I fly back to Singapore tomorrow afternoon, and I should arrive back on her shores on a Saturday afternoon. I must admit, I go back with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I have been having a tremendous time here in Spain, seeing new things, natural things, being with my family, appreciating the slow, relaxing pace of life while on holiday. On the other hand, I do miss to a degree, the bustle of the metropolis, but even more so, the familiarity, my friends, being in my element of music, and being part of its community.

Still, nothing is really preparing me for what I’ve been reading about in the news of late. It all seems like familiar problems, the same old problems, the same old habits, the same old bullshite that could only happen in Singapore.

SMRT fiasco where they rebuked radio personality for using Twitter as a source for reporting that one of their train lines were down. I don’t know the specifics, but it seems the train lines were really down, and Hossan wasn’t just talking through his arse. I don’t know what exactly was said either, but as long as misinformation wasn’t spread, I don’t think Hossan did any wrong by doing what he did, and if one wanted to be pedantic, we could always stick to disclaimers that “Twitter reported blah, blah and blah

Then we have taxi fare hikes, gangsters launching death threats over YouTube, and everywhere I look, people seem powerless to do anything except talk about it online. Does anyone actually listen to all this, and then do something about it?

Maybe, what’s the biggest burden on my heart right now, is that we have a thousand and one concerns about life in Singapore, and all we’re doing is talking. It’s not enough is it? But it’s the most harmless, the most non-committal, the thing that costs us the least. And that frustrates me more than anything else. Not peoples’ inactivity, but rather, my own. I’ve led a rather inactive life, perhaps my only contribution has been creating music and writing on my blog. Anything else, I will admit that I feel rather useless, weak and powerless to affect any sort of real change. Productive change.

Maybe there will be a moment in time, but I can’t tell the future, and I think I’m just going to tolerate the fourteen hour flight back home and see where it takes me.

Electrico on fire during their set

Leeson just had the tremendous opportunity to play at the Music Matters Advertising Forum last night alongside Singapore greats like Electrico, Stomping Ground, Inch and Don Richmond. It all started with Des from Electrico asking if we would like to play, and seeing how we were short on gigs this year, we excitedly agreed.

Last night was rather special only because it was rather nostalgic in the sense that the band was reminiscing all the fun over the years. I guess that was aided when Bryan from RazorTV interviewed us, and allowed us to take stock of everything we’ve done. From recording our two EPs to playing in some of the best local music venues in Singapore. We never did get the critical mass that would make us massively popular, but what a journey it’s been so far! I’m very very thankful that the band has been blessed so much.

Y’know, strip away the glitz and glamour of the so-called rockstar lifestyle.. and the things that last are the friendships we’ve made and the growth we’ve made as musicians. I think at the end of the day, that’s what we’ve enjoyed and allowed us to last as long as we have, especially when it’s been such a core part of our lives.

As I was telling Thomas, our guitarist, when we first started the band, the idea of the band defined us. It made us who we were individually because it was cool to be in a band, and everything we did, we did for the lifestyle or thrill of being in one. But over the years as maturity grows, I think we’ve each started to define the band, and that’s a big step. Because life is bigger than being in bands, music is bigger than being in bands.. and that’s how we’ve constantly stayed happy over the years.

So I guess these are just some pictures from before the big day.

The empty exhibition hall, where we’re expecting more than 20,000 people for both services.

I’ve always loved the way an erhu sounds, and it was a privilege to play alongside a fabulous player. There was also a tabla drummer, and I love the unique layers of sound each of these traditional instruments bring.

Up close and personal with Daryl, one of the electric guitarists, and we’re backed by a choir too!

A few more snaps at this link.

16 Dec’09

+/- {PLUS/MINUS} @ Home Club

12 Jan’10

Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ The Esplanade

13 Jan’10

Cat Power @ The Esplanade

Feb’10

The Xx

Muse

Time to find that job and finance those gigs!