Moment Musicaux

Leslie Low (of Humpback Oak and The Observatory) has put up his personal collection of songs for free download. Go to www.leslielow.com and get them!

The website is really cool. And I’m loving the music…

And schmell the seaweed!

I bought Allura’s much-anticipated EP and am lovin’ it! Even though I could’ve gotten it free (hurhur) I chose to fork out from my pauper pockets in support of my dearest INFF because of all the hard work and sacrifice and talent she and the band have put in.

I’ve heard most of the songs quite a few times , but I’m still enjoying the tunes every time I listen to it.

Support local music! BUY IT WHEN IT COMES OUT IN STORES!

…Is up! I was at my weight-peak I think. And the short hair! Ugh!

Please visit www.baybeats.com.sg to check out the other bands playing in Singapore’s largest annual indie festival.

Okay lah, not a very BIG HUMONGOUS MENTION but. Still.

Muchos gracias to The Wily One. I don’t know why he asked for our pic (maybe because I was conveniently online) but I is no complaints!

Please buy the compilation. There are lotsa good stuff inside — from bands like Allura (<3 <3), Peepshow, Bismuth, Midnight Marvel etc. =)

And now, for You and Whose Army?’s EP (in progress)… You can also join our Facebook page here.

PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC (and me)!

Honestly, I would love to do music as a career. I wish that I worked harder on my musical abilities when I was younger — and had the financial ability to do so. Beautiful music still makes my hair stand oh-so-easily, especially when I feel the emotions that provides a canvas to this myraid of expressive colours. Musicians who passionately push for their craft are such an inspiration. Being around these people makes me want to drop everything I have and dive into their realm and personally experience this wonderful thing they gush about.

Yes, it’s still a dream to do musicals. But on the realist front, I’m thinking of going into church choir conducting. We’ll see about that when I’m more settled into my Ricebowl Industry.

Music will suffice as my hideaway and hobby for now.

My band is on at 7.30pm. Do come if you’re in the vicinity! 

GAH WHY DIDN’T YOU REMEMBER PROPERLY B-STUPID-NITALIM.

I very sad. 

I’m back from a reflective mission trip from Thailand. It was quite a whirlwind of activities, and I’m only greeted with more when I’m back. Doesn’t help that I’m trying to catch up on my rest and am on the brink of falling sick, bleh. Anyhow, I wish all a very blessed Christmas! +)

This year’s sermon at Church pointed out that Christ’s birth actually holds much more meaning than simply a ’saviour coming down to earth’ — He, God, being a foetus in a mere mortal’s womb. A weak and helpless child that was subjected to the harshness of the earth, when He could have easily made a grand entrance as King and force us to become His slaves. But He chose to become man to be a servant, friend, teacher and saviour to mankind. A human of compassion and emotions, yet He remained in the Father and was sinless.

Awesome!

Quick updates:

• My band is playing for the final Stasis gig, Stasis10. We’re the first band at 2pm. Like most of the other Stasis gigs, this gig has some respectable bands playing (B-Quartet!), so do come! Pre-sale tickets are at $12. At-the-door, $20. More details on ticketing here. Also, a quick interview on the band for the Stasis gig by Kevin Mathews.

  We are also one of the 30 bands pre-selected for Baybeats 2008 auditions. Hopefully we’ll get to play in Singapore’s largest Indie festival next year… =]

• I’m amazed at how easily I took it. Amazed at the virtually zero malice I felt, as compared to that of a couple of years ago. Or am I still as naive as before? Childlike, childlike. I’ll have to be really look to God for strength, that’s for sure. Total reconciliation is not in place yet, and that’s still slight signs of the situation being otherwise. Let’s see how it goes.
• Christmas musical at Adam’s church was really quite a professional piece. Thank God for the many new believers that night. My church’s concert was quite a fresh breath of air too, and Rev Yap’s sermon was uh, hard-hitting — on the ears. Hah. But it was a meaningful one too.

My church has started a youth choir for the slightly-more-contemporary 1130am service! Some of them sat in to sing-sing with us, and some did a ‘Esau’ - they traded in their freedom for a packet of rice. Heh heh

Well, it definitely takes a lot of courage to go ahead with joining something when your friends abandon you last minute and Tanya, I’m proud of you!

What made my heart melt and grin stupidly like a proud mama was when the boys sang the hymn ‘Holy, holy, holy’. They’re so good! I promise there were hardly anyone off-key, and most importantly, they blended together as one voice. Wow. Thinking of Sunday just makes me smile. I’m really looking forward to more sessions!

"Just as Thou wilt, Lord, this is my cry.
Just as Thou wilt, to live or die.
I am Thy servant, Thou knowest best.
Just as Thou wilt, Lord, labour or rest."
~William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921 (After writing this, he breathed his last.)

No, that’s not our new girl band’s name (cue stifled scream & oMgaDdzxzX*), but we’re positively stuck coming up with one. Any suggestions? No in your face girly, no emo, no THE-something, no extremely long names, no obscenity, no phallic nuances please.

After a one-hour jam session last evening, we adjourned to Inch’s too big of a room and attempted to fit lyrics into our latest song (2 1/2 songs, woo!). Eve and I were all too distracted by her glorious paintings (too talented lah she) and her… Dog. He humped my leg ARGH. For REAL! That’s when Inch chased him out of the room and I changed my mind about naming our band after him.

I only went home at 2am — waking up late for work and feeling ‘hungover-ish’. =\ It was really fun at her place though, cleaning up the song and practising licks. The 3 of us have some great chemistry (dunce point system and all) going on… I can’t wait to gig with them!

I never thought I’d be saying this, but yes. GIRRRL POWAH KHAN!!

(Rather drastic) new haircut this weekend. I think I’ll feel like a NANHUARIAN all over again. Eep.

This version of Neil Young’s Like a Hurricane almost brought a tear to my eye the first time I heard it. I’m adding him to list my favourite musicians…

Also, Old Man and Heart of Gold.

So the Home Club gig is done with. Response says that we played okay, so that’s cool. The metronome and I were quite on good terms that night too. Phew.

My weekend literally came and went. I felt too tired to run as self-promised on Saturday morning, then it was CG, then there was the Boy’s Mom’s concert later at the Esplanade. It was great fun to watch 7 senior adults (best I could describe) dancing and having witty repartee on stage with so much energy; not forgetting their amazing vocal pipes, testimonies and the bit of tear in my eye.

I still feel a bit strange meeting well-known personalities in flesh after years of seeing them 2D or as printed beings. Not to show off, but I guess I’ve got to get used to it. But yes, it’s interesting to observe how they behave real as opposed to reel; one activity that’s quite common is the G-word: Gossip. A lot of whispering.

My rest that night was disturbed by my schizophrenic neighbour’s piercing screams. And another insensitive neighbour’s shouts at her to shut up. I was amazed at my ability to think in such an earthly hour (and the Sister next morning), groggily taking out my Shure earphone plugs and stuffing them into my ears. Ah, silenceeeee.

Sunday: I woke up too late to run my postponed run, barely sneaking in a decadent KFC lunch with the not-so-kids-anymore-kids after church and rushed down for rehearsal with KM for a supposed gig tomorrow (it’s cancelled by the way; authorities disallowed the Burma tribute).

The pace slowed with the much-needed time alone with the Boy in town and a bit of shopping for Graniph tees (indie siol!). We’re going into our first year! It’s been amazing, and amazingly fast. I always thank God for such a great blessing. =)

Eh, this post is another one of those ‘what I did posts’! Argh. Sorry to bore, just felt like writing.

Yay, it’s a gig for You and Whose Army?! I’ll be playing with a metronome. And I is scared.

Saturday was the first time most people ever heard me sing solo, my parents included. Well, it was for a couple of lines only and I screwed up the first word by coming in late. My mom said that the three of us (Jasmine, Christina and I) blended very well for a trio. Anyway, I’m glad that Emiline (the bride in question; I’ve known her since I was a baby) appreciated our little item =) It didn’t help that she threw me and Chris (especially) off because she (Em) teared so hard when Jas was dedicating the song to her!

After the wedding, I was off to Earshot Cafe at the Arts House for the gig with Kevin Mathews. Adam (drums) and I (keys) are the groovy people! And yes, I was overDRESSed for the part.

I played quite a lot of wrong notes But well.. The little (and I mean LITTLE) vintage $20-cash-converter Casio keyboard’s keys were about the width of my thumb, so you could imagine how cramped my style was. Ha ha.

The Karl Maka was there too. I quite prefer them acoustic! The light-heartedness of their songs make me smile.

Inch and Bonk were there to support us, so we had some to drink whilst Inch and I had a rather heartfelt talk. She, AMN1 and I are jamming this Sunday! Whee!

The men / boys…

Walked to Bras Basar’s Macs after that. My feet wanted to die with the heels and my eyes were positively shrivelling up from the contact lenses. Gah. A tiring, but nice day!

On Sunday afternoon, I hung out with some of the church people and that was NICE. Really, it’s only healthy that my life doesn’t revolve around the Boy day in and out!

I do need my fix of friendships with my brothers- and sisters-in-Christ. So don’t think that because I have a boyfriend, my life is dead set around him. Call me out more!!

On a final note, my pet peeve is last minute-ness that could have been prevented.

Radiohead’s latest album is coming out in December!!!

Disc 1 (of 2) will be available for digital download, and you pay the amount you think it’s worth. For downloading info, go to the In Rainbows website.

Wikipedia here. Can’t wait!!

On other music-related stuff, I’m officially on the Bjork bandwagon (sorry I slow). Unique is the most cliche but apt word to sum her up. I’ve been youtube-ing her, and my. Brilliant music AND videos. The latter really puts a face to the tune. My favourite songs so far are Unravel, Who is it? and Hunter.

Our new demo, Ordinary is King, is up! Thanks to Nick Chan from Music For Good for the effort he’s put in to produce the song in such limited time. Do take a listen here.

A couple of gig opportunities coming up… One at Home Club and another at Youth Park. Really hope they materialise!

The brother flies to Northwestern University come Monday. He’s leaving for at least 4 years… I thought I wouldn’t miss him (no difference him having around or not), but I’m starting to eat my thoughts. Gah. Still, that doesn’t exempt him from pissing me off to know he delibrately doesn’t want to add me on Facebook!

Finally, I’ve decided. Soon.