17/06/2025

LYFE TUESDAY | JUNE 17, 2025

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Che’Nelle duets with Sota Hanamura on fresh single M ALAYSIAN-AUSTRALIAN singer-songwriter Che’Nelle has joined forces for the first time with Sota Hanamura of o Duo unite in new song

Rae’s debut record has been released on June 6.

hit J-pop group Da-iCe for a powerful new duet I’ll Be By Your Side . The emotionally-charged ballad is making waves as the official ending theme for Fuji TV’s morning show San! Shine throughout June and July. A seamless blend of Che’Nelle’s soulful delivery and Hanamura’s soaring four-octave range, I’ll Be By Your Side is more than a love song – it is a message of unity, empathy and shared emotion that transcends borders, gender and culture. Singing about overcoming differences and walking into the future together, the track’s universal message is elevated by the real chemistry between the two vocalists. Che’Nelle was inspired to collaborate after seeing Hanamura perform on a TV show last year. “It was truly amazing to sing this song

Addison Rae drops debut album POP STAR-SONGWRITER Addison Rae has dropped her debut album Addison earlier this month via Columbia Records. Alongside the 12-track album release, the pop sensation debuts a new music video for the track Times Like These . Directed by photographer Ethan James Green, who also shot the album’s artwork and video, marks his directorial debut in music. The concept was creatively led by Rae and Lexee Smith, brought to life by her go-to glam dream team: Dame Pat McGrath and Jenna Kuchera on makeup, Lucas Wilson on hair, and nails by Mei. Shot across New York City scenes, the video blends effortless cool with emotional depth. Fans follow Rae from a breezy boat ride to backstage scenes and ultimately into her signature, high-energy choreography. Art direction was led by Marcs Bird, with movement direction by Danielle Polanco. Fans have eagerly anticipated Rae’s debut project following the breakout success of her lead single Diet Pepsi , released August last year. The infectious summer anthem earned widespread acclaim, marked her first Billboard Hot 100 entry, and set the tone for a streak of equally praised singles. She followed with the hypnotic Aquamarine and the avant garde High Fashion , both accompanied by stunning videos, featuring collaborators such as Dara Allen, Mel Ottenberg, Mitch Ryan and McGrath. Singles such as Headphones On , hailed by Harper’s Bazaar as part of her “streak of winning singles”, and her most recent release Fame Is a Gun have only strengthened her position as one of pop’s captivating new voices. The album was entirely produced by Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjard, with all tracks written by Rae alongside Kloser and Anderfjard. Tove Burman contributed as an additional writer on Headphones On . Press and critics alike have already begun to embrace Rae as one of the standout pop albums of the year. The New York Times called it “one of the year’s signature pop releases”, praising Rae’s vocals. Rolling Stone described the album’s tracks as “hypnotic, trance-like pop songs, pulsating and lush”, celebrating its vivid imagery and Rae’s ability to “make people dance” while never taking herself too seriously. Rae made her live performance debut last year as a surprise guest on Charli XCX’s sold-out Brat Tour in Los Angeles, followed by an appearance alongside Charli and Troye Sivan at their Sweat Tour stop at Madison Square Garden. She continued to build buzz with two surprise sets at Coachella: first, joining Arca to perform Arcamarine , a reimagining of her single Aquamarine , and later reuniting with Charli XCX to deliver their viral remix of Von Dutch . The track list for Rae was revealed globally in a track-by-track unveiling via billboards in different cities announcing each song title leading up to the official complete track list posted to her social account. Addison is available digitally and on multiple physical formats. Music afficionados can choose from black vinyl, limited edition light blue vinyl, tangerine vinyl, Urban Outfitters exclusive magenta vinyl and CD box set with exclusive T-shirt.

Hanamura (left) and Che’Nelle combine their talents on I’ll Be Your Side.

lifelong obsession with rock music, it channels the raw, instinctive appeal of Nu-metal – the genre that first pulled Memi into guitar playing. Memi is a singer-songwriter based in Seoul, South Korea, who is known for her previous single releases such as Guitar Pick and Thin Lips Club , as well as her role as guitarist on Korean indie rock band 24Hours. With over 463,000 followers on Instagram and over 477,300 followers on TikTok, Memi has captured the attention of many fans and audiences across the world since 2022 through her guitar content on social media, gaining attention from some of the biggest acts in the world such as Fred Durst and Phoenix, who have all previously engaged with her content. She rose to prominence in the J-pop scene with her English cover of Tee’s beloved song Baby I Love You , capturing the hearts of listeners nationwide. Che’Nelle solidified her status as a queen of love songs with hits such as Believe (theme song for the film Brave Hearts: Umizaru ) and Happiness (theme song for Fuji TV drama Dear Sister ). After taking time off for childbirth and parenting, she made a full return to the Japanese music scene in December 2023 with her first Japanese-language single in six years. Meanwhile, Hanamura is the vocalist of the five-member group Da-iCe. A multi-talented artiste, he is also an extraordinary songwrite as his lyrics to Citrus won the 63rd Japan Record Award. His solo composition I Wonder became a viral hit, and in 2024, Da-iCe made its debut on NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen . Hanamura is also active with his solo band project Natural Lag and received the Newcomer Award at the 77th Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival for his lead role in the Toho musical Jersey Boys .

with someone who has such a powerful voice such as Sota. He is not just a brilliant vocalist – he is a performer with real presence. The whole experience was fun and inspiring, and I am so grateful for it. I cannot wait to see how the song touches people’s hearts,” she said. For Hanamura, the collaboration was an opportunity to grow. “Working with Che’Nelle gave me a chance to reflect on my voice again. She is an incredible singer, and I gave it everything I had to match her passion,” he said. Produced by Eigo, the hitmaker behind Che’Nelle’s iconic Believe , the song combines timeless ballad with a modern, cinematic sound. The music video also showcases the chemistry between the two artistes in an elegant, emotional visual narrative. Che’Nelle made her global debut in 2007 under US major label Capitol Records. Her track Love with DJ from her debut album became a hit in Japan, leading the album to top the Oricon Western Music Chart earning her the New Artiste of the Year award at the Gold Disc Awards.

Che’Nelle and Hanamura are both powerhouse vocalists.

Korean artiste Memi journeys into world of electric guitar with EP Paranoia//Nostalgia SOUTH KOREAN musician Memi has returned with her second EP

Paranoia//Nostalgia , a sonic diary of her musical roots and an exploration of inner conflict where unrest and yearning constantly intersect. Journeying into the world of electric guitar, Memi blends the sharp edge of anxiety and rebellion (Paranoia) with deep longing for the music of childhood (Nostalgia) . Tracks in Paranoia//Nostalgia includes Get da Faka, Miracle, Love Song and Imissyourbody . With a foundation in rock, each track in the EP traces the emotional landscape that shaped Memi’s identity as a guitarist and songwriter. Get da Faka is the most visceral track on the EP. Featuring heavy riffs and unapologetic lyrics reflecting Memi’s

Memi has released her debut album M3mi in December 2023.