The Longest Post-School Break
Tom: “Either she’s an evil, emotionless, miserable human being, or… she’s a robot.” (500 Days of Summer)
It has been a really long break I took from blogging. Like what Tom said, I was definitely a miserable human being trying to be a workaholic robot. Not an excuse for my tons of overdue posts (Timbre Rock and Roots, Timbre Song Writing Competition, Fairly Legal Review, many weeks of AOTW and TV+movie reviews) I know. So sorry to all my readers but I AM BACK (-inserts awkward silence-) Those posts will come shortly after!
But yes, getting back to the whole blogging thing before I am doomed behind the Great Firewall. In case you have not heard, I will be leaving Singapore in a few months time for further studies in Beijing. The good thing is, it will be conducted in English (Phew!) The bad thing is, I have to leave my loved ones behind and also having unstable internet for the rest of the months I’m there. Hopefully I can continue blogging with the not-so-secret mighty VPN power. More on that decision next time!
In other news, the last few weeks of school was great. Catching up with old friends, meeting new ones, getting enough sleep (or so I think) and busy planning for the Beijing trip and studies. I am currently working full time at Epiphany Education till I leave town, it has been real fun conducting workshops for students and knowing that they enjoyed the time spent together with their coaches, hopefully learning something out of the workshop too? Hee.
So how’s May coming along for you?
[Event] Timbre Rock and Roots 2011
This gotta be one of the most exciting music festival happening after the awesome Laneway Festival experience I’ve had at the start of the year. How can you resist having all this legend..wait for it..dary (No, wasn’t a pun for John Legend) performers up on stage for not just one but TWO nights! Fantastic lineup…and like many others, I’m really looking forward to catching Bob Dylan, Imogen Heap and John Legend!
It is good to know that Timbre is also supportive of our local talents! Check out The Sets Band and 53A on the 2nd night as well! It’s gonna be a rocking weekend! Happening this coming weekend at Marina Promenade, get your tickets at Sistic now! Just call 6348 5555 or log on to www.sistic.com.sg
If you can’t make it for both nights, do stay tuned for I’ll bring you personal updates and highlights from the event! Gosh..I can’t wait for the weekends to be here!
[Event] Music-in-the-City Fund Raising for Japan
Music-in-the-City Fund Raising for Japan at Ngee Ann City,Civic Plaza [义安城］
10 April 2011 (Sunday..tomorrow!), 10am – 10pm
There will be Guzheng performances from 10-4pm and local musicians performing all the way till 10pm!
I’ll be there from 10am-4pm, and if you’re wondering whether I’ll be playing the Guzheng…you can come down to support and find out for yourselves!
What’s a better way to enjoy great music and do your part for charity? See you there!
[Contest] GoBedRock
In case many of you didn’t know by now, I am involved with this exciting project called ‘GoBedRock’
All you have to do is to log on to our website (www.GoBedRock.com) and share your travel moment, get the most number of votes! It’s as simple as that! The winner will receive a free flight (worth up to US$350) within Asia.(Too good to be true? Really no other gimmicks! We just want to get people sharing!)
In addition, you stand a higher chance of winning if you retweet or tag your friends on our Facebook page after sharing your moments. The moment with the most votes by 3pm Singapore time (GMT +8 hours) on Friday, 1st April wins.
TAB Singapore – All-in-One Live Entertainment Venue
I have been swamped with work recently (What’s new?) but if you have been following me closely on twitter, you’ll see TAB as my latest favorite hangout.
Located at Orchard hotel, which is at the head of Orchard Road (Opposite The Forum), TAB is the ‘not-so-new-anymore’ kid on the block of the local nightlife scene. Where else can you experience live music with good food and drinks without sitting uncomfortably under the horrible Singapore weather? The kitchen sure knows how to cook up a storm and you’ll be spoiled for choice. I personally love the TAB burger, Fries (which my friends and I all agreed that the fries have this nice slightly sweet taste to it!) and the Chicken Caesar Salad totally won my heart with its freshness.
TAB is probably a dream come true for music lovers like me as they truly support original music! Not only do they provide a platform but they also showcase the talents of local and foreign artists alike in an intimate, relaxing and cozy setting. Last week I had the opportunity to catch the Lenka private showcase that was held at TAB and it was wonderful – the reason being that Lenka was just an arm’s length away and the space allows you to swing along to the music. I have also watched Oak and Gorski‘s gig when they were down in Singapore, it was wonderful to have such great overseas acts being invited and introduced to the locals who may not have come across them on their own. In fact, SMUBE is now playing TAB artists’ songs on Campus Radio apart from our usual YouTube covers artists!
Singaporeans love promotions, don’t they? TAB is clever enough to have a free flow steak sandwiches & fries during Happy Hours from Mon to Fri 5pm – 8pm for all paying customers. Or if you’re a student like me, you can check out the TAB burger deal that comes with a TAB burger, fries and 1 alcoholic/2 soft drinks for just $12.75++ ! What a deal !
So if you are looking for a place to hang out which allows you to satisfy both your tummy and music crave, TAB is definitely worth checking out. Pssst…you know where to find me when I’m not at work/in school ! Hehs.
For more information, you can check out their official site (the gigs, promotions and location etc): www.tab.com.sg
Disclaimer: This is not a paid ad post ! I am simply just infatuated with the place recently..hur (plus SMU Campus Radio loves them!)
Survival Guide For Festival Virgins
Music festivals can be a memorable experience, for the wrong reasons. My virgin music festival extravaganza happened 3 years ago and oh boy..being a first timer, I was clueless to what I should wear or what to bring ! Thank God I was blessed with good weather and a well-prepared group of friends who made sure I was taken care of. After being to a couple more of such events and with many upcoming concerts and festivals coming to Singapore, here’s a (yet another) survival guide for others out there ! Disclaimer: The following guide is just based on my own experience and observations. Feel free to contribute more tips!
Have A Game Plan : It’s important to know the line-up for the day. You wouldn’t want to miss your favorite band’s act or not knowing who is playing on stage right now. If there are more than 1 main stage, know which performing area you want to be at next. If you have no idea who are the bands playing, just go for it ! I have discovered good music by randomly picking a band to watch too.
Ditch Your Friends : Don’t spend the entire day sms-ing and trying to locate your friends. You’ll bound to lose them halfway (somehow). Just enjoy the music and who knows, you’ll meet new people and usually you always do. See also ”Spot the spot“.
Sheer Freedom : Screw fashion, dress wisely – my ideal attire is shorts/berms+sneakers/flats+baggy T-shirt. Ladies, do not come in heels and maxi dresses. I saw a couple at Laneway earlier on and they inspired me to post this entry. As for wet weather, some others would recommend wellies but not many Singaporean probably owns a pair. I would say just wear a pair of shoes that you’re comfortable throwing away or ‘losing your sole’ at the end of the festival with. Do not wear flops because you’ll probably lose them in the mud and end up barefooted. Of course, ladies in white is always ‘sheer happiness’ for the guys – if you know what I mean.
Baked or Mudcaked : Being at the festival is not just a commitment but also an endurance-wise challenge. You will be there for hours so bring sunblock ! You’ll need it even if you think you want to get a tan. Hats and shades are recommended if you’re going for the earlier acts. Bring umbrella or ponchos (some events provide them too) in case of rain. Just remember that your umbrellas shouldn’t be blocking others’ views too !
Spot the Spot : Mark your territory! It is important to find a good spot where you can see the stage. Be a typical kiasu Singaporean – ‘chope’ a spot that your group of friends can hang out and easily locate each other in case one of you lose their way after visiting the loo or make a stop at the bar. Picnic mats are a good idea if it’s good weather and well, if it rains like how it did at Laneway – don’t bother.
Water Parade : Keep yourselves hydrated ! You don’t want to faint and be sent to the hospital before your band comes up stage. As much as you do not wish to visit the port-a-loo, just drink up and sweat it off by dancing the day/night away. There will be expensive mineral water being sold at the bar tents but it’s always wise to bring a bottle along. Of course, there will be alcohol and whatnots at the F&B tents too. See also “Cash It”
The Piss-Stop : There is no way you can avoid the port-a-loo throughout the festival. Yes, it will be stinky and dirty. I would suggest looking for the nearest cleaner options available for the girls (e.g Malls and nearby buildings) It will not be a 5-stars hotel toilet experience so always remember to bring tissue/toilet roll and hand sanitizer ! Not only to keep your hands clean but take a whiff of it before holding your breath in. (One trick I’ve learnt is to spray perfume on my tee/collar and pull it up to cover my nose before stepping in!)
Cash It : There will be merchandises and bar tents that provide snacks like hot dogs, nachos etc. Most of the time it’ll be double the price of the usual price outside so don’t get a shock. Drinks will also be available – most of the time it’s S$4 for a bottle of mineral water and S$8 or more for beer/housepour drinks. Remember to bring your cash since credit cards are most unlikely to be accepted. So if you want to save up, bring a bottle of water or if possible (most festivals do not allow outside food/drinks actually), bring your own lil picnic!
Moderation is Key : You are bound to end up drinking, dancing and singing out loud like nobody’s business. You will meet new people whom you would have never imagine knowing in your entire life. You will probably have a few butt gropes or arms around you for no reason. You will see crazy things happening around you. Just remember, it’s probably an once in a lifetime experience so unleash that crazy side of you! It is the way to live our lives as it is meant to be lived!
Buzzing Good Time : You will probably feel like your legs are breaking and you have gone deaf with that buzz ringing in your ears after the festival. BUT WHO CARES ANYWAYS ? Have a blast, be it rain or shine and enjoy the great music. Make it worth your ticket price and go home with a story to re-tell your children next time.
And for chrissakes - Don’t forget your tickets!
*Pictures taken off Google images*
[Event] St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Singapore
“Long Entry Ahead. You’ve been warned.”
*Ladyhawke on stage playing My Delirium*
If there’s one way to describe St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival at Fort Canning yesterday, it would be – WET! (We’ll get to that later.)
Outstanding line-up at this debut music festival in Singapore, it was an EPIC party that is unforgettable and one hella experience for me. Firstly take a look at the awesome artistes involved - !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Beach House , Deerhunter, Foals, Holy F*** (Heck, it’s Holy Fuck), Ladyhawke, The Temper Trap, Warpaint and Yeasayer. It was really a treat for music lovers like me, though I must admit I’ve only listened to 5 out of 9 bands before this. I can guarantee that the bands were all fantastic and totally worth standing in the rain for! The music was just so good that I’ll regret for the rest of my life if I didn’t see them live. My personal favorite were !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Holy Fuck, Ladyhawke, Yeasayer and of course The Temper Trap!
Speaking of rain, it was quite the ‘Rainway – a Mudfest’ instead of ‘Laneway – a Musicfest’ ! The location is, of course, open air and the raingod probably has bad taste in music – it was pouring almost the entire day! Every single time a band goes up, it starts raining. The rain before The Temper Trap came on was the worst ! Ponchos were nothing but just a piece of irritating plastic that keeps sticking onto your skin. But that did not dampen the mood of the crowd at all, people were stripping (yes, stripping), dancing in the rain and getting muddy all over. Mud swamp is an understatement, you gotta see the mess for yourself. There were even mudslides at the end of the event which looks really fun – I’d totally join in the fun to see how pigs rolling in mud feels like (lol) if I’m alone overseas or not going home for the night ! Yesterday night could have been one of the things to do on my bucket list, if I had one.
Of course I had wonderful people (mostly on my twitter list) to hang out with, bumped into probably half of my Facebook friend list at the festival as well ? We all agreed that dancing in the rain, getting mudcaked, singing at the top of your lungs (even if you knew nobody can actually hear you, including yourself), booze and whatnots, taking pictures with random people – this was probably one of the stories that we can proudly tell our grandchildren:” Hell yeah! We were once young and happening!” If you ask me how I feel about LanewaySG – IT WAS DOPE!!! Like what Utt said, it should have been a 2 day fest !
As I was representing SMU Campus Radio, I had the chance to interview the bands and take some pictures with them. (The rest of the pictures were taken in the heavy rain, it wasn’t exactly…viewable.haha) Will post those up when the nicer stuff are ready for release! Below are some of my personal shots in the media tent, didn’t take more pictures during the acts since it was pouring =(
Warpaint – lovely girls !
Deerhunter – Brandon Cox (guy in yellow) is really skinny but he’s the friendliest too! They were trying to be funny with the ponchos.
Holy Fuck off stage and on stage – I LOVE these guys ! Very friendly and chatty. It was nice interviewing them. No airs at all !
Yeasayer – Doing what bands love to do at interviews now, taking pictures of the media while being photographed!
Temper Trap – the band that everyone was waiting for that night (they were the last act). Everyone in the media tent were soaking wet while interviewing them, probably amusing to them since they had this trying-not-t0-laugh expression. Lorenzo Sillitto is so cute! Toby Dundas and Joseph Greer were really nice, got to shake hands with them!
Last but not least, an unglam poncho shot with @litford in the rain ! (Yea, I had my geeky specs on for vanity purposes. hehs)
Oh, after being to gigs and music festivals…I think it’s time to share MYY Survival Guide to concerts and music festivals ! Especially after seeing godknowshowmany ‘walking disasters’ there were yesterday….coming up next !
AOTW [52] : Schrödinger’s Cat
First <Artiste Of The Week ‘AOTW’> for 2011, I have been really lazy and I still have an interview from last year that’s lying in my draft. (oops!) But to begin the year on a good note, I shall feature a local band which I’m really proud of – Schrödinger’s Cat !
According to what I know, or rather what Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory has mentioned, Schrödinger’s Cat is actually a principle in quantum theory of superposition. Interesting choice of a band’s name eh ? Not sure the reason behind it but maybe the band will explain it someday?
The band is pretty new I suppose but their song ‘Anything Goes’ has been featured as the theme song of a Singapore sitcom “Anything Goes” ! (Ok, the main reason why I’m so proud of them is because 2 of my really good friends from poly,GQ and Sek Jhia belongs to this local band too!) Their style is more mellow and I really appreciate it since there are just way too many rock/punk local bands brewing in Singapore.
Enjoy my personal favorite from the band so far ! Looking forward to more originals from them.
Schrodinger’s Cat – Debut performance of original song ‘Hurricane’ on 987fm
And I walked into the rain, chasing hurricanes.
Swinging by your place, to see your lovely face.
Well I know that it’s wrong now….
But I’m still knocking on your door…until the final day.
Feels like I’m afraid, the night will slip away.
Turning in my bed, with you stuck in my head.
I know I should be strong now….
But I….I think I’m gonna fall….
Give me a hurricane, to take my breath away; to tear me into pieces, spread me far away.
Blow me into senses, make me understand; one day you won’t be there….how long can we pretend?
You say, you’re feeling flat today; you’re rolling into space.
A drink will wake you up; it helps to start the day.
Well I’ll just fall asleep now….
While you….you just drive away….
You are my hurricane; you take my breath away; you tear me into pieces, spread me far away. You blow me out of senses, a little by a day. One day you won’t be there How long can we pretend?
Outside the air is still now…
It’s calm before the storm…
Before you go away… Before the you board the plane
And you will fly away now, 13 hours away.
Memories are vague…they’ll just fade away; I’d rather watch you blow your hair for every single day….
You are my hurricane. You take my breath away. You tear me into pieces, and spread me far away. Keep me in your dreambox when everything is gonna end. And maybe we’ll escape…maybe we’ll escape….
In our hurricane……
[Credits to Ler of Schrodinger's Cat.][Event] HP ‘AMP’ a gift this Christmas + 40th Anniversary Party
A couple of weeks back, I was thrilled to be invited to HP Singapore’s 40th Anniversary and Christmas party at House. It’s always fun to meet the friends I met via social media platforms and parties are always fun ain’t they? Loads of Christmas decor and cute HP cupcakes (I had one and it turned my tongue blue…haha) around the display booths that’s filled with HP Goodies…currently typing on the laptop that’s featured that night too!
Loved the whole Christmas theme and decorations, really felt like Christmas came early this year ! The Muttons were there to hype things up and I had fun being sabotaged to play ‘stage game’ aka ‘Don’t forget the lyrics’ or more like ‘Complete the song with your own lyrics’ judging how ‘well’ we did.
HP Singapore asked the bloggers this question : “How would you ‘AMP’ a gift this Christmas?” (You can check out other bloggers’ stories on the HP Facebook FanPage)
Many people tend to forget the true meaning behind Christmas – it’s not a time for shopping or getting expensive gifts. Personally, Christmas to me is usually spending time with my loved ones and a time for self-reflection. 2010 has not be exactly a cheerful year with all the natural disasters happening and you wake up to bad news on TV half the time. Many people out there lost their homes and families, or fighting against illnesses as we speak.
I made it a point this year to contribute back to the society in my own little ways – teaching children, being an listening ear to troubled souls and lastly, making my first blood donation after those many years of trying to meet the weight requirement (lol). For my birthday wish this year, I asked others to donate blood as a gift for me. I have received pictures and promises that they’d do it as soon as they can (You can only donate blood every 12 weeks). I have finally passed that 12 weeks mark, so I’ll be going for my donation run soon !
So for Christmas this year, I’d like everyone to join in and celebrate the spirit of giving by donating blood ! If you’re wondering “Why is she forever asking people to donate blood ah?” Here’s why :
1) Blood is needed during bone marrow transplants for leukaemia patients, for thalasemia patients needing regular blood transfusions and during surgeries etc – simply put, it’s never enough.
2) A single blood donation, when separated into its components, can help at least three different patients. – You’re not saving only 1 life but 3.
3) Blood can be stored for only a limited time before use. – Therefore, a regular blood supply is important.
Blood is probably the most precious gift one can possibly give to another person, it’s like the gift of life. At no cost and low/no pain (Really, it doesn’t hurt at all. Guys, don’t be a wimp.), what’s stopping you from doing so ? So here’s my ‘challenge’ for you guys this Christmas – give this part of you to someone else and make their Christmas a joyful one !
As for those who can’t donate blood due to certain reasons, a monetary donation to Singapore Red Cross will be helpful too! I wish Singapore Red Cross would do a collaboration like what American Red Cross did last year ! Specially branded The Vampire Diaries materials for donors as well as themed refreshment stands and footage from the show playing TV monitors while you’re donating blood. How awesome is that ! (DAMON SALVATORE!! *fan girl mode*)
P.S : I’ll be donating blood at the blood bank next Sunday (19th Dec, probably 1pm) with my friends, if you’re interested…do drop me a message !
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To motivate more people with the love of giving, HP Singapore has generously rolled out a “How would you AMP a gift for someone else?” Facebook Activity! (click on the link for more information) There will be E-Coupon code each week to spread the Christmas cheer! Ideas for your Christmas gifts that’s kind to your wallets perhaps? =)
World’s Coolest Intern…Perhaps ?
I know, the original deadline was 15th October. It took me this long to figure what I wanted to blog about, I’ve seen professional-looking videos, amazingly written resume-like posts, visually pleasing entries…let’s just say, the competition is tough, not just within the social media circle ! Suddenly, the mainstream media was talking all about this internship – even the aunties in the market heard of this ‘S$30,000′ internship. I was really cracking my head to come up with something that would made me stand out among the applicants and yet not too ‘superficial’ or ‘extravagant’…so till the last day (which is today) – I decided to just blog like how I’d normally do – being myself is always the best choice!
No one person is perfect – it is important for employers to find out the strengths that’s required for a position and find someone who is ‘world class’ in these areas despite certain weakness in the less important domains. I may not be the best (knowing there are many out there who might be better than me academically or with pages long resume..hur) but I do think I’m up for this challenge and it will not be just a job but self-discovering learning experience for me (like how my other internships have been).
Just earlier this year, I was thinking of my future career path and looking for new learning experience and this opportunity came along! Not only is the job scope attractive (Events+Social Media = What more can I ask for!) and a brand new industry (Working in a bank is like the ultimate dream for most SMU students but reality check : No non-finance/business student will apply for a banking job with a <50% success rate) AND perfect timing since I’m graduating next April !
Instead of pleading or hard-selling myself like many others (since you can pretty much figure out from my blog/facebook/tweets/social media platforms/getting to know me better when we do meet..lol), I will just share my views on #WorldCoolestIntern. Needless to say this is an amplifying marketing tactic and it has certainly maximize conversations in social ecospheres. Not only there’s a product tie-in (the iPhone app ‘Breeze‘ ), the excitement of this competition was buzz worthy (be it negative or positive) and increased traffic, not only in terms of this campaign alone I’m sure. In HR perspective, I think by searching for someone in the blogosophere allowed the team to see one’s personality and passion as well – it’s not always about popularity (though of course it still plays a part, aka traffic). Honestly six months is not enough to accomplish anything concrete but that being said, the intern will definitely learn from the guidance he/she would receive.
On a side note that is unrelated to my application, I think Social Media is a wonderful platform and the next big thing for HR executives to pay attention to. Look at DIGG‘s case and you’ll understand why. Such a warm ‘buzzy’ feeling I get reading those tweets to help those in need ! =)
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Cutting the long story short, 5 reasons why I think I deserve a chance to be with the Breeze Team :
I.AM.MYY and IAM….
1. Serious Fun : Always a balance between having fun and being serious at work
2. Leader-Follower : I love being in a team but I am self-driven to achieve my goals
3. Conventionally Quirky : I believe in rules but there’ll always be twists in life to make things more exciting
4. Illogically logical : There’s no such thing as impossible – we humans make illogical decisions and claim we’re logical anyways!
5. ‘Barney Stinson’ : Ordinarily AWESOME…and challenge accepted ! *Ok, I admit I’m a TV junkie too*
Can’t end the post without featuring a song…and secretly wishing the team will start singing Fefe Dobson’s ‘I Want you’
“Now let me say it again,I want you…I’m gonna gonna make you mine!“
so “just see what we could be“… and fingers crossed ? 
