But not a C.H.O.P.P.A.-holic yet

I looked for some background on C.H.O.P.P.A. a and found the following that I am quoting from SG

 “One for the true hipsters, this experimental music festival will feature more than 15 artists from around the world over three nights, playing electronic, acoustic, jazz and avant-garde music. Featuring Burkhard Beins, Gerry Hemingway and Daysuke Takaoka, among many others, this is the place to be if you are into the underground music scene.” 

According to the Wikipedia description of hipster this music genre does not really fit into their scene but there may not be another way to describe C.H.O.P.P.A.’s audience. I have to admit after visiting the C.H.O.P.P.A. festival for two evenings, I do not really know what the audience type was. 

Firstly almost all sets were so dimly lit that the audience was unidentifiable because of the dark, but when the light came on between the sets, I don’t think I saw many hipsters. It was all kinds of people I would say and thanks to me quite a big age range. 

Like the musicians were people from across the globe. Aussies, Asians, Europeans and a stray American. 

I have often times repeated that I am not familiar with techniques of music. I just read a post by Jeremy Monteiro today about fast and faster and it went completely over my head. Like probably most of the music specifics do when I attempt to listen. I don’t know how to read music and cannot play an instrument. But…what I have been maintaining is that for me a live music experience is not a live experience if the musicians do not seem to feel themselves into what they are doing. 

Now many people may claim that whatever was presented at C.H.O.P.P.A., is not music. I am sure what is being performed is not captured in scores and it will be a challenge to replay what was played before, to a close similarity. It does look to me though that the musicians do feel themselves into this music very much. 

Every sound that is being produced is made more purposeful with very explicit body language. Instruments are put to the test of their ability to produce sound by uncommon application and the utilization of all kinds of “kitchen” ware. Be it chopsticks or pots and pans.

And it all seems to be done for good reason! It is more sound by feeling than feeling by sound. The intensity is not for the show, but it helps to make the show. I know some of the C.H.O.P.P.A. artists will cringe at the word show, 

because that is not at all their objective, but I was there, sitting on the other side of the equation, and am giving it my perspective!

It may have been that part that attracts me to this genre, sometimes described by music "lovers" as noise. It may also be the combination of that noise and the body language, but I have to admit every time I go to C.H.O.P.P.A. it grows on me a little more. 

 

 

 

The Good Life Project: It's a plan!

I once new a person who set up a Microsoft project plan around her pregnancy. So to create a good life project doesn’t sound that crazy to me anymore. And if you do it, then do it early in life I guess.  So it was no surprise to anyone that the Good Life Project is a band of many lovely relatively young faces.

Kim Eun Hyung - Violin/Synths 

DJ Intrigue (Louis Quek) - Turntables

Sano Shimano - Guitars

Stasha Wong - Bass

NAztykeys - Keyboards

 Boey Yong Jie - Drums

*Featuring Pamela Song - Vocals

It was again an easy choice for us to go to Kampong Glam. There is always something fun going on between Jalan Sultan and Bali Lane! We had heard about the Aliwal Urban Art Festival and since that had kicked off early in the evening or is it late afternoon, I never know how to exactly define that, we headed out at about 6:30. 

The weather has been gorgeous lately and I really have this summer holiday sense, so it was nice to see there was a lot of outdoor activity. But we came there for the music and that was inside.  On our way over to the performance space we ran into the friendly smiling face of  Kim Eun Hyung,  

who happened to be part of the first act, the for mentioned Good Life Project. We followed her inside and found ourselves to be some of the first. It was standing room only. I am a bit uncomfortable standing all the way in front since I am well above average height, but we had to because otherwise there was no chance of a decent shot, so we stood a bit off center, at what turned out to be a great angle from where I could see all.

If making fun music and having a blast while doing it is any guarantee for a good life these kids, sorry ladies and gentleman it’s the old geezer in me talking, sure have their project down to the detail.  The whole band seemed to be fully engaged in Agile teamwork and that ensured a complete delivery

 

I have a little theory about bassist and so far it has come true for the most part. They are all individuals with a bit of a special character, fun in a subdued kind of way I would say, a bit cynical maybe.

 The bassist of good life project did not particularly radiate that image when I first so her.  She is a bit taller and slender, there was nothing funky about her hairstyle or the way she dressed and her glasses did not really sparkle of modernity, although I think it is a rather current style.

So my initial attention I have to admit went out to Eun Hyung, and the guys in the back who all showed potential for fun photos.  Stasha though managed to catch my ear and eye and with that change my perception. She had funky grooves and moves. She turned out to be, in my opinion quite photogenic,

 and I needed to eat  every word of my first impression. I had to get a bunch of shot of her. 

After I arrived home and flashed through some of her photos quickly I could almost the see the horses on her shirt gallop of stage and into the night as if the year was already over.