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

Valentine Music promoted one of their top singers at a Lao Telecom mini-concert and press conference at Taladxao Shopping Mall last Sunday.

After a year out of the spotlight, pop star Ting Phailavanh returned to the stage last Sunday to perform her popular songs at the mini-concert and give a press conference.

“I hope every one can remember me, I'm very sorry I haven't had time to make any public appearances,” she told the press...more info>>

Ting said she really missed Lao music whilst absent from the scene but had spent her time studying and improving the quality of her songs and music video performances. The pop star, known for her talent and melodic voice, extended her contract with Valentine Music early last year for another three years. She has just released her second album with the label.

“My second album will show that I'm an adult much more than the first one I did,” said Ting.

She said her voice was a little different from when she was younger – she's now 20 – but she took good care of her voice and trained every morning and evening.

Popular music took a different turn in Laos in the 1990s when rock band Zapphire appeared on the scene. They were followed by Smile Black Dog, who released their first album in 1998. But rock music was still unpopular among local teenagers at the time.

The 2000s have seen many local record companies become established in Vientiane after the government provided greater opportunities for new local artists to produce modern music. Ting Phailavanh is one of the artists to have benefited from the resulting boom amongst local and foreign fans.

Her first album was in the pop-dance style, but her new release is a mixture of pop, Latin and R&B. Ting has always loved music, and started writing her own songs when she was 12 or 13. In 2003, aged 17, she released her debut album ‘Ting Virus'.

“Sometimes I can write two songs in a day if I have enough time,” Ting said.

President of Valentine Music, Mr Phoutthachanh Paphadsalang, said “Ting is one of many singers whose albums we produce. She performs very well on stage, and can also write songs, dance and play musical instruments.”

In 2006, her contract with Valentine Music expired. A rumour surfaced that she had signed up with Indee Records in order to gain experience with another recording studio, and she performed a song at a mini-concert with the label. The rumour turned out to be false – the performance was just to congratulate a friend on a new album.

“The second album will definitely be of better quality. I wrote most of the songs, and the lyrics have a lot of meaning for today's teenagers,” Ting said.

Ting has gained a lot of fans since her first album was released, and since 2003 she has been invited to perform at festivals not only in Laos , but also Vietnam , Thailand and Japan

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes