Words by Bea Bautista and Ma. Dalisay Gonzales

We all have our own little rituals and lists of things-to-remember and things-to-do before and during concerts. We do it to make sure that everything goes as planned because, as we all know, concert tickets aren’t cheap and we don’t want to go home without taking full advantage of what we paid for. Some of us go through the setlist, some of us make a list of all the merch we plan on buying, some of us pick out our outfits the night before, some of us binge watch live videos to hype ourselves up – the list is endless.

While we all do it differently, it’s always fun to share our own ways of preparing for a show. That’s why we made this checklist for tomorrow’s EXO Planet #4: The ElyXiOn. Read on, and share how you do it in the comments section.

1. Ko Ko Bop

Prioritize comfort before style.  It’s a dream come true to be noticed by your EXO, but don’t compromise comfort! You don’t want to look haggard when he sees you, right? Ko Ko Bop outfits could be a good choice, but remember that it’s cold inside the arena!

2. Angel

Prepare a handy list of all the giveaways you want to join! Make sure to follow all the mechanics. Let’s make it easy for everyone! If you want, be an angel to your co-Eris and share your blessings (a.k.a. merch). Sharing is caring.

3. Walk On Memories

Remember to socialize. Concert day may be the only chance to meet your co-Eris and other mutuals who share the same love as you. Meet them and share unforgettable memories!

https://giphy.com/gifs/chanyeol-qxFx97DDrG2tO

4. Going Crazy

Do your homework. Singing your heart out is the way of PH EXO-Ls to have fun! BUT It is also important to know the fanchants, when to keep quiet, and to savor the moment. Check the concert setlist and practice with your ElyXiOn playlist.

5. Cloud 9

Scout for the perfect spot. To have a better view of your bias during the con, stage maps and fancams from other stops are available online. Look them up, know where your eyes should go, and achieve that Cloud 9 feels!

6. What U Do?

Remember to participate in the Official Fan Projects approved by Pulp and SM Entertainment. Show them the power and unwavering love of PH EXO-Ls! Cooperation and fandom unity is a must.

7. Tender Love

Practice those dance moves. Dancing along with EXO is always a great experience. Watch Chanyeol and Baekhyun’s “Tender Love” dance tutorial on SM Entertainment’s Official Youtube Channel.

8. Lucky One

Prepare for that “moment,” just in case. It’s okay *pats back*. Every fan has their wishful delulu thinking. Who knows? He might notice you this time, right? Let’s just wish the KPOP Fairy grants your wish! Prepare everything you need for the potential “moment” on D-Day! (Know your limits. Don’t bring your fansite winter blankets from Korea.)

https://giphy.com/gifs/exo-lips-tongue-NFqJegNRb8paw

9. Power!

This is the only chance to enjoy EXO’s concert. Get some beauty rest, recharge, and have some energy and power for the eveof ElyXiOn In Manila!

Have you read our 10 unforgettable moments from last year’s EXO Planet #3: The EXO’rDIUM In Manila? If you haven’t, read it now! If you’re in need of a more detailed throwback, pick up a copy of this year’s Annual K-POP Report (Issue #193) still available here.

See you tomorrow at The ElyXiOn! It happens on April 28 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

https://www.facebook.com/pulpliveworldprod/posts/1750561231641606:0

EXO’s back, and honestly, we just can’t wait to scream our lungs out for the boys on Saturday at The Elyxion in Manila. While we wait with feverish anticipation for this amazing event, we can’t help but reminisce the last time Xiumin, Suho, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun stole our hearts. Of course, we’re talking about last year’s EXO Planet #3: The EXO’rDIUM in Manila! Held at Araneta Coliseum on the 25th and 26th of February, the memories of those two heavenly nights are still fresh in our minds. It’s as if they only happened yesterday.

So before we dive into The Elyxion, allow us to take you down memory lane. In our humble opinion, here are the ten best moments from EXO Planet #3: The EXO’rDIUM in Manila.

1. That part in the video greeting where Kai threw us a heart. WE HEART U TOO, KAI. WE HEART U TOO.

2. And while waiting for the show to start we were already losing our minds.

3. The boys’ entrance was spine tingling to say the least.

(Video by kPop Channel TV)

4. And those pyrotechnics literally (figuratively) blew us away.

5. Of course, there was also the everlasting Silver Ocean. EXO-Ls will never disappoint their Oppas.

6. Remember when they put those canes to good use? (During “Artificial Love”)

7. And when they whipped out those lightsabers????????? (For “Lightsaber,” duh)

8. Have you recovered from Chanyeol’s awesome guitar solo? Because we definitely haven’t.

9. And who can forget that throwback when they sang “Hawak Kamay”?? They love us WAY too much.

(Video by Syookrys)

10. When they closed the show with “Angel,” we couldn’t hold back our tears. We were just feeling all the feels, and we were practically BEGGING them not to end the show. Yeah, it was tough having to say goodbye.

Good thing they’re coming back! We know it’s too good to be true, but we swear it’s real. This is not a dream. Here’s a video greet straight from the boys to prove it:

See you at EXO Planet #4: The ElyXion in Manila, happening on April 28, 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena!

For a more detailed throwback, pick up the Annual KPOP Report (Issue #193) which is still available. Click here to get your copy.

On the fifth edition of Furiosa, the burgeoning production team continues to provide some of the best shows for fans of local indie rock, shoegaze, post-punk, and other genres of that ilk.

Cebu’s The Spirals delivered a brooding set dripping with atmosphere. There’s also this uneasiness that their music brings, which is heightened by the fact that you’re standing right in front of them, vulnerable.

Sound Architects’ set also gave this feeling of vulnerability. We just stood in the dark and let the instrumental post-rock band’s pummeling waves of distortion engulf us.

Ourselves the Elves are always a real treat to watch. They’re just so fun. At one point, vocalist and guitarist Aly Cabral admitted that she had run out of stage banter because they had been gigging non-stop. Maybe she had worn out her stage banter, but the band’s performance was still top-notch, something that we’ve come to expect from one of the most beloved indie bands in the local scene.

Having seen The Rave Tapes during Furiosa’s second gig, we thought that we already knew what to expect. While their trademark sound was certainly there, they seemed heavier this time around. A feverish atmosphere was felt, and sometimes their depressive dirges felt overwhelming. In other words, it was a great set.

Ciudad had the whole room jumping and singing along to their timeless indie rock gems. These guys were the much-needed change of pace from the gig’s gloomier first half. As expected, some of their most devoted fans kept asking “Ciudad?” throughout the set, which elicited ripples of laughter. The crowd got especially rowdy during their latest single, the bouyant “Caught Me At The Worst Time.”

Ending the night with our ears ringing was sludge metal crew Kapitan Kulam. Aside from their usual primal sludge, the band also performed their first song with vocals (by Lourd De Veyra.) It’s a fast, punk song, obviously a different pace from their usual sound.

This was another memorable night thanks to Furiosa. If you want a night that will keep your ears ringing for days, just head to Matalino St. and follow the fuzz. PULP

Every relationship is messy. No matter how perfect it seems, we always find a way to fuck it up. Despite that, we should always strive to be better. We walk it off, move on, and try not to ruin (or be ruined by) the next one.

“Bad Habits,” the latest EP from Singaporean singer-songwriter Ffion, tells us just that. It’s a tight collection of songs that talk about ways in which relationships can go wrong. Unlike a lot of songs about heartbreak, this EP is not completely accusatory. Rather, she recognizes that, sometimes, both parties are to blame, which gives way to communication, change, and finally, healing.

Music wasn’t always playing such a pivotal role in her life. She loathed music class when she was in primary school. It wasn’t until she discovered musicals that she learned to love the craft (“I loved the singing part but hated the acting part,” she says). Later on, she discovered the confessional pop of Adele and Amy Whinehouse, and fell in love with it. Further down the road, she dove into the left-field electronic music of James Blake, an experience she describes as eye opening.

Growing up in a family of doctors, the medical field was the expected path for her. But at this point, it was already too late. She had already fallen in love with music. For university, she attended La Salle College of the Arts in Singapore to study music. There, she met her producer GROSSE, and the wheels began to turn.

“Before we start, we talk for about six hours, just about life,” she shares, talking about her creative process with GROSSE. “Once we land on a topic, we go in deeper, and then we spend the whole night working on one song.”

This intimate process resulted to an EP that’s filled with atmosphere as much as it contains catchy hooks and honest lyrics that hit hard. During a recording session with GROSSE, she was thinking about someone who had hurt her.

“You’re not over this,” GROSSE said. “You need to sit down and talk about this. What would you say to him if he were here?”

“I don’t know. I’d say, fuck you,” she said.

“Good. Write that.”

During this session, “Rumours,” the cool yet venomous and cathartic opening track to the EP, was recorded.

Right now, she’s looking to branch out and explore artistically.  Aside from being a musician, she also runs her fashion label under her full name, “By. Ffion Williams.”  On the musical front, she’s working to integrate a full band into her live set. She’s currently working on new music right now, which she says is “still electronic” but of a different brand. After her first show overseas here in Manila back in November, she’s looking forward to travelling and performing abroad and checking out music from different cultures. She’s also expressed interest in collaborating with her friends, the Singaporean pop punk band The Summer State – an unlikely choice given her more minimalistic tendencies. But, with her emotional honesty and fearlessness, a lack of guts isn’t something to worry about when it comes to Ffion Williams. She is definitely an artist to watch.

Stream and download her EP “Bad Habits” on iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify.