Cells score four prizes at Lao Music Awards

Hard rock band, Cells, won four categories of the first Lao Music Awards, held at the National Culture Hall on Saturday.

The band took out the prizes for best album, most popular song and best rock song, and Cells' vocalist Athisak Rattanavong won best songwriter of the year.

Prizes were awarded in 14 categories. The most popular artist of the year was awarded to Ting Phailavanh, while Aluna Thavonsouk and Tone Aniluth won the best female and best male artist awards.

Other winners included Secret (best duo or group), Bidalak Si-akkhaphom, known as Touly, and Khannakhon Xayakham, known as Cream, (best new artist) and LOG song E-Yang Ka Dai (best hip hop or R&B Song)....more info>>

The best pop song was awarded to Khuam Houseuk Bok by Aluna Thavonsouk, best country song went to Khoy Nong Mayam by Bounleua Valideth and best folk song to Lam Siphandon by Viengphou Nounim.

Best song producer went to Soulinthon Khounsathon (known as Mee) and Manoxay Keonakhon (known as No).

The Lao Music Awards is the first event of its kind to recognise successful Lao songwriters, performers and producers.

The Ministry of Information and Culture's Fine Arts Department Acting Director General is Mr Xaysavath Singnamvong. He said he was proud to host the event and hoped it would promote the growth of art and culture in Laos , particularly the music scene.

“This will become an annual event and will help to raise the standard of the music industry in Laos to equal footing with the international entertainment scene,” he said.

Celebrations for the Lao Music Awards began at the National Culture Hall on Saturday morning and attracted more than 5000 people throughout the day and evening. Events during the day included games, activities and a music and dance competition.

The awards ceremony took place in the evening and artists walked a red carpet into the venue. It was broadcast live on Lao TV and featured performances by Tone Anilouth, Cells, Meduzia, LOG, Sam, Nalin, Aluna, Ting Phailavanh and B-Hero.

Organisers presented a special prize to Mr Sisana Sisane, to honour him for promoting Lao art and culture. Mr Sisana is a song writer and a past Minister of Information and Culture.

Winners in each category received a uniquely designed vintage record player incorporating the Lao national flower dok champa (frangipani), and gift sets from Tigo and Close Up toothpaste.

By PHOONSAB THEVONSA
Vientianetimes

Lao pop star Nalin Daravong, who sings Vao Ba Ba (Why Do You Say That?), will feature at the first Asia Pop Concert in Japan on May 25.

Nalin's performance in Japan has been made possible by the concert's organisers, who have invited one artist from each of seven Asian countries: Laos , Thailand , Myanmar , Japan , Republic of Korea , Cambodia and Vietnam .

Each year, the concert will be hosted by one of the countries on the list and next year it will be the turn of Thailand . Only the hottest pop star from each country will be invited to appear on stage.

Ms Nalin said she was very proud and excited to have been chosen to perform at this event...more info>>

“The concert's organisers chose me because when they came to research the music market in Laos in February, my song Vao Ba Ba was top of the charts and was often being played on radio and television,” she said.

“I'm going to perform three Lao songs, Vao Ba Ba , Lom Pak Pao (Lip Service) and Hak Kheu... (Love is…), and one Japanese song,” she said.

The event consist of two performances – the first in Yokohama and the second in Kibuya.

In February Nalin gave an interview to an entertainment programme on Tokyo TV channel NHK, about both her work and entertainment in Laos in general.

The programme, which is unrelated to the Asia Pop Concert, interviews artists in Asian countries on entertainment issues and focuses on the popular artists in each country, and will broadcast live.

Director of Indee Records Anouluck Pathammavong said “During Nalin's visit to Japan we plan for her to make some music videos in cooperation with a video production team here. They are my partners and distribute Lao songs in Japan .”

Nalin's breakthrough came in 2006, when she won the Close Up Music Award; her winnings included a contract with Indee Records.

She first appeared as a backing vocalist on the song Khon Meu Song (Second-Hand Person) by local hard-rock favourites, The Cells.

Indee was impressed enough with her work to hold on to her the following year. This led to her debut album being produced by a line-up including Alouna, Tou, Silvia and Cells' vocalist Sak.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes

A new entertainment programme from Japanese television channel Nihon Shinbun Kyokai (NSK) has selected a Lao pop singer to be promoted worldwide, Indee Records announced yesterday.

“The programme is the newest from NSK, and has not yet been broadcast,” an official from the Media Department of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr Phaiboun Philathong, said yesterday.

He added that the show would promote various singers throughout Asia; Laos is the first country to be presented as a growing number of Japanese fans are interested in Lao music and the country...more info>>

The programme selected Nalin Daravong from Indee Records, and will film footage of her lifestyle and performances.

“They recorded me doing everyday things like studying and helping my parents, as well as singing on stage,” Nalin said.

Mr Phaiboun said the programme would be broadcast worldwide, and would therefore be a good opportunity to promote modern Lao music.

“This is a great chance for our singers and bands to be exposed to a wider audience,” said Indee Records President, Anoulack Pathammavong.

After three days of recording Nalin's life in Laos , the TV crew will go to Vietnam , Cambodia , Thailand , Indonesia and other countries throughout Asia .

“They will select singers from each country to feature on the show, and we've been lucky to be their first country selected,” Mr Anoulack said.

Nalin was the winner of the Close-Up 2005 singing contest, where she was discovered by Indee Records, which approached her about making an album.

“The debut album from Nalin was released at the end of last year, and now her songs are on high rotation on various radio programmes in Vientiane ,” Mr Anoulack explained.

Last week, she staged a free concert with Vorachith Intharaphithak, or Sam, at the Lao-ITECC, which attracted almost 1,000 fans.

“The crew was there to capture my performance on stage on their last day,” said Nalin.

Mr Phaiboun also reported that the programme would invite various singers from each country to perform in Japan in June this year, Laos included.

NSK was established in July 1946, to elevate the ethical standards in reporting and protect and promote the media's common interests. NSK is an entirely independent and voluntary organisation funded and operated by the private media of Japan .

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

(KPL) A leading mobile phone network company Millicom Laos (Tigo) last Sunday held a concert to present big New Year gifts to its customers through the entertainment programmes by popular singers from local and foreign music companies.

The local artists were from Indee Record including Sam, Nalin, Souk, Modern Dance, LOG and Princes, while the famous artists from the Republic of Korea were Ahn Jin Kyung, Yang Eun Ji, Han Ae Ri, Hwang Yun Kyung and Myung Sa Rang from “BABY VOX Re.V”...more info and photos

BABY V.O.X was established in 1997 and their first single album (“Haircut”) ranked top ten on Korean music charts.



The girl band BABY V.O.X’ second album, Baby VOX II, was a much bigger success, hitting on the Korean pop charts.

On December 26, DR Music unveiled the members of the new Baby V.O.X, “Baby V.O.X. Re.V”.


L.O.G joined the concert

Like the original group, there is one lead vocalist, three “sub-vocalists”, and a singer.

The group made its debut in January of 2007, with the lead singer “Shee”.
Compared to the other groups, however, Baby V.O.X. Re.V has a more mature, sexual image, much like the original Baby V.O.X.



This group made its debut in January and has visited various countries.


Princess joined Baby V.O.X


Sam joined Baby V.O.X


Overdance vs Baby V.O.X


Source: kpl
Photo: Indee