first time experiences: Big Day Out (+ Arcade Fire)

My excitement for January 17th woke me at 6.30am with hours to spare until I entered through the gates of Western Springs park and became engrossed with the music festival vibes. It's been two years since the last Auckland Big Day Out that struggled with slow ticket sales and financial issues. I reckon the short hiatus allowed renewal of public interest for BDO 2014 and in addition promoters organised a lineup aimed to bring back BDO with a splash. This was my first BDO as I haven't been old enough for the previous years and therefore I saw BDO as a "coming-of-age" moment. 

Mac Miller

The 1975

The warm stench of marijuana dominated the atmosphere while the heat gradually became unbearable as the day aged and the alcohol kicked into our system. Out of my friends, I was practically the only one with the urge to dance that I could not control, which did not benefit my over-heating either.  The first act we watched was the 1975, a UK "alternative/indie rock band" (according to wikipedia), play their songs infused with catchy rhythms and guitar riffs about Sex, Girls and Chocolate. Mac Miller was next on the same stage 45 minutes after the 1975 and a larger audience began to accumulate as the 1975 left the stage. I was willing to sneak my way to the front even if it meant losing my friends. I befriended the people around me instead and I noticed a lot of them were from Napier - does that say something about Mac's demographic? This really lovely girl called Jess (I think) even asked for my details so she could invite me to her St Patrick's day party on Remuera road after she had sprayed vodka in my mouth from a sunscreen bottle. Its strange how you could build a small community from the mutual love for the music and artist. Mac rushed onto the stage and opened with Gees as he amped the teenage crowd. His high energy set and pink hair caused him to perspire pink sweat but his coolness was still intact as he obviously did not "give a fuck". He performed a good mixture of his new songs and songs that shot him to fame. OK, Watching Movies and S.D.S were my highlights of his performance but OK would have been even more awesome if Tyler, the Creator somehow materialised on stage. However I did see Diplo and Lorde side of stage together during Mac's performance and I'll also add that Mac gave me some intense eye contact.  After this I spent the remaining time until Arcade Fire looking for my friends, which was stressful and a lot more difficult than I expected since reception was unproductive. This procedure repeated various times until I just gave up and enjoyed the music by myself (or with girls from my old school who I haven't talked to in a while). Although later in the night, I found a friend and I'm grateful that he received and replied to my texts because imagine what could have happened at the end of the night if I was still alone. 

Arcade Fire

I've never been so entranced by a live performance before I saw Arcade Fire.  They were - hands down - my favourite performance of the night and possibly of my life (so far).  I only knew three of their songs (Afterlife, Reflektor and The Suburbs) and I did not have any expectations of them before I went to the front. It was a lot easier to get to the front compared to other acts because the audience was older and much more understanding of my lack of height.  I was instantly captivated by Win Butler's haunting voice and the violin's high pitched drones as they began with Ready to Start. Their passion, integrity and creativity shone like beams of inspiration to me. They looked like they were truly enjoying themselves as they were immersed in the music like genuine musicians and performers. Knowing only three Arcade Fire songs did not disadvantage my experience at all and it was possibly better if I didn't know all their songs because it was quite magical listening to the songs for the first time in this environment. I realised I had under-estimated the Haitian rhythms as it encouraged uncontrollable hip movement with more power than Major Lazer's dance music (in my opinion). Here Comes The Night Time put me in disbelief as I didn't think a song could move effortlessly between rock and dance rhythms as well as the dark tones of a minor key and the cheerfulness of a major key.  The launching of the silver and white confetti added to the whimsical ambiance as I felt as if I were in a giant snow globe. I'm glad that I didn't know anyone around me and I was able to enjoy Arcade Fire alone because that allowed me to dance "like no one was watching" and reach the full potential of my experience. I judge a good concert by whether I feel inspired at the end and Arcade Fire definitely left an imprint on me. 

To help you imagine what I was experiencing, heres Arcade Fire's BDO setlist:

Ready To Start

Flashbulb Eyes

Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)

Joan Of Arc

The Suburbs

The Suburbs (Continued)

Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)

Afterlife

Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Haiti

Normal Person

Keep The Car Running

Reflektor

Rebellion (Lies)

Here Comes The Night Time

Wake Up

I had an insane amount of fun that I hope to re-live again next year at Big Day Out 2015 and I predict they will have even better acts. By the end of January 17th, an eventful and exciting day, I had realised that I had so much of a good time that I forgot to return my library books that were due on that day.

- freak out

Before I turn 17: the bucket list

This is practically the sequel to my previous post of my 2014 resolutions. 

I have one month left until I'm seventeen and I feel like I should take advantage of my adolescence and finally enjoy being sixteen. Theres a romantic aura about being 16, isn't there? At 16, you lose connection with your childhood while you prepare yourself for the realities of adulthood. I regret not making the most of being 16. I don't mean experimenting with sex and drugs - which is expected of a 16 year old. I mean I wish I started things like Freak and getting my learners licence a lot more earlier than in my last few months. I treasured my innocence but that meant I ran away from responsibility hence why I didn't bother to apply for jobs and I only recently started re-vamping my CV.

Heres my bucket list:

• Get a job
• Go to a haunted house (just because)
• Release the first issue of Freak
• Watch the stars from a car roof
• Go on a mini road trip with friends. (not too sure exactly where but it has to be somewhere magical)
• Read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (I've borrowed it from the library already but I want to finish The Beautiful and Damned by F.Scott Fitzgerald first)
• Walk the streets while everyone's asleep
• Participate in a protest 
• Learn how to make dumplings
• Get a tattoo

Sorry for the lack of excitement.

If I don't do all these things before I'm 17, I'll move them to my "Before I turn 18: the bucket list".

- freak out

(p.s. I will be crossing things off from the list as I've done them)

Resolutions for Y2K14

It's been 5 days into the new year of 2014 and its already lost the "new" feeling since I've come to terms with time, which passes ever so quickly. Before I finish reading Crime and Punishment, its already going to be 2015. Instead of resisting the current of time, I shall embrace 2014 and "go with the flow". I'm going to take initiative and make things happen for me this year rather than waiting around for opportunities to come to me. I'm going to make opportunities happen. I'm worried for what will happen in 2014 but yet I'm excited because I'm going to follow the "I don't give a fuck" mantra and start living. This year I want to meet interesting/odd/strange people and hope to befriend them since I'm sick of boring people who are obsessed with social status, wealth and "fitting in". I also have high hopes for Freak even though we have yet to assemble it together for its release on February 1st. 

After reflecting on 2013, I've come up with resolutions to improve myself and make 2014 the best yet. In 2014, I'm going to...

• Be adventorous and spontaneous 
• Stop caring about what people think
• Meet new people outside my social circle
• Start a journal 
• Get really fricken good at piano by practising at least 5 times a week
• Improve my Chinese (so I'll need to befriend more Chinese people)
• Be able to do sit-ups 
• Do a quarter (or half) marathon 
• Develop a Freak following (which means I hope Freak takes off and has dedicated readers)
• Use my initiative to reach my ambitions

These resolutions allow me to have some control over 2014 but I won't be able to control everything that happens for the next 12 months. Who knows what will happen? I may fall in love. I may move overseas (hopefully to New York). And maybe by the end of the year, I may also be enduring the start of a career in my preferred area of profession. I expect good things for this year but I know I need to restrict my optimism as its possible 2014 could be a disappointment.

- freak out

'Almost Famous' is not real life

Big Day Out held a media accreditation competition with the prize of interviewing the artists and in the description they said "like Almost-Famous style". With this film reference, I assumed they were allowing 16-year-olds to enter since the protagonist of 'Almost Famous' was sixteen and writing for Rolling Stone. The requirement was to write a music review of Arcade Fire's 'Afterlife' and at that time I knew nothing about Arcade Fire but I thought I may as well give it a go. I worked hard on this review with 'Afterlife' continuously on repeat.  I also delved into the background of Arcade Fire through wikipedia, youtube and other magazine articles. There were moments where I just thought, "do I even bother?", and I hadn't even finished the review by the day entries were closed. On the day I planned to submit it, I read the terms and conditions where I discovered I didn't meet the criteria. I wasn't 18 years old and I wasn't living in Australia. I was conflicted, "Do I or do I not send it in?", but I realised it would have been a waste if I didn't submit it. 

Heres my review:

Afterlife - Arcade Fire

The veterans of alternative music have effortlessly revived the Internet hype once again with their dance-rock fusion, Afterlife, clocking more than 1,000,000 youtube views in less than 2 weeks of its release. There’s been immense pressure for Arcade Fire to meet the high expectations of fans and critics after the release of the Grammy award winning album, The Suburbs. Patient fans shall be in for a pleasant surprise with the unpredictability of Afterlife and its genre-bending disco beats, Haitian inspired rhythms and resonating 80s synth. The song’s energetic pulse is complimented by the angelic backing vocals and Win Butler’s hushed voice that could easily be mistaken for Morrisey’s.  The ascending sequence of punchy French horns leads to the pinnacle before it suddenly dies down to the outro.  As Afterlife closes, Arcade Fire cleverly mimics a heartbeat as if someone is on life support, relating back to the song title. Butler’s melancholic singing comes into play, “its just an after life”, while he comes to terms with death over the minimal instrumentation – leaving a haunting impression on the listener. In 2013, we live in a culture obsessed with dance music for some unexplainable reason and Arcade Fire has showcased their ability to adapt to the current market in order to remain competitive and relevant. They have done this without selling their soul to the devil but with integrity as they remain loyal to themselves and their fans.

Almost a month later, I received an email informing me that I was finalist for the competition but I had to give them my details. 16 years old and living in Auckland. Obviously ruined my chances of winning but I'm proud that I was even a finalist since the entries would have been works of university students. They haven't announced the winners yet but I'm kind of hoping/wishing that they think my review is too good to dismiss and then they would give me the opportunity to be 'Almost Famous'.

- freak out

p.s. I know music journalism is dying. 

a rant for racists #1

I hate racism with a stark passion. I have so many rants about this issue with my friends and I could go on forever and ever. Racism should be assertively addressed but thats difficult when its your "friends" being racist. What are you suppose to do in those situations? Tell them that they're "fucking dumb bitches"? Probably not the most civilised response. Although they are "dumb bitches",  you can also call it ignorance.

People disgust me as they publish their racist remarks all over social media. I thought we would have moved on from the racial inequality but I guess not. People still think they're "above" other races as they continue to discriminate others for not conforming to their culture or society. Racism mainly derives from ignorance as some people just lack the knowledge and compassion. I don't think people understand the difficulties of being coloured in the western world. I've had many experiences of racial discrimination and I use to be rather passive in these situations but I've realised that theres no reason for me to not speak up. There was a moment when I was 8 years old and I was walking along the road to get to Mission Bay with my Asian friend who was 11 at the time and a car of teenagers sped past shouting "GO BACK TO YOUR OWN FUCKING COUNTRY!" Who the hell says that to a pair of little kids? I was born here, you dumb fucks. Sometimes the racism isn't intentionally directed at me but it still relates to me, my family and my coloured friends. When I see someone being racist towards a middle-aged Asian man, it makes me upset because that could easily be my dad.

I know change doesn't happen overnight and I know I have it a lot easier than the previous generations. I hope that my grandchildren will live in a world where racism nor race exists because "race is a myth, racism is real". People need to educate each other and educate themselves. Maybe everybody should read To Kill A Mockingbird or something.



- freak out

p.s. keep an eye out for  'a rant for racists #2'

Tamale + Kanye's uncoolness

This video is too awesome. Tamale is one of my favourite songs from 'Wolf' and the music video is honestly the coolest. The song's live performance has gone beyond my expectations as the the song's high energy infects everybody that is in its presence like a contagious disease. Ugh, seriously I should have been there like up on stage or something.  And wow, the moment when the "bass drops" - it gets HECTIC. Everybody looks they're having the best time ever apart from Kanye.

I never thought Kanye could ever look awkward or "uncool" until I watched this video. He looks so out of place like he doesn't know what to do while these younger guys go crazy. He's no longer a God in that moment, he's just a dad hanging around with crazy 20 year olds. It's so funny yet so hard to watch at the same time. You can't help but cringe and feel bad for him.

- freak out

M.I.A is back with power, power!

Rating: "wow, this is even better than the day I met Justin Bieber"

No matter how many lawsuits, album setbacks and disagreements with Interscope, M.I.A IS BACK AND KILLING IT. Matangi has proven that the three years of strenuous work and wait has been worth it.  This album's release date has been pushed back by almost 12 months and during this time M.I.A got so sick of Interscope delaying the release date that she threatened to leak the album herself  - talk about bad ass, am I right? I love M.I.A so much.  I don't care how Hirschberg portrayed her in "that" 2010 article. She's one of the very few artists that has a strong message  and makes us think about the issues in our world. As a coloured young woman, I can easily relate to her and therefore she is someone I really look up to in the music industry.

M.I.A delivers Matangi with her signature abrasive production while she displays ability to create variations in her vocal presence. The album opens with Karmageddon, a meditational track with whispering vocals and resonating drum beats - the calm before the storm. Throughout this album, M.I.A has cleverly repeated a motif of a wavering sitar and the hypnotising sound of "om" (a hindu mantra), which connects certain songs together such as Karmageddon and Warriors. However M.I.A's overuse of repetition has caused me some confusion as track 7, Exodus, and the closing track, Sexodus, are near-identical. Maybe she's trying to reinforce the message or maybe its suppose to be an encore sort of thing. Since M.I.A has signed to Interscope, I can see the influence of major record label on this album as there are more "hits" for radio compared to her previous albums.

My top picks of this album are Boom Skit, Come Walk With Me and Y.A.L.A. I enjoy these songs the most mainly because they are super catchy, which is shallow of me but at least all of M.I.A's songs have some sort of message anyways. 

Boom Skit is a short and sweet track that sits just above the one minute mark in length. Over a cheerful sample loop, M.I.A directs our attention to the occurrences of racism in our ignorant society.

Come Walk With Me is an obvious "radio hit" with its simple melodies and dance production as well as its lack of controversial content that M.I.A is known for. It is a "feel-good" song where you don't have to be a good singer to sing along with M.I.A. The song closes with a sample from M.I.A's 2007 song, Bamboo Banga, that insists "M.I.A is coming back with power, power!" and I agree - she is back with power and stronger than before. 

Y.A.L.A (you always live again - a spin on the popularised #YOLO) is another contender for radio play as it verges towards the dance genre instead of alternative. I'm going to be honest here; this song actually reminds me of K-pop and I am fascinated by K-pop at the moment so that probably contributes to my enjoyment of this song. M.I.A believes in Karma (a prominent theme throughout Matangi) and suggests that we should consider the consequences of our actions since "you always live again", instead of doing stupid things and "the same shit" because "you only live once".

I adore M.I.A and I reckon Matangi truly showcases her skills as a musician, messenger and artist.  I predict this album will help push music forward with its innovative production as I know it has inspired me and therefore will have inspired many others. 

-freak out