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Whether you love coffee or pretty much need it to survive, this app is the one for you. McCafé’s recently launched Devotee App allows local McCafé customers to earn and track digital stamps with their purchases, so getting your coffee fix every morning will have even more perks.
Upon download and registration, users can begin collecting stamps with every purchase of a McCafé beverage by presenting the unique customer QR code on the app to the McCafe barista. Every five stamps earned will be automatically converted into a coupon and stored within the app’s wallet, where it can then be used to redeem a free McCafé beverage of your choice! To make life even easier, every transaction of stamps earned and coupons redeemed will also be tracked within the app, so say goodbye to panicking and sifting through all those receipts. The app also uses geo-location technology so you can get notifications about the latest promotions wherever, whenever! You can even use the app to locate the nearest McCafé outlets with the swipe of a finger.
But wait, we haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. All customers will be entitled to a cup of Cappucino (S) when they download the Devotee App and show the McCafé barista the App icon on their mobile phone from 21 May to 20 June! Yup, free coffee, guys. What else could you ask for?
McCafé Devotee by McDonald’s Singapore. Available on the App Store and Google Play now.

5TH French Animation Film Festival

To close a great run by Voilah!, the ongoing major French cultural festival happening right here in Singapore, the French Animation Film Festival returns for a rousing finale. Don’t let the thought of “cartoons” deter you from going; the festival presents a selection of the latest French successes in the animation film industry, with award-winning picks that will delight all ages.
There’re familiar, family-friendly characters like the silky white Moomins in Moomins on the Riviera; but also more contentious animations like The Congress, rated M18 for sexual scenes and nudity. (In an animation? You better believe it.) But obviously the show to catch is the highly anticipated The Little Prince – the first animated feature film adaptation of the novel we all know and love; which won Best Animated Feature Film at the César Awards 2016, and is pretty much the most successful French animated film of all time. There’s also an exclusive free-to-attend stop motion workshop happening, for anyone who’s curious about the 3D printing and animating process; who knows? You might just have a knack for it.
Date: 27 May to 29 May 2016
Time: 7pm opening night
Venue: Alliance Francaise, 1 Sarkies Road
Tickets available at bit.ly/FAFF2016
More info at facebook.com/events/1007696089325268/
 
Keong Saik Carnival

The hipster fest that is Keong Saik Carnival is back, to celebrate once again the heritage and historic charm of Keong Saik Street. Organised by the tasty team behind Potato Head Folk, the event is an all-day street carnival fusing past and present, with an eclectic lineup of musical acts and retail booths. If you can’t decide whether it’s cutting-edge EDM you’re craving, or old-school 60’s music you’re hankering after, get the best of both worlds this Saturday with epic experimental collaborations between traditional Chinese musicians and new-age electronic DJs. And of course, a bustling street bazaar will run through the carnival, peddling everything from clothing to cult magazines, to vinyl records, pop-up cocktail bars and more. Potato Head Folk themselves will be taking part with their famous burgers and sides, in addition to the other gourmet cuisine and carnival tapas on offer. And for the real art farts – look forward to live art installations, visual projections on art-deco shophouses, heritage tours, and cultural workshops. Already sounds like it’s gonna be pretty insane.
Date: 28 May 2016
Time: 12pm – 10.30pm
Venue: Keong Saik Street
More info at pttheadfolk.com/keongsaikcarnival
 
Zouk’s 25th Anniversary: The Silver Jubilee

It’s official: Zouk is holding their very last anniversary party on Jiak Kim Street this Saturday – and obviously they’re making sure it goes out with a bang. Celebrating 25 glorious years, the birthplace of electronic music in Singapore and Asia is throwing one last glittery, glitzy bash at good old Jiak Kim Street, before making the move to Clarke Quay. So expect to see a ton of silver and glitter, for one thing, bedazzling all three dance stages in the warehouse-turned-club.
The Silver Jubilee is all about remembering the good times and great music, so to relive the best sounds, Zouk’s bringing in Zouk Allstars – a line-up of favourite past and present resident DJs for a little aural nostalgia. Of course, it ain’t a party without drinks promotions; all-time faves like Patron XO Shots with chocolate cups and classic Sour Plum Shots with Long Island Iced Tea will be priced at just $25 – after you’ve merrily used up your two free drink coupons, of course. There’ll even be limited edition anniversary-exclusive Zouk toys, for the diehard fans of the Jiak Kim vibe – Zouk Eye Mascot, Zouk Warehouse, and our personal favourite: the iconic Sausage & Mash façade toys will be given out at random during the night. That last toy even entitles you to one of the 250 complimentary cups of sausage and mash at the Deli on Wheels cart at the entrance, which will be receiving its own silvery makeover.
And since it’s bound to be a night to remember, we recommend going all out and coming dressed in head-to-toe silver (where/when else, right?) In fact, snap an Instagram of your OOTD and hashtag #ZoukSG25th and #ZoukatJiakKim – and you might just win a Best Dressed prize worth up to $2500. We’ll miss the days of stumbling giddily onto the premises and club-hopping from Phuture to Velvet to Zouk; but for now, the Silver Jubilee awaits.
Date: 28 May 2016
Venue: Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street
Admission: $28/$33
More info at zoukclub.com/zouksg25th/
 
DBS Marina Regatta 2016 Water Sports Fest

You probably feel us – sweating buckets in the searing heat the last couple of weeks, praying to the powers that be for a miracle – any miracle – to come relieve us of the unbearable temperatures. Well, we asked and were answered. Nothing less than Singapore’s biggest Water Sports fest is happening over the next two weekends; and just in time, before we collectively collapse from heatstroke as a nation.
The DBS Marina Regatta 2016 is definitely one to check out these next two weeks, what with the lineup of on- and off-water activities on offer for all to enjoy. For one, you can cheer on the region’s top dragon boating teams as they battle it out for champion titles against the gorgeous Marina Bay skyline. Or if you’d prefer to get in on the watery action yourself, splash out at the urban pop-up beach, which features board sports activities like stand-up paddling and yoga sessions, kayaking – and Southeast Asia’s tallest inflatable water slide, for the very first time. Mind you, this one’s only for the thrill-seekers – the bad boy stands at over five storeys tall. *low whistle*
That, or you can just stay dry on-land browsing the one-of-a-kind finds at the regatta’s artisan market Shop House, which brings together home-grown designers, musicians, and chefs to share with you their local wares, straight from the heart. By day, the entire market is housed within refitted shipping containers for an alternative yet sustainable new mode of shopping; by night, the containers double as viewing decks, which you’re welcome to climb on top of to enjoy the evening’s beach concert. The #supportlocal vibe remains strong, with musical performances by emerging artistes from Noise Singapore – indie group Take Two, post-acoustic trio HubbaBubbas, and crowd favourite Inch Chua. Now that’s how to beat the heat.
Date: 28-29 May & 4-5 June 2016
Time: 11am – 10pm
Venue: The Promontory@Marina Bay
Admission: Free
More info at dbsmarinaregatta.com

Korean Pop music (or K-Pop, as it’s more commonly known) may have taken the world by storm in recent decades, but that doesn’t mean it’s all the Korean music industry has to offer. Genres like K-Hip Hop/Rap and K-Indie have always been popular in their own circles, but with the all-powerful Internet, international audiences are now able to enjoy the music that these artists have to offer. Whether you love or hate K-pop, these artists will definitely provide a breath of fresh air.
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OOHYO (오효)

She remains relatively unknown in South Korea, but that’s because she’s chosen to remain rather anonymous, opting to use her baby photos for her debut EP, “Girl Sense”. There’s no denying that OOHYO has an immense gift for music. The 23-year-old singer-songwriter has been writing songs since she was in high school, and her unique voice gives her tracks an edge that allows her sound to be both soothing and somewhat melancholic. You can expect the kind of songs you would listen to on a rainy day spent indoors, but with a slight electronic twist. The track above is from her first full-length album “Adventure”, which was released last year. You can get it on Bandcamp.

 
 
10cm (십센치)

Adorably named after the height difference between them, Kwon Jung Yeol and Yoon Cheol Jong’s band, 10cm, burst onto the scene in 2010. Their stripped down sound, consisting primarily of an acoustic guitar and percussion, allows them to create a variety of tracks that showcase their confident, silky-smooth vocals. They’ve already received a number of awards under their belt and done a few K-idol collaborations, but we couldn’t leave them out considering how renowned they are for their hit song “Americano“. But when they’re not creating catchy tunes, the duo also slow things down with lullaby-esque ballads, as proven on the aptly titled “The First EP”. You can find their music on iTunes.

 
 
Glen Check

Consisting of singer/guitar player June-One Kim and bass/synthesiser player Hyuk-Jun Kang, the sound of Glen Check is an interesting mish-mash of electronic-rock and indie-dance-pop. Their songs are all sung in English and have been described to be influenced by various Western artists (both band members having grown up outside of South Korea). They’re currently part of a collective known as The Basement Resistance, which is made up of various Seoul-based musicians, fashion designers and visual artists. The group isn’t necessarily that unknown – they’ve even performed in Singapore last year – but they definitely live up to the hype. You can check out their SoundCloud for more.

 
 
Neon Bunny (야광토끼)

Im Yujin a.k.a. Neon Bunny is known for her haunting sound: a mix of indie rock and synthesised pop. While she’s no rookie in the music industry, she’s definitely the person you want to look out for if you’re into slightly eerier, slower songs that sound like they could be the soundtrack to your sci-fi dreams, as evident from her most recent album. Her latest music video for “빌딩의숲” or “Forest of Skyscrapers” is a kind of homage to the Japanese animated smash-hit Akira and the films by Wong Kar Wai. It’s trippy, but definitely interesting to watch. You can also get the song on Bandcamp.

 
 
Nell (넬)

Toeing the line with a little more Korean Rock than the previous artists mentioned, the music of Nell is endlessly dynamic, thanks to the unique voice of lead vocalist Kim Jong-Wan. Along with Lee Jae-Kyong on lead guitar, Lee Jung-Hoon on bass guitar and Jung Jae-Won on drums, the band’s various releases have been hailed by both critics and fans alike. While they’re mostly renowned for slower, gloomier tracks like “기억을 걷는 시간 (Time Spent Walking On Memories)” and “그리고 남겨진 것들 (The Day Before)”, songs like “Ocean of Light” off their sixth album “Newton’s Apple” prove that they’re just as good with upbeat tracks as they are with ballads. Having recently left their longtime agency Woolim Entertainment to begin their own independent label, we’re curious to see what’s in store for them.

 
 
Idiotape

If you’re into a synth-rock sound that leans mainly towards purely instrumental, Idiotape are the guys you need. Their fast-paced, energetic tracks are definitely set to get you moving, or at least make you feel like you’re at a pretty badass concert. Most of their songs have layers upon layers of instruments, so the songs sound huge and undoubtedly epic. Their latest release, “가지마오 (Don’t Go)”, is a super fun blend of Tron-esque synthesisers and a good ol’ fashioned rock show, and also sees the unexpected – but nevertheless heightening – use of (minimal) vocals. Be sure to check out their SoundCloud, where they also have some pretty cool remixes of K-Pop songs.

 
 
Featured Image: Young Generation MV – Glen Check

Kylie Jenner has the entire world of teenage girls wrapped around her little finger. Her viral transformation from a young and awkward teenager (who had the misfortune of having her entire life filmed) to a worldwide famous influencer and model. This 18 year old has one of the largest social media fan bases, and she’s only getting started. The Internet goes into complete hysteria whenever Kylie does something, even if it’s mildly significant. We actually wouldn’t be surprised if we see something like “Kylie Jenner gets bitten by a mosquito.”
 

A photo posted by Kylie Cosmetics (@kyliecosmetics) on Mar 24, 2016 at 12:25pm PDT

The obsession with Kylie continued to grow even bigger when she launched her own beauty line, Kylie Cosmetics. The gorgeous Lip Kits in aesthetic packaging were sold out in just under an hour after its launch (and after restocks too). It’s currently being sold for at least five times the original price on eBay. Crazy? No doubt. But totally understandable, given that Kylie’s iconic luscious lips are to die for.
However, Kylie’s Lip Kits aren’t the only matte liquid lipsticks in the market. Her popularity helps especially when it comes to promoting a product that has already been around for quite some time and similarly carried by other bigger beauty brands such as MAC and NYX. While other brands nurtured popularity and sales through their quality products or customer service, many have argued that Kylie Cosmetics have done neither. Just recently, she received flak regarding the quality of their lipsticks. Called out by famous make-up artist and beauty vlogger Jeffree Star, it sparked off several heated debates about the highly raved, but less-than-perfect Lip Kits.

So I got the new @kyliecosmetics lip glosses…. SO disappointed in this product. That wand is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/NCkkUer2aV
— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) April 15, 2016

Known for his YouTube videos, Jeffree Star also has his own online cosmetics brand. Famous for its Velour Liquid Lipsticks (especially in Gemini!), the fast selling matte liquid lipsticks have gained its fair share of popularity and fame. With his sassy comments and spunky attitude, Jeffree is slowly starting his own cult. His badass remarks have undeniably gained the attention of several beauty junkies out there, including Kylie herself.
Just a month after the overwhelming drama regarding Kylie’s damaged wands, it was revealed that the Kylie Lip Kit’s new formula is almost identical to Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick, which are selling for only a fraction of the pricey Lip Kits. They are even produced by the same manufacturer. The difference in prices could add up to a whooping sum of $20USD, which is almost equivalent to getting a brand new lipstick (or a few slices of glorious pizza). After the damning revelation that Kylie has been overcharging her horde of loyal fans, Jeffree steps in, again.
Before dismissing this as mere celebrity gossip, Jeffree’s IDGAF attitude actually reveals the ugly in the cult of celebrity and consumerism. Celebrities leech off their already acquired fame to become even more rich and famous. While the products might have names and money behind it, quality is definitely not necessarily assured once production is outsourced. Quality is often taken for granted, as opposed to the large amount of effort put into beautifying the packaging and appearance of the product.
Jeffree makes a riveting point when he throws shade at an anonymous brand (pretty obvious) – “In case anyone forgot: I don’t sugar coat a motherf**king thing.” We wouldn’t call it a snide attack, but Jeffree’s honesty sent several hardcore fans of Kylie Jenner back to reality. We are guessing that this is going to cause Kylie some hate, but definitely not enough to hurt her. She still reigns queen in the hearts of many millennials today.
Besides, nobody’s giving a damn about Kylie’s overpriced Lip Kits now; everybody is too concerned over the most pressing issue at stake – her break up with Tyga.

You’ve probably already seen the latest Finding Dory trailer, which dropped last night courtesy of the great Ellen herself. Obviously we loved it, because it brought back so. many. goddamn. memories from 2003’s Finding Nemo – and is pretty much the clearest of the three trailers in outlining Dory’s adventure this June. There’s definitely a little more sentimentality in it too, what with baby Dory’s innocent, heartstring-tugging “Hello?” opening the entire trailer – before moving right into telling the story of our favourite blue fish. To ease the agonising wait till mid June, we picked out our favourite moments in this short 2:29 trailer, just for the heck of it.
 
1. Our first look at the gang all back together

In a setting familiar to all our hearts, accompanied by Dory’s dejavu-inducing line: “I suffer from short-term memory loss; it runs in my family.” – which literally gave us goosebumps. COME ON PEOPLE WE’VE WAITED FOR THIS FOR 13 YEARS.
 
2. When Frank the Octopus (new character alert!!) elegantly scooped Dory out of the tank with a coffee pot

 
3. This great scene of the hammerhead shark chick slamming into a wall

 
4. This pretty beautiful wide shot of the aquarium we expect to house most of the film’s action

That detail.
 
5. Seeing another beloved familiar face

Crush the sea turtle’s iconic “Surf’s up, dude!” + Marlin’s face of nausea = gold.
 
6. This heartwarming moment that reminds us just how much of a sweetheart Dory truly is

 
7.  Followed by this heartbreaking one with Nemo voicing what we’ve all secretly feared

We’re almost too scared to watch it now.
 
8. Dory in a sea of her kind 

Pretty damn trippy, actually.
 
And to end on a happy must-watch-once-it-comes-out-in-theatres note:
9. Just, this.

1) Is that what sea lions are actually saying irl?!
2) Anyone else remember the “Mine mine mine” gulls from Finding Nemo?
 
And if you haven’t seen the trailer yet… we apologise for these visual spoilers. Now here it is!