ONE Championship returns to Singapore with its biggest event of the year. ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX happens on Friday, 30 October, broadcast live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium and will feature four World Title contests, for a total of six compelling martial arts bouts.
In the main event, reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar will defend his middleweight world title against top contender Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder of The Netherlands.
In the co-main event of the evening, ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee of Singapore will make the first defense of his world title against Iuri Lapicus of Moldova.
The card also features a long-awaited showdown between ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Vietnam and Australia, and third-ranked featherweight contender Thanh Le of Vietnam and the United States.
Last in the evening’s world title offerings is ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China taking on Singapore’s Tiffany “No Chill” Teo in a much-anticipated title rematch.
Two more compelling martial arts contests round out the show, with 2-time former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang of the Philippines taking on Australia’s Antonio “The Spartan” Caruso, and Indian wrestling champion Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat facing off against Cambodia’s Nou Srey Pov.
How to Watch Info
Philippines: Watch the event on One Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT). One Sports will air the event on a same-day delay at 9 p.m. PHT. Additionally, TV5 will air the event on a next-day delay at 11 p.m. PHT on Saturday, 31 October.
Full Card For ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX
(c) Aung La N Sang vs. Reinier De Ridder (ONE Middleweight World Title)
(c) Christian Lee vs. Iuri Lapicus (ONE Lightweight World Title)
(c) Martin Nguyen vs. Thanh Le (ONE Featherweight World Title)
(c) Xiong Jing Nan vs. Tiffany Teo (ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title)
Antonio Caruso vs. Eduard Folayang (mixed martial arts – lightweight)
Ritu Phogat vs. Nou Srey Pov (mixed martial arts – atomweight)
Are you a pet lovers? Like humans who belong to various clubs with different memberships and benefits, Then Ortigas Malls went and thought that our fur babies are part of our families, so why not create a club for them as well? Us furparents go as far as scheduling their appointments, whether it be for grooming, veterinary, and even play dates for them.
The launching of the Elite Pet Society at Ortigas Malls is to continue their string of innovations this year and to honor pets and pet parents. By registering on the mobile app, pets will get their own digital IDs and stamp card that will allow them to avail of special perks and privileges at Ortigas Malls. Exciting prizes such as free grooming services await those who complete all the stamps! Elite Pet Society is supported by Local and international dog clubs such as Asia Kennel Club Union of the Philippines and Bully Kennel Club Philippines.
During the launch week, Ortigas Malls will be giving away bags with freebies from its pet-friendly partners such as Dogg Essentials, Pet Express, Pet Identity, Pooch Park, Smart, KxK Pawtraits, and Bon Apawtit, Respawnsible, Ackupi, and Smart Telecommunications.
Download the Ortigas Malls’ mobile app for more information and be part of the Elite Pet Society. Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria are all proud pet-friendly places of Ortigas Malls. Make sure to visit with your furry friends to enjoy the promos!
For more information you may check their official Facebook pages – Greenhills , Tiendesitas , Estancia , and Industria . You can also download the Ortigas Malls Mobile App App Store: http://bit.do/ortigasmallsappAS and Google Play: http://bit.do/ortigasmallsappGP .
Award-winning British pop group Little Mix made an impressive entrance on several music charts in the Philippines with the release of “Sweet Melody,” the new single off their upcoming album Confetti.
The sassy banger emerged triumphant on its first day of release, as it trended at No. 1 on Twitter Philippines, and debuted on top of the iTunes Philippines’ Songs chart during the same time frame.
Co-written by Ariana collaborator TaylaParx, and co-produced by No.1 hitmaker MNEK, ‘Sweet Melody’ is a pulsating and infectious pop song emblazoned with gigantic harmonies and a driving rhythm.
Its edgy and highly choreographed music video is also making waves on YouTube Philippines as it climbed to No. 10 on its trending list with more than 7 million views on the third tracking day.
More about Confetti
This November, the world’s biggest girl band will finally release their highly anticipated sixth album this November, Confetti.
Jade, Perrie, Leigh-Anne and Jesy have been working on the album since last year, perfecting a collection of thirteen solid gold pop songs that showcase their sensational talent for creating music that crosses generations.
Confetti sees the band team up with the cream of current pop creators including TaylaParx and MNEK, pop supremos TMS and long-time collaborator Kamille.
About Little Mix
Little Mix have established themselves as the world’s biggest girl band – they have sold over 50 million records worldwide, collected over 18 million Spotify listeners, received over 3 billion YouTube views, and collated 12 billion streams worldwide.
2019 witnessed the band win their second Brit Award – for Best British Video for ‘Woman Like Me’, and perform the same song live at the ceremony. They also won two Global Awards for Best Group and Best Song, followed by their 4th EMA Award for Best UK & Ireland Act.
2020 Top 10 hit ‘Break Up Song’ has so far been streamed 75 million times and incredibly became their 15th UK Official Charts Top 10 hit with 300k UK sales. This November will see the band both perform at and host the 202o MTV EMA’s.
Little Mix are currently on primetime BBC One every Saturday night with a brand new TV series Little Mix The Search. The series, made by ModestTV, sees the band creating bands and becoming mentors to a new wave of talent. The singers who have made it into new bands gain access to Little Mix’s inner circle who have contributed to their phenomenal success, including vocal coaches, song writers, producers and stylists.
Little Mix’s “Sweet Melody” is now available on all digital platforms worldwide via RCA / Sony Music.
The year 2020 is two months away from coming to an end yet the battle against COVID-19 isn’t quite over. Due to the series of unfortunate events experienced all around the world, many have claimed that 2020 is an unfortunate year, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic had spread globally.
The Philippines wasn’t spared from the said pandemic, as Luzon was placed in lockdown on March 16 after President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a community quarantine in response to the widespread of COVID-19 in the country.
Schools, private businesses, malls, companies, and even government offices had to stop their operations. There were travel restrictions, and public transportations weren’t allowed to operate either. People were instructed to stay at home to avoid getting infected or cause the virus to spread further.
The whole country seemed to have stopped all together during that time, and almost everyone were left in shock and some were in panic. Even before the quarantine began, some people had rushed to the supermarket to buy the necessities they needed at home. The noisy and busy streets of Metro Manila became quiet and other places looked like ghost towns due to the absence of people outside.
Hospitals provided separate wards for COVID positive patients and those with suspected cases. Health workers and other frontliners had to battle an enemy that they cannot see, and most of them had to extend their shifts in order to care for those in need of their services, while some had passed due to the aforementioned illness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) had given everyone instructions on how to sanitize properly. Wearing of face masks and face shields became mandatory, and some even chose to wear gloves for additional protection. People carried their own bottle of ethyl alcohol for sanitation. Quarantine passes were also required in order to control and monitor the number of people going out of their houses. Children and senior citizens were strictly not allowed to go outside.
DOH also informed people on how to determine the symptoms and how to properly handle the situation in case of getting exposed or infected by the virus. Symptoms include sore throat, dry cough, loss of sense of smell and taste, and fever.
They advised that people who were showing symptoms of the infectious virus should report to their barangays or hospitals so they could be examined. Swab tests and rapid testing also became a requirement for those who were planning to travel or go back to their work.
Like everyone else, I’ve watched all of these events unfold in the news while I, myself, stayed at home. It’s almost unbearable to watch and listen to the news, as I could see the continuous increase of the number of COVID cases and death tolls in our country each day.
As a person who goes out to work and do errands, this pandemic affected me greatly like most people. I couldn’t go to work or anywhere I wanted to because there were no public transportation available and people weren’t allowed to stay outside unless necessary. I even had my own unforgettable experience to share.
In the early weeks after the imposed community quarantine, I had acquired a sore throat, but no signs of fever or dry cough. I still felt worried because I knew it was a symptom for COVID, so I went to our barangay to ask for advice.
Our barangay advised that since I live alone by myself, I should do self-quarantine for fourteen days. I followed their instructions and stayed at home until I finished the given quarantine period and I had recovered from my sore throat.
They sent me food and other necessities everyday. The health workers from our barangay would check up on me to monitor my condition.
I’ve made myself busy by doing house chores, updating my online work, binge watching my favorite TV series, and I talked to my family and friends via social media. I also made sure to take vitamins and eat healthy food, including fruits and vegetables.
After two weeks, my sore throat was gone and I didn’t show any other symptoms of the virus. Our barangay gave me a certificate indicating that I had finished my quarantine period and I was cleared. They also disinfected our whole house after. The experience felt unreal, but I’m glad that nothing serious happened to me.
Now, seven months have passed since the first imposed community quarantine, and people are slowly adjusting to the situation. Even I, myself, have accepted the new normal.
My quarantine b-day last August
But just like most people, I miss doing a lot of things that I normally do. I miss going out for walks at the park, doing my normal daily routine, and meeting my friends and family face to face. I miss attending church mass every sunday. I also miss my friends and the usual movie night out with them that I had scheduled every weekend. Birthday celebrations aren’t the same, because I had to celebrate mine alone this year, since social gatherings aren’t allowed. And lastly, I miss my Mom who lives in the province, and it saddens me that I can’t visit her because of the travel restrictions. For now, I work at home and stay at home most of the time.
The current situation made everyone realize a few important things, such as learning self-discipline and maintaining good health. People appreciate the hard work and sacrifices of health workers and frontliners, as their services are most needed right now.
There’s still a lot to thank for, even at trying times like this. Thanks to modern technology, businesses can operate and have their transactions made online. Students can still continue to learn thanks to internet connections. Thanks to food delivery services, people can order the food they want without stepping out of their houses. Most people get to stay at home and get to bond and relax with their family. And we are all updated about the current events thanks to social media and the news.
Some businesses have re-opened, schools have resumed via online classes, and people have found ways to make a living and adapt to the new normal.
With two months left before 2020 ends, everyone is hoping that a vaccine or any other cure for COVID would be successfully made before the end of the year.
For now, we all must continue to follow health protocols and be responsible, because each disciplined action is one step closer to winning the battle against the pandemic.
The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), today held a special Virtual Media Day for 3-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the Philippines and his opponent, Antonio “The Spartan” Caruso of Australia. Also joining the Virtual Media Day was ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Folayang and Caruso will go head-to-head at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX, which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 30 October.
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated:“I’m looking forward to Eduard Folayang and Antonio Caruso, in addition, of course, to the four World Title fights. I want to express my gratitude to the Singapore Government for leading a way for ONE championship in bringing back global events, world-class global events and leading Asia for that matter. Eduard is a phenomenal athlete, obviously a World Champion and you know wins and losses happen to every athlete. Whenever I look and talk to Eduard, I see that he’s hungrier than ever. He’s always improving his skill set, so I think there are many times in the last few years when Eduard Folayang was written off by some of the haters but the truth is he’s still very fresh, strong, athletic, and intelligent. Eduard can take any lightweight in the world, on any given night.”
Eduard Folayang, 3-time ONE Lightweight World Champion, stated: “Every athlete I face at this level is well-prepared. I’m getting ready for the best Antonio Caruso. During the lockdown, I got to spend a lot of time with my family, with my kids, training with them in the house. I feel reenergized and now I’m ready. We have a saying in the Philippines that ‘only Carabaos get old.’ So you know, I think, it’s just like a fish swimming in water. If you take the fish out, it will die. I’m already in this sport and I’m enjoying it. I believe I’m still fresh.”
Antonio Caruso, ONE Athlete, stated:“I want to achieve everything Eduard has achieved. He’s a legend in this division, he’s a legend of this sport, and he’s a legend of his country. That’s exactly what I want to do. To do that, you have to beat a legend. And I’m coming on the 30th to become a legend just like he is. Make way for a new challenger in the lightweight division. Of course, a quick fight is a good fight. The quicker we can get in and out, the better, but at the end of the day, we’d have to go in there. Eduard’s a tough guy. He’s a legend for a reason. He’s been around a long time for a reason. I’d like to take him out as quick as possible, but at the same time, I’m ready to go the full distance with him.”
Headlined by four massive World Title bouts, ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX marks ONE Championship’s explosive return to Singapore, and each bout on the stacked card promises non-stop martial arts action.
Two-division ONE World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang defends his ONE Middleweight World Title against the undefeated Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder. ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee takes on number-one contender Iuri Lapicus in a battle between fierce finishers. Knockout artists Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen and Thanh Le collide with Nguyen’s ONE Featherweight World Title on the line. And ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan meets Singapore’s very own Tiffany “No Chill” Teo in an epic rematch.
What’s more, former ONE Lightweight World Champion and Filipino martial arts icon Eduard “Landslide” Folayang returns to action against Australia’s Antonio “The Spartan” Caruso, alongside Indian national hero Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat who takes on Cambodia’s Nou Srey Pov.
Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31 but Halloween tradition may look different this year to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are still other ways to enjoy Halloween this year. Whether you’re spending at home or at any Ortigas Mall, you’ll surely be in for a lot of treats!
Are you ready to welcome the spooky season? It’s officially Halloween at Ortigas Malls with Halloweek Mask-erade! Put your shopping hat on and get a Treats No Tricks loot bag for every P2000 single or accumulated receipt/s from any Greenhills, Tiendesitas, or Estancia store from October 23 to 31, 2020! This includes orders from My Home Dasher, which is a personal shopper service of Ortigas Malls.
The fun doesn’t stop there! Ortigas Malls also has more tricks up their sleeves:
Halloween Nook Photo Contest
By taking a socially distanced selfie at any Ortigas Mall Halloween Nook, you can be a lucky winner of more goodies! Just make sure to post it on your public social media profile with the hashtag #OrtigasMallsHallloweek2020! Post from October 25 to October 30 to qualify!
Hooman and Pet Costume Contest
If you’re visiting Ortigas Malls this week, celebrate Halloween with your fur babies by dressing up together in matching costumes and posting it with the hashtag #OrtigasMallsHalloweek2020. Only three winners who posted from October 26 to October 30 will win from each mall.
TikTok Makeup Challenge
For those who would rather stay at home, you can still win exciting prizes by posting a Halloween-themed makeup transformation video on your TikTok! Simply follow the Ortigas Malls’ TikTok account and tag #OrtigasMallsHalloweek2020 on your video from October 28 to October 30!
Ortigas Malls always promises a fun-packed Halloween at home or at the malls. Make sure to visit their Facebook pages for more updates and announcements!
The Midnight Greetings, the solo bedroom pop project of Kyle Maraton, paints a drowsy picture of emptiness on his debut single “Youth”—released today via indie record label, Lilystars Records and available now on various digital and streaming platforms worldwide.
The lo-fi tune makes good on the promise of Kyle’s shaggy charm and confessional songwriting, reflecting on his struggles of losing track of time and being an inconvenience to everyone.
“The song conveys the feeling of loneliness,” the Cebu-based young musician explains. He wrote “Youth” during a very productive period in his life last year, attending shows and performing live in music venues. But the bouts of depression just kept seeping in.His mind was occupied with the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds; hence, the need to find an outlet to express his feelings.
“After enjoying the entire midnight with friends and strangers, you catch a 4am trip on your way home,” Kyle shares a familiar scenario that somehow alludes to the song. “Suddenly, you find yourself alone, completely detached from the rest. Then, this surge of unexplained emotional bleakness leaves you in deep contemplation, dragging you into thinking about where life would lead you in the coming weeks or months. These pent-up emotions inspired the song to what it is right now.”
Entangled in the woes of suburban teenage ennui and impulsive sentiments, The Midnight Greetings delivers a coming-of-age soundtrack with timeless appeal. On his latest song “Youth,” Kyle wears his Gen Z angst on the sleeves, balancing authenticity with aesthetic value, and chronicling important issues that young folks experience on a day to day basis—be it addressing mental health problems or the need to be seen or heard.
The Singapore alt-pop newcomer , Naomi G marks her official debut with the release of “Cage The Animal” which is scheduled for release over 2021. Described as a gothic pop-R&B tune that chronicles the cycle of abusive and toxic relationships, and how to get away from it triumphantly in order to rebuild one’s dignity. Also it’s official! Naomi G joins the growing roster of indie label, Umami Records.
Merging the broody minimalism of Lorde and Banks with the chameleonic tendencies of artists like Halsey, Naomi G’s latest track begins rather unassumingly with nostalgic, flatlining keyboards and ethereal soundscapes, and evolves into a vindictive anthem that turns emotional scarring and pain into a source of strength.
Naomi G
Given that she already seems to have her stylistic stamp on lock, Naomi G is destined to take the world by storm with her bold, assertive take on women empowerment, never treading lightly on important social issues that degrade, discriminate and disrespect people of her kind. It’s an accomplishment worth taking seriously, a statement of self-love and confidence from someone who initially seemed to have lost it all.
Alternative and alternating, Naomi G is one of Singapore’s rising Dark Pop songstresses rendering her most symptomatic coming of age experiences, wherever it takes her. The singer / songwriter unblinkingly stays her mind and allows her Freudian Slips to take centre stage. The rhythm that comes of it is a moody downbeat electronica, flavoured with slick notes of Alt-R&B, frothed by ethereal Dream Pop, and enlightened by Soul. At times unsettling, her hypodermic words are indeed a salt to her own melancholia – one that slurs mystique sexuality and breaks down brittle emotions afoot.
She’s radiantly inflamed by the terrestrial experience she is treading through, unafraid of undressing intensity and honesty-owed to herself. Naomi describes her music as a “body-caressingly raw sonic prelude to my own deeper tensions” and that running them through music is the cathartic shatter she needs to figure them out. Other times it’s all about expressing that untimely and noise-cancellingly loud message that is often contemplative, combative and cynical. The young singer now begins her journey by flirting with themes of balance such as that between innocence and sensuality, relationship and isolation as well as nature and oppression
About The Song – Extended
‘Cage The Animal’ is a faceted metaphor that baits her romantic wanderings to the aural surface, refracting them in elemental personifications. The ‘Animal’ is she and the ‘Cage’ is he. Her anti-romance bop reflects the inner trappings of an erstwhile relationship that comes-of-age in front of listeners. It unfolds at the climax point of her feminine odyssey where she’s hemorrhaging innocence, infect-uated with his pathologies of lust and masculine-colonialism.
The dark pop singer, though nascent, does not tread lightly. Her single voices a universally pertinent message about the bedding pressures found in toxic relationships – particularly ones that impose trading physical touch for affection. The man of the song had cut an imposing rhetoric with an unbending mandate of fulfilling his unrequited carnal desires.
Naomi likened herself to the “Animal” and “Mother Nature”, among other things. She was an unspoiled picture of relative innocence that was slowly tamed and converted by him. The gradual erosion of her expressive authority proved itself a landslide over her identity. Her partner represented a sort of “man-made advancement” of concrete and stone encroaching on her natural territory bringing about a casual domestication.
PhilPop, the country’s premier songwriting competition, has officially released the songs from the finalists of the Mindanao cluster on Spotify and other digital platforms worldwide this October 23, Friday.
Distributed by Warner Music Philippines, the maiden batch reflects the diversity and appeal of the region’s music heritage, and champions authentic representation of the contemporary ‘Mindanaoan’ experience.
The tracks available for streaming and download include “Akong Bilihon,” composed by John Cadeliña and interpreted by The Marshland; “Kasadya,” composed by Christian Chiu and interpreted by Jay-arVaño and XT on Sax; and “Pahuway,” composed by Sherwin Fugoso and interpreted by Ferdinand Aragon.
Akong Bilhon: An anthem of resilience
According to singer-songwriter John Cadeliña, “Akong Bilhon” is a song about contentment. “No matter how big or small the blessings you have or received, if you really appreciate it’s true value, then it’s more than enough for you to be happy,” the Pilipinas Got Talent season 2 finalist says. “I wrote it last June, inspired by the current situation we have—that despite the negativities, the weights on our shoulders, we should still look up for the silver lining.”
With its soaring arrangements and infectious melodies, the inspirational piece stresses the importance of optimism and resilience in dealing with the uncertainty of the times.
John Cadeliña’s music project, The Marshland is the sole interpreter of the guitar-pop ballad. He counts the likes of Five For Fighting and City and Colours as major influences.
Kasadya: An eclectic sonic brew
Christian Tiu marks the passing of time on “Kasadya,”an irresistible number inspired by childhood nostalgia, Ilonggo culture, and the pandemic. Tiu’s official entry to the PhilPop 2020 Songwriting Festival looks back at the glorious memories spent with his family and grandparents.
Tiu shares, “During the pandemic, that feeling of isolation was even more accentuated. The thought of spending time with our grandparents would be at the bottom of the list due to their vulnerabilities with the virus. In the song Kasadya, I was looking back to those times; reliving those memories and just embracing those nostalgic moments. I felt genuinely happy for those times.”
Musically, “Kasadya” is an upbeat number that blends ‘80s pop with jazz, Manila Sound, ‘70s soul, and contemporary R&B sounds. It features interesting arrangements that mirror the artist’s intentional leaning towards retro-sounding appeal, while also incorporating modern touches to cater to the younger generation of listeners. The song is interpreted by Jay-arVaño, a singer based in Koronadal City and an active contributor to the Ilonggo pop scene, and XT on Sax, a renowned saxophonist.
Pahuway: An emotionally gripping ballad
Sherwin’s Fugoso’s stripped-down ballad “Pahuway” speaks about knowing what your heart truly desires and patiently waiting for its fulfillment. According to the folk artist, it’s a song about “longing, love, commitment, and dedication that stands against the test of time.”
“Pahuwaywas inspired by a famous passage from Saint Augustine’s Confession in which he states: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you,” Fugoso explains. “His words hit me big-time, and for me, it is a must to write songs out of these very powerful words. Pahuway portrays my longing for a cure for my daily dose of restlessness.”
The spiritual song digs deeper into the songwriter’s emotional psyche, but mines a less-is-more approach to showcase the vulnerability in Fugoso’s words. Award-winning Cebu-based artist Ferdinand Aragon interprets the song with the right mix of subtlety and warmth, and even going to as far as captivating listeners with his nuanced delivery and wounded vocal styling.
“Akong Bilhon,” “Kasadya,” and “Pahuway” are now available on streaming and digital platforms worldwide via PhilPop and Warner Music Philippines.
Guy Sebastian, Australian pop sensation has finally released his highly anticipated ninth studio album, T.R.U.T.H. on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music. T.R.U.T.H. paints the portrait of an artist at the top of his game. “I know who I am and I’m unashamed as well,” Guy says. “I’m not trying to be something that I’m not.”
The hitmaker behind the chart-topper “Angels Brought Me Here,” which dominated the music charts in the Philippines and across the globe in the 2000s, is the first to admit that his latest album delivers a deeper, more profound take on personal and communal experiences and struggles in life, love and everything in between.
The album has so far spawned multiple singles before it dropped officially last week, including “Before I Go,” which opened up several overseas market for the Aussie solo act and peaked at No. 1 on Netherlands iTunes charts, and “Choir,” which went on to become Sebastian’s biggest radio single in Australia to date.
The latter, a multi-ARIA-Award-winning, 3x Platinum-certified single, is Sebastian’s crowning achievement: a deeply personal tribute that won Song of The Year at the 2019 ARIA Awards. Sebastian then scored another Top 10 ARIA hit with “Standing With You,” the Gold-certified, latest and fourth single from the album released in June of this year. On this timely song – the spiritual salve we all need right now – Guy reflects, “It’s probably one of the most poignant songs I’ve ever released.”
T.R.U.T.H.’s single releases inspired a real inundation of interaction from fans, who spilled their hearts out to Guy via social media, email, and snail mail. “Those notes and shared moments really helped me create this album,” he acknowledges, “giving me such purpose and drive to keep going. So T.R.U.T.H. is their album as well.”
Although T.R.U.T.H. materialized in spurts – during various sessions with songwriters in different geographical locations across a two-and-a-half-year period – it’s undeniably Sebastian’s most cohesive-sounding album to date. “I feel like every song on the album has really extreme waves of emotion or tension release,” Guy observes.
Elsewhere, T.R.U.T.H is peppered with upbeat songs of romantic devotion, an ode to the friend-zoned plus a sexy nod to Sebastian’s R&B influences and the new single, ‘Love On Display’. A soulful, fun pop song, ‘Love on Display’ encourages everyone to express the joys around love, bringing everyone to an uplifting sense of hope.
T.R.U.T.H.’s cover art features a stunning photograph of Guy smiling and completely immersed in joy. Initially, a more stylized photo had been chosen to grace the album cover, but – when coupled with the album title, T.R.U.T.H. – this candid capture of Sebastian looking completely elated “just felt right.”
“There’s definitely a sense of freedom,” Guy adds. “When you live a truthful life, you can smile without anything behind it; uninhibited joy knowing that you are doing your best to be the best person you can be. None of us are perfect, but the truth is important and it is something we should all strive for… I think throughout my life I will always look back on this album cover and remember exactly what I was feeling, even decades from now.”
Guy has sold almost four million albums to date and is the only Australian artist in ARIA chart history to boast six #1 singles – the most by any Australian male artists in ARIA history and two #1 albums
