Laura Bruno Triumphs at 48th L-Għanja tal-Poplu Festival
Laura Bruno has clinched the top prize at the 48th edition of L-Għanja tal-Poplu with her soulful rendition of "Għażiża". Held at the iconic Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta, the festival showcased some of Malta’s finest musical talent.
Bruno's winning performance of "Għażiża," composed by Mark Spiteri Lucas, also earned her the prestigious Enzo Gusman Award for Best Interpretation. The poignant song reflects on a mother's enduring love and the hope that she remains a guiding presence even after death.
The competition was fierce, with 120 submissions narrowed down to just 16 finalists. A panel of expert judges, along with audience votes, determined the winners.
Florence Aquilina's self-written piece "Namra" secured the second spot, while Dario Bezzina's "Fissidni," which he both wrote and performed, came in third. Aquilina was further honored with the Best Singer-Songwriter Award for her work on "Namra."
The award for Best Social Theme went to Lon Kirkop for his powerful song "Straight," which delves into his personal experiences as a gay man.
In addition to the competitive categories, the organizing committee honored veteran singer Renato Micallef with the ‘L-Għanja li Tibqa’ Award, recognizing his lifelong contribution to Maltese music. Micallef performed "Bizzilla bil-Ġebliet," a composition by Dominic Galea with lyrics by Ġorġ Saliba, to celebrate his decades-long career.
The 48th L-Għanja tal-Poplu once again highlighted the richness of Maltese music and culture, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating next year's event.
Launch Party for Zabbeth's New LP Postponed to September 15
Sean, the driving force behind the musical project Zabbeth, announced over the weekend that the eagerly anticipated launch party at Kickstart Rock Bar has been rescheduled to September 15th.
In his statement, Sean explained, "Unfortunately, we're still currently waiting on the LPs to arrive at Witches Brew HQ and due to this, I will be moving the Launch Party to September 15th! Have a look at the Facebook Event for more updates, and make sure you click on 'Going'!"
Zabbeth, spearheaded by the multi-talented Chaos, has been captivating audiences since its inception in November 2021. Chaos, who prefers not to boast, is indeed the mastermind behind the project. He wrote, recorded, mixed, mastered, and designed the artwork and all layouts for Zabbeth’s first album. Chaos also played all instruments except for the drums and handled the same responsibilities for the upcoming split release.
This time around, the artwork for the split was crafted by Shaun Farrugia, and of course contributions from Vaulderie for their songs. Despite these collaborations, Chaos remained at the helm, mixing and mastering all the material in the split.
In addition to his work with Zabbeth, Chaos plays bass for Mur.Doc 104 and also handles another one-man project, Psychopath.
Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to the Facebook event page for further updates and to confirm their attendance for the rescheduled launch party. Additionally, they can listen to his recent interview on Rock Moods and Heatstrokes on melodija.eu
Matthew James Launches First Solo Album
Following a standout performance at this year’s Farsons Beer Festival, one of Malta's most prolific singer-songwriters, Matthew James, is stepping into a new phase of his musical journey. Known for his decade-long tenure leading the local band Red Electric, Matthew has contributed to the music scene by writing three albums with the band, crafting several award-winning songs for other artists, and touring across Europe. Now, he is set to present his first solo album.
"As my job involves writing songs for other artists, I usually prioritize the songs I write for myself second. But now the time has come to share the work I created for myself," Matthew said.
"Paradise," the first single from his upcoming album "Ashes to Ashes," captures the essence of escaping the hectic pace of daily life to find a serene haven with a loved one. The single, produced by Howard Keith and Matthew James, and mixed and mastered by Howard Keith, has been available on all streaming platforms since August 1st.
The full album "Ashes to Ashes" is slated for release this September, marking a significant milestone in Matthew's illustrious career.
Former PlaKard and The Ranch Guitarist Patryk Cutajar to Release First Solo Single in August
Patryk Cutajar, renowned for his work with PlaKard and The Ranch, has announced via his social media pages that he will be releasing his debut solo single this August.
"I'm super stoked to announce I will be releasing my first single this month!" Cutajar shared. He expressed gratitude towards The Insynk Collective for their hard work, and acknowledged Kyle Drakard and Anthony Saliba for their exceptional musicianship on the track. He also thanked Nick Theuma for their innovative concepts, Lindsey Bahia for creating amazing content, and Arts Council Malta for partially funding the recording.
"I look forward to having you with me on this journey!" he added, encouraging fans to stay tuned to his social media pages for more updates.
SoundArt Malta Welcomes Conrad Dimech on board!
On Monday, SoundArt Malta announced the addition of Conrad Dimech to their organisational team and crew. Dimech, a key figure in Malta’s music scene for over 20 years, has collaborated with top artists like Ivan Grech, A Broken Design, Cusion, ManaTapu, The Crowns, and his own project, The Counterbalance Project. He has also organised impactful events such as "Mumenti," which raised over €11,000 for Hospice, and "Musical In Concert" in partnership with the Malta Youth Orchestra.
SoundArt Malta expressed their excitement about the new team member: “We are thrilled to welcome Conrad Dimech to our organisational team and crew. After discussing our upcoming visions for the festival and the social impact we aim to have on the underground scene, Conrad was intrigued. Not only did he add valuable ideas on how our next editions will take shape, but he also believed in our goals and vision! We can’t wait to share our upcoming plans with all of you! Trust me, SoundArt is going to be a one-of-a-kind festival and agency, dedicated to supporting the scene on all fronts. We’re looking forward to putting our plans into action and bringing Conrad’s energy to our future editions! Welcome aboard!”
In May, SoundArt Malta announced the third edition of the SoundArt Festival, set to take place on September 14th, 2024, at The Garage. This year’s festival will feature the headlining act Mother of Millions, an up-and-coming progressive metal band from Athens. Local bands Dalam, A Broken Design, and From Sheep to Wolves will also perform, promising an unforgettable night of music.
The festival’s main sponsors are Festivals Malta and Rock'n Malta. Tickets are available from local band members for €12, and door tickets will be available on the day for €15.
Stay tuned to SoundArt Malta’s social media pages for more updates as preparations for the festival continue.
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