no update? dunno what to update leh

- had barista training! learnt to make cuppa, latte, flatwhite, macchiato, mocha, etc.
- performed liszt funerailles at piano class, learnt a fair bit from the master teacher, israeli jonathan aner
- …

aiya. life is like that lor.. when something interesting happens i’ll let you guys know

and so in the same spirit as khai did, i went back a year on my blog and had a look at how i was a year before (via small calender on left)..

i guess i changed considerably since.. i wrote in perfect sentences, albeit with smiley faces and such.. haha. i’m probably less self conscious now; i doubt it was severe – but i suppose i learnt a bit about music and life in general.

back then, i wrote and played so others could see me for the musician i wanted to be. unconsciously dropping names with links of musicians so people might think that i was in an elite circle or something. but i think the more seasoned musicians/songwriters will agree with me that that really isn’t the point of what we do.

i learnt a harsh lesson this year, without question, that a huge portion of what it takes to be a great musician is humility.

sure we do what we do, take nice photos of ourselves for our promos, play a look-at-me-i-am-your-new-guitar-god brand of guitar solos, tell others about what crazy-shit-ass repertoire we just attempted and so on and so forth -

but i think the real test of a great musician, i found, is that if we take away the support, admiration and adoration of those around us, whether will we still be as confident and secure as we are today.

it’s been a great blessing for me to get to know and develop a huge respect for some really great musicians i’ve heard and played with, not really because of their technical skill, but because of their brand of character and humility in the midst of all the virtuostic nonsense audiences love to see. (you should know who you guys are. thank you for your inspiration.)

and from them i learnt that it’s always good to consider why we play at all. do we play because we love this way of expressing who we are; or do we merely crave the admiration and adoration of others? cause if it’s the latter, then i’m afraid our fulfilment in music could be very short lived.

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and similarly, do we merely live to elevate ourselves so others could see how superficial awesome big-shots we are or want to be; or do we live to develop enough character that demands more than simple wow-so-hot admiration, a character that demands a deeper and more lasting respect?

i’m not cocky enough to assume that i’m anywhere closer than any of you to these standards, but i guess all that’s asked of us is to try our best..

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p.s. it’s interesting to think ahead, i wonder how would i have viewed the way i played my music and lived my life now.. i guess we never stop learning. =)

p.p.s. on a less serious note, i made it to my FIRST college breakfast IN THREE YEARS! hahaha wouldnt’ve gone if i didn’t have to wake up for soccer training at 7.

food in the morning feels so wrong! hahaha!

just came back from watching ‘the lake house’ with kat and a bunch of ocfers. amazing story. probably the best (romance) film i’ve watched so far

yes so the physics is baffling. pah.. but notice how none of the characters in the movie even bothered.. heheh! seriously, that’s not what the movie’s about.. if people were to watch the movie and complain about the physics, i think they’re missing the point – it’s a bit like watching a magic trick and cracking your head apart trying to figure out how the magician did it..  how frustrating. notice how kids enjoy it most? because they don’t care about the logic, the point of the whole thing was to be fascinated! =p

p.s. btw kat’s been complaining that my metaphors aren’t playing themselves out well lately.. haha.. cause they’re either too bizzarre or too ridiculous (like when i tried to explain how putting padding to soundproof walls is like mistaking an umbrella for a diaper.. haha seriously =p i got that metaphor from a soundproofing vs sound-treatment article in a respectable sound magazine a few months back)

p.p.s. do not attempt to stick padding on your walls (anything from rm2 egg cartons to rm200 professional foam thingies) to try to soundproof your walls [edit: when practicing music].. might as well buy a van, drive to bukit kiara and practice [edit: your music] in it.

[edit: sigh.. lol.. sigh.. thanks bryan..]

back to the point..

the movie’s absolutely breathtaking. makes me wonder sometimes whether i’ll wake up in the morning 20 years later, and still know in my heart that i’m waking up next to the perfect girl for me.

=)

if you’re a romance film buff (i’m not saying i am.. too much pride at stake), watch it!

why hasn’t he updated in a while? is it cause he wants to be an ass and continue gloating about that silly dave weckl concert he went to?

perhaps..

i’d love to see the look on your face right now.. hahaha.. *dance* dave weckl! was! fantastic! will post more thoughts in the morning =)

edit: just to clear any confusion – i watched the concert!

JL: oh u went for his concert?
yeemeng: ….
JL: u see him perform live??????
yeemeng: that’s why the video’s on my blog lah!!!!!!
JL: OHH!!
yeemeng: -_-”

sigh.

what defines you, and makes you who you are? what do you live for?

difficult question, yes. and perhaps after you’ve managed (or not) to answer it for yourself, click here? i’m sure everything around you won’t look the same.

and perhaps the next day or so, the cycle of indifference resumes.

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we were watching this video in ocf yesterday filmed by the singapore youth for christ, who interviewed a bunch of students and passerbys in singapore, about man, god, and the purpose of life.

the one that struck me most was this comment from what looks to be a less-educated senior citizen in the school canteen, in chinese.

“better don’t think so much.. think more, get more frustrated”

i couldn’t brush it off as a naive or indifferent comment, because his face only betrayed a sincere and genuine reaction towards what life has thrown him. this is his response, a product of decades of experience, decades of accumulated thought and wisdom –

decades without knowing what defines him, without knowing what makes him who he is, without knowing what he’s living for.

(will you choose to let this be the outcome of your life?)

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i’m so blessed to have been taught, made to think and know for sure, what defines me, what makes me who i am, and who i live for. my prayer is that in time, in whichever religion or philosophy you place yourselves in, you will all be able to say that i know what defines me, and i know my life’s purpose.

cause if you don’t, maybe it’s about time you reexamined every precious minute and second you just let slip by.

new recording! new recording! aah! excited! yes! listen!

www.myspace.com/zacharytay

very dark yes? yes.. my writing style is changing hmm. so what is the song about? what inspired such dark angsty lyrics? i have no idea.. haha!

i guess it’s a collage of different experiences in my life.. but the lyrics are mostly inspired by the music for this one.

so don’t worry i’m fine hehe =p not going through any crisis – but hope you enjoy the song

p.s. it’s 1°C outside at the moment. (?!?!!)

hey guys! it’s been a few days back here in melb, adjusting back to life here again, with lots and lots of walking.. haha!

anyways just wanna take this opportunity to thank you guys back home =) it’s been awesome spending the past 25 days with you guys (you know who you are), from copa iba practices, suppers, watching the world cup at mamak and benj’s place, 2 soccer outings, lunches at lotus, music practices and so on..

it’s been a priviledge to be among such great friends. thank you, see you in december (for markus, next june hehe)!

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p.s. it amazes me how my personality and behavior changes because of the company i’m with. =) thank you for bringing out the best in me.. i love you.

just came back from the international christian creative arts conference in genting.. this had to be the most awesome performance i’ve ever been part of! to every single impressions musician and singer, thank you, you guys are amazing! that experience was absolutely phenomenal! looking forward to many more. =)

and thanks markus and michael for showing up to support us! benj and i were wondering whether any other real friends would show up, hahaha! =p just kidding

and the dancers were really good! i’m considering classes.. but my coordination is quite awful.. haha! quite odd considering i’m studying music, but totally useless when it comes to dancing.

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2 more days =)

haven’t been able to sleep for the past few nights..

the more i live, the more i am convinced of the frailty of human relationships. i guess when they say you have to choose your friends wisely, it’s not really meant to just protect us from ill-tempered, manipulative, selfish, greedy, inconsiderate, proud, self-absorbed and indifferent people.

it’s probably meant to protect us from people.

because without god, the concept of love and friendship is absolutely flawed on it’s own. it seems as if to be human is to be absolutely incapable of love.

and so sitting here typing and considering the above premise, i ask myself: how many people do i know, though imperfect as they may be, are grounded in god’s word enough to still be able to love genuinely? as a selfless, sacrificial act?

perhaps only one. (i must be the most fortunate man in the world.. thank you baby.)

are we genuine christians? or are we genuine hypocrites? i think we can only be one or the other..

sigh. okay. done ranting. maybe i can manage some sleep now.