I’m back!

Rules for Keeping Your Friends.

Watch out for the users and abusers : Don’t fall victim.

Watch out for the used and abused : Don’t be the villain.

LOVELIFESTIVAL.COM!

LADYGUNN magazine photoshoot Read the interview here. http://ladygunn.com/music/yunas-new-chapter-in-life-take-the-music-industry-and-cultural-stereotypes-by-storm

Plotting our next move..

Wearing my fav Prabal Gurung.

photo courtesy of Terry McFly

I have to share this story of me and Wern Cheen, my friend from primary school (like elementary school). We were reunited again in San Francisco a couple of days ago and it took me waaaaaay back!

So back in primary school, I would always perform at the school assembly on Mondays, and I'll perform like national anthems, ballad songs, etc.. and one time I was invited to do a performance again, I got really tired of the usual songs, and I just wanted to try something new and do a different kind of performance. I asked my friends, Wern Cheen and Melissa to perform with me as a group, it was something i was VERY excited about!

So one Monday morning in Subang Jaya, after days of practice, we performed The Moffatt's 'I'll be there for you' wearing Backstreet Boys and the Moffats t-shirts that my mom got for us, (coz i thought it was so cool back then!!) in front of the kids in school during assembly (mind you, we were only 9 years old, in front of probably 300 students) We practiced so hard, we sang and danced, and after the show, I will NEVER forget this, it scarred me for life.. Our principal schooled us in front of the whole school, of like 300 students, for a good 15 mins, asked me if I was proud of myself for what i just did, and then telling all the students we were 'setting a bad example', and that 'she was disappointed in us'. I felt so humiliated, and also, felt really bad that I made my friends come on stage with me, that they shouldn’t go through this because of me. Kids were going to make fun of us for that. I felt like my whole world was crumbling and that I’ve let everyone down.. ONLY because we were wearing BSB t-shirts and dancing and singing.. she made sure we were seen as delinquents to other kids! I got so upset, we still had to sit through class after all that, and i think i cried at one point, but this girl right here Wern Cheen consoled ensured me that what we did, was different, and cool and that I shouldn't be sad.

I will never forget what I learned that day as a 9 year old.. how someone who had a huge responsibility, like this principal, had failed in showing wisdom, kindness, and support to 9 year olds who had talent and were happy to dance and sing, instead, humiliating them in public, and how someone so tiny, so young, like Wern Cheen, at 9 years old, who has such a huge heart, and was showing more maturity and wisdom than our principal could ever have..Thinking about it now makes me so angry, I promised myself that when I grow up, I will never do that to kids.

Now I am performing at ‘school assemblies’ that are a lot different . And my ‘principal’ now she comes in different forms - gossips, bad press, online haters, racists, sexists..  I came a long way, but I will never forget where I came from. That school parking lot, and a wonderful friend. There is never a time in my life, when someone did not help me. I had my friends. I owe it to them. So... Thank you Wern Cheen. I'm so happy we reconnected. You are a gem!!

Here’s a photo of us now, and here’s also a link to ‘I’ll be there for you’ so you can imagine 9 year old Yuna singing and dancing to this. What a great theme song to this whole story too. Never let anybody dim your shine, and never forget those who were there for you.

https://youtu.be/hrRVTV8MarA 

Wearing Prabal Gurung at the Acoustically Speaking event, Las Vegas.

It’s going to be a fun weekend at the SoulTrain Awards!

Photo by Didi Ramlan

Check out my interview and fun shoot with Yahoo! Style here!

https://www.yahoo.com/style/pop-star-yuna-working-usher-142859952/photo-p-dkny-pure-sheer-pinstripe-photo-142859548.html

Photography by Nyra Lang. Styling by Christopher Kim. Makeup by Stephanie Peterson.

Pain lurks somewhere in the past.

Let’s just keep it in the past.

We’re on different lanes, chasing different things.