Wasn't doing to well in school, got a little distracted by the want and neccessity, thriving attention. Got involved with alot of bad activities in school and mum thought it best to relocate the family and start over in hopes of not losing me.
I really pushed my family to the ultimate edge come to think about it but I guess with the grace of God, they thankfully never gave up on me. Never.
My friends in Penang heavily influenced me into listening to hip-hop and educated me on it's culture because I always thought it was in someway just black music and anyone else who recreated anyform of hip-hop or rnb was simply copying and had no standard whatsoever compared to how the blacks did it with alot of soul.
I stood corrected when I met KS and KW, two chinese twins who inspired me to listen to Tupac and discover how poetic and inspirational, although at times abusive hip-hop music could be. It channeled emotions both aggressive and compassionate. Seemed interesting so I asked them if they could produce a beat and let me work some magic with it ( KS being a dynamic DJ and his brother a rap writer).
Dasha Loga, was our established young crooner who swept us of our feet with her melting belting vocals. Being the daughter of Malaysian Music Pioneer, the late Loga of the Alleycats, at 17 we knew she was on a journey of her own, charting her way in this tribulous industry we call music.
I wrote this song "the Love We Had" being inspired by Tupac's "do for love" and Biggie's "Big Papa". Contradicting influences? I know, I still love the artistic aspect of em' both yanowataimsayin' ? ;)
http://www.i-bands.net/audiovault/bands/862/music.php
Although it doesn't mention, thats ME on the male vocals, tryna do a combination I called snooPAC.
Peace out, A town!
check out the URL and scroll down and look for The Love We Had feat. Dasha (sample)
never got to finishing it though. Sad.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Younger Years
I remember as a kid growing up, my childhood was filled with imaginative play and music.
Imaginative play: came from avidly watching cartoons and kid drama's among the fave; Power Rangers, Ultraman, Spiderman and Thundercats.
As a young ling, I remember the many countless hours in the afternoon I would spend running around the house fighting invisible monsters, smashing down my grandma's Martian Hibiscus plant and demonstorizing my man-eating Japanese Koi Fish pond. lol.... 'twas fun I have to say.
Music: Ah... this one I have to give sole credit to my daddy. Just thinking about my younger years draws my tears. I remember how he used to lay me on his lap, sometimes even accommodating the 4 of us siblings, put on classical music (Paul Mauriat - Love is Blue) or disco funk vibes (the BeeGees mainly).
First Musical Discovery
I remember being sick before my first examinations, crying and screaming in frustration and anxiety. He was just about to go to work and I was trying to convince him about the negative aspects and the intense pressure that examinations can (supposedly... lol) have on young children. After putting on his tie, he bent over, wiped my crocodile tears and whispered in my ear.
" Son, when in doubt or fear... just hum your favourite tune and charge on", then he continued to hum that tune from the BeeGees (how deep is your love?).
Truly inspired me to be worry-free, kind of how I have developed a no-stage-fright state of mind for whenever I perform.
Thanks Dad.
Second Musical Experience
I have to tell you about my mother. Like everyone else, I think she's an angel sent from heaven. I think she's the perfect woman in my life. Although yes, as a growing teenage boy, did make her life a tad bit miserable with my intolerable adolescent behaviour.
As far back as I can recall, I'm quite sure she was and will always be the root of my love. My love for music.
She sang me to sleep every night and I can still recall one of the many hymns that inspired my dreams as a young child. Don't know the name but take a look at what my memory can serve up:
Far beyond the star,
My soul is longing to go,
And there beyond the star to a better place I know,
Through the darkest night,
I can see the heavenly glow.. far away, far away beyond the star.
Time, ages of time, yes it's my time, so dear.
The bells, ringing their chimes, warning the hour is near.
The road leads far away and so the day disappears.
So I sing unto you Hallelujah.
Never could find the song, the writer, nothing.. for all I know my mother could have made it up.
If you do find it or have heard of it, have any info on the song let me know!
Third musical experience
For as long as I know, I have always loved and longed to play the guitar. Probably my uncle Charles had me first amazed when he played Wild Horses, and told me there was this legend by the name of Keith Richards.
My mom bought me my first classical guitar and put me through classes once a week at Guitar Collection, Damansara. After having gone through a year of classes, my parents both abruptly stopped me from classes for reason I have yet to discover ( probably cause I was constantly locked in my room playing ) but I somehow or another managed to pick it up on my own.
At the age of ten, being a hardcore Moffatts fan at that time...
I sorta played around with chords C, G, Am, F and using experiences or influences thus far came up with a little jingle I called Fantasy Land
FANTASY
Have you ever been to a place called fantasy land,
Where all your wishes and your dreams can come true,
I can take you there if you give me your hands,
Cause I know just how to get there, all you have to use is your imagination.
Short, cute, corny? I know I was 10 and really proud of my composition.
My my how I've grown.
Imaginative play: came from avidly watching cartoons and kid drama's among the fave; Power Rangers, Ultraman, Spiderman and Thundercats.
As a young ling, I remember the many countless hours in the afternoon I would spend running around the house fighting invisible monsters, smashing down my grandma's Martian Hibiscus plant and demonstorizing my man-eating Japanese Koi Fish pond. lol.... 'twas fun I have to say.
Music: Ah... this one I have to give sole credit to my daddy. Just thinking about my younger years draws my tears. I remember how he used to lay me on his lap, sometimes even accommodating the 4 of us siblings, put on classical music (Paul Mauriat - Love is Blue) or disco funk vibes (the BeeGees mainly).
First Musical Discovery
I remember being sick before my first examinations, crying and screaming in frustration and anxiety. He was just about to go to work and I was trying to convince him about the negative aspects and the intense pressure that examinations can (supposedly... lol) have on young children. After putting on his tie, he bent over, wiped my crocodile tears and whispered in my ear.
" Son, when in doubt or fear... just hum your favourite tune and charge on", then he continued to hum that tune from the BeeGees (how deep is your love?).
Truly inspired me to be worry-free, kind of how I have developed a no-stage-fright state of mind for whenever I perform.
Thanks Dad.
Second Musical Experience
I have to tell you about my mother. Like everyone else, I think she's an angel sent from heaven. I think she's the perfect woman in my life. Although yes, as a growing teenage boy, did make her life a tad bit miserable with my intolerable adolescent behaviour.
As far back as I can recall, I'm quite sure she was and will always be the root of my love. My love for music.
She sang me to sleep every night and I can still recall one of the many hymns that inspired my dreams as a young child. Don't know the name but take a look at what my memory can serve up:
Far beyond the star,
My soul is longing to go,
And there beyond the star to a better place I know,
Through the darkest night,
I can see the heavenly glow.. far away, far away beyond the star.
Time, ages of time, yes it's my time, so dear.
The bells, ringing their chimes, warning the hour is near.
The road leads far away and so the day disappears.
So I sing unto you Hallelujah.
Never could find the song, the writer, nothing.. for all I know my mother could have made it up.
If you do find it or have heard of it, have any info on the song let me know!
Third musical experience
For as long as I know, I have always loved and longed to play the guitar. Probably my uncle Charles had me first amazed when he played Wild Horses, and told me there was this legend by the name of Keith Richards.
My mom bought me my first classical guitar and put me through classes once a week at Guitar Collection, Damansara. After having gone through a year of classes, my parents both abruptly stopped me from classes for reason I have yet to discover ( probably cause I was constantly locked in my room playing ) but I somehow or another managed to pick it up on my own.
At the age of ten, being a hardcore Moffatts fan at that time...
I sorta played around with chords C, G, Am, F and using experiences or influences thus far came up with a little jingle I called Fantasy Land
FANTASY
Have you ever been to a place called fantasy land,
Where all your wishes and your dreams can come true,
I can take you there if you give me your hands,
Cause I know just how to get there, all you have to use is your imagination.
Short, cute, corny? I know I was 10 and really proud of my composition.
My my how I've grown.
Premature
While going through horrid adolescence, I not only was trying to find my identity but an even harder task I thought was defining myself through my music.
A bunch of us formed a band together; Kevin, Jared, Gerrard, Jason and myself. We were heavily influenced by the likes of Greenday, Incubus and Limp Bizkit at this time because of how cool we thought it was to be a rebel (Limp Bizkit: My generation). We were about 14-15 yrs old.
We often skipped church, and hung out at the jam studio (Black Widow) playing these covers and discovering our own strengths musically. Still remember how Jared could barely keep a beat and Kevin kept struggling with chords. Me? I was quite pro by then, constantly tuning the guitars and keeping the rhythmic aspect of the band.
Later on that year, think it was 2003? There was an ad in church, hosting its first ever talentime contest for Lifeteen Youth Ministry. We were quite active in church. It was good excuse to get out of the house and hangout late on Saturdays. Usually meet up to play football or jam.
SO we decided what the heck! Let's give this sucker a shot, and to our amazement, out of the 5 other talented / music-schooled kids and bands that took part? We brought the house down and won first place! I cannot begin to describe the sensation and emotion that was running through my entire body when I was on stage that day.
At that very last millisecond, between us huddling close together and praying to God, this nobody/amateur band we were and the Emcee just about to announce the winner. I knew this moment is exactly what I'd been looking for, this adrenaline is my new objective in life and I cannot stop until I find that one feeling again.
Lol.. although we sorta disbanded after everyone's interest started growing and wavelengths were no longer the same. Kevin, Jared and I kept keeping it together for as long as we could but you can't start a fire without a spark anymore, and we knew that spark wasn't sparking anytime soon. We did however make front page of a local youth pullout in the News Straits Times that year, just the three of us. Think it was called youth quake? That was I guess our peak ever!
After that I was in search again, for something else that could keep my passion burning.
The Search for The Adrenalin Rush was on! 
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Welcome to Greg Talk
Hey Everyone!
This blog showcases my work in relevance to my song-writing, poems, productions and my artistic take on inspirations and experiences in my life.
I really do hope you enjoy this exciting adventure into a part of my life that I hold dearly, the passion for music, literature and theatricals that I am trying to infuse with my heart-in-blender soul.
First time ever documenting my escapades and serenades for your reading pleasure so have mercy as this lyricist has yet to grow into a writer.
Your sincere comments are anxiously anticipated and very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg
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