Business Daily Media

The Times


.

Laura Ellington Music’s "Shining Star Amid The Straits" Captures Singapore’s Spirit

A Composition by Toni Thompson Explores Singapore’s Continuing Quest for Greater Intercultural Understanding, to Coincide with Racial Harmony Day 2024

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 July 2024 - Laura Ellington Music is happy to announce the release of a new music video for "Shining Star Amid The Straits," a song written by its creative director Toni Thompson, to coincide with Singapore's Racial Harmony Day 2024.

The artist hopes the new video—a live-action successor to the song's original animated video—will move listeners to deepen their individual commitment towards respect and appreciation for people of all origins in the Garden City.

Shining Star Amid The Straits Live Action Music Video
Shining Star Amid The Straits Live Action Music Video

The song touches on the racial tensions that characterized much of Singapore history from colonial times onward, and posits that even today—and indeed, every day—each person has a role to play in strengthening bonds within our multicultural society.

The new video, produced with the support of Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) through its Harmony Fund, serves as a poignant reminder that the social pact at the heart of racial harmony is an organic entity requiring thoughtful nurturing and ongoing care.

The video's striking visuals capture the energy and emotional depth of Thompson's composition, inviting the viewer on a journey from the nation's turbulent past to its vital and hopeful present. The song puts Singaporean artists in the spotlight, and was specifically arranged to feature traditional musical instruments representing the different cultures that make Singapore so vibrant, including the erhu, sitar, accordion, guitar, and bamboo flute.

Binding the work still further to Singaporean identity and tradition are melodic references to regional folk favourites "Rasa Sayang" and "Jinkli Nona" in the chorus. The crucial message of "Shining Star" has been set within a lilting bossa nova framework, evoking the verdant tropical backdrop against which all Singapore life has unfolded from the earliest days to now.

More than just another music video, the "Shining Star" MV emphasises that the gains made in racial harmony and social cohesion in Singapore are the result of deliberate focus, determination, and love of country. The song is intended as a tribute to those who believe in the nation's highest aspirations, and who work towards cultivating lasting goodwill among neighbours and communities, regardless of race, language, or religion.

MCCY support for the "Shining Star" project extended to the production of an eLearning video of a short children's play based on the song, involving local talent both in front of and behind the camera. This eLearning video will soon be made available as an educational tool on various platforms.

Enamoured of Singapore's heady amalgam of Eastern and Western influences, Toni Thompson, a Chicago native, has developed a profound fondness for the Little Red Dot; her "Shining Star Amid The Straits" is a unique pandemic-era creation born of that fondness, and she hopes it will resonate with people well beyond the single day the nation rightly sets aside for the celebration of multicultural unity.

Laura Ellington Music is dedicated to bringing the finest musical experiences to audiences worldwide, and this release is a testament to that commitment. "Shining Star Amid The Straits" has premiered on Social Media platforms inclusive of YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok & Facebook. Do experience this remarkable piece first-hand!

Hashtag: #lauraellingtonmusic #SSAS #ShiningStarAmidtheStraits #Music #RacialHarmony #Live







The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

News from Asia

Sunway Medical Centre Damansara Marks New Chapter in Specialist and International Patient Care

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – Sunway Medical Centre Damansara (SMCD), the fourth tertiary hospital under Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG), celebrated its Officia...

BINGXUE Opens First U.S. Store in Davis, California: Shandong’s First Mass-Market Tea Beverage Brand Enters North America

DAVIS, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – BINGXUE, a mass-market tea beverage brand from Shandong, has opened its first U.S...

Singapore-headquartered Topview AI expands filmmaking tools as creators take AI into series and feature films

Five million registered users and returning production teams underpin the company’s move beyond video marketingSINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 October 2026 - A filmmaker can have a script ...

1exchange and Ondo Finance Partner to Expand Access to Tokenized Equities

1exchange and Ondo Finance explore opportunities around tokenized equities and regulated secondary market access for eligible investors in Asia. SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October...

"The Carbon Pursuit of Happiness" Premieres October 10: A New Chapter for In-Depth Dialogue on Health and Humanity

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – "The Carbon Pursuit of Happiness" is co-produced by Phoenix Media Group, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, and Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutic...

Tianli International: Leveraging Hong Kong as a Strategic Hub to Build a New Global Education Footprint

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – Since the beginning of this year, Hong Kong's international education market has continued to gain momentum, drawing close attention...

Josie Ho Shines in Desert diamonds at Hong Kong Premiere of The Mage

De Beers Group and Chow Tai Fook celebrate Josie Ho as a true reflection of Desert diamonds — individual, resilient and naturally distinctiveHONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 20...

Ping An Digital Bank Becomes Hong Kong’s First Digital Bank to Enter High-End Wealth Management Segment

Introducing Private Funds, Complementing End-to-End Digital Capabilities with Dedicated Offline Wealth Management Service, Creating a Digital Wealth Management Experience That Balances Flexibility ...

New Handheld Robotic Technology Powers Knee Surgery at Thomson Hospital

KOTA DAMANSARA, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara (Thomson) has unveiled handheld, robotic-assisted technology in its operating theatres, bringi...

Garvee Welcomes Fall With a Curated Collection for Home Refresh and Holiday Living

ONTARIO, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – As fall settles in and the holiday season approaches, families are spending more time at home and looking for simple ways to refresh their ...

Customer Service Is Becoming Part of the Small Business Sales and Marketing Engine

For Customer Service Week, 5-9 October, Thryv is urging small businesses to look beyond generating  enquiries and examine what happens after a custome...

Gift Cards as the gateway to agentic payments

Prepaid and stored value gives consumers the trust and control to try AI shopping agents By Blackhawk Network VP Head of ANZ Kieran Nolan For deca...

Why Data Accumulation Without Governance Undermines Sustainability Goals

In July 2026, Group 2 entities, the second cohort of Australian businesses, began their first reporting period under the mandatory climate disclosur...

Permanent $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off Gives Small Businesses Greater Planning Certainty

The Federal Government’s decision to permanently legislate the $20,000 instant asset write-off will give eligible small businesses greater certainty...

Selling a Small Business in Australia: Understanding the Capital Gains Tax Concessions

For many Australian business owners, selling a business represents the reward for years—sometimes decades—of hard work. Unlike employees who may bu...

Australian businesses lean into global strategic partnerships (GCCs) for next wave of outsourcing

The Australian corporate landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation in how it sources talent and innovation. While businesses have traditi...