Text and interview: Natalie Yeo

For an artist who has had great success and also recently released his latest album, C’est La “V”, Vanness Wu holds no airs about his accomplishments.

Clad in a pair of black jeans, a red-striped cardigan over a black basic t-shirt, a beanie and black-framed glasses, he exits the stage arena for MTV Sessions and requests for a short break after an hour long on-air interview at the Waterfront Studios, Resorts World Sentosa (Singapore). With no hint of weariness or a lack of zeal, Vanness enthusiastically prepared himself for round two of interviews.

Vanness is nothing short of a down-to-earth, honest and sincere artist. Read on as he takes us through his journey as a growing artist in this interview. He talks about his new album, how he gains inspiration and shares the highlights of his career. He also gives insight into his passions in life and even his hairstyles!

Text: Natalie Yeo

Host, model, actor, writer, and now our new MTV VJ, Richard Herrera has plenty to offer! Shades and not much of a smile make him appear unapproachable but behind that facade lies a down-to-earth, traditionalist at heart.

Pushed by his spirit for adventure and inspired by his parents and love for music, VJ Rich reveals multiple sides of him in this interview. He carries with him a hope to re-engage MTV viewers and tells us more about himself as he embarks on his journey as MTV’s latest addition!

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Welcome to MTV! Could you tell us a little background about yourself?

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Sports saved my life and kept me out of trouble growing up. Thankfully, I was a good test-taker but I wish I’ve paid more attention in school! I’m lucky to have the coolest parents ever. I left the United States in 2002 for Europe, and then ultimately ended up in Asia.

Text and interview: Lennat Mak

Everyone wants to be a pop star. But beyond the fame, glitz, glamor, and bigger-than-life pop personas, there’s always the song. While a pop song can’t do away with its cookie-cutter mold of four-on-the-floor dance beats, predictable chords progression and inane lyrics (Rebecca Black’s “Friday” is a good example), the crux of a good pop song lies in its ability to connect and bridge an emotional attachment with its listeners.

Sounds all very complicated, doesn’t it? Basically, it’s all about the elusive thing that passionate people often talk about – “heart.” A good pop song should have heart. And if you listen closely to Neon Trees, that’s what the band is really all about. Unabashed heart-on-the-sleeves emotions coupled with slick pop hooks and gripping melodies. Doesn’t hurt when the band don’t take themselves way too seriously and are always ready to inject that tongue-in-cheek punch to what they do as well.

The band – Tyler Glenn (vocalist), Chris Allen (guitarist), Branden Campbell (bassist) and Elaine Bradley (drummer and backup vocalist) – will be swinging by MTV World Stage Live In Malaysia 2011 this coming Sunday for a live show you won’t forget. We spoke to frontman Tyler and found more about the band’s musical approach and their excitement of touring Asia. Read on!

Text and interview: Felina Tan

Decked in immaculate crisp shirts and pants, British synth-pop duo Hurts was impossible to miss when they walked into the room. The band had just flown in from Bali the previous afternoon and it was their virgin trip to the shores of the little red dot known as Singapore. Yet, within one night, they had completely fallen in love with our garden city and everything about it (including, the infinity pool atop the Marina Bay Sands hotel).

Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson hail from Manchester, United Kingdom and their barely two-year-old band has risen to phenomenal fame with their debut album Happiness topping the iTunes chart in six countries. Their success has scored them a seemingly endless string of gigs including the fairly recent and widely popular Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2011. Additionally, they have played alongside well-known alternative band Scissor Sisters as well as critically acclaimed Australian singer/songwriter Kylie Minogue.

At age 24 and 26 respectively, Theo and Adam are certainly taking the world by storm with their good looks, gentlemanly ways and of course, brilliantly crafted music. Here’s an up-close and personal encounter with the lads themselves at a cosy corner tucked in Fuse Bar, Marina Bay Sands.

If there’s one thing that really stands out when you talk to Kendall Schmidt, the leader of rising boy band Big Time Rush, it’s how much he loves the fans. Not only does he attribute the band’s phenomenal crossover success from Nickelodeon to MTV (check out the band MTV Push artist page here) to the fans, according to the 20-year-old, they also “have the best fans in the world.”

And Kendall is right. What is success without the fans? Since the launch of the TV series Big Time Rush, the boy band (including Logan Henderson, Carlos Pena, Jr. and James Maslow) has become an overnight tween sensation. The TV series is currently the highest rated and most-watched live action series on Nickelodeon and the band themselves are gaining much popularity with the mainstream masses with their single, “Boyfriend.” Their debut album, B.T.R also sold over 400, 000 copies in the U.S. alone.

Evidently, Big Time Rush’s knack to connect with their fans with their TV persona and music has struck an emotion chord among their audience. And like how Logan puts it in their official biography, “the cool thing about us is that we are cheering alongside of our fans and it’s awesome to be a part of something big.”

Read on to find out what Kendall has to say about their success, their awesome experience with Snoop Dogg, his take on why pop music has such an uplifting effect on people and more!

Without a doubt, boy bands and pop music are enjoying their walk in the sun again. And the latest group to hit this bout of pop resurgence is none other than The Wanted. Made up of Max George, Jay McGuiness, Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker, and Nathan Sykes, the British-Irish boy band has already released an self-titled debut album with a chart-topping No. 1 single, “All Time Low.” It was also revealed that the group signed a U.S. record real with Def Jam and will have a crack at the much elusive Stateside success. The boys know it’s not going to be an easy task but with hard work and a firm belief in their music, everything is possible, as we found out from the boys themselves.

If you’ve been religiously following various music publications for the next big thing to break out in 2011, Warpaint would be a familiar name to you. Formed on Valentine’s Day in 2004, the LA-based band – Emily Kokal (vocals, guitars), Theresa Wayman (vocals, guitars), Jenny Lee Lindberg (vocals, bassist) and Stella Mozgawa (vocals, drums) – is currently hotly tipped to be “The sound of 2011” (BBC), “Artist To watch in 2011” (MTV), and “The Best Live Band You’ll See All Year” (NME). And the girls definitely live up to all the accolades, as attested with their self-released EP Exquisite Corpse, their critically acclaimed Rough Trade debut, The Fool, and their electrifying live shows that leave so many in awe by their sheer musical brilliance.

Before the band takes the stage and opens the inaugural St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Singapore tomorrow (January 29, 2011) at Fort Canning Park, we met up with Jenny and Theresa at INK Bar at Fairmont Hotel to talk more about the music, their friendship and more. Nothing beats gearing up for an awesome festival by talking with two spirited musicians who are wholly passionate about their music!

After months of searching, the trawl for our next MTV VJ is finally over! Fresh from her win at the recent MTV VJ Hunt competition where the winner was announced on stage at MTV World Stage Live In Malaysia 2010, our latest VJ addition, Holly Grabarek, is simply a new force to behold. Young, vibrant, and ever-so-charming with her smile, Holly shares a little bit more about herself before her journey as a VJ begins on MTV!

As one third of the Taiwanese super girl group S.H.E for the past 10 years, Hebe Tien is definitely a familiar household name around Asia. Born on March 30, 1983, Hebe first came to fame when she joined the “Universal 2000 Talent and Beauty Girl Contest” organized by HIM International Music. Despite some technical vocals difficulties, Hebe was able to stand out from the crowd with her personality and powerful vocals. Together with Selina Jen and Ella Chen, Hebe formed S.H.E. and gained massive popularity in the years to come, with 12 albums under their belts and over 15 millions records sold. Together with the help of her record company, Hebe decided to forge a solo career and released her debut solo album titled To Hebe in 2010.

We caught up with Hebe for a quick chat via email. Read on to see what she has to say about her solo ventures and more!

Since releasing their debut album, Conditions, in 2009, London-based Australian band The Temper Trap has been wowing about music fans and critics alike with their soaring and atmospheric tunes such as “Sweet Disposition,” “Love Lost” and “Fader.” Cutting their mettle in London, the band – Dougy Mandagi (vocals, guitars), Jonathon Aherne (bass), Lorenzo Sillitto (guitars) and Toby Dundas (drums) – has played various major music festivals in both the U.K. and U.S. and at the 2010 ARIA Music Awards, the band also bagged home Best Group and Most Popular Australian Single (“Sweet Disposition”). Suffice to say, The Temper Trap has definitely arrived in their own terms.