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Sunday, 13 December 2009

  • Personal Music History

    Have you guys ever put the kind of music you've listened to your entire life on a time line? I think that in a way it reveals a little bit of who you are throughout the phases of your life, and is also in a way a representation of you and where you might be going. Are you the type of person to follow mainstream media and listen to music that others listen to? Or are you the type that explores your interest to discover artists and different genres of music that appeals to your ears? Here's my history:

    Elementary Grade (K-5ish)
    I was first exposed to the radio in the 90's, which were my childhood years. Pop culture during then were full of boy bands, and that was predominantly what I was listening to my elementary grade school years. I guess you can say that I was following what others were listening to, especially my sister who was 4 years older than I, and had more exposure to the mainstream media.

    Middle/Junior Grade (6-8)
    These were the years I was introduced to jazz in all its form, mostly because I was a band person and I did the district jazz program for all my middle school years. I listened to 91.1 KCFM, the bay area's jazz station - and I still do today - mostly on the car rides to anywhere. Though, I didn't listen to that much compared to the techno/trance stuff DJ's like Dj Mystic, Dj Tiesto, Dj Liquid and all them guys were cranking out. That kind of music got my heart pumped up and drove me to get up and go all crazy rave and trying to dance like a little teeny bopper. I suppose I was also following what others were listening to, because rave was all the rave during these times before it died. These were also the years mainstream hiphop were beginning to surface, like Ashanti and 50 cent and all them cats. I didn't listen to them as much compared to the rest of my peers at the time, but I would hear it at the dances. Oh, I was also introduced to rap for the first time. One of the firsts were "Changes" by 2pac, as well as the Asian Pride rendition of it. Parody music/mixes were also introduced these years.

    High school (9-12)
    High school is where most of my development of music taste happened. I started to have an ear for classical music, because I became more involved and dedicated to band and all the music associated to it. Even though I was listening to classical at the time, there weren't too many recordings on my mp3 player or CD's. Instead, I was listening to funk and breakbeats, due to the fact that I got into the bboy, popping, and locking scene. I started getting albums from Brass Construction, Boney M, Cameo, Dazz Band, Gap Band, Lakeside, etc, and putting them on my CD's so I can practice getting down! I don't know, but it definitely caught my ear, and when I discovered 98.1 KISS FM, it was like magic. Nowadays, it's what I listen to the most.
    Jazz piano music came in towards the end of my high school years, mostly because I wanted to get better at it so I can play around and woo girls. lol I grew out of that mindset when I found that I was actually picking up pretty well and being able to play songs by ear. I discovered Oscar Peterson (RIP) and started listening to more of his stuff.

    Post high school (College)
    My knowledge and love for funk grew after I joined a funk band for 2 years and started cranking out tunes on paper, and then performing it with the group. I was introduced to the bossa style during these years right after I tried playing Final Fantasy 7's "Coast of the Sun" (the theme song of the beach/place where you can buy a villa for 300k). Stan Getz was the main guy that got me into it through his bossa albums. Also since now I'm rollin' with the Tranz band, I'm getting massive exposure to the Vietnamese music industry and all the music. I've been getting an ear for Vietnamese music lately, and so I supposed that is good for me to learn. They have very catchy music. George Benson was also discovered here.

    I've been starting to get more into the classic pop music lately (Journey, Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Stevie Wonder, Aguilara, Spears, Madonna, etc) as well as Santana, mostly because I will be performing their music for gigs and stuff. This is good for me as a musician, since it opens my understanding of different styles and feels for music. People have looked at me funny when they catch me listening to the music, but no matter. I enjoy the music I listen to, and if it helps me get closer to my goal then I will continue listening to more music. Besides, I enjoy listening to the classics.

    I probably left out some things, but those are the milestones that I can recall as of right now.

    What are some of yours?

Thursday, 03 December 2009

  • Best thanksgiving weekend.... EVER!

    It definitely cleared my head of all the negative thoughts and feelings, and now I have a clearer goal of what I want to do and accomplish with my life. I think I've finally found my inner motivation.

    Over the weekend, I've actually had a chance to get to know people who are successful and quite motivated at what they do. They were also fairly young - a little older than I am by a couple of years, and also quite known in the (viet) music industry. The biggest thing that hit me is that I never thought I would have been sitting there at dinner with them after the show, talking and having a good time. I mean, I grew up believing that I was a nobody, trying to be acknowledged AS somebody, and I just only learned the pressures of college and the desire to succeed. I haven't been surrounded by a lot of people like me all my life, but for the first time ever on that trip, it was like it's the place for me to be.

    I guess after the show in September, I realized that I had to become somebody in order to be able to go out there and gain respect from my fellow peers. The thanksgiving show gave me a piece of that.

    All of those years I've spent thinking, analyzing, and understanding are starting to pay off. I'm starting to understand myself better after interacting with people.

    Things are starting to brighten up.

Sunday, 15 November 2009

Wednesday, 07 October 2009

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

  • Sometimes, I feel like I miss high school. Well, not "high school" specifically. More like, I feel like I miss the person that I was. You know, daring, obnoxious - full of life and energy. Those were the crazy years that got my adrenaline pumping. The poster I did for Shannon, the senior prank that went unnoticed, the countless times I risked my life climbing up the gym, the defiance of authority for expressing myself and what I can do - they were the times I felt like I could do anything. Nothing was holding me back, not even the standards of society. I didn't care how I dressed or looked. I didn't care about what other people thought. I did my own thing, and that's what mattered.

    Nowadays, I'm stuck at home and limited with opportunities to express myself. I feel like there's so much energy being held inside that it is driving me crazy. In my life as of right now, there are only two things that I have: work and trombone. I have some things pending right now, but who knows how long that will be. Not going to school has made it even worse now that there is plenty of time on my hands. I want to start so many things, but I'm not sure where to start. I have the drive and I have the ambition, but I'm lacking motivation. I'm relying on people to start doing things with me, but I'm not so sure why. I have a lot of time on my hands, and it's so easy to be lazy. These are the times where I need to do something with my life, without limit and without distractions. With that said, these are my goals:

    -Learn sound recording and sound engineering
    -Be familiarized and get into the production business (learn to be a producer)
    -Get on with the new band
    -Write some songs, compose some melodies
    -Arrange some songs, explore my inner musicianship
    -Practice jazz piano, check out and learn the different techniques
    -Pick up the guitar and learn some shit
    -Pick up some students for trombone
    -Find a new, higher-paying job
    -Bboy, even if it's by myself
    -Perform and join groups
    -Pick up the phone and ask people out. To hang out

    All do-able. I need to fill up my time.

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Anhtaihuman

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  • theacematt2
    @Anhtaihuman - So it would appear. THIS time, at least. I'll best you yet xD
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    @theacematt2 - I guess I win then ;]
  • theacematt2
    You're older than me by three days. . . . :-|