some passion is burning again~!~!

Ever since my time at Babyface came to an end, I have had more time for myself. More time to do things that I want to and such :) I am beginning to gear up a little more for my Berklee audition. Starting to practice more on the piano now! And it feels good :) But truth is, I am rather worried. Wendy said I am actually taking a gamble, I probably seem to be. I ended my studies at SIM for this without knowing what the outcome would be. I want to really trust in God, to do my best and leave everything to Him. Yet, I have to be honest and say I am still wondering, worried a little. Come on man! Where's the faith?? Not faith that I would definitely enter but that God has plans to prosper me :)

A discussion I had with Wendy came to a conclusion...

Nobody TRYING to be Somebody vs. Nobody GOING to be Somebody... Haha! In one night, we went from the former to the latter and back to the former.

the Bible says... DO NOT WORRY!

-LeB-

'Xmas Celebration + Breath-taking Experience.. Whahah

Christmas celebrations this year started with a gathering at Echo. It was a spread and we had a log cake! Haha... A good time of catching up, just spending time together and singing songs, of which, it was xinyao again. Is it in our blood? Pics below...


Our spread!


With Mama under the Christmas tree...


The Jin-Gang of the night...


That was the 23rd of Dec. Christmas eve was spent with EVOFUS but lacking Wanping! Wanping... where are you?? We must have a full gathering real soon! But I had to leave earlier for a family gathering at home. Home cooked food with a tinge of Christmas flavour, together with my beloved family and... my brother's GIRLFRIEND. wahhah. Soon, we left for Global Sounds Cafe. To support the echo peeps on their performance and we had a crazy time of uno stacko. Forfeit: sauces. Tabasco sauce mixed with water, soon the stakes were raised to tabasco, ketchup, chilli, soy sauce all mixed together. 2 rounds and sadly, it was the 2 girls that lost. Poor girls. Haha... Crazy fun we had :)


Group pic at the Upper Room of Global Sounds. Ha...

Christmas day came and it was a packed packed day. But, it was super duper fruitful and it felt greatly like a holiday! Met Wendy at 12pm for our last practice before the gig at Singapore Arts Museum. Theme: Xinyao... AGAIN! But I got to say, I really enjoy doing xinyo gigs! :) And its my 3rd xinyao gig for this year, I'm the resident xinyao gigger of SAM. Haha!


We really look matching in our outfits that day. With WendyMAMA...


Show time!


And, thanks to Yihui and Clara for coming down to support! Although I know the performance is very very different to what you usually listen to at Babyface. Ha... Thanks!

After our gig, we went to Dome @ SAM to chill out! Great place! Lesser crowd, nicely furnished and great food! I recommend the place for an afternoon tea. And I was introduced to a coffee dome card by Simon. I am so going to get it! Pay $40 plus at a go and redeem 10 cups of coffee. A great deal for a coffee lover :) The slacking and chilling out was probably a get-ready session for our upcoming korea trip! It got to be a blast!

Sadly, after we left Dome, Wendy had to leave for another appointment. Well, maybe because she has more friends than us. Whahha. We tried to lure her back but to no avail. Ha... Simon, Minhui and I were on the verge of watching our first movie together. However, knowing that its a public hol, no tics were available. We brainstormed for other alternatives... Driving in to Sentosa, foot reflexology, massage... etc etc. I am glad we did nothing of those and decided to go with listening to some live music! I suggested Jazz @ Southbridge as I had always wanted to go there. Often drive passed the place but I have never gone in before. Simon and Minhui said it would be too packed to get a seat. So, we opted for indochine instead. Since they were nearby, we poped by Jazz @ Southbridge. On the contrary, when we went at 7pus pm, the place was empty! Ah ha! Its now the time for us to be there! We returned at 9.30pm when the live band started their show. And boy was it a blast! It was really great! I really really enjoyed myself! The theme for the night was Latin music. At first I thought I wouldn't enjoy it since I didn't know what latin music really is. But I was wrong! The band was so good, the music was so good, it was BREATH-TAKING. It really was. At least to me. And it made me feel like a %&*^$&*#$(**&#. The pianist was so good! Young and talented. He certainly has a bright future in this industry. This Singaporean guy called Wei Xiang, heard he is studying in New York now. And there was ever-groovy singer Marcilla (hope I got the name right), great voice, singing abilities, a natural on stage and really groovy. She infects you with her moves! Resident drummer Tan Boon Gee and the Bassist were expectedly really good as well.

I fulfilled my wish of going to Jazz @ Southbridge and it was a great night. Thanks Simon and Minhui for the company too! Yet we came to the conclusion that we have xinyao in our blood, not jazz. Haha... at least for Minhui and I. Wendy! It was a good thing you weren't there. If not, you would have started the whole "I can't sing" nagging! Haha! We'll visit the place again! I am sure!


the 3 of us at Jazz@Southbridge...


With the band of the night! :) Great show! Thanks for the music...


My Christmas presents for this year. Little, but every one counts! Thanks Ereen, Nana, Esther, Fiona, Yan, Jiarong, Miss Tan, Yihui and Clara. And to all my friends, a big thanks to all!

-LeB-

A Pat On My Shoulder...

This week has been really hectic... AGAIN. I have been asked a same question by several people this week. This question is... "So what are you doing now? Studying? Or what are you working as?" And... I don't really seem to know how to answer them. Alright, I am no longer studying so I am officially not a student. To say that I'm a musician... Emm, it doesn't seem right too. I'm not professional. Then they would ask so what do you do everyday? And... I sometimes wonder too. If I am not studying and not really a full-time worker, what do I do? Just somehow, I really have a lot to do. This month has probably been the most gigs month of the YEAR and my entire life, thus far... My answer to them is usually... I am a keyboard instructor, that is probably my best answer.

So how crazy was this week... There were the usual new songs to transcribe and learn, jamming session and to top that, Children's Camp. :) The camp was short but I think it turned out great! Love the kids and... God really blessed us with AWESOME weather! For that 2 days of camp, it didn't rain and the weather was just good for our activities! Really great, especially during this end-yr season. Friday to Sunday was rather crazy... Friday evening was piano lesson + Denis' Wedding + 2 sets at Babyface. Saturday came and it was teaching + 2 sets at Babyface (Ended at 3am). Woke up at 7am on Sunday, Gig at Yew Tee CC then I could finally go home to catch some sleep + teaching at 5pm. Back to back. Thank God I survived it.

The new week is here and I don't see it slackening any time soon. May God give me the strength to always press on. And, I don't want to neglect my God. :)

Talking about "a pat on my shoulder", some things really don't come easy for me. And, I actually and really did it reasonably well! At least to my standards :) Wahahhah! I was really glad with the outcome and was happy that I didn't screw things up. I kinda learnt from a lesson and made good effort to make things better. Said my prayers, practiced and mustered up my courage. Caleb, you did well, 加油！

-LeB-

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-LeB-

End of the Year!~!~!

Its the end of the year again! How fast time flies. And its the most wonderful time of the year! :) Although Singapore does not snow, its beginning to feel chilly. And, Christmas is coming! I love Christmas, the festive mood and celebrative mood sets in! I hope this Christmas would be a blast!

Most importantly... Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. :) Apparently, some do not know that or have overlooked that fact. Lets join in the celebration of Christ once again! :)

Thank you, God!

-LeB-