Seems to me that this month is the month of criticism with the latest one comes from work. It is as though this unknown force has a quota to fulfill before year end.
Anyway, I have decided to move the contents (and any future ones) that are more geared towards my life out of No Eye Candy website and into my own website. It is kind of comforting to hear from Jeremy that I shall leave these contents in our band website because they are part of what we are (and from Jason that we shall just re-organise the articles). But I guess I have got a lot more to write about my life that is probably beyond the band. Like some of the short stories I write for instance. (And the Singapore Motor Show field trip report has nothing to do with No Eye Candy, right? Unless I end up writing a song on that … hmmm) Looking at the writing habits, it seems to me that I am the only one that is contributing most on writing. Never intended to skew the site content that way.
Besides, it is always cool to be able to post songs in my own website, songs that are sung by me as a songwriter. I guess that way, it is more forgiving to have less than professional vocal track because after all I am a songwriter, not a professional singer. As for No Eye Candy, Cynthia will take the vocal track whenever possible.
Another good point about posting those songs onto my own site is that these songs may not find their ways to the No Eye Candy site which is okay. Because, No Eye Candy is about the band and is about songs that we all love to play. This shall remain the same.
Another thing is that for the songs I am going to post in my own website, they will not be played using my 12-strings. Partly because I want to sound different from No Eye Candy. But mainly because most of the songs that I have written are being created using a classical guitar. Hence, the orignal sound must retain.
And these days, it just strikes me that I need to return to my root, as in just me and my classical guitar, as in writing songs from my heart rather for anyone else. Back in the days when I was working in Paris, I was used to write short stories based on my daily encounters and sent them all to my friends via email (the ancient spam? or blog?). I bet there were some if not many who did not enjoy what I have had written (and they are kind enough not to let me know ;p). But from time to time, I do received a few encouragements and these were enough just to keep me going.
Back to my songwriting and my singing hobby. Over the years, I have had my share bit of criticism on both topics. But I never cease to write. Well, perhaps that is indeed my true passion for over 10 years. I just keep on writing and singing and writing and singing.
Blessed I am now with a band with members whom I look up upon. So, whatever I do must be for the benefit of the band.
Now, that brings us to the second part of this blog – retail therapy. Today I visited the Dave’s Guitar shop for some new strings for my classical guitar. My true intention was to look for a cool new classical guitar preferably with electric pickup (back to my root thingy, remember?). The pretty shop assistance recommended one from Takamine (without pickup) that is selling at $675. If I am to add in the pickup, that will be up to near $1,000 region. I then asked, why don’t I get one that come with Takamine original pickup? (And by the way, the guitar sounds awesomely warm.)
Back to the shopping mode. Now I begin to understand why musicians keep spending money on guitars. And if I am to look for signs, I wanted to buy high tension string for my classical guitar and when I told the shop assistence that I am using a (cheap) Yamaha, she recommended medium tension. Guess what? After I restring the guitar, part of the bridge (how shall I called it? the metal part) came out. I don’t think I can keep my guitar for long. The strings have too high a tension for my guitar to take …
Retail therapy …