idealism

Revolution of DJ Culture

I’ve been working on a PsychTrance/HardTrance mix over the weekends. 50 over minutes done. Another 50 over minutes to make it a mixed album. Not exactly the kind of mix traditionally done with turntables and mixer, but with my faithful Cubase SX. Now my question is… would this be considered DJ-ing too? I understand that DJ around the world work with either vinyls or now even with CDs, but are music mixing with MP3 files considered ‘disc-jocking’?

Many full-time DJs would criticize the use of MP3 as ‘poser-DJ’ as it is not authentic and the sound quality sux big-time. But hey think about this… how do you think tracks of many electronic music genre like trance, techno and what-nots are made? Mixing and remixing of electronically generated sounds! And how are these electronic sounds made? Through computers! So most would say the best sound format for the computer is *.wav, but HOW MANY PEOPLE in this world would be bothered to try to distinguish the difference between a wav file and a 196kb/s MP3 dance track during a party??? When you’re up-hyped with superb arrangement of beats/rhythm/tunes, would you think you can tell if that favorite track you’ve just heard was played from a vinyl or an MP3 file… or even bothered to find out? The key factor that make a good mix is the ‘perfect’ combination of beats and rhythm that hype you up, isn’t it?

Alright. I do understand some hardcore DJ-ing enthusiasts who insist that the sound quality do make a difference in the level of hype the track can bring, but is it really necessary? Who in the majority of clubbing population would be that particular? Only a small percentage… and that small percentage, in my opinion, are those who just want to show that they are the ONEs who lead a ‘super star’ lifestyle when they own professional DJ equipments and a huge collection of vinyls.

Face it… many of the professional DJs in the world are already incorporating the use of electronic mediums for their mixes.

There’s even iDJ, an iPod mixer made by Numark…

... and even DJ softwares for mixing MP3 files such as SAM Party DJ

In other words, don’t anyone tell me “DJ-ing without using vinyls/CDs… errr… You call that DJ-ing?”

DJ Mention of the Day : Scot Project

Scot Project One of the pioneers of hard trance, Scot Project created a unique combination of hard percussive elements, mixed with melodic trance rhythms. Been creating waves over the years around clubland with appearances at Godskitchen, Gatecrasher, Global Gathering, Homelands, Dance Valley, Energy and manymore festivals and clubs around the globe. Having learned to mix at the age of 13, Scot Project got his first break in 1986 playing breakbeat in a youth club. When the acid house movement hit in 1988 Scot Project was hooked on the sound and possibilities that the world’s biggest youth culture offered. By 1990 he was a resident of several clubs in and around Frankfurt and could be found spending his pay cheques on a small but potent studio. Scot Project’s first track ‘X’ was released on Overdose shortly after, followed closely by the hugely successful ‘U (I Got A Feeling)’, which was released on Overdose / Positiva and charted throughout Europe. Soon Scot Project relinquished his residencies to tour the USA, Canada, Brazil, Russia and Europe, developing a loyal fan base across the Globe. Having established himself as one of the big names in hard dance, DJ Scot Project was offered a plethora of remixes, including Pulse, Fog, Area and Intercord among others. He enjoyed massive success in the UK during 2001, applying the midas touch to ‘Firewire’. After more than 10 years of production under names such as Arome, De Zenk, Hypnosis, Lostsidon., Scot Project real name Frank Zenker is preparing to release his first ever artist album. The latest album “A1” features the new era of Scot Project productions as well as the classics that have brought him to the forefront of hard trance.

Lost in Transition

Today’s the end of my 2 weeks ICT, but I’m still not in the shape to return to work. Several things I picked up over the last 12 days and only 2 days left to switch myself back to the work momentum is not going to be easy.

What I picked up, you’d ask. Let’s see. I’ve been reading a lot, probably more leisure reading over a short 12 days period than the rest of the year! I’ve completed Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code within 5 days and even though I had 4 days of combat medic refresher course this week, I’ve managed to finish half of Angels & Demons. I’m so into the mystical world of historic secret societies… in the light of the Knight Templars and Illuminati. Not that I haven’t heard of them, but Dan Brown’s books simply propose a supposed truer versions of European history. I’ve always wondered why Mary Magdalene was mentioned only in a small section of the bible. Now Dan Brown’s interpretation of her actual role in the history of christiandom has somewhat opened my eyes to her mysterious short-lived appearance and disappearance. Though the story of Mary Magdalene is not exactly validated it might just be a well conjectured assumption based on real facts.

Some interesting facts I learn from the two books:

• 
  The Pyramid and All-seeing Eye on the American dollar was actually an Illuminati symbol and not exactly Masonic like I thought it was.
• 
  The figure on the famous Da Vinci work The Last Supper to the right of Jesus Christ was actually more woman-like after the restoration.
• 
  The famous Lourve Museum, which I.M. Pei (who happens to be one of my favorite architect) added the controversial glass pyramid, is so large that it would take a few days to see all the art displayed within the compound. The building is also the longest on earth. The perimeter of the entire horse-shoe shaped museum is about 5km!

Other than reading, I’ve also been slothing over afternoons. Though it was hard at first but I’ve gotten used to just wait for the time to pass. While I used to be so involved with work and filling up my blogs otherwise, I’ve been conveniently letting time passes by unproductively. That’s not exactly the way I’m comfortable with but just how I had to condition myself to let the 2 weeks ICT pass by more easily. Now that I’d be heading back to the office soon, I’ve to find some way to jump start my mind back on track. Checks clock Checks mobile phone

Thinks about the music mixes I kinda promised Joan… manz I need some inspiration!

Poetry: Acidic Tears

While having too much time in camp, I had with me an old sketch book I used to sketch and scribble with. Guess what I found… a poem I wrote about 10 years ago. I don’t quite recall what inspired me, but this poem somehow struck me to how I used to feel.

Acidic Tears
Acidic tears are burning
I’m lost beyond my own words
Ask me what I’m thinking
I’d say I’m not ready for the worst
Problems meant not to be solved
Questions meant not to be asked
I’m only wishing for a hope
One that’d be better than the last
Family and friends are for eternal
This I know and I dearly hold
But there’re some I quiety curse
Don’t ask me why… I really don’t know
By this far in my life I realize
Tears are meant to be swallowed
They don’t just fall forever
And they’d never turn cold
Acidic tears were rolling
Down my cheeks quivering
I’d rather choose to forget
Don’t ask me what I was thinking

Week of Leisure

One week has passed since I started my ICT (short of In Camp Training, meaning being a reservist). Though most would have thought ‘poor thing, a week away from civilization going through life stripped of freedom…’. On the contrary, my week of ICT was more like a week off from my civil obligations at work and spent my time, other than occasional simple administrative tasks, catching up with the novels I have yet to finish.

YES, though we do not have the liberty to do as we please when serving ICT, we are bounded within a space with practically nothing much to do… and it’s a good thing, actually. When there isn’t much you can do, you are forced to head back to the basics, either to clear your mind and to do some self-reflection, or just simply read a book to kill time. At other times, my ICT-mates and I amuse each other with stories we faced over kopi breaks, and by laughing off our daily stress and quirks we help each other lift the weights off our hearts.

In other words, ICT is a perfect opportunity to wind down and a great therapheutic session.

Official M.I.A.

October 10 to 21 dot Reservist national service dot Deferment rejected dot Will be staying out after office hours so not so bad dot Over & out

DJ Mentions of the Day : Yoji Biomehanika & Oliver Klitzing

Yoji Biomehanika One word to describe it all: ENERGY. This Japanese DJ is on his way up the DJMag top 100 ranking. Not only does he give the feel of energy in his spins, he looks just like somebody who lives on it! Mostly hard trance fused with techno. In 2005, he is ranked the top 32nd DJ of the year.	Oliver Klitzing Genre: Techno. Currently being sought after. His style is clean and hard. No weird frill. No cheap gimmick. Being an experience DJ and producer, he seems to have a clean ear for new sounds.

Confession of an Idealist

So what is ‘idealism’? I have been naming this site “Journey to Idealism” since I created it, but what does it mean?

According to The American Heritage

Quidam

Today, Sunsun and I went for the Quidam show. It is circus show presented by an international circus troupe (minus the elephants, tigers and lions) known as Cirque du Soleil.

Seated right in front on the side, we had pretty closed up view for the performances and some were so overwhelming I had to shush Sunsun from speaking too loud during the show.

“Which do you think is your favorite act?” she asked when the intermission break ended and the show continued. I was too busy trying to get myself engrossed in the show that I couldn’t be bothered to remember which was my favorite at that moment. ALL of them were great. None was my favorite.

True enough, the show that my mind labelled as my favorite only came later. It was the act called Statue.
“Never losing contact, two strong, flexible performers move almost imperceptibly, assuming positions impossible without an impeccable sense of balance. The couple summon all their sensitivity and powers of concentration in their quest for perfect harmony. Their act is testimony to the natural beauty of the human body.”

I just love the way two figures can summon such balance supporting each others body weights and at the same time create such beautiful works of art forms with their bodies.

Quidam: a nameless passer-by, a solitary figure lingering on a street corner, a person rushing past. It could be anyone, anybody. Someone coming, going, living in our anonymous society. A member of the crowd, one of the silent majority. The one who cries out, sings and dreams within us all. This is the “quidam” that Cirque du Soleil is celebrating.

A young girl fumes; she has already seen everything there is to see, and her world has lost all meaning. Her anger shatters her little world, and she finds herself in the universe of Quidam. She is joined by a joyful companion as well as another character, more mysterious, who will attempt to seduce her with the marvelous, the unsettling, and the terrifying.

Wedding Banquet By The Pool

Last night was C & K’s wedding banquet. The dinner partywas held in a less conventional manner, with open air beside a pool, which in my opinion really cool (I must stress this is more like a ‘dinner party’ instead of a usual ballroom banquet). With all the typical YAM-SENG crowd done away for the evening, I can feel the bride and groom more relaxed than they would in the case of a typical Chinese wedding banquet. That way, we get more ease to mingle around and share our joy for the wedded couple. Splendid choice, dudes!

The banquet was also a reunion (at least in my case) with a group of JC buddies (though not all were students of the JC) I used to hang out with and haven’t done so in a long while. It was even the first time for some of them to meet Sunsun. Finally they get to meet a year since our wedding (long story… don’t ask). We had a bottle of Chivas Regal at our table (at the courtesy of one of the guys) but I noticed the drinking pace has slowed down for some, just as it is for me. (We had our dues as most of us started drinking before 18). Is age really catching up now? Frown

Speaking of which, C surprised us with photographs that each of us took with him along the years of our friendship as thank-you gifts. Some of these photos showed how much some of us have changed along the years. Some even showed how dorky we used to look with hairstyles long out-dated and other showed images of us still in mentality we no longer remember. Photos can really bring great memories, C! And you are right… friendship as such are timeless and forever. We will remain as friends no matter how long or how we age.

Nevertheless, with good food, splendid wine, and great catching up with friends, it was one of the most enjoyable wedding banquet I’d attended. Without the crowd and stiff atmosphere, the dinner was more relaxed and cozy than most others. The only last bit to complete the experience will be the pics we took using J’s camera. (Will update when more pictures are available)

Aftermath of the Banquet

oGUuaaARRRGGHHH~
Let’s take a pic while enjoying the sound of the nasty drunken pWn whizz by… This guy needs help…

Choke I’m ok…
(Heehee… yeah riiiigh~)
Choke Gimme a break… it’s ma bday…
(Ok ok… that we can do :P)