Welcome to Microbandits

28 June 2008

Empat belas

As you may know, i'm part of a local hip-hop group called Micbandits and last year we released an album called Rhythm n' Poetry (RnP), a 17 track album all independently produced by us. We sold copies, gave some away, some even got stolen and disappeared, but the important thing was to get it out there. It met a lot of responses from all around the world and we took and appreciated all criticism.

Right now we're working on another album and although it sounds simple enough, it isn't. It's a project; and like all good projects, there's always a great deal of planning, research and designing involved. We set realistic goals and we hope to achieve them, but in order for that to happen we need all the support we can get. Understand that the reason we spend more of our time away from home isn't because we want to, but its because we have to.

The albums we make are like the novels authors produce and its quality only depends on the amount of effort they put into it. We're trying to find people who can help us out so that we can reach the level of quality we've always longed for. But alas, some won't even blink an eye towards you because you don't have the means and more importantly the money to capture their attention. And time and time again, we find ourselves making music on our own wondering if anyone really gives a damn.

Why go through all this trouble?

I dunno, you tell me.

16 June 2008

Tigabelas

Khabar Gembira: A History of the Catholic Church in East Malaysia and Brunei, 1880-1976

John Rooney (Burns & Oates Ltd, 1981)

If there was ever one unified voice around the Malay world, it would be that of the Catholic church. Unlike other political and religious movements around Borneo throughout they years, these folks are calm, apologetic, unagressive and generally very altruistic to the communities they work with. The Christian population around Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei continue to bloom and are treated with utmost respect thanks to the missionary movements led by preachers and pastors during the past centuries.

This book takes a look at the achievements made, and difficulties faced, by the London-based Mill Hill Missionaries in particular who have certainly had a significant impact towards government and society around North Borneo. They are a minority against a predominantly Malay Muslim arena intending to spread 'the Good News' to the peoples of the country. Mission schools, churches and seminaries are some of the instiutions they have successfully placed in different areas to harbor the growing Christian population.

The author is a reverend who worked in Sabah as a missionary. Khabar Gembira highlights the importance of the Catholic movement which continues to flourish today that adopts a uniquely 'North Bornean' identity as it has integrated itself within the local societies. In Brunei for example, Christianity enjoys a peaceful coexistence*, one that by all means isn't quiet and private at all and becomes easily accessible for Christian individuals and families (all 9.7% of them).

Now, I wonder where I can pick up a copy of a Malay bible in Brunei.

*Not all the time however as some become subject to investigation by the authorities.

03 June 2008

Duabelas

Its that time of the month again. Got that bandit money I set aside for bandit activities. So as you all now, Micbandits will be working on our next project this summer, the 'Of Mics & Men' album. Which by the by, will be CRAZY. I'm not even kidding folks. Its like, wow, i was just listening to some of the samplers Khaos gave, and it was hell fire. And you know the 2 rhymers of the team gonna be slapping those sick verses kan kan. So its sick poetry, over sick rhythms. Music videos, gigs, recording sessions, nasi katok. Damn i'll stop now.

I'll be back in Brunei town soon enough. In the meantime, I went to Derby earlier today to purchase this mic from a Leni Ward. I've been looking at this microphone for a while, the SE Electronics Z5600a mk II. Beautiful mic. Never thought i'd end up buying it cuz its out of a kampongs boy budget, but you know how Zed do, he says something and it happens. Got it at a good deal lagi scouting through internet ads. So i arrive in Derby, got off the bus, and looked around for this Leni character. I imagine him to look like a rock star with long hair who collects mics for a living.

This is Derby. I've never been to it, it was about half an hour by bus from my place. The place is cool, reminds me of a nicer Leicster. Except it was raining the whole day so I didn't do much exploring. So I message si Leni, and we met up in the town. And sure enough its this tall gothic man, long hair, black waist coat and brought a chick with dreadlocks along. Relieved it wasn't a set up, i greeted them. Turns out Leni was the girl with dreadlocks lol.

This is it right here folks. New collection to that bandit locker, a Z5600a II, with its own flight case. Tube power unit supplied, along with shock mount and xlr cable. The mic comes in its own box. The mic itself, well, its damn sweet. Sweet like chocolate. Sweet like chocolate rainbows.

Heavy piece of mic. Love it. Everything i imagine a high end studio mic should be like. Tough, solid and in control. Just like Steven Segal. So on that note, i named the mic Steven. Nah just playing. Haven't got round to recording tracks, but should be doing so soon hopefully. Busy with other stuffs at the moment.

and i'm out.

01 June 2008

Sebelas

Green Days in Brunei

Sterling, Bruce (1989) Crystal Express. Ace Books.

Here we have a short story by sci-fi author Bruce Sterling which appeared in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine some two decades ago (1985). It depicts Brunei in an eerie future (my guess is 2020 although it doesn't specify) where the Green party comes into power and decides to revert the country back to the good old days, rejecting the modern technological advancements and futurisitc hoo-hahs of the time. There are no longer any hover cars, no worker robots and the video telephone booths are out of operation, and so the people have adapted a much simpler life of fishery, long houses and cinema and not suprisingly, are very content. All because of an unexpected oil crash that created a crisis throughout Borneo 20 years earlier. It wasn't a dreadful place though from the description, more like a surreal ecological haven for anybody who's had enough of the outside world.

The story is about a Chinese-Canadian engineer worker in Brunei named Turner who monitors the country's activity. It all changes when he meets and falls in love with Seria, the beautiful daughter of the current monarch. There was no way they could ever be together and so convinces her to run away from the comatosed paradise that was her country. Together with Seria's Englishman rock star uncle Brooke, the three embark in a series of crazy antics to try and escape the close bordered land safely. As you may have guessed, the story is not specifically about Brunei at all, but instead is filled with ethical questions looking at how romanticized western views can often clash with orientalist and traditionalist thinking especially in this modern era. On a more serious note, it also highlights the dangers of ideology filled governments that although tries its best to keep a population content is bound to be witness to its own downfall.

Interesting story for anyone interested in what ifs but I doubt you can find a copy of Crystal Express in Brunei, not because this particular short story has any offensive or controversial elements in it, which even if it does are purely light hearted, but the book itself is quite old. I amazoned my copy. 'Green Days in Brunei' is just one of the dozens of Sterling's short stories included in the Crystal Express collection. Others include 'Swarm', which is a satirical accout of human confrontation with Aliens, 'Flowers of Edo', set in Japan about an author who writes Geisha love stories, and 'The Beautiful and the Sublime', an anonymous letter written on May 30, 2070.

28 May 2008

Sepuluh

MUSIC

I'd like to think music plays a big part in my life. I enjoy listening to music as much as i enjoy making it. One thing i'm not too keen on however is investing in it, i.e. putting time, effort and money hoping in the future it'll pay off. I know Khaos feels this way too, just like Kro and Cargo. At this point, we should be asking ourselves what is it we actually want to do? How serious do we hope to take music? As much as i'd like to say i wanna get rich and famous off making music, i don't think thats what motivates me. At all. For one, i don't think i'll ever be cut out for a career in entertainment because so far i look like this:

And secondly, your music, just like any other art, should be exactly that; yours. Let no person take it away from you. The way i see it, no matter where i end up in this world, both in the figurative and geographic sense, i'll still be writing poems, keying melodies, thinking of choruses, rocking a stage and everything else that comes with the music package. If ever i do stop then something really significant must've happen, and in all honesty, i'd like to see that day. But in the mean time, i give you my music, my escape:

Equipment (L-R): Akai Mpk49 Midi Controller, keyboard stand, Rode Nt1a condenser microphone, Last Supper poster, Acer Aspire Laptop, FL Studio 7, Adobe Audition 3.0, Emu 0404 USB audio interface, desk, chair, Stanton C314 cd turntable, Avian water, Boston baseball cap, Numark DM950 mixer. (Not in picture) Edirol Ma15D speakers, Sennheiser HD212 Pro.

Fezz came over yesterday, we did 4 songs which are up on www.microbandits.com, check em out!

09 May 2008

Sembilan

Iqra' holmes

Someone once told me I'm quick to reject certain beliefs as soon as I come across newer and more interesting ideas to replace them. It is seen as a sign of lack of faith, to use a more religious rhetoric, to irrevocably question concepts such as Allah, the Rasuls, the Kitabs, Malaikats, Shaitans, the Ulul-Azmi's, the Jinns, Dunia, Akhirat, the virgin birth of Jesus peace on him, the Ruh, Dusa, Pahala etc. etc. etc. etc.

Or worse to attempt to answer them with equally suggestible concepts such as Logic, Time, Arithmetic, Biology, Physics, Metaphysics, Quantum Physics, Chemical Reactions, the Big Bang Theory, Theory of Evolution etc. etc.

This is the perennial Religion vs. Science debate. In most western countries, there is opporunity for anyone to speak about or against such topics, or any other issues and ideas no matter how controversial. By time, the idea is discussed so much that reconciliation is made and it no longer becomes taboo and the general public is free to either accept it or reject it. This is the norm we find in liberal democracies which is absent in the more conservative states. Nevertheless all the information and realities we have come to understand thus far is there and becomes readily accessible to everyone anywhere in the world. They are in the form of studies and corriculum, books and publications, research papers, breakthrough research, discussion, dialogue and interviews, and so much more. It is now, and perhaps always have been, a matter of searching for it.

I hope you find what you're looking for. As I know you hope I find mines.

04 April 2008

Lapan

Walking back home after Friday Prayers, we realised there was a jet fighter parked in the university campus with a Royal Air Force stall next to it.

This is a Eurofighter Typhoon, according to the attendant one of the best fighters Britain has to offer. The jet itself is certainly impressive and being able to sit inside one was a real treat. It is a replica in case you guys are wondering. This replica came equipped with a computer game where you shoot at enemy targets. They could've installed Space Invaders and still get the point across. A genuine Typhoon costs about £75 million and most European countries have them in possession. No ASEAN country's bought one yet, even though Singapore almost did. Is there anything they won't buy?!