It’s that time of the year again.

As I sit here in front of my computer, fresh out of the shower, clean shaven, smelling like Team Force, and I’ve just finished packing my bag. I realize it’s that time of the year again. The end of the year. Where you sit down, spend some time reflecting on the past year and think about what you’re going to do for the next one. The last time I did this was approximately 6 months ago. Where I said it was time for a new season in my life. And looks like I did.

First off I’d like to apologize for the lack of blog posts. When your current job requires you to write 30 blog posts a day, I’m sure you can understand what I mean when I tell you after I’m done with my daily quota, the last thing I wanna do is sit down in front of the computer and write another post. Especially when you finish at 10am in the morning. Yeah, I know, my work starts at 5pm and is supposed to end at 2am, but I’ve been struggling to hit the quota on time so I have spend a lot of time catching up. It’s been affecting me, but I’ve been dealing with it and I’m doing my best to improve. The day where I end on the dot will come soon. Next step would be finishing before 8 hours. But let’s take it a step at a time, baby steps.

Other than my job, and the fact that I resumed playing WoW (yes, goddamn it is fun), and I still gig occasionally. Throughout the whole year, I’ve managed to play a show at least once a month, sometimes even two or three! This month alone I’ve got two- one just passed last week, and I got one more on the 26th, which I will announce next week. I’ve got the band together, and we’re working on our third song. Being in a band is great, I love it. I love you guys. Jason, Andrew, Syefri, and yes you too Alvin. I know we haven’t done much, but I have a good feeling about The Wishing, let’s make it happen 😀

Oh I’ve been too busy with my job to catch up on my movie reviews, and since all the movies are already out, I’ll just give quick summaries of the movies I’ve seen lately:
Skyline – 6/10 – Not terrible, but not very good either. Feels like it could lead up to a video game at the end.
The Social Network – 7/10 – I kinda expected more after all the hype it got and it was a David Fincher movie (Fight Club, Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), but at the same time I didn’t know what to expect since I know nothing about Mark Zuckerberg’s life. Nevertheless it is entertaining, and you discover how Facebook was invented
Due Date – 9/10 – Seriously, if this movie doesn’t tickle your funny bone, you’re either paralyzed and unable to laugh or you’re dead/in a coma. This movie is fucking side-splitting. I guarantee it. One of the best movies I’ve seen all year.
Rapunzel – 9/10 – I don’t know about you guys, but I think Disney hit the nail on the head with this one. It looks like they haven’t lost their magic, and to me, they’ve managed to recreate the classic 2D animation in 3D. The story, the gags, the characters, oh the characters– Rapunzel is a goddess. I fell in love with her the moment she appeared on screen (not as a baby, haha gotcha) and the way she acted– alright I’ll stop here, go watch it for yourself. Again, one of the best movies I’ve seen all year.
Narnia – 5/10 – Meh. Better than the first one in my opinion, I didn’t watch the second one.
Scott Pilgrim vs the World – 6/10 – I didn’t catch this in the cinema (they didn’t show it here) but boy I was let down. After hearing a couple of my friends rave about how much better it was than Inception, I finally sat down to give it a shot. Nope. Nowhere close. I’m a fan of cartoony live-action movies, but Scott Pilgrim was just cheese to the max. Knives is cute as hell though. I think she’s gonna grow up beautifully.

And there must have been one more movie that I missed, but I’ll put it down when I remember. Oh and I still haven’t seen Harry Potter. I should catch it before they take it off the big screens. And my favorite movie this year: Inception – hands down. No other movie even comes close to touching it. Best movie in the world. Ever. I shall quote Ferhan on this, “Inception is better than real life.” Runner ups: Due Date, Rapunzel, The Other Guys.

In terms of music, album of the year so far: Kids In Glass Houses – Dirt. Every song is fantastic, this album is amazing. I can listen to it from start to finish nonstop, throughout the whole day. KIGH really outdone themselves with their latest release. I wonder how they’re gonna release a follow up to such a masterpiece. Worst news of the year – My Favorite Highway breaking up. They’re playing their final show this month, and it’s really sad to see them go. I wish I could’ve seen them live. Ah well, at least I still have their music to listen to. The beauty of recordings. And Four Year Strong are coming down to Singapore next year, hopefully it’s confirmed and there are no last minute cancellations. I’ll be there for sure.

What else has been happening in my life? Oh yeah, her. I had a girlfriend for a month, but things didn’t work out (Iwasn’ttherightguyforher) so we ended things before they got ugly. It was a great experience, we still talk, I still think she’s amazing, but it shall stop at there because I have a feeling that we’re gonna be the best of friends. I don’t know why, but I can just feel it. Thanks for the 6-month long rollercoaster ride that ended in a wave pool. It was one hell of a theme park, let’s not go there again. But it was all worth it. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself being the topic of future songs, I only write what I feel, and it’s bound to pop up somewhere, sometime. Thanks for everything, Jasmine. Here’s to the foundation of a great friendship.

I’m sitting in front of the computer, still clean shaven and smelling like Team Force, waiting for Hijjas to pick me up. My bags are packed and I’m ready to go. Mothers in Singapore, it’s time to hide your daughters.

Gig #56 and #57

Wow, I know I said that after my EP was completed this year, I’d be focusing on the The Wishing instead of 2storeyheart, but it seems like the other way round instead. I’ve tried playing with Jason for a couple of gigs, but we kept bombing cos we didn’t have enough practice. The best performance we ever did was probably the one at Fete De La Musique (the video below) and cos we rehearsed like crazy for that gig. Haha. We do have some new ideas for some new songs, but things have been going pretty slowly. And the mic port on my soundcard is now spoilt, so I can’t do any home demos in the mean time which brings me to the next point of this post: my next 2 gigs!

Junk Open Mic at The Bee Cafe
Wednesday, 8th September 2010
8.30pm onwards
It’s an open mic, so I’ll have to register when I get there so I have no idea what time I’ll be playing, but I’ll try to get a later slot cos I know my friends are always late 😛 Since it’s a Junk event, I guess there will be a lot of people turning up for the event. I get to play 2 songs, so I’ll be debuting one new song (never performed live before..ever!) and playing one song you’ve heard before. And if that isn’t enough, come for the Bee Burger. Trust me, it is GOOD 😀

RAWR!!! The Gig
Saturday, 2nd October 2010
8.00-11.00pm

Hey guys!

The first of many gigs to come, RAWR! The Gig features a good mix of bands in the Malaysian music scene coming together for a great party. Organized by pop punk/easycore heavyweight, An Honest Mistake, this is a gig that you don’t wanna miss!

The goal is to feature budding talents in the scene by creating a platform for them to showcase their music, as well as to promote themselves. Being acoustic-based, the barrier of audience-artiste will be brought closer, if not ‘disappear’; to a place of intimacy.

The first will feature:

An Honest Mistake
For This Cycle (SG)
Eshia
Once Upon A Time There Was A Sausage Named Bob
Fragments & Frictions
Rosevelt
Eve
Dichi Michi
A Ruthless Cleansing
2 Storey Heart

It’s an awesome line up, with acts you are bound to enjoy, cos I enjoy them too 😀 I’ll get to play a 15 minute set, so I can fit in a number of songs for this gig. And it’s been a long time since I’ve played at the same show as AHM, Sausage and Eve so I’m pretty stoked! I can already tell it’s going to be one crazy night!

Both gigs will have no cover charge, so just drag your asses down to the show! See you guys there 😀

The Wishing – So Over You

This is The Wishing’s first ever performance to a handful of people at Fete De La Musique 2010 in KL. So Over You is the working title of the song, we still haven’t got a proper title yet 😛 and it’s the second song we wrote. Lyrics are basically self-explanatory (really), and I hope you guys enjoy it!

The Wishing – So Over You

I woke up this morning and I realized I didn’t care if you dreamt of me last night
We can both be such pricks
But that’s alright
Couldn’t care less if you’re seeing him or if he completes you
Have a nice life and stay away
Can’t say I miss your taste (or face)

Here’s the final nail in the coffin
That I buried so long ago
And I really hope you hear this song
Because I want to let you know
That I’m, so over you (so over you)
That I’m, so over you (so over you)

It’s been two years since we ended things, you told me you were migrating
Last time I checked you were still around
But that’s alright
Couldn’t care less if I bumped into you, in the backseat making out to
The sounds of Death Cab For Cutie
‘Cos I’ve been there, done that (I was first)