From the late 2000s and the 2010s, a whirlwind of young adult (YA) literature took centre stage, fueled by the blockbuster successes of movie adaptations. “The Twilight Saga” brought with it a craze for vampire boyfriends, and “The Hunger Games” popularised the post-apocalyptic dystopian landscape. Other YA fiction genres include the enduring legacy of “Harry Potter” and coming-of-age stories like “The Fault in Our Stars.” A decade on, the cinematic debut of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” serves as a testament to the enduring enchantment of these franchises. These YA na ..read more

The Axean Festival 2023 transformed the Goodman Arts Centre into a hub for all-things music on October 28 and 29. In addition to a packed event featuring Southeast Asian artists, the event also brought in artists from Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. We caught up with NIO and Cicada, who brought their distinct sounds to our sunny shores, all the way from Taiwan. NIO Billed as an alternative pop artist, NIO prefers to push the boundaries of different genres. Being half British, his music is influenced by a lot of electronic, house, and afro-beat elements, seamlessly infused with soulful rhyt ..read more

Are you a huge fan of Nintendo? Singapore is set to host its first-ever Nintendo POP-UP STORE for a limited time period. This temporary event is set to showcase merchandise from beloved Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and Pikmin. What makes it even more special is the exclusive original merchandise on offer. Some items were previously available only in Nintendo’s Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto stores. Plus, there are activities in store for attendees. For decades, Nintendo has been at the forefront of the gaming industry, known for its iconi ..read more

Singaporeans may have a taste for all things modern, but we have a quirky little tradition up our sleeves. We absolutely love a good haunting story, especially during Ghost Month (this year’s Ghost Month ends on September 14). This is that special time in the Chinese lunar calendar when superstition takes the spotlight, and we dive headfirst into sharing spooky tales, ghostly encounters, and eerie happenings. Ghost Month has become a perfect excuse to get together, chat about the supernatural, and have a good old-fashioned scare while sipping on kopi or teh tarik. Kranji Beach Kranji Beach wa ..read more

We almost always assume that gender preferences are inbuilt. Girls naturally prefer pink and boys naturally prefer blue, it is said. Anecdotal evidence tells us this, and science to a degree often reinforced the idea. This is probably why some people (on social media, of course) were upset at Justin Trudeau wearing pink at a Barbie screening with his son Xavier due to the perceptions of the colour. Why should someone be upset about men in pink anyway? After decades of study, historian Jo Paoletti showed that in the US at least, from the early 1900s to the 1980s, fashion trends were large ..read more

Journey through the northern reaches of Thailand, where the echoes of the mighty Lanna kingdom still resonate, leaving behind a legacy that adorns the landscape with magnificent temples, fortified city walls, and a tapestry of cultural wonders. But the allure of northern Thailand extends far beyond Lanna’s grandeur. Discover the fascinating traditions and customs of the diverse hill tribes just outside Chiang Mai, each with their colourful heritage woven into the fabric of the land. And in the ancient city of Lampang, the iconic rooster bowl has a captivating history that connects Lampang to G ..read more

Gen Z, the generation born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, is exhibiting a discernible pattern of decreased alcohol consumption in comparison to earlier generations. According to Euromonitor International, Gen Z is revolutionising the worlds of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, bringing about a fresh era of conscious consumption, curiosity about sobriety, and the rise of venues and events focused on a ‘dry’ lifestyle. Gen Z embody ‘less but better’ mantra when it comes to alcohol consumption  The growth of various non-alcoholic beverages demonstrates a significant shift in con ..read more

There’s a plethora of quality condenser microphones in the market today, and it can be tough to choose one to fit all your needs. You’d have to consider a lot of things, like sound quality, ease of installation, and of course, price. One of the latest mics to have won a CES Innovation Award 2023 is the Maono DM30 USB condenser microphone. Maono has been around since 2014, and is now one of the fastest-growing makers of audio equipment in the world. Microphones – condenser, dynamic, USB, wireless. etc – are the company’s main products, and it stands out in the market for its value for money and ..read more

There’s a plethora of quality condenser microphones in the market today, and it can be tough to choose one to fit all your needs. You’d have to consider a lot of things, like sound quality, ease of installation, and of course, price. One of the latest mics to have won a CES Innovation Award 2023 is the Maono D30 USB condenser mic. Maono has been around since 2014, and is now one of the fastest-growing makers of audio equipment in the world. Microphones – condenser, dynamic, USB, wireless. etc – are the company’s main products, and it stands out in the market for its value for money. The Techni ..read more

By now you’ve heard that all across the internet, lawyer-turned comedian Jocelyn Chia stirred up a storm with her joke at Manhattan’s Comedy Cellar. The moment a tiny clip of her stand-up performance hit social media, controversy erupted like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Things got even more interesting when the Royal Malaysia Police chief, Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, revealed plans to call in the big guns—Interpol—to track down Ms. Chia’s full identity and current location. Jocelyn Chia, a US citizen who grew up in Singapore, is now under investigation for potentially violating the sacred l ..read more