the2ndrule Issue 37
the2ndrule
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Mar 2003 pocket edition
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web edition: http://the2ndrule.com
Contents
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0. Edit
1. Pocket Poetry [Various]
2. Pocket Music: Instant Cafe Radio Episode 15 [Adrian Yeo]
3. Pocket Interview: Scones and Creamtones [Koh Beng Liang]
4. Pocket Pics: Underground Breakdancing [Shannon Low]
5. Pocket Shopping: Emerging shop spaces on the fringe [Shannon Low]
6. Pocket Art: Street Art from around the world [Shannon Low]
7. Pocket Gallery: Imagining Science [Ng Joon Kiat]
8. Pocket Terror: Bearbricks Are Dangerous! Series 4 [Jason Tong]
Edit
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Underground movements, often arising as a reaction to pressures that have curbed space and freedom, or to pressing issues that demand voicing, have been credited with starting political, artistic and cultural revolutions. While their effectiveness is subject to much romanticising, and while they are unlikely to stop a war, they at least stand as proof of the fact that a single voice can still be heard and you can't keep the human spirit down.
To this day, much of the action in Singapore is still underground, and this month we bring you pockets of creation and activity, action and creativity, in Singapore, and around the world.
This month's pocket issue is also available in "pocket-sized" pdf edition for download at:
http://www.the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/pocket_t2r.pdf
Please send your comments, suggestions and contributions to: editor@the2ndrule.com
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2ndrule team : Koh Beng Liang, Shannon Low, Benety Goh, Russell Chan, Alfian Bin Sa'at, Jason Tong, Judith H
Contributors : Michelle Lim, Nicholas Liu, Adrian Yeo, Ng Joon Kiat
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Pocket Poetry
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[annihilation - Judith H]
the rain pours down,
red like the hands of a thousand grains of sand
softly, softly,
we all shed tears of blood
until we walk, trailing into
a pillar of ashes.
no sound in this world;
the sound comes later,
when the mushroom dust has settled,
grey from the earth
but as beautiful as silver
from the moon;
the cradling empty bosom
of the moon.
[An Evening Haiku - Michelle Lim]
The night's breath
Cool on the earth's tongue
The moon pees on me, laughs.
[Untitled - Nicholas Liu]
Unmourned, he lies here
Not one bothered.
His life of lack meant
Lack of life-
His-
Bothered one not.
Here lies he
Unmourned,
Untitled.
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Catch Silicon Sounds at Zouk!
Zouk Live & Wired presents The R.O.S (Religion Of Sound) Friday 28th March 2003 at Zouk, Starting 11pm
The Religion Of Sound - an eclectic sight & sound showcase led by the everloving preachers of sound, The Silicon Sounds, and accompanied by The R.O.S Collective, with the helpful hands of believers & friends, The Sleepwalker, MUON and a host of Live Performing Artists from UV dancers to Visual Jockeys to Instrumentalists to Singers/Rappers & Emcees.
Line-Up: MUON - LIVE set - IDM/Dark Dance :: The Sleepwalker - LIVE set - D&B :: The Silicon Sounds - LIVE set - Breaks/Leftfield Dance
http://www.siliconsounds.org
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Pocket Music: Instant Cafe Radio Episode 15
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Guest DJ this month: Adrian Yeo of Creamtone Records
http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/instantcafe.html
Playlist:
Cassetteboy / Boards of Canada - Tapes + Computer / Nova Scotia Robots
Kid Loco - A Grand Love Theme
Aim - Hinterland
Cassetteboy / Aphex Twin - Marijuana / Cliffs
DJ Vadim feat. Sarah Jones - Your Revolution
The Herbaliser feat. What What - Mission Improbable
Cassetteboy / beng - Bill Gates vs Microsoft / bocish
Klute - Phonecall (Hefner mix)
Klute - Phonecall (Matrix mix)
DJ Zinc - Fair Fight
DJ Zinc - As We Do
Cassetteboy / Death In Vegas - Sex Education / I Spy
Kid Koala - Emperor's Main Course
Nightmares On Wax - Play On
Blue States - Walkabout
Herbert - The Audience
The Maxwell Implosion - From Mousy To Marvelous
Cibo Matto - Beef Jerky
Hrvatski - Lullaby
Boards of Canada - One Very Important Thought
Live mp3 streams courtesy of Creamtone. Mac users, take note!
Hi-fi : http://www.creamtone.net/radio/ec4/ec4-hifi.m3u
Lo-fi : http://www.creamtone.net/radio/ec4/ec4-lofi.m3u
- Selection and mix by Adrian Yeo, Creamtone Records, http://www.creamtone.net
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Lysistrata Project
On March 3, 2003, the Lysistrata Project presented worldwide readings of Aristophanes's bawdy ancient Greek anti-war comedy, Lysistrata. 998 play readings were scheduled in 59 countries and in all 50 U.S. states to voice opposition to the war on Iraq. Readings aimed to raise money for charities working for peace and humanitarian aid in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Lysistrata tells the story of women from opposing states who unite to end a war by refusing to sleep with their men until they agree to lay down their swords. Powerless in their society, with too many of their sons and husbands being slaughtered in battle, the women take the only tactic available to them: a sex strike.
To find out more about the Lysistrata Project, check out: http://www.pecosdesign.com/lys
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Pocket Interview: Scones and Creamtones - Interview with Adrian Yeo
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the2ndrules speak to Adrian Yeo, founder of Creamtone Records. (www.creamtone.net)
t2r: so what are your humble beginnings?
AY: Well I've always had great passion for music. But I really got into electronic music when I started studying at university in the UK. I was lucky to meet with 10 other restless minds who all shared in this passion, despite our different musical tastes, and together we formed the Creamtea Collective (the name is inspired by the rich tasty cream tea & pastries they have for tea in southwest England where we studied). That name eventually became Creamtone, as a tribute to our roots.
t2r: Was the entire collective made of musicians?
AY: We're what I like to call a "creative collective". We are oxymorons: hardcore slackers and chilled-out workaholics. Some of us are designers. Some of us are engineers who love making cool electronic gadgets (yes, we are pro-DIY). Some were roadies for huge dance events like Gatecrasher. And some of us just love raving. Geographically we're spread all over the world from London to Finland to Brunei and even Sudan.
t2r: Sounds like quite an eclectic bunch.
AY: Yes we were. And we threw the best parties on campus. Exeter was more of a suburban area, with lots of space where we held our Creamtea Events -- closed private chillout parties that eventually evolved into mini-raves on remote hilltops. We'd kick off with 2 hours of jazz, 2 hours of eclectic, then finish off with drum'n'bass and techno. We'd put up flyers all over the place and publicise on bulletin boards and even kids from Plymouth and Bristol would show up! Those were the days, though right now Creamtone is working with some partners to throw some interesting parties in Singapore so stay tuned.
t2r: So you've recently released a CD under the moniker U:tama (pronounced yew-ta-ma)...
AY: Well about 3 years ago I put together a couple of tracks and named it electrospiralharmonies (yes, it's all in the name). I posted up the tracks on mp3.com, and managed to get some good reviews. Back then mp3.com had a huge community of international artists who would remix each other's work, and I did about 25 remixes of other people's songs while I received about 30 remixes of mine. mp3.com also paid me for each download, and the amount I saved up over the years helped in the production of my first CD Beautiful Dusk. I made all of my tracks on Fruityloops (an amazing software) and found some talented friends to do the album design for me. Other than engaging a distributor, I mostly did everything DIY. I had my tracks mastered by someone I never met, just FTPed the files over to him and he sent the finished tracks back. That's the amazing power of the internet.
t2r: What's your view on the local scene
AY: Well we believe that you should always have a sense of humour in everything you do. Creamtone could die in 5 years but that's all right because we've had fun. I feel what we've achieved is already beyond our wildest dreams. I think the music scene in Singapore takes things too seriously. They don't have fun and are impatient for success. There's too much rivalry here and everyone's just pushing their own genre, especially if it's the current fad. I think they should open their minds and not fall into the bandwagon-esque mentality.
We grew up on external culture from the US and UK and were never educated to believe local culture or talents to be any good. There's something wrong with the picture when an international station like BBC invites X'ho to play, someone who was axed by a local station. I think it's ironic that U:tama has a bigger following in the US than in Singapore, where I feel like I'm starting from scratch all over again.
t2r: What's your plan for Creamtone Records in the upcoming months
AY: There's a very lively underground scene in Singapore with lots of talented electronic producers. I want Creamtone to give a voice to these producers and expose them to the worldwide audience. But I also don't want Creamtone to grow too big because that would somehow restrict our freedom to do whatever we feel like doing. I don't expect to be the one making the change in Singapore but I hope to be a part of it. To make a difference, no matter how small. Our first wave will include releasing a compilation album of local producers and throwing some very special parties.
t2r: Any advice to musicians out there?
AY: Have a day job: you need it to survive. Work at your own pace so long as you've got your goals and targets (I'm still really excited about all this after 5 years!). Do it for yourself. Don't end up doing it just to meet other people's deadlines and desires. We always start off crap as beginners, but eventually you'll improve so don't give up. Lastly, listen to helluva lot of music!
Adrian Yeo is guest DJ for this month's Instant Cafe.
Beautiful Dusk, the new album by U:tama, is available at Gramophone Records (Raffles Place, Specialist Shopping Centre and Capitol Building) ($19.99). You can also order it online at www.creamtone.net.
We are giving away a free signed copy of Beautiful Dusk to the ten readers with the best take on the question: What do you think should be done for the local music scene?
- Interview by Koh Beng Liang
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Anti-Bushwar placards in NYC 1: Regime change begins at home
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Pocket Pics: Underground Breakdancing
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Greg and co-breakerz hit the floor at an undisclosed underground location in the city.
http://www.the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/pocketpics_mov.html
For more pictures,
http://www.the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/pocketpics.html
- Shannon Low
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Anti-Bushwar placards in NYC 2: Foreplay not Warplay
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Pocket Shopping: Emerging shop spaces on the fringe
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Beach Road Market and Bugis Pasar Malam open their stalls to trendy street-style shops and Japanese imports.
Beach Road Market
:: Beach Road, Singapore, opposite Golden Mile Complex
T-shirts, shoes - including limited edition originals, bags, retro telephones and household goods, collectible toys and good old army surplus for a bargain.
Bugis Pasar Malam
:: Between Bugis Street and Albert Street, Singapore, opposite Parco Bugis
Junction
A covered market of stalls selling printed t-shirts, streetwear, satchel and courier bags, and bric-a-brac for cheap.
http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/pocketshops.html
- Shannon Low
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Anti-Bushwar placards in NYC 3: Smoke pot not Iraq
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Pocket Art: Street Art from around the world
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http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/pocketart.html
- Shannon Low
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Anti-Bushwar placards in NYC 4: Stop Mad Cowboy Disease!
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Pocket Gallery: Imagining Science
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the2ndrule is proud to present a selection of works from Ng Joon Kiat's recent exhibition, "Imagining Science", held at Artfolio Space, Raffles Hotel, Singapore.
"Imagining Science" is an interdisciplinary painting exhibition inspired by the history of science, when art and scientific illustrations were closely associated. Biological illustrations and subjects seen under a microscope serve as starting point for the works, as they negotiate a new kind of "Sciart" aesthetic - the amplification and exploration of aesthetic interventions in the interpretation of microscopic visuals.
Ng finds the idea of a "Sciart" aesthetic fascinating because it suggests the possibility of exploring a spiritual dimension in the objectivity of science - a spiritual dimension that reflects the need to be humane in an urbanised society.
http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/pocketgal.html
The "Imagining Science" exhibition is supported by Central Singapore CDC, National Arts Council, Lee Foundation, Artfolio Space and The Substation.
- Original artworks by Ng Joon Kiat
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Anti-Bushwar placards in NYC 5: Somewhere in Texas a village is missing its idiot
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Pocket Terror: Bearbricks Are Dangerous! Series 4
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"Bearbrick Are Dangerous" presents: Morph-B
http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/bb4.html
- Jason Tong
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Make Love Not War
http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue37/makelove.jpg
Photo credit: John Lamb/(Mostly) Harmless Theatre Co.-St. Louis, MO
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* 2ndrule t-shirts *
Non-uniform of the guerilla army. Now available at S$20 each.
Sizes: Girls (28,30), Boys (40,42)
http://the2ndrule.com/issues/issue24/2rtshirt.html
Please send your orders to editor@the2ndrule.com
annihilation (c) 2003 Judith H
An Evening Haiku (c) 2003 Michelle Lim
Untitled (c) 2003 Nicholas Liu
Instant Cafe Radio Episode 15 (c) 2003 Adrian Yeo
Scones and Creamtones (c) 2003 Koh Beng Liang
Underground Breakdancing (c) 2003 Shannon Low
Imagining Science (c) 2003 Ng Joon Kiat
Bearbricks Are Dangerous! Series 4 (c) 2003 Jason Tong
