Progress:
Provided the Guitar Pro 5 tabs I found online are close enough to the real thing, I’ve pretty much got hold of most parts of the song. I find it most interesting to play along with the song while practicing - it helps to gain a better comprehension of the timing, and to better understand how the vocals fit in. I find it slightly disorienting initially to sing along while playing - multitasking isn’t as easy as it seems, but after a while, it works.
Anything for procrastination. That includes updating a rarely-touched blog. (Oh, I’m so in denial.)
Let’s start off where I left, perhaps.
Many weeks have passed and many things happened then. Some of which are pleasant, some of which are rather negative, but that makes up for what life is. We don’t learn without committing mistakes and learning from them, do we?
Of course I would rather get things nailed at first try instead of erring and trying to correct it after, but I guess if that’s the case we won’t have phrases such as ‘trial and error’, yes?
Anyway.
Life-defining decisions made include:-
Going back to Malaysia in July.
Not applying for PR in Australia (for the time being).
Reconsidering Honours year.
Considering the Melbourne JD program.
Considering the Melbourne JD program in lieu of the MBA program.
Wanting to quit uni at this very hour so I’m able to escape assignments.
No you have to be kidding me if you think the last one is right.
It has been a few weeks (months?) of self-reflection, reassessing myself, over and over, it is getting to the point where the brainwork is rather exhausting and irritating, so I am pretty glad to have committed to some decisions, at least.
On the other hand I have picked up my ‘old friend’, the guitar. There’s an interesting story about that instrument, and how it pans out throughout my lifecourse so far.
I liked the sound of guitars in general, be it classical or acoustic or electric - to me, there’s not any instrument that is as universal as a guitar. It is possibly the most versatile of instruments, and you can use it in any form of music, transcending genres.
I first picked up a cheap nylon-strung classical guitar when I was 13; back then, I was doing it only because of two reasons:-
I really hated my piano teacher (to which I quitted months after), and
I just wanted to impress my friends.
Reason #2 was just purely stupid if you ask me. There’s no way ‘peer pressure’ will become a good sort of motivator, and obviously it didn’t pan out. I was one of the nerds back then, and fueled by accusations of being ‘uncool’, I thought it could be some form of image-saving attempt. Naturally it backfired, because I soon thought it was pretty stupid to be doing that. My first guitar was left pretty much at an abandoned spot in my room, its case a field for dustbunnies and little spiders to play on.
Down the track, when I was 17, 18 years of age, I am absolutely fascinated by the flashier side of rock - I discovered the epitome of Japanese visual rock in the form of the band Malice Mizer. (Go Google them up and tell me if you think they remind you of transvestites in a masquerade.) That was when I was just purely desperate to be a guitarist - an electric guitarist. I think it was purely ego-serving too - you have to admit, the flamboyant ones in a rock band tends to be the vocalist and/or the guitarist. It just gives you the bad-ass edge.
I saved up money for my first electric, but luck was on my side - I actually won an electric guitar, and no less one of a good make. It was the B.C. Rich’s Ironbird, and it was way beyond anything I could (and can) ever afford as a student. It screams sex appeal (really) and it is one fucking bad-ass guitar. (In line with the rebel image, explicit languages = must.)
But, the timing was wrong. I was scheduled to fly to Melbourne to pursue my tertiary studies, and the Ironbird (to which I christened ‘Merveilles‘ - French for miracles - although I usually call her ‘Meru’ for short) was too odd in shape to find a hard case that actually fits. It was rather disheartening - I do really adore it beyond anything I’ve ever owned… but what can one do, really. Meru was not named ‘miracles’ for nothing. She marked an important chapter in my life - the transition out into a more ‘adult’ chapter, of which I learn how to take more responsibility of myself, of living far away from my family, in a whole new world, and to know that with freedom comes responsibility (something many people take for granted).
So, Meru was left at home. But the symbolism is there, and she is still pretty much one of the best things I’ve ever had in my life.
It wasn’t until earlier this year when I am getting quite frustrated at life in general, and out of spontaneity I bought a cheap Chinese-made axe on eBay. I refrain myself from naming it (not wanting to be attached because I planned to sell this off immediately, and this was just a ‘transition’ thing) - but nonetheless I begin to take guitar-playing more seriously.
It has a lot to do with my search for self-identity; if anything, rock music was a constant in my life (the way electronic music is, too), and despite the many changes I’ve undergone as a person, I am still enamoured with the sound of a guitar - be it classical Latin-esque flamenco or the hardest of hardcore metal. And it takes a lot off the mind.
Perhaps it has a lot to do with me researching and going back to the classics, and coupled with my newfound admiration (or insane obsession, depending on how you view it) of the progressive-rock band 30 Seconds to Mars - more so, their guitarist Tomo Milicevic - I’m putting in more effort to reinitiate my learning, and to be something, instead of just aspiring.
There’s so much that dreams can do. Surely I want to be a rock star, but I won’t be one unless I know how to play a guitar, at least. And I’ve already given up on dreaming, but to start doing.
I don’t know how long it’ll take, and who cares if I really end up as or never be a rock star, but I’d like to finally be able to shred something on Meru. And not just let her be one of those things I put aside for years and never do anything with again. And I’d like to make dreams come true, for once.
My ‘goal’ is still Eric Johnson’s Cliffs of Dover (made famous by Guitar Hero 3, thank you?), a song a guitarplaying pal once sent me, and a song I can never ever get out of my head! It is one of those songs that make such an impression on you, it lives in one tiny little corner of your brain for life. But I’d like to shred Metallica’s Seek & Destroy… just because it is made of awesomeness. Haha!
Well, you have to admit it makes the world a better place to live in if there’s one more female guitarist in it.
I have just posted several new pictures of myself. New haircut, new guitar (just a cheap shoddy China import - but I’m not complaining, I just need something to practice my chords on!).
I don’t often use this site, which is pretty much a shame. I think it should be utilized more frequently. Probably to toss anything less personal, general thoughts, etc.
Without getting too technical, this is a write-up of an academic article I read (yes, yawnfest? :P), and my thoughts as I got through it. This is also a post to test how I’m going to work out a ‘cut’ on Wordpress. (Call it experimenting if you will.)
The article ‘Adding Value to Innovation : Impressionism and the Transformation of the Selection System in Visual Arts’ by Nachoem Wijnberg and Gerda Gemser was one of the compulsory readings in the subject Managing Contemporary Organisations (I’m currently taking this). It’s a pretty interesting article as it talks about how the Impressionist painters manage to topple the old-school and put themselves on the top of the art movement during their time.
Apparently, before the Impressionists got on, the market for ‘art’ (as in paintings and the things you hang up on a big white wall in a museum or a rich man’s house, haha!) was pretty much dictated by other painters in this exclusive place called the Academy. They were the ones who decide if you’re good or if you’re crap. If you’re worthy, then you’ll get to have your paintings displayed up in their exhibitions and all those perks (hmm, free champagne? New easels?). This is called the peer selection system, to which your worth are determined by fellow producers (in this case, painters).
So, this bunch of really creative artsy people called the Impressionists couldn’t get much recognition from the old arty-farty people in the Academy, because their drawing is really… well, different. The old farts were painting historical scenes using old techniques, and these bunch of ‘young’ hip rebels were painting current stuff. (Mmm, clash of generations, much?)
So, being true innovators they sought the help of outsiders to acknowledge their awesomeness - that is, to say that their stuff has value. I suspect it’s just the way they are : they innovate the way they get recognition by turning the world upside down. Anyway, they got people such as the museum, art dealers and art critics to tell the masses about their artwork - this is all about enlisting experts to determine your worth.
Note that these outsiders aren’t painters themselves, hence they don’t have the vested interest in “perpetuating the status quo because they themselves were not contributing through their own works of art” (in the holy words of Wijnberg and Gemser). In fact, they themselves seek importance by being the earliest ones to discover the ‘next big thing’ in art. Naturally, they serve their own purpose of being the talent/movement spotter, and they regard the Impressionist kids as the next big thing.
To cut a long story short, the Impressionists were successful - the experts are now the person you’d run to for opinions on artsy stuff, not another fellow painter. Think about it - if you’re going to spend $1million on a piece of something painted on a canvas, I’m pretty sure you’ll ask a curator or a gallery owner re: which painting will be worth your money. I don’t suppose you’ll run to a painter (unless, perhaps, if you’re related to the painter in some ways).
You’ll wonder, what’s the big deal about this?
The big deal is in how these bunch of people change the perception of what’s valuable in the eyes of consumers, and who dictates what is valuable. Previously, artists are the ones deciding who’s worthy of a space in the exhibition halls. Now, gallery owners, museum curators and art critics are the ones making that decision. And they don’t just judge paintings by mere things like ‘oooh this looks like the thing I’m drawing so I like this better than that weird piece of drawing over there’ - in fact, they value the outstanding, the unique, the creative - in other words, the original.
Which is pretty much what art should be about, anyway.
I couldn’t help but to think about the music industry, particularly the rise and fall of subgenres within the electronic music genre. Especially with the rise of subgenres like minimal techno (or, as they call it, Berlin minimal). What makes them rise? Is it because DJs are choosing to spin it in nightclubs, prompting more production in this genre (or some form of influence of minimalism in other variants of electronic music)? What makes them displace the older variant of clubbing music (the ones with more melodic elements in it)? Is it because clubbers are sick of the ‘old school’ melodic anthems, especially the underground club scene that often thrives on ‘the next big thing before it gets big’? Of course one would argue that minimal techno didn’t kick the existing electronic dance music styles into oblivion, to which I do agree, but the influence of minimalism in the works of many producers as of late shows the degree of impact this has on the industry.
Points to ponder.
EDIT: AND… I know I seriously do suck at Wordpress, because I figure out how to make a cut, but I don’t know how to cut certain parts only (as in, make the ‘More’ tag confined to a certain paragraph in the entry).
This is a link to a review done by Create Digital Music on a videoclip so special, to which I don’t think I’ll do equal justice to the video with my own review. Suffice to say, it is a must-watch, and it makes you reflect and ponder on the resourcefulness and creativity of humans especially when thrown into an environment with minimal resources to achieve an end.
Needless to say, there is no such thing as the end of the world, because these bunch of scientists proved that it’s possible to make music in Antartica, with things like broom and wine glasses (okay, where they actually used real instruments kinda spoiled the vibe of ‘resourcefulness’ a little, but it complements the song well, in my opinion).
Go check it out - melancholic tune befitting of the environment, and creativity that just astounds.
But I do recognise awesome and sweet little things when people do them for me.
Head’s up to Carlton Audio Visual, especially to that really nice guy who gave me a free RCA analog cable - without that cable I won’t know if my studio monitors work, and I was initially feeling sad today but hey, little favours go a long way in making someone smile.
If you’re in the Melbourne city and all that, head down to Lygon Street for a cup of awesome coffee, or maybe a nice Italian meal… then head straight to Carlton Audio Visual for your audio/visual needs. They’re spiffy and their showcase is just head-turning… and they’re really nice. Check them out!
Even if I have said in my previous entry (ages ago) that I’ll try to post more often here, I didn’t seem to do what I’ve said. Mostly it has to do with being busy, but also due to the state of mind I was in. Unlike my previous blogs (whereas I rant freely about personal things), I’ve pretty much sworn to keep this as non-personal as I can manage.
Either way, I don’t intend to indulge the world in petty rants here, but let’s get back to the whole creative shizz this place was made for, yeh? I’ll keep the baby-diva attitude in check, yo!
Nothing much for the first post (upon returning), but we’ll kick it off with a track from the recent Grammy-winning album (’We Are The Night’), The Chemical Brothers‘ Do It Again.
