From the swamps of East Borneo to the bayous of Louisiana, I steadfastly remain, THE Swampman. I sincerely hope you will enjoy these stories as much as i enjoy writing them. Which is a lie, as writing is a pain for swamp dwellers like me!
Some folks are probably wondering why I even bother to "expatriate myself". I wonder about it too. Truth be told I initially rejected the offer simply because of five decades worth of "baggage". I think the best years to become an expatriate is in your 30s or 40s when you have all that youthful energy to start a life somewhere. What more with a family in tow. Anyway the offer is for a limited time only. A lot can happen in five years but five years can also whiz by and before you know it, it's time to go home. In my case it has nothing to do with career progression or money. Well, may be a little on the career part (by towing the line it may be my insurance in exchange for job security). In fact I'll be making less due to some sharing with my new uncle called Sam. But the kids man? Damn, think how exciting this must be for them?
If you have tuned in to our local stations when you make that daily grind to the office you most probably have heard Oh Anok Anok right? Yeah, that's the one, the catchy Kelantanese-inspired anthem. (Click for the MTV youtube video)
That's by Reshmonu and the lyrics are by my beloved, multi-talented sister, Pacha.
His first full-length Malay album has just made it to market, folks, with Pacha penning most of the lyrics. Pacha had also written his award winning 2004 hit Cintaku Pergi. HARAPAN is up for 5 nominations for the upcoming A.I.M. (Anugerah Industri Muzik) Awards 2009 in May for Best Pop Album, Best Engineered Album, Best Music Video, Best Male Vocal Performance for 'Sayu' and 'Doa Untuk Dia'. To order the CD, please go here. It comes with a nice denim CD "sock" by Key Ng.
If nothing else, proceeds from my sister's royalties will go towards me taking you guys out for teh tarik, eh?
Hiresh's lovely wife and son with Pacha.
Hiresh with my sister at the opening night of her first solo. In the background is my niece N and partly hidden by Resh's mic is A, niece of both Kak Ton's and Nuraina's.
Subject: My Album ‘HARAPAN’ earns 5 nominations for the A.I.M (Anugerah Industri Muzik) 2009
Hey there thought I’d share the good news.My latest full length malay album titled ‘Harapan’ just earned me 5 nominations for the upcoming A.I.M awards happening May 2nd. The nominations are for the following categories :
1. Best Engineered Album 2. Best Music Video - ‘Oh Anok – Anok’ the MTV 3. Best Male Vocal performance in a song ‘Doa Untuk Dia’ 4. Best Male Vocal performance in a song ‘Sayu’ 5. Best Pop Album
I ‘m overwhelmed at the fact that this first malay album of mine has earned a place among a majority malay music industry. I am humbled that it has earned its recognition among my fellow musical comrades…my only hope now is that ‘Harapan’ reaches you… my supporters! (available exclusively @ www.rrecords.net
) Would love to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone involved directly or indirectly in the production of ‘HARAPAN’.
BTW: With regards to the release of my next English album…mmmm???? All I can say is somethin’s cookin in my music kitchen!!!! (hint:- Soulfull Funky House music in session!).
My boy turned 8 yesterday, and he also came out 3rd in his term exams, so what did I do to reward him amidst this raging recession and BN's recent humiliating loss? (Is this Perak's and Kedah's "gift" to the newly-crowned First Lady?)
I bought him a scaled-down replica of former world champion Thomas Frischknecht's race machine: A Scott Scale JR 20.
The "20" means twenty inch wheels when adult-sized bikes are 24 inch. So it's a kid's bike. But a serious kid's bike armed with Revo Shifters, front and rear derailleurs,front fork with 55mm travel, the whole works.
Come visit my other blog for more of this insanely inane, stupendously mundane and lame ho-hum stuff.
VIP Guest: P.104's London-born Kelana Kaya MP Gwo-Burne at Pacha's solo ...
Some inspired guests : My niece (left) and her best friend. Hmm, isn't that Nuraina's niece?
Pacha, The Artist.
Bali Meranti's real life lesson in Art Appreciation ...
IT IS THE LIFELONG DREAM, THE RECOGNITION, THE CULMINATION of any artist to host their first solo. What more if the artist in question found her calling very late in life; she was in her late twenties before she picked up that first brush to canvas.
That artist is my sister, Pacha. And the exhibition's titled "Pomegranate and 1000 Birds".
Entirely self-taught, she bagged Bank Negara's second prize for her Imperfect But Beautiful in 2004 that won her a silver trophy and an RM8000 cash prize.
She is married to Adrian Edris of Ahmad Izham Omar's Monkeybone label, who manages artistes like Faizal Tahir, Suki, Norayu Damit and Shila. Adrian's also currently involved in 8TV's One In A Million and Kami -The Gig. They have a daughter, Bali Meranti.
Please do come and visit the Gallery. The Exhibition will run until December 12.
For more stories and pictures, please come visit my other blog.
To all my enduring visitors here, please come visit my other blog too. Got anew postup today. The other blog is more family-oriented, suitable for all audiences where I hope to keep the unsavory stuff (like politics) out.
