Coldplay and BTS single out

COLDPLAY has released the much-anticipated collaboration with BTS, “My Universe,” which was written by Coldplay and BTS and produced by Max Martin. The song is now available worldwide to stream or download. The song’s official lyric video features handwritten lyrics from both groups, in both English and Korean. Coldplay has also teased the song’s Dave Meyers-directed official music video, as “coming very soon.” “My Universe” follows Coldplay’s worldwide hit “Higher Power” as the second single to be taken from the band’s forthcoming album Music of The Spheres (to be released on Oct. 15).

Alessandra de Rossi launches AWOOO records

FRESH from the success of her directorial debut My Amanda in July, actress Alessandra de Rossi is now setting her sights on music, launching her record label AWOOO Records. “I think [Filipinos] really stand a chance in changing how the world looks and sounds,” Ms. De Rossi said in a statement. “All we need is to offer something pure, peculiar, and distinct. I think we can make it, too!” AWOOO, which stands for “a world of our own,” is a sublabel of Lilystars Records headed by Clem Castro who serves as partner and de facto adviser. AWOOO also launched its first two artists: Fil-German San Carlos City chanteuse Hya, and the SoCal-based singer-songwriter Alfa. The former was a talent-show champion who previously made the rounds at Rising Stars Philippines, Just Duet, and The Will to Win before landing a spot in Bangon Talentadong Pinoy where Ms. De Rossi was judge. Hya’s debut single, “Raindrops,” is arranged and co-produced with Nick Lazaro for La Balls Studio, has already been released. Meanwhile, Alfa will be releasing three albums and an EP soon.

To Have and to Hold premieres on GMA Telebabad

GMA Entertainment Group presents a story of marriage and love that know no bounds in To Have and to Hold, starring Carla Abellana, Rocco Nacino, Max Collins, and Rafael Rosell. Directed by Don Michael Perez, the series follows Dominique and Gavin, a long-married couple on the brink of separation. After an unexpected turn of events, Gavin finds himself unraveling a web of lies and deceit with a woman named Erica whose husband shares an untold connection with Dominique.  To Have and to Hold premieres on Sept. 27 after Legal Wives on GMA Telebabad.

Def Jam PHL releases single from new EP compilation

RECORD label Def Jam Philippines brings together top rap acts in “Puso at Diskarte,” the first single of the label’s second compilation EP, Rhapsodicity. In the track are veteran and rising Filipino hip-hop artists such as Astro of Owfuck, Zargon, Honcho of Ex-battalion, Dcoy (Wakin Burdado) of Madd Poets, Mike Kosa of 187 Mobstaz, and Pricetagg and Layzie Fu of 4 East Flava. Produced by Cursebox, the track delivers show-stopping verses and beats that blur the boundaries between gangsta rap and contemporary urban music. “Puso at Diskarte” is the first track off Def Jam Philippines’ collaborative EP, Rhapsodicity, which is touted as a “lyrical EP.” The upcoming compilation will also feature the tracks “Lahing Maangas,” “Diversity,” “Lakbay,” and “Epic.”  “Puso at Diskarte” is available to stream on Spotify.   

Show tackles gay love triangle

LIMITED EDITION is a romantic drama about finding one’s elusive and everlasting love with a love triangle story arc between three gentlemen. It stars Jomari Angeles, Andrew Gan, and Ron Angeles. Director Jill Singson Urdaneta says: “The process of love and loving, of being loved and in love, everyone who will give us their time and support, they will witness it in… this drama about romantic connections and everlasting possibilities.” Also in the cast are Donna Cariaga, Michelle Jhoie Ferraris, Yayo Aguila, and Ruby Ruiz. Limited Edition starts airing on Oct. 2, 8 p.m., on online channel BRAGAIS TV.

Netflix fan event on YouTube

THOSE who missed the streaming of TUDUM, Netflix’s virtual Global Fan Event, can now watch the three-hour program on Netflix Philippines’ YouTube account. TUDUM included announcements about returning shows and previews of new titles coming up. For the hardcore animé fans, N-ko, Netflix’s official animé VTuber, showcased the upcoming lineup on Netflix. The shows include Bright: Samurai Soul, a fantasy adventure set in the time between the fall of the Shogunate and the rise of the Meiji era, which premieres on Oct. 12; Super Crooks, an animé adaptation from comic book legend Mark Millar, is heist story about eight super-villains told in 13 30-minute episodes, which premieres on Nov. 25; and Aggretsuko: Season 4, which premieres in December. Coming in 2022 are animé series Drifting Home and ULTRAMAN Season 2. Viewers will have a lot of fresh, new Korean content to look forward to including series, films, variety programs, and a dating reality show. These include the crime drama My Name (Oct. 15); supernatural series Hellbound which received acclaim at the 46^th Toronto International Film Festival (November); and sci-fi show The Silent Sea (December). Coming next year are Juvenile Justice (January); zombie show All of Us Are Dead, based on the Korean webtoon Now at Our School (January); and the romantic film Moral Sense (February). There are also unscripted Korean reality shows including talk show Paik’s Spirit (Oct. 1), variety show New World (November), motorbike road trip adventure The Hungry and the Hairy (December); and dating show Single’s Inferno (December). Netflix also has a line-up of star-studded blockbusters including Army of Thieves, a prequel to Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead (Oct. 29); the animated series Arcane, which brings the League of Legends franchise to television (Nov. 6); the Dwayne Johnson starrer Red Notice (Nov. 12); sci-fi-cowboy mashup Cowboy Bebop (Nov. 19); disaster film Don’t Look Up (Dec. 24); and The Sandman, a Netflix series based on the groundbreaking comic book series created for DC by Neil Gaiman (coming soon). Also coming soon are the Chris Hemsworth starrer Extraction 2 and the second season of Enola Holmes. The global hit Tiger King will return to Netflix for more madness and mayhem on Nov. 17. Coming soon is the documentary on Kanye West, Jeen-Yuhs. New seasons of fan favorite shows are also in the line-up: The Witcher (Dec. 17), season 2 of Emily in Paris (Dec. 22), and season 4 of Cobra Kai (Dec. 31). Coming soon are the prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin, season 2 of Bridgerton, and season 4 of Stranger Things. For more information, visit tudum.com.