then we saw the stars again

…or should it be ‘looking back’?
Either way, the end of the year is around the corner, and before you know it, we’ll be in 2010. What happened? Where did 2009 go?

Before I get all introspective and sentimental, let’s not forget that there is still a whole month left, and I’m sure there will be time for the usual end-of-the-year roundups a a later point. Who knows, maybe I still haven’t heard my favourite record of 2009 (though judging how Geneva by Russian Circles has been on constant replay lately, I seriously doubt that…), but I’m pretty sure about its high and low points already.

Anyway, the one thing that kept me busy this year was the release of the album, and its recording/mixing/mastering. This has been one of the highlights of my musical year, not so much for the music in itself, but for the journey the music took us. And I’m glad it’s an ‘us’ and not a ‘me’ here. The friendships I’ve made through amberhaze have been some of the most meaningful encounters I’ve had in the past 6 years in Singapore, and they couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. Working with Nick was great, and I’m proud of what came out.
Getting it released with KittyWu also seemed like a logical choice: these are 2 real music lovers and the energy they put into local sounds is equal to how good these sounds are. If you need proof check out Lunar Node. I don’t think I saw a band having more fun at Baybeats2009. They were the defining moment of the festival, bar none. The fact that they also lack any pretense or self-aggrandizing persona only makes them cooler.

As for the album launch…maybe it was more low key than I would have expected. But I don’t want to sound bittersweet about it: the sound was good, the visuals provided by John Ling were superb, and I had fun playing a full 80 minute set. It just looks like finding an audience may be harder than it seems over here, when you don’t play the typical pop or the typical post-emo-punk-core. Not taking anything away from these bands, but isn’t there anything else that people would like to hear? Sometimes playing in Singapore only can feel very small…
unless you’re playing the right thing, with the right branding. But that was never why I chose to make music in the first place, so…

So don’t get me wrong: I am really thankful for the people who came down, chatted at the end of the gig, and chose to hang out in an out-of-downtown club over more popular options on the same night. You make the journey worth taking, and to all the listeners and friends, I owe you this much: and this is why I’m not looking back, but ahead.