Latest news with #M2M
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
K-Pop Star Wonho Channels 2000's Pop With 'Better Than Me'
WONHO for 'Better Than Me' K-pop artist Wonho has been extremely busy over the past few months. So much so, it had taken seven months since his last single, 'What Would You Do,' for him to release new music. Today, the 32-year-old singer returns with his highly anticipated English pop single, 'Better Than Me.' '[It took a while for me to release music] because I wasn't happy with how the vocals sounded or how the recordings came out,' Wonho says through an interpreter over Zoom from Seoul. 'As I have been getting ready, this was the right time that I feel ready to showcase something to everyone that has been waiting.' Inspired by the music of the late 1990s and early 2000s, 'Better than Me' has smooth teen-pop vibes in the same vein as boy bands like *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Wonho was a fan of that time of music, listening to the Norwegian pop duo M2M and *NSYNC. 'I loved M2M's 'Pretty Boy' and other songs by *NSYNC,' he smiles as he's told his song is 'a '00s bop.' 'I'm happy that you caught those vibes that I wanted to express.' The song for the summer is about being confident and able to walk away from a relationship stronger. When he first heard it, the music instantly resonated with him, as he felt it had a lot of power behind it. 'I've always wanted to try this kind of music [at some point],' Wonho says. 'I'm happy to try it.' For the music video, he wanted to mix the old-fashioned style with the current style of videography. Think old school MTV and VH1. He played with the quality of the video in its visualization, mixing a lightly grainy feel with the high-resolution filming of today. He also wanted to keep the fashion retro and straightforward. He says so many videos use a lot of CGI and computer graphics, but he wanted to express the song through his visuals with no complicated theatrics. It's just Wonho purely singing, dancing, and being his sexy self. 'I wanted to keep the concept as simple as possible – while also mixing it with an older kind of style,' he explains. 'So, keeping that same high-quality footage, but as simple [as possible] to keep it clean.' The second single serves as a glimpse into Wonho's first full-length album, slated for release later this year. Wonho says that many of the songs on the album will be in English to better communicate with fans worldwide. 'This is the type of music that I'm mainly working on, but in the future, who knows what I'll be able to work on next?' he says. WONHO for "Better Than Me" He's also experimenting with different genres of music, including R&B, electronic dance music, and country. His goal is not to be confined to one genre of music, but to become a global pop star who 'could pull off everything.' 'This current album that I'm working on is to encompass a whole variety of genres,' Wonho describes. 'I'm not tied to just one single genre. I am working on songs that I really want to do and are overall good songs to listen to.' Although he enjoys the process, he finds American country music the most challenging to work with because he's never lived a country lifestyle. He was born and raised in South Korea, and American country music isn't that popular there. 'I just go off of the history of the genre and the basics in the style,' Wonho admits. 'Trying to create a song based on that knowledge is pretty hard.' When it comes to country music, Wonho hopes American fans will respond favorably to it. He may not need to worry about his fans' responses. Many Americans have already consider the singer one of their own. At his U.S. concerts, there have been so many American flags with his image on them, which he finds them very amusing. 'I feel that fans in the U.S. are really welcoming [of] me,' he laughs. WONHO for "Better Than Me" He does have plans to return to the U.S. when the album is released, but is currently focused on his 'STAY AWAKE' South America Tour, which begins on July 12 in Santiago, Chile, followed by stops in São Paulo, Brazil (July 15), Monterrey, Mexico (July 18), and Mexico City (July 20). He did express his interest in Latin music, so there could possibly be a Spanish song in the future. 'I am currently working on [different] genres and songs like that, so I hope I can let everyone hear them soon,' he says. Wonho is curious if WENEE, the name for his fandom, will like it. He is nervous because he cares about his fans and always wants them to enjoy it. 'I'm really waiting for the moment that the single will drop,' says Wonho. 'I always want them to like it. I think they will end up liking it.' Wonho's "Better Than Me" is available on all streaming platforms.
Local Norway
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Norway
Eight music festivals you shouldn't miss in Norway this summer
OverOslo OverOslo kicks of the festival season in Norway's capital, drawing thousands to its spectacular location at Scene Grefsenkollen, a stage on a hill 377 metres above the city. The festival, which has been held annually since 2011, will this year see M2M, the pop duo featuring Marion Ravn and Marit Larsen, reunite for their first full concert in Norway following a 22-year hiatus. It will also feature disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC, the rock icon Bryan Adams. Lars Vaular, Norway's hip and rap legend will be performing as will the relative newcomer Cezinando. The OverOslo festival is a relative newcomer to Oslo's festival schedule. Photo: VisitOSLO / Hedda Jerpåsen Tons of Rock Tons of Rock is Norway's biggest hard rock and metal festival, with 150,000 rock fans descending on the Ekebergsletta park in 2024. This year's festival , held from June 25th to June 28th, is headlined by the US heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold and the Norwegian alternative rock band Kaizers Orchestra. Then there are two veterans from the 1990s, the British indie band Muse, and the US rock band Green Day, and the heavy metal legends Megadeth and Machine Head. Stavernfestivalen (Stavern, Larvik Municipality) Stavernfestivalen is an annual music festival that takes place in the small town of Stavern in Larvik Municipality at the Larvik Golf Arena. It has been running strong for more than 20 years. The festival is being held between July 3rd and July 5th this year, drawing tens of thousands of revellers. The lineup for 2025 is heavily slanted towards hip-hop and EDM, with the headline acts including Gabrielle, G-Eazy, the US superstar DJ Steve Aoki, the Norwegian hiphop duo Arif & Stig, the Swedish DJ Axwell, Norwegian hip hop group Roc Boyz, and the US rapper Swae Lee. Remember that you'll need to show ID before entering and that the festival has strict age requirement rules in place - both are pretty common for most major festivals in Norway. Palmesus Palmesus bills itself as Northern Europe's biggest beach party, attracting more than 20,000 people every year to Bystranda beach, outside of Kristiansand. This year's festival takes place between July 4th and July 5th. Headliners include the Norwegian DJ Kygo, the Australian music producer Fisher, the English electronics duo Chase & Status, and the English grime legend Stormzy. Advertisement Slottsfjell (Tønsberg) Slottsfjell is one of Norway's most popular rock and pop music festivals. It takes place in Tønsberg in eastern Norway and has been a hit with audiences since its launch in 2003. The festival is well-known for booking a broad program of artists, and over the years, it has hosted international superstars such as Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Mac Miller, and The 1975, as well as most of the more famous Norwegian artists. Slottsfjell had to go on a four-year hiatus from 2018 to 2021, but was relaunched in 2022 with an updated concept. The 2025 edition of Slottsfjell will take place from July 10th to July 11th, with the main headliners all Scandinavian artists. This year's program and line-up includes the Canadian music producer Kaytranada, the Russian superstar DJ Nina Kraviz, and the veteran Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp. Other high profile acts include the South African pop star Tyla, the Swedish hip hop group HOV1, and the Norwegian hip hop group Undergrunn. Advertisement Molde International Jazz Festival (Molde, Møre og Romsdal County) The Molde International Jazz Festival, also known as Moldejazz, is among the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. It takes place every year in July – this year, the festival will run from July 14th to 19th – and it has been bringing joy to jazz lovers in Norway since 1961. During the festival, visitors can enjoy around 120 concerts, and roughly 22,000 tickets are sold each year. There are often around 500 artists playing at Moldejazz, and some 600 volunteers support the festival staff and ensure the event runs smoothly. If you're into jazz and staying in Norway for the summer, going to Moldejazz is a must. This year's festival features Jason Moran, one of the world's top jazz pianists; multiple Grammy-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves; drummer Makaya McCraven; and Grammy-nominated guitarist Julian Lage. Buktafestivalen (Tromsø) Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival – also known as Buktafestivalen – is an open-air pop and rock festival that has been taking place in Tromsø annually since 2004. This year, it will run from July 18th to 19th. From Northern Norwegian punk, Danish metal, and British indie rock to Norwegian Americana and Austrian psych music – Bukta caters to many different musical tastes and is among the premier summer events of its kind in northern Norway. Headliners this year include Band of Horses, and Eagles of Death Metal, the Norwegian singer Gabrielle and the Swedish garage rock band The Hellacopters. Advertisement Øyafestivalen (Oslo) Øyafestivalen is Oslo's biggest musical festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary last year. This year's festival is headlined by some of the hottest artists today, such as Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Queens of the Stone Age, girl in red, and Kneecap. There are several available ticket options. The weekly pass, which gives you access to the festival in Tøyen Park from Wednesday to Sunday, was already sold out at the start of June. Weekend passes for Saturday and Sunday were still available, as were day passes for all days.
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Show Picks: Concerts by M2M, NCT Wish and Icyball
Norwegian pop duo M2M, comprising Marion Raven (left) and Marit Larsen (right), rehearsing for their upcoming shows. PHOTO: M2M OFFICIAL / INSTAGRAM M2M The Better Endings Tour 2025 – Singapore Although Norwegian pop duo M2M were formed in 1996, and had performed in Singapore in 1999, 2000 and 2002, they have never played a full concert here. That will change on May 12, Marit Larsen and Marion Raven take the stage at The Star Theatre. Although they spilt in 2002, they got back together in 2024 and are now on their first headlining world tour in Asia, which has stopped in cities such as Jakarta, Hong Kong and Manila. Their debut studio album Shades Of Purple (2000) birthed some of the biggest teen pop hits of the 2000s, such as Don't Say You Love Me, Mirror Mirror and Pretty B oy. In a press statement , Raven said: 'We're finally getting to do what we always dreamed of. Let's give this story a better ending. The ending it deserves. We truly can't wait to see you again.' Where: The Star Theatre, 04-01 The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green MRT: Buona Vista When: May 12, 7pm Admission: $128 to $348 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) 2025 NCT Wish Asia Tour Log In Singapore Boy band NCT Wish comprise (from left) Sakuya, Ryo, Jaehee (behind), Yushi, Sion and Riku. PHOTO: NCT WISH/FACEBOOK Some fans will have their wishes come true, when NCT Wish put on their first solo concert here on May 17. NCT Wish, billed as a b oy band based in Tokyo, are an overseas sub-unit of NCT, a larger boy band from South Korea, whi ch h ave 25 members. NCT have another overseas sub-unit WayV, which are based in China. Although the group have been known under different nam es, such as NCT New Team and NCT Tokyo, they are currently named NCT Wish and have six members – Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo and Sakuya. In 2023, they released the dance-pop single Hands Up in Japanese. They then released their debut studio album Wishful in November 2024, with 13 tracks in Japanese, including Wishful Winter and Songbird. They have also released Korean versions of a number of songs, such as Wish and Sail Away. At 2024's Asia Star Entertainer Awards, held in Yokohama, Japan, the group clinched the Best New Artist title, together with boy bands Zerobaseone and TWS. Where: Arena @ Expo (Hall 7), 9 Somapah Road MRT: Expo When: May 17, 5pm Admission: $148 to $268 via Ticketmast er Icyball Good Morning, Good Night, Love It 2025 Day By Day Concert Taiwanese band Icyball consist of (clockwise, from top left) bassist Nelson Wu, lead singer Wang Chao-chuan, drummer Lin Shih Chieh and keyboardist Meng Chieh Wen. PHOTO: BIZ TRENDS Icyball last performed here in 2023 Singapore Airlines Theatre at Lasalle College of the Arts. This time, the Taiwanese band are back with a new tour, at the slightly larger Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The four-member group, consisting of singer Wang Chao-chuan, bassist Nelson Wu, drummer Lin Shih Chieh and keyboardist Meng Chieh Wen, formed in 2013 and are known for their nostalgic numbers and heartfelt lyrics. Their music style blends funk, disco and R&B, as well as styles from the 1970s and 1980s. Their most popular song is the 2022 single Can You Stay With Me In Taipei (Accompany Me For A Few Days), a retro dance track which has been played more than 15 million times on Spotify. Their 1980s-style love ballad Like Me When You're Drunk has hit 12 million streams. Where: Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade, 8 Raffles Avenue MRT: City Hall/Esplanade When: May 10, 8pm Admission: $88 to $168 via BookMyShow (go to or call 6591-8871) Benson Ang is lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times. He writes lifestyle and entertainment features, as well as concert and theatre reviews. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hype Malaysia
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Jay B Concert, Chenle Meet-And-Greet & More: What To Do In The Klang Valley This Weekend!
A new weekend is on the horizon, which means more events happening in the Klang Valley to look forward to! If you're looking for fun times to fill your weekend agenda, here's our list of activities – curated just for you! This weekend, we've got some exciting events lined up for you, including a bunch of concerts by JAY B, Atarashii Gakko!, Creepy Nuts and Tatsuya Kitani, Leah Dou and M2M. We also have a special meet & greet with NCT Dream's Chenle, right in the heart of KL! JAY B Concert 'TAPE:RE LOAD' In Kuala Lumpur From GOT7 leader to successful soloist! K-pop star Jay B is holding his first-ever solo concert in KL, bringing all his best hits to the stage! If you want to catch him live in person, click here to get your tickets. Date: 27th April 2025 (Sunday) Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2025 in Kuala Lumpur Three renowned J-pop stars are taking over the Zepp Kuala Lumpur stage for one exciting joint concert! Join Atarashii Gakko!, Tatsuya Kitani and Creepy Nuts at one unforgettable night of music! Click here to get your tickets! Date: 26th April 2025 (Saturday) Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur Chagee Malaysia x Chenle Meet & Greet Longtime Chagee fan Chenle is now a Friend of the brand – and he's inviting you to celebrate the occasion! Join the NCT DREAM singer at his first-ever Chagee event, happening at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Get more details here! Date: 26th April 2025 (Saturday) Venue: Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Main Atrium Leah Dou 'Out Of The Loop' Tour In Kuala Lumpur Chinese-Hong Kong star Leah Dou is bringing her first solo tour to Kuala Lumpur! Join the singer as she performs all her hit tracks, from 'Monday' to 'Little Love Song'. Click here to get your tickets! Date: 25th April 2025 (Friday) Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur M2M 'The Better Endings' Tour in Malaysia The dynamic duo of 2000s pop music, M2M, is bringing their catchy music to Malaysia! Here's your chance to hear all their hits, including 'Pretty Boy' and 'Mirror Mirror', performed live! Click here to get your tickets! Date: 27th April 2025 (Sunday) Venue: Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Honey Singh reveals what Ajay Devgn did after he got 4 hours late on 'Singham Returns' sets
The east coast of Mumbai, which is known mostly for its docks and international trade, donned a crimson hue of glamour on Tuesday with the launch of the song 'Money Money' from the upcoming movie 'Raid 2.' During the event, held inside the M2M ferry sailing off the Eastern Waterfront, music producer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh , who is often called the 'Bluetooth King of India,' revealed that he was late for the shoot of the song 'Aata Majhi Satakli' from the 2014 release ' Singham Returns .' However, Honey shared that while he feared being scolded by Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn for being 4 hours late on the shoot, to his surprise, the actor calmly interacted with him and jammed over the song. Rohit Shetty announces the return of 'Simmba' aka Ranveer Singh in Ajay Devgn's 'Singham Again' Honey broke out on the scene in 2011 with his chartbuster album 'International Villager.' By 2014, the singer was riding high on success, with practically every producer in Bollywood running to him to cash in on his popularity and ensure opening day collections owing to his sure-shot hit tracks. However, Honey witnessed a slump when he fell into the vortex of bipolar disorder . Eventually, he vanished from the scene as he became very elusive and stayed indoors. He spoke about this in detail in his Netflix documentary 'Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous.' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo 'Money Money' marks Honey's second collaboration with Ajay after more than a decade. The film is a sequel to the 2018 blockbuster and sees Ajay in the lead role of an honest income tax officer who is after weeding out the money accumulated from illegal and corrupt lobbies. The film is set to release in cinemas on May 1.
