soundscape records is going to launch NAO band debut album on 30-September-2006. bravo! i got an email from mark, the owner of soundscape records announcing this launch. mark is the MOST aggresive promoter of independent chinese music of malaysia that i have come to know. the other guy(promoter) that we know is Wai Kong (wei kuang) of penang (a long hair guy). mark used to play drums for a local chinese band called KRMA. he's an eloquent writer as well. his message:
“Soundscape Records will be releasing Nao's debut album on 30 September. To increase the noise level, we'll be kicking off a series of promo tour, check the attached flyer for details, hope to see you.”
NAO is not your typical swee-pop flavoured canto rock star. they are 4 extra-solid-hormone-thought provoking dudes who write current/controversial issues with in your face slamming rock/alternative music. they are nice guys if given the opportunity to rock the stage, they'll go savage with rip roaring music, literally. some people find them too hot to handle or too intimidating perhaps. but i do find some of their music arrangement adventurous and not conventional — towards alternative pop/rock area. they just sound different. when they perform, they ARE in TOTAL focus.
show your support to local indie chinese music.
we, uglymen used to play on the same stage with them. their enigmatic singer, ah tat is one true braveheart guy. i know him personally and he's a nice down to earth guy. when they perform, they are ENERGETIC, with each song that they play, it comes with little message in chinese. they will stop and share this little message to the crowd and it typical sound like:
@#$%^&* @#$%^&* POLICE @#$%^&* @#$%^&*
@#$%^&* GOVERNMENT @#$%^&* @#$%^&* PTUI! @#$%^&*
@#$%^&* BRIBE @#$%^&* MONEY @#$%^&* CHINESE SCHOOL @#$%^&*@#$%^&*@#$%^&*
@#$%^&* DATUK @#$%^&* STUPID @#$%^&* HELL @#$%^&*@#$%^&* USELESS @#$%^&*
(writing the above keeps reminding me of how much i miss michael's posts… kekeke)
man… i was damn scared until nearly peed in my pants when they recite their speech on stage. i always looked back to the entrance in case if any authority comes and grab me into a waiting van… kekeke… takut…
last but not least, independent music lives with support from people like us. they don't have much grant/sponsors or BIG budget producers behind their back/dreams. they do things on their own and write music from their heart. big recording companies sign bands/artists because they MAKE money for them. if you are NOT good looking and perform funny kinda music, they probably wont sign you up.
independent musicians/rockers work during the day (just like uglymen… but ah hooi is feed by his countless mistresses so he is lucky @#$%^&*) and feed their music obsession at night (grouping together with their band members, practise their craft and write music). they burn through their pockets to record and produce albums by themselves, renting recording studios that charged lots of $RM$. you need to write lyric, compose music and arrange your musical piece and PRACTISE it 500 times before you record it. then you hire a recording studio/engineer to record your music many times. you need a lot of hours to record, edit your music, mix your songs, mastering it and lastly produce to CD. but you damn f***kers still want to borrow and burn. one thing that PISSES me off BADLY is when we have a band performance and we invite you guys to come and see/listen us play, you ask us for FREE tickets! @#$%^&* @#$%^&* @#$%^&*… you want free UGLYMEN CD or not? 
any band journey whose lifespan is long enough to make themselves a CD album to cherish usually spends about 2 to 3 years AT LEAST to prepare themselves to perform on stage AND to ULTIMATELY record an album.
p/s: i never thought that taking photos with jamban look so AWESOMELY COOL!!! show your support guys, it's NAO or NEVER!!!
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