The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is the most watched title overall globally for Disney+. Shanti Dope’s hit single Amatz is featured in a scene on episode 3 of its premiere season. This song made quite a headline when it was first released back in March 2019. Two years since its release, Shanti’s single is back making waves as it hits the international scene. Although this is not a first international achievement for the young hip hop artist as American pop singer Sabrina Carpenter teamed up with him for the song “Almost Love” in 2018.

                                             

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is an american television miniseries produced for the streaming service Disney+ based on Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier). Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it takes place after the events of Avengers Endgame (2019).


Watch the “Amatz” official music video on Universal Records YouTube Channel and stream on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and all digital stores worldwide under Universal Records.


Official Music Video
Spotify

Toronto R&B-pop singer Ali Gatie bears his soul on his lovesick new EP, The Idea of Her. The 10-track set drops alongside a video for “Do You Believe” with Marshmello & Ty Dolla $ign, one of two major collaborations on the project. To celebrate the release, Gatie will be live-streaming an exclusive performance on April 8/9 in partnership with premium digital live platform Moment House. Tickets are available HERE.

                            

On The Idea of Her, Ali Gatie sounds both full of hope and as vulnerable as ever. Through moving stories and metaphors, he explores the endless rollercoaster of emotions that being in (and out of) love brings. “The opening song is as beautiful and joyful as can be, and then ‘Can’t Let You Go’ is as sad and hopeless as it gets,” he explains. “It’s about love as a whole—the type of love that takes a day to happen and the type of heartbreak that takes years to recover from.”

Throughout, Ali expands on his stripped-down sound, singing in his native Arabic for the first time on the heavy-hearted ballad “Can’t Let You Go,” duetting with rising singer-songwriter Tate McRae on “Lie to Me,” and spreading his wings with Marshmello and Ty Dolla $ign on the upbeat anthem “Do You Believe. “This song started as a ballad for me,” he says. “I loved the idea of a song about running away and choosing love over everything. After finishing it, I felt like a song about believing in the power of love should feel more anthemic and heroic. That’s why I decided to collaborate with Marshmello and Ty Dolla $ign.” Watch the video HERE.

Such co-signs are a natural step for the Toronto talent who has built his devoted fanbase (the LISNERS) via songs that hit hard—and hit home. The Idea of Her comes on the heels of Gatie scoring three nominations for Canada’s Juno Awards (Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for YOU, and Fan Choice Award). It also adds to his growing list of lovelorn hits, including the RIAA Certified Double Platinum breakout “It’s You,” “Running on My Mind,” “If I Fall in Love,” and “What If I Told You That I Love You." In less than three years, he’s surpassed 3.5 billion global streams, while racking up over 19 million streams a week and 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Even with a sold-out world tour and Coachella slot put on hold, The Idea of Her is proof that Gatie is still ready to make an impact on LISTENERS everywhere.

“Gatie’s music is unapologetically romantic and honest, injecting smooth vocals with vulnerability into his songs.” – VARIETY

“[Ali] has been on a rocket recently, shooting up in cred and streams.” – COMPLEX

“A surefire way to wind up in your feelings forevermore.” - NYLON

“Canadian artist Ali Gatie has been making a lot of waves as of late and for good reason. His brand of smooth hip-hop and r&b has become a huge hit amongst fans and he continues to drop tracks that are emotionally honest and intelligent.” – HOTNEWHIPHOP



THE IDEA OF HER EP TRACKLIST:

1. Bigger Person

2. Can’t Let You Go

3. Stay Up

4. Do You Believe with Marshmello & Ty Dolla $ign

5. Lie to Me with Tate McRae

6. What If I Told You That I Love You

7. Running On My Mind

8. Sunrise

9. Helpless

10. The Idea of Her

Aside from churning out modern rock classics that carve a special place in our collective consciousness, Sponge Cola has always been adept in capturing the divine feeling of romantic high, the cautionary tale that comes after, and the journey caught in between the respective timelines.

The “Siguro Nga” hitmakers have mastered the art of helming the soundtrack of our lives with universal appeal, and this time, they are putting a uniquely captivating but relatable spin on the ‘love song’ format with the release of their new single “Labis-labis” via Sony Music Philippines.

According to guitarist Erwin "Armo" Armovit, their latest single is all about the “overflowing, overwhelming joy of being fully yourself with someone,” and was written from a sincere, heartwarming place. “Love is an inexhaustible source of inspiration that takes countless forms; and songs are stories set to music. Every person experiences love differently, but every person experiences love.”

Having redefined stories about romance and defeat from varying lenses, Sponge Cola refuses to pin down their songwriting sensibilities with a one-dimensional approach. As bassist Gosh Dilay puts it, “With love songs, there is always a new angle/new dimension to explore.”

True to its core, “Labis-labis” works because beyond its gloriously cinematic chorus and inescapable verses, the song is specifically made to describe a moment—fleeting, short, but resonant to the experiences of the people around us, most especially those that chose to accept and reciprocate love in various shapes and forms, regardless of its possible consequences. Dilay perfectly sums up this emotional retreat into words, “it’s the gleeful feeling of excitement upon seeing someone you love, after being away for so long. Or even just after a brief period. That’s the magic of the song.”

Recording “Labis-labis” turned out to be fun and exciting for Sponge Cola, even if it has undergone the most transformations out of any songs that they’ve previously worked on. “The song started as a mid-tempo, all acoustic ballad and continuously evolved into its current state as we played it together as a band and incorporated modern arrangement ideas from our producer, Joey Santos.” Armovit said, “We had to play the song repeatedly and listen to really figure out what it needed and where it wanted to go.”

The track brought their funk on, albeit in a subtle way, while retaining the unapologetic pop smarts infused in the arrangement. The arrangements also took a more interesting direction music-wise, making it little more rocking and special.

Sponge Cola’s “Labis-labis” is out now on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

Sony Music Entertainment announced today the launch of OFFMUTE – a new pan-regional label focused on championing new and emerging Southeast Asian talent by drawing on the combined experience of Sony Music’s entire Southeast Asian team.

OFFMUTE gives emerging recording artists across all genres an opportunity to develop their own music and follow their creative vision. The new label will support Southeast Asian artists in amplifying their music and building a strong pan-regional audience base through enhanced promotional, marketing and artist development, drawn from Sony Music's global expertise and resources.


                                    

“OFFMUTE is a first-of-its-kind label in this part of the world, embracing the eclectic appeal and rich diversity that Southeast Asia has to offer, empowering artists with the resources and expertise to find success in a diverse region,” said Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Strategy and Market Development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment. “That offering is compelling for a new generation of artists in the region and we’re excited to help these artists fulfil their potential in the years to come.”

Ariel Fung, Executive Vice President, Sony Music Southeast Asia, expresses his enthusiasm on the label’s attempt to solidify its foothold in the global music industry. “I am so excited to see the launch of OFFMUTE which embraces different genres of artists with their unique culture and style, and with the potential of cross-border success.”


NEW OFFMUTE ARTISTS FROM PHILIPPINES, INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA


OFFMUTE also announced today three new signings for the label: acclaimed Philippine singer-songwriter Clara Benin; Indonesian alt-pop sensation Mezzaluna; and Malaysian recording star liesl-mae.

An acclaimed singer-songwriter in the Philippines, Clara Benin is renowned for her captivating songs that blend unspoken ruminations with commitment and depth. Amassing more than 25 million streams on combined music platforms Spotify and YouTube, Benin frequently headlines local and international music festivals, and won multiple awards including Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year for her song “I Rose up Slowly”.

Roslyn Pineda, General Manager, Sony Music Philippines, speaks of Benin’s potential to leave a mark with the international audience. “When my team and I discussed the vision for OFFMUTE, we immediately thought Clara Benin embodied what the label was all about,” Pineda reveals. “And it’s great that the other markets think so too. With a Southeast Asian team supporting her, we’re thrilled that Clara’s moving vocals and introspective songwriting will reach new audiences across the region.”


Another addition to the OFFMUTE family is Mezzaluna, a talented and gifted singer-songwriter based in Indonesia who comes from strong musical lineage and quickly emerged as a standout artist with incredible achievements in her own right. With deep, soulful vocals and an intensely personal storytelling style, the 20-year-old alt-pop sensation marks her journey as a solo star capable of delivering inspiring and powerful songs with a universal reach. She will be releasing her debut single this year, which OFFMUTE will be amplifying across the region.

Malaysia’s liesl-mae completes the record label’s wide-ranging selection of music acts. Making waves in the Malaysian music scene with her soothing, almost-lullaby-like tunes, the recording star will now see her talent showcased across Southeast Asia through OFFMUTE. She plans to release her own music and collaborate with other artists under the new label, as well as harness her newfound platform to advocate for mental health education and awareness.

BEY has officially debuted as an artist last January 2021 with her debut single “Crash Landing” under Universal Records. It has since garnered thousands of listeners and streams on different musical platforms. It landed on iTunes Top 100 Singles Chart Philippines (#8 Crash Landing - Korean Version, #18 Crash Landing) the same day it was released. Moreover, the song has also made it to the Japanese Spotify Playlist, “SloDown”.

                                                       

The success of “Crash Landing” was also made possible by the team that worked tirelessly until its debut in public. Eunice Jorge of Gracenote plays a significant role in BEY’s life as her mentor, apart from being the song's writer and producer. In one of her interviews, BEY mentioned that if given the chance, she would love to have a duet with her.

Apart from singing, BEY learned to play different musical instruments at a young age, having gained most of her musical influence from her family. BEY also looks up to pop icons whom she sees as strong women in all facets, not just in music. “My musical influences came from today’s pop hit singers like Beyonce and Ariana Grande and some independent artists that have inspired me to express myself through music”.

Landing on different musical platforms, BEY’s latest single continues to reach more listeners both locally and internationally. For her, music is an everyday routine as she begins to explore creating more compositions. With her undoubted talent and potential, BEY is definitely one of the up-and-coming artists to watch out for this year.

It's been weeks since the official release of “Crash Landing” and it has been on heavy rotation on different radio stations. Stream "Crash Landing" now on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and all digital stores worldwide under Universal Records.


Spotify

Apple Music

Official Music Video

Pink Sweat$, regarded as Philadelphia, USA’s own rising superstar, is earning his stripes and proving that every bit of praise and acclaim is in its rightful place, with his recent release of both the single and music video for “Heaven,” one of the featured tracks from his latest full-length album Pink Planet, which arrived last February 2021.

                                                    

Released under Atlantic Records, Pink Planet is a collection of six previously released stellar singles off of his 2020 EP The Prelude and eight brand new tracks, including “Heaven” which drips of sensual melodies from “Mr. Love” himself (a moniker his legion of fans have since called him…) and the music video, as expected, is simply an awesome visual treat. In fact, Pink Planet highlights much-needed light and love after a rough year that was 2020: “with a purpose to heal and gift fans with much-needed good vibes, and to talk about highs, lows, fears and successes.”



Pink Sweat$ rose to international fame and acclaim with his original song “At My Worst,” which is one of his greatest performing singles to date, as the music video has more than 50 million views and counting on YouTube.com, and more than a million home-made videos on online video platform Tik Tok has been created so far using the song… it is also worth mentioning that his music has been exploding onto various global music charts and playlists, often in Asian territories like Malaysia, Indonesia and most notably, the Philippines.
                                                         


So of course, Pink Sweat$ is celebrating the release of his single and album by making things extra-sweet n’ special for his Filipino fans, as he also recently dropped a live performance video and lyric video of the track “17” (also off of Pink Planet) which features a jaw-dropping collaboration with none-other than the Philippines’ Queen of Pop and Soul Moira Dela Torre. Compared to the track’s original bouncy and infectious version, the collaboration - which is now available for viewing on all digital streaming platforms - is stripped-down to its most potent version, and will surely tug at the heartstrings of listeners, many of whom are absolutely smitten with how disarmingly enchanting Dela Torre’s vocal melodies are.



Dela Torre herself couldn’t contain her excitement, and reveals that it is a timely celebration of one of many milestones in her career: “This collaboration marks the third anniversary of my first-ever solo concert, and this is an extra special way to show my gratitude to everyone for the best three years of my life so far…” the Filipina singing superstar was quoted saying in a prior interview. Dela Torre’s social media accounts exploded soon after she teased the announcement of the collaboration with Pink Sweat$ last February 2021.

Truly, this is a musical-match-made-in-heaven for music fans who have been aching for these worlds to collide.

Fans of both Pink Sweat$ and Moira Dela Torre can sing-along to the lyric video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As8niVi_CYE