Random Musings

Last Friday’s Songcraft session was a blast.

It’s the 2nd session we’ve held so far, and I came away from it very pleased.

As usual, before the start of the session, I really didn’t know what to expect. It was already 730pm and yet only 2 or 3 people had turned up, and I thought to myself “Hmmm, maybe it isn’t gonna work out tonight.” (As an organiser, these kind of doubts will always run through your mind.)

But as luck would have it, those who said they’d turn up really did turn up shortly after (and I even had a pleasant surprise visit from a close buddy and his gf!), so by the time it was 740pm or so, we were all ready to begin.

If I didn’t remember wrongly, we had, including me, a total of 12 people turn up that night.

Only 4 of us were from the first session as well, so that means we had 8 new friends who were joining us for the first time. (I took it as a positive sign.)

I think we had more original songs presented this time round. Well, actually one more than the last time, to be precise. That means we had thirteen new songs this time round.

…

Michael started first and presented two of his songs.

Michael Cho is a talented singer who actually busks in the streets of Singapore. You might find him singing in the underpass between Wheelock and Lido, I think.

I’ve expressed to him many times that I think he has a great voice. It’s very high and pure sounding.

He’s a very nice and humble guy too.

Anyway, the first song he presented (“Story in May”) was a song he wrote back when he was 17 and in JC. He mentioned that it was probably the best song he’s ever written in his life. I liked the song and mentioned that it had a lot of “Simon and Garfunkel” influences…which he agreed.

After Michael presented, we joked that he had “set the bar too high”, thus it was hard to follow up on his act, haha!

Betty started off by sharing a tune based on her sister’s poem. But it turned out to be the wrong poem or something like that. But anyway the tune still came out. There was no title nor lyrics to it. I felt it had a strong chorus, and if the tune had lyrics to accompany it, it would have been quite a strong song. (I just feel that lyrics would make the song more sincere and complete.)

Later, she shared her “60′s Song” (entitled “Sing a Song to Save the Souls”) which I felt was very cute. It reminds me of those songs they sing at the country fairs in the medieval ages (like those “Robin Hood” days). You know, those type of quaint old songs which minstrels would sing at the town fair.

I’m quite apologetic that because my guitar was tuned 1/2 down, she couldn’t pull off her harmonica interlude (which I’m sure she spent time practising) as her harmonica was in the key of C. Sorry Betty!

…

Chris presented 3 songs. It was evident that his influences were rock music.

His first song stood out for me. Ivan mentioned that it sounded like something Stone Temple Pilots would sing. I agreed. (That’s a compliment, by the way.)

But yeah, Chris wrote some really solid rock songs. I’m not exactly a fan of rock, but I could appreciate the good songcraft nonetheless.

Hui Leng, true to form, presented yet another wonderful keyboard piece “By the Window” (and whaddya know, one of my songs was entitled “At the Window”…what a coincidence!).

Many of us label her music as “Korean drama series” music, but I guess that’s being a bit unfair to her.

Some of you might know that I loved the piece which she presented in the 1st session in April. Well, this was no different.

Although this piece last Friday took a me a little longer to fully embrace, upon repeated listenings, I think it’s a really great piece as well. It’s certainly growing on me. 

It’s not as overtly joyful as her 1st session piece. I would say this piece is more wistful, pensive, and slightly melancholic. (Perfect for a “reminiscence” kind of scene!)

…

Next was my turn.

Because the 1st session I only presented a half-baked tune, I was determined to be more prepared this time round.

I presented 3 songs, and you can read my detailed account of it here.

Lastly, Kah Loong presented 2 very sincere songs. (It’s the sincere songs that move people the most.)

His 2nd song, in particular, was very moving as it was based on his real-life experience in a failed relationship.

The sincerity in his voice and his songcraft could move even the most clueless of listeners.

We’re deeply appreciative that Kah Loong had shared such an intimate and heart-wrenching song with us.

As it turns out, Kah Loong actually went to the trouble of producing an album of songs. Many of the songs can be heard here. Very interesting stuff.

…

As per the first session, one of the things I look forward to most is the “hang out time” at McDonald’s after the session. That’s when we really get to interact with one another and chat about stuff that interests us, including music.

I really enjoyed the “hang out time” last Friday as I got to talk to some guys who were so into songwriting that they actually take songwriting classes. It was really a great time expounding with each other on our passions.

It’s great that somehow all of us were able to get along really well with one another even though many of us were meeting for the first time.

I guess when you share common passions, it’s easy to hit it off huh?

So to me, at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about – Meeting up with people who share the common passion for creating music, and enjoying the interaction with one another.