There was a day somewhere back in time the world sat up and took notice of some sleek looking gadgets and little did we know then it would become what Apple stands for today. A brand synonymous with cool, innovation, and fun.
All of a sudden, boundaries were blurred between work and play. We were able to integret music, pictures, work and lifestyle all together. These isomethings that delivered a whole new user experience and culture… iPhone, iPod, iPad…
I remember the day I first received my Mac years back. So excited, I even took a silly picture like this before I turned on the machine.
And then a dear friend of mine gifted me with an iPad. Access to a world of information with one touch of a screen. It was a big YAY for me because I started to tweet / weibo with my fans when I am on the go, upload pictures when I am on tour for concerts or work overseas…
During the time I was preparing the classical piece for my performance at the eAwards 2011, my metronome which I used since playing the piano from a young age broke. The iPad became my metronome (with an application that happens to be called ibeat! 
). I have GarageBand in my iPad which allows me to put together quick demos on the roads.
These days while locked up at home writing and recording demos, I take my iPad to the kitchen, surfing up easy to cook and yummy recipes on Epicurious.
And of course there’s that Tom the talking Cat that makes my mom and nieces and any prim and proper person venture to say the most hilarious things, only to have Tom say it back.
So, Steve Jobs has resigned.
I guess many say they saw it coming and some analysts say the timing of the announcement was strategic , in view of the new iPhone launch.
But so much is tied to this name that I wish it wasn’t today. Maybe, its because I’ve always watched his speeches and loved how he spoke passionately about this brand he built and more importantly, substantiated his talk with innovations that kept getting better.
And I feel something for it because getting a Mac was pivotal to my life as a singer-songwriter. That was when I started writing and making music thanks to Steve Jobs and his mighty machines.
Hey guys, last week I shared the original demo for “戀愛女生都是羊” was originally written in english, titled “HeartBreak Tree”. (Listen to it here.)
I also wanted to let you in on the process of how my original demos morphed into the final product on 55:38:7. So, today, I’m gonna tell you how “戀愛女生都是羊” came about.
When I was writing the uptempo numbers for the album, I wanted to incorporate a dash of music genres I love and influence me, and Soul is one of them. Yea, somewhere within me, there’s this lil’ soul that loves the good old sound of sctuff like these.
There’s something very infectious about soul music, and how it connects people. The funky rhythms and handclaps, and singing of heartache or hardtimes in such an expressive manner gets me moving. What I identify with is the spirit in these songs, which I believe is reflective of how people felt during those days soul music originated.
Here’s one classic I listen to over and over again – “Cry To Me” by Solomon Burke, widely referred to as a founding father of soul music during the 60s.
Ok, The main guy. The Heartbreaker
Well of course this post ain’t complete without a picture of the main man, the lonesome little heartbreaker right? So let’s show you how he looks first.
My inspiration for the song… why Heartbreak Tree?
It started with imagining a girl being stood up by her boy on they day they decided to meet under a tree. After I had a few cups of coffee, things like “I took an airplane to Miami Beach” and “And then you walked by with someone else who looked like me” came along. If she wore a dress, this is how it would look like.
I sometimes think I am one awkward child because I have a natural liking for very very sad things. Sad songs, sad stories…but I am kinda thankful for it as I believe thats the reason why I love being a singer song-writer!
小寒 always jokes about how there’s a tinge of sad even in my happy songs. People who know me know I don’t like to sugar-coat things and I believe in staying true to who I am when I write my songs and share them with you 
In the case of heartbreak tree, it was sad + silly funny but “hey I’ll stand up on my feet alright” all at the same time. Very me.
The challenge and fun while writing it was in angling it as a mandarin song…Injecting some of these soul elements within a mandarin melody.
Now, the arrangement.
You’ll notice the original demo was pretty raw as I wanted to present it in a live band kind setting. My Ally McBeal imagination saw me singing this song loud with all the girls in the house and a snazzy guy band backing me up. Somewhere at the bridge, we’ll all clap and sing at the top of our lungs “Where is my Love!” (listen to the demo and you’ll know). Eric the bossman arranged the final product with a cool beats thing going. We expanded on the piano and organs used in my original demo for the final product, for which I roped in my pal and main piano man Matthew to work with me.
Working on the mandarin Lyrics 《戀愛女生都是羊》 proper
I don’t know how 小寒 and myself always go back and forth with ideas non stop on MSN (which looks like a typing competition at the same time) and suddenly we’ll get a “IT” moment. We both wanted it to be a “姊妹歌“ kinda vibe and the sheep herd eventually galloped its way into the lyrics lol. Read her 詞解 here!
So here’s the story of 《戀愛女生都是羊》。 I have had a couple of responses asking me if 戀愛男生都是狼？
你說呢？哈哈哈！
I love my momma.
I was a very naughty kid growing up. She tells me the time I took a 6B pencil to draw eyeliner around my eyes ranks as one of my most champion stories….I drew it so dark and smokey she had a hard time washing it off.
She gives me the “almond shape” eyes that many tell me runs in my family.
When I working in the corporate world, my 9am to late working hours hardly gave me opportunity to have dinner with my parents. Now as a singer-songwriter, there are days I work like crazy but there are days too I get to enjoy more time with them at home which I am so thankful for.
I introduced my momma to the “Ellen DeGeneres” show. Rather, she didn’t have a choice as I watched it diligently every morning. She would go: “又看這個女人?!!?” (I explained to tell her Ellen changed my life with her laughter and positivity). We would both laugh like crazy when Ellen plays musical chairs on the show.
[Picture from ellen.warnerbros.com]
Mommy introduced me to things she enjoyed watching. Recently, the Korean Drama Series “Pink Lipstick”, became our favourite dinner time show.
The few months recording 55:38:7 were intense. So intense, I loss any sense of time. My parents left the house while I slept in till noon. I’d return home at 3 – 4 am when they are sleeping. But rain or shine, a bowl of soup awaits me everynight, either in a thermos flask or a note that says: “Soup in Oven.”
My mommy has super powers because she knows exactly when I run out of my staples like lemons and herbal jelly and replenishes even before I can go “Hey!”
When my eyes were busted by the eye infection recently, I saw two doctors on my own but momma accompanied me to the 3rd one that finally gave me cure. For a week, she dropped eye-drops for me every 3 hours, and would apply every night, the antibiotic eye cream for me till my eyes recovered.
Of course, growing up, there were times I made momma angry. But as I grow and as I spend more time with her, I tell myself, I don’t ever want to make her angry again.
Mommy has trained me since young to clean my room weekly. When I go overseas for concerts / shows, I know she sneaks into my room and gives it a good clean so I come home to a nice room. I know it because I came home and saw this one day….
Everyday, she works round the clock, engrossed in her work around the house and I know it is because of her that I eat well, sleep well, and not have to worry. She loves me through my angelic, naughty, cranky, tired or stressed days and stands by me in whatever I do.
So this year, I wanted to give her something special sewed with love.
I love my momma.
[Credits: Image from Reuters.com]
I chanced upon this image in Reuters of John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” which was reportedly up for auction. Cool huh? This is one great man whose works I always admire and listen with awe, thinking:”Wow, How did he write that?”.
The Life Of A Singer-Songwriter
Friends sometimes ask me what I do as a singer-songwriter. Yea, I realize I share alot about the song, the melody and its inspirations, but actually much more goes on in the life of a singer-songwriter.
After coming up with the melody, you work on the demo, then the actual arrangement, lyrics, and so many more things and many individuals craft and time also goes into the production process before the final recording.
I have a habit of keeping all my workings and drafts from start to finish, so I dug up my stash and took some pictures to show you some behind-the-scenes while working on 55:38:7. I can’t cover all grounds in one blog post, but I’ll pick some pictures and tell you as we go along!
This was when I was brainstorming lyrics for the F&N Jingle “LaLa”.
Draft plannings on the organ, horns and electric piano parts with my good friend crazy pianist (Matthew) for《戀愛女生都是羊》。We also decided to have a drawing competition. Check it out! LOL. He’s playing can also be heard on the final recording.
Writing the cello lines for 《平行線》
Planning backing vocal (BV) lines for 《三頭六筆》. All that “hooo.. haaaaa.. wa wa wa” in the background. This song had intensive BV, I think Eric recorded 5 times of me with 5 different backing parts. LOL!
I am so untidy!!!
I didn’t realize I draw all over so much on my lyrics during recording…too engrossed I reckon. I’ll show you. Haha..
During recording of 《戀愛女生都是羊》
Recording 《在我左右》
Recording 《巫毒娃娃》…This is one of the most untidy!
This ranks 2nd most untidy…《巫毒娃娃》
Another thing I do, I print my lyrics in very large fonts. This one wins first prize for biggest font, during recording of《平行線》!
I can’t remember when I did this, I think it was when I was very stressed, looking at how disturbing the drawing is! *awkward smile*
It has been a tough two weeks as I catch up with the latest news on the earthquake, and the stories of strength and love that emerged.
The lack of a blog entry lately wasn’t because of my hectic schedule. Rather, I felt most of the time at a lost of words and incapacitated.
The tipping point this week was seeing the tears on these children’s faces at the graduation ceremony held for the students of the Hashikami Elementary and Junior High School. (see article from The New York Times)
(Picture: Shiho Fukada for The International Herald Tribune)
Watching the daily news coverage was heartbreaking; photographs of then homes now completely destroyed, and then emerged these stories of how so many put the live of others before their own…the “Fukushima 50″, teachers who ensured their students’ safety during the tsunami but weren’t in time to save their own…
When they were pushed to the brim of having lost everything overnight, including their loved ones, it grips my heart to see how the people of Japan stay united, and ride it out with so much strength, heart and spirit.
What is life, what is real, what truly matters…I continue to fathom the complexities and simplicities of human life. Sometimes it seems to me we tend to equate simplicity and time inversely. But in times like these, it reinforces within me that simplicity is the constant. That the simple things in life are priceless and these matter up till the end of time so let’s treasure them all with the life we have.
Let’s continue to pray for Japan, and do everything we can in our capacity to help. Every thought, and every action counts. Dear Japan, our hearts and our prayers are you.
Love,
While writing continues for the English EP, I find myself back to some habits like…Working into the wee hours of the morning, intensively peeling my nails, looking for things around the house because I forget where I placed them.
I am happy that I’m doing things like these because it tells me I’ve resumed to the stage where I’m constantly thinking about the music, my engine has started and I’m raring to go.
Sometimes, I get asked where / how I get inspiration when I am writing songs. For me, it ain’t any fancy dance but just a little word called “reconnect”. Dedicating the time and space to reconnect with myself and absorb life…have enough rest, watch TV, read, hang out with my family and friends, coffee and people watch, look at the sun, watch my toes wriggle..
I’ll know it when it comes because that’s when I begin to hear what my heart whispers, and that to me is when and where the songs start flowing.
Dealing with the tough…talking bout the roughWe’ve heard for years now about how tough the music industry is and how our livelihoods are affected and I’m gonna keep it real and tell you it ain’t easy at all. But I’m not about to go on and elaborating how rough it is in this post because I rather use the next sentence telling you what I feel matters instead.
We are presented with two sides in any situation – the good, and the bad, and the choice lies in our hands. I’ll tell you mine.
That to write music and perform, all that I’ve experienced since starting on this journey, is something I’ve never dreamed would come true, and nothing I would ever change for in this world. That in the last year, I’ve leanrt, 一个人的梦想，在很多人的爱和支持下，会变成很多人的梦想。 There were moments treading between feeling almost surreal, to being overwhelmed and thankful, and all this love and support from you is now so significant in everything I do, everyday that I keep going, each song I write, each time I sing.
And if it means we have to work triply hard, and stay six times sane, I’ll gladly do it. We only get to live this once so bring on da music I say.
p/s: I mentioned intensive nail peeling didn’t I?
xoxo
You probably read in an earlier post that my camera card was corrupted on one occasion and of all things, it contained behind the scenes of the photoshoot for my album <55:38:7>.
YES OF ALL THINGS, IT CONTAINED THE BEHIND THE SCENES OF MY PHOTOSHOOT!
I SCREAMED, I YELLED #3*1!@%, I KICKED MY CHAIR, I PULLED MY HAIR.
(1) I always recommend a walk when you are fuming.
I learnt something during my corporate days from this person I worked with. When he had to deal with something ginormous, something that presented itself as a problem or like a “THAT’S IT” situation, or if he was about to explode, he would just hold everything in. (including his red face).
I sometimes have this Ally McBeal thing going on when I talk to people (the background music, babies dancing sorta thing), so I would look at the red angry face sitting across me, and imagine an on-coming eruption but in slow motion…. Three seconds of silence but of what feels like eternity follows..1..2..3…
Instead, he turns to me and say, “Okay, I’m going for a walk”, and he’s gone the next instant. Poof.
Everything changed when he came back. He was smiling, he was happy, and ladies and gentlmen, we have a solution.
When life presents you with a nasty situation, there is always another way of looking at it, and I like to think there is something we can take away from it.
After a brisk walk to the kitchen and back, the don’t try don’t know in me decided to look at all the damaged pictures to see if anything could be used at all. I clicked with super positivity (and a 1% whatever mentatlity) on one of those half disco colored, half grey thumbnails (guys who have had their pictures corrupted, you will know what i mean).
I laughed when the picture was enlarged. [A little sense of humor does help during such times ] Not that bad afterall, it looked like kinda artsy. I clicked on more and soon I assembled a collection lol. Whadya think?
I love you people, rock on.
♥: 小芝
To view the photos that were not damaged, click here.
p/s: full introduction of the photoshoot awesome people coming up in another post.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
上次，很不幸的， 我的相机内存卡坏了。 结果，我们在拍<55:38:7>专辑照片时候拍下的幕后照片， 有些受到影响。
我又气又心痛，那些照片好珍贵呀！
那时候， 我想起我认识的一位朋友。 他在生气或承受压力的时候， 或者快要爆发的时候， 就会深呼吸， 然后跟我说，：“Ok, 我要去走走。”就这样，跑出去。 十五分钟后的他，不只气消了，还想到了解决方法。这，我觉得很有趣， 也很有用。
于是，我很有耐心的把所有受影响的照片一个一个打开来看看。有些看起来， 还蛮有艺术感的哈哈。 在这里和你分享！
完整的相簿，请点击这里！
I met up with a friend just over thursday and he asked me, :”Wow girl, have you got hair extensions? Your hair’s so long!” Well, its my real hair that has grown out lol. The one thing I could get in 2011 is a trim, but I’m kinda liking it. Well this long hair of mine has been with me since 2010 started till now, every recording, every show, every day. I am not cutting it just yet, it reminds me of what I cherish for all that happened in 2010.
2010 has been a great year.
A year that gave me the gift of meeting you through my music. I thank you for opening your hearts and letting my music into your world, for walking this road with me. It was the same year I decided to end all that juggling a day job and working on my demos till 4am in the morning days that lasted two years and embarked on that leap of faith to pursue my dreams. At the start, some days felt like I was a lone ranger at sea but my heart and love for music whispered to me to have faith and sail forward.
The path of music ain’t easy but ask me anyday and I’ll still tell you it’s the one thing I love and will keep doing.
In 2010, you brought meaning to all of this.
Thank you for your love and support. I hold this dear to my heart, meeting people from different countries, and walks of life, and being able to share my stories and music with you. You are the very reason I wanna give my very best into this.
2010 sent me guardian angels…
who have helped me in so many ways, in support, in love, in care, in friendship.
In 2010, I didn’t learn how to bake…
but my muffins (Muffinrenes, my Singapore FanClub) were formed
2010 makes me cherish the reason why I started writing songs, and why I love to sing
when you tell me《明知我愛你》sings of how you feel, or how 《手中線》gives you the space and courage to remember those you love that have left you.
2010 reminded me that life is short
when I lost a friend, and a relative.
2010 made me want to continue to encourage..
those who have dreams to go for it, and that we have one life so make it count.
2010…I give thanks to the wonderful things that happened.
To be a singer-songwriter was something I’ve always worked towards but didn’t know if it would come true. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get to release my debut album, your support, media support and recognition for my music in the form of two awards and four nominations for <55:38:7>. I am so thankful and encouraged, and I will continue to work hard.
2010 taught me the importance of relevance
that sometimes we’ve got to go easy on ourselves and celebrate things that matter in life. And for whatever or whoever or whichever that brings you hurt and unhappiness, leave them behind because they don’t and should never matter to you.
2010 has shown me how family and friendship gets better and better.
That we may be busy with our lives, that we may not have time for hardly anything, but family, friends, people who love you are always there for you. Cherish them.
2010…I had a chance to give
and I’ll hold close to heart how powerful the act of giving can be…there is much happening around the world, there are hungry children on the streets without a roof over their heads, that there may be people who need prayers and hope. Give.
Thank you for the great year, 2010.
We may be different, but we are same. We all experience ups and downs at different points of time in our lives, but I’ve always believed there is a fighter in each of us, and we all have the power to shine in our unique ways, and at some point, some where, some time, you have and will continue to touch someone in someway.
This year I am doing away with a string of new year resolutions.
For 2011, I am gonna live by one line:
Be Brave. Be You. Be True and Live like a Rainbow.
Happy new year, my dear friends. I wish you a happy, shinning 2011.
Dear Santa,
I know you will be busy raining Barbie Dolls to excited little girls around the world this time. 
I hope you’ll have the time to read my letter. This year, I am gonna be a good little kid, and do something for our trees. Will you give me a huge present? All I ask for is special powers to help me get rid of my insomnia. Pretty please?
Image obtained from internet
Sometimes we spend all our time searching for the right Christmas presents but when it comes to wrapping, everyone’s present is wrapped like everyone else’s present, after queuing for hours at the complimentary gift wrap counter !
Be different this year by making your own DIY gift bows, they are fun to make, look way cool, and you’ll be doing something for our environment! (p/s: This post is also a response to fans who requested to learn how to make these DIY gift bows when I presented another DIY craft on XINMSN in Jun. )
I first learnt to make them from a site called “How About Orange”, but thought it would be Werry Merry to explain these steps in Mandarin for our friends from overseas, so I did my own a step by step with photos below.
圣诞节快来临了！你是不是在忙著为朋友和家人购买礼物呢？上次拍环保节目的时候， 有些网友给芝麻留言， 说想学如何用旧杂志制作礼物结 。今天就在这里和大家分享这个又环保，又好玩的手工。这也是第一次用华文解释手工的步骤， 所以如果写得不好，请多多原谅喔！
READY???? 開始了喔！
What you need / 材料：
1. Old magazines / 旧雜誌
2. Scissors / 剪刀
3. Double-sided tape / 双面胶贴
4. Stapler / 钉书机
STEP 1
Select 1 or 2 pages from old magazines that you would like to use for this craft.
Tips: It will be good to have a color scheme in mind, and either go for pages with minimal text or the extreme, depending on the look you want.
先翻阅旧杂志, 然后按照你想要的颜色搭配，把适合的几页撕出来。
STEP 2
Cut a magazine page lengthwise into 9 strips, each 2cm wide
接著把旧杂志剪成九条纸条。 每条宽度是2cm.
STEP 3
Trim the strips following dimensions provided in the diagram below.
根据以下的图和尺寸， 将各组的纸条剪好。
STEP 4
Take a strip, form a loop at both ends as per diagram below and hold it in place using a stapler.
在纸条的两端各制作一个环， 形成 如以下图所示的8字形。 然后用钉书机固定中间 。
STEP 5
Repeat the same step for all strips in Group A – C.
For Group D, simple shape the strip into a circle and secure it with a stapler.
为A － C 组的纸条迳行一样的步骤。将 D组 的纸条捲成一个圆圈， 然后用钉书机 固定中间 。
STEP 6
Now, we’ll form the layers. Take the strips in Group A and lay them such that they are evenly spaced. Secure with double sided tape.
将A 组的纸条形成像图中的模型。 用 双面胶贴固定。
STEP 7
Do the same for Group B and C. Finally stick the loop (Group D) into the center.
为B － C 组的纸条进行一样的步骤。 最后将之前为D组制作的小圆圈固定在中间。
FINALLY!
And you have your finished product! And remember to give us a shout over here when you’ve tried it! 美丽的礼物结完成了！是不是有很大的满足感呀！试过的朋友记得在这儿跟我们分享喔！
p/s: This craft was learnt from “How About Orange“! Do check out their other lovely DIY crafts!
Wait-a minute..I meant stripped off from the full arrangements of my songs.
Cosy concert venues make me just wanna kick off my shoes, and share with my audience what I do late into the night holed up in my bedroom – playing the piano and penning down little tunes.
So I went unplugged at all three of the “Y.E.S933 校園演唱會” Campus Concerts in Nov, with just my piano “Little Miss EricaHan”, Me and You.
Sometimes I close my eyes, recapturing those times I wrote these tunes for my debut album “55:38:7″ .
Every once in awhile, I look up.
It makes me smile to see you smiling back.
I ponder for awhile when I see you deep in thought, and leave you quietly to find yourself in the song.
It feels like we’ve met somewhere, sometime, and now, when you all sing with me to LaLa, or the last line of 《明知我爱你》 “只想永远永远爱你， 你知不知道我也没关系”。
Hearts and hearts.
Its been a pleasure meeting every one of you in the lovely audience at Singapore Polytechnic, Nanyang Technological University and Nanyang Polytechnic, and the crew and organizing committees who were such efficient and attentive SUPERkids. Special thanks to the organizer Y.E.S933 FM!
I was drifting away to lalaland at a photoshoot before one of the shows, and was caught on camera by Cherine.
If you daydream too, don’t be like me. Design a certain complex looking daydream expression so no one can tell. I’m working on that right now.
(Whispers: those who really saw me take off my shoes at SP, say hey!!! :p )
Stay tuned to my facebook page for more photos! www.facebook.com/koongserene
