On My Way

"SoundShoots is a unique music platform that challenges music makers to create a 90 second piece of music in response to a given weekly theme. The site is 100% free to use and whether you make your own music, or just like listening, there are plenty of good reasons to join!"

It's time for the theme "Time", which I found it really challenging because I'm running out of time! The weekly soundshoot theme submission due is every Monday 9am, I started planning on Friday and try to make something on Saturday, but I wasn't in the mood to make things done. In the end, I'm forcing something out on Sunday night itself, working under pressure to meet a deadline is not fun.

This is a pretty general and wide theme, being a student in University of Nottingham, the clock tower pretty much affects my idea. Thus, I'm starting the clip with clock ticking sound effect and goes to a typical clock tower alarm tone.

Trent Building clock tower in uni:

Also due to watching Japanese anime often, the clock tower sound makes me think of school dismiss time. Well, it's quite true that the end of last period in school is what we await the most, rushing to fulfill all the plans we had in mind for the rest of the day (but in reality, we're just trapped at home doing homework).

OK, it's more like... when the clock strikes, I'm setting on a journey to do whatever I wish. The whole clip is basically a variation of the clock tower alarm, with drum beat progression from quarter to eight-note, and finally to sixteenth-note, that builds up the sense of longing and rushing (it's like the journey started from walking, to slow jogging, and finally running towards a goal).

Click here to listen to:
On My Way - Adam Jong

It's a synth and distortion guitar driven clip, and I admit it really sounds like an anime opening theme. Another thing that I learnt is... to build up the emotion, it's not necessarily adding more and more layers of instruments. Muting off most of the other tracks except the rapid synth and sixteenth-note beat kinda gives an image of time-freeze for a flashback, and resume running as the instruments join once again.

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"Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."
-Jeremiah 42:3-

I kinda agree that everyone is heading to somewhere, for a dream that how we define success. No matter if we are walking or running, we're on our way. There will be time that we are discouraged and blinded by lies, and not see the direction clearly anymore. Pray that The Lord strengthen us, just like the verse has said, guide us there, Amen.

Friends International Annual Celebration

When I thought it's gonna be another Thursday, a phone call from Liz asked me if I'm able to play the piano for an event 'later'. Well, she told me the song, and said gonna pick me up in 2 hours time. Without knowing where and what the event is, I've actually agreed...

It's at the Holy Trinity Church in Lenton. Looks pretty creepy from outside with the trees and cemeteries, the setting could really scared someone out at night. However, the interior is quite modern, there are still traces of the old church design found.

Outside and inside of the church:

So I've practiced with the vocalist a few times, couldn't really do much since the staff is working on the video projectors and sounds. Good thing is, since we're here earlier for 'practice', we could help ourselves with some refreshments that they prepared for the event before anyone does.

Playing on a grand piano and dinner!

It's actually Friends International's Annual Celebration, which they have testimonies of staff members, promoting areas and opportunities to get involved in. The turn out is pretty good, a lot of Globe Cafe volunteers and leaders from both Beeston Free Church and Cornerstone Church came.

That's Sen Loong and Joo Lian being interviewed:

"Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared."
-Jeremiah 38:20-

I haven't been involving myself in any events of big Christian groups for quite a while., although this is quite spontaneous and random. Really pray for God to keep the faith in me, that I will not be discouraged over long span of stillness, Amen.

SR Leavers' Party

After everyone (or most) is done with exams, Solid Rock is having a Leavers' Party for those who are graduating or leaving UK. As any special events in SR, we have worship, food, games and some sharing. A good job for the new committee's first event.

Worship practice and pasta fever:

I knew they're doing something for the leavers, surprisingly I'm counted as a leaver as well coz I won't make it for the leavers' party next year. Oh, it's the familiar thing that I had in CF and ConneXion, sticking a paper on our back while the other members write messages on it. Yeah~ another leaver collection of mine (I've got at least 3 of these).

The "I got your back" game (SR version):

Most of them won't see each other for the whole summer or at all, so we prolonged the night with polar bear. Yeah, it was as crazy and tiring as usual, we kinda stayed up til 4am, where the sky was almost turning blue *we played til sunrise*.

Whole night spent on thinking who's the bear:

Thank God we still managed to wake up for church the next day. Went to T-street for morning service, then we a few of us had lunch in Man's Restaurant, we're quite lucky to get a table for 10 in such hour. It's my first time here for Dim Sum, the food is quite nice, with OK price... if I don't convert it.

It's been a while, egg tart~

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
-Jeremiah 33:3-

For all of us who has different plans for the summer, pray that we utilize it and help us not to stray away from You. It's definitely a time to face changes, but whatever that happens, pray that our God upholds us, Amen.

Behind The Blinds

"SoundShoots is a unique music platform that challenges music makers to create a 90 second piece of music in response to a given weekly theme. The site is 100% free to use and whether you make your own music, or just like listening, there are plenty of good reasons to join!"

This week's theme is "Space". The thought of outer space somehow leads me to Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger and Kamen Rider Fourze which both series are actually Space themed... but I don't think I will do soundshoot base on toku heroes. OK, space... while I started brainstorming, the feelings that came are such as darkness, emptiness, wide, mystery, and probably sorrow. Seems like a pretty solid direction.

So, to give the gloomy sort of atmosphere, it's mostly minor chords on loop. Adding effects on pad really gives the longing and mystery that I want (I'm officially in love with strings+phase sweep). Besides of sprinkling the high range to emulate stars/dim hope, I applied some echoes for the "empty big room" kinda feel. Also with a lot of stereo panning from left to right and back, it somehow creates a wandering and wondering effect.

I named this clip Behind the Blinds because I'm focusing on the mystery aspect of space, which human curiosity can't help to uncover them. Personally, it's more like the "space" inside a person, no one can fully understand somebody, and everyone is hiding a part of themselves from everyone else. It's probably a big darkness and sorrow behind every smiling face we see, waiting for somebody to uncover the blinds.

Click here to listen to:
Behind The Blinds - Adam Jong

Support by rating the clip with the icon (you need to be a member to do this), or facebook like it with the icon, thanks. Oh ya, I'm kinda surprised that I'm the 2nd one out of 100+ artists in soundshoot to contribute for all 3 themes, probably they're on their way.

E-mail from the producer:

*Update!*

After 2 weeks of showcasing "Space" soundshoots from different artists, the top 10 has been chosen by ranking as usual. I don't normally care about it, as I don't really promote my clip, but I'm actually kinda happy that I hit top 10 for this theme! It's actually 11th coz of the tie for no.1, doesn't matter... it still feel great anyway.

No.10 - Windranzer!

"But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true."
-Jeremiah 28:7-

For a dim hope in every darkness that we face, we will continue to pray and persevere. Lord, be our strength and guide, show us the path that we're suppose to be on, for Your glory and purpose, Amen.

T-Street Combined Service

Cornerstone church moved to a temporary building which is too far to walk =.= Just nice, T-Street church is having this special service which is a combination of 4 different services, and it's at Nott County Football Club (free entrance!). We entered through the players hallway~ awesome!

First time in a UK football club:

They actually allow us to walk around the football pitch, I kinda felt the overwhelming feeling of a player, eventhough the audience seats are all empty, it's just too big! A tent is set in the center of the football pitch, what a great environment.

NCFC is actually the world's oldest football league club:

It's beautifully decorated inside, it sorta looks like a wedding dinner. Keep the luxurious setting aside, there's even a dance floor in front of the stage. I guess there're more than 500 people. The sermon mentioned the importance of meeting together to worship, as a congregation, just like this very moment.

Worship session with prayers and dances:

"With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please."
-Jeremiah 27:5-

Another wonderful Sunday with new things. Pray that I'm gonna be alright looking for churches to go while Cornerstone is not in reach anymore (at least not by foot). May God bless for opportunities of joining other churches' service, Amen.

Summer Party 2012

Finally, it's Saturday, we reach The Downs in the morning for final installment and is ready for guests to enter in the afternoon. My tent is called Detonate, with DJ rig for clubbing purpose (UK people really like loud music and dancing =.=). Thank God each of us are given an earmuff, standing near the large speakers whole day seriously gonna kill my ear.

First time being so near a DJ kit:

I'm in the afternoon shift, basically we have nothing much to do except staying in the tent playing with lighting while the DJ "serenades" the guests. Other than that, we are free to walk around and have fun. They have live band at the main stage, and food stalls all over, pretty happening.

Detonate DJ and thrill ride:

What's more amazing is, there's a thrill ride, those in the theme park. It's gonna be popular, just look at the queue =.= There's a stage show where a person performs some tricks and comedy. A real-human table football game and rock climbing. There're actually much more activities and fun, I'm impressed by how big this Summer Party is (no wonder the ticket is so expensive).

Other games:

Honestly, staying here whole day is really tiring. Luckily the weather is not too bad, at least it didn't rain. A walked around for a while after my shift and decided to go back home... can't stand still de-rig time at midnight. Finally earn myself a TEC shirt, and every TEC member who helped out gets a large Domino pizza~

Something to bring back:

"Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you."
-Jeremiah 26:13-

Praise The Lord to look upon this Summer Party, I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. The hard work of TEC team is finally paid off. May all of us have a blessed summer, regardless of vacation or continue working, Amen.

Preparation of Summer Party 2012

Summer Party is a big scale carnival held every summer after exam. It's always at The Downs, a wide down slope field of grass. TEC team is in charge of lighting and sound, so they will need as much help as possible. I'm quite amazed by their progress in just 2nd day, tents and fence are all setup.

I just came helping on the 2nd day:

According to the coverage of fence, this is really a super big scale event. No wonder they need to start setup 4 days before the event. As a fresher, I basically help setting up bars and moving equipments, also some simple lights installing. It looks very professional to me.

Installing stage and bars for hanging lights:

Most of the time, we were just standing there waiting for instructions while the experienced ones do the programming for lights. Anyway, it's not too bad to see such progress being done, although it really takes up a lot of our time. Oh, the good side about it is, meals are provided~

Lighting setup finally complete, meal place:

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord."
-Jeremiah 24:7-

The weather is making us not to expect a good party on Saturday, pray that I'll be good that day and the preparation will be done on time. Although not really into their culture, pray also that this one and only Summer Party experience will be a good one to bring back, Amen.