Filed under: Experimental, Garage Sessions, Music, Videography | Tags: bloody rain, class act, experimental videos, Garage Sessions, Music, music videos, oxley road, singapore music, Videography
RAIN!?
You know the saying it doesn’t rain, but pours? Definitely true. Just the day before we were going to shoot, bad luck just seemed to keep on coming.
The photographer stepped on a nail, our PA’s mum had a mild stroke, the driver had stupidly gotten the van (which had no power steering) badly scratched and the band was getting pretty nervous.
Did I mention it rained? Everything was set up so nicely, the lights were in position, the instruments in place and the band was ready to go. Then the heavens opened up and cried. What did we do wrong? Who did we anger? Maybe Arnold, our sound guy, because his new keyboard which he bought for this was thoroughly soaked, thanks to a leaky canvas.
Oxley in the evening before the rain
Feng checking the monitors
Setting Up
Amazingly, everyone was in a good mood. Even Arnold, though at that point he had yet to discover what had happened to his keyboard. We waited out the rain, attempting to take abstract photos/videos of it and each other, playing UNO and then trying to throw the bloody producer into it.
Waiting out the rain
Then rain ceased and we were back in action, quickly moving everything into place and draining the water from the Arnold’s keyboard. If he was angry, he made a commendable effort of not showing it.
Arnold inspecting his keyboard
Arnold drying off his keyboard
Oddly enough, our debut band for GS, Class Act, seemed less comfortable in front of the non judgmental gaze of the camera lenses than in front of a live audience. Maybe the whole atmosphere was too cold and impersonal for them Or maybe they were thinking of their A levels chemistry practical test the following afternoon.
Lead singer Sharifa getting her make up done
(From Left) Glenn (keyboardist), Sharifa (vocalist) & Fengheng (guitarist)
Cue Michael and his intense 650W lights. On they came and brightly they shone through the darkness of the night as if the sun had never set. Soon enough they were warming up and we were rolling.
Michael and his bright ideas. Hur hur
Feng searching for his epiphany in a pink hued wall
- “Sing, baby!”
Edwin, the overseer in his control room (or lot)
Kim trying out Arnold's semi-water drained keyboard
Considering it was already quite late and we were playing near the estate of the esteemed Lee-der, it was surprisingly no Gurkhas stormed the set. At least none within view of one our crazy guys who climbed the roof. (In retrospect if they did, it would have made for some great footage. Provided we survived the shock encounter)
Best seat in the house
Perhaps it was Sharifa’s (the lead singer) awesome vocals – beautiful, and haunting. All the more so when she started playing her er-hu. The slow gentle strains of her bow formed a poignant melody which echoed throughout Oxley that was hard to forget more than ever when she started singing. Maybe that’s why the Old Man didn’t send his guys after us because he too had fallen in love with the voice that we had.
Sharifa and Fengheng talking about their chem prac
Lilthe, nimble fingers
Not easy commiting lyrics to memory
The face to the voice we all love
Getting into positions
The crew having a preview
Well, thanks Old Man for letting us carry on. It won’t be in vain, you sacrificing your sleep if you did, because we will bring Garage Sessions @ Oxley to all of you soon for your aural and visual pleasure. Akan datang.
Filed under: Photography, Travel, Wedding Videos | Tags: 35mm film, black and white photography, cheong fatt tze, malaysia, malaysia boleh, penang, Photography, the blue mansion, Travel, wedding
We had a real fun time in Penang. Pity the ride up there wasn’t all that enjoyable though, seated behind two overwhelmingly chatty old women. Still, it was worth the ride and if they’re reading this now, we would like to say a great big thank you to Yvette and Barney for inviting us over to cover your wedding.
- Barney And Yvette
Honestly, we’ve never attended anything like this before. No offence to Singaporean couples, but it’s always the same old thing – waking up early in the morning, the gate crashing, the sabo-ing and then the dinner. Come on, how many of the guests do you guys really know?
What happened to your dream weddings? Why must there always be a need to follow tradition or what our parents want? If I had my own wedding, it definitely wouldn’t be anything traditional. I haven’t really thought about what it’s going to be like exactly because I’m not even attached. But still, you get my drift.
I know I’m starting to sound like an ungrateful son, but it’s going to be my wedding after all, and it’s going to be a once in a life time event (hopefully) so why should I have one that is similar to everyone else?
Of course there should still be some must dos like the solemnization and the tea ceremony for the parents and in-laws (I will be marrying their daughter whom I haven’t met yet after all, so no point cheesing them off so early)
It should be unique, not uniquely Singaporean. And the people who grace it, I would rather they be the ones closest to me that I speak to often than the ones I see once in a long blue moon.
Now these two love birds, they had something different going on! It’s one thing to visit a UNESCO heritage site, and another to be staying and partying in one! 
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, or more popularly known as, The Blue Mansion
It was a real grand and charming place, rich in history and had one of the most comfortable beds I had ever slept on. Best sleep I had since I can’t remember when!
- Pastel coloured walls
Inner Courtyard
Barney And Yvette standing at the entrance of Cheong Fatt Tze on the banquet night
The bride herself was really something different too. A director by day and priestess of Isis by night! Okay la, not really night, but you get the idea.
Yvette waiting for the ceremonies to begin at the Hindu temple
In this day and age, everyone rides in shiny cars, what more for their big day. Yvette and Barney? No pimped out turbo charged rides for them, no sir. Cows and chariots, man. Respect.
On the way to the temple
It was long ride for a short distance
Guests awaiting the arrival of Barney
It was pretty darn hot and humid in Penang
And so begins the ceremony with the first beat of the drumView this Post
This was the most memorable, most surreal and the most fun wedding I had ever attended. Thanks a lot guys, wishing you two many good years ahead!
We’ll also be adding the wedding video soon, so you’ll be able to see the wedding in colour plus what else went on within the Blue Mansion. We would love to have shot more photos, but unfortunately that meant us not doing our job 
Would have also loved to have shot in colour, but someone’s DSLR died and we had to rely on old school 35mm TMAX 400.
