WE’VE had a number of genres of music festival throughout the year but it’s rare to find a music festival that caters to Soul, Hip Hop and RnB all in one. Well music lovers, come October 17th you’re going to get your fix of those musical genres. We’re so excited we can’t contain it!!!
We’re talking Soulfest Asia 2015.
This will be Malaysia’s first edition of the festival and they have decided to go big by bringing in some of the finest – and we mean FINEST contemporary artist of RnB and Soul. But before we go into the subject of who are these big names that’ll be performing, what is Soulfest Asia?
It’s a Neo-Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop and Soul music festival which started in Australia, New Zealand and recently at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland with headliners like Aloe Blacc, Mos Def and Common covering the musical genres of RnB, Soul and Hip-Hop music.
Soulfest Asia made its announcement together with its Phase 1 line up of artist last month. The lineup includes artist like Queen of Hip-Hop Mary. J Blige and wait for it…. Jhene Aiko!
Though those were the first two names that won our hearts, there’s also hip hop recording artist Talib Kweli and De La Soul who are best known for their quirky lyrics and contributions to the evolution of jazz rap and alternative hip hop.
And what would Soulfest Asia be without some of our very own Asian performers. Featuring local and regional superstars such as Joe Flizzow and soul singer Najwa, Singapore’s Shigga Shay, Indonesian sensation Raisa and Thaitanium – which we’re sure you can guess where they’re from.
“We are thoroughly excited to be able to bring in these legendary hip-hop, soul and R&B acts to Malaysia. We have worked very hard to create a balanced lineup comprising of not just award winning acts but also some of today’s hottest new urban music artistes,” says Adib Khalid of Soulnation Asia.
At the recent press conference that was held on the 15th September, they announced the Phase 2 lineup which included one of Soulfest Asia’s special guest performer, Omarion and another that’s kept secret till next Monday.
Other than music, there will also be a comedy room called LOL@Soulfest which we’re quite stoked about. Headlining the comedy session will be four-time winner of the Black Entertainment & Comedy Best Female Comedian Award, Gina Yashere, as well as Jim Brewsky who some say is eminently likeable, criminally charming and fearlessly hilarious. These sessions will be hosted by our local stand up comedian favorite Rizal van Geyzel and will feature rising local comedian Fakkah Fuzz and Prakash Daniel – the bearded live-wire of parties.
What’s great about Soulfest Asia though is that it’s staying true to its promise to be more than just a music festival. The festival will be supporting the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) public education campaign that’s aimed at raising awareness for domestic violence. GrabCar has even got you soul sista’s covered in terms of transportation with some providing complimentary transport for the Soul Sisters package in support of WAO.
While that’s happening, a ceramic art exhibition entitled Can You Keep A Secret representing the various accounts of domestic violence survivors will be on display by artist James Seet.
“We will be donating a percentage of the proceeds from each ‘Soul Sisters’ package to the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) in Malaysia, a non-profit organisation that is very close to our hearts. We are extremely humbled to be able to play a part in supporting the WAO and hope all our ‘Soul Sisters’ out there will join us in our efforts for this very worthy cause,” said Leshanth Raja Singam from Soulnation Asia.
Music, comedy, art, food and more music: Soulfest Asia 2015 has got to be the highlight of music festivals this year.
Soulfest Asia 2015 is presented by AirAsia BIG, brought to you by Brickfields Asia College, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (Malaysia).
Soulfest Asia will be at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre on 17 Ocotber 2015 and is scheduled to kick off at 3pm all the way to midnight. Tickets are priced from RM198 via AirAsia RedTix and Eventopia. For more updates check out their Facebook page or Website
