I performed for the Official Raya Light Up of Geylang Serai 2008 organised by Starhub’s Sensasi and Majlis Pusat at the Perkampungan Melayu open carpark yesterday with Didicazli, Tengku Adil, Zaleha Hamid, A Rahman Hassan, Eka Mairina, Azyza, and local comedians and it was hosted by Nurul Aini and Huda.

No offence to the fans Indonesian sinetron but you guys should show a little love to local artistes like you did for Shereen and Teuku Wisnu of the ‘Cinta Fitri’ fame. The members of the audience who came to see them pushed, shoved, screamed, shouted, fainted, chased, kissed, hugged to the point of chaos that the security folks had to take action by shoving everybody back and creating human barricades.

That is just sad that in the time when some people are busy trying to campaign their support for local entertainment and proving a point, some folks are doing exactly the opposite. Please stop making local artistes look pathetic and feel silly about themselves.

I think ‘Segaris Sinar’ and ‘Jeritan Sepi’ cast should do neighbourhood Mall visits just like ‘Cinta Fitri’ supported by music acts.  Mana tau ada makcik nak peluk-cium Rafaat Hamzah atau Elfaeza Ulhaq?

If you don’t support, just shut up and stick to your Jonas Brothers.

Picture courtesy of Sarah Liyana. Thanks.

Aaron Aziz and Diyana has kindly invited me to be part of something that will air this coming Raya, out later in September. I joined Maiya Rahman, Shah Iskandar, Hyrul Anuar, Sheikh Haikel and Aaron, of course, in a tune produced by Syaheed from Bedsty Music. We made alot of noise and had alot of fun at Felix’s Ubi Crescent studio til the wee hours of the morning, although I was quite distracted when I found a Rubik Cube and worked on it for a good 3 hours.

Anyway, filming begins next week! Not telling you what it’s for and what it’s about, but it’s going to be fun! Pictures courtesy of Hyrul.

I was in KL for 24 hours to shoot a Raya video for RTM with Dayang Nurfaizah and Farawahida also involved. The pictures courtesy of Nadya Baharein are of my turn to emo-drama infront of the camera to my own song ‘Tidak Lama Lagi‘. Will find out telecast date! Thanks to Kak Nik & the RTM crew.

I was harping about it for days since it appeared in the Berita Harian. I managed to interest a few of my friends to come along. I really like Malay theatre set in the 1950s. I feel like there’s so many happenings during that era for the Malays. Migration. Post-war economy. Ignorance. Decadence. And most of all, the music.

I can’t get over it how the whole thing ended.

No points for the girls who came to see their friends acting and was chatting throughout the entire show.

“You complain about being lonely because you disregard everybody else
You’re selfish, self-centered, pretentious, and yet you believe you deserve the best
You see no point in the birthdays, barmitzvahs, gatherings and functions of those who prioritize yours
You only look for people accordingly to what they can offer you
You cry for help, wave your hand for attention, you pour your heart out but you offer nothing in return for those who accomodate
You don’t have an ambition, interest or hobby, something to spark interest from another
Your idea of friends are those who have no connection to you at all; you want them to be your friends
You believe travelling to a friend’s house is a chore
You do not see the urgency in meeting somebody who is already waiting for you
You won’t have a lover because those who believe in love, believe in the opposite of what you do
You make no sacrifices
You don’t have true friends because nobody knows that you’re all of the above
and you complain about being lonely. You probably won’t know this is about you.” – Anon

Not too long ago I helped out a certain Dee Dee Mahmoud put together her fitness video. For that, I helped produced a song written by Razzi M and herself that accompanied the vcd. I also put together songs by Freaky Z, XS, Bedsty, and Krazie Starr for the actual exercise regime. You may want to check her out at http://deedeefitness.com/

She was featured in the previous month’s cover of Vanilla, looking really good. Her claim to fame? Losing more than half her weight, and attaining qualifications to be a certified trainee in sports, fitness and weight management. We are working on a follow-up exercise VCD soon.

Whether it’s an ad-hoc affair or an annual extravaganza, if you believe you putting it together allows you to play Moses for local music, you surely are deluded. Especially when the post-event publicity emphasizes that the tickets selling out should shut up people who think you’re not doing enough for local music. 3 words. What the f. So in random order:

1. Adopt the Canadian Content where up to 60% of all music used on radio and television must be locally produced or performed. (Malaysia is working on a 90% ruling, by the way)

2. Have a weekly variety program on Channel 5 and Suria like MTV TRL or the now-defunct British Top of the Pops to run for..erm.. forever.

3. Slash advertising rates for local independent musicians promoting an event or an album release for print ads in periodicals and daily newspapers

4. Local radio to allow, encourage and call-out for unsigned, independent musicians with only 1 song and without complete albums to have air-play access. Quality control to be lenient.

5. Radio talksets to minimize to a minute and a half between every 5-7 songs like in Malaysia unless its a dedicated radio talk-show.

6. Local reality tv talent contests and award shows should not allow SMS voting, unless it is made transparent that the revenue earned will fund the prize. Yes, if you are charging people to ask them who should win, you should pay the winners.

7. Radio must print their chart show on a national newspaper weekly. The  on-air chart show would be sponsored which covers print ads. Both radio and newspaper wins.

8. Television should not limit their advertising of their own programmes to TV only. Facebook, hello?

9. All media should go to schools and organise regular roadshows to encourage branding and loyalty.

10. Event organisers are NOT to organise events if they can’t pay the artistes’ rates. Musicians should STOP taking up a free gig and then bitching about it.

11. Musicians should just work on 1 song, and not EPs or albums, especially when nobody knows you.

12. Government to pump in at least $5.5million to pop music. Musicians who can buy 300 year old violins do not need sponsorship. Funding to be used for Points 2 and 9.

13. Stop playing God, and quit using your cultural minority’s sensitivities as your organisation’s objective to inflict pain onto people who do not subscribe to your ideals. It does not work that way.

This came out in the Singapore papers after Nina and I attended Norfasarie/Bhaihakki’s wedding together. Ehem, ehem. 10 points for the dress and immaculate hair. None for causing wild gossip amongst both our mothers and their friends.

Had the best time with Nadrah, Zee, Wan, Ainon, Salim, and we were laughing out loud at Cathay Starbucks talking about each other’s monsters. Who’s your current monster?

More pictures HERE courtesy of the Zeester.

• MEET THE FILMMAKERS at The Picturehouse Lounge, Level 5, The Cathay Cineplex after each respective Program Screening.
• All films will be screened on DVD format.
• Information provided is correct at time of printing and subject to changes due to circumstances beyond the festival organiser’s control

Source : www.thepicturehouse.com.sg