Hennessy Artistry @ Opera, Sunway 2011

 

Hennessy @ The Opera

I was there...only thanks to a generous invite from Grace Hong.  Thank you!  At first, I wasn't feeling up to it, but then once the show starts pumpin', I suddenly was pumped up and going into trigger-happy mode.

Grace Hong @ the media wall holding a bottle of...

Limited Ed Hennessy Gold...Or So I've Been Told!

You Ready?
Best to continue reading with a theme song, aye

Let Me Hear It One More Time

There were quite a few acts throughout the night, but none as note worthy as a performance by Luciano De Jesus, MC Ivory and Arina.  Here are some shots from their really hot and sizzling show!

Luciano De Jesus, Arina and MC Ivory 

Rocking the house!

Let Me Hear You Say...

Luciano showing you some Samba moves...
As he is from Rio De Janeiro, Brasil!  =)

Ok, give me two years of intensive training
and abolish McD from my diet!
10 packs FTW!


Did I mentioned a sizzling performance?
MC Ivory, burning it up!!
All the way from from Las Vegas!

"Thank you and party on!"

And the party goes on!

Chronicles of the night.

You got to have some of this!

Gents from the VIP corner.

*Smile Smile*

Bloggers?
I don't know.  I don't blog.

=P

Party Rock Is In The House Tonight!

Chantelle Chuah, Wong Yu Jin, Rachael Tan.

The lower floor is amazing and the setting is one of my favourite places to shoot.   Everything is white with colourful ambient lighting and you know what?  It's mostly empty since it is away from the view of the crowd.  A lot quieter and private for conversation, a working fan and it isn't so HOT! Serves food!  Perfect!

What's Happening in the Floor Below?

MC Ivory with Evonne and Sophia.

Evonne, Luciano De Jesus, MC Ivory and Sophia.

Peace out!

Full Flickr album can be found here!




Cheers~
Stout Out!  \m/

Sun & Moon

Sun & Moon

In Peru, there are many animals that have been worshipped and depicted in every turn of a page as traditions since ancient times.  The three key animals that come to mind would be the llama, condor and the jaguar.  Depictions of these are usual symbolic and the idols, whether majestic or comical, are seen at every corner of the slightest human civilisation here.

Wooden carvings are the more solid local Peruvian crafts that, I would honestly say, is justified in terms of quality and the best bang-per-buck to take home.  After a disappointing first wash of the tourist destination souvenir t-shirts,  I'd suggest never buy cloths from South America unless it is from a well-known designer ie, Hard Rock Cafe!  *hint nudge hint* or extremely delicious quality leather from the leather factories in Argentina.

I took this shot inside of a very tiny arts and crafts shop as I am purchasing these two items.  I had been hunting for the best price for this specific design since the night before and I was in glee as a souvenir store right smack in the center of town gave the best 'on-tag' price.

I was browsing through my favourite artists and I read that this song at the moment is one of the most anticipated tracks early this year.  It is because that I am drawn by the description, it'd be unwise if I didn't just post the official youtube  video and quote the entire text  As I was listening to this, I figured that this is the perfect inspiration for this shot.

Yes, I will buy Above & Beyond's "Group Therapy", as per usual.  Richard Bedford's songwriting and vocals for Above & Beyond is stuff of legends and what immortality is made of.

Sun & Moon

It's raining, it's pouring,

A black sky is falling,

It's cold tonight.

You gave me your answer,

Goodbye, now I'm all on my own tonight.

And when the big wheel starts to spin,

You can never know who we are,

If you don't play you'll never win.

We were in heaven, you and I,

When I lay with you and close my eyes,

Our fingers touch the sky.

I'm sorry, baby,

You were the sun & moon to me,

I'll never get over you, you'll never get over me.

""Sun & Moon" is the first single taken from Above & Beyond's forthcoming artist album "Group Therapy" for full details see http://anjunabeats.com/above-and-beyo...

Inspired by a song that combines bittersweet lyrics with uplifting electronic melodies, the video for Above & Beyond's 'Sun & Moon' focuses on the pain and release of a couple's break-up; showing that relationships live on forever in the memory.

With the video drawing its aesthetic cues from the legendary Northern Soul era, the lead male is seen re-living the relationship and the final breakdown through a series of emotive flash back scenes and some lonesome, drink and music fuelled longing.

Just as 'Sun & Moon' finds its release through its emphatic, riff-based breakdown, the lead recognises the song and finds his own peace of mind the only way he knows - by dancing. Through a set of skilfully twisted and visually arresting dance moves straight out of the Northern soul era - where sad love songs like 'Sun & Moon' fuelled a generation of late night dancers lost in lyrics.  In doing so, he finds his freedom... in the moment.

Receiving BBC Radio 1 support from Pete Tong, Scott Mills and Cosmic Gate (Essential Mix), Above & Beyond's 'Sun & Moon' (feat. Richard Bedford) is out on 21st March."

http://www.aboveandbeyond.nu
http://www.facebook.com/aboveandbeyond


Cap Goh Meh is over, so back to work!
Stout Out!

Junkie XL, 24th May 09

This is my second time catching Dutch musician Tom Holkenborg AKA Junkie XL. First was at the legendary UMF10.

The work and collaboration that this guy pimps out is just amazing. I particularly like his remixes in the Animatrix OST as well for Ayumi Hamasaki. That was when I first heard of him actually. =)

JXL's Official Media page.

That night I heard that DJ Monk of Rabbit in the Moon was in town spinning and recording for his DVD...but I didn't manage to catch him.. Elusive as ever. Should RITM ever perform near you, be sure to catch their performance.. It is fucking amazing.

Anyway, here's the flickr for the shoot that night.

Fuck More
Very Naughty Funk.


Today
Funky stylist.


Eveline, Jason, Kien, Ethan, Raymond and Kendrick.


Tom Holkenborg AKA JXL


I don't know why, but it is surprisingly hard to get a sharp and frozen action shot that still is able to take in a decent amount of ambient lighting.




The ambient lighting in this rooftop patio is really attractive.






This is one of those times where I wish I had a fisheye =(


Spinning is SERIOUS BUSINESS!


Random pole in the middle of a bar =/

Second Sun @ Buffalo

This would be Second Sun's first performance down here in buffalo. It's about damn time I get to witness some good music being played here. Heh.. First time I saw them was back in the UMF10.. It was awesome!!

Adam White and Antoine Becks make up the duo who are well known for their live performances. First time I heard them was with a collaboration with Paul Van Dyk around 2005. Of course, back then I didn't know about them. It was the song 'Crush' in PVD's album 'Reflections'. When I was in college, I used to spam that song on my MP3 player. hehe..

Second Sun's Myspace Page.

Here's the video of Crush.

Some how I cannot embed the info.. Myeh... oh well..

Here's the link to the Flickr for the whole album.

Here's the link to the Facebook album.

Through the shoot, I had many problems with capturing them from the stage. The bars between the stage and table did not help much. What I wanted was to capture the crowd as well as the 2 guys and it turned out pretty horrible so I dropped them =(

Anyway, here are the best picks of the night. I tried to up the contrast and it worked really well in this case. ^^

I tried my hand at making the contrast stronger and I found that it does make the subjects pop more.

Cory & Stacie


I'm always bad at action shots without my flash, but I'm glad that this turned out decent


Left to right: Adam White & Antoine Becks




I've got free reign and I get to move to any part of the club to shoot. I really enjoyed this freedom to shoot =)




I thought that the lighting and composure of this shot is one of the best in all my shots.
Slowly improving ^^


Jesse holding the fort down in the next room.


Stoutlager & Antoine Becks


Stoutlager & Adam White
Yes yes, I forgot to bring a pen for them to sign my CD.. sigh...

Next gig that I am looking forward to will be Junkie XL.. Huge huge huge..

Stout Out.

TJ Remix: Farewell...for now.

So, only on the day itself do I find out that this will be the "last" party for TJ Remix. It has been a great and pleasurable year. Just like the flame of a candle, it burns as bright and soon is extinguished as its life is short lived. As bittersweet as it may seem, please, do enjoy the best picks of the night. =)

Here's a link to the flickr.

Here's a favourite of mine mixed by Kaskade.
Featuring Nelly Furtado, Why do all good things come to an end.