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Posted: 28 Aug 2011 09:05 PM PDT

Here are the winners of Sunday night's 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles:

Pop Music Video: Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends."

Rock video: Foo Fighters, "Walk."

Hip-hop video: Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass."

Collaboration: Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, "E.T."

Male video: Justin Bieber, "U Smile."

Female video: Lady Gaga, "Born This Way."

Video with a message: Lady Gaga, "Born This Way."

Choreography: Beyonce, "Run the World (Girls)."

Editing: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep."

Special effects: Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, "E.T."

Cinematography: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep."

Art direction: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep."

Direction: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep."

Best new artist: Tyler, The Creator, "Yonkers."

Video of the year: Katy Perry, "Firework."

Beyonce pregnancy announcement overshadows VMAs

Posted: 28 Aug 2011 08:02 PM PDT

Beyonce upstaged every performer at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards before the show even began - she announced she and hubby Jay-Z are expecting a baby.

The soon-to-be-30 superstar arrived on the carpet holding her bulging belly while dressed in a loose-fitting, flowing red gown. MTV tweeted the news, and photos confirming her motherly status soon circulated.

Beyonce and Jay-Z have been married for three years; ever since they wed, the spawn watch has been on, with rumors of an impending announcement coming every few months.

Beyonce's announcement overshadowed the night's events, including Lady Gaga's cross-dressing performance to kick off the show.

The sunny side of Zee Avi

Posted: 28 Aug 2011 05:15 PM PDT

Zee Avi, Malaysia's songwriting pride and international talent, has reached out to the animal kingdom for her second album Ghostbird, a decidedly uplifting affair.

THERE may not exist such a feathered creature as a ghost bird, but that hasn't stopped us from philosophising mythical animals like the unicorn, dragon or leviathan. Hence, the beauty of direct translation from one language to another can never be overlooked. It has the ability to provide intrigue, humour and insult, all at the same time.

Intrigue is the case with Ghostbird, the title of Malaysian songstress Zee Avi's second album. It simply translates to burung hantu in Bahasa Malaysia ... yes, the owl. The animal kingdom was the source of inspiration this time around for the 26-year-old from Miri, Sarawak, currently based in Brooklyn, New York, and for some reason, the owl in particular. So, was it the owl's mythical wisdom or its physical ability to turn its head almost full circle that fascinates Zee?

"That's quite cool," she cackled on the phone during a recent interview from her American home-base to the question posed. "I guess more in the mythological sense because everyone who knows me, knows that sometimes, I'm a little too abstract for my own good. I know it sounds pretentious, but it's true," she continued, giggling.

While Zee has become a bona fide star to her home fans, her detractors have been a fair many, too, with some quarters of the press labelling her arrogant and devoid of her roots. It's strange though that the young woman at the other end of the line is in the greatest spirits, in no hurry to make disparaging comments about anything and continues to have intimate knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia (her "Apa khabar?" firmly intact at the start of the interview), a distinct contrast to the supposed reputation she earned recently.

In the two years her self-titled debut was jointly-released on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records and Ian Monotone's Monotone Label, Zee's free spirit has wandered from major music festivals (Austin, Texas' South By Southwest; San Francisco, California's Outside Lands and Manchester, Tennessee's Bonnaroo music and arts festivals) to huge tours (the last Lilith Fair last year) and back to her homeland of Sarawak.

The proverbial tale of Zee's headstart as a YouTube sensation is firmly consigned to the history books now and the challenge that looms largest for the pint-sized singer is avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump.

But Zee is as self-assured as a cat, always prepared to land on her feet, regardless of public opinion.

Making music, making magic

"There seems to be a basic human need to see others fall, but I have little regard for that. I'm a musician and all that matters to me is my music," confirmed the singer firmly.

Rather than let her new album be "more of the same thing, but not quite as good", Zee has gone out on a limb to tap into her inner being and sought pastures anew to guarantee Ghostbird a decidedly different take on the album-making process.

"There's a massive difference. The first record was written in my bedroom and this one was written on a boat no bigger than a sampan (row boat). This was written on the ocean in Florida, so there you go," she offered humorously.

The instrumentation on her new album, also released on vinyl, has gained weight: there's a bit of piano, synthy soundscapes and even vocal samples. Likewise the vocal production, compared to her eponymous debut.

"I'm a vocal artiste and with that comes different spirits and different characters to what I do. You're channelling a person's story, so this is a story of a different way of looking at things."

Three years separate her debut and this new one, so Zee has naturally grown since, even if not vertically, and she has no problems plotting the course of her development in that time.

"There's a saying that it takes a lifetime to make your first album but only a year to make your second. Since my debut, I've seen so many things, met many different people, experienced different emotions and grew different mindsets. Ghostbird is more about keen observations on what influenced this path," she set the record straight.

While in Florida, Zee spent time in the marshes of the Everglades, right smack amidst the flora, fauna, the vastness of the locale and large confluence of water. Does having been that close to nature allow her to choose a favourite animal? Is she a gator person, then?

"Yes, I'm a gator person ... I come from Sarawak, man," she squealed in delight. "It's all about Bujang Senang (an infamous man-eating crocodile in Sarawak that was killed in 1992 in the Pelaban river after decades of terror)," she offered with a hearty laugh.

A different view

Ghostbird catches Zee stretching out and trying different things, like the song The Book Of Morris Johnson, for example. The tune was inspired by a Floridian folk artiste Morris Johnson, whose paintings of animals and accompanying text about their instinctual lives "capture naivete, innocence and enthusiasm," according to Zee.

After picking up a few of his works at an art exhibition, she called him up and said that she'd like to turn his words into song, thrilling not only the man, but his daughter – a big Zee fan – as well.

"For me, Morris Johnson is the second coming," she enthused, insisting that one has to meet him to understand.

"He's not a man of many words but there's something very intriguing about him. His presence ... he's like this very seasoned old artiste. He'll go out on little adventures and go looking for little artefacts with his friends. He's an otai (old timer), lah," she revealed.

It was Johnson's positive message that attracted Zee's attention.

"It's more than just about animals. It's about having a positive outlook in any given situation, like ... 'the gator grinned as he dreamed of his next meal'. Where other people would picture the gator as a vicious carnivorous animal, the gator was in fact put on this Earth to be this kind of creature, and he's smiling because he's thinking of what to eat next."

Two weeks was all it took for Zee to commit Ghostbird (all of 11 tracks) to tape at her boss' Solar Powered Plastic Plant studios in Los Angeles where producer Mario Caldato Jr (of Beastie Boys, Tone Loc, Super Furry Animals and Bebel Gilberto fame) directed the proceedings with a watchful eye.

Zee is full of praise for the Brazilian-born producer, professing his coolness, especially with his vocabulary, which still contains archaic terminology like "fly" and "dope".

"Working with him was such an amazing marriage. It was a great collaboration because he was able to enhance my ideas, execute and polish them ... he made all my stories shine. He added the right colours, the right vibe and the right atmosphere to them all."

Staying rooted

The new album sees Zee getting in touch with her homeland, courtesy of the song Siboh Kitak Nangis, which contrary to popular belief, is not her attempt to justify her Malaysian or Sarawakian credentials.

"I've always wanted to write a song in my dialect ever since I started writing songs. It had to be the right situation, for the right reasons and for the right time, so I guess it's found the right place and I'm just glad it's happened now," she explained, insisting that this is a blueprint from a long time ago. "Trust me, I have no ulterior motive," she quipped.

Although the ukelele is her weapon of choice, she was also handy with a piano and ... sea shells?

"I played some piano on a song called Anchor but the ukelele has become my primary instrument because it was easier to carry on the boat when I was writing the songs. I played guitar, I did vocal samples, I played sea shells ... and I happen to take it very seriously," she teased. She has also lined up a sape version of Tomorrow Is A Long Time for an upcoming Bob Dylan tribute album in the US.

Anchor is one of the handful of songs that made the album from Zee's New York writing sessions and also what she refers to as a "premonition track", and another NYC cut, Concrete Wall, is a striking a cappella featuring the contributions of turntable guru Cut Chemist. The vocal samples on this one echo like they're bouncing off a ... yes, concrete wall.

In early 2008, Zee left Malaysia to pursue a career in music in Los Angeles before heading to New York, making the Big Apple a permanent career base. Ghostbird follows her self-titled debut, which was released two years ago. It achieved gold status here with over 10,000 units sold, spawning the hits Bitterheart and Kantoi.

In an entertainment world that hungers for youth, the singer is convinced that she could still be doing this past the age of 45.

"People still think I'm 16, so as long as that stays that way, I guess I'm fine. But even if the situation changes, I'd be more than happy with the past. I'm sure something else will be around the corner. This is my mission and I'm out to do it."

In fact, it's Brushfire Records' faith in her that allows her to hang on to her beliefs.

"Brushfire is an independent label and for them to invest that faith in me, being the first and only female artiste on the label, I think that's saying a lot. I'm pretty happy about being part of this small, cosy family."

With Ghostbird now available, Zee hopes to get back to touring once again, and of particular interest is the chance to return to her native Sarawak to perform. She got a taste of what to expect in March when she performed and accepted an International Youth Icon Award at the 2011 Youth Assembly in Kuching.

Particularly satisfying for her was receiving the accolade from her home state.

"And also, I got to go home for a bit, and technically, it was my first show in the motherland, even if it was just one song. It was nice to be reminded that I come from this warm, welcoming and accommodating place ... I was constantly overwhelmed by it and it was hard to hold back the tears at times," she shared excitedly.

Never one to embrace convention, Zee's Ghostbird promotional plans are unique, to say the least. Her online Pledge Music Campaign entitles early bird fans to special merchandise.

"Basically it's to raise money for my tour. It's more interactive in terms of promotion, so if people get my record a day earlier, for example, they'll be privy to my artwork, decorated ukuleles or passes to my shows."

Zee also heads out on festival tours, gracing the Pop Festival in Philadelphia (she's excited to be on the same bill as pop outfit The Shins) and Massachusetts' Life Is Good Festival, where she'll be playing alongside the Robert Randolph Family Band and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Of course, of primary concern is a set of shows here in Malaysia, particularly her beloved Sarawak. Naturally, any visit home is a mouth-watering prospect. A November concert in KL, coinciding with a regional jaunt, has been talked about by her management.

"I can't wait to eat roti canai tambah sambal and my mother's Sarawak Laksa, too," she reminisced on what she hasn't had in a while.

Album opener Swell Window kicked off this most recent journey, and Zee just wants to run off and take it to her listening audience at her shows. "I want people to feel they're being hugged," she said of the balmy tune. "I think this is my swell window right now."

■ Zee Avi's Ghostbird is released by Universal Music Malaysia.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 29 Ogos 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

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