how quickly my life changes

Just after i posted my schedule yesterday, it takes a whole new turn after just one day and less than 24 hours.

I think I have a mad life. SH says I'm living triple lives, i think... its even more than that, just that some aspects I have chosen to put aside for a while first.

(like the forum/web which i have neglected for a while haha.. but its ok coz our full time forum admin is doing a good job covering everyone now *thumbs up*.. maybe i can retire already hahahah)

And so, my new schedule

Thurs:
Jamming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no need to say more haha.. but sad though that we will be there without my)
Go to the studio after that
Finally might get to meet SH after that

Fri:
Concert rehearsal (yup, the result of the production meeting on wed)

Sat:
The actual concert

Mon:
Finally start work formally at THE PLACE =)
(but i'm still gonna stick with helping out at the studio too, wherever and in anyway i can)

And so what happened to my school stuff? haha.. it got postponed again. But i guess I can only procrastinate to a certain extent. Its still something I gotta finish.
Although one lecturer cancelled on me, i confess that i cancelled on the other lecturer because I wanted to go jamming instead wahhaha.... (i'm sorry... i really just want to jam =P)

I will work hard, I will I will! Maybe I just need to just really put my heart into it, just like into everything else that I'm doing.

my schedule for this week

finally finished with the auditions the past 3 days.

and for the rest of this week, i really gotta multitask.

Wed:
Go down to the studio in the afternoon
Go to dhoby ghaut for a production meeting in the evening
Go home read up and prepare for thesis discussion tomorrow

Thurs:
Go to school to meet lecturer to talk about my thesis (which I haven't done much on!!)
Then crash in with an existing class to learn the newly installed system with another lecturer
Go to the studio after that
Last minute practice for jamming tomorrow

Fri:
Fully dedicated Jamming day! woohoo
Hopefully no other things to handle that day at either of the jobs I'm doing now

I realise, I always find myself in such senarios, trying to do more than one thing in my life at once and buzzing here and there and everywhere. Maybe its just me, and its what defines me. I just don't like to slack.. it always feels like time is wasting away if I do.

But I know, once in a while, I gotta know how to relax and sit down to smell the air.

But so long as I'm having fun, I think a little less sleep or more running about wouldn't really matter. It beats 9hours sitting in a cubicle facing a computer and all the while waiting for the day to end.

What makes a band?

If i've learnt something after the first 3 auditions... its this

A band is a band because of every member of the band.

Straightforward yup, but some people just don't realise it. The vocalist is not the most important person in the band, but just a part of the band (just as Ashin is not equal to Mayday).

This is how I've deciphered the 'band'... in the analogy of a human body..

The drummer acts as the anchor like the skeleton of a body
The guitarists add soul to this body
The bassist is like the rhythm of the blood running through this body
The vocalist then completes the picture like clothes on a person

Just as the clothes we wear, they act as the first impression to the people we meet. And just perhaps, thats the reason why vocalists receive the most limelight.

You may disagree with my interpretation, but its how I see things now.
Everyone is just as important and what makes a true band, is how well they work together as a band, and not as individuals of a band.

I just want you to know who I am

Reading through the lyrics of Goo goo doll's Iris, I thought through carefully at who that 'you' really meant to me.

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

Of course, friends and family meant a lot to me and gaining their understanding would be the most important thing to me. I don't think anyone can live without support from people they care about.

Another group of people came to my mind. For those who know me well, its not hard to guess, because you are right, its Mayday.

I don't want to be a regular fan.
I don't want them to remember as the crazy female fan who screams out their name or tries to touch them when I see them
I don't want to be remembered as a fan who is trying real hard to gain their attention by exterior means.
I don't want to be a fan who can only make small talk with them.
I don't want to be seen as a fan with not much substance
I don't want to be thought of as a fan trying so damn hard to become their friend

Which is why, I restrict myself alot even though I would be dying inside to get to see them more.

I don't want to snoop around where they stay
I don't want to follow them around like a pest
I don't want to stand in front of their tired faces trying to get a photo of them
I don't want to cling onto them as though they are mine to own

I want to be different.
I want them to know who I am and not a personality made up just to attract their attention.

It might be silly to say that, yup I don't just want to be a fan, neither do I want to be just a friend. What I want, is to learn from them or better still, work with them.

I don't want to know what they like to eat
I don't want to know how many members there are in their family
I don't want to know where they stay when they go overseas
I don't want to know which girl they are dating now
I don't want to get the latest gadget or product endorsed by them

I want to know how they put together and plan a large scale concert
I want to know their experiences of performing in a pub
I want to know what they go through when they write and arrange a song
I want to know their studio experiences and how they go through completing an album
I want to know everything that I hope to be able to learn from them...

Will that day come? Well, just let me hope that it would, whether or not its just another silly dream of mine.

But one thing I know, is that again, I don't just want to be a fan, I want to be different as well.

Being different

"I may not be better than other people, but at least I'm different."[Jean Jacques Rousseau]

Being different is important to me.

Maybe so important, that I tend to stick by certain ideals of mine more strongly.

Just as it was strange to people why I would leave a good and promising academic life to go do something that most people don't know what it is..... it might be strange now to you, why I don't want to join an almost ready-made band but would rather have my band to grow with and learn with.

I mean, tell people theatre and they think... hmm, only crazy people do that.
Tell people sociology and they think.. oh!! social work?
Tell them audio engineering and they think... err? engineering ah, build things one?

In fact, I do like breaking into 'colder' or rather less popular domains.

When I did theatre, I totally freaked out during my first monologue... the greatest ultimtae disaster. Why? simply because I had always been an extreme introvert who never dared to let loose and express myself freely.

I remember going to work at the airport. Before that, I swore never to do any customer service work, because I was so afraid of dealing with and talking to unfamiliar people (I warm up slowly with people). But I stepped in there... into a job that was only done by guys all that while. Yup, I was the only girl and it was really amusing replying to calls on the walkie talkie... and the other staff would feel as though I was replying to the wrong person (coz they had expected a male voice in return).

I guess, I just get an adrenalin rush out of doing weird things. Although I'm scared the hell out of doing things I'm afraid of.

Probably, I'm just weird. Or maybe, its just natural to be afraid.

Then, I went to do my audio course.. which took me to a class full of guys too and faced with technicalities that I would shy away from last time, as well as cables, equipment that I never even knew of in my whole life.

Remember I had a blog entry previously that said how much I feared making phonecalls? Yeah, I have curbed it after the past months in doing sales and promotion for the studio. But one thing I'll never do though, is to constantly repeatedly bug people to ask them if they're still interested employing our services... coz its far too pesky even for my own liking.

I'm not writing all these to show off or anything, but to act as a reminder to myself that I can be different if I want to, and to fear is only part of the whole experience.

And right now, back to the band issue. Yup, I like the feeling that you girls give me (don't get me wrong, I have no lesbian tendencies hahaha)... I like the idea of us girls striking out in a domain mainly dominated by guys.

Just a couple of weeks back I told my mum, I don't envy those who have found a stable job right after graduation. Well, maybe my dad does and he certainly hope I do so too. But I kinda like the way my life has gone, the scenery I have seen and events I have experienced along this journey.
I can only hope for better and more interesting scenery as time goes on.

It doesn't matter how the rest of the world sees us, its this moment now that matters.. this moment that we want everything about the band to work that matters. Its proving people around us that we can do it that counts.

Jamming once may not mean that we are a band, we need not be the best.. but remember, at least we are different.

Lets work hard girls! We gotta believe in one another and especially ourselves. I have confidence in us. Lets just remember our one year target ^_^.. so we have alot of practicing to do.

Go practice! don't read anymore! =P

aggressive advertising.. hmmm...

Eh, this probably won't be interesting to anyone, but its just really a log for myself in future...

I got 2 notes when I reached the studio today.. from 2/4 of my bosses who both weren't there in person.

Boss A wanted me to do followups on whatever enquiries there were. The problem was.. that I couldn't contact the recent people, and those I have already followed up before, I didn't want to bug them anymore.. it would be pretty rude. But then... I know boss would want me to call again! sigh...

Then I opened up my mailbox and got a long mail from Boss B (eh, hopefully he doesn't read this hahaha) to step up on aggressive advertising for them, its a long list which includes proposing possible partnerships with sites, private and governmental organizations then also the possibility of getting interviews. yes, so much to do.. or rather so much I have to think about. All the planning... all the possible proposals that I need to write.

I think I'm becoming the bao-ka-liao person, now that none of the bosses can be there all the time.

Just finished some stuff that Boss C wanted me to do yesterday. As for Boss D... he's there alot haha... but then he doesn't really ask me to do stuff.

When you've got 4 bosses and even if 3/4 has a couple of tasks for you each, it does become quite a handful.

As for now.. I probably do have to learn to be more aggressive and pushy in order to close deals for them. I know I do not have the gift of the gab... ask me to write an argumentative essay at any time, and I can do it... but try to convince someone that silver can be gold, would take quite a lot of effort for me.

But Boss B said he'll go down tomorrow to discuss more on the 'aggressive advertising'. I just hope that I won't disappoint them in this and I really hope to help them get somewhere at least, before I leave.

What's within our control anymore?

This is never a fair world. We all know it.

And as the world becomes ever more linked up into what we know as globalization and commercialisation, each and everyone of us are often left beyond control of our own fates.

As it is in any business, the music business has its very share of such market forces.

Music as an entity on its own, probably ceased to exist very long ago, but even more so now. It is no longer simply a form of expression, nor a source of entertainment and leisure. It is, as the word 'business' suggests, a money making venture... and a ricebowl to a large number of people fighting for an ever shrinking meagre slice of pie.

Criticise those in the music business as much as we may, but aren't all of us just out to earn a living? These people are simply there.. trying their very best to strike a balance between what they love to do and having to feed themselves. But once again, never underestimate the power of market forces. It takes more than 1 individual or a few individuals to change an entire industry and the way the market functions.

I remember being asked before, if one day I had the opportunity to sell my song to an artiste... who happens to be an artiste I dislike... would I sell my song or stick to my stubborn unworthy principles?

The answer is simple. I would. Would you?

Call me shallow or without principles. You can despise me for not sticking to what I believe in but it is just how you gotta go with the ways of the industry because the industry is already as small as it is. Offend one person, and you never know who else you offend along the way.. because it is true, that everyone does know everybody else.

I am saying all these because we are continuously faced with more and more debates about Mayday being packaged as a boyband and how their music has 'changed' since their 1st album.

As much as I do not like this idea myself, nor an emphasis being given to their looks, I cannot deny the importance of packaging in the 21st century music industry.

In the 60s and 70s, what you needed was a golden voice that can stand alone without music and perform live with perfection. Looks were secondary and artistes didn't really require a flamboyant personality or great moves.

In the 90s, the market called for artistes to be better looking and packaging set in... but music was still alot at the forefront of it all. At least from my memory, there wasn't really any very striking artiste who only looked good but couldn't sing.

How quickly time and trends change as we reached the 21st century. From what I see, packaging and marketing seems to have overtaken the importance of music. And I definitely frown to hear songs blast over the radio or in stores, sung by artistes who have stunning appearances but can't hold their note well. Examples of these are everywhere... I will not list them out here but I'm sure all of you have quite a number of them in your minds.

Lets now take the perspective of the Record company... you took a risk by signing on an artiste, putting in tens of thousands into recording a good album, marketing and promoting him/her then you've not only gotta feed yourself, but you've got to feed your company. The greatest responsibility now lies in the artiste to be able to sell well of course.

And the best direct solution that the present market calls for, is definitely packaging.
Unfortunately, music does have to take a back seat for now at the way the industry is going.

I believe, this is the case for Mayday as well.
If a large group of people are depending on your albums to sell well, you would have the pressure to do as you are told too. What's more, they (mayday) are such good hearted people who treasure friendships and know not to bite the hand that feeds them.

As I told SH, I will never look down on them for appearing 'boy-bandish' but I will look down on them if they ever lose their true natures - the humble people that they are, and all they want to do, is to touch the world with their music.

This is something that I know, I want to learn from them.
And so long as they never lose sight of the fact that music is meant to touch people, I will always respect them with my whole heart.

Even if 20% of the fans out there are more concerned about their appearance, I'm sure they are consoled that there's still 80% who look below the surface and feel the true essence of their music.. and be truly touched and inspired by their music.

Just as I have been inspired myself :)

Enough of guessing...

I wanted to blog about my KL trip, about the amusing events that happened over the 3 short days that felt more like one entire week went by instead. I wanted to talk about the concert, the politics of the country, the food there.... but right now, I'm totally at a loss.

I was just thinking, how wonderful it is that the mafia has finally gone overseas together once again after going through that messy time. And I was so glad that there has been laughter once again together as a group. But right now, I am taken aback...

What was it? Can you please tell me?
He doesn't have any idea either. Yes, he is just as confused.. which makes me equally confused.

I really don't want to keep guessing. And I'm a person who really doesn't like misunderstandings. It just bugs me... real bad

All I know is that every single person is different and we all have our varying perspectives. We don't have to conform to the way everyone thinks. It is not about group dynamics but more about friendship and friendship is flexible and open... as well as accepting.

I don't blame anyone, don't blame yourself either and don't blame whoever you think might be against you. It might just turn out to be a misunderstanding.

What we need to do, is be open and sort it out.

The long awaited call....

Got woken up at 9plus in the morning from a very important call, from a source that I have been waiting to call me, for so long.

I'm tired and lack of sleep, but I'm happy and excited :). Tried lying down on the bed to get back to sleep but couldn't because its finally happening! I certainly hope so.. I really hope I'm not imagining it to be what I really want, but would turn out otherwise.

I got to help out for 2 days first with some auditions, starting tomorrow 9am (time to wake up early again!)... but tomorrow I've also got an important sales meeting at the studio at 7pm. I will try to leave by 6plus or reach the studio late.

I feel sorry towards my very nice bosses.. but then this is truly an opportunity and learning experience that I don't want to miss out on. I will make it for the meeting even if I gotta take a cab down!

Tomorrow... and I shall finally get a glimpse into the business.

But this is just a side step, an extra project that they need help in for now. I'll be going to do something even more exciting (once again, I hope).. from the way the lady described it to me.

Well.. something I'll never have imagined doing in my life.

MAYFH

its not a bad word... it does not stand for mayday final home either haha.

its just our initials haha.. coz we've got no name yet. And hx feels that the name will come naturally somehow, so if I try to come up with stupid names, i'll get scolded for it =P.

Today's the day.. the day that I've always wanted to experience.. to play together with a band of my own. And I must admit, I never thought that it would turn out this good.. I seriously (don't hit me ok hahha), thought that we would have to practice together part by part before we can go through the entire song. But we really managed to just go through it, as though we've played together before (so now, we really gotta thank modern technology and gp.. for letting us practice our own parts as though we were practicing with a real band).

Although we all had mistakes throughout the songs, despite the noisy amps and crackly cables, and not to forget that mic stand that cannot be bent forward, I really thought we sounded pretty good.. for a first jamming session. Well, maybe the acoustics of the room helped.. and everything sounded loud and full, but I think we most importantly, we were all having fun and we all really wanted to do this for a very long time.

We've managed to conquer 2 songs today (wen rou and zhi ming).. not the best but we will work on them. It felt especially good to hear ourselves play zhi ming.. coz its afterall.. Mayday's signature song. The only problem was, the song was alittle too low to sing haha.. which means the next time round we gotta transpose it.

The uncle there (whom we have coined 'ah pek'... keeps peeking at us, as if scared that we will blow up an amp or something). And hahha I'll never forget how he signalled us (with the last finger) repeatedly to finish up our last song when our booking time was up. Yes, uncle... we could see you very clearly. But really just wished, the time wouldn't have passed that quickly... I wanted to play on.

Looking forward to 2 weeks later, and looking forward to learning 2 new songs too! this time... songs that are at a more comfortable pitch for singing hahah ;)

I hope these 2 weeks go by quickly.. coz I'm dying to go jam again haha. Where's our next location?

Its Pharoah's week!

(Its on National Geo Ch every day I think, from 9pm and repeated again from 1am)

My type of tv schedule for sure haha and something that can really get my pulse racing, other than mayday =P... gonna be busy every night trying to catch everything if possible on NGC.

Yes, I love Egypt!!! :)
This is actually something that I believe not alot of people know about me. But well, now you know! haha.. as if its of any use anyway.

The day before on NGC, it was 2 hours of groundbreaking discovery and light shed on King Tut's death.. at long last with the help of high end technology (a CAT scanner and forensics) and not so modern nor expensive technology (a $10 fan). How much more amazing can it be to finally learn that what has been taken as fact for so long, is actually not the real truth.

And so, now the world knows that King Tut didn't die from being hit in the head by one of his enemies, but he died of an infection from a very badly broken leg.

I can't help wondering what if in the future, a more high end technology is developed and use in studying this mystery all over again. Will a new 'fact' be written then? Or is this as close as it gets to the truth?

For you kaypohs who want to know what he actually really did look like, here it is

>>>> http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/tut/?fs=www7.nationalgeographic.com <<<<

(his face will appear next to his gold mask and its an actual reconstruction of how he looks like, based on the 3d modelling obtained from the CAT scan)

Just after that 2 long hours of surprises, we watched on till 4am (yup, sh was there watching it with me hahah).. another hour of the mysterious royal mummy which got sold off to niagara falls. The one whom they have come up to the best conclusion that he is Rameses I.

Well, another poor king.. who got shipped off to a foreign land and forgotten but only to be known as the mummy with the crossed arms, lying next to a not so pleasant looking mummy, for years. I guess the pharoahs or people of that time, would never have imagined such a future.

But I'm always awestruck by ancient Egyptian culture.. the brilliance of their technology, the complexity of their religion and the intricacy of their society. Which is why I always think, that if I ever could, I would have chosen to become an Egyptologist. There is just no other subject that I would follow so faithfully, remembering such odd sounding names and eagerly watching programs related to this single civilisation, that marked just one part of human history.

How I miss Egypt.. and how I wish I can wonder through the halls of the museum once again.. only longer and in greater detail than before. I really want to go back there one day.. at a more leisurely pace, but with someone who truly appreciates it as much as I do ;)

In the meanwhile.. I'm happy digesting more new info that's sheding more light on the beauty, history and mysteries of Egypt.

My photo of the sun set on the Nile in 1998.... beautiful isn't it?

What do you want in life?

Such a simple question, and so often asked.. but its something that not everyone can answer with conviction. Even myself...

We've so often heard of the word 'paper chase'.. whether its that acclaimed degree/diploma or money and wealth in general. Are you in a paper chase yourself?

So many people go through dreaded education just in search for that final cert.. not really caring about what they are learning or experiencing, but more about 'making it through' and 'so long as I don't fail, its ok'. Because at the end of the day, the one who just meets the minimum pass grade and the one who does terribly well all the way through, get the same piece of paper.

Then why bother to strive so hard, you must think..

It then boils down to what you really want in an education then. Do you just want a cert or is it the learning process that you treasure more?

I remember the day I received my degree and medal. I felt nothing.. in fact awkward, dressed in that very hot gown and hat that's too small for my big head. My parents were there, downstage feeling very happy for me. And they were eager to have lots of photos taken after the ceremony too. Me? I was just waiting to get out of that gown. At that moment, I just felt, my responsibility has been fulfilled, I have faithfully gone by the ways of what a good Singaporean student should follow.

Everyone has nice studio shots of themselves in their graduation gowns right? Nope, I don't.. I refused to, because I don't find anything glorious in that gown. Instead, I found more pride in what that education had brought me... in how it had opened my eyes and broadened my mind to how the world works. I felt more satisfaction when I completed a good essay which would express exactly my perspectives and arguements on certain social issues.

Why? because I like being critical and I love being different.

But, there is a price to being different.

Sometimes, I do wonder if just getting a 'stable job' after graduation would make my parents happier with me than they are now. But, it would be me who would be dissatisfied with my own life and wondering what a life truly surrounded by music would be like.

This was what I thought.. I didn't want to regret not having tried, and so I found myself here, right now, doing what I am doing.

But it is simply not a bed of roses.

Suddenly it felt as though things were all coming together. I finally formed my long anticipated band, I finally have my first song, I finally get a chance to mingle with the 'music pple' and I finally might get a chance to work in a company that may let me build a greater network with the industry. I felt hopeful but yet, how much is hope worth?

This society is just not tolerant or rather.. not accepting enough of such 'deviant' behaviou such as mine. To my father, I'm a wasteral (in money and in time) and possibly unfilial for not being able to help provide for the family. To my relatives, I'm probably a lazy person who does not want to find a proper job to allow my parents to finally retire and rest.

Truly, I hate social expectations. As much as we need social norms in order for a more organised society.. I sometimes do wish our society is more chaotic, because there can also be beauty in chaos.

Who says you need to face the lift door when you enter the lift? Why not turn to face the crowd instead?

Who says you gotta follow the regular 'lifecycle' of a 'normal' Singaporean,
> to go through primary school
> secondary school
> JC or Poly
> University
> Stable Job with lots of leave and benefits
> Engagement to apply for HDB flat
> get married
> hold a wedding banquet to invite lots of people you don't know and who don't know you (and always start with pple coming out in semi darkness holding cold dishes)
> have 2 kids (a boy and a girl)
> get them to go through the same life cycle as you do, with lots of tuition and enrichment classes

Its simply all too organised for my comfort. Getting out of this place would be too easily a solution. Breaking out of this system would be a greater challenge. Changing it would be an adventure and a quest.

I don't know if I can do it, but I'm trying and I'm hoping with all my might.

I just have to say that its truly not easy because the support you get, is simply not overwhelming nor enthusiastic.

All I know is that, I got to keep my faith and my beliefs strong and keep going forward (in my mind now, is just the Jue Jiang MV playing.. and I'm sure most of you reading will know which part I mean ;)).

The last thing I should ever do, is give up on myself.

Foolish dreams?

I like talking to my mum. I always feel I have a great mum even though she may get overanxious and worried for me sometimes, but that's how a good mum should be, shouldn't it? Although it irritates me sometimes, but somehow, if I have a talk with her, she will accept and listen carefully to what I have to say.

The opposite can be said about my father =P.

Which is why I think God gave me such a great mother to talk to.

My life is weird, so how many people can accept that? Well, at least my mum can.
Especially for a (i admit) goodie goodie like me, who really just sought to get good grades all my life.. till the end of uni (failing was not even an option). No other mum can accept me giving up an academic life or going into a highly paid job to pursue my intangible and perhaps foolish dreams.

I remember asking her sometime in my JC days, what did you envision me to become? very very frankly.. she told me, "a doctor of course, which parent doesn't like their child to become a doctor? free consultation and medicine"

Although this may be the surface reason she gave, I knew what she really wanted me to do was to prove myself in anything I do, and just to give my best.. then at the end of the day, take care of her of course.

It didn't really matter to her what I did or what I chose. Even after O levels when I wanted to take up theatre in JC, she never opposed.. but my dad wanted to kill me over it. My road into arts started from there and I knew how my dad wished I could have taken the sciences instead, given my results.

Perhaps I am rebellious by nature.. just perhaps I enjoyed going against my father. But all the time, I had my mum's support.

Mum is different. Most mums are housewives or do clerical jobs.. I'm proud that my mum was a policewoman. She always came across as different to me. The years that I would follow her into her different divisions and offices, help her chop her police files while she would carefully censor those with bloody photos of dead people away from me.

She gained alot of respect from me definitely. And even so when she later worked at the girls' home. I admit.. these are jobs that I cannot even imagine myself handling.

If you think my mum is one tough woman.. I can tell you that she's actually an amazingly soft hearted person. She tears at emotional dramas, she cries when we her children talk back to her.. but she is firm and she is accepting. That's why, she is special.

Because she has led a very different life, she is more accepting of my own wish to travel the rugged road. I know she's putting alot of faith in me, to prove myself.

Why am I suddenly blogging about my mum? Because in the past few days, I've been chatting with her alot.. never so much in quite a long while becuase I've been busy rushing around everywhere.

I told her about what I am doing, what I think a job should be like, what is most important to me in my life.. about how I should, at my age, strike out to the unknown.. and if I fail at the end, I can then finally surrender to a 'normal' life (looking for a job with permanent high pay, lots of benefits and lots of leave, as my father would love me to have).

She understood, I knew she did. Thank you mum :). I know why the girls at the home love you so much too.

I really hope I won't disappoint you.

Thank you for today's wonderful and very thoughtful dinner too.

my newest obsession

carlos santana's the name.. and its all thanks to hx who started sending me songs of his. just one was enough to catch me onto that very melo, sad and emotional guitar sound.

yes, i wanna go gramaphone to hunt for his abandoned cds soon (haha.. ok i'm cheapo.. i need to save money :P)

as of now 'love of my life' is my favourite song.. been looping it countless times. His guitar just seems to speak to you.. its amazing. the best parts are always without the vocals haha.

if you thought that instrumental guitar is boring, try listening to him play. I guess all along all the other guitar legends just never really caught on to me as much. Electric guitars need not be shrilling and full of distortion all the time... because santana has shown how they can also be very very full of emotion.

just as rock need not always been about smashing guitars and about how bad the world is, as mayday has shown (i just gotta come back to mayday eventually, don't I? hahha... well, old obsession meets new obsession ;))