Singapore − MTV’s live music summer extravaganza Isle Of MTV Malta – in partnership with Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) – celebrated its ninth consecutive year on Thursday by lighting up Valletta’s Il-Fosos Square once again with killer performances from some of the biggest and most talked about names in today’s global music scene. Making their Isle of MTV Malta debut, performers included Jason Derulo, Echosmith, Omi, Tori Kelly and Martin Garrix, who brought the show to a close with an exhilarating closing set, reaffirming once again that no one brings the party to Malta quite like MTV. The show will premiere in Asia on 1 August at 2pm (TH/WIB), 3pm (SG), and 4pm (MY). It premieres in the Philippines on 6 August at 11am.
Isle of MTV Malta – hosted by MTV VJ & international star Laura Whitmore – was sponsored internationally by MuseAmi’s addicting ‘singing selfie’ social media app Hook’d, which empowers users to record and share their video performances of hit songs using real master tracks from an ever-growing catalogue.
50,000+ fans enjoyed an opening set from internationally renowned Maltese DJs and one of the hottest bands to originate from Malta, Red Electrick.
As the hot Malta sun streamed across the square, LA songstress Tori Kelly captivated the crowd with her irresistible, soulful melodies. The pop starlet stunned the Malta crowd with her hypnotic vocals and catchy summer pop beats, performing tracks from her debut album Unbreakable Smile which recently debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 – including the popular tracks, Nobody Love and Dear No One.
Sibling alternative pop / rock band Echosmith showed everyone why they were the ‘Cool Kids’ of the night, bringing their distinctive summer sound combining entrancing vocal harmonies and catchy guitar hooks. Performing tracks from their 2014 album ‘Talking Dream’s’, including addictive pop anthems ‘Come Together’, ‘Cool Kids’ and their current single ‘Bright’, the quartet from Chino, California – a frequent contender on the Billboard Top 40 – provided a perfect soundtrack to an Isle of MTV summer, ending their performance on a high by launching 200 3ft balloons into the crowd!
Dazzling the crowd with platinum selling summer anthem ‘Cheerleader’ was 2015 breakthrough star OMI, who had the crowd going wild as soon as the opening bars to the mega-smash track played out.
With the square ablaze with the flash of smartphones lighting up the night sky, global pop superstar Jason Derulo turned up the heat with his unique blend of RNB beats, cool style and killer rhythm, delivering a throw-down performance – with his team of four phenomenal dancers – of popular hits including ‘Trumpets’, ‘Talk Dirty’, ‘Wiggle’, ‘Ridin’ Solo’ and current international smash dominating the #1 chart position around the world ‘Want You to Want Me’, taken from his fourth album ‘Everything is 4’.
The show was brought to an almighty close with a spine-tingling closing set from one of the world’s Biggest EDM DJ & producer’s Martin Garrix. With smash hits including Animals and Don’t Look Down, the Dutch superstar followed in the footsteps of his peers Hardwell (2014) and Afrojack (2013), with the crowd pounding the stone granaries as the stage exploded with pyrotechnics, streamers, lasers and confetti.
MTV and the MTA confirmed that Isle of MTV Malta will celebrate ten years in Malta on 28 June 2016.