in los angeles ... fell sick during the start of this trip. from the 27th dec, i was seriously, terribly sick ! down with flu .... agrghhhh , just don't understand why i fall sick so easily nowadays ... is it because my schedule in singapore is busier recently ? maybe it could be the fatigue building up on my body. well at least in LA i spent most of my time in the room and recovering from my illness. now on the verge of recovering up till 80% of my normal self.

sois studio is now managed by jademusic. a business managed by my younger brother, lawrence. the place will specialize in doing events and a publishing house for our music. will be considering to start working on the compositions in 2006. as we need a company to publish our works as well. so might as well be represented by our own publishing house. this year gonna do my countdown in taipei .... hopefully my upsets this year could be left behind and may mum bring me all the best moments to my family... am looking forward to move out of my current flat. looking for a second flat around jurong point. it's about time i've to start gathering information of buying the flat.

rather lost at the moment ....  maybe i've just recovered from my sickness .... that's why i have this feeling. actually i have lots of things to do on my mind. but i need to be in singapore in order to finish doing all my stuffs. in this coming 2006, i really hope the people around me, will be fine and be blessed with happiness. human must always learn to adapt with the environment. may you find your path to success in life too.

it's boxing day also known as thanks giving day ... well meaning to me .... time to open my presents !! yohoo !! nothing it's much more happier than that. hmmm but the meaning behind xmas gift exchange isn't about how expensive the present is. but how thoughtful and the meaning of the present that is important. spending our xmas eve with the usual group of people, we were at toa payoh this time round. at DK's place, having our usual bingo that we play once a year, enjoying red wine and joke over the things that had happened this particular year. though it's not an easy year for our group of people around us. but i feel 2006 will definitely be our year of boom that our group of people and the people around me will do us proud. always stay optimistic irregardless of anything that happens. because you know that one can't turn back time. but just have to make every second well spent.

well presents aside.... there's a piece of news to break to all.... SOIS band had been officially been disbanded on 23rd dec 2005. this band had been together for 6 months. from negotiating to building and jamming in a studio of their own... time really proved lots of things. the difference in character and viewson music. and of course the road that each musician wanna take is totally different. we can't say anyone is wrong in this process. but we learn that it's not easy to move on especially when character clashes and when living together is a problem to us. each has got their personal style and ways of working. in this case with SOIS, i think i see quite q big difference between me and geist (the drummer) ... from up-bringing to views on music, we have totally different mind set. but what i can say that is nobody is at any wrong ... definitely none is to blame. but just maybe it's the wrong mixture of things together.

although we see thing differently. but both wanna work different ways to be good musicians. that's a good thing. and the only thing in common. but maybe just that i'm too disciplined to get things done and working. but likewise the other musicians feel the other way ... it's amazing that we've walked such a long step to achieve a part of opening a so-called music studio of our own. but no words can describe the despair in our hearts to accept this fact. nevertheless, lawrence and i will continue to walk this path and make music in our way that could bring melodies to your ears and heart. hope that our music and efforts will get a chance to move your heart and soul. studio will reopen in 2006 under a different name in all and may everything be smooth as what we want in 2006. let's keep our fingers crossed and pray for each other.

spending my time in zurich ... was one of the best trip i ever made in my life. never would forget how the country look like during winter. really gave me so much santa claus feeling !! you can't be able to imagine but only able to feel it ....

spending my time here trying to get away from the busy days of work and tight schedules in singapore. hardly get anytime available other than late nights. actually was thinking for the past few days ... this topic struck my mind recently. it's about music defintely. is music an art piece or a commercial tool...... ?

firstly i find there's no absolute definition of commercial music or non commercial music. maybe i should say music is very personal. why people rate some categories of music as commercial music, which i don't understand and don't agree with it. why say so ?! in the first place, it doesn't mean that when the music is much more appealing to the majority of the audience means commercial music ?! secondly, if a country singer sings country music, and starts to get more appealing to the public, does it means commercial music ? or does lisa ono sings commercial music ? no ! the fact is she's singing contemporary jazz!! not commercial music, neither is singapore born country singer corine may singing commercial music, she's singing country songs ! i feel non music makers or people who are not making music as a profession sees music in a way that they judge music with more crowd appeal means commercial music. which to musicians i find it's just crap. music can only be classified under genres not commercial or non commercial.

in any words, commercial music doesn't belong to any dictionary or language. music itself is a language that touches many hearts in many different ways. like for example, when i hear some songs, it gives me this kind of feeling. but it doesn't really give any feelings to another party. and many people feel music in different ways. some understand music by the lyrics, some listen by the melody, few people had noticed to the arrangement of music, which makes the biggest part of music. arrangement of a song can actually make the song into different genres of rock, pop, country, jazz, blues, r n b .... so if you hear more of bass drums and guitar are the same level as vocals, it's classified as rock, whereas in pop, vocal stands infront of the instruments more. in jazz, you can hear the scales, the bass and the rhythm of the song playing in a very unique way and in a technique. r n b define as rhythm and blues is more of scaling in vocals and stronger in beat ! and making music is all about creativity and how much one understand about arrangement, melody and lyrics. a song can sound very dry and aweful if arrangement doesn't come in. in another words. music arranger are the people who are most knowledgeable in music. so call the head of department among all instruments.

well i feel if anyone feels commercial music this term stands, do explain and let me know about it... or please enlighten me in anyway. i would wish to discuss about it more .. because music making is my passion. :P so therefore i read music in a way that is much more different to just a normal listener. but end of the day, what is call good music, it's very hard to define. maybe in a simple term. as long as you like it. it means good music. isn't it ?!

accompanied my bassist to go swee lee music warehouse to get his new fender jazz bass. now going on in swee lee music warehouse is a half price music warehouse sale !! the bass was retail at 1700 sgd ! but it was sold at only 850 !! great deal isn't it ? and it's a very good bass i would say ! the quality of the instrument finishing is superb. anyway these few days is full of things to do.

was at mos opening during the launch on thursday and to me .... what i see in ministry of sound, it's like OH MY GOD ! how would a club in singapore be of this size and this grand ! frankly speaking ... out of 10 points i give MOS 9.5 point out of ten as a club. why i give 9.5 points it's because of the different themes of rooms they have. and it's very very impressive that a club has different themes of room in a single club. retro room has got a futuristic fittings but yet retro ambience. really hard to describe in words. but the best would be seeing it yourself ... another room that i've went in will be chill out zone. with the whole room filled with white furnitures and white ipod like flooring and lightings. very bright and clean feeling. the R n B room filled with wildness with it's cage netting fences in the house and displaying the rugged and feel of the music they play. very very different from any clubs in singapore. look at it in this way. can MOS outplay zouk in their fight to be singapore's best club. i personally feel that once MOS had opened, chinablack and other small pubs in md sultan is ready to close down anytime. But if you think MOS is a good club, then i think it'll be a high spenders club. if you're just plain for dancing and chill out, then i feel don't waste the money to go MOS. because, never expect cheap drinks and promotions there. it's not going to be any cheaper. but in fact, it's going to be one of the most expensive clubs in singapore. nothing comes for free. everything has to be paid. but if you know how to appreciate a club. i find a high price to club in MOS is defnitely worth it. because it's a no money no talk thing to me. one final say about MOS, maybe you should be there to have a look. because it's really a revolution that you'll feel and a club that will shock you ! because you'll never feel like you're in singapore when you're in MOS. because of the culture you see and the theme MOS is bringing to their patrons. another high life ?

ok few for days to xmas. everyone is rushing to buy their xmas gifts for their friends around them who celebrates xmas together. i believe for those who have yet to get any presents yet, should be on hot pot right now. worrying about what to buy and what's special. why not i recommend this. do a handcraft photo frame with the photo of you and the person you're giving the present to. write some words of wishes and how you feel about having him/her as a friend. maybe that would do ? and isn't it more warming and special than anything that is bought ? right ?

time is singapore is really short. another 8 more days to the first mini gig in sois studio. say no more, i shall go now !! ciaoz. back with photos from zurich in the next few days. good night.

Very thanks to all of the people who came down today, special thanks to rayson, jennifer, jacelyn, belinda , belinda friend, jasmin, darren and girlfriend, sharon and those people who had came to see me. i believe you're just there but never came up to say hi. but thanks for the support. really appreciate it.  not forgetting the person who held the camera for me today and also drove us there. my dearest daddy. without him, we won't be able to handle so many things by ourselves too. he made things alot easier for us.... dad thank you. love you deep deep... haha ....  though not a very good performance staged. but well, at least the most appealing band out of the other bands. to say the other bands have very good instrumentalist but in the band scene, it's often hard to find good vocalist around. i'm not saying myself good though, smiles* but won't be too wrong. of course i still have places that i can improve more, my techniques and my vocal quality as well.....

i was actually on the verge of losing my voice because of the practices last few days and had been resting my vocals for more than 36 hours. even drank 1 bottle of pi pa gao in 1 day trying to revitalise my voice and bought and brewed chinese herbs medication to retain my vocals better. not an easy task. almost cancelled our performance because of my vocals. though retained my vocals and pulled over today's concert, but the quality of my vocals is not at the top today. got comments from people saying that my pitching is good. but i believe i can do better and shall train harder. because i'm not going to just stop here ! not getting complacent with the compliments people gave. so from now on i know my standard and will work even harder on my vocals already.... working towards the standard my my teacher peter tan.

talking about my 2 month teacher peter tan, i had went to watch his personal concert on the 10dec05 which is yesterday, i really find that he's the kind of vocalist i wanna be. versatile, able to sing everything. able to carry the songs in any scene... with emotions and the techniques in the songs. it's just terrific. a veteran vocalist is always very different. listening to his vocals, he can carry the songs climax and the songs expressions just so well.... definitely my learning example.... can be as good as jacky cheung .... what i say, that's what i feel. and another good news is that esplanade had invited him to hold another concert in esplanade again.... just right before he ended his concert yesterday ! so look at how good is the standard of his singing ....

today is the first step, sois had stepped out together as a band and we managed to catch the audience appeal ... so i hope we can move on faster to achieve greater standards .... and our gig on the 23rd dec 2005 will be on ! to thank and give our best piece to our supporters and for us to gain the experience that it's hard to get from anywhere. hereby signing off after a day of show and moments to record. will be uploading the photos in the next few days.... look out for the latest photos of me with my band and our live video too ... maybe ... good nite !

had been ages before i went out for coffee. was having lunch with my friend in orchard republic food court above wisma courts. layout of the food court is quite nice but the food cost slightly more than the normal food court. but still can eat. not as if though it's 2 dollars more expensive. think these days it's very easy i'll get tired. don't know what's the reason. but maybe because of fatigue level i get from working hard on myself. or maybe it's lack of rest or what.

looking at our practice today i feel that we're almost ready to stage our best already. maybe sometimes just unforeseen circumstances that we don't know what will happen on that day. eqiupment problem, sick or whatever. but *touchwood* !! i had confirmed the venue already. it should be @ bedok north central blk 212. Time would be 1500hrs on 11th dec.

actually was out with my friend for a drink at night as well. we're talking and chatting about girls and many other things. personally i feel that girls nowadays are much more daring and less mature than guys. esp from the age of 21 till 25 i feel that girls often rush to get settled down. but often failed to find the right man who could settle down with them. ended up in bad marriage and divorced. very minority of the girls are more mature than guys. when majority guys age from 25 till 32, they tend to get more and more practical about their life. because they had been childish enough throughout the age whn they were still playing and having fun. and i find girls often if know how to tie a guy down in a relationship, often they would be no problems with the relationship. but talking on how to tie the guys down. i feel in order to love someone else first, you gotta learn to love yourself. for girls, i find most of them committed a major mistake would be they love the guy more than they love themselves. men often like to have girls who know how to take care and love themselves. that's the fact. i mean only a fact for the most of the people around me.... girls often are too complacent after they are already in the relationship. playing the role of a xiao nu ren very often. never spare the thought in mind that men are the most troublesome and easily get tired kind of inhumane people. haha sorry to speak in this way but i find if a girl know how to play different roles as a girlfriend, for eg, sometimes xiao nu ren, sometimes in control over the man, sometimes just neutral, that would be able to fully get control and tied his man down. what man like is more of a confident woman. versatile enough to play different roles in the relationship to spice up the relationship. i feel, often in the start of a relationship, the couple would have sex. and then after they get along longer, that would be making love. do you agree ? well i find it quite logical. but that doesn't mean it's the same for all. but very often that not it's the lust first, then the emotions. summing up i find if a woman knows how to love themselves more in a relationship and never fail to play different roles in a relationship, no matter on the bed or in daily things, then the relationship will be almost a perfect one. END OF THE DAY, MEN ARE OFTEN NOT SATISFIED EASILY .... haha ok guys, stop throwing eggs @ me !!

2 more days to SOIS GIG !

went in to malaysia yesterday evening with my dad. actually sent the car in for servicing... i decided, i should do something about the car audio. so i paid for the change of the door speakers and 2 more additional satelite speakers on top of the dashboard. pretty nice surround sound in my car but just that the speakers at the back of the car are old speakers... so they sound more aweful than the front. haha. never would i go to the extend of getting an ah beng sound system blasting in my car driving all around singapore with the stupid subwoofer. because firstly it's not the very practical side of me. and secondly why bother to have such a good system in your car ? i don't really sleep in my car.... well i just need something which is better than the stock speakers and can enhance slightly on better sounds. that's all i need so i tell myself i must be sure of what i want and get what i want. well i should say that i'm VERY SATISFIED with the current system that is fixed. just that if in the near future i can get cheap speakers for the back of my car, i'll consider buying .... anyway that's for some updates on where i went yesterday after i get back and rest for work.

had spent 2 good hours writing on nice cds for listening in my car. and was arranging some stuffs at home as well. hmmmm i had found out recently that i like cooking alot. especially cooking for myself and my family to eat. well that's after my mum had left us, i feel that sometimes eating outside can get abit boring. so cooking might be a better option ? BUT looking at it in another way. cooking myself, i can guarantee is MSG FREE and of course slightly cheaper than outside food and definitely much more nutritious !! cooking is not difficult though. more on hardwork and the time for preparation. definitely i feel that it really crack my brains on what to cook tomorrow or the day after....

now my dad is back working in his new company. adapting to the environment quite well i guess. but on the first month, we won't know anything yet. but poor me gotta get use to not having the car. because my dad will be driving around for work as his work requires the car more than i do. but it'll not be too practical to buy another car ! anyway public transport is cheap. so i shall concentrate on giving myself more time to prepare before i go out and train myself to move out of home abit more early because public transport would be quite unpredictable. hmmm so where shall i go tomorrow ? i got something to handle and buy. so i guess i gotta wake up at around 11am or 12pm at least. but gosh what time is it now ? it's almost 5.28 on the 8th dec already !! ok i gotta get going.... GO SLEEP LAR !! good nite. 3 more days to our first GIG