Yeah, today we had bible study again. Honestly, studying in Nottingham really is all about projects and notes, so bible study or Sunday church is really what I await the most. It sort of a spiritual fuel station for me and also a chance for me to go out and take a deep breathe (now I have badminton too!). Actually, next week Tuesday there’ll be a Music Club annual general meeting, to recruit new members and also planning for the coming events. At first, I don’t feel like joining it cause there should be a lot of better talents around the campus, (sigh… what am I). Erm… surprisingly Hinn wanna try the club, and he “asked” me and Audri to join as well. Ok… let’s just see how is Nottingham’s Music Club.
Oh man… my project is really messing me up! We’re supposed to design an automatic clutch and brake system. Blur is it? It’s not a problem for you to be blur, but it’s a big trouble for me to be blur! Working hard on it, need a lot a lot of blessings. Somehow, I tried to “make” some friends around and tried to ask them to teach me how to use the software to design the device (the software is ProEngineering). Actually, some of them are really easy to approach, thanks Eric Khoo for teaching me some basics for the whole afternoon. Seriously, I need to celebrate after I finish this project.
Just now, Agnes called me. It’s about some business between us. She told me to send her some of my songs that I think are the best and she’ll be meeting a very experienced composer and try to get some comments (and also figure out what can they do with my songs). It should happened last two weeks, but it seems that that guy (Alex) was very busy and delayed the meeting til today. Agnes was so overwhelmed by the meeting and she called me immediately (if not it’s still a while later). She met two pros, Alex and another girl. Alex is more on pop and jazz songs, piano major. The girl is more on sentimental and instrumental songs. Both of them are partners of music production *cooooool*.
Actually they are very good friends of Agnes. Agnes made it quite professional, she let the girl listen and comment first, then Alex, seperately. Agnes always wanted to learn something from them, and also test test their professionalism, but her song is still hanging *feel like singing backstreet boys – INCOMPLETE~* So she decided to use my songs, just saying that we are partnership in these few songs, or else they won’t even want to listen to it. We’re doing this just to give ourselves a chance.
The girl, she listened to all 3 songs I sent to Agnes, for a professional composer to listen that much from a noob like me, I respect and appreciate her patience, THANK YOU! Somehow, she didn’t comment much on 旧伤 and 我没有错, just said that it’s too instrumental (OK, I admit… no vocal is my biggest weakness!). She also said that 我没有错 sounds like those drama songs, more specifically TVB… -.- Here comes the best part, she likes 夜雨星 (Haha! I knew it sounds nice). She also said that my songs very Chinese, and she asked Agnes “you know who’s suitable to sing this song?”, Agnes suddenly gone blank… Then the girl said “S.H.E”. When I heard this from Agnes, I LOL like no tomorrow, Agnes knew they’re my favourite too, so she laughed as well. I can say that she’s DAMN PROFESSIONAL by making that statement. Honestly, if S.H.E is willing to put my song into their album, I'll reach a climax where there's no regret in my life and it doesn't matter even it just ends like that.
Then it’s Alex turn, here comes the real chilly. Agnes actually jotted down all the important points, but her notebook is not with her when she called me, she just roughly tells me what she remembers. This guy is really hard to impress as he’s so good and experienced. Somehow he can tell that I don’t listen much types of songs in the market (Yupz, I’m quite limiting myself to a few artist). He also said that I’m very “Jim Brickman (Chinese version)” because my songs are so instrumental. Haha! Another head shot, I do love Jim Brickman’s songs a lot. He’s also my favourite, it’s quite an honour for people to tell me I’m like him, Mua haha! However, he uses Jim Brickman’s songs to point out my weaknesses, I’m blasting off too much, and it’s hard to differentiate the main melody from my background music, Jim Brickman can bring out the melody with very light and easy harmony. Somehow his songs are easy and simple songs but super nice! Thinking of that, I’m really adding too much stuffs where just like Alex said, I’m killing the simplicity of a songs and taking off the touch (indirectly I screwed up in doing something I thought is impressive). He also said 我没有错 very TVB, those songs that should appear in dramas. Since both composers have a mutual idea of my songs, I should work it out (some days…).
Besides that, I learnt new things. Always leave space for my song, he said my songs are too packed. Take note that the “space” he’s talking is not in term of melody, vocal or any composing technic, it’s about “space” for listeners to catch the meaning of the song, the “space” for audiences to imagine the scene, the “space” for people to understand the message I’m trying to give (Wow… he really needs to give me “space” to understand what he’s trying to tell). Furthermore, never use piano as a leading instrument to overtake the duty of vocal! Piano doesn’t provide the “turn” like other instruments… then Agnes asked what should we use, he tells us to figure it out ourselves, we must find something that suits our own but never piano. Finally, the most important point, he keeps asking Agnes about my music background, the reason is, I’m not doing what I suppose to do, so he wanna know roughly how good am I (if he knows it'll be seriously dissapointing). Bare these in mind, Adam! I am a “melody designer” that is seeking chance of a producer to take my song and work it out. So, I should hit the point of my songs as direct as possible. Making all those flowery backgrounds is not my job. Never compose a song that is more than 3 minutes, and keep the intro short. Afterall, I’m just doing a demo, the producer who listens to my demo should be able to feel the melody flow very clear, and also be able to map out the expression of the song. It means that, I should not repeat too many choruses or verses and keep my song ASAP (as simple as possible). He said that I am doing the job of an arranger while I still can’t do good in the basic, which is composing the melody (in term of bringing it out). A very good tip is always start composing a song from the point of view of a vocalist, everything I do just think about the vocal, because that’s the soul, the attracting point of a song!
I spoke with Agnes on the phone for more than an hour I think. Agnes really thanks me because she learnt a lot of things from them and she wished that I’m with her too while they’re giving the comments. I really hope I’m there too, Alex even give examples on how to improve via playing on his piano. Somehow, he said it’s a good start, and he's looking forward for my improved version of 我没有错. Haiz… suddenly I don’t feel like studying, just want to get my head in music. However, I’ll at least do all my best as a Nottinghammer. Don’t worry, I have God to planned my whole life, it’ll be the best for me. Have faith! Thanks Anges very very very much for giving me this opportunity to expose myself to these very very very great and talented people.
Ok, today is Proverbs 8, “And so, my children, listen to me, for happy are all who follow my ways. Listen to my counsel and be wise. Don’t ignore it.” Oh Lord, I pray for Matthew in Nilai, he’s having hard time as events, activities, performances and tests are all coming to him like waves of Tsunamis. Give him the will to overcome this and also let him not be deviated from You. KTT (Kolej Teknologi Timur) students are having their A-level final exams (either AS or A2). They are really blessings to Nilai Sunday Worship, I attended their CF twice, and they have extremely good and nice people around. I wish that they can have wisdom in exams and also may God be with them wherever they go to pursue their degree (mostly India for medical degree, all smart smart de). Talking about KTT, I received my “letters” from friendship month last Sunday. Thanks for all the concerns and encouragements! Especially Susu from Penang studying in KTT, she really knows how to start an essay, I LOVE IT! I also pray that Kai Seng will recover from his injuries, I had something similar before on my palm and seriously it’s not fun. May everything be as He planned! Amen.
Oh man… my project is really messing me up! We’re supposed to design an automatic clutch and brake system. Blur is it? It’s not a problem for you to be blur, but it’s a big trouble for me to be blur! Working hard on it, need a lot a lot of blessings. Somehow, I tried to “make” some friends around and tried to ask them to teach me how to use the software to design the device (the software is ProEngineering). Actually, some of them are really easy to approach, thanks Eric Khoo for teaching me some basics for the whole afternoon. Seriously, I need to celebrate after I finish this project.
Just now, Agnes called me. It’s about some business between us. She told me to send her some of my songs that I think are the best and she’ll be meeting a very experienced composer and try to get some comments (and also figure out what can they do with my songs). It should happened last two weeks, but it seems that that guy (Alex) was very busy and delayed the meeting til today. Agnes was so overwhelmed by the meeting and she called me immediately (if not it’s still a while later). She met two pros, Alex and another girl. Alex is more on pop and jazz songs, piano major. The girl is more on sentimental and instrumental songs. Both of them are partners of music production *cooooool*.
Actually they are very good friends of Agnes. Agnes made it quite professional, she let the girl listen and comment first, then Alex, seperately. Agnes always wanted to learn something from them, and also test test their professionalism, but her song is still hanging *feel like singing backstreet boys – INCOMPLETE~* So she decided to use my songs, just saying that we are partnership in these few songs, or else they won’t even want to listen to it. We’re doing this just to give ourselves a chance.
The girl, she listened to all 3 songs I sent to Agnes, for a professional composer to listen that much from a noob like me, I respect and appreciate her patience, THANK YOU! Somehow, she didn’t comment much on 旧伤 and 我没有错, just said that it’s too instrumental (OK, I admit… no vocal is my biggest weakness!). She also said that 我没有错 sounds like those drama songs, more specifically TVB… -.- Here comes the best part, she likes 夜雨星 (Haha! I knew it sounds nice). She also said that my songs very Chinese, and she asked Agnes “you know who’s suitable to sing this song?”, Agnes suddenly gone blank… Then the girl said “S.H.E”. When I heard this from Agnes, I LOL like no tomorrow, Agnes knew they’re my favourite too, so she laughed as well. I can say that she’s DAMN PROFESSIONAL by making that statement. Honestly, if S.H.E is willing to put my song into their album, I'll reach a climax where there's no regret in my life and it doesn't matter even it just ends like that.
Then it’s Alex turn, here comes the real chilly. Agnes actually jotted down all the important points, but her notebook is not with her when she called me, she just roughly tells me what she remembers. This guy is really hard to impress as he’s so good and experienced. Somehow he can tell that I don’t listen much types of songs in the market (Yupz, I’m quite limiting myself to a few artist). He also said that I’m very “Jim Brickman (Chinese version)” because my songs are so instrumental. Haha! Another head shot, I do love Jim Brickman’s songs a lot. He’s also my favourite, it’s quite an honour for people to tell me I’m like him, Mua haha! However, he uses Jim Brickman’s songs to point out my weaknesses, I’m blasting off too much, and it’s hard to differentiate the main melody from my background music, Jim Brickman can bring out the melody with very light and easy harmony. Somehow his songs are easy and simple songs but super nice! Thinking of that, I’m really adding too much stuffs where just like Alex said, I’m killing the simplicity of a songs and taking off the touch (indirectly I screwed up in doing something I thought is impressive). He also said 我没有错 very TVB, those songs that should appear in dramas. Since both composers have a mutual idea of my songs, I should work it out (some days…).
Besides that, I learnt new things. Always leave space for my song, he said my songs are too packed. Take note that the “space” he’s talking is not in term of melody, vocal or any composing technic, it’s about “space” for listeners to catch the meaning of the song, the “space” for audiences to imagine the scene, the “space” for people to understand the message I’m trying to give (Wow… he really needs to give me “space” to understand what he’s trying to tell). Furthermore, never use piano as a leading instrument to overtake the duty of vocal! Piano doesn’t provide the “turn” like other instruments… then Agnes asked what should we use, he tells us to figure it out ourselves, we must find something that suits our own but never piano. Finally, the most important point, he keeps asking Agnes about my music background, the reason is, I’m not doing what I suppose to do, so he wanna know roughly how good am I (if he knows it'll be seriously dissapointing). Bare these in mind, Adam! I am a “melody designer” that is seeking chance of a producer to take my song and work it out. So, I should hit the point of my songs as direct as possible. Making all those flowery backgrounds is not my job. Never compose a song that is more than 3 minutes, and keep the intro short. Afterall, I’m just doing a demo, the producer who listens to my demo should be able to feel the melody flow very clear, and also be able to map out the expression of the song. It means that, I should not repeat too many choruses or verses and keep my song ASAP (as simple as possible). He said that I am doing the job of an arranger while I still can’t do good in the basic, which is composing the melody (in term of bringing it out). A very good tip is always start composing a song from the point of view of a vocalist, everything I do just think about the vocal, because that’s the soul, the attracting point of a song!
I spoke with Agnes on the phone for more than an hour I think. Agnes really thanks me because she learnt a lot of things from them and she wished that I’m with her too while they’re giving the comments. I really hope I’m there too, Alex even give examples on how to improve via playing on his piano. Somehow, he said it’s a good start, and he's looking forward for my improved version of 我没有错. Haiz… suddenly I don’t feel like studying, just want to get my head in music. However, I’ll at least do all my best as a Nottinghammer. Don’t worry, I have God to planned my whole life, it’ll be the best for me. Have faith! Thanks Anges very very very much for giving me this opportunity to expose myself to these very very very great and talented people.
Ok, today is Proverbs 8, “And so, my children, listen to me, for happy are all who follow my ways. Listen to my counsel and be wise. Don’t ignore it.” Oh Lord, I pray for Matthew in Nilai, he’s having hard time as events, activities, performances and tests are all coming to him like waves of Tsunamis. Give him the will to overcome this and also let him not be deviated from You. KTT (Kolej Teknologi Timur) students are having their A-level final exams (either AS or A2). They are really blessings to Nilai Sunday Worship, I attended their CF twice, and they have extremely good and nice people around. I wish that they can have wisdom in exams and also may God be with them wherever they go to pursue their degree (mostly India for medical degree, all smart smart de). Talking about KTT, I received my “letters” from friendship month last Sunday. Thanks for all the concerns and encouragements! Especially Susu from Penang studying in KTT, she really knows how to start an essay, I LOVE IT! I also pray that Kai Seng will recover from his injuries, I had something similar before on my palm and seriously it’s not fun. May everything be as He planned! Amen.
*By the way, I have a link at the right side bar to my friendster account. Some of my songs are available at the media box in my friendster page. Please tell me some of your PRECIOUS opinions!
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2 comments:
Good...jia you in ur study n ur creative mind in ur music...May God bless u...Actually I m now learning the software too, its quite complicated de...haha...
Heyz! Haha u're right. I really am not free recently. Got a class at 8, meeting at 10, and speech at 12 later...argh. So gonna die.
That's a super long post! I'll read it later when i've got some spare time k? Thanks so much for understanding.
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