as Rizzo in the 1990s revival of “Grease.”

She also performed lead roles in stage productions of “Camelot,” “Meet Me In St. Louis,” “Mississippi Love Love,” “South Pacific,” “Human Comedy” and “The King And I.”

She made her television debut in a musical adaptation of O. Henry’s “The Gift Of The Magi” and headlined two of her own NBC TV musical specials: “The Same Old Brand New Me” (1980) and “One Step Closer” (1982)

Aside from a successful music and stage career, Debby is credited with writing children’s books and producing children’s videos.  She has also written her biography in which she shares stories of growing up with Pat Boone, her musical career and her married life. -- #

(Debby Boone Sings Karen Carpenter”is presented by Ovation Productions.  Among the media partners are The Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and BusinessWorld. Radio partners are Retro 105.9, 96.3 Easy Rock, Wish 1075, 105.1 Crossover, and 104.3 

DWBR,  Tickets for the Smart Araneta Center show on March 8 are priced at P4,500, P4,000, P3,500, P2,500, P1,500 and P800 and are available online at www.ticketnet.com.ph and at all Ticketnet outlets.  For tickets and other info on the Waterfront Hotel Cebu concert on March 10, call (032) 232 6888/0971-622-8705.  For tickets and other info on the SMX Convention Center-Davao concert on March 11, call 0932-637-6185/0932-349-4499.)

Pioneer Insurance announces #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition finalists

Press release

Vote for your favorite #MoveOnLang song at Pioneer Insurance’s Facebook Page

Manila, Philippines – After a rigorous selection process, ten talented student songwriters have been chosen as the finalists of Pioneer Insurance’s #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition.

Ebe Dancel and Yael Yuzon give tips to aspiring songwriters at the UP Los Banos leg of the Pioneer and FILSCAP Campus Caravan

Pioneer Insurance launched the #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition in partnership with the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) and One Music PH to encourage the youth to pursue artistic endeavors and to celebrate the Filipino trait of resiliency.

Applicants were challenged to write a song expressing their own unique take on Filipino resiliency. After screening hundreds of submissions from students all over the country, the board of judges, composed of practitioners from the music industry, selected the following entries to move on to the final round of judging:

1. “Aking Mundo” by Benjamin Quijano of University of the Philippines Los Baños 

2. “Alive” by Kenneth Roquid of University of the Philippines Diliman 

3. “Chronosphere” by CK Sabillo of University of Santo Tomas

4. “From Now On” by Julien Cloma of STI College Novaliches 

5. “Hand in Hand” by Julia Dichoso of Sorsogon State College

6. “Invincible” by Yosef Escoto of San Beda College Alabang

7. “Make It Through” by Luigi Balazo of University of San Carlos 

8. “Martsa ni Martha” by Marie Maureen Salvaleon of Southwestern University PHINMA

9. “The Biggest Leap” by Marie Bernadette Tayag of De La Salle University Manila

 10. “Time” by Patricia Monsod of University of the Philippines Diliman

 

The songs cover a wide range of genres from straightforward pop to alternative pop, acoustic, and even electronic ballads.

“We’re happy to have received such a variety of song submissions. It just goes to show that the next generation of Filipino musicians have much to offer,” said Pioneer’s Marketing Head Len Pozon.

The public can listen and vote for their favorite songs at www.moveonlang.ph from January 4 to 23, 2017. The finalist with the most online votes will be crowned the Online Favorite and awarded a cash prize of PHP 10,000.

The top ten entries will also be interpreted by performers during the Finals Night on February 2, 2017, at Hard Rock Café in Glorietta 3, Makati City, with live coverage on Pioneer Insurance’s Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/PioneerIsYourInsurance. A panel of judges will then decide the top three winners of the competition.

The Grand Winner of Pioneer Insurance’s #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition will bring home PHP 100,000, while the second and third placers will win PHP 50,000 and PHP 30,000 respectively. The remaining seven non-winning participants will receive a consolation prize of PHP 10,000. All finalists will be awarded PHP 100,000 worth of insurance coverage courtesy of Pioneer.

A staunch supporter of the arts, Pion eer shares their message of hope through yearly competitions in various creative fields like filmmaking, playwriting, and this time, songwriting.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to promote local music through our partnership with FILSCAP, the sole and official music copyright society in the Philippines, and One Music PH, ABS-CBN’s online music portal” said Pozon. “We hope that #MoveOnLang will inspire not only the youth, but our entire nation to keep moving forward despite setbacks and difficulties.”

To learn more about Pioneer Insurance’s #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition, visit www.moveonlang.ph and www.facebook.com/PioneerIsYourInsurance.

Ephesus Teatron Stages "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS"

Once Upon The Mattress is a musical adaptation from Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller’s book of the same name which is based from Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of The Princess and The Pea.

With music by Marshall Barer, the 1959 musical was the stage debut of Carol Burnett. Following her footsteps, it was also staged by Sarah Jessica Parker and Jane Krakowski. Now, it will be locally staged by Ephesus Teatron Group, Inc.

The production is intended as a mobile which can be accessible to schools give them a theater experience. Traditionally, theater productions are considered expensive and staged in a specific location where the theater guild is based. For Ephesus, they want to bring it to a general public.

The name Ephesus is an ancient city in Turkey and is considered the center of performing arts during the Greco-Roman World. Once Upon The Mattress will be staged in Tanghalang Yaman Lahi Theater, Emilio Aguinaldo College in Ermita, Manila on one weekend only from January 20 to 22 with two performances daily at 3:30 and 7:30 P.M.

Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan is the president and artistic director of Ephesus. She performed in musicals at Repertory Philippines and gathered most of her colleagues in this ensemble. She went abroad for performance that when she went back after many years out of the country, she missed performing here which is why she formed Ephesus.

An excerpt during the press launch

Once Upon The Mattress is a parody musical of the Princess and the Peas. You might expect it with sexual innuendo or hint but it is toned down for younger audience especially since the target audiences are the campuses in the vicinity.

Clockwise from left: Yanah Laurel, Raymund Concepcion, Nino Alejandro, Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Milay Guinid, Ayam Eckstein.

I got to watch an excerpt/song numbers from this musical and I already got hooked. If you are into medieval period with knights, kings, queens, princes, princesses, jesters, minstrels and damsels, then this is the musical for you. Cast includes Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Cara Barredo, Nino Alejandro, Hans Eckstein, Chino Veguillas, Milay Guinid, Raymond Concepcion, Arion Sanchez, Steven Hotchkiss, Onyl Torres,  Alex Dagalea, Yanah Laurel, Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan, and more. Directed by Steven Conde.

For more musical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

GLOBAL SUPERSTAR ED SHEERAN RETURNS!

Press release

ED UNVEILS TWO COMEBACK SINGLES
“CASTLE ON THE HILL” & “SHAPE OF YOU” 
AVAILABLE NOW ON ITUNES, SPOTIFY AND APPLE MUSIC

WATCH THE ACCOMPANYING LYRIC VIDEOS
“CASTLE ON THE HILL” & “SHAPE OF YOU”

22 MILLION ALBUMS SOLD, WORLDWIDE!

4.7 BILLION SPOTIFY STREAMS!

 3.5 BILLION HITS ON HIS OFFICIAL YOUTUBE!

 OFFICIAL WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

  

Multiple Grammy and BRIT Award-winning international mega-star, Ed Sheeran, has kicked-off music in 2017, unveiling TWO brand new singles - “Castle On The Hill” and “Shape Of You” -  out now on Asylum Records and available through iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music here.

Ed Sheeran's two comeback singles - “Castle On The Hill” and “Shape Of You” - mark a hugely exciting return and another forward-thinking move for the multi award-winning, modern-day troubadour. Unveiled in the early hours of this morning, the singles are Ed’s first releases since 2015 and showcase two very different sides to his unparalleled musical palate. “Castle On The Hill”, written by Ed and Benny Blanco (also on production), pays homage to growing up in Framlingham, Suffolk. Driving beats and Springsteen-esque riffs collide to create another stadium-ready anthem. “Shape Of You”, written by Ed, Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac (also on production), dismantles and rebuilds modern-pop music using little more than a loop pedal. The record is an extension of the sound for which Ed's become so well-known and has set him apart from his peers - something he first showcased in 2010 with his pivotal SBTV live performance of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”, and executed on his debut EP ‘No.5 Collaborations Project’ (staring an array of grime artists including Wretch 32, Wiley + more), following in 2011.

Speaking about his monumental comeback, 25-year-old Ed commented – “Hello 2017! I’ve been working hard on the new material and I hope you can be as excited about it as I am. I really wanted to show two different sides to my music that I’m equally as passionate about and I just knew I wanted to roll with two songs at the same time. I’m absolutely buzzing to be back.”

Despite being out of the spotlight for a year on a well-deserved break, Ed’s name was still associated with some of 2016's biggest hits. As one of the world's most in-demand songwriters, he penned “Cold Water” for Major Lazer and “Love Yourself” for Justin Bieber; further proving his versatility and unique flair for penning global #1 records. Rewind to June 2014 to see Sheeran releasing his second studio album ‘x’ (pronounced “multiply”,) which has gone onto become one of the most significant and record-breaking albums of this millennium! Bolstered by the likes of Rick Rubin, Pharrell Williams and Benny Blanco on production, ‘x’ charted at #1 both sides of the Atlantic upon release, landed a further 95 #1 slots on iTunes across the globe, stayed at no. 1 for 12 weeks in the UK and spawned his global no. 1, biggest-selling single to date – “Thinking Out Loud”.  ‘x’ has now landed a staggering 90 x platinum certifications worldwide and was recently named one of the Official Chart Company’s biggest-selling albums of all time, having amassed over 3.4 BILLION streams! Breaking through to the mainstream in 2011 with his debut album ‘+’ (“plus”), which spent three weeks at no.1 in the UK, the Suffolk native quickly made a name for himself as one of the hottest up-and-coming UK talents of that year, setting his musical trajectory to an extraordinary level from the off; Ed won his first Ivor Novello Award in 2011 for his breakthrough single “The A Team”, which also went onto become that year’s biggest-selling debut single. 

JESSE LUCAS TO HOLD FREE MASTERCLASS ON JANUARY 29

Press release

Top-notch composer Jesse Lucas gives a masterclass on the art of writing music for Film/TV.  Jesse is an award-winning and prolific composer who has written music for film, television, theater and ballet.

In film, his works have won awards from different award-giving bodies. In 2010, he was elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame for Best Music Scorer. He won the Best Music at the 2005 Screamfest International Film Festival in Los Angeles for the film Sigaw, 2005. His music for films have reaped awards such as Gawad Urian, Best Music Score for Babae sa Breakwater, 2004; four Young Critics Circle Awards for Best Sound and Aural Orchestration in Phone Sex, 2000, Sugatang Puso, 2001, Minsan May Isang Puso, 2002, and Anghel sa Lupa, 2004; Star Awards for Best Music Score for Filipinas, 2004; five Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards for Best Music Score for 9 Mornings, 2003, Filipinas, 2004, Mano Po 3, 2005, A Love Story, 2008, and Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, 2007; Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Award for Best Original Song for Babae, 1997; MMFF Best Music Score for Luksong Tinik, 1999; and Gawad Tanglaw for Batanes, 2008.

Jesse has made scores for some noted TV "teleserye" series such as Maging Sino Ka Man, 2006 and 2008; Kahit Isang Saglit 2008; Lovers In Paris, 2009; Magkaribal, 2010; Princess And I, 2012 and Bridges of Love, 2015.

His most recent TV work is the top-rating Magpahanggang Wakas and for film - the box-office hit The Unmarried Wife.

He won the 2016 ALIW AWARDS Best Musical Director for his work in the theatrical play Happiness is a Pearl.

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:

•   Mindset for composing music for Film/TV

•   Walk-through the creative process of composing music from pre-production to post-production

•   Guidelines in composing effective music for the different FILM/TV genres

•   FILM vs TV scoring

•   Dealing with Directors

•   How to handle tight deadlines

•   Cultural sensibility applied to musical choices

DATE AND VENUE:

January 29, 2017

1-4pm

1701 Little Rooms Upstairs

Landsdale Tower 86 Mother Ignacia St. QC

COST: FREE

EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED to a max of selected 20 Participants

It is designed for music students/musicians who is interested in pursuing a career in FILM/TV scoring. Ideally, the participants must know some basics of:

1.   MIDI/DAW/Virtual Instruments

2.   Music Theory and Harmony

3.   Arranging and Orchestrating Music (MIDI/Live Instruments)

To register online, visit FB page The Music of Jesse Lucas for the registration link. Or call/txt Kim 09759193179 for further details.