Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | 20th February 2024
(Los Angeles, CA — February 19, 2024) — On Saturday, February 17, 88rising—the pioneering global music and media company representing the best of Asian talent—hosted its inaugural Moonrise Gala at Milk Studios in Los Angeles. Established as a one-of-a-kind platform to amplify the voices of Asian creatives, the event honored singer and rapper Anderson .Paak, entertainer, entrepreneur, and fashion icon Jackson Wang, Indonesian singer-songwriter and producer NIKI, Filipino-American dance-pop singer Jocelyn Enriquez, legendary hip-hop turntablists group Invisibl Skratch Piklz, and filmmaker behind Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Destin Daniel Cretton. Hosted by American rapper Dumbfoundead, the Lunar New Year celebration united 88rising’s collaborators and community from the realms of music, fashion, entertainment, and media.
NOTABLE GUESTS included: Grammy-winning singer, rapper, and producer Anderson .Paak, entertainer, entrepreneur, and fashion icon Jackson Wang, Indonesian singer-songwriter and producer NIKI, Filipino-American dance-pop singer Jocelyn Enriquez, legendary hip-hop turntablists group Invisibl Skratch Piklz, filmmaker behind Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Destin Daniel Cretton, rapper Rich Brian, rapper and singer Guapdad 4000, singer Audrey Nuna, record producer and DJ TOKiMONSTA, rapper and singer Warren Hue, actor Gia Kim, actor Rich Ting, singer-songwriter and producer Stephanie Poetri, singer-songwriter Ylona Garcia, musician and DJ Elephante, producer Dan the Automator, rapper Dumbfoundead, singer and dancer XIN LIU, actor Sam Li and actor Joon Lee from The Brothers Sun, Filipino actress Liza Soberano, South Korean actor Ko Jun, Taiwanese-American singer and actor Vanness Wu, Singaporean actors Lim Kay Siu and Neo Swee Lin, Global Head of Editorial at Spotify Sulinna Ong, Taiwanese-American visual artist James Jean, Los Angeles community ping pong club Little Tokyo Table Tennis Club, and the Asian lifestyle and culture magazine Banana magazine.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
88RISING REDEFINES LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH SURPRISE PERFORMANCES
Renowned for their transformative musical experiences, 88rising’s Moonrise Gala featured live on-stage performances, setting a new standard for live entertainment beyond the confines of traditional concert settings. The program opened with a special performance by Filipino singer-songwriter and rapper Eyedress, followed by event honoree Jocelyn Enriquez, who is widely regarded as a music pioneer, becoming the first Filipino-American to find success in the mainstream industry with her hit single “Do You Miss Me,” with original choreography that paid homage to the late choreographer Mykal Anthony, who played a pivotal role in Enriquez’s creative direction of live performances.
Next, Invisibl Skratch Piklz—the hip-hop turntablist group who have left an indelible mark on the art of DJing and scratching—showcased their boundary-pushing DJ skills with their original techniques, followed by a performance from NIKI, the singer-songwriter who has achieved worldwide acclaim with over 2.1 billion streams, has made history as the first Indonesian artist ever to grace the Coachella stage, and headlined 88rising’s Head in the Clouds festivals in New York and Los Angeles.
The gala programming culminated with a surprise performance by rapper and singer Warren Hue alongside instrumental band and production team BADBADNOTGOOD, showcasing the future of 88rising. Both Warren Hue and BADBADNOTGOOD are featured artists of 88rising’s new music and art collective, 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, which pays tribute to and encapsulates Asian American culture of the 1990s with its contemporary sound and forward-thinking point of view. Guests were treated to live performances of the newly released 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE tracks “cOoL WATeR foR thE nIGHT” and “COuGhDrOPs (,,Ծ‸Ծ,,)” as excitement reverberated throughout the venue.
The evening’s performances concluded with a rendition of “California,” a signature 88rising collaborative single. From being the first and only label to hold a main stage at Coachella to hosting Head In The Clouds, the first-ever Asian-centric music festival in the United States, 88rising consistently highlights Asian talent while fostering discovery and inspiration.
ELEVATED LUNAR NEW YEAR-INSPIRED DETAILS
Upon arrival at Milk Studios, guests were greeted by an ethereal red-toned entry tunnel, guiding them into the expansive main hangar space replete with a cutting-edge stage for performances. Provided by 88rising’s founding New Year partner, Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky, guests enjoyed a signature menu of Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails at elevated bars featuring the designs of this year’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year Bottle created by renowned visual artist James Jean. Chubby Group, parent company of Niku X, catered an exclusive Moonrise-specific tasting menu and gifted free lifetime membership to select guests celebrating a first-ever gala with 88rising. An artistic installation, inspired by the Moonrise Gala and designed with Lexus, showcased the all-electric Lexus RZ. The gala’s heightened visual experience, defined by high-end glamor and warm celebration, was curated by K2, a creative and event production agency part of the Independents Group, whose work includes the book of Hov Exhibition in Brooklyn and Kering Generation award in Shanghai.
RECOGNIZING INTERGENERATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: HONOREES RECEIVE MOONRISE MEDAL
Honorees were presented with the inaugural Moonrise Medal — a bespoke creation crafted by NYC-based jewellery line Anna Kikue, which celebrates the New Year by intricately blending tradition with innovation. The recipients of the Moonrise Medal were Anderson .Paak, Jackson Wang, NIKI, Jocelyn Enriquez, Invisibl Skratch Piklz, and Destin Daniel Cretton, gifted for their contributions to advancing Asian culture globally and within the creative community. The evening was made possible through the generous support of the Moonrise partners: Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Chubby Group - Niku X, Lexus, and Microsoft.
WEBSITE - www.moonrisegala.com
ABOUT 88RISING
88rising is a pioneering global music and media company representing the best of Asian talent. Since its inception, 88rising has paved the way for many music industry firsts: the Asian artist to top the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts, Spotify’s Weekly Global Albums chart and enter the top 10 on Mediabase’s Top 40 chart, the first to launch an all-Asian radio channel in North America, and the first and only record label to have a main stage slot at Coachella. 88rising is also most notably the first company to present an Asian-centric music festival in the United States, Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival, now in partnership with powerhouse promoter Goldenvoice. The festival expanded globally, for the first time, to Jakarta, Indonesia, and Manila, Philippines, in 2022. In 2023, the festival also expanded domestically from the flagship location in Pasadena, CA, to Queens for the inaugural Head In The Clouds New York. In 2021, 88rising executive produced and curated the soundtrack to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Marvel Studios’ first Asian-American superhero. Previously, in 2019, 88rising was awarded Label of the Year by NetEase, one of China's largest music streaming platforms. With over 160 million followers across global social media platforms and over 50 billion total streams and views, 88rising’s global influence is undeniable.
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