Latest news with #AloftHotel
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Medical science graduate, Wany is a healer in more ways than one
POPULAR, award-winning singer Wany Hasrita may be riding high with her girl-next-door image coupled with her "feel good" music. And while she excels in pop and Asli songs, the lanky beauty actually pursued medical science in university, only to delve 100 per cent into showbiz after graduation. "When I was a kid, I had always dreamt of pursuing a science degree, and over the years I gravitated towards medical science,because I am rather passionate about fighting diseases and healing people," she said at the launch of her latest single titled 'Jahat' at Aloft Hotel in KL Sentral, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur. DIVORCED Wany, 32, an only child whose parents were divorced during her teenage years, studied medical science at Management and Science University (MSU) in Shah Alam, graduating in 2017. While she initially wanted to get a job with the Health Ministry, another childhood love got the better of her. "I've always loved music and in fact I've been singing in concerts since my schooldays. At first, I saw singing as a pastime, but over the years, I began to seriously think of becoming a recording artiste like my idols, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Jamal Abdillah," said Wany, who hails from Bagan Datuk in Perak. DECISION Wany is fortunate that both her parents, especially her mother, gave their blessings to her decision to join showbiz. "My parents had always wanted me to complete my studies and get a degree. Being an educated entertainer, they constantly reminded me, would make me a credible name in showbiz." FULL USE Despite not pursuing a medical science-related job, Wany admitted that she was "making full use" of what she learnt in university. "From my university course, I learnt how to treat people who are injured, and dish out health tips to persons close and dear to me," said Wany who calls herself a "healer". FANS When asked if her medical students supported her, Wany admitted that none of them had set up fan clubs in her name. "I'm sure many medical students listen to my songs as they give me feedback and congratulate me from time to time. "However, they are also rather busy with work," said Wany. MOTHER Wany became a proud mother to 2-year-old Aishah Mohamad in 2023 and marked her baby's birth with a sweet song titled 'Cinta Hatiku'. "My baby girl is my major supporter who smiles and claps whenever she hears my music." FOOTSTEPS Wany will "leave it to Allah" if her daughter hopes to one day follow in her footsteps. "But, of course, she must be an educated person like her mother," she said. PAINFUL When asked about 'Jahat', Wany said that it was her first "painful" song and her first collaboration with Indonesian composers and lyricists Audree Dewangga, David Elsandro, Andre Lizt and Trakast. "It's the official soundtrack for Viu drama series, 'Pabila Dia Tersenyum'," said Wany. "It's the story of a long-suffering woman who has been used and abused by various former partners." JAKARTA She recorded the song in November within three hours and enjoyed the experience of stepping into a state-of-the-art studio in Jakarta. "My ultimate dream is to work with singer, composer and lyricist Melly Goeslaw, a titan of Indonesian music." SOUNDTRACKS When asked about having her songs used as official soundtracks, Wany said that this was a "great strategy" which all new singers should make full use of. She said: "I strongly believe that young singers should make full use of official soundtracks to promote their music. "Malaysians love TV dramas, and part of a drama is a soundtrack that matches the story. "If they catch a new song on a drama which they like, they will remember the song for a long time." HOSTING When asked about her hosting and acting projects, Wany said she recently recorded a Hari Raya Aidil Adha entertainment show with some of her contemporary artistes. Wany, the Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian 31 top winner, rocketed to fame with the song 'Menahan Rindu' in 2016. She subsequently recorded a duet with Tajul Ariff titled 'Di Sana Cinta, Di Sini Rindu', as well as 'Sinar Terindah' and 'Sang Purnama' with Wani Syaz. HARI RAYA Wany's best known duet with Jamal was 'Belenggu Rindu' in 2019, and her other popular songs include 'Rintihan Rindu', 'Rindu Dalam Benci', 'Semaikan Cinta', 'Terlalu Memuja', 'Kucuma', 'Terpaling Di Raya' and 'Menanti Di Aidilfitri'. Wany, who studied in Sekolah Menengah Bandar Damai in Cheras is married to Sarawakian pilot Mohamad Al-Adib Fahmi Harun.
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Four-star Aloft in heart of The Liberties is the perfect city-centre hotel
I love a good hotel. Forget nights out in bars and pubs, hotels are where it's at for me. You can eat and drink in comfort, the whole family can join and it's the height of luxury. Living in The Liberties in Dublin, I'm surrounded by new ones that have sprung up all around us in the past few years. But I hadn't found OUR hotel yet. You know that perfect hotel that works for a family gathering; is handy for a coffee meeting or a few drinks with friends; and has a good restaurant to drop down to dinner when the mood takes. Somewhere nearby that relatives from abroad can stay when they come to visit. A place conveniently around the corner where you can escape domesticity for a night of romance with the husband. Or indeed without the husband, as the case may be. Well, I've found it and it's the sky-scraper-like Aloft Hotel on the cobbles of Mill Lane, the road that runs from the residential area of The Tenters and comes out at St Patrick's Cathedral. Some of you might remember the old, legendary pub that used to be there on the corner, also called The Tenters. They've kept it on the ground floor, where it's now the hotel's chic gastropub. Aloft's location is deceptively central; as it feels like it's in a neighbourhood amid apartments and terraced houses. Yet you can walk to Temple Bar in ten minutes and the Guinness Storehouse is the same distance in the other direction. The vivid, all-glass, brightly-coloured, seven-storey, four-star Aloft is a towering tribute to modernity in one of the oldest and most historic areas in the capital. Yet this urban chic amid the ancient architecture is complementary and not clashing. It works, in a kind of Belfast/Berlin/Basel type vibe. It's not like anything we're used to in Dublin. The whole hotel has a pleasingly European feel. Everything is centred around the family, in a way that you don't feel like you're coming down to the kids' level. The hotel offers family sized rooms, and they can be turned into a campground, with a roll-out bed of its own complete with a teepee. Even pets are most welcome, with cosy beds and food provided, once you ask in advance. The hotel's focal point is the stunning WXYZ rooftop bar, with its floor-to-ceiling bar windows providing impossibly high views of the city. Its vertigo-inducing, swish, spacious balcony area is the perfect place for a sundowner after a busy day. It was the talk of the locality when the hotel opened five years ago. I often look up while walking past and wonder who's lucky enough to be up there. Books, board-games and even newspapers - remember them? - provide entertainment and a pool table at the end is a fun addition. There's also the sight of Lofty, the hotel's robot waiter, mostly used for room service but who can often be seen gliding along on errands. There are sweet local touches everywhere, a nod to its legacy and the importance of community. When we visited, I enjoyed the Billy's Barracks cocktail, named after Liberties' photographer William Mooney, who is now 93 and still a patron of the place. In the sophisticated Tenters gastropub on the ground floor, old maps of the area - which used to be a Huguenot hotspot - adorn the walls. The restaurant is 1920s style, with rich teal banquette seating, and wood and brass food here has an emphasis on quality, with its beef from FX Buckley, and strong seafood and grill options overall. I had the slow braised 10oz featherblade beef (€31) with herb mash, carrot puree, tenderstem broccoli and red wine jus, which was so meltingly delicious I ate all of it, despite myself. My husband (Only joking, I did bring him) had the striploin steak of Hereford beef (€35), with wild mushrooms and pepper sauce, which also went down a treat. There's a genuinely friendly vibe here due to its genius - and genial - general manager Jonas Treffers. Jonas can't do enough for you, and that culture permeates the place. The staff at Aloft seem like a community, and you can feel the goodwill and sincere hospitality. After an indulgent evening, it was time for bed in the stylish and modern king room, with its huge bed, and 49inch LCD TV. I preferred to lie down and look out floor-to-celling windows onto the Teeling Distillery site below. It was so close to home for me, I was able to get up in the morning and round teenagers up for school and come back for another lie-in before respectfully reasonable check-out time of 12 noon. I was glad I did return, because it was then I got to experience the piece de resistance, a walk-in power shower that looked out through glass frosted windows onto the streets of the capital. If you've never showered in front of the whole city before, I'd highly recommend it. I will dream of that shower for the rest of my life. Rates at Aloft [Aloft, 1 Mill Street, Dublin 8, D08 XK58] start from €189 B&B based on two people sharing. For bookings, events, or to find out more, visit
New Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Wany Hasrita delivers first 'painful' song with 'Jahat'
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular singer, actress and television host Wany Hasrita is marking her first "painful and heart-wrenching" song with Jahat. In an interview today, Wany said that her latest single was a soul-stirring ballad that served as the official original soundtrack for the Viu drama series, Pabila Dia Tersenyum. Wany said: "Jahat is a personal and artistic milestone, a song that allows me to explore a deeper, more vulnerable side of myself as a singer." She added that the emotionally-charged track added a new dimension to her singing and highlighted her growth, maturity and depth of interpretation. This single under Sony Music Malaysia also marks Wany's first collaboration with a team of renowned Indonesian composers. They are Audree Dewangga, David Elsandro, Andre Lizt, and Trakast who bring together a blend of melancholic melodies with hopeful endings. "I have always dreamed of singing a deeply emotional ballad, something that truly captures the feeling of heartbreak," said Wany who recorded the song in Jakarta last November. "The moment I heard the demo, I fell in love with the song." The recording process took approximately three hours, and despite the quick recording session, Wany poured her heart and soul into every line. Complementing the song is a music video that captures the essence of emotional distress through visual storytelling. "It portrays a woman who appears calm on the outside but is internally broken, and it mirrors the confusion and silent suffering of one who is emotionally manipulated by a partner. "It really captures the essence of the song. I did not have to act as the emotions just came naturally during the shoot," said Wany. The 15-episode Pabila Dia Tersenyum, which stars Alya Iman, Amir Ahnaf and Adam Lee, is about a young woman raised amidst a web of family secrets. From her father's mysterious death, a haunting reunion with her long-lost mother, and a complicated love triangle between two brothers, it is a powerful narrative about suffering, love and a woman's strength. Wany said: "I am so grateful that Jahat was selected as the theme song for this drama. It is an opportunity for my music to be heard, and for it to become part of a powerful, moving story." Wany said that she hoped Jahat would touch listeners' hearts, especially those who have experienced disappointment in a relationship. "This is a heavy song, but I believe there is beauty and strength in every sad song. I hope this one becomes a companion for anyone going through a tough time." Jahat was launched at Aloft Hotel in KL Sentral, Jalan Tun Sambanthan today.
