Covid: 17 new cases reported in Karnataka
A total of 184 new Covid-19 tests were conducted and the positivity rate stood at 9.2 per cent.
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New Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Belle Sisoski blends tradition and EDM
SARAWAKIAN musician Belle Sisoski creates a truly unique sound by combining electronic dance music (EDM) with traditional instruments from her heritage. She effectively blends old and new, integrating centuries of history and tradition into modern music, giving new life to some long-forgotten musical instruments. Belle samples traditional Sarawakian instruments like the stringed sape, the long-forgotten tapi, as well as the turali and keringut flutes — incorporating these into her vibrant EDM beats that accompany her powerful vocals. This new generation, cutting-edge music has earned Belle a substantial following, with over a million fans on each platform: TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Two years ago, she made waves as one of the top three finalists for the Commonwealth Song Contest. Her track, 'Stop Your Games', vividly captured the gloomy and dark emotional days of the global Covid-19 lockdown. Belle's latest single, 'Mother's Calling', is a poignant appeal for environmental protection and conservation which is inspired by her concern for ecological destruction. She performed it at the 27th Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in Kuching last year. CLASSICALLY TRAINED In a recent interview, Belle revealed that she received classical training in piano and violin. She grew up listening to classical composers like Debussy and Chopin, alongside modern contemporary artists such as Yanni, Vangelis, and John Williams. "I was born and raised in a musically inclined family," she shared. "My mother is a music educator and ethnomusicologist, and her research into indigenous Iban music deeply influenced my artistic journey." As an only child, Belle began classical piano training at the age of three, later picking up the violin, guitar and vocals. Over time, she found herself drawn to traditional Bornean instruments like the engkerurai, sompoton, sape and tapi. Her interest also extended to other Malaysian traditional instruments such as the kompang and rebab, and even Southeast Asian instruments like the angklung, jaw harp and gamelan. Belle's early influences were a rich blend of classical greats, cinematic film score composers, traditional folk music and experimental electronic artists. "Today, I draw inspiration from such film composers and unconventional masters of traditional instruments." While Belle was classically trained locally, much of her music education stemmed from experimentation and hands-on experience as a performer and producer. During her school years, Belle actively participated in music competitions and concerts. The growth of social media during and after Covid-19 led to appearances at major music festivals, including the RWMF. "This festival is one of the milestones that gave me clarity about the kind of artist I wanted to become," she said. "One of my most impactful performances to date was at the Ultra Taiwan music festival, where I premiered my Southeast Asian ethnic-cinematic-electronic live set to an international audience." LOCKDOWN EXPERIMENTS Belle said during the Covid-19 lockdown, she dedicated a significant amount of time to production and experimentation with various musical instruments. She also created covers of different genres and music from various nationalities. "It was a journey of self-discovery and experimental improvisation that led to combining traditional instruments in EDM," she added. Belle's songs are imbued with strong emotions on various subject matters, reflecting her passion and awareness for humanitarian causes. "When creating a song, I begin with a topic or emotion that I want to highlight," she said. Currently, she and her one-woman band are touring across Asia and also expanding globally. "Performing at more international festivals will not just showcase my music, but also represent my Southeast Asian and Malaysian heritage on a global stage." Outside of music, Belle is also a visual storyteller who paints, writes poetry, and directs and edits her own visual content. "If I were not a musician, I might have pursued filmmaking or cultural anthropology," she said. Belle is currently working on a multi-part conceptual album inspired by elemental philosophies. Additionally, she is developing a music video and instrument introductory series titled 'Wonders of the Southeast', all while maintaining a schedule of live performances for music festivals and corporate events. "My next release, 'The Resistance', will continue exploring the fusion of cinematic soundscapes and electronic elements with indigenous instrumentation." As a musician, Belle dreams of becoming a music producer of world and film music. "There's no shortcut to performing at a high level with live instruments, "It requires consistent practice at a high level to master every detail of my equipment, ensuring the best delivery in every music production and live show," she concluded.
Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Daily Maverick
After the Bell: No, you're not alone; the world is a mess
As the world teeters on the brink of chaos, with everything from geopolitical conflicts to the unpredictable whims of Donald Trump stirring the pot, one can't help but wonder if we've traded a pandemic for a global financial cocktail of uncertainty that feels even more volatile than before. I hope I'm not the only one who feels the world is incredibly uncertain at the moment. And in fact I almost feel less certain than I did during Covid. At least then I felt that we were all facing the same problem. It would appear that some senior figures in the South African Reserve Bank agree. On Friday the head of the bank's financial stability project, Nicola Brink, stated during a Monetary Policy Review that 'During the review period, the global financial system e xperienced a degree of uncertainty and volatility that is similar to and in some respects worse than… at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic'. President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to agree with the bank. He said today at the Constitutional Court that 'the world has become a very dangerous place now, with all of these conflicts that are flaring up'. It may seem strange to compare anything in recent times with Covid. I mean, during that time it felt like we were facing financial Armageddon. Stock markets around the world fell dramatically, at one point the oil prices turned negative (because oil tanks were full, people were paying customers to take the stuff). But actually, the bank is probably right. This is because the sheer number of elements that lead to instability is so high now. Then it was just one thing. And the whole world was facing it at the same time, if not exactly united. Also, it was clear pretty early on that Covid was not going to last. It was not going to be with us for a decade, it was going to end. Covid is a great example of another dynamic in global markets. That in real terms, nothing ever happens. Considering how much time, thought and sheer energy is put into trying to work out how markets will react to global events, this is incredibly surprising. But it does appear to be true. Research shows that actually while markets do react to shocks in the short-term, they tend to recover quite quickly. There is an important reason for this. As The Economist put it, 'The momentum of markets can be relentless. Shares tend to grind higher over time as consumers spend, entrepreneurs innovate and companies grow.' It would take something messing with this dynamic to stop this growth from continuing. But until around 10 years ago, I had also been told that property prices always went up. That if I bought a house it would become more valuable over time. That has not been my experience. Instead, because I bought in Joburg, values are going backwards. So the same can happen to markets. And I do worry that the sheer number of elements that are creating instability in our world may be taking us closer to some kind of greater life-changing market event than at any time since World War 2. Consider the sheer number of ingredients we are dealing with. In South Africa, the biggest variable is probably still whether the coalition government survives after Ramaphosa goes. But the rest of the world is a disaster. Israel is bombing Iran, which may or may not have nuclear weapons; Iran is responding. Meanwhile Israel is using tanks to shoot crowds of people who are starving in Gaza, creating more trouble for the region. Russia has invaded Ukraine and may well threaten other countries in Europe. China now has a leader who has almost absolute power and does not appear to have groomed a successor. Sudan's civil war continues with no sign of an end, and hundreds of thousands of people are running out of food. But the biggest agent of instability is, of course, Donald Trump. Because of his position and the power of both the weapons and the economy he commands, he is easily the most important ingredient in this toxic cocktail. But this also underscores how quickly the world has changed in the last six years. Before Covid the global economy felt like it was doing okay, and we expected our economy to grow as we put State Capture behind us. Instead the world feels like it is on fire. I do think we have to be conscious of our own journey through time though. As I have got older, so the world in which I grew up has receded. As it becomes more and more different to what I grew up in (so often for the better), so it may be harder to understand. A friend said to me once that he gets really irritated that the rugby authorities change the laws every season because that makes it more and more different from the game that many people now watching used to play when they were younger. I think that's a good way of understanding how the world changes us. It also means that probably everyone around you feels the same way. But for the moment, I think there is good reason to feel uncertain.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
'Aamir Khan is not my brother,' says Taare Zameen Par's Darsheel Safary on why he doesn't ask actor for work
Actor Darsheel Safary worked with Aamir Khan in the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par. Now, speaking with Mid-day, Darsheel has revealed why he doesn't ask Aamir for work. Darsheel shared that whatever projects he did after the Covid-19 pandemic were done through "zero contacts". He also talked about Aamir's latest film Sitaare Zameen Par, which is the spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par. Darsheel Safary starred alongside Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par. Darsheel shared that people get upset that he doesn't ask Aamir for work, adding that they aren't brothers and he feels shy. He said, "Whatever work I've done after the pandemic has been through zero contacts. Auditions and screen tests allow me to understand whether I'm able to do [a role] and also help producers and directors understand if I fit it." "People get upset that I don't ask Aamir for work. But I feel too shy to do that. He is not my brother so I can call him and say,'Please get me a script.' My chosen path has been to [only] send him best wishes, like a text on his birthday. It's just how I preferred it," he added. About Taare Zameen Par The 2007 film was produced and directed by Aamir. Apart from Aamir and Darsheel, it also starred Tanay Chheda, Vipin Sharma and Tisca Chopra. About Sitaare Zameen Par Sitaare Zameen Par, which released in theatres on Friday, has been doing well in India. The film has minted over ₹ 30 crore within two days of its release. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film is produced by Aamir alongside Aparna Purohit and Ravi Bhagchandka. Written by Divy Nidhi Sharma, it Sitaare Zameen Par focuses on themes of inclusivity and empowerment. Aamir takes on the role of a basketball coach who mentors ten differently-abled individuals in the film. Alongside Aamir, the film also stars Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar. The film also marks Aamir's return to the screen after Laal Singh Chaddha, which released in 2022.
