starsgazingfromhdb-blog-blog

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It's been a long time since I last interviewed a local singer. My last interview was with Singapore Idol runner up, Sylvia Ratonel.

Benjamin Kheng is the front man of indie band, The Sam Willows. Their single , Glasshouse (produced by five-time Grammy Award Winner, Steve Lillywhite) propelled them into limelight and brought them both local and international fame. Besides being a singer-songwriter, Ben is also an actor. He has appeared both on TV and stage. Catch him in Ah Boys to Men musical opening today till 27th April. He will be playing the lead role, Ken Chow popularized by Joshua Tan.

#benjamin kheng #thesamwillows #Ah Boys to Men

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This profile on freelance model, Nicky Ho combines product endorsement with byte-sized information on skincare for water sports lovers.  I love how the word "SKIN" is highlighted in cyan. 

#L'oreal Paris men experts #skin care #water sports

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Kudos to Desmond Tan for not cancelling his performance despite his condition.

If you haven't known, he fainted suddenly last Thursday and was admitted to the hospital. It was reported that he suffered deep cut and abrasion on his face. Not only that, he also injured his mouth as a result of the fall. But he went ahead with his music showcase the next day to promote his single. He had to sign an indemnity form to leave the hospital. 

I interviewed Desmond more than a year ago when he rose to stardom after starring in the Ch 8 musical drama, A Song To Remember. His role, Luo Xiao Xiao was unforgettable. He was the rickshaw puller with a ripped body. I'm supposed to interview him again. But with his injury, the photo shoot and interview will have to be postponed. Until then, I wish him a speedy recovery! 

Photo source: http://instagram.com/thedesmondtan

#Desmond Tan

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In this workshop, you'll learn:... • What entertainment stories do magazines want? • How to angle your story? • How to identify the right photos for your story and how to source for them? • How to conduct different types of interview? • What questions to ask to appear smart to both the celebrity and your editor • How to attract editors to buy your stories? Towards the end of the workshop, Musicife, an online music publication will share tips on writing for them. Besides aspiring freelance writers, this session will also benefit: • intern writers • freelance photographers thinking of doubling up as entertainment writers "Anthony's previous writing workshop blew me away. I have always been very keen on writing but never really knew how or where to begin. Within just a month of attending the workshop, I was able to secure my first paid article in a well known local magazine! Anthony's sharing sessions are well structured, easy to grasp, and yet always contain a treasure trove of insight. With a valuable experience and an endearing sincerity in participants' learning, you can be assured that your takeaway from the workshop will far exceed its negligible cost. For me, it was really the best money spent!" Sebastian Soong

Instructor Anthony Koh Waugh is a full-time freelance writer with 7 years' experience writing for online and print magazines. He specialises in entertainment stories from celebrity interviews, concert coverage to movie reviews. He has interviewed and written about celebrities worldwide including Hollywood and Bollywood stars. Tickets: $35 each. Only 20 seats. Get them at http://tinyurl.com/p9b59an Early Bird Tickets at $30

Venue: Brash Basah Complex #04-37 Book fair till 10 pm after the workshop When Anthony is not writing and conducting workshops, he runs Booktique - Singapore's first retail company that specialises in books for writing. Participants of this workshop will get an exclusive 10% discount on books.

#freelance writing workshop #entertainment writing #writing workshop #Eventbrite #Booktique Singapore #freelance writers #freelance writing for magazines #magazine writing #celebrity interview

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I'd think this is the best cover so far for the stories that I've written for this magazine.  Love how the blue of his denim shirt contrasts with the yellow texts. And the font used for his name make it look more like a cover of a teenage magazine than a fitness magazine. It just brings out all that sunshine and youthful in Benjamin Kheng.

Ben, 23 is the front man of local band, The Sam Willows. The formal youth National Swimmer turned singer-songwriter is also an actor. You can catch him in the musical of Ah Boys to Men this April. He replaced Joshua Tan to play the lead role, Ken Chow. 

The magazine will hit all major bookstores soon. Find out what growing up problem Ben and I in common in this cover story! 

#Benjamin Kheng #ifitness magazine #thesamwillows #Ah Boys to Men

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I'm always fascinated by Egyptian mythology. This brand new music video, "Dark Horse" from Katy Perry is a feast for me. I find the song so-so but the visuals throughout the video is stunning! Oh and is that Boo, the world's cutest dog or it lookalike towards the end of the video? 

Note: Just found out that the Pomeranian in the music video is Jiff and not Boo. 

#Katy perry #Dark horse #Katy perry dark horse #boo #egyptian mythology #JIff

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It has been about three months since I last interviewed anybody in person. I was busy with my travelling bookstore for writers, Booktique. Now, I'm back stargazing again. This Sunday I will be interviewing Benjamin Kheng of The Sam Willows. 

I first knew about Ben from the music video, RICH II SPOKEN WORD. He went on a musical harangue on capitalism. My favorite line has to be this:

"Some people are so poor all they have is money"

The 23 -year old wears his heart on his sleeve. Whether it is in his music or his speech at TEDxYouth, you feel his emotion as he speaks. His expression, his gesture tell it all. I'm very excited to meet this young man who has so much intellectual to offer.  Did I mention that he was also a National Swimmer? 

#benjamin kheng #the sam willows

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George Young's Bollywood experience

OK. We all know George Young had acted in a Bollywood movie before arriving in Singapore. But we have never heard from the horse's mouth about his Bollywood experience until he replied in detail in his Quora page to the question: What's it like to act in a Bollywood movie?  

He also poured his heart out in a reply to the question: What is your experience with having a sibling with autism? George has two younger brothers who are autistic and he's an autism ambassador in Singapore. 

#George Young #Bollywood movie #Jhootha Hi Sahi #quora

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8 Days: There will be bills to pay. Are you worried about money?

Allan: Yeah, I'm totally worried. Anyone in entertainment would be - we're paid on a case-by-case basis. Both of us aren't making that much. Even though we were established here before, we've both just moved back.."

The above interview was taken from last week 8 Day's cover story. If you haven't read it, go borrow from friends or the libraries. It is Allan's first interview after his divorce with actress, Wong Li-Lin.

I interviewed them when they just moved to Shanghai. Then, they talked about their new life there and their career opportunities.  Now, in this story,  Allan bares his heart out on starting life anew in Singapore. I wish him all the best and hope to see him back on TV again!

#allan wu #wong li lin #8Days

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Heaven is for Real movie

I interviewed Colton Burpo and his father when they were in Singapore to promote their book, Heaven is for Real, a New York bestseller. I speed read the book and found out that Colton not only went to Heaven during a near-death experience, he also saw Hell from above.

#Heaven is for Real #Heaven changes everything #Heaven is for real Singapore #Heaven is for real for kids. #Colton Burpo #todd burpo #Heaven is for real movie

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How to Be a Freelance Writer

For those who have been following my tumblr and would love to write for magazines but don't know how, sign up for my workshop on 28th November at The Arts House. The two-hour session which starts from 7pm will give you a head start in the business of freelance writing for magazines.

Sign up for the workshop now if freelance writing is one of your plans for 2014.

There will also be a book fair happening concurrently with the writing workshop at the same venue. Those in the workshop can shop for books during their breaks or after the session. The book fair is open to public. More books are added and of course, literary gifts and unique Christmas cards are also on sale for the holiday season.

For update on Booktique book fairs, LIKED our Facebook now!  Every book purchased helps to build a bookstore for writers.

#Booktique Singapore #booktique where writers shop #booktique #singapore writers #singapore book fairs #The Writers club #freelance writing #freelance writing for magazines #freelance writing magazines #writing workshops

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The time has come for me to reveal my Lady Gaga cover story. Her latest album, ARTPOP is now Number 1 on numerous Billboard charts.

> Billboard 200

> Digital Albums

> Dance/Electronic Albums

> The official U.K. Albums Chart

Enjoy reading ~

Page 1 & 2

Page 3 & 4

Page 5 & 6

#LadyGaga #ARTPOP #element magazine #Billboard

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When Anthony Koh plunged into full-time freelance journalism, it was a leap of faith. He did not start off at a publishing house – the usual route for journalists in Singapore, and he had no real e...

NTUC Media Managing Editor, Tan Shee Lah interviewed me about Booktique and my book fair on Friday, 18th Oct. I really like how she described me:-) "bohemian writer-for-hire lifestyle."

#NTUC #NTUCMedia #Booktique #Booktique Singapore #singapore book fairs #book fair #writers #freelance writers

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There's no better way to celebrate TGIF than to shop for books while dinning in this newly renovated café! Your evening will also be more well-spent as every purchase helps to build a bookstore for writers in Singapore.

Whether you're an aspiring writer or a book worm, you can browse through more than 300 books and pick your liking. Because our aim is to encourage writing and reading of literary works, our selections are mostly books on writing, writers, literary criticism as well as award-winning novels and classic literature (illustrated and collector edition). To make it more affordable for people to pursue these interests,  we priced our books at least 20% cheaper than other bookstores.

For stationary addicts, don't miss our limited sets of notebooks and greeting cards with classics-inspired designs from Korea. At the moment, we can only accept cash payment for all purchases from Booktique.

Oh, if you're thinking of freeing up more space on your bookshelf, we want your second-hand local novels if you have them. Donate them to us on that day. We will then give them away FREE to overseas readers to help promote local authors to other countries.  

As an independent book retail company for writers, Booktique is counting on every support for our very first book fair. Please like our Facebook page and mark down the date on your calendar now!  Tell your friends about us and see you all this Friday!

#bookfair #singapore writers #aspiring writers #singapore book fairs #writers #novelists #singapore authors #Booktique Singapore #books on writing #biography #literary criticism #classic literature #notebooks #singapore novels #freelance writers #freelance writing #caffe Pralet #Eng Hoon Street #cafe #singapore cafe #tiong bahru #tiong bahru cafe #singapore books #singapore bookshops #singapore bookstores #stationary addicts #the writers club

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If you have enjoyed reading my celebrity stories in i Fitness magazine, drop by Singapore Expo on 10th and 11th Oct between 10am and 5pm and say hi. I will be at i Fitness magazine booth H20 in Hall 6. This event is part of Sports & Fitness Asia 2013.

For fans of Romeo Tan and Shane Pow, you can take photos with their giant magazine covers. For those who haven't read my cover stories on both stars, hope you'll like them.

Shane Pow

Romeo Tan

#Singaporeexpo #Romeo Tan #shane pow #ifitness magazine #Fitness Magazine #Sportsandfitnessasia2013

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I'm digging the cover of Lady Gaga's upcoming album, Artpop

Watch out for my cover story on Lady Gaga out end of this month!

#ladygaga #artpop #jeff koons #artpop album cover

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I still prefer George Young in his golden trunk (screen capture from Keeley Hazell Bikini Pool Party commercial).

Read George's hilarious interview in the upcoming 8 Days magazine.

#george young #8days #Fly Entertainment #mediacorp actor