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

Weza , a new band from Savannakhet province, have released two hot singles, and played their first shows for Vientiane fans at Lao-ITECC last weekend.


The concert was organised by the Vientiane Youth Centre for Health and Development and the Vientiane Women's Union .

They performed three songs to greet the Vientiane crowd - the singles Khor Khuam (Message), Thon Bor Vai (Can't Endure), and Sou Phueua Fan (Fight for a Dream)

“This is our first time on stage here and we are so happy to play at this concert; we never thought we'd appear here when we launched the band,” said 21-year-old vocalist Mr Xayxana Silylasak (Ai) of his three-piece, which also includes Mr Vongphasouk Khenthanavong (22) or Lulu, and guitarist, Mr Xaixana Sengsopha (20) or Thang...more

“We first met each other in 2003, when we attended a song contest while we were in secondary school in Savannakhet province,” said Lulu.

“We were interested in each other's music and we formed a band called Impression, which had seven members, but it was unfortunate that not everyone got along and the band soon dissolved, and then we were all busy with our final exams,” said Thang.

In 2004, after graduation, he called the members back in hopes of getting together again, but only three of the former band mates were available, and so Weza was born.

“Weza comes from two words - ‘We', or ‘us', and ‘Za', which is short for ‘Savannakhet'. Our band name tells people who we are and where we come from,” said Ai.

“Our dreams came true after the first disappointment, when we failed to pass the final round of the Close-Up Music Award in 2006. Luckily, there was a producer in the audience from Samlan Entertainment, who approached us and suggested we sign up with them,” Ai said.

“We were stunned, and there was one question in our minds: why, if we failed the contest, would they want us to join their company? But we weren't about to say no.”

A few weeks later, the company began talking about making an album for them, and the band signed the contract here in Vientiane , where the US recording company has its local studio and sub-branch.

The band spent over a year on the album, before they launched the first single that made them well known to radio listeners.

The lyrics of Khor Khuam were written by Ai's mother, a gift to him; the song is about the love of a teenage boy for a girl, but he doesn't dare tell her how he feels, and he only knows her mobile phone number so he sends a text greeting to her every day.

“My mother is not a songwriter, she just loves music and I was really surprised when she gave me the lyrics, and just said “sing it”. We adapted it a little bit, and we never expected the song would become a hit,” said Ai.

“The second single, now getting airplay, is titled Thon Bor Vai, written by DJ Hieng, which tells what happens when girlfriends break our hearts.”

The full album, entitled Kap Ma (Come Back), has nine tracks and has already been launched in the US ; the company is preparing its local release for March.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes