Christmas@Esplanade Pics

The prim and proper publicity shot....if you discount Kelvin's slightly deranged grin. haha! We were all running on adrenaline by then.



The 'crazy' shot!


The rehearsal shots. It was a beautiful collaboration...amazing how we managed to pull it off with 8 people involved! Like Andrea said, it was quite a challenge, but definiely rewarding and enjoyable.:)


Terry, our happening drummer. Such a nice guy too


Reggie, our very funky bassist, and Andrea's hubby.


myself...rehearsing the Corrinne May number


Lovely, talented Andrea on keyboards. Kudos to Andrea for being our hardworking coordinator for this gig!!!:) We appreciate ya!


Eugene the guitarist. He's the most cheerful, gd-natured guy I've met!


Kelvin, our Disclosure vocalist, mucking ard


Erm, Kelvin...STILL mucking ard. haha!



A grp of shot of ALL the vocalists- Dehui, myself, Kelvin, and Shu-Lyn from 5@play.

SHOUT

"Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on"
- 'Shout' by Tears for Fears

Useless Nuggets of Information

1) I hate my room now...it's in a huge mountain of a mess. There are Christmas cards, scores, MDs, CDs, chocs, waterbottles scattered all over. And I have weeks of student grading to catch-up on. n basically, I can't be bothered to tidy it up.

2) I desperately feel like playing pool....and "Hungry Hungry Hippo".HA! Mindless violence.

3) I wish I had more money to buy everyone Christmas pressies!:)

4) I do not like pple who sugarcoat/make empty talk. If you say you love me, you will do what you promise. :p

5) I realize that I love receiving and giving hugs. haha! Gives me the WAFFs!! (Warm And Fuzzy Feelings)

Yes....in case you're wondering, Moomoo is going slightly loony tonite.

Dreams

God remembers our dreams...even when we forget them.
That's what I learnt over the Christmas wkend, during my Esplanade gig. I remember telling God many years ago, that I just wanted to sing for Him...to touch people in song.

Well,I had the amazing privilege of singing the closing song "Psalm 139" for "Phoebe's Gift"...an evangelical Christmas musical, put up by FCBC in 2002. That was around the time when I made that prayer...and realized that God could use me to touch lives with my voice.

The next year,I joined Believer Music...and that made my calling more concrete. It's been about 2 1/2 years at BMI already...and it's been a real blessing, knowing that God has used me as a vessel, to help others to worship better in song. Friendships with students have blossomed as a result too!:)

However, along the way....due to my constant insecurity over my voice, class overload, voice fatigue and bouts of sickness....i really started to doubt my ability to sing. And well, I started to shy away from singing (whenever possible), and I kinda lost the joy in singing!

Then, came along the Christmas@Esplanade gig. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting much from it...cos it was a pretty last min decision to go ahead with it, and I didn't expect my band Disclosure to be featured much (thought we wld just come in for like 2 songs). Also, I was so tired from work to fully enjoy it.

Anyway, after all the rehearsals, I started to re-discover the joys of the gigging experience. haha! Some of it came from the therapeutic experience of making music, expressing myself thru the music....but most fulfilling of all, was the experience of making new friends, and strengthening bonds with old friends. :)

For those of you who made it down to the Esplanade last nite, you would know that I sang Corrinne May's "If you didn't love me". I'm so glad I chose that song, because it's really meaningful and appropriate for Christmas. It's reflective and it makes you question what's really impt in life, what truly matters...and that allowed me to share a bit about God's love during our sets! Wow, cool rite? Being able to testify at a secular venue!

The sets went pretty well...sure there were mistakes by all of us, but it doesn't really matter, it happens. :) God taught me that it's not so much about hitting all the right notes, but about communicating and making a heartfelt, expressive statement with our music. Afterall, that's why we all love music right? Cos it moves us. Still, it was not an easy lesson for a perfectionist like me to learn. I'm usually super harsh with myself if i 'zao sia'/ 'crack'.

So there I was, a jittery mess before the gig...trying to get past my insecurities, and let loose, to have an enjoyable experience.
I made an impt prayer before the gig, that God would somehow use me to touch hearts with that song...even if it was just ONE soul, that would be enough.

In the end, I had a real gd time singing my song, despite some minor mistakes. Andrea's sensitive playing, her ability to flow with me helped tremendously of course! :) Singing it during the last set was particularly memorable....felt really free to express myself, and I was so moved thinking about the love I've received from close ones ard me, and esp. from God...that I was getting tingles, and fighting bk tears at the end of the song.

In addition, what fueled that performance, was a season of broken-ness for me...that is always a reminder of my vulnerability, and my reliance on God. I remember when I sang for Phoebe's Gift in 2002, I was going through a heart-breaking period as well. I told Eunice tdy, that God likes to make me sing songs that will make pple cry during Christmas....but before I sing it, i have to be broken first, so that it comes from a real place. Haha!

Well, eventually the feedback from the band/ friends/ mbers of the audience was very positive and encouraging as well. I feel really blessed to know that they were touched by it! Joanne (Dehui's wife) said she got goosebumps...wah! Kelvin, my fellow Disclosure band mber and backing vocalist for that song, said he wanted to cry! He hardly cries lah...so that means the world to me!

On a whole, this gig has been very inspiring and healing....learning that 'hey, i can sing afterall'! Thank you Jesus...for Your encouragement, Your tender love,for surrounding me with so many 'angels in disguise' (that's you my friend!), and for using me, remembering my dream.

Lately, a few people have been reminding me to further that dream. Jenny and Eunice have told me that they can imagine me writing my own songs. (Eunice also pointed out that I was singing at the same venue at our beloved Corrinne May. haha! Really dream come true.)Well, let's pray that my song-writing skills improve then. haha! Cos right now, I don't think much of my songs.

I'll end with a shout-out to:
===============================
1)everyone who came down- appreciate you making your way down on Christmas day!! :) Your support means a lot. For those of you who cldn't make it, but sent encouraging smses...thank you as well!

2)the fantastic mbers of 5@play and Disclosure: I couldn't ask for a better time with you guys! :) It was sooooo much fun, so fulfilling, so heart-warming to share the stage with you all on CHRISTMAS DAY!! Divine appointment or what? I truly treasure our friendships....you all mean the world to me. Thanks for your constant encouragement and for being there for me!

George: We missed having you on stage with us for this gig, but you certainly made your presence felt with the hilarious "CRACK SOME JOKES LAH" shout-outs from the audience. I love you bro! haha!

I'm so looking fwd to our Disclosure reunion on 13th Jan at Timbre. hee!

Angels

"The diffrense from a person and an angel is easy.
Most of an angel is in the inside and most of a person is on the outside." (These are the words of a six-yr old Anna)
-from " Mister God, This is Anna" by Fynn

As the truth behind this statement sinks in, may it give you the *tingles*....and cause you to realize that all of us have a touch of divinity within us.

Flood my Soul.....

"Rumours of another World" by Philip Yancey:
============================================

"Simone Weil says, a poet encounters beauty by intensely fixing attention on something real. So does a lover. Can I do something similiar in the inner life, with God? I need not always search for new insights, new truths: 'The most commonplace truth when it floods the WHOLE SOUL, is like a revelation."

"The goal of contemplation is to see life as God sees it, a unity of two worlds and not a division. That encompasses both a lifetime of practice and rare, single flashes of revelation."

"If you can live through a moment, you can live through a day, and how you live a day is eventually how you live your life."

"Perfect are the good desires you have given me", prayed Blaise Pascal; "Be their End, as you have been their Beginning". (from "The Mind on Fire")

Christmas@Esplanade

Hi folks, as you know I'm involved in a gig this Christmas at the Esplanade. We are calling it "5@play meets Disclosure" as it's a combination of 2 bands (Andrea and Reggie's jazz/funk/R&B band, and my own acoustic pop-rock band). You can expect a mix of Christmas carols, and some pop-rock/ acoustic numbers.

I must say, it's such a blessing and privilege to have this platform on CHRISTMAS!! Praise God!

Do come down and see us if you can make it!! Would really love to spend Christmas with you guys. *winkz* (and let me know if u are coming ya?) Oh yeah,and if you saw my band at the last Esplanade gig, do know that Disclosure is gonna sound way better with the help of 5@play now. haha!

So here are the details:

5@play meets Disclosure:
==========================
25 Dec (Sun)
Outdoor Theatre (Free)
Time: 7.30-8.15pm
8.45-9.30pm
10 -10.30pm

Each set will probably be slightly different....so I'll update when I get more details.

Andrea: I SO enjoyed singing "If you didn't love me" with you playing so beautifully and sensitively on the keys!! Wow, I really FELT it...was trying to hold bk the tears. You're superb!! :)
It's such a waste my MD player went nuts and erased ALL my recordings from tonite's rehearsals. Arghh!!

Here are more pics from tdy's rehearsal. Aside from the horrid MD player going nuts incident....I must say I had such a fun time! The joking around, dancing, super 'kena' music moments etc. The music making was a much needed avenue of release for me...it was all gd, despite occasionally getting spit on by Mr Kelvin Yee. Tsk tsk! haha!

Happy Sydney Memories

A sunny moment in the garden behind our Blut Mts Cottage



The NSW library...or 'heaven' for me. It's one of those old, traditional libraries...Victorian Architecture, HIGH stacks of bks, with ladders!!! *sigh*

"If You Didn't Love Me"

A beautiful song, that reminds us that love is our fuel, our true driving force. The world would indeed be a dark and dismal place if we didn't have the love of our God, and our friends/family.

(for the audio of this song, go to http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music)

"If You Didn't Love Me"
=========================
Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and Carole King. Music by Corrinne May.

If every drop of water disappeared from the land
And every drop of ocean suddenly turned to sand
That would all be nothing
Compared to what I'd feel
If you didn't love me

What if I woke up and couldn't hear a sound
And all that I could see was darkness all around
That would still be nothing
Compared to what I'd feel
If you didn't love me

If I could have the world and all that money could buy
And I could travel far beyond the moon and the sky
If they gave me golden wings
well I still couldn't fly
Without you, nothing would matter

You and I walk beside each other day after day
But there's so much inside me, I never get to say
My life would be so empty
With nothing left to feel
If you didn't love me
If you didn't love me

"Cloud Nine"

That's the name of this lovely cupcake I think, from "Toast" cafe (2 branches: at Taka, and Raffles Place). Its a cream cheese and coconut cupcake. I simply adore the rainbow sprinkles!! Doesn't the precious sight of it make you smile with child-like delight? Thanks Funky Aaron for getting not one, but TWO of my favourites cupcakes to cheer me up!

Music on Multiply

Hey folks! I've posted some music on my Multiply site...including the acoustic Rick Price songs. Enjoy!!! :)

http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

A Million Miles...(Rick Price)

I've been listening to Rick Price's acoustic bonus cd, from his 2003 album "A Million Miles". Yeah, remember that fella? All of us went crazy over 'Heaven Knows' in secondary sch. So nostalgic sia? heh! Just bought that CD from Gramaphone tdy...cos i was searching for acoustic songs for the Esplanade Christmas gig.

It's an incredible acoustic CD...featuring the kind of music I love the most. Just beautiful, sensitive vocals and a guitar...if the song works in that stripped down format, it must be a great song! (and Sting agrees to that as well)

Some of the tracks on the CD are 'Fragile', 'Walk away Renee', 'Heaven knows' and 'If you were my baby' (probably featuring this in our gig). I know it seems a tad cheesy and dated...but these tracks are different from the studio versions. It's almost like hearing Rick Price live!! I let Bernice listen to it just now...and we both agreed that the songs sounded so PURE, and he delivers them with such heart-breaking sensitivity (better than the studio/ radio versions).

My heart went to pieces lah when I heard his songs.....was melting and about to burst into tears in front of my office PC. It's been a long time since a song did that for me! Now that's music....it should touch and move the soul. None of that crap we hear on the radio these days....(eg. Madonna's latest single. some thrashy dance track. *rolls eyes*)

I'll try and upload the Rick Price mp3s onto Multiply, so everyone can enjoy it.

Thank you for the music

I was quite wiped out by grading and lesson planning this week...falling sick AGAIN. haha! Like how many times can I fall sick rite? But anyway, the rehearsal I had tdy with my band "Disclosure" and Andrea's band "5@play" (for our Christmas day gig at Esplanade) was really refreshing and therapeutic! I had forgotten how amazing the gigging/ jamming experience cld be.

The company mattered a lot of course...it was great fun to be hanging out and laughing with my buddies. Andrea and her band are SUCH gifted musicians too, which really make them such a blast, a joy to work with!

Andrea: Our Disclosure songs "What's going on" and "Freedom'90" have turned out so amazingly cool in the hands of your band!!! :) I keep re-playing the MD recording.

Today, I also found out that there is a funky riff from a song called 'The Chicken' by Pee Wee Ellis (thanks George for the info). And I don't think it's from 'Chicken Little' soundtrack. The Disclosure vocalists were very surprised to find out there was really such a song! haha! Reggie, our bassist is using part of the bass line in the interlude for "What's going on".

Anyway, I just wanted to say to the Disclosure and 5@play guys....thank you for the brilliant music folks!! You rock!! :)

Here's a pic of Kelvin (Disclosure vocalist) and Terry (the drummer hidden behind) in our spacious studio (with our own couch, n personal ensuite toilet too) I know it doesn't exactly look like we're having a crazy time in tt pic...but I only had time for tt one photo. :p

Paying Attention

- Excerpts from "Rumours of another world" by Philip Yancey

"As a start, I aim to make daily life sacramental, which means literally to keep the sacred (sacra) in mind (mental). In other words, I seek a mindfulness- a mind full- of God's presence in the world. I have no desire to escape the natural world, the pattern of gnostics, desert monks, and fundamentalists who flee 'worldliness.' Nor do I deny the supernatural, the error of the reducers. Rather, I want to bring the two together, to reconnect life into the whole that God intended.

This world, all of it, either belongs to God, or it does not...

Blaise Pascal, who achieved renown both for his mathematics and his devotional writings, suggests an approach of seeing the natural world as a foreshadowing of the supernatural. 'He has done in the boundaries of nature what He would do in those of grace, in order that we might judge that He could make the invisible, since He made the visible excellently.' Beauty abounds in nature: a collection of seashells, the castoff excretions of lowly mollusks, is probably the most beautiful artwork in my home. And I need only read the Psalms to realize that God wants us to love and honour him through the creation, not apart from it.

Celtic spirituality speaks of 'thin places' where the natural and supernatural worlds come togeher at their narrowest, with only a thin veil between them. I have visited places where nature's works speak loudly of their Creator: bald eagles and beluga whales in Alaska, coral and tropical fish on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, exotic birds and butterflies at Angel Falls in Venezuela, seashells on the beaches of Kenya. One day i realized with a start that God 'sees' all the wonders of the earth at all times. Not only does God see them, God is their source, and each reveals something of their Creator.

"Beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will sense them," writes Annie Dillard. "The least we can do is try to be there."

A night out at "Timbre"

Yesterday was really 'family day' for me. haha! I spent the entire day with my Aunt and cousins from Sabah. (was so fun hanging out with them, cos they're such a tight-knit family, and they're all really humourous and fun-loving as well)

We 'attacked' (or rather THEY) Orchard rd in the afternoon, then we had a big family dinner with my parents/ grandparents/ sis etc. It was also their last nite in Singapore before returning to Sabah, so I thought I should spend more time with my cousins, who seldom drop by.

So after dinner, I brought my cousins Aeron and Candy (20 and 21 yrs old respectively) to Chijmes and Timbre. It felt really nice to bring them around to these places cos they would never get to discover them otherwise....by just tagging after their parents tt is. Furthermore, in Miri, M'sia...their university town, they hardly have any nice dining/ chill-out/music places to hang out at.

I was really glad that they enjoyed Chijmes and Timbre so much, and that we had a great time just hanging out together over drinks and superb music (without the adults too!! haha!). They were taking pics, to send mms-es to their frens bk home..and recording the music on their handphones. haha! Anyway, I really loved tt 'family bonding' session. :) We discovered that we all adored acoustic music too!

"Ngak and Eric" were playing last nite, and I must say they are a very gd acoustic outfit! The lead singer has a beautiful voice, very well controlled too. Plus they do pretty funky and creative arrangements. I am so going back again on Fri nites! Hopefully my 'Disclosure' band mbers can join me too.