The Black and White Keys of My Life

Post Postgrad

2011-06-13T20:56:00.009+08:00

Its been slightly more than half a year since i came back from England. Just for memories sake, this is more or less what has been happening in my life for the past 6 months

Tasted the delicious Rojak Mee and Cendol at Kajang

Gig with the fabulous Janet Lee

Went to Marina Bay Pangkor Laut with Janet for an event. Not as charming as it looks, the place

An evening duo gig with jazz singer Gina Panizales at YTL's house

This is the model of YTL's house

Yummy Middle Eastern food before a private function at J.W. Marriott

Went to Bangkok with family

Went for my life's first ever friend Jeffrey's surprise birthday party which he wasn't surprised at all

Preparing to sing and play for Cheryl's Samad garden/sea view wedding dinner at Lone Pine Resort Penang.

Had great Penang hawker food the next day

Interesting sushi dish - Nasi Lemak flavour. With sambal and cucumber in the middle. This was at a corporate event i played for at Pavillion

Finally, this 4WD rammed into the back of my car. Im safe but this is my latest headache.

still a lil' bit

2011-06-01T03:14:00.005+08:00

Something i recorded cuz i felt like it. Nothing edited though. Just from my laptop's mic direct and dry. This music is something i've felt strongly lately.

Stones taught me to fly
Love, it taught me to lie
Life, it taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannonball

There’s still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
There’s still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
It’s still a little hard to say
To say what's going on

*music and lyrics taken from Damien Rice's tune 'Cannonball'

distance

2011-05-25T02:17:00.005+08:00

I dont like distance. Whenever I'm with people, I tend to want to draw closer to them, talking about things that matter in life, about art, pondering on what's to come in the next phase, guessing when's the next phase in life, figuring out what's the current phase. Like many others, i think a lot. In the past few weeks/months I have met some distinctive characters who have gone through experiences that I never want to go through. Older people, of course. In a way im addicted to having these intriguing/emotional/heartfelt stories and conversations, so much so that when I hang out with my peers, I suddenly have nothing to talk about, not that I'm very much different to them.
In a way though, hanging out with my 'seniors' most of the time has brought me (or at least make me think/perasan lol) to a more realistic point of view. Sometimes too realistic for me to feel that life can actually be lived. I try my best, nevertheless. Enjoying, i mean. =/

On the contrary, I like space. Lately I tend to distance myself from people closest to me, like family. Dont get me wrong, i love my family to bits. Maybe its the adjustment period from my stay in UK, or maybe I just want to live alone again. As implied earlier, i like to lean on people around me. Or the other way round. Im jolly and all on the outside around people. I like involvement. But now im tired. Its just a sadness that has swept across my soul, I don't know how to explain. Of course it has to do with certain recent events, but i know it started as soon as I was back. Im hoping to move out and stay on my own but i know now the time is not right. I believe most things do work because of the right timing, and vice versa.
Maybe its not entirely a bad thing what I'm feeling because lately i've been able to relate to certain kind of music very well, which contributes to my music library in my head, heart, soul, whatever. Afterall, Jazz is about pain, isn't it?

Life has been good since i came back. Im living my dream job, not short of work/cash nor time for myself. I really shouldn't be complaining. But i do feel like the same zombie I was when I was away from home for a while. Now I need distance. I'll try to make this my only rant for this season.

I leave you with this tune performed by Jazz pianist- Bill Evans

the amazing 4 seasons

2010-07-11T21:07:00.003+08:00

Autumn was depressing because i just arrived in england and wasn't used to the cold and trying to adjust to everything new to me.
Winter was depressing because it got dark at 4.30pm everyday and the cold is just unbearable.
Spring was depressing because it was supposed to be warm but it wasn't.
Summer is depressing because everyone has gone back to their hometown and country and im left here alone.
Now i've covered all 4 seasons in a year. One more autumn and im back for good. Cant wait.

Performance Critique Sesson at LCM

2010-04-29T20:58:00.003+08:00

Well, this was just a casual session organized by my professor. Anyway, I just had one 30 min session run-thru with my trio the day before. I think that my pronunciation and clarity of words could be better. Its a self-conscious thing. I am not used to opening my mouth in front of a crowd and sing clearly, confidently. Projection of voice, i guess it has improved compared to a few months ago, but again, need some work on consistency. My piano solo is probably too long if judged from a commercial performance point of view. Either that or it is just not entertaining enough. Anyway, I've still a mountain to climb in terms of grasping of the jazz language and all other stuffs including technical. But I hope it has a borderline entertainment value for those who watch it.

A weird day

2010-04-28T06:05:00.003+08:00

As I was walking to college, just before the entrance, a guy was walking home but approached me and talked to me.

James: hey, what course are you in?
Me: im in jazz
James: third year?
Me: (embarrassingly, as usual) im in the masters.
James: oh i see, I often hear you practice in the practice rooms, and you sound really good. When will your recital be?
Me: Um... (going thru my mind was my next recital in June and the upcoming Headingly Jazz fest in May)......my recital will be in October.
James: Ok i'll look out for that one
Me: Cheers.
*both of us walked off*
Me: Sorry, i didn't get your name
James: James (duh), what's yours?
Me: Wei Li
James: Wei Li?
Me: Yeah... *continued walking* See you soon...
James: Cheers

As I was practicing, a vocal lecturer, Nikki Allen, who watched me sing and play in one of the workshops I was participating in a few months ago popped into my practice room:

Nikki: Have you seen a black book lying around when you came in?
Me: Nope
Nikki: Okay, btw, are you the singer-pianist?
Me: Yeah Im learning to sing
Nikki: Would you like to perform in a cruise? Would you be interested?
Me: Um... yeah, maybe...
Nikki: But do you have a large repertoire?
Me: Not really, I'm starting to gather vocal repertoire though...
Nikki: Yea because it will be 4 sets of 45 mins each
Me: yeah I'm trying to learn more tunes nowadays. When will it be?
Nikki: September
Me: Oh my finals will be in October and i'll have classes
Nikki: Anyway it will be a whole year round thing if you're interested after that.
Me: Okay maybe then we'll talk about it

I dont know why, but I just find these two dialogues strange. I'm not exactly flattered because I know my own standard in music and I'm not easily impressed by myself. In fact sometimes I'm too critical. But anyway, not that I'm too keen on the cruise job, but it makes me think that maybe I should start learning more vocal tunes.

Time to get out of my cocoon, I guess

2010-04-24T04:58:00.008+08:00

It's been around 7 months since I've left my beloved country, family, friends, lover, enemies (i dont think i have any), mamak stalls, grandma's cooking, my white iswara (which im gonna sell when i get back), etc. It has also been that long since i played in a gig/public performance.

It has been a good time shedding, keeping to myself, practicing and learning. I admit that its a constant struggle being here, not that my life is miserable, but in some areas like musicality, loneliness, and the freaking winter.

The faithful open market - my favourite 'hangout'

I like being alone. When i mention loneliness, i do not mean so much of being lonely but rather being alone. Sometimes my struggle with this is that i choose to be alone at times. The same way when i was in KL doing my degree. I often choose to just stay in my room all day when i do not have work, just order a takeaway at eat in my room, watching dvds, series, one after another until the day ends. That was my routine. My routine here is very much the same. But it feels different. Even though I choose to be alone, many at times when im out, i feel that im being isolated by the people here. Everyone here is friendly and appear not to be racist. But at the same time, most of them try to avoid having a conversations with me. Most of it are smiles, hi, bye, and disappear. Its hard to hang out even if I ask them to because we'll usually run out of things to say to each other. Even just a few days ago when i decided to play football with the guys from my college whom most of them i've never spoken to, during the break i tried to have conversations but they just gave single word answers and tried to ignore me in a friendly way. They have their cliques and i feel that i just dont belong. I also take the fact of during the match most of them would choose not to pass the ball to me. Taking all these into account, i do not blame them. I used to do the same to foreigners when i was studying in M'sia. I feel more comfortable with my fellow country-mates, not having to try so hard to think what to talk about or what NOT to say so I wouldn't offend the person. Just trying to keep life simple. But that did not mean I was racist. So I wouldnt say they are racist. Of course some of my classmates would hang out with me at times; most of them not English, some are Irish, Polish, Nepalese, American, etc. And that explains why i see Asians hang out with Asians here. I seldom see a clique with mixed colours. There was once a random English girl spoke to me and i wasn't paying attention so I just said "pardon" and she immediately did a waving gestured with her hands like she didn't mean to say anything to me since I couldn't understand English. Hello??

Spent Chinese New Year in Sheffield with Willie (guy) (duh) who's an old friend, and his other friends.

Went for steamboat

It was a good time during December though, when Adeline came for a visit during winter. Winter is the most depressing period because it gets dark early in the evening (4.30pm) and the general mood of everyone is pretty lowbeat. So it was good that Adeline came. We had fun during our visit to Barcelona too. And i had fun cooking all the meals for her.

In Barcelona's Park Guell with the colourful Salamander

Speaking of not gigging, I am finally going to be participating in May, in Headingly Jazz Fest, which I will play and sing. I think its about time that i get out of my skin and put what i have practiced into my performance. It has been a good time being away from public performances, which is what I have wanted. After all the times in M'sia just having gigs non-stop, it can be pretty monotonous musically. Thats one of the reasons I came here, apart from learning, is to take a break from my life temporarily. It is hard to improve in many ways because there's lack of inspiration to improve musically back there.

One of the many workshops I've attended during my time here. This was a touring jazz band from Canada. They had a Brazilian vocalist who's amazing.

Despite what all i have said, its been good being here. I've learnt to cook some dishes. I've had an interest in cooking since i was young and i remember having to stand in the kitchen very often next to my mom watching her cook because i was interested in cooking. I was just too lazy to bring myself to do it. It has always been my dream to learn to cook.
Being in England, I feel closer to the football scene as well. My real passion has always been football instead of music, except that it has no realistic value. But I've never watched (on screen) so many matches in a season in my life before until I came here. It has been good. And next week I'm going to Old Trafford for the first time, the stadium of my beloved Manchester United. World Cup is coming soon so it will be great as well.

My ticket to Old Trafford - The Man Utd treble '99 winners will be playing in this charity match: Yorke, Cole, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin, and many others from different eras. There will also be performances by UK pop artistes and dance groups.

New chapter of an unfinished book

2009-10-12T17:27:00.005+08:00

So here i am in Leeds pursuing my masters in jazz, configuring my life all over again, using previous' "life" experiences as the core of my survival. I've been very fortunate to have studied away from home in kl for my degree. But anyways, its not hard to survive here in the uk.

Basic essentials are pretty cheap, in most cases, its the cheaper or equivalent to the prices in Malaysia after conversion, for example: Shampoo, toothpaste, Snickers, and most supermarket factory packed products.

Food will be dollar to dollar, which can be quite costly. So for the 33 days I've been here, I have been cooking mostly, thanks to my mom who's a great cook and have been sending recipes to me. But still, its not as expensive as london for sure!

The music scene here is awesome. There are bands gigging in many venues every weekend and most weekdays as well. Every genre here is big; indie, pop, electronic, jazz, classical, etc. And the level and skill of musicians here is pretty high, especially the jazz musicians in my college. Brings me down to the ground but its good for me i guess because i'll be too lazy to work my ass off back in kl. They have alot amazing lecturers here as well in LCM (Leeds College of Music).

The shopping here is pretty awesome as well, most people with spending power will go crazy, though many items are pretty affordable here. Well i heard some ppl say that according to some survey, leeds is one of the top shopping destinations and places to live in the world.

The only bad thing bout this place is that it has trash everywhere. Bits of paper and plastic that people just litter around. A friend told me that the garbage collectors are kinda on strike as well, not sure how true isit. Anyways, here are some pics of the city centre that i've snapped from my phone:

Of course not all areas are as 'trashy' as this, but this is how bad it can get.

This theatre playhouse is just next to my college and anyone under 26 years old are entitled to 5 free tickets every one and a half years.

Im very fortunate that im staying 5 mins walk from the city centre, which is where my college is at. So everything is very accessible for me. Okay thats for now. Ciao.

Black and Blue

2009-06-13T03:04:00.004+08:00

In less than 90 days' time, I'm gonna be sitting in the room, staring at the blank wall, all by myself. Just like my days at ICOM. This might just be the loneliest journey of my life.

Holey Socks!

2009-06-08T19:19:00.004+08:00

Im a person who likes to wear sneakers/shoes. I seldom wear flip flops or sandals, even on a short trip to get some groceries I'll most likely wear sneakers. Therefore I wear socks often too. Over the past few years I had this idea to sew up all the holes on some of my socks, just that I never get my ass to do so.
Im generally an OCD person and holes usually "appear" on the big toe side of my socks. Then I'd avoid wearing them, firstly because I'll be embarrassed if I ever get invited into someone's house and I had to take my shoes off. Another reason is that I'll feel that my toes are touching the inner surface of my shoes, even though in truth I can't feel it, but my OCD-ness would make me believe otherwise, and I'll be extremely uncomfortable.
So a few days ago, I was sewing up some of home-shorts' pockets in my room, and I thought since I have the sewing kit with me, I might as well sew up my socks.
Okay bear in mind im not the home-guy type that does everything myself like growing vegetables so i could eat them, or make photoframes out of used papers. Sewing is the only thing I do occasionally to fix up my old clothes. I dont even sweep the floor at home. Nor my room.

Anyway, so I managed to sew up all the holes on my socks and now I'm wearing them proudly because not only I sew well (for a guy, or for anyone nowadays in that matter), I feel that I'm not wasting money by buying new socks, which I often do cuz the holes are actually just a tiny spot on that large surface of the very-much-usable sock.

Uninspired to inspire

2009-05-15T03:48:00.003+08:00

Lately i've been frustrated working in this place where i teach. Its just these few students, not all whom i teach. They have no passion, they have no idea why they're in this program in the first place, and they do not know what they want from this, or what they plan to do after they graduate. Im tired of teaching them. Im not sure if its the right thing to feel. Sigh, and they are uni students, supposed to be more mature to take responsibility. I can understand if they're kids and they're doing this under obligation.

I try my best to inspire them, but all i get are deaf ears. They seem very emotionless, passionless, and soulless. How can you even play or feel music if you're like that? Imagine teaching a blank rock to play an instrument. No matter how many ways you try to get a response, you will never. Thats how i feel.

They have no idea how many people wish that they can do a music degree like my students. I guess life is like that, when one has something easily, they take it for granted. Im guilty of that too sometimes.
Sigh, life goes on. I'll still do my best in my role. Inspiring rocks. Erm, i mean inspiring the rocks.

New Life....

2009-04-27T03:52:00.004+08:00

....is what Easter is all about, isn't it? New and eternal. That's what's so great about it. What is ever new yet eternal in this world? Nothing else. I'm sensing a breath of new life coming soon. Love, grace and mercy are key elements that made Easter what it is and gave its meaning.

What have you gotta lose huh?

Massage, Shopping, Jalan-jalan, Makan-makan....

2009-04-24T15:03:00.013+08:00

It was my first time in Bangkok last week. Had a great trip, enjoyed the shopping, enjoyed the friendly local civilians, enjoyed the outings, and mostly, enjoyed the company. Here are some pics to summarize my trip:

Stayed at Ibis Hotel, the newest hotel in Bangkok. It was just completed in March. So it was clean and comfortable.

Visited a jazz club called 'Saxophone'. A blues band was performing that nite, all local musicians, all were very kickass, especially the keyboardist who played a C1 organ keyboard.

Went to an official Manchester United Restaurant Bar

TBLT Sandwich (Turkey-Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato)

Champion Burger

There's a Man Utd logo everywhere, even the valet sign

Brown Sugar Jazz Club since 1985. They claimed that they're one of the best bars in the world. The band that night consisted of a singer, trombonist, guitarist, saxophonist, bassist, and drummer. They were playing contemporary jazz. All were relatively young, and local Thais, but again, kickass and solid.

Brown Sugar Menu Cover

I tailor-made a set of suit too. Making suits in Bangkok is cheaper than in Malaysia. The whole Bangkok is flooded with tailors everywhere. All of the tailors are from northern India. Most of them have been here for 20 plus years. This was the fitting session.

And my final tryout before i took it home.

We also went to a saloon to style our hair to get ready for a photoshoot session.

This photoshoot was done in a studio called Club Confuse Studio, formerly known as Domandi Studio. They have 3 rooms, one of them is a music room. This studio has many good reviews online and in magazines. Many of their customers are from Hong Kong and other parts of the Asia. It is cheaper to shoot here too, compared to Malaysia.

Some of the results:

(okay its weird for me to look at myself in these photos cuz im not used to having these kinda shots taken. It was my first shoot, but a valuable and fun experience)

All cabs in Bangkok are Toyota. Either Vios or the new Altis.

Malaysia cabs are mostly Iswara. But nowadays I see more Nissan Sentra and Waja cabs in KL. Malaysia boleh!

Enjoyed some dessert in a dessert house called Mango Tango. Everything there had mango in it. Yums...

A trip to Bangkok wouldn't be complete without trying out the roadside food. Luckily we didn't suffer from diarhoea. The tomyam was deceiving; it was colourless but super spicy. Another great dish in Bangkok is the fried basil leaves meat (pork, beef, chicken or seafood).

Acid and Fusion Jazz Night at Groove Junction - 11/04/09

2009-04-10T01:03:00.005+08:00

After a very long time (since August last year), I'll be performing at Groove Junction, with this gig being a collaboration between Giant Timeline and Gina Panizales, the "hot mama" singer of soul, jazz and blues.

"Join Gina Panizales as she explores Acid and Fusion Jazz for one night only at one of the coolest place in town --

Groove Junction Jazz Bistro
Sri Hartamas (behind True Fitness)

Featuring new releases from Maysa Leak of Incognito,
familiar tunes from Brand New Heavies, her own album funk track, as well as originals from her energetic back-up band "Giant Timeline" with:
Wei Li on piano, Daniel Foong on bass, Faz Aznam on guitar and Martin Ngim on drums.

Show kicks off at 10pm. “Finally” album available at the venue.

Cover charge at RM30 with a drink, cover free for 4 pax for every bottle of hard liquor, and 2 pax for every bottle of wine. Set dinner at 70++ per reservation only.

Contact : info@groove-junctionkl.com or call 03-62018990.

You wouldn't wanna miss it this Saturday -- April 11, 2009…See ya!"

Trio is the way to go

2009-01-03T01:50:00.005+08:00

This a video of my performance in a trio playing a bossa standard named "How Insensitive" by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Didn't practice much, but i think it was ok. Do not expect a polished performance as I only did one take (even if i did 10 takes it wouldn't sound too great either, i'd probably be tired! lol). It was a live audition at ICOM (the logo obvious in the video) for some application.
Looks like i have a long way to go in performance (don't we all?), better start practicing harder and smarter.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my friends for helping me out:
Daniel Foong: Bass
Martin Ngim : Drums
Faz Aznam : Video

Last day of the year

2008-12-31T05:36:00.005+08:00

Its 5.40am, the last day of this year. Im wondering what should i do today, apart from sleeping? I dont have much time left for the year. In 12 hours' time i'll have to be at Pacific Regency Hotel for my soundcheck for the New Years' Eve gig. What CAN i do today, that I've not done this year?

Im thinking, i could pray. i can pray. i WILL pray. I've not been talking to God for quite a while. I'll tell Him how grateful i am for this year, for providing. Im grateful because He looks out for me wherever i am, whenever. I've never been in any major accident or involved in any bad encounters. In Him, i know that im always safe and secure.

Im also thankful for the wonderful people around me; those who work with me, those whom i just met this year, those who kept in touch from a distance and mostly those who share their true friendship and love. I thank God for placing them in my life.

Generally, 2008 has been smooth sailing; im not too sure about tomorrow and the days after that. But whatever it is, i believe God has a plan for me and He will always look out for me.

What are my new years' resolutions then? For a couple of years now i havent had any resolution, that's because i never kept them before so i thought it was pointless to have any. But i hope 2009 will be different for me. In no particular priority order, in 2009 i will:
- practice the piano more often and be organized about it
- read more
- talk to God more
- love more
- take care of my health
- sleep and wake up at an earlier time (to fulfill the ones above)

Happy New Year! 2008 has been good, 2009 will get better!

Christmas

2008-12-26T02:08:00.007+08:00

I never thought one day i would stop having the Christmas mood.

I recently had a chat with my old buddy, Jeffrey, whom i grew up with in church. It was his first time celebrating away from home, he was kind of depressed. To console him, i told him that at least he had the priviledge to celebrate the last 22 years of Christmas back there.

I left Alor Star at 18 for further studies, nevertheless i went back that very same year for Christmas. The year after that, til now, i've been spending every Christmas in KL. It is different. Nothing beats Christmas in Alor Star. Every Christmas morning I would jump out of my bed early, get ready, and follow my parents to church. My main purpose was to exchange gifts with my peers. Each of us would carry a paper bag full with wrapped gifts. And each wrapped gift would have a name on it. Most of us would also prepare gifts that do not have a name on it, just in case someone else gives us a gift and we do not have any gifts with their name written on it.

Apart from the true meaning of Christmas, Christmas for me back then was about the group of friends i had, and the way we celebrate it. It was about the smell of my hometown church and its Christmas decorations. It was about how the whole service was conducted in a routined manner where ppl will get baptisted in water and someone would read a bible scripture as introduction for a Christmas carol that the whole congregation would rise and sing. It was about the nostalgic feeling we get everytime we hear Christmas music playing when we enter any shopping mall in the month of December.

Its not like that anymore. More so this year. Even last year's was MUCH better. Its not that anything bad happened this year, just that its a big deal for me that i totally lost the Christmas feel. Especially when i've been playing Christmas carols every single day this entire month. So much so that they lost the effect on me. Im very saddened by this.

Well, i pray and i hope 2009 will be an exciting one.
Blessed Christmas.

Convo 29/10/08

2008-11-04T16:19:00.010+08:00

Last week was my convocation in Equatorial Hotel KL. As to why was it held on a WEDNESDAY, 4pm, I dont know. Those who had work had to take leave. And when the ceremony ended, it was peak hour jam time. Great. Maybe the ballroom rent rate was CHEAPER during that time since NOBODY would have a function during this kind of timing.

Well, anyway, at least my BELOVED college which my parents paid lots of money to; ICOM- International College Of Music and the uni that it was affiliated with (Uni of Westminister, London-bridge is falling down), has a convocation ceremony despite the number of graduates.

They combined 2 batches, all in all about 15 students ONLY. YES.

Well, not many people study music (as in a music degree) in the first place, so to start of with, every semester, an intake would have around 15 to 20 people.

And out of that 20 people, 5 of them are rockstar wanabes/poser, 3 are lazy, 2 are tone-deaf, and another 3 chose music as a fallback plan after studying some other course for 3 years and dropped out. So that leaves us to 7 students (yes, the rest dropped out to pursue their dreams at 7-11 counters). And among that 7 students, one or two will fail a subject or two, and get held back for a semester.

I can say that this degree course is not easy, but if i see it in another perspective, its not hard, if one knows how to "handle" this course and its subjects. I can proudly say that its quite a smooth sailing journey for me there. Of course there are some moments where i felt my blood twisting. But all in all it was okay. And i graduated with 2nd upper class honours. Not that its a very big deal, but at least i made my parents proud. To get 1st class in ICOM in the major that i was doing- Music Production & Technology, is almost impossible. Anyways, this marks the end of another chapter in my life. Here are some pics.

Family potrait

The women in my life (in age order, you guess lah...who is who):

One of the best joys is to have my close buddies/bandmates graduate together-gether:

My batch:

Beh tahan...must show off cert sumore...

of course la...happy ma...now got cert can apply for job in the bank... =p

p/s: my father banker, can pull strings lah

Blessed

2008-09-11T02:37:00.001+08:00

Im blessed, i cant deny that, and i guess i couldnt ask for more. Its been 9 months since i've been a fulltime-freelance musician. Life as a freelance musician is great for me, i never had to worry about not getting calls for jobs, never really have to worry about finances and i have a good amount of free time. Still, I should be using my free time to practice on my instrument more. Im also blessed i have great people around me, people who support and respect me in what i do, and mostly, those who care about my well being and consistently getting my life's updates. So i wana give a big thank you shoutout to God and to everyone around me.

Elizabethtown- message map

2008-09-06T02:17:00.007+08:00

The title up there has almost nothing to do with my post, except that it has brought a memory out of my memory- the message map. Elizabethtown was a movie that i recently (like 10 mins ago) watched on my laptop. There's this part where the girl directs a guy to a bookstore to look for a particular book, and in that book, he found a piece of card which has another message that directs him to look for a particular shoe in a shoe stall, and in that shoe it has another message which leads him to his gift- the girl.

Im hitting 23 soon, in almost exactly one month's time, and i received some good gifts that i can never forget. Thats not the point, everyone receives good gifts every now and then for some occasion. But i believe we dont often receive it in a memorable way. Most ppl juz bring the gift in their hands and say "this is from me and whoever" or "merry christmas". Nothing wrong with that. Afterall, the main focus is the gift.

When i was young, really young (kindergarten-primary school), my sister often lead me to her gifts the way that girl did in Elizabethtown. She would go something like "okay, ur present is on the dining table." And when i went to the dining table, there'll be a msg written "go to mummy's room and look at her dressing table mirror". Then when i get there, it says "go to your room and open ur closet". And i would finally find my present when i got there. My sister would follow my every step from the beginning; excited, as if she was also going to receive that present, she acted as if she didnt know whats waiting for her too, or when will that 'message map' end.

As a little kid, i would be so excited; EVERYTIME my sister did this, as if i've never experienced it before. I don't know how she came up with this. But its a memory worth storing in my memory (card).

Talking about gifts, nowadays, the best gifts i would like to see from my loved ones are no gifts or gifts that do not cost alot in monetery value. And im honest, by saying that. When i say "pls dont get anything for me" or "if u wana get pls dont spend alot", i really mean it. Im not one of those ppl who say those stuff and when a loved one did not get anything or gets something cheap, then i'll be damn upset. Not that i wont appreciate if they spend a significant amount on the gift, but i'll feel a little heartache for them to spend that much.

On the contrary, my own policy for a gift is to spend above a certain amount for my loved ones (or below a certain amount for my hated ones....kidding). Weird huh. Its juz like "i can hit you, and you can't hit me". Or maybe vice versa.

But back to that, i would not spend alot (like really alot) just to impress that person and the ppl around him/her, or for the sake of spending alot. But no offence to ppl who spends alot (like really alot) on gifts, for whatever reasons they have for that, i respect those reasons.

Im glad though, that i've gotten Adeline something she really wanted on her birthday. It did not cost too much, but it sure did made her a haopao, and no one has made her like that before on her bday.

My mom's birthday is less than 2 weeks' time. Im still thinking whether i should play that childish 'message map' thing for her to get her gift, or should i juz give it to her like usual and say "happy birthday". Or maybe i could think of something different. hmmm....

Giant Timeline feat. Julian Chan & Gina Panizales

2008-08-26T01:29:00.014+08:00

Last weekend's gig was a blast, particularly on the 2nd nite (Saturday). My band played a number of smooth jazz/funk instrumentals by Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, George Benson, Eric Marienthal and etc. We also did a couple of original tunes. Saxman-Kajangman Julian Chan, who came back from NYC for his break, featured in our band both nites, as well as experienced singer & entertainer Gina Panizales on Saturday nite. Here are some pics from that gig. Adeline was very sweet to surprise me by turning up on Sat nite, despite saying that she'll be at home resting. The video of my piano solo was taken by her too.

On the groovy beats- Steve Naris

Julian on the Soprano sax

Faz the guitarer and Daniel the Basser

The 'surprise'

A True Small Town Boy

2008-07-31T02:38:00.004+08:00

Yes, that's what I am. But of course i've learned to succumb to the temptations n pressures from the city. Is that a bad thing? yes and no.

Growing up in a small town like Alor Star and being brought up in a family like mine, you'd never guess that i'd turn out to be like this, or maybe you would. If you watched the comedy series "Everybody Hates Chris", my dad is almost like Julius, who is *Chris' dad. Very thrifty. He will never waste or throw away anything unless its really really really useless. Any food that is cheap, is tasty. Any clothes that is cheap, is nice. For him, you dont need a new jacket if the one you have is still in good condition, even though it's super out of fashion or no brand. My dad's a big fan of music, he also sings and plays the guitar. But for a music fan, he doesn't own a big collection of records/cassettes/cds. I wouldn't even call it a collection. My mom, in the other hand, was/is more generous and she was/is a little opposite of what my dad was/is, so she brought/brings a little balance to the family life i had/have. Understood/Understand? =p/d=

As i was growing up, I learned not to ask too much from my parents. Because if i do, i'll start having nasty arguments with them. And we had many. Most of the 'unecessary' stuff that i had was from my mom, not from my dad. Anyways, they were pretty strict in most aspects you can think of. I was in a pretty tight discipline watch under their roof. I know they wouldn't let me hang out often, they wouldn't buy anything unecessary for me (a gameboy is considered unecessary), they're life's motto for me was "as a child/student, i should stay at home like a good boy, love my family, practice the piano & violin, study hard, be a good Christian". No wonder im seldom home nowadays. Kidding =p but true also la.

View from my house in Alor Star. (this is what i would say now)

View from my JAIL in Alor Star. Oooh...Sunlight! (this was what i would say 10 years back)

For our family, something above 50 bucks would be considered slightly expensive, and 100 bucks is EXPENSIVE. Of course, money was slightly smaller then. However, the only thing my parents would NOT hesitate to spend cash on (besides avoiding from keeping our stomachs empty) is my education. Sigh, of course at that time, education and school work, school books, school shit is the last thing on my mind. My parents would buy countless work books of ALL subjects for me to do when i have FREE TIME. Because for them, FREE TIME does not apply to me. There's no such thing as free time. For some reason, til today, they somehow cant stand seeing me being very free, slacking, bumping around. Thats y im seldom home nowadays. Kidding =p but true also la.

During my time in Alor Star when i was under their 'welfare',
FREE TIME = Studying, doing homework from school, doing extra workbooks if there's no homework from school, practicing piano & violin.
Not to mention having nap for MAXIMUM 1 HOUR ONLY, because after it exceeds that 1 hour, it's considered free time. Again, refer the equation for my "free time".

You must think, wah, WL's childhood that bad ar? or THAT NERDY AR?? no la...of course not, what are you thinking? First of all, both my parents work full time til today. So, im either home alone or with my sis during my parents' working hours, which is before school (when i had afternoon school sessions) or after school (when i had morning sessions). So the only time i try to behave is when they come back from work, by then its only half a day left, and some nights i had tuition classes, and i needn't try to behave in front of my peers during tuition. In fact, everytime i get the chance to go out of my home, i felt like a bird set free and i could be myself. Cussing all the way.

Coming back to the spending cash part, I was used to eating home cooked food everyday. My mom cooked every working day. Wow this one i really Tabik her cuz after a 9-5 job, she comes home, do the laundry, clean the house, and cook. Anyway the reason y she cooks is cuz I believe that its cheap and its healthy. Nothing wrong with that. But again, if i wanted to find something wrong with it, i cant. Because, in my hometown, there's no TGIF, Shogun, Starbucks etc. Food never cost more than 3 bucks. Drinks that cost 10 bucks never existed. The cost of living in my hometown is HALF of KL/Selangor, so our hawker noodle/rice is juz bout 1.50 to 2.50. Yes, THAT cheap. If you wanted look for "luxury" food like Chicken Chop & Pasta (by pasta, i only mean spaghetti bolognese), you can go to this hotel's restaurant called Samila. And thats the MOST EXPENSIVE' food you can find then, by expensive i mean 7 or 8 bucks a plate. ok, steak is 13 bucks. Oh yea, there's KFC. McD's and Pizzahut only came during my early high school days. And they were big hits. That was as big as it could go that time.

So,
>I never had that Nike shoes til i was 17 years old,
>the only time i could go out of the house without my parents' escort, besides 'education' & 'church' purposes was football time at the padang in the evenings,
>my most expensive watch (which i treasured so vigorously) was a Casio that cost RM49.90 (see what kids have nowadays, man!),
>I had my first handphone when i was 17 years old (and that was a Nokia 3310 cuz it was the cheapest, and fyi at that time, everyone was moving towards Nokia 8 series cuz everyone else had their first 3310 when they were 14),
>I've never got the luxury of riding in a foreign car because my parents only had Protons, til recently. Ironically, i now drive one of their old protons, and its not the Waja, LOL.

The beloved Padang in front of my house in Alor Star. This place made me into a footballer representing my school.

Okay, generally this was my upbringing on the surface. But i was glad that i was brought up that way. Okay maybe it was a little extreme but i also had plenty of nonsense time when my parents were working n werent around the whole day n during my school/tuition/ponteng-ed school/ponteng-ed tuition time with frens. Ooops.

Everything i experienced backfired on me.

I told myself i'll not be as thrifty as my dad when i make my own money. Now im earning and i seem thrifty to my ownself. I'd do the silliest thing to save some cash. I wont mention what. But everytime it reminds me of my own dad, and i'll juz laugh to myself. My dad spent hard-earned cash on his family (he still does) buying us new clothes during Christmas/CNY, occasionally buying 'slightly expensive' toys/football boots for me, taking family to budget vacations like to Penang (an hour's drive away) staying in a hotel of AT LEAST 3- or 4 stars, and many others.

Well, you can say thats what every normal dad would do. While i agree on that fact, i also wouldn't take that fact for granted that he IS a good dad, regardless whether he never made his million or did, he was even thriftier to himself than to us. Everytime he walks by a watch shop for example, he would look at some particular watch, stare at it for ages, try it on, and would never buy. This situation occured so often during my childhood and teen life that i've gotten used to it. It juz occured with different items n shops. I no more think that the world is against me even though i seldom got what i wanted, because my dad rarely bought anything for himself too.

Because of this, i know, ultimately i got what i wanted. A good education. Because of my parents' thrifiness, they've got sufficient savings. Yes, over the years, saving little by little, they definitely added up. Sufficient enough for my sister and I to get a good college/uni education at a private college. Even more for me, what more can I ask? Not only i get to go to one, I in fact got the choice to choose the course that i wanted, the college that i think most suitable for me. Did my dad object? NO. He supported me all the way thru my degree course. My passion. Would he prefer me to be an accountant, or perhaps an engineer? Of course. Like how the typical him would prefer me to buy a Nokia 3310 than a more expensive Nokia 8250. Would he object if i bought the Nokia 8250? Definitely. We would probably get into an argument.

Did my dad object when i told him i wanted to do a Bachelors of Music course which is NOT cheap at all? He DIDN'T. In addition, I was a pure science student. I was in fact doing my A levels at Taylors halfway, and i was taking science subjects. Anyways we talked about it, but positively. Not even an ounce of objection. Not that i can remember of. Cuz i easily remember these stuffs, REMEMBER? You can take a look at the earlier paragraphs in this post.

Suddenly my parents became the best parents in the world. Suddenly i was glad that they never spend their cash on a Honda Accord during my school days. Suddenly i was glad that they never bought me a gameboy, playstation, and a whole other bunch of stuffs which i've never gotten. Suddenly i was (selfishly) glad my dad never bought himself that watch, those audio CDs he could have collected, and the many 1 Ringgit fee that he should pay when entering a shopping mall, but instead opted to park by the side of the road and juz walk a little further cuz its free.

Maybe the biggest benefit i had wasnt the education or the many months of hard-earned/hard-saved cash being sent to my account to pay for rent & cost of living in KL. Maybe the biggest benefit i had was the value i learnt over time- which is not to take things for granted. Its not only about money, its about appreciating every small thing in life that i have, and not making a big fuss of what I dont have. And it has much to do with my upbringing. Im grateful for it. I can easily survive. I dont need to eat Pasta every once in a while (you'd be surprised how many ppl do). I also know how to adapt to a rather 'spendrift' city life. Dinner nowadays does not cost 5 bucks anymore. But i try to save. Im alot like my dad. I TRY save on myself, as long as i do not go hungry. Dont have to buy whatever unecessary. Treating myself once in a while is good. Having nice meals at nice restaurants with ppl close to me once in a while is good too. I feel happy to spend a little extra on my loved ones every now and then. Now i know how my dad feels. Because of my upbringing in my family and my hometown, plus the exposure i get from 5 years of city life, i learn to hang my life in balance. I TRY not to take things for granted. I still do. But not enough to say that im a spoilt brat. Afterall, im still a small town boy. I've seen so many spoilt city kids around. But maybe its not their fault cuz they never had a similar upbringing as mine. And they are perhaps more fortunate. Or will it backfire against them too? =p

Forward to the time now. My parents moved here just last December and bought a house so now im staying with them. Reunite after a 5 year separation. Of course everything is different now. But im glad to stay with them, even though i barely see them as my hours are different. im glad i dont have to pay for rent nor car. Looks like they've got everything covered for me, even though im earning on my own. They're even sending me overseas for my masters. I would never expect them to afford all this 10 years ago. Im glad my dad didnt buy the watch. =p

Anyway, this post is a tribute to my dad, whose birthday is one week from now.

To daddy,
I've never always been a good son, but u've always been a good dad. Happy Birthday.

Clip preview: Soloing on the piano

2008-06-17T03:58:00.003+08:00

Okay, so the last time i posted a video of myself performing was with the violin. Actually before this, i only had 2 video posts, and both with me on the violin. Anyway...here's one with me on the piano- Bangkok Jazz with Junji's Mamma's Boys band (May 10th 2008), video courtesy of Adeline.

The Shadow Of Your Smile

2008-06-05T18:24:00.007+08:00

This is the first recording that features myself singing the lead. I recorded everything in my room with a simple setup. Vocal and violin tracks were the only audio tracks (which i recorded using my beloved condenser mic) while the rest were using MIDI.
All my other works are for uni projects or work-based projects.
I recorded this song exclusively for Adeline, just because its one of her favourite songs and so i dedicate this song to her...
Here is the song i uploaded together with pictures of my setup (yeah i know, im going to change my desk chair soon, i kinda just moved in so not everything's final yet).

the shadow of your smile.mp3 - Wei Li

the ugly plastic seat

Words - not my best way of expression

2008-05-31T19:30:00.007+08:00

I can never write well. This is one of the few things in life that I find it hard to live with. I regret that I've never adopted a reading habit when I was young. I was always envious of some of my English tuition mates whenever I read their essays after their being marked. No matter how hard I try, I could never beat them. Its like its in them, and the only conclusion I can make is that they read alot, because thats true. To be frank, I've never finished a book in my life. Well, i think for someone who doesn't read much, my writing skills are okay, but it can never be compared to the well-structured sentences-words-expression-combination of everything of those who read alot. Even now, whenever i read certain blogs, i get envious, and i wish i could write like that. Well, some people tell me that its not too late to start, but at this point of life, im too lazy already. Well...i hope some time in the future i'll get the inspiration to start reading. Another thing is since i can't write, I cant write lyrics either. I've only written ONE song in my life and thats inspired by something. I guess sometimes inspiration is not enough to sustain this. I find it hard to express myself in words, i dont think i've enough depth in that area. I think writing depth comes from reading. By depth, i dont mean deep meaning, or difficult words, but just simple words to express or make a point by not sounding cheesy or 'kampung'. Sometimes when i write something, its not wrong, but it doesnt sound right either, just that its hard to point a finger to what is not right.

Honestly, im embarrased of this weakness i have. But again, I can't have it all, can I?

If you're confused or think im too long winded or dont get certain things i said, it shows again what a lousy writer i am.

Emotionality, my reality

2008-05-27T22:34:00.005+08:00

Wow....cant believe i just wrote some "emo-trying to be phylosophical" shit in my previous post. Anyways...I think everyone has their moment, and im naturally an emo/drama person...i take certain things so seriously sometimes but i guess its good... anyway i've toned down alot compared to last time.

I think if im not an emo person i wont be able to feel music as much as i do now, im not implying that im an excellent musician or whatsoever, because i've a long way to go, but i do agree im at a certain level and i wont be at this level if im not emo. My mentor once told me to use this as my strength....the day or week that i've been through, use those experiences and emotions to channel out through my music, my playing. And thats what i've been trying to do, not only during gigs but also at home when im playing/practicing. I guess thats the best way to channel my emotions, especially negative ones, rather than shouting at someone, or crying or whatsoever.

Talking about crying, I was jumping when i saw John Terry of Chelsea crying after Man Utd won the Champions League. I guess he feels its his fault. He doesnt have to feel its his fault. Cuz it is. He could have sealed the deal there and then. He screwed up. Man Utd are champions.
He's selected to be captain in England's upcoming friendly match against USA. I think he's selected to be captain cuz the manager feels bad for him. =p
Glory glory Man Utd. Feel babe...FEEEEL IT. Emo. Dont.

Just like a dream

2008-05-26T13:07:00.004+08:00

Fairytales do come true.....thats what people say....i believe that too...well, partially at least....the thing about fairytales which people dont know is that every fairytale has a perfect ending...and thats the part i dont believe in....while i believe fairytales come true, i also believe it wont necessary end in a fairytale way...maybe something could happen for a few weeks, or say a month, and during that period you'll believe u're in a fairytale. Everything seemed perfect, just like a dream. Of course, to me, u'll have to put some (or alot) effort to make that moment work, hoping for the best, hoping that its all worth it, and not just sit and watch cuz nothing's gonna happen when u just sit and watch. Just like Prince Charming who made an effort to come all the way to rescue his princess.

Trust- its a big word, it takes alot of courage to have trust, well for me at least. To trust, and to find it being betrayed, thats the worse thing anyone could ever face whether in work place, relationships, deals, etc. You hope it wont be taken for granted. When i put my full trust and to find it being broken, I might just change. I might not easily trust anymore. My perception of things will change, slowly. Maybe i wont be this nice anymore. I'll be extra careful. Again, you'll never know, while some people give you their word, and you think you could trust them, you think you're prioritized, well maybe you are prioritized, but you dont know how long it'll last, you think it'll last long, and you find it short-lived, it might just shatter you. It will shatter you further if it means the world to you, if what you live for everyday is that fairytale life that you thought would last forever. Imagine if Prince Charming came all the way, fought the bad guys, defeated the wicked queen, just to find the princess saying "sorry you took too long time, I just couldn't wait for you, I know you did all this for me, I appreciate it, but i just couldn't wait". Of course that would never happen in a real fairytale because there are no other guys living with the locked up princess up the tower- apart from the rugged n scruffy guards.

Relationships of all kind- family, colleagues, bf/gf, etc- are about sacrifices. It depends how deep you are in love with the person that determines the sacrifice you can make. For example, a simple example- Im in KLCC, someone dropped me there. Im supposed to meet my very good friend at a jazz bar at a certain time, and im late. Im supposed to take the train, but it'll take a long time. I dont want my friend to wait, so i take a cab. Cab is more expensive, but its quicker. Of course, its nothing to be calculative about, but thats a simple sacrifice. Then there's another drastic example, now this is a true story of a friend who waited for her bf for a few years while he was abroad. Both of them dated in uni, and they found each other so perfect- only to be separated with distance after they graduated. While they go on with their lives in 2 different countries, their heart never changed against each other, they never grew apart- for a few years. Now they're married. Yes, its not easy, but one of them told me that its all worth it. That's a true fairytale. Sticking through thick and thin- no one said in order to have a fairytale ending, you dont have to make any sacrifices. I would want a fairytale ending, who wouldn't?
The only question is, to what extend are you willing to sacrifice for your loved ones?

Sometimes when you wake up in the morning, you find that whatever good experience that happened in the past is just like a dream. And all you can see is just flashes of memories that pass you by. And you live everyday like a dead zombie having those flashes constantly through ur brain, knowing that the dream is not going to exist anymore, instead, they're just gonna remain like polaroid pictures and slides in ur brain.

"Nobody said it was easy"- Coldplay

2007-2008

2008-05-17T14:57:00.008+08:00

Okay, besides the English Premier League football season (which Man Utd won..yay!), the topic above refers to how my life has been these 1 and a half years. 2007 was very much different from this year. I had LOTS of ups and downs in 2007, but i appreciate 2007 because if it werent for the experiences i've been thru, i wouldnt have a great 2008 (so far til now). I've been a different person now compared to last year, and its a good thing. Im less temperamental, more patient, I think before I talk or take action, I try not to take things/people for granted, im more positive, im less insecure (yes, im naturally an insecure person), and im calmer but yet sharper when it comes to decision making. Maybe these values that i've learned (and still learning day by day) to adopt have opened up many opportunities to meet and work with great people. Also, not forgetting God's blessings. Its only (almost) halfway thru the year, but i hope that the remainder of year would be as great or better than what it has been. If it doesnt go that way, there are probably a couple more lessons in life that i'll learn this year, and that would probably make 2009 a better one. Below are random pictures which sums up part of my life in 2008, so far. Wish i had more pics to complete this.

I appreciate all of you..

Alone Again, Naturally- NOT

2008-05-03T03:13:00.005+08:00

I should be packing my stuff now but instead im glued to this small type box here. After nearly 5 years, i'll be staying with my parents again. I wonder how will this turn out...Despite being close to my parents, i was never a home-sick person, not even a tiny bit. Dont get me wrong, I appreciate my parents to infinity amount for what they've provided me all this while, just dat really, i was never a homesick person.
So, for almost the whole 5 year period i was here, i stayed alone- i ate alone, did my own laundry, etc. I did most of the stuff alone and enjoyed it (haha sounds so sad, but believe me, i had a fair amount of time socializing too),in fact, i chose to be alone most of the time when i was. I like to have my own time and space.
Last December my parents were transferred here for good, so they bought a house right next to my grandma's. Renovations had just been completed, and tomorrow will be the first of the many days that i'll be 'sleepin over'. In other words, im shifting. Thanks to my parents again for getting this house so i dont have to pay room rent and i'll finally have a real home to stay in (with a nice couch and Astro in front of me), after 5 years. Oh yea...and finally after um...about 9 or 10 years, my sister will be my (room's) next door neighbour again, just like the old times. Wonder how will that turn out too...
It is a good thing for me to stay with my family once again. The only thing i have to adjust is the 'being alone' part, which i really enjoyed for the past 5 years. I guess in everything there are pros and cons. Either that or its juz the matter of getting used to it.
Oh yea and i suck cuz i still barely understand any cantonese even though i've been here for quite a while. I cant even count from 1 to 10! Wonder how i survived all this while.

2008-05-02T03:13:00.002+08:00

I can't think of any topic for my post this time. It has been quite a while now, as you can see my last post happened to be on my country's Independance Day last year...didnt realise that until I decided to finally write something here like 2 mins ago...This post is not for me to say anything...or give some sort of opinion about something...this is kinda a wasted post...juz for the sake of it...like how some of you would have a cup of coffee to kickstart your day...so this is something like a cup of coffee...hopefully i'll feel like blogging again...cuz someone just inspired me to do so...its funny how people create a certain blog for a certain phase of life...and they quit after that phase ends and they start a new blog for their new phase. I dont do that, but maybe i should, but again i guess not, cuz it feels like a new blog, i dont know y. Sometimes i just dont make sense. But ya i feel like i should start a new blog cuz i think my previous posts suck. I think i dont know what im talking about. Im so sleepy, tomoro i'll read this again, and i'll probably edit or delete it. Oh yea, hi 2008.

Me? A Nerd?

2007-08-31T16:05:00.000+08:00

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.)
Drama Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Social Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Literature Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

CALLING ALL JAZZ LOVERS, AFICIONADOS, FANS & MUSOS!

2007-07-07T14:41:00.000+08:00

If you have a passion for jazz and want to see that it is nurtured...
If you enjoy the freedom in jazz and want to make sure that it is heard...
If you believe that jazz has the power to bring people together in a common bond...
or
If you have something to share in the interest of building up the Malaysian jazz movement......
then come on the 8th of July and join JAM. Together let's stand up for jazz!

Regarding jam sessions by George Carlin

2007-07-07T14:40:00.000+08:00

"Jazz musicians are the only workers I can think of who are willing to put in a full shift for pay and then go somewhere else and continue to work for free."

Estranged- Unplugged version of "Itu Kamu" on Muzik Muzik

2007-05-13T13:27:00.000+08:00

featuring....

....me.....haha...

2007-04-18T02:48:00.000+08:00

"Oh dont worry...this is not the last time, its what u've prepared for since u decided to be a musician, just play what u feel is right, put your own ideas no matter what songs you play, only then u will sound original...no matter what happens, this is experience that all musicians go thru to become better players."

A new me?

2007-03-22T23:34:00.000+08:00

i havent been blogging for quite a while now...i dunno if there's anyone reading even if i blog...LOL... i wanted to post a "Sabah Part 3" which will contain pics of the fun i had on the beach & snorkelling & some lamo stuffs which my frens n i did after the show day. Too lazy.
Anyways...sigh...how do i start here? um...i guess im pretty much like my blog, still stuck in 2006, haven't moved on or start a new chapter. I guess i was wrong; I thought i needed a holiday, a get away and a fun time on a beach to forget about my busy semester & all the other stuffs i had last year. I thought if i had a good get-away, the coming year and semester would be different, as I would have cleared my thoughts, to equip myself with new resolutions, new drive, a new me.
In a way, I think i'm close ("close", not "already") to the new 'me' i wanted to be...the new resolutions, the re-ignited passion has helped...but there's still something in my life that robs that peace from me, and its lame. Really. All i can say is that I juz wana play the piano...

....if u get what i mean.

why...

2007-01-19T12:27:00.000+08:00

is everything cramped into my day slot? >:(

Sabah Part 2: Show day

2007-01-03T21:37:00.000+08:00

This is gonna be simple and straightforward. And again, picture intensive.

Before the show:

From left: myself, Paul, Veon, Jon and Julia- Getting our nerves down with the outside fresh air before the show.

With new-born Veon on clarinet and my violin partner, Susan- Juz before the show

The Casts warming up before the show with the song "cha chambo"

After the show:

Choir celebrating after the show with the song "cha chambo"...LOL...

With the talented pianist/composer & director of this musical, Weng Onn

Posing with my good fren, and also talented singer, Tabby 'Leah'..

And Justin 'Mr.Lee'...

Playing our final notes on the Long house before it was being torn down..

The man behind all this...Ps. Chew

Guess who we met?

2007-01-02T00:40:00.000+08:00

29/12/2006

Sabah (Part I)

2006-12-28T01:42:00.000+08:00

I was looking forward to this day, where i stamped my foot onto the land of Borneo for the first time. Never knew it will be this soon (i mean before i agreed to play for DBD musical), never expected my first time to be a free trip too. Ok, the reason why im exaggerating about this trip (yeah, i know Sabah is still Malaysia, especially those of u from that side of the country) is bcuz for all my life i've been learning bout East Malaysia & their unique culture from Sejarah/ Geography text books, RTM 1 documentary, posters and etc. So it makes me curious. Waited for 21 years to go there u know...hehe....Anyways...the main purpose of going there was for the musical. yes, Drunk Before Dawn the musical, season 2. Firstly, the story of this musical originates from Borneo, so it has a deeper and more sentimental connection to the local ppl here, so i would say it was an honour to perform in a musical which is a part of East Malaysian history.

The transport:

We had busses like this fetching us to the venue for rehearsals and shows from our service apartments to Yayasan Sabah and back.

The venue:

This is Yayasan Sabah. Nice building but its quite old. I heard that it was the first "high tech" building in that area. We actually did not perform in this tall building but the auditorium beside it. This building has offices. The whole area is Yayasan Sabah, i think.

The Long House:

This long house was made more real than the one we had for the KL shows. They probably used the 'real' stuff.

The rehearsals:

where did the conductor go?

The choir

Approximately 13 wireless mics were used for the cast.

The breaks:

Some had friends to take them out yamcha....

While others took group photos..

And sunsets, during the evening...

fake deep = (emo + thinker) wanabe = poser + kebodohan

2006-12-14T03:14:00.001+08:00

y do u blog? if u ask me, i dont blog. im not a blogger. posting something every once in a blue moon doesnt make me a blogger. well, at least that's what i think. taking piano lessons for all ur life and playing it once in a while doesnt make u a pianist...does it? do u call urself a smoker if u smoke for social purposes? no? so, im not a blogger. so wat's the big deal if i think im a blogger or not? no big deal. really. no fuss at all. maybe im juz posting this juz so i can show ppl that im a thinker? or maybe im deep... haha...deep...that's the word. ok...dat was juz a lame intro to what i wana say in this post, or maybe i REALLY wanted to sound like i think alot and that makes me look cool n DEEP? haha..ok cut the crap.. anyways, I really cannot stand blogs that frequently post something that is so 'try-hard' to sound deep juz because they wana appear look deep.

Because..

Deep= Emo + Thinker.

And..

Thinker= Brainy + know it all in life especially philosophies of life.

Emo= Felt everything that has ever been felt in life.

Im not trying to figure out these ppl or trying to be a Thinker (see the equation above, and by saying that, im not trying to be a thinker, see the equation above again). But im juz kinda turned off by these kinda blogs la....its like so immature la...not dat im damn mature la....juz dat u know, when someone writes about something they relate to in life, u know it when its from their heart/soul or not. Its like music, when someone plays something from their heart, it may not be technical, but u feel their heartbeat. A technical musician without soul wouldnt sound like that un-technical but soulful musician even if the same thing is played. Not implying that being technical is bad though. Anyway, back to the topic, so many ppl nowadays juz kinda come up with something related in life or something that they have experienced, but its abit exaggerated in terms of what they feel, or their point of view. Well i understand that we humans do exaggerate, but i really cannot tahan if they do it to get symphathy or impress ppl. its like SO stupid..well...put grammar & choice of words aside (even my blog's english is like shit ok), if its genuine, then it will sound genuine..erm..actually now im kinda lost for words (like suddenly only!) cuz i realise i dunno how to explain the whole situation of these ppl but i hope those who read this post understand what im saying...For all u genuine + good writers out there, keep it up....u intimidate me but i've learnt to accept the fact dat i cant write well...for those genuine + lousy writers (like me), also keep it up...haha.... And for those who makan cili and rasa pedas for this post, Juz one thing la, dont try too hard to be deep/emo if it aint u. keep it real.

SIB KL presents.....Drunk Before Dawn- The Musical

2006-12-14T02:01:00.000+08:00

Well...This day is finally going to happen. After the many practices n rehearsals for everyone involved (especially the actors and actresses), we'll gonna see that hard work pay off in this exciting 2 hour drama of the Lun Bawang tribe and the birth of SIB. Anyways, the audio CD is out for this musical and i've posted some pics of the (mini) orchestra recording at the main hall of SIB. These pics were all taken by Christon, thanks to him.

Tickets are all sold out, so if u havent got any, too bad...But do check the website of this event at: http://www.sibkl.org.my/dbd.htm

Im not psychic

2006-11-14T03:43:00.000+08:00

i CANT read minds u know....

Happy Birthday Jolyn!

2006-11-11T03:42:00.000+08:00

Juz wana wish u a happy 22nd birthday...Thanks for ur friendship all these years and for being like a sister to me....for ur constant nagging to save money, sleep early, reply ur mails, etc...hope u'll have a nice time celebrating without me (im sure u will...sniff....). Luv ya..

Friendster

2006-11-07T12:49:00.000+08:00

i FINALLY got a friendster account. Feel free to add me at http://www.friendster.com/34630304

Inspired...

2006-11-06T02:56:00.000+08:00

I've anticipated far too long for this day to come, and, i finally get the chance to make my way to Top Hat's Sunday jam session. And i've been blessed more than i expected to be. Blessed, not as in somebody has done a favor or gave me something, but by being so inspired by the top notch, yet humble musicians in this country.
anyway, being involved in a musical which is going to be held in December has held me back from coming to this weekly jam session as our rehearsals were on Sunday. Im GLAD that we have a few weeks' break so i still have the chance to go to Top Hat at least for 2 or 3 more Sundays.
Anyways, one of the reasons i was so eager to go is bcuz i wanted to meet David Gomes and talk to him about mentoring me in jazz performing. Well, seeing him and his band play is already encouraging enough, but the part that meant more than anything else for that nite was that after i played two songs with the band (yeah, i went up to jam), though honestly i know it wasnt that great compare to those jazz cats, he said he liked what i played, he knows where im coming from when i was playing and he saw the heart i put to it, and best of all, he agreed to mentor me. Im not boasting here, but it really means something to me when an encouragement like that comes from such a great musician. Oh, btw, even his band members speaks so highly of him and calls him "maestro". He's like the leading example of what a jazz pianist is all about. No doubt, in this country, there are many good jazz pianists around, but David Gomes is really really something. He is about the character, experience, the vibe that he gives...and...hmm...really, i cant put it in words.
I also spoke to Julian after the jam session, and i've learned quite a few things from him too. These musicians are so good, yet, so humble and inspiring, and it may juz be the few words they say to encourage and help. He was also very kind to ask me join him and David Gomes n co for dinner, which i did la...I wanted to hear about their experience.
Aside that, i also spent some time, a long time actually, chatting with the house bassist, Albert Yap, who's also an experience musician himself, and graduated from San Francisco. So, as some of u know, my initial future plan was to do my masters in jazz piano in the United Kingdom. After speaking to Mr. Albert, it might change afterall. im quite certain.
He juz came back from Bandung, Indonesia last week. He played in the jazz festival there and he told me there are tonnes of great jazz cats there. Many young ones too. He said the exposure and the music education in that area is juz fantastic..in fact, he believes its on par with Berklee College of Music. Juz that its cheaper, MUCH cheaper. And i believe every word he said. Indonesia and the Phillipines have produced tonnes of great musicians since a long time ago. So, he agreed to hook me up with his contacts there to bring me tour around. Well, this might juz be the twist of my future. We shall see. In one years' time. I wana keep my options open. Julian said Perth has quite a scene there too. I wana do my masters. Or possibly PhD. And try to work overseas. Ok, enough said. Nothing's confirmed yet. For now im juz inspired. Very. Who knows what life can bring?

Time waits for no man

2006-11-06T02:39:00.000+08:00

if u're a football fan (regardless a Beckham fan or not..cuz its about him), check out this article i read on soccernet...its a lil long but i couldnt agree more...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=389503&root=europe&cc=4716

who u callin a kid?

2006-11-05T03:03:00.000+08:00

I remember when i was in standard 5 and 6 in my primary school (doh), my peers and i would see ourselves as being the "seniors" of the school. we would pick on younger kids bcuz we feel 'old'. The same goes when we turned form 1, all primary school students were "kids" to us. Of course, this cycle didnt end. After pmr, some of us started to be involved in relationships, and we would think that it was the 'ideal' age cuz we tot we're like, "matured thinkin" and all...anyways during that period, we used to hang out in shoppin malls n stuff, then we'll occasionally encounter "young" couples..."young" meaning younger than us at that time...like before pmr age...so we'll be thinking (and many at times saying), "these "kids" are so young, sumore wana date date all...". Ok, so we used the word "kids"...as if we werent kids at that age...
...which brings me to now..yeah now..like this current second when im alive....whenever i see some high schoolers in some shopping mall, laughing loudly at a restaurant, or dating and lookin at each others' eyes like their gonna get married soon, i'll go like "argh...those kids.."...where the fact is i was in their position few years back thinkin im all about life...well, currently i do hang out with ppl older than me (my college has lots of old ppl, mostly rejects from other colleges/unis cuz they think music is easy..or last resort...haha...shhh!!), and sometimes when they have disagreements with their own classmates younger than them, they will be like "those fellas still kids la...havent experienced much in life yet...take everything for granted"...so they used the word "kids" alrite...
hmm...since every generation calls the generation before them "kids", i wonder when will the cycle stop...i bet it wont stop at the young-juz graduated-working adults when they look at college/uni students...i wonder whether it will stop at married-couples-with-kids when they view young-juz graduated-working adults, or will it stop much later?

oh yea...i remember when i was crossing from one stage to another stage in life (as in primary school to high school and yada yada), parents/adults will be saying, "now you're "big" enough to watch over urself...dont do stupid things or get influenced"...and when we make a mistake, they'll go "sigh, that kid, i think he/she doesnt deserve too much freedom, better control him/her"...and worse, til today some ppl still suffer that treatment from their parents...im glad i do not...but i think sometimes adults behave like kids...

pic above: xu radiance (looks hip hop huh? =p)

Fat face

2006-11-04T02:27:00.000+08:00

i changed my hair parting more to the left...and i wanted to see how it looked on pics, so i decided to take some pics of my serious face..and i realize i have a fat face...

contradicts my body... =(

I dont even feel angry...but i look so serious...no wonder ppl say i got fierce/lansi face..

im so lazy...u see the pile of clothes there? it has been there for 2 weeks...its clean...i hung it out to dry after washing it...and when i took them back to my room, i was so lazy to put them back in my cupboard...until now...

its 5.40 am....

2006-11-01T05:43:00.001+08:00

and i cant sleep...well...i tried...my attempt failed...i dont know y...i cant seem to shut my eyes from the real world juz so i can attend class with a fresh pair of brain....im staring at the bottle of strawberry jam in my room...funny dat its in my room...oh yea...cuz i was sick a few days ago and i ate only bread with jam...almost every holiday i'll get sick...i dont know y...i juz told my friend i think during working/college time i work my ass and tahan until maybe when holiday finally comes then i'll relax then all the 'supposedly' accumulated sickness come to me...hahaha...laughing to myself...so stupid...talking bout work...sigh...this month's heavy for me....this week, everyday and nite i have something...so tiring...next week's a little lighter though...but the week after that is gonna be like crazy cuz finals n all dat...sumore having this function gig and possibly another one then replacing some lounge pianist at some hotel for 5 days....5 days?! hmm...i guess um...i guess i like to be busy...when i got nothing to do i complain...but well...i wana get an electric violin...and so i guess im gonna work for it...sigh...well...life's good la actually....i think i wana take my 2nd attempt to sleep...Zzzzz

continuation from last post...(sort of continuation)

2006-10-08T23:00:00.002+08:00

After last Tuesday, the debut of my m-audio's Fast Track Pro audio interface, I realised dat its worth my money afterall, and that includes my laptop and external hard disk. I recorded the electric guitar parts for the song im co-producing for my final project. Since my room is a little crowded, i took my 'recording gear' out to the hall, where it feels cozy and comfortable. Ian, my guitar sessionist, and also project partner, came over to do all his guitar parts. We had a fun and relaxing time recording. We didnt feel any urge to rush it, since we do not have studio time to follow and we took our time to make it sound good. In the end, all i felt was satisfaction. Thanks to my 'recording gear' which i finally put to good use. Im looking forward to my next session of bass and keyboard recording at home. I already recorded the drums at the college studio. I hope to post the end product on this blog. And yes, as felix said, music production and the manipulation of digital audio is fascinating. But as fascinating it can be, i'd rather watch a movie...haha...im juz pure lazy la...and also, Felix is the only person i know that will learn sight reading himself and do all this music production exploration even though he's not forced to. Im studying music but i never bother unless have to..haha...sigh...aku memang malas...macam...um...nvm la...anyway felix, u must study music la..

Making my money's worth? or feeding the desire of 'owning' it?

2006-10-03T04:30:00.000+08:00

Its not that im spend-thrift (well, at least i think im not), juz dat i use my cash to buy "necessary" stuff to make my life convenient in my college. On second thought, if something is done to make life more convenient, its not necessary then. Well, i think i can juz conclude that i purchase stuff, necessary to make my life more convenient, or i can even conclude that its necesarry to make my life convenient?

Come to think of it, it may be none of the above afterall.

Ok, here's my situation. As some of you know, i bought my new laptop like 4 months ago. Oh wait, pause there a minute. Let's bring this much earlier to my initial masterplan.

Since my first semester entering the world of music production (first half of the year), I was determined to get my own mini recording system. First reason was since everyone in college was fighting for studio time, it would be very convenient to record certain instruments at home. I can save time, and do my recording at any time of the day, not only during college hours. Secondly, being a Music Production and Technology major, I should in fact have at least a basic recording system, so i can have the experience of recording and troubleshooting not only during classes n in college, but at home as well, and i can slowly learn from experience, as time would not be a factor.

First things first, the basic stuffs i need for a recording system at home; high powered computer, audio interface, external hard disk, keyboard.

An ideal computer should be a desktop cuz its powerful, or a mac, cuz its stable. I already have a desktop, but its not powerful enough to run audio production cuz its kinda 'out-dated', plus, a desktop takes too much space, which i need for the keyboard. I have a small room. A mac is definitely out of my budget.

In August, i bought an audio interface; M-Audio's Fast Track Pro. It costs Rm800, and that also, one of the cheapest decent audio interface i can find.

What an audio interface does is converting audio signals to digital so that it can be recorded into the computer. In other words, its also a medium that connects an instrument to a computer.
I paid nearly half of the cost of the laptop and audio interface with my own money. The other part my parents helped me settle it. I wish i could have paid a larger slice, i hate to rely on my parents even though they're willing. I teach and gig around occasionally and i get pretty decent pay. I want to use the money i earn for something worthy of the "good investment" title (well, though alot is spent on phone bills and petrol). And if not for my somewhat regular income at the end of last year and beginning of the year, i wouldn't even think of getting this recording system. Burdening my parents financially is definitely out of the question, especially since my college fees are on them.

Um...Back to the topic where i got diverted; i got a laptop, an audio interface, and few days ago i bought an external hard drive. The issue is, I buy these stuffs and i leave it at home to rot. Crazy. i never expected this from myself too. I tot i would be like exploring the system i've got at home. But no. Instead, the only use of my "2Gig RAM" laptop is for me is to watch dvds, check mails, chat, download movies, songs, and read football news. My audio interface is left untouched on the dressing table. Before i got my laptop and audio interface, i thought to myself, "the moment i get these stuffs, i'll definitely use it often to learn and explore, and not only wait for recording assignments to come". Guess what i did over the months after i got those stuff? i continued my habit of watching movies, checking mails, surfing the net, chatting and download songs.

How can i explain myself in this? Do i buy techy stuff to make myself feel that im making my money's worth, instead of buying a few pairs of Nike Air Max 180 and feel that i've been wasting my hard earn money on unnecesarry stuff? judging by the way i live, either one can be considered unnecesarry anyway, since my audio interface is left to rot and my laptop not used for audio production.

Tomorrow will be my first recording session with my audio interface, and its for my project. Dont think my life will change, if it does, it'll only be for a day, or the days when im forced to complete my recording projects. Come to think of it, I dont really give shit about recording and music production actually. My heart is in performing. I've got no choice, i have to choose a major. The only other major available in college is Arranging. I hate paper work. Arrange my ass.

Conclusion for this entire post: Im lazy

P/S: i've been checking out monitor speakers and microphones to complete recording system im building. now im thinking, should i buy them juz to feed my desire of "owning" a more complete recording system, and not knowing if i'll leave them to rot or not? Or maybe i'll start exploring the system knowing that i have a more complete one? (doubt it) =p

sorry i've not been updating this blog much, if there's anyone reading. i dont think so too anyway.

Merdeka!!

2006-08-31T03:42:00.000+08:00

Celebrating our country's 49th year of independance

Fourplay live in Malaysia!

2006-08-15T02:27:00.000+08:00

Finally, my all-time favourite instrumental smooth jazz band- Fourplay, is performing in Malaysia (Dewan Filharmonik) on the 15th and 16th of August. I was one of the lucky ppl to get tix for the show before they were all sold out. I can't wait...its this coming wed!! I had ppl coming to me offering a few times the price to get my ticket..(should keep raising the bid la! =p )... For me, fourplay is like the ultimate band cuz each of the band members are masters of their own respective instruments and they're also performing artists and sessionists individually too. Currently, the line-up for Fourplay is Bob James (keys), Larry Carlton (guitar) Nathan East (bass & vocals, occasionally) and Harvey Mason (drums). Guitarist Larry Carlton has re-joined Fourplay to replace Lee Ritenour for whatever reason (probably due to Ritenour's focus on his solo career) but he will definitely provide a different colour to the band's sound due to his fusion-rockish influence, as he already did, in Fourplay's tenth album, entitled 'X'. For the music fans out there, i hope u already have tix for this show, if not...um....juz be jealous and wait for another decade or when they decide to come la.. =p. Here's a music video of their sexy song to give u a slight taste of their music. (this video featured ex-guitarist Lee Ritenour)

to dugong: i've got the REAL Fourplay tix man! (at an unbelievable price too due to government subsidy..serious!) =p

Between the Sheets - Fourplay feat Chaka Khan

p/s: Legendary jazz musicians Chick Corea and Gary Burton are coming to this same venue next year March 12th & 13th. Make sure u get ur tix...i already got mine...kiasu betul..

oh...crap

2006-08-14T03:08:00.000+08:00

imagine eating a crab...

this small...

Luna Bar

2006-07-30T22:38:00.000+08:00

Thanks to Luna Bar and Mr.Bartender for giving me the opportunity to star in blue pictures for the first time, together with Wai Peng, Calvin and Laura, on the 27th of July 2006. Anyways, as usual, i write less, and let the pictures do the talking.

Calvin's big face. No wonder Laura doesnt wana be in front. Sial..

I thought that this nite was abit magical. okay...it sounds gay/fairytaley..but really..it was a memorable nite..i mean it..here's one proof; we suddenly started being transparent to each other. Hope u catch my drift. its lame.

Calvin: being transparent

Hantu Laura

Magic hand (and finger =p)

Here are some Poser pics:

Poser 1: Wai Peng

Poser 2: Calvin

Poser 3: Laura

The Cool Pix:

Haha....okay la...i know im the most poser.. =p

After Luna Bar, we decided to go to KLCC for more cam-whoring. Like we have nothing better to do...

The contenders:

Laura vs WP

looks like cut and paste...but hey, its real...

This was how the pics were taken:

pro-nya.....LOL
oh btw, if u realized, i have a new hairstyle; wet look, cut it as well...juz sick of my ugly ol' skool hair.

Gig in Royal Selangor Polo Club

2006-07-17T03:33:00.000+08:00

After a dry spell for about 3 months, i finally had a gig with my function band- Melissa & the Misfits, for a function in the Royal Selangor Polo Club in Ampang. This is one of my best gigs so far, for the 2 years we've been together. Anyway, guess who came? Ella!! To me,She's the all-time top female rock singer in Malaysia. She has an awesome voice. Anyways, during the end of the 2nd set, my band's singer, Melissa, invited Ella up on stage to sing a couple of songs which one them was "Stairway to heaven". I feel honoured to share the same stage with this legend. Btw, she's still looking as hot as before even though she's around 40 years of age.. (psst..she's not married)

The outside of the club house. Our soundcheck was in the afternoon.

Melissa & the Misfits- Rockin' up the stage with dance and retro music

Melissa & The Misfits featuring Ella..

Ella and my bandmates: (from left) Sudin (drums), Daniel (bass), Ian (guitar), and I (keyboards).

Sudin and Jojie, who is also Ella's sister and manager

Daniel and Ian with the rock chic

The fella behind (middle) is one of the sound crew...trying to fit into the pic..LOL

long hair

2006-07-16T19:20:00.004+08:00

i found this rare pic of myself with long hair

WL & Chai Leng (ppl used to call us twins)

Back to the roots

2006-07-15T01:37:00.000+08:00

Hopefully this will be my last post about my hometown. there's like so much to say bout a small town where i grew up in. anyways, when i was back in my hometown last month, i attended church service, the same n onli one i've been attending in alor star since i was born. while watching the church band play, i was reminded of the times when i was in that band. I started playing violin regularly in church services when i was around 12 years old. I started applying some of the stuffs that i learned from my violin classes into christian contemporary music. Back then i didnt know what key was the song in, or even the chords. i didnt even understand those terms. All i knew was what sounds wrong and what sounds right. I had to rely 100% on my ears. Well, it gave me good basics on improvisation and pitch relativity. I only really started playing contemporary when i was assigned to play keyboards in church. Again, no one taught me how to play contemporary music. All i learned in piano and violin lessons at that time was to read notes and play scales. So, i had to imagine what i would play on the violin and apply it on the keyboard. As time goes by, i started listening to modern church songs, especially hillsongs, and i started 'stealing' the guitar fill-ins to apply to my violin and piano playing. Well, come to think of it, im actually telling grandfather story now and im gonna stop now cuz i realize if i go on, my story would be very long. LOL. its 4.30 a.m. i cant sleep, and i found some pics which inspired me to write this. So, let me juz jump to my conclusion; I wouldnt have been where i am today if i werent given a chance to play in church. God gave me this talent and He can take it away anytime.

My church congregation and the band on the stage

This is the current band in my hometown church. Sorry, its damn blurry. Anyways, the violinist is Joshua, he's learning under the same instructer as i did. Very talented too. The guy on the bass is my dad. LOL. But as you can see, the whole band is made up of youth, and it has been like that the whole time. If this were to be 5 years back, the musicians would probably be my frens and i. And the youth in this pic, they were like so small before i left to kl and now they're like taking over the band.

This was when i was form 4, playin in the youth band. i had spiky hair back then. On the bass is my very good fren, Jeffrey Khoo. Known him since 4 years old.

okay, this is a little surprising, but yes, its little me playing the violin. I forgot how old was i but definitely primary age. This was for a Christmas play in church. It was my first ever public performance on the violin.

For the good times and the bad

-End of my grandfather story-

Recently, i've failed to...

2006-07-13T04:26:00.000+08:00

- sleep earlier than 6am
- eat lunch before 4pm
- work something out in my relationship
- spend less than rm50 a day
- clean up n tidy my room to get ready for the new semester (it has been this messy since 6 months ago)
- wash my super dusty fan
- get my second dose of chicken pox vaccine which i was supposed to get 4 weeks ago
- be on time for every appointment made
- practice piano
- decide what i should do with my ugly hair
- send my car for a wash
- have a whole free day to myself without having to run errands/go for practices/appointments/work/etc..
- find out why the audio interface i bought could not work with my laptop
- collect my keyboard stand which i left in a live sound company for about a month or so

i feel so much like a barbarian. i've been more irresponsible n unorganized than usual.

Hope most of these will change very soon as my semester is starting next week. sigh..

Vespertine recording done!

2006-07-12T06:11:00.000+08:00

Well guys, we've finally finished recording both our singles entitled 'Never There' and 'Someday'. Hopefully it will be released by August. The video features Ruben's attempt to record a guitar solo in the song 'Someday'.

Here are some pics taken during recording:

This is JD, our recording engineer, who is also Pop Shuvit's guitarist.

Jin macam nak berak aje...

me: Recording violin

Ruben showing 'feel' face while playing some blues licks..

'Someday' will be Vespertine's first ever single to feature piano sound..

Farewell to...

2006-07-12T01:05:00.000+08:00

RITA DORMANI: One of my good childhood frens; kindergarten classmates, church mate, tuition mate, quarrel mate, bitching mate, sembang mate, wat else ar? haha..anyways, she's gone off to melbourne to finish her degree...some of us went to klia to see her off...here are some pics i took in klia.. (sorry they're so blur, my camera damn stupid wan)

Rita and I

Checking her final smses before she goes inside..

Goodbye Rita. At least she's still coming back during the holidays..

RISHABH RAJAN: Now, this is the painful one. ok, it sounds damn gay..haha.. But its juz sad dat i might not see him ever again. He's from India, and he's pursuing his music degree in Berklee, Boston. There's no reason for him to come back to M'sia again as his hometown is in India. Anyways, i'll never know in the future, cuz musicians travel! =). He's a super nice guy, never bitches bout anyone, never complains, never gets angry...i think he doesnt have a temper at all. He's set a history as being one of the greatest guitarists that ever set foot in ICOM..i dont think there'll ever be another Rishabh Rajan in ICOM; the great guitar finger tone, indian-fushion licks, and unique compositions..damn..a real genius...here are some pics of the surprise farewell party we did in someone's apartment..

Playing the game 'Charades' after we makan pizza..

session of interrogating; we asked any possible questions dat come to mind...before he leaves...haha...or not, forever hold our peace...

Then the 'thank you' speech...sobz... =p

Okay, now the' gay pictures session'...damn gay man... *sweat*

Trying to look each others' eyes....haha...we did so many takes for this pic...Kept burst out laughing...but so did the other ppl in the following pics

Chen Chen from China vs Rishabh from India

"I've got you now!", Ian

Daniel: "I think I'm the one who's got him"

Er....Steven...What u lookin at? perve... =p
Ok..dat's the end of gay pics...

Down it all...

til the last drop..

Playin taboo

K.O. Couldnt find his house keys, so he had to sleep here...

Italy, world cup champion 2006

2006-07-10T01:12:00.000+08:00

Sigh......

Why, Zidane? WHY?

My new laptop- Compaq Presario V3012

2006-07-09T03:16:00.000+08:00

Check out my new laptop! Bought it 2 days ago in Low Yat.

Nice laptop? Nice wallpaper too :p

Specs:
Intel Duo Core 1.83
Bluetooth connection (this one for what? wont use also.. juz so can lansi to ppl onli la...)
2 GB DDR2!! =)
80GB HDD
DVD writer
Wifi connection
And some other usual stuff
RM 4,370
I think its a good deal..

Happening band: Itosii

2006-07-09T02:37:00.000+08:00

When i was at my home town last week, i went to a mini concert organized by a music school, showcasing their students, who some of them, are my frens. So after the intermission, there's this guest band from Penang called "Itosii" (pronounced as 'Itoshi'), and everyone was talking about them even before the show. this is bcuz this band also appeared in local tv stations a few times. One of their appearances was as a guest band in the pro band competition called "Rentak Juara". Happening leh? but that is not all, what makes them stand out is that they are young. Very young. Super young. Check the pics out.

This band is super tight. Its unbelievable. When they start playing i really dont believe my eyes. 6 piece band; vocal, tambourine, keyboards, bass, guitar and drums. The guitarist is hidden in the pic. But yes, electric guitar. Another amazing thing is, all of them are girls! except the drummer. But its enough to blow everyone away. Seriously, this band will put many bands to shame. Imagine young girls at the age of 10 or 11 playing the guitar and bass better than those wanabe punk dudes in some high school or college.

Btw, this band made it into the Malaysian Book of Records as being the youngest pro band or something like dat. All of them are from Penang (did i mention that already?)

This guy really impress me. You see how small he is compare to the drum set. His feet barely touch the drum pedals! He looks like a powerless young kid. But when he starts playing, it sounds like some adult or teen whacking the drums. And he's very consistent too despite having many drum rolls n etc. Prodigy.

Pictures from Fete De La Musique

2006-06-30T22:23:00.000+08:00

Setting up on the main stage..

'Never There'-Releasing in July

Vespertine's last gig for a long time to come

Im your worst nitemare...muahahaha!!

2006-06-28T20:39:00.000+08:00

bla bla bla..

2006-06-28T14:40:00.000+08:00

sigh..had to do this...i was tagged..

4 jobs I would stink at:
- doctor (I cant bear seeing broken limbs or the bone jutting out)
- executioner/ the person who whips the ass of the convicted in prison
- policeman (especially traffic police, gosh, it must suck to be them)
- guard

4 nicknames I’m making up for myself:
- shorty
- skinny
- Ali (ah li)
- willie (half of my teachers throughout my life calls me dat)

4 movies I can watch over and over:
- Fight Club
- Lucky Number Slevin
- Drunk Before Dawn, the musical
- The Usual Suspects

4 alcoholic beverages I enjoy from time to time:
- beer
- shandy jolly
- shandy (original)
- I don’t drink

4 fantastic destinations I would like to go to on vacation before I pass out:
- Paris
- Tokyo
- Redang
- Germany (that certain part where ppl walk around naked, someone pls tell me which part exactly)

4 things I would love to do on weekends:
- Catch a midnite movie with xanna
- Play in a gig
- DVD marathon
- Hang out with frens, which I don’t get many chances to

4 celebrities I would like to go on a big date with:
- Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Jennifer Hate Hewitt
- Jennifer Love Wei Li
- Jennifer Likes Wei Li
Haha….okay…they’re counted as one, well, probably Jessica Alba, Beyonce, and Rebecca Romijn

4 objects I could not live without:
- ma phone
- wallet (to be more specific, my atm card)
- car
- viono (this is 2 in 1; violin and piano; now u know where I get that stupid blog name, so lame)

4 gadgets I do not have, which i would like to have:
- Electric Violin
- Laptop (im getting one very soon!)
- Digital Camera (I always need to borrow ppl’s camera or rely on frens to take the pics)
- A silver, chrono watch

4 "poor souls" tagged:
- Rita Dormani
- Cock Jin
- Laura Ann
- Vincent Cheah

Tomyam session at Xantana Cafe, Alor Star, Kedah (24/06)

2006-06-28T03:08:00.000+08:00

THE TEAMS & STARTING LINE-UP:

THE REF:

THE RULES:

2006-06-28T03:04:00.000+08:00

KICK OFF!

The 'Ghurls' had most of the possession at the beginning of the first half

2006-06-28T02:59:00.000+08:00

Towards the end of the first half, the 'Bhoys' had more control of the game and they almost hit the back of the bowl...

2006-06-28T02:48:00.000+08:00

From the beginning of the 2nd half til the end, possession of the bowl was 50-50 and no one scored so extra time was given..

2006-06-28T02:33:00.000+08:00

Two minutes after the kick off of the extra time, the big bowl was accurately centered to WL, who was at the left side of the 'field'

2006-06-28T02:29:00.000+08:00

He controlled the big bowl superbly with his first few touches on the maggie mee

2006-06-28T02:22:00.000+08:00

His final touch was the tomyam soup...He has it at near range but a narrow angle.. he takes a shot with the hope of hitting the back of his throat and...

2006-06-28T02:13:00.000+08:00

Goal! He celebrates joyfully with his teammate as the referee looks on...

Futsal with hometown frens

2006-06-24T17:59:00.001+08:00

its so tiring, i havent been playing football for ages..but its refreshing..

rats rola {mirror} alor star

2006-06-23T01:03:00.000+08:00

My first day in Alor Star and i already feel like going back to KL. All i did the whole day was watching tv, playin piano, going online, watchin tv, playin piano, going online, watchin tv, playing the piano, going online, watching tv, playing piano, going online, watching tv, playing piano, going online, and many more (like watching tv and playing the piano). Anyways, this pic is the 'mini jungle' outside my house, taken from the porch.

Hometown, here i come!

2006-06-21T03:15:00.000+08:00

Finally, in a few hours' time, i get to spend my holidays in the most classic way, like every outstation kids do, which is going back to my boring ol' hometown where men are fewer than cows. I'm somewhat happy bcuz my break started end of May but i couldnt go back as i have gigs n other stuffs. The reason why im 'somewhat happy' rather than juz being pure 'happy' is bcuz i know after a few days, i'll be dying to go back to kl so i can experience usual everyday life of KL's ticking seconds (they are faster than other towns n cities!), the air polution, traffic jam, and mostly, the nite life. Jolyn, sorry i cant pick u up from KLIA this time. Hope to see u soon though.

Bored

2006-06-18T22:07:00.000+08:00

Today is the most boring day of the month...im hoping for a better tomoro..

Chinese name

2006-06-18T03:46:00.000+08:00

A chinese magazine company called me yesterday morning to ask how to write my name in chinese. Being a 'banana', i did not know how to explain how to write it. So i came up with a suggestion to write it on a software and send it to them via email. I used 'paint' and this was what i sent to them. (i learnt how to write my chinese name a few years ago)

Vespertine's last gig

2006-06-18T02:38:00.000+08:00

This was at Fete De La Musique (French Art/Music Festival). This year was held at the Telawi roads in Bangsar. Well, not as happening as the year before, as there were bigger crowd in Bukit Bintang. However, the crowd was still good and it was an emotional night for the band bcuz its our last gig together. Jin's leaving for Australia in July and we decide to take a long break til everyone comes back to Malaysia and gets settled. We finally played our two new songs. Thanks to the crowd and the fans who came to support us and the other bands. Bands who were present were F. Cannon, One Buck Short, Beat the System, Throne Away, and more. By the way, be on the look out for our two new songs which we are currently recording, estimated out in july. Support the local music scene!

College Icon 06 (Wrigley's)

2006-06-16T16:05:00.000+08:00

well, it has been 2 days already since the college icon finals. firstly, im quite disappointed that i did not win what i wanted to win, which is the Extra Talent Award. Instead, i won the Best Acting Award which im not really proud of, even though the prize money is as much. At first, i thought to myself, if i knew it was gonna be this way, i would not have prepared so much on my violin and keyboard, i might as well use a stupid minus one to sing and for the extra talent, i might as well sing again, like SOME ppl. I felt as if all my effort of carrying my heavy keyboard n violin back and forth from my apartment to my car, and from my car to the rehearsals, backstage have not brought me any good. But after i spoke to a Rishabh, my perspective changed. He said "you wouldnt wana win the competition doing what is more convenient, or doing without much effort, rather than what you're best at". And i thought to myself, he's totally right. I wouldnt wana change my style and who i really am. This is what i am. At least i know i've put up a good show, despite what the "qualified" judges might think. Hmm...i bet the Miss Chinese Malaysia judge cant even sing in tune. And from Rishabh's words, i would say he meant that if i were to win, i should win with integrity, or i might as well not win at all. My frens were very encouraging. Even though not many went to see me, at least now they know who's the man. Im not suffering from post-bitterness syndrome here, but from a neutral point of view, i felt that the results were quite weird. I felt that some other ppl deserved to be in the top 3 more than whoever who won it. The reason being is, i see talent in different angles. The best singer does not mean the most talented. If all the person can do is juz sing, that means there's only one talent. And extra talent is singing again. Wow...so talented...Hmm...unless you dont look at it as singing but 'suck up/ polish shoes' (if u were there u'll get wat i mean). Well, i wonder how even the judges qualified to be judges. juz bcuz they hold a high post in a company? for all u know they might not be able to differentiate a violin from a guitar. Anyhows, this is my personal opinion. No hard feelings to anyone who won it or to the judges. Well, judges, its not ur fault that they called u to judge rite? I've made some good frens in this competition. Enjoy the video. Pictures coming soon…

SIB KL new building

2006-06-11T14:09:00.000+08:00

I went for service today, after many weeks missing it. And today is the first service in the new building. Kinda cool, its a nice place with good acoustics and sound system.

My first post

2006-06-06T00:10:00.000+08:00

This is my first ever post for my first ever blog. I dunno y i decide to blog...well...lets see how long i can do this...anyways, today i watched X-men 3 with xanna. Nice show, never expected the storyline to be like that though, cuz they killed off some of the main characters in X-Men.