Just Me - My Journey So Far: VIP

Wow... Dr Tan!!!

Fri, 23 May 2008 15:11:30 GMT

So I was at Hospital UKM with my wife for checkup and I thought I'd called my brother for lunch. Some of you may know already... my bro is a 4th year medical student at UKM. He was in between class so we decided to meet at lobby.

When I reached the lobby, I saw a familiar figure from afar... but only it's a little different. Standing there looking dark and handsome... dressed in formal wear with shirt and tie. On top of it, he's wearing the doctor's white robe... with that thingy doctor used to listen to your heartbeat... (sorry that word escaped me at this moment)... hanging from the side pocket of the robe.

Wow... dunno why.... but that moment really caught me and I was really touched... there stood my beloved little brother all grown up. I cant help the urge but to call him Dr Tan.

Even though we're both in KL, but the truth is, we hardly meet. I guess both our schedule dont quite agree with each other. But Pin, I'm so damn proud of you.

Gambate ne Dr Tan!!!

Best Friends

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:21:44 GMT

Just today, I went thru some of my old pics in the US... thanks to GuoXiang (a newspaper editor) who requested them as he's planning a writeup on me. Appreciate it!

You know I honestly think that I've been blessed in this life... to be surrounded by the warmest ppl I've ever known. Looking thru the albums, I cant help but to constantly see a couple familiar faces... we're like the Golden Triangle in college, if you see one, you'll usually see the others.

Sahara
I met Sahara at University of Colorado... at the hallway outside of our recording studio, before our Music Tech class... a girl who sings and LOVES music. From that 1st impression till the very best friend.

A friend who goes out of her way to make me feel at home, a friend who helped moving my heavy keyboard to school/home, a friend who sang that cheesy Titanic song with me on the piano , A friend with so much passion towards life and music!

Makiko
I cant recalled a specific event that pulled all of us together. But she's been THE steady rock in this friendship... a constant caretaker and motivator to me and ALWAYS a supporter to my music. And she's getting married this 29th! Funny how I've always been the one complaining bout NOT having a girlfriend... but ended up beating them to settle down first... haha.

Makiko, Congratulations and I'm SO SO SO happy for you!!!

It's MUSIC that brought us together, thru college, thru internship summer in LA, thru the move to Hollywood. Even though chances of us seeing each other are scarce... I doubt it'll change what we had. When I say I miss the life in US, I think what I really mean is, I just miss you all. Thanks for the journey together!!!

Back    : Sahara & Andy (Sahara's fiancee, a cool friend, an excellent dancer and a talented graphic designer)
Right   : Pik (A little sis whom I like to bully sometimes but still worry about)
Centre : Yin & Me on our honeymoon to US Dec 2006
Left      : Makiko

David Foster - Part 2

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:42:59 GMT

WHAT? I cant believe it! A name appeared on our studio schedule... David Foster. After 2 years working at Record Plant... he didnt even come in once. It used to be his most frequent studio... till he built his own at Malibu. I SO wanna be in THAT session!

I waited anxiously that morning... and there he came in... walking around saying hi and finally settled in front of a piano and started playing. It just seemed so unreal and like a little fan, I approached him and watched. He smiled and kept playing... at one point when he stopped, I said things like every fan would do. "Nice to meet you sir... been a big fan... love your music blah blah blah." He asked, "Will you be assisting us in the room today?" I nodded. "Good! Let's work!"

We recorded both the children and adult choir that day for the Olympic theme song... you know one of those songs that was sung at the opening ceremony with glory, passion, climatic kinda stuff. During the session, I was keen at observing and studying how he worked... the way he communicated, the choices he made. He was serious and demanding in getting the results he wanted. No bullshit.

Between recordings, he was friendly and willing to share his view and thoughts on music. Kids from the children choir were loving him and getting pictures taken. Sadly, I didnt get one with him... I should have though... kinda regret a little now...

Even though it's only a few hours that I had the opportunity to work alongside him, I'd forever cherished it. I just dunno what else to say... experience like this is what keeps me up when I'm down... and keeps the passion of music going...

DREAMS DO COME TRUE !!!

David Foster - Part 1

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:30:53 GMT

One of the people that influences me the most is famed songwriter producer, David Foster.

Like many kids in Malaysia, I started my piano lesson really young, a day after my 5th birthday. I loved it and still loving it. When I was around 13, I went to a Yamaha Electone concert at JB Pacific Pan Hotel and there I was, waiting at the reception area where they demonstrate the new Electone... I heard a song... a truly inspiring song. It's an instrumental with piano and full orchestra. I was instantly BLOWN away... I felt such power and passion that I never felt before. And I didnt even for once think that a piano could be used like that!

The only piece of info I could find about the song was: David Foster - Winter Games.

Months had passed and one day I was at a record store, the tauke Lim recommended an album to me, "WHAT? You dunno know them? How can you not know them? Very nice... come back and exchange it if you dont like it ! " So I bought the "cassette", but still having some doubts about it. A boring cover with no pic, with only one name on it... CHICAGO Greatest Hits.

So I turn it on and fucking A... it BLEW me away again. The songs are just melodious and the arrangement are GREAT! And there are that certain power and passion in them that's unexplanable to me. Who the fuck are they?

Read the inlay... Written, Arranged & Produced by David Foster. Him again!!!

Since that day, I was on a mission to find out more about him and his music. Studying the chord he used and his arrangement and learning from it. I think he's the main reason that pushed me to go to US... that pushed to work in Hollywood... that pushed me down this music path.

Some people wander thru life without knowing what to do or what they love... maybe all they need is a chance encounter or a person to point it out for them. I'm glad I met mine pretty early.

Thanks!