Wildstix, about...

I still have this mixed feeling, 6 days after I pulled my band out from sinking. It's hard to forget the people who have been working with you for sometime and it's even harder to forget the sadness of seeing them gradually defunct.
But new days are ahead of my band and I, so this excitement of new experience really fueled me up to look for new formation and personnel. Thankfully my wife and our closest friends really really help me out dealing with it and provided encouragement for times like these.

All of the emotions rushed in me at almost the same time and I felt kind of numb. But I need to get over it quick to face tomorrow.

Other things in recent days...

My youngest niece will be baptized on august 3, 2008. My wife and I are planning to attend the service but suddenly I got text that said I'll be having job interview for part time music teacher on the same date! Imagine that, a job interview on Sunday!
As much as I want to go to my niece's baptize, I also need the job...I'll just see how are things later.

The other interesting thing recently is, I'll be featured in my best friend's video clip. Though I've been a performer for some years, it will be my first experience doing that kind of thing. Judging from the people involved in the production, I'm sure it'll be fun!

Academie of FarSide's new life

July 24, 2008. It’s finally done; I cancelled our gig and I’ve fired my band mates, setting them free to live their own lives. But even so they’re still persisting that they’ve done nothing wrong and as usual, put the blame on me again.
Even it was painful to my heart, I tried one last time to make them think as adults and it was very heartbreaking that they were still unable to reach maturity of their mind. Thus I decided that Academie of FarSide couldn’t move one with spoiled children on the wheel.

To save the band, that my wife and I dear most, I took a painful decision to fire all my band mates. I told them the most important reasons, might as well the facts too, that there is no focus anymore, no improvement and no consistency.
Being fired (or cut off) for the first time in their life, the ego started to kick in. I appreciate my vocalist for being fair at some points but I just laughed at others for firing out blank bullets at the facts. But what else can I do? They’re just kids.

With three brats gone, Academie of FarSide is now looking forward for its bright future. I don’t know how it’s going to be, since I’m still looking for new personnel, but I’m very sure the band will rise as one of the prominent prog bands in the world.

The Great Journey has begun!

July 19, 2008 will be remembered as the start of a great journey of my newly formed band. I thought of it as a great journey because each member (including me) are all the people who dedicated their lives to music and has experienced much pain because our love of music.
The formation is a trio, my best friend plays guitar, guitar synth and synthesizers, my new best friend fill the vocal with his unique and powerful voice and myself, playing drumkit and synthesizers. From our first jamming, power trio will not fit to call this group.

As for the trio's name, we still have yet to choose from several potential names, but whatever name we decided to use, I will love it because my long hoped wish came true.
Still more to come and long way ahead of us, but we're gonna kick some ass along the way! Ready or not, my trio will come right in your face!

As for my own band, Academie of FarSide, it's clear that all hope are lost with current personnel. I would dispose them but we're gonna have two gigs in August and the time is too short to find replacements or additionals. I just need to be more patient until the end of August and then I will make any necessary actions to save Academie of FarSide, one of which is to fire all my band mates!

Something about Japanese music...

Well, I got this bugging my mind…

We all know about j-rock or j-pop or whatever they or we call it and though I’m not a fan to the genre but I did notice something out.

I’ve listen to every kind of music since I was little and that also includes Japanese contemporary music (in this case J-rock & J-pop). The booming of anime industry has made the genre gaining more attention and fans; in turn the J-music industry blooms as well.

One thing that I learned this far, after listening to cheesy but legendary theme song of Lionmaru to the theme songs of the latest Japanese movie or anime (and some of the latest Japanese mainstream music artists), is the vocal characteristic whether female or male, rock or ballad, IS ALWAYS THE SAME!!!

I found this because my wife and my oldest niece are big fans of anime and they continuously watch it. Sometimes I was around and at first I enjoyed the music, but after a while I got fed up. I don't even want to hear the sound from the movies.
I then tried to find out the thing that makes me so fed up with this particular Japanese product and found it.

If you don't believe me, try take sometime to listen to the Japanese mainstream artists. I'm sure you'll find the same freaky thing as I did.

A little note to the anime...I grew up with anime and other Japanese life action movies. Back then the stories are deep and interesting. Nowadays anime doesn't have that and the writers are now busy to make twist after twist after twist. In the end the stories are damn boring and to remedy that they inserted one or two jokes in some important scenes. Aawww, c'mon guys, you're better than that!

where's the anime that I once knew???

Map with dig through the Earth

I was working on my google map when I realize they also have one cool application, called Dig a hole through the Earth. so I added it to my map and tried it out.

It's interesting to see where we would came out should I dig through the Earth from my front yard. The app showed that we will came out in the middle of nowhere in COLOMBIA!!!
To be precise, we will came out at the mountains near the city or village Chalara (approximately 3.2 miles). Also the nearest highway is 64.
At least now I know that I should consult to my cousin who is an experienced climber if I want to dig through Earth and pops out at some Colombian mountains.

My regards to the people of Chalara!!!

Places on my google map

Gosh, doing the map on google is much more exciting than I previously thought...OK, so now there are some places that I already put in my version of Jakarta map, here goes the list so far:

1. my home
2. my studio
3. House of People's Representatives (DPR)
4. South Jakarta central post office
5. Cilandak Town Square
6. Two other music studios
7. Five food stores
8. One cafe
9. TVRI
10. ITC Fatmawati
11. D'Best
12. Three Shell gas stations
13. Two churches
14. Two automotive workshops
15. Three hospitals
16. Four Pertamina gas stations
17. Java-Bali power grid
18. An air force base

That's all so far, I'm still working on it and if you want your place to be added in my map, contact me with your full address and the characteristics of your rooftop. Email it to wildstix@gmail.com

this is the map

Meddling with google maps

I'm just starting to create my map at google maps...since I'm a newbie in this kinda thing, there isn't much about my map but I keep working on it.
It's a map of Jakarta, the city I live in. So far I've added the description of my home, studio and ohoooo...the house of people representatives also known in Indonesia as DPR building. I'm yet to create paths and other things.

To see my current works on the map you can visit my map here

Electricity crisis

Aaaahh yes...living in Indonesia has its own advantages, chaotic traffic, snob-minded society and if you're lucky enough, you could watch on TV a corruptor is being dragged like a 5 year old kid by the authorities to a car to be apprehended. It's hilarious.

But the best thing in Indonesia is, the electricity crisis at the capital city, Jakarta! Several days ago we learned from the media that from July 11 to July 25, 2008 there will be a partial shutdown to all region of Jakarta because the electric generators are unable to maintain the output. It has got to do with the neat and excellent job of the electric company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), yup no doubt about it!

Meanwhile, my friend, Jever has finally released his first single, an adaptation to the late Chrisye's famous piece, Kisah Cintaku. The single can be bought through importmusik.com or go straight to his import page www.importmusik.com/artist.php?aka=0220000541

I recorded and did balancing to his songs, so I'm proud about the release.

For my band...I've resolved to option that should my band mates fail to prove their further interest, after August 1, 2008 Academie of FarSide will go through another transformation.

but before that....THE OUTAGE!!!!!

Snobs, forgive them

I subscribed to one of the largest online Indonesia music community/forum and I've posted there for three years with no problem. But lately I got using more and more of the F word. Though I used them to comment on the subject matters, some people really get pissed of me as if I was directing the F word at them.

For an example, one guy, who's post got my pretty harsh comment, replied that I shouldn't underestimate him because of his opinion and no need of being so excessive. This guy clearly didn't understand since I tried to wake them up from being so naive.
If I must tell you...this guy post a reply that suggest the best drum setup for the rehearsal studio and performance for a minimal budget. He suggested to get the starter type of Sabian cymbals and Tama drumkit, then he continued with "TAMA + SABIAN = mike portnoy" (this is the reason for my F word). It was clear that his suggestion very misleading. Again, I'm not underestimating anyone, but this guy must learn some more before he could give a good and appropriate suggestion without being easily offended by a mere F word.

Well, that was just another day for me in an online Indonesia music community/forum.

Another annoying thing

A couple days ago I went to look for a keyboard controller to be new addition to my drumkit setup. I was sure to get the Oxygen 8 from M-Audio because of the company's high reputation in the field. So I was looking hi and lo for it, from one store I found out that M-Audio sole distributor in Indonesia is now held by Mila Music. Before going to the store I've done a survey about the price and found that the price shouldn't be higher than IDR 1,3 million.

I was shocked to know that Mila Music is putting the price higher than expected, IDR 1,4 million and if I rate it to US$ it will be like $150 something! The original Oxygen 8 price from M-Audio is $149.95, so if I agreed with Mila Music's price, I'll be screwed! I tried to reason about the price but they always said it was an exhibition price (cheap) and when I countered the statement they just implicitly told me that they are the only distributor and if I don't like the price I can go fuck off. I tried to except it and to understand the situation economically, so I asked to see the item and have it tested. It turned out they haven't put Oxygen 8 in their import list so it is not exist yet in Indonesia! What a service, great job Mila Music!!!

While the price was one thing, the guy of the store who talked with me was another. I was protested softly about the price and mentioned that I've seen other lower prices for Oxygen 8 then the guy snapped at me and arrogantly proclaimed that there are no other place that sell M-Audio other than Mila Music. I was pissed, but I knew it would be a waste to be pissed at someone like that, so I just walked out of the store. Promising myself I wouldn't go and buy from that arrogant, cocky store.

I think M-Audio should review their distributor in Indonesia and get another one that is more friendly, humble and most of all, not giving ripped off prices!

Rock on!!!

It's 4th of July and happy independence day to american people! God bless you!

aaaannd.......

My wife and I have just finished doing all the things for the jazz workshop I told in the earlier post. Thank God everything went well and despite of one or two quite fatal mistakes we made, our persistence in keeping everything on track has given us respect from the people we worked with, except our partner who seemingly each time drifting away from a respectful manner. Time to straight up everything, I promise that!

It's been a while since I had a smile on my face when talking about music. My band has been an excruciating pain in the ass, my partner (who is a music prof) is confusing me about how well know he is in the music scene and what or who is best in music.
The other well educated people that I knew also getting me the headache since every time they talk, no matter what the subject was, always leading back to another questions. I'm sick and tired of it! What I need is music and other things just as they are.

But now I'm in a good spirit because my long time dream will soon come to life. It's all coming together and it will start with a BANG!

What'll happen to my old band? Nobody knows...if my band mates are willing to work and expand their musicality then I could keep it alive, but if not...hey I got my own life and music dreams, just gotta cut the rope and move on.

I got a message for all the MDs of radios around Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung...how really nice people you all!