The good ol’ people at NUS Centre for The Arts gave a pair of tickets to catch Tze n Looking Glass at the University Cultural Centre (thank you guys!). Amidst assignments, cabbing and attending, I do not regret it one bit. And I brought a friend along who rightly pointed out a more music inclined person would have been able to provide valuable comments but as a lay”man” with music knowledge that does not go beyond knowing what is B on the recorder, I’ll try.
Tze (on Piano), Dai Da (on Erhu), Teo Boon Chye (on Tenor Sax), Jennifer (on Drums) and Shaun (bass) played their first piece at about 8. Seeing Dai da on stage with the Erhu left me, going “Hmmmmm, how’d that work?” Answer? Beautifully.
Dai Da left and Lazar T. Sebastine who plays the Indian Violin came in and they started on Desh. I used to think violins are just violins but last night, they’re magic. Days of childhood of watching Indian films came to mind and a little warm fuzzy feeling crept. This was my first favourite piece. As the piece went on, Regina Spektor and Ingrid Michaelson came to mind. Being a words person, I thought, hey, lyrics would be good. But changed my mind the next second. Words would take away the focus and the good feeling the music made.
Beijing Blues was the next piece which according to Tze happened because Dai Da felt that Chinese music needed some fresh energy. This was one of the energetic piece but I have a confession, I sorta dozed off. Sort of. Let me defend mysef. Firstly, I enjoyed it very much. Amidst the great symphony and beautiful blend, I began to think of some things beautiful, imagining and then closing my eyes visualizing and the beats were perfect to the dream I was having, the next thing I knew, I felt a little tap. Tee hee.
I particularly enjoyed the last piece, Stories from Wonderland, the most and listened/watched on eagerly as Lazar and Dai Da both were on stage. Excitement simmered as I wondered if there would be a clash of sounds. But no, there was something magical about it. A part of me half expected flowers to start sprouting, the Cheshire cat appearing by the drums, the Rabbit running across the stage, and Alice with her wooden basket full of daisies and peonies skipping. It was and still is beautiful. The sounds were distinct and pulled different strings of your heart each. When it all comes together and you see Lazar smiling at Tze, and everyone else with a glimmer in their eyes as they play, thats passion right there. Passion that is so rare. They made me believe in music.
At the end, friend commented on the possibility of it being impromptu seeing how they seem to enter into each other’s piece by ear. Even if it is, thumbs up, they did it so well.
This would be the reason why I’d support local music.
These women coo. I’d love to bring to light hidden treasures and these are what these women are. Boys and men over the ladies in most things, even love songs. But it becomes a tad strange when a girl starts cooing to the songs. Case in point Maroon 5. Okay they’re a little too sexual. How about Train? “Your lipstick stains, on the front lobe of my left side brain”. For me to sing that song is just… strange. I’ve concluded that it could be because love songs by the opposite sex comes across as love songs being sung to you. Depending on your gender preferences, the gender that does not interest you will not rouse you nor your heart. This calls for the tag #tmi. Anyway, I’ve digressed.
First, Adele. For someone who is 22, her voice is mature beyond her years. I spent Sunday tidying up 6 weeks of mess to her whole 21 Album. It started 2 weeks ago when I chanced upon her ‘live’ Someone Like You recorded at her home. The truth in the commentary and the soulful singing, it is hard not to like her. Chasing Pavements felt like a song I only heard just last month when in actual fact it has been three years-old. The 3 year gap has brought around a better voice I must say. I can’t really describe it but the voice has matured. While the Lohans and Olsens are flashing around, this songstress has been exploring boundaries. Check Rumor Has It. A piece worked with Ryan Tedder of One Republic. Let’s just say this Grammy Winner is here to stay for a long time. Anyway, what happened to her ex-classmate Leona Lewis?
Second, I was on RollingStones.com reading through reviews. The first few lines of the review on Jessica Lea Mayfield caught my attention.
“There’s not much I wouldn’t let you whisper in my ear,” coos Jessica Lea Mayfield on her second album.
I would tell that to her.
She’s 21 and has been described by trusty old wiki to have written dark, sad and minimalist songs. Minimalist. It did cross my mind before I turned to ole faithful Wiki. Listen to the whole album and “minimalist”, “bare” and their synonyms pops in your head. The only reason that is possible is because her voice is an instrument of it’s own. Too much instruments and it will be really too much. Give her a try, by that I mean a listen. She looks cute too.
Third babe, she’s been hitting the headlines, she won the Brits Award Critic Choice and you have seen her on your Youtube’s dashboard. Jessie J, baby. Her English accent is pretty strong but there’s something about her voice that reminds you of Miley Cyrus. This 22 year-old babe too wrote Party in the USA for her. Before coming to the surface, she has written some for Alicia Keys. Boy, oh boy. She is only 22! Check out Do It Like A Dude (caution: nsfw). This Ghetto-Pop babe is an upcoming star. For once, critics are right.
Doing it like a dude alright,
Nurul
PS: Did you realise they’re all 22?
Music has always had its goose bumps-tingling moments; moments which herald the birth of a great band.
In one such moment, about three years ago in the fall of 2007, 4 Chinese boys – Joshua, Jonathan, Iain and JBarks, picked up their instruments, stepped out onto the stage at Baybeats Singapore, and stunned every and anyone who ever thought that the term ‘local music’ was a hopeless myth.
They called themselves The Fire Fight.
Three years later, TFF are an established force in the local scene here, continuing to rock our heads out with their epic alt-rock sound, growing from strength to strength with every gig. They’ve opened for the likes of epic alt-bands like Anberlin, Copeland, and Switchfoot, who have acknowledged the quality of their music.
TFF released their first album, Henri, in 2009. Particular favourites of note are the lyrical and tonal sensitivities of “Portrait Lover”, the disco-punkish “Dreamer”, and the ‘hell-yeah!’ vibe of “Train Song”. They took a hiatus soon after as a few members went overseas, but we are seeing signs of them coming back in 2011 – for instance, they will be playing at Home Club on Sunday afternoon (20 Feb) with other amazing bands in support of Caracal’s Canadian Music Festival bid http://caracalgoescanada.blogspot.com/
Seriously, catch them if you can, catch them now!
http://www.facebook.com/thefirefight
http://www.myspace.com/thefirefightsg
Peace,
Josh
