damyst's Xanga

New Beginnings...

Wed, 06 May 2009 05:19:59 GMT

...begin today. =)

Session Pics

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:42:06 GMT

All that Jazz!

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:40:46 GMT

So I've been holed up in the Upper West Side for the past 2 days doing a location recording for 2 albums, a jazz trio and solo piano. The one thing that sucks is that I have NO cell reception at all. It is THE SUCK, or LE SUCK. Anyhoo....

It's been an amazing time watching the group go at it. We've gotten some amazing tracks and I've jsut finished a rough mixdown of a few tunes, can't wait for the 2 albums to drop! I'm debating if I wanna write a session report type entry sometime later...just to document a bit of what goes on in a typical session, we will see if I have energy left after the next few days and if I can remember lol.

I don't think I can remember any year in which I've been so freakin' busy... I'm not complaining, I get to hone my chops, but dang.

Make that 7 albums/EPs this year that I'm done with/working on with another potential mix job.

Now I need to plan a vacation....

If you live in Malaysia....

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:40:34 GMT

Plug for my sister's show:

The Young Choral Academy (YCA) Chamber Choir, the result of the merger between the YCA Youth Chamber Choir and the Young KL Singers’ (YKLS) Chamber Choir, will be announcing their arrival in the Malaysian music scene with their debut production, ‘Buatan Malaysia’ featuring arrangements of Malaysian choral music.

Through this production, the YCA Chamber Choir strives to show the audience that any genre of Malaysian music, be it pop, folksongs or even – yes – patriotic songs can be a pleasure to listen to and perform. For the members, Saw states that this production is to help the performers learn and understand their own country’s music better, and through this develop a love for it.

This production features purely local arrangers, such as Geneviene Wong, Juliette Lai, Wong Shuen Da and the choir’s very own Assistant Music Director Tracy Wong. The audience will be able to enjoy original arrangements of songs that are close to the hearts of most Malaysians, even a completely different rendition of Jalur Gemilang along with some completely original compositions such as Not Alone Anymore.

The chamber choir will be working with stage director Melissa Teoh, who lectures at Sunway University College’s Department of Performance & Media. Melissa is also a double nominee for this year’s Boh Cameronian Arts Awards for Best Set Design for the productions Air Con and Hero.

Armed with a stage director, original arrangements and compositions, the YCA Chamber Choir’s debut production promises a reminiscent night for Malaysians with a twist as the audiences will hear familiar tunes to songs they probably know all the words to in a completely different light and will be introduced to the wonders of our very own Malaysian arrangers!

Venue : Pentas 2 of the KL Performing Arts Center (KLPac)

Date : 28^th and 29^th of March

Time : 3.00pm and 8.30pm on Saturday and a 3.00pm Sunday matinee show.

Tickets can be purchased from the KLPac Box Office (03-40479000) for a flat rate of RM25.

We hope to see you there ! :D

Young Choral Academy
http://www.youngchoral.com
Office Phone: 03-77264691 / 014-6242733

A Great Way to Start 2009

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:19:36 GMT

Something completely unexpected but very very nice:

While at NAMM '09 I met my old A&R guy Jeff from Silverfox and he was kind enough to bring me over to check out Soultone Cymbals. I have to say I was skeptical when I heard the name....

And then I sat down to play them.

Holy. Crap.

They sounded amazing! Tons of character and tones, hand crafted in Istanbul by master cymbal smiths, I fell in love with them and couldn't stop playing. The long and short of it? Jeff signed me on the spot and I am now a proud endorser of Soultone Cymbals. I'll be heading off to the vaults in Jersey sometime this week or next week to pick out a set in time for my next gig which will be Jan 31st with Kevin So. Can't wait!!!

(Yes, the website is in need of some serious updating. Check out the reviews in this month's Modern Drummer!)

Whoa...

Sat, 03 May 2008 17:36:11 GMT

I can't even remember the last time I slept in till 2pm. I guess my body decided to crash and catch up with all the non-rest I'd been getting since coming back to New York.

Nostalgia is cringing whilst listening to the first ever production you've ever done and reliving the memories of being naive and optimistic and all the fun times that happened during and as a result of the said project.... 3 months and a shoestring budget of RM50 which turned into almost a year's worth of work and endless sleepless nights during my senior year of high school...gotta love it.

I miss those days...

Bliss...

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:48:33 GMT

... is cooking a feast for friends from different circles and spending time together during the holidays. :)

The raqin was pouring but many thanks to the roomies namely dan and blo for building a fire with which to grill, couldn't have done it without you guys! Pics will be on dchaos' xanga. Just to pique your interest, the menu was as follows:

- Japanese Oden -

- Chicken Satay -

- Buttered Garlic Lemon Sea Scallops with Asparagus -

- Nobu style Miso Cod -

- Sake -

- DESSERT! -

(I forgot the name of the bakery but DAMN it was good!)

BLISS

2 Things

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:16:19 GMT

T Mobile is annoying and sucks at the moment. I can't even get reception in the studio wtf? I'm calling and asking for something from them, this is ridiculous.

2nd thing: Bryce's cabaret show is hard but fun! Just put in 3 hours of practice.... let's see if I can pull it off!

Here's the info for you guys!

Bryce & Meredith are starring in/producing a cabaret!

We gathered seven of the premiere music theater composing teams and four of the bomb-ass'est actors we know and we're bringin' it to the Laurie Beechman. Fortuitously, all these writing teams happen to be in the Dramatists' Guild Fellowship Program so all their famous mentors are showing up... Flaherty & Ahrens, anyone? Maltby &Shire? Yes, they'll be in attendance. And, for those of you who are die hard AHH SUM BAND fans: drummer Robin and bassist Jae will be assisting in the magic. Here are the details:

"FACING THE FACTS"
at the Laurie Beechman Theater @ The West Bank Cafe
407 W 42nd (at 9th Ave)

two shows:

SUNDAY, June 17th @ 5pm
WEDNESDAY, June 20th @ 7pm

If you are planning to attend, call and make your reservations now: (212) 695-6909
Sunday is filling up. Wednesday still has a lot of spots.
I would hate for you to decide to go today, not make reservations, and get denied at the door because it's sold out.

What better way to meet famous composers AND support your friends?

Starring: Meredith Anderson, Kate Pazakis, Geoffrey Lind, Bryce Ryness
Songs By: Adam Gwon, Joe Kinosian, Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen, Jeff Thomson & Jordan Mann, Adam Wagner
Musical Direction: Joe Kinosian
Bass: Jae Ko
Drums: Robin L.
Directed By: Adam Wagner

My First Credits

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:56:36 GMT

My first major label credits:

Dream Theater's latest release "Systematic Chaos" - Robin L. Programming

AW.YEAH.BABY.

If you happen to get the special edition version with the DVD, Jordan's setup both in Studio A and G was my handiwork, the interfacing with ProTools and DP and syncing and all that good stuff. Yes I am very proud to be involved with this project especially since I've been a huge fan of DT since my college days and to actually have the opportunity to work with them has been nothing short of amazing.

Many thanks to Jordan Rudess for giving me the chance to work with and for him and for being one of the coolest people I know.

Another One...

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:55:11 GMT

courtesy of Greg Wong --answer in one word:

1. Where is your cell phone? Here

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend? HAH!

3. Your hair? Messy

4. Work? audioengineer

5. Your father? Home

6. Your favorite thing? sports

7. Your dream last night? Eh?

8. Your favorite drink? bubbletea

9. Your dream car? Lamborghini

10. The room you're in? Bedroom

11. Your pet? Dead

12. Your fear? Failing

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? rockstar

14. Where did you hang out last night? UWS

15. What you're not good at? Writing

16. Eyebrow rings on the opposite sex? Maybe

17. One of your wish list items? sleep

18. Where you grew up? M'sia

19. The last thing you did? sleep

20. What are you wearing? glasses

21. what aren't you wearing? contacts

22. What are you doing today? working

23. Your computer? mac

24. Your life? Weird

25. Your mood? sleepy

26. Missing? friends

27. What are you thinking about right now? Dumplings

28. Your car? Absent

29. Your work? cool

30. Your summer? Drama

31. Your relationship status? Eh.

32. Your favorite color? black

33. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday

34. Last time you cried? Dunno

35. School? Berklee