asian flavoured. yum.
And so i was assigned the role of the publicity manager of the organizing committee for the Asian Beat band competition 2005/06. Various regions in Asia like China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand participated. This was the 2nd time Singapore was hosting the Grand Finals in the history of Asian Beat originally reputed for attracting hordes of mat-rock bands locally, but let's see what the regional grand finals will bring.
On the day the Asian bands arrived in Singapore, i was heartened to see the different bands politely nodding at one another and trying to establish rapport among musicians instead of treating one another as hostile competitors. Significantly, this event provides the bands a rare opportunity to experience the cultural exchanges from all round Asia. I was glad to see that they were embracing the unique diversity between them.
On the show day, i was highly charged with excitement. Really enjoyed the opportunity to work with MTV VJs who were emcees for the Asian Beat. In addition, my ears were opened to new fusions of music – how traditional Japanese festival music can be combined with rock, how a saxophone and Stomp-inspired instruments can be improvised into rock music, and how a deejay can jam together with a percussionist with perfection.
At the post-event farewell party held just after the announcement of the winners, I saw with my own eyes a scene that is hard to forget. Band members from Indonesia and Japan were taking a group photograph together and simultaneously letting out a long shout of victory like 'RAARRRRRR!!!". After that, the guitarist from the Indonesian band and the vocalist from the Japanese guest band gave each other a ‘rib-crushing’ hug and a few ‘thumping’ pats on the back, and the genuine elated smiles on their faces melted my heart as I watched from a couple of metres away. The fact that both bands did not speak each other’s native language and that neither knew English, did not dismiss the chance for their strong bonding to happen despite their seemingly opposing cultural barriers.
Between musicians, friendships can be forged anywhere in the world, in just a matter of 3 days. Word!
Band from Hong Kong
Band from Indonesia
Band from Japan
Denise Keller and I
Band from Singapore
Victor Smolski and I
Champion band from Taiwan
On the day the Asian bands arrived in Singapore, i was heartened to see the different bands politely nodding at one another and trying to establish rapport among musicians instead of treating one another as hostile competitors. Significantly, this event provides the bands a rare opportunity to experience the cultural exchanges from all round Asia. I was glad to see that they were embracing the unique diversity between them.
On the show day, i was highly charged with excitement. Really enjoyed the opportunity to work with MTV VJs who were emcees for the Asian Beat. In addition, my ears were opened to new fusions of music – how traditional Japanese festival music can be combined with rock, how a saxophone and Stomp-inspired instruments can be improvised into rock music, and how a deejay can jam together with a percussionist with perfection.
At the post-event farewell party held just after the announcement of the winners, I saw with my own eyes a scene that is hard to forget. Band members from Indonesia and Japan were taking a group photograph together and simultaneously letting out a long shout of victory like 'RAARRRRRR!!!". After that, the guitarist from the Indonesian band and the vocalist from the Japanese guest band gave each other a ‘rib-crushing’ hug and a few ‘thumping’ pats on the back, and the genuine elated smiles on their faces melted my heart as I watched from a couple of metres away. The fact that both bands did not speak each other’s native language and that neither knew English, did not dismiss the chance for their strong bonding to happen despite their seemingly opposing cultural barriers.
Between musicians, friendships can be forged anywhere in the world, in just a matter of 3 days. Word!
Band from Hong Kong
Band from Indonesia
Band from Japan
Denise Keller and I
Band from Singapore
Victor Smolski and I
Champion band from Taiwan
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