Thursday, November 30, 2006

Remixing U2



Started work on a remix of U2's "New Year's Day"...
... to be used one time only, this Progressions : NYE 06/07
.

posted by Adminstrator @ 12:45 PM 4 comments

The Pirates Of Toa Payoh

More than 10,000 pirated software and games discs were seized from a Toa Payoh shop on Wednesday evening. The shop at Block 111 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 was raided by police officers at about 6pm.

On the shelves were some 10,000 pirated software and games discs. Police also found pirated sports goods.

Besides this location, police say there are four similar raids going on islandwide. Eleven PIRATES have been arrested so far. As police investigations are still going on, more details are expected to be released on Thursday. - CNA


Geez, the pirates of today are a bottle of weak sauce, compared to their swashbuckling ancestors. Hmmm... Lorong 1, isn't that where Neil Humphreys, that tall "ang mor" fella, used to terrorize? Wow, pirated sports goods! Now, that's new. Any chance they have Adidas Adicolor? Or the green Kermit The Frog ones? Or do we still have to go up North? Any chance of pirated iPods or something? Here's an idea, bootleg liquor. Why stop there? Heck, illegal cable TV box and imitation sports cars.

For those taking part in the the annual Standard Chartered marathon this weekend, all the f**king best! Don't ask me, I'll be comfortably sleeping. Further more, it's a 21km-torture. Heck, 2.1km would already be a problem for me. Thus that's why I'm always struggle with the yearly military fitness test. The last 300m of the 2.4km run will see me crawling, salivating, cursing, panting, tripping and eventually fainting. It's quite a hilarious show actually. I should start charging money for it.

Speaking of money... anyone wants to sponsor my new movie venture? It's a slapstick spoof called... Planes On A Snake. Nothing over-the-top. In fact, no actors will be needed. It's fully CGI. Crappy, Gross and Idiotic.


Coming soon on pirate VCD... the planes fight back!

posted by Adminstrator @ 12:51 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

More work...


I need to work on two extra Lush Mix for Xmas eve and NYE. Nice. Also going to set work on a year end mix promo megamix CD for Progressions. Busy as a bee. I'll set to work after my nap. I've been saying that for almost a week now.

I'm still living in YESTERDAY. :)


1 December 2006, Friday.
Barbaablackchic

11.00pm - 12.20am : Yukun
12.20am - 01.40am : Fred E
01.40am - 03.00am : Daniel Storey

posted by Adminstrator @ 4:55 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

What a day!

Today has been a very nice day.
Everyday should be like today.
If only today could last a lifetime.

*love sweats*

posted by Adminstrator @ 8:12 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 27, 2006

One for December!

December's Nu Trance 101
Introducing...


JON O'BIR

Another fine advocate of forward-thinking trance is making his debut in Singapore on the 15th December 2006. Having been a resident of Godskitchen and a regular feature at key events, Mixmag cites O'Bir as "this is how trance is meant to be: beautiful bosh that takes you to another place".

You can check out his online mixes or his Ways And Means radio show on ETN. His own label Conspiracy Recordings has been responsible for several quality releases.

Screw the usual BIG international names. If you want something decent, this is one of them! And please don't be a shameless dick by flashing your goddamn handphone requests (it's seriously an ugly sight). Let him work his magic without any irritating pests interrupting the flow of things.

posted by Adminstrator @ 10:47 PM 0 comments

X'mas Wish

Haven't had a good X'mas for a while.

My ideal wish this year would be... amongst good company, having a good conversation over a nice cosy meal at my favourite restaurant Gyu-Kaku, with a bottle of Shiraz. Followed by a feel-good movie, or perhaps just a quiet place to comtemplate. I'm no longer that public a person. Quiet times are much preferred. Perhaps I've mellowed. Perhaps I'm tired. But my wish is that simple.

posted by Adminstrator @ 12:53 AM 3 comments

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Lush:Deux Party


Lush:Deux Party @ Hed Kandi Bar
8pm, 7th December, Thursday.
feat. Chris Ho from 9 - 11pm.


Lush 99.5 FM unveils its sweetest treat with the launch of the much anticipated sequel Lush:Deux CD. Join the party at the all new Hed Kandi Bar and enjoy TWO hours of Chivas free flow!

To attend, SMS to 72346 in the following format :
Party [space] your name [space] your email [space] and why you deserve an invite.


Blk 3C, The Cannery, Clarke Quay.

posted by Adminstrator @ 3:28 PM 0 comments

Good morning, meatballs!


It's 6.11am Sunday. I woke up suddenly because the medication has worn off. I'm hungry and now I have a craving for Ikea's Swedish meatballs! Must fight it. Need to get more sleep...

*checks cellphone*

Wah? Unread messages! Ooh... it's...

posted by Adminstrator @ 6:16 AM 1 comments

Saturday, November 25, 2006

The world of smart asses.


There was an incident a few weeks ago which I wanted to rant about but here it is, better late than never. It has since become an insider joke amongst those in-the-know.

A customer at a club asked if the DJ can play something different. Being a rather vague statement, the DJ reverts "What do you mean? What do you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Just something different."

"Could you be more specific, for example, give me a range to work on?"

"Anything. As long as it's something different!"

That patron is a perfect example of a f**king smart ass. Hee-haw! Sadly, there are many like such in our society. Anything can be something different. Sure, would you like some classical from the Renaissance era? Or perhaps you're snooty enough to appreciate some superficial new age crap? Or maybe not. How about some death metal? Tell you what, here's something really different... the mating call of a sperm whale.

Don't you just hate it when people are as vague as the politicians running your district? I mean, know what you bloody want instead of talking for the sake of making some insignificant noise. Hands up those who have asked your date, partner or whatsoever, what they would like to eat and the answer given was "anything". It's damn frustrating, ain't it. Sure, anything. Have some stir fried cat's tongue with roasted locusts.

That's one bloody thing I can never endure. Undecisiveness. It's either you know or your don't. No point acting like you do and then instead of giving a straight answer, you say "I'll get back to you" and then take about a decade to revert. There is only YES or NO. That makes life make less complicated than MAYBE.

Anyway, for the sake of all the smart undecisive assholes out there... I present to you, the Yukun & Daniel Storey's SOMETHING DIFFERENT latest offers...


And to answer the eternal questions that have plagued me ever since... "how come you don't seem to be excited or interested that so-and-so DJ is playing this weekend?" and "why you never go to DJ yadda-yadda last night?"

Four words. Been there, done it.

If you make this your profession, the last thing you want is to be in the same environment on the days you're not working... unless there's a damn good valid reason. Also, it's so very uncool to be an eager beaver and getting your panties in a bunch and say, "oh my f**king God, this DJ is coming to town! I'm so exciting. My balls are quivvering! I can hardly contain my enthusiasm!"

Trust me, that's how some people seem to project whenever some international big names are coming. I swear some of them actually sound gay, especially if it's some disillusioned male fan that goes, "He's so good, he rocks my world!"

Otherwise, a quiet night off is always the best option. Be it alone or not, that's not a issue to be discussed here. And tonight, is going to be a great night to double my $100 and watch Arsenal crumble to the team they most fear... Bolton.

Oh, just received a promo of Ferry Corsten's remix of the Prison Break theme. I've have to say, thank God he did not electro-fied it! A nice little dark rework that should have Michael Scofield and Lincoln prancing around that sinister Asian secret service guy (that's in Season 2)! Will save this for Progressions NYE.

Have a nice and safe weekend, mmm-kay? Come on, Bolton!

posted by Adminstrator @ 7:21 PM 1 comments

Yummy?


When you're below the weather and you've no appetite, there's nothing like going old-skool with what our older (Chinese) folks refer to as "sick people food"... porridge, pickled lettuce and preserved beancurd. Absolutely... tasteless as all my tastebuds are basically non-existent.

When I'm better... I've got to go feed myself with some fish & chips from Fish & Co. And maybe just for the laughs, I'll ask the waiter "what's in your Sprite?".

posted by Adminstrator @ 4:08 AM 0 comments

Friday, November 24, 2006

Askew-ed!

From left : Fitri, (who else), James, John Askew and Buff.
18 November 2006, Ministry Of Sound (Singapore).
Thanks Vikki... for sorting out the guestlist!


In the meantime, for those wanted to get their fix on the trance and progressive front, The Gareth Emery Podcast (in association with Audiojelly.com) is currently the iTunes leading DJ-mixed podcast. If you happen to come across any likewise podcasts (or if you host one), drop me a note here and I'll stick it up on the links (right column). The world's listening...

posted by Adminstrator @ 2:18 AM 0 comments

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Sick


Strangest thing. No warning signs whatsoever...

I work up this morning and was greeted with a damn high fever and muscle-ache all over. Just like that, freaking viral flu again! I'm feeling like shit. No voice, sore throat, migraine, coughing, tired... lifeless! Just when a promising weekend was planned. Damn it! This really sucks and I "fragging" hate it!

I'm going to sleep now. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

posted by Adminstrator @ 7:12 PM 2 comments

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Imogen Heap - "Hide & Seek"

With this day and age of the internet, we all know how it has changed the way we listen and expose ourselves to music beyond the traditional media. Even purchasing trends have changed.

If someone actually took a poll on how the bulk of music buyers worldwide felt about digital music distribution, they'll find that a lot of them agree that it's more convenient than going to a store and that it's environmentally-friendlier. Ok, that was my point actually. But really...

Ged Doherty, the UK head of Sony BMG said that CD sales would drop 50% in just 3 years. The digital music sales will grow 25% per year and that will not offset the decline in CD sales leaving the industry 30% behind in terms of revenues by 2010.

Why so? I used to work in the music industry too and believe when I say that they're very much still caught in their 80s business template where label chiefs draw shamefully high salaries. Their stubborness and inability to adapt and reinvent is going to be their grave markers. Nowadays, as an artiste, you need not even be signed to get your music heard all over the world.

Anyway, to illustrate... I came across Imogen Heap through the many shady "mash-up bootleg" sites and immediately, this haunting tune stood up. She's from the group Frou Frou and back then, I already thought that her voice is amazing. In "Hide & Seek", it's just her voice with some vocal filters... no instruments but it speaks volumes! End of night tune... for me at least! Nonetheless, I ended buying her album on iTunes because I don't think any of the crappy music shops in Singapore will stock her. Even if they did, it'll still be cheaper via iTunes. Don't ask me how I'm able to do that. Be savvy.



Where are we?
What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to fall
Crop circles in the carpet
Sinking feeling...

posted by Adminstrator @ 3:13 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Next gig


24 November 2006, Friday.
Barbaablackchic

11.00pm - 12.30am : Yukun
12.30am - 02.00am : Fred E
02.00am - 04.00am : Daniel Storey

posted by Adminstrator @ 3:20 PM 0 comments

"Skew me, who he?"

I've been unearthing through a lot of my stuff lately, going through symbolic items pertaining to the many past events in my life. One of which is a record album by X'ho (pronounced Chris Ho). For those uninitiated, Chris is "forever 27", and he is best-known for his smooth voice as a radio presenter (he's on Lush 99.5). Some will know him for his avant-garde music taste and approach to life. Others know him as a Life! columnist with the main paper and his tongue-in-cheek articles on Big O magazine. A small handful like me will always know him as an inspiration, although I've never said it to him, even though we know each other.

I still admire the way he follows what he believes in and did the things he has the passion for; even though sometimes it meant going against the mainstream school of thought. In a way, my non-conformist persona is very much a poor carbon-copy of Chris. I pale pathetically in comparison especially when it comes to his body tattoo collection :)

Chris, if you happen to read this, I want to thank you for the impact you made.

I'm putting the record on now, sitting back and recollecting to the year when this particular song hit me in the face when I first heard it. It was circa 1991 - 1992. My memory ain't working so well now. Afterall, I'm only "forever 32" and "mellowing out" seems like a very tempting idea right about now.

"Here I am, I'm thinking again
I think too much and I feel too much
Unwisely connecting, preserving and coaxing
It wasn't a drama though I'm mellowing out
Bit by bit and year by year
But I think I went
Deeper than just an affair
Deeper..."
Lyrics by Chris Ho

posted by Adminstrator @ 1:41 AM 7 comments

Monday, November 20, 2006

Top 100 DJ awards 2006

posted by Adminstrator @ 9:05 PM 0 comments

In the army...

I know one or two chaps that I've gotten to know, through the gigs I do, that will be enlisting for their national service soon. As with the tradition, the soon-to-be recruits will try and seek "advise" and "tricks" from those that have completed their stinct.

So what was it like for me?

Can't really tell you much as I don't wish to deal with the sensitive national security issues. All I can say is that besides the really trendy camouflage uniform, I wore a "walking oven" suit. We ran around a lot, shooting and blowing things up. And for the record, to me, it wasn't about fulfilling a duty or having national pride. It was more like an initiation into manhood, a rite of passage, camaraderie... and blowing things up!

It was over about more than decade for me, thus the black and white photo. But I guess the army of today is much more "humane" now. Still regimental but a lot of things are phased out. Very much a walk-in-the-park as compared to the time I was in it.

Like most of the men that have gone through it, till today, I still fondly talk about my time in the army and how I "smoked" my way through it. But in all seriousness, nothing quite matches up to the first time when you... shoot your gun!

Pure orgasmic delight :p

But if any of you decides to "sign on" because you can't get a civilian job, please come to me and allow me to slap you across your goddamn head!

posted by Adminstrator @ 4:05 PM 2 comments

Sunday, November 19, 2006

What in blue hell...?

I chanced upon this at Deny's alternate blogsite. This is going to be my next remix project. I think it'll work very well over a wicked dirty-sounding Drum N Bass backing track.

Sorry, I can't help it but it's f**king funny. If you think long-winded Indian movies are bad... this has got to the worst piece of crap ever made in human history. Ugly women with super high-pitched voice. Faggoty looking male lead with fake chest hair pasted on. Cheesy dance sequence. Poor miming. God-awful costumes. Freaks!

Check out the fat slug in yellow dress. Oh my f**king God!!!

By the way, the song is somewhat cheeky... I think. My mandarin is shitty but somewhere in there is about 3 of them getting into bed. They should because no one else on earth will ever get it on with any of them! Ever!

And the f**king song is 13 minutes long! How did they do the video with one straight shoot without splitting a spleen? It's like an eternal punishment in hell! I've watch it 5 times and I'm still laughing like a hyena!

posted by Adminstrator @ 9:20 PM 2 comments

New Forum

Register and join the new Barbaablackchic forum HERE.

posted by Adminstrator @ 6:42 PM 0 comments

AJ TUNES!

AJTunes, sister company of Europe's leading dance music download store Audiojelly, is providing a home for independent artists to sell their music to a global consumer base.

Songwriters and producers Ricky Simmonds and Stephen Jones, who founded Audiojelly in 2004, are the driving force behind major acts such as Lustral, The Space Brothers, Chakra... and over the last decade they have released over 50 singles with independent and major labels.

The main motivation behind building a download store was to have a platform to sell their own music without relying on labels, distributors, record shops and the traditional channels of getting their music to a broad audience. Their experience and contacts within the Industry are unrivalled within the dance music download sector.

Audiojelly has become a distribution portal to some of the biggest labels and artists in global dance music. But there are many, many independent artists all over the world who are writing and producing music but (whether through their own choice or not) do not have the backing of a label to make their music heard and purchased.

This is where AJ Tunes will change the landscape for independent singers, producers, bands and DJs. Not only will they now have the opportunity to sell their music to consumers on every corner of the earth, but they will also have the perfect platform as a stepping stone to signing a recording deal.

With almost two thousand labels now signed to the Audiojelly store, the AJ Tunes team will be pro-active in highlighting the best music appearing on the AJ Tunes site, and will constantly inform the relevant labels of the best selling tracks and the most exciting new artists. Some of the biggest brands in dance music are among the hundreds of labels who will be keeping an eye on the latest talent appearing on the AJ Tunes store, with a view to signing the artists that could soon be on their own rosters.

Newsletters and alerts on the latest uploaded tracks will be sent to every A&R manager and label owner from over a thousand key labels in the dance music industry. Whether the goal of the artist is to land a recording deal or simply showcase their own music, they can be sure of one of the highest royalty rates on the internet for every download of their tracks purchased.

For more information on all the advantages of appearing on AJ Tunes, click on 'New Artists.'

posted by Adminstrator @ 3:56 PM 0 comments

"Excuse me, this one toilet is it?"

Friends have pointed out my "acute observational powers" and how I've been able to spot the slightest hint of oddity which happens all around us and make a side-splitting comment about it. A gift? Perhaps a career in stand-up comedy? I'll end up offending a truckload of stereotypes if I pursued it. To be fair, I'm just another sad bastard obsessed with other people's stupidity.

I paid a really rare visit to Ministry Of Sound (Singapore) last night as a really good mate of mine John Askew was DJing there. Being a "rare visitor" has it's moments. That very night itself, I got about 5 "how-the-f**k-have-you-been" greetings, a couple of warm handshakes and a few offers of drinks. I'm well, thank you. Could do some cheering up but I'm generally well. But that's not the point of this posting...

I was heading to the toilet / restroom to relief the 5 whisky-cokes and 3 beers I had earlier at Barbaablackchic; and this "not-from-this-country" chap comes up next to me, points to the door... "mate, is this the little boy's room?"

No it's not! It's the damn door that says GENTS in nice bold fonts. And secondly, if you're of a legal age to enter a club, you should know that MEN no longer use the "little boy's room"... unless you still have what we call a "Mr Tinkie Winkie" in your pants. Then you should go consult my "dead cock" neighbour for some chinese medicinal advise. Last heard, the tiger penis remedy was a flop (pun intended). He should have gone for a rhino's one, which comes with a complimentary pair of elephant's testicles. Whilst stock lasts.

Of course I didn't reply as such. Would love to; just to put things into perspective. Don't you just hate redundant questions? i.e. you see me at a club, please don't ask "hey, what are your doing here?"

Oh, I don't know. Maybe I came because I heard that Saddam will be playing his last ever DJ set before he gets hanged. Stupid questions deserve equally stupid answers.


Hang the DJ!!!

As for last night's clubbing experience... well, all I can say is that unless you can endure my minute-by-minute commentary of how some folks dance like they've either hernia or two left feet, you shouldn't ask me out. Thankfully, Deny, Dino, James Bandril and Fitri are somewhat tolerant of Yukun The Scrutinizer.


Coming to a club near you!!!

That very night itself, we saw Sadako (see pix above), couples grinding to pounding trance, girls dancing in circles (a trend that should've died with the 80's), several idiotic cellphone requesters, the No-Smoking-Here Enforcer, Golem (from Lords Of The Ring), Miss Thunder Thighs, Bob "Octopus" Marley, a female Melbourne Shuffler with a facial expression that would send shivers down Saddam Hussein's spine... in general, almost the entire entourage of the freak circus was out to entertain! With so many interesting people around us all the time, how am can you not be observant and miss out on all the sideshows?

Clubbing for some people is about getting pissed drunk, some go for the music, some go for socializing purposes, some go to dance like The Exorcist, while a handful of us go as observers. Very much like the United Nations peace time observers, we mean no harm. Don't mind us. Carry on, please. At least we're courteous enough not to point and laugh... we do it discreetly.

And as I was heading to the "little boy's room" for the 2nd time, I was stopped by a local bloke asking where the EXIT was. I trust that he can't read because although the club might be huge, but there are certainly ample signs plastered all over and for the sake of argument, an EXIT signs looks like...


But truth be told, I was lost the first time I stepped into the club as well. Perhaps giving out little maps at the door for first-timers would be quite a nice welcoming gift. Tour guides are optional at an additional cost.

Anyway, nice seeing you again... Vikki, Remy, Alvin (ex-Centro), Josh (Boy), Sergeant Ricky and etc. The SD card in my brain is running low on memory. Forgive me if I don't mention you here.

*slight hangover*

Thank you very much, Mr Askew. See you for lunch, if you can wake up. I'll bring the Aspirins provided you give me Ali Wilson's remix of Mory Kante! *begs*


So to end, it's alright to do some character assassination and take a piss every now and then. Just be smart and vague about it. Considering the new laws surrounding blogging etiquette and how some people are more sensitive than others... don't get yourself in trouble by saying "Miss Alice Tua Nay Neh dances like she has a vibrator up her arse". By the way, I made that name up but if you happen to have that exact same name, I'm really sorry for you.

posted by Adminstrator @ 12:14 PM 0 comments

Saturday, November 18, 2006

VONYC Guest Mix


The guest mix for John Askew is finally done, with loads of new promotional material that was sent in from the many supportive labels. Broadcast date to be confirmed when he returns to the UK. Do check out the station online (home of the Vandit label), as it has really loads of good stuff!

posted by Adminstrator @ 7:43 PM 0 comments

Microsoft Windows KS

For the true blue "scared-to-lose" Singaporeans... must buy!

posted by Adminstrator @ 5:59 PM 2 comments

35hz @ BBBC, 18 November (Saturday) 2006

35hz this coming Saturday...

posted by Adminstrator @ 3:12 PM 0 comments

Revamp

Bored. And since we are dawning on the new year, I've decided that it's due time to revamp...

Currently trying to unearth past productions and remixes to archive here. Massive dig expedition is ongoing... lots of dust!

posted by Adminstrator @ 2:40 PM 0 comments