Versatile Lao artist, Aluna, who is good at music composing, singing, and playing many music instruments, debuted her first album in 2005, is now coming back with her latest album entitled "Aluna part II". In the album included not only Lao songs, but also english songs, that condensed with many tunes and energy. The album is planed to release in May, this year.

After releasing the first single of her song "Kuam Hou Seuk Bork" to many Lao TV channels and radios, she got a very good welcome from her fans and her song climbed up to the top 10 popular Lao music charts even before her full album released...more info>>

The style of the music in this album is similar to the first album that is pop and R&B. However, the sound mixing and the CD recording is far better than the previous ones. Sam, the singer in the same company, is the producer and supervisor for Aluna in this album.

Aluna revealed that there are many differences between the first and the second album. In the first album, most of the songs are composed based on other people's idea, plus a small part of her own experiences. But in the second album, all of the songs are inspired by her own idea and experiences she got from her life.
She spent more than 2 years to complete this album and she will manage the marketing of this album by herself.

The song "Kuam Hou Seuk Bork" in this album will have 2 versions. The first version is very relaxing while the second will have more power on it.

Finally, Aluna encourages all of us to support her new album by buying only the original CD in order to support her and other artists to produce more quality products for Lao society.

Translated by TT

Source: ecom

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

Lao rock band The Cells left Vientiane on Saturday to attend a press conference on June 5 in Bangkok , Thailand , to promote the band's second album.

The Cells are in Bangkok from June 2-12. They will play at several concerts and will be interviewed on Thai TV and radio programmes. On TV they will appear on the TITV channel, Channel V, and MTV, and will feature on radio programmes Fat, True, EFM, Hotwave, SOS and Next FM...more

“Many of these programmes will be recorded, as well as the press conference to promote our second album,” The Cells' vocalist Athisack Ratanavong explained before leaving Vientiane on Saturday at Wattay International Airport.

Thai radio DJs have been playing songs from the band's latest album after picking up CDs in Vientiane .

The well-known Thai recording company, GMM Grammy, became interested in the band's songs and contacted them about a promotion visit to Thailand .

“Since then we've recorded a music video and done many radio and TV spots, plus some concerts there. Our latest album appeared in stores last month, so we've been invited to attend a press conference,” said Athisack.

He said that during interviews the band would urge Thai fans to visit Laos , and enjoy its natural beauty, culture and traditions.

However, The Cells' bass guitar player Anolod Phiasahuar, aka Tom, was unable to go with the band for the press conference, after experiencing heart problems.

“I'm sorry I won't be able to attend the press conference in Bangkok . Right now I have some health problems, so I'd like to relax for a while, and hope to play with the band again soon,” Anolod said.

He was taken ill earlier last week while rehearsing with the band ahead of their departure for Bangkok . Doctors advised him to rest.

“I've had some stomach problems which I was just getting over and now it seems I've developed a heart problem, so I must take things easy,” he explained in a telephone interview on Saturday.

Anolod has been the band's bass player since The Cells started work on their second album in 2005. The album, Xeo (Noisy), was released in January this year, and Anolod has played with the band in various local and overseas concerts.

Manosay Keonakhone will replace Anolod for the band's 10 days in Thailand .

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Three former Nangsangkhan (Miss Pi Mai Lao) girls have just released their exciting first album, and are expecting huge successes after its release on Monday.

The three young singers from the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang have spent over a year preparing themselves to record and perform for their very first video CD release.


“It is all over for our production. The first album of my life has been released and I can say I gave it my al l,” 19-year-old singer, Phouthaly Keona, said... read more >>

“I can't tell you right now how much success this album will gain, but for me it's already been a gr eat journey.”

The band, called Spikes Girls, is made up of three glamorous young singers lead by Phouthaly Keona, 19, with Vichitra Phithanong, 17, and Chintana Soupadith, 19.

Their first self-titled album has 12 songs, which are no doubt going to be hits throughout the country.

Formerly Fleshy Girls, the band released an album in 2004, but after two of the three band members moved on to study, their producer decided to form a new group, and Vichitra and Chintana were found after participating in the Miss Lao New Year (Nangsangkhan) contest.

The girls began their training in 2004, but they also needed a new catchy name, and Spikes Girls was chosen.

When hearing the name, some people may remember British pop group the Spice Girls, who still hold a special place in people's hearts throughout the world. But these three spunky young women are soon to be regarded as the new Spice Girls of Luang Prabang, and with a little more local zest than their English counterparts, the Spikes Girls also aim to retain some of their cultures and traditions.

Can you tell us a bit about your lives before joining the group, and what its like to be a Spikes Girl?

Phouthaly Keona:

I was one of the seven of Miss Sangkhan's of Luang Prabang, in 2003 before I joined.

Vichitra:

I sang lots of karaoke with my friends before joining the band. I applied to the Miss Pi Mai Lao contest in Luang Prabang in 2004, and there the boss from Fanfam Music Company heard my voice and after being a Nangsangkhan finalist, and perhaps from my heart touching song, he invited me to be one of the Spikes Girls.

Chintana:

After school we usually spend our free time doing singing training and having dan cing lessons. It hasn't been a really hard album to produce, and the video was great fun to make, because we shot most of it in the nice places around our hometown of Luang Prabang.

We have tried to fit our own style into our music, which is quite modern, and now have done one show at the National Culture Hall and the Lao-ITECC in Vientiane , as well as some performances in our province. It's all been really fun.

By vientiane times
(Latest Update May 16, 2007)