Junebuggy

Here I am in KK, waiting for my visa to get processed. I will be getting it at 1:30pm and hanging out with John D from 3 till 10 probably. Maybe we’ll watch Kung Fu Panda…since *cough*this person*cough* already saw it! No hard feelings.

Anyway I think I’ve become what is universally known as a jerk.

Let me list 3 reasons:

1. I talk toooooooooooo loud.
2. I don’t inform people.
3. I idealise things.

And I’ve watched the season finale for Lost. It’s crazy. Too crazy for me to keep up. Some may say that it’s too confusing, but I say, “Be patient.”

On the topic of patience;

patience is a virtue, but you might explode.

Other things I say are:

Sometimes people need to stand on their own two feet when bad things happen.
Sure they need support…
But when the tissue box runs out you gotta go to Walmart yourself.

But this is my personal favorite:

It was a dark and stormy night, and my rump was yearning to bust out of its denim prison.

The last one’s from Everybody Loves Raymond. Many people dislike that show, but whatever. Or, lalalalalala. I have a friend who seems to lalala her way out of situations. Very clever and very amusing tactic actually. So the next time something bugs you, like when they have no more icecream after you’ve been waiting in line for 15 minutes, or when the bus system sucks so bad that it takes you 2 hours to get somewhere, just say:

lalala!

What brilliant nonsense.

I’m not an afternoon person.

3 Brilliant Things I Found This Morning:

• 4 Annoying Things Couples Do
  HA! I don’t do any of those.
• Sneaky Disgusting Things
  The one about pets really strikes me.
• 2012 BMW M6
  Brilliant design. Probably not so brilliant price if it ever were released.\

Ok I am off to… get my Visa and have some McDonald’s lunch.

Ain’t A Bummer In My Summer

So far, I’ve been back in Brunei for more than a month now from Canada and her chilling cold. But I am missing her (Canada) at her best when she is warm and in her prime. I have yet to experience her most awesome season, the summer time.

I picked up a job quite quickly with a local tutoring center doing graphic design for their website (Sample coming soon).

Just a couple of days ago I got hooked up with a very nice lady to design a logo, menu and several posters for a restaurant under new management (it’s a place in Batu Bersurat). I really enjoy freelance work. I intend to run a little business when I head back to UNBF and design posters for student societies.

I haven’t found a place to do some light DJing. There’s this place I’ve heard playing minimal and tech house but a lot of kids I know *cough*this person primarily*cough* don’t like the place. I was there myself a couple of nights ago and it did look a little off-putting. Hookahs everywhere. I’d give the place a chance for their food, atmosphere and music. But I guess I don’t really like smoke. I heard they have DJs spinning there and I would like to have a go at it and see how I fare, just for fun.

I’ve been trying to get Monkey Owner (Nikki) to get me some simple gigs at the brilliant Empire Hotel, but she says “Promote yourself first”. I really should. I think I’ll have a page on this blog describing my musical… umm… abilities?

Actually I’ll put some words out now!

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DJ Joshi*Toshi

Plays a wide variety of electronic music (hiphop, trance, funky house, deep house, downtempo funk), but enjoys everything with a melody.

Previously held weekly radio shows in UNB mixing electronic dance music. Playlist found here!

Performed for student organized parties. Biggest show played so far: 300-400 people.

–

Actually I was thinking the other day that I should adopt another name for my DJing. Joshi*Toshi sounds a little like salad. Or expiry. Maybe you readers can leave a comment and gimme’ some ideas.

I was talking to my cousin Reggie the other day and we were talking about the house music scene:

Reggie: Man, house music is big here in Toronto.
Me: I wish it were the same way here in SJ.
Reggie: Back there it’s still called techno.
Me: Yea. Techno and friggin’ “Sandstorm”.

Really. “Sandstorm” by Darude is one of the MOST overplayed techno tunes here in SJ. I feel that it’s almost like the poster-child for what electronica represents here in SJ; 138bpm, strings and a synth. If you haven’t heard of it, just YouTube it and you will be either appalled or amazed. Either way.

I have to exit to KK in Malaysia this Saturday and I will be visiting the person who I previously blogged about in utmost drama. The person’s identity will be revealed, although some of you already know. I just enjoy being dramatic.

THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST

TOA.

TRANSFER OF AFFECTION, MY MOTHER CALLS IT.

I DON’T BELIEVE IT.

“We Can’t Really Say It’s Our Primary Objective”

Lost Season 4.

My favorite exciter.

People may say that this show is just too difficult to watch and missing any episode will just confuse you. Isn’t that the same for ANY kind of show?

Last week for me was quite horrible, because I had been waking up at obscene times. 3,4,5AM. But now I’m not jetlagged.

I’m thinking about getting a job, typing and graphic design.

Don’t know yet. But maybe typing isn’t really my primary objective.

Haha.

May I?

So my last exam finished at 10pm Wednesday night on the 23rd. The next day I roadtripped to Fredericton with Graham and Becca by car to visit Matt and stay there till Saturday. Becca brought 3 weeks worth of clothing for about 2 days. She’s such a girl. I, on the other hand, brought a pullcart luggage bag filled with clothes and I didn’t even get to wear half of what I packed.

Thursday night we went to the Capital Bar to watch a band called ‘Hey Rosetta!’ live. I had never heard of them till then, but I was eager to attend a rock concert, cause the last one I went to with Jesse and Scott was fun, which was more than a year ago now.

We arrived at The Capital Bar two hours early cause we had no pre-sale tickets, but fortunately we did get tickets. And the ticketseller did some great miscalculation and we ended up with a bunch more change than we were supposed to have. Maybe I’m not supposed to say that…

The bar was pretty empty when we got there. Cause we were there pretty much 3 whole hours before the gig started.

We watched “John McKiel” open up with a 30-40 minute set around 11:30pm. They had an interesting sound. But now that I’m Hongkong writing this I forget what words to use to describe them.

“Hey Rosetta!” was certainly memorable, though. Watching them somehow re-ignited my interest in playing in a band. I should post up pictures of my old band…

So I left Saint John, Canada on Thursday night. And after numerous flights and time-zone crossings, I’m here in HongKong using free Wi-Fi, planning what to do Sunday morning, before my flight to Brunei at 3:30pm. Should I stay in and relax? Or should I get out into the city and do some exploring? The last time I was here in August 07 I wandered through the streets.

I had to sleep over at the Toronto Airport because my flight to Vancouver was at 10am the next day, and I didn’t have time (or money, for that matter) to look around for a hotel/motel.

Toronto Airport is a nice airport. But what really bugs me about that place is that… luggage carts AREN’T free ($2 per cart). And the Wi-Fi there ISN’T free either. AND there aren’t many power outlets! I guess there is much truth behind the fact there is no free lunch, power, and Wi-Fi.

The plane ride from Vancouver to HongKong was a blistering 13 hours. The worst part about the flight was that I forgot to put more songs into my mp3 player (I only had 38 with me), and that I didn’t bring my 3 novels with me! I was gonna’ read The Hobbit, some other fantasy novel, and The Notebook (yes, The Notebook).

Also…I forgot to pack socks onto my handcarry luggage… so… you know… my feet are kinda… smelling like a brash mix of bad salt and old squid. I have smelled worse socks - against my own will (thanks, Asmar) - it smelled like… oh wow. It remains indescribable up to this very day. But no worries… I already have my luggage out with me and I will change my socks. And I will have myself a shower inside the terminal tomorrow. They have very classy shower facilities, at very affordable prices!

I should be on my way to sleeping but I’m busy downloading the latest episode of Lost. It simply grips me! And it’s really busy and noisy here at HongKong International Airport so I doubt I’d be able to snag in sleep time.

Wow I really should change my socks.

Anyway in my short time I have compiled a small personal playlist for transcontinental travel.

1. Alex Gopher - The Child
2. Jakatta - It Will Be
3. Telefon Tel Aviv - TTV
4. Miguel Migs - So Far
5. Kaskade - 4AM
6. Orbital - Halcyon + On + On
7. Ralph Myerz & Jack Herren Band - Here Is Love
8. Billie Holiday - It Had To Be You
9. Tahiti80 - Mr. Davies
10. Stereophonics - Have A Nice Day

So I think I’ll be exploring a bit of HongKong tomorrow morning… and maybe buy some cheap shirts from the sidestalls. That’s all for now! I leave you with some pictures of Fredericton, Rock Band and my unpacked bags.

My Ears are ringing (Part 1)

So last night I went to Fredericton with Matt, Graham and Becca and we saw two awesome bands live playing at the Capital Bar. We saw a band called ‘John McKiel’ and ‘Hey Rosetta’ live.

They were REALLY good. But I’ll give an update and pictutres on that some other day because we’re just about to have lunch (by lunch i mean frozen pizza).

So I’ll tell you about it over the weekend.

April Fooled Me

After ZERO blog posts in about 3-4 weeks. Here I am. Finals are now here. Out of four exams I am already done with three and my last exam ends on the 23rd of April. And one week one day after that I’ll be back in sunny Brunei. I will expecting to fall sick for a couple of days, and putting my hand in my home refrigerator to find that my hand can’t feel any cold at all. ANYWAY…

Here’s my latest poster-work!

My friend Selma consulted me to make this campaign poster for her. This was one of my favorite poster assignments. I learned a bunch of new techniques for ‘brushed metal’ effects. And I learned how to put faces of her in other places, with somewhat ’stylistic’ appearances.

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After Bowling With The Nurses, came Swimming With The Nurses. The Engineering Undergraduate Sociiety sure has some awesome ideas, if you know what I’m saying. I didn’t go to this event, for what reasons I can’t really remember. This poster incorporates a lot of tropical elements; waves, trees, sunshine and obviously the strong commanding orange.

For some reason I can’t find the PSD file for this! AH!

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For the coming summer months I have some projects, which are as follows:

• Learn more cooking.
• Learn how to drive, legally (I already know how to drive from the uni to my house. Thanks Dana! And Brian! And Courtney! And Asmar!).
• Get my mum to hook me up with a graphic design company for a bit.
• Design t-shirts through Threadless.com with Amilyn and bunch of other folk (Fafa, Des, Ali)!
• Play some gigs at this restaurant called ‘TT Blues’.
• Learn a bunch of Photoshop techniques. I bought this Photoshop mag a while ago and I haven’t sat down and tried all the cool effects tutorials they have.
• Save money to buy Adobe Photoshop CS2 Creative Suite ($149) in Canada.
• Design the t-shirt for the Engineering Undergraduate Society. They’re paying me handsomely for it too… I HOPE! Haha.

Music News Snippets

• My Eclectic Electric radio show with campus radio is coming to an end. My last show is on the 30th of April. I don’t know how I’ll be ending the series. Should be something special. Maybe I’ll…NOT TURN UP (Just kidding, Jud!). A yet-to-be-complete tracklist from previous episodes are up! And downloadable sets will be available soon (Episodes 1 through 11).
  —–

• I DJed at Last Class Bash 08 for UNB. Had 3 sets. At the end of the night I was severely exhausted! I had a good time and many thanks to the people who helped me along the way (I thanked them through Facebook).That night was pretty wicked. Played upstairs from 10-11. Again at 12-1. And finally ending my night with a 1-1:45 set downstairs.  I personally had more fun during my 2nd set. Lots of audible/visible crowd-to-DJ-to-crowd interaction. Downstairs was a whole different story. I stepped in the main room with John case and the place was super packed, and dark, and there were so many faces. No doubt I had fun downstairs with the massive speaker set-up but it kinda over-exceeded my expectations in my way. Hmm… I wonder how Tiesto and all the arena-playing DJs feel when playing inside stadiums!Some tracks I played that night…
  1. Basement Jaxx - Red Alert
  2. Rihanna - Shut Up And Drive (Wideboys Remix)
  3. Paul Johnson - Get Get Down
  4. Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters - Destination Unknown
  5. Marco Demark feat. Casey Barnes - Tiny Dancer (Moto Blanco Remix)

  If I had any personally bad moments it would have to be this: I was asked by one person to play some hiphop.
  I’m not knocking on hiphop or anything (I love it), but this is how I felt…
  

  Can’t people listen to some house!

  —–
  Some pictures from that night.
  
  Pretty ridiculous crowd downstairs. 300-400 people! Quite scary when I stepped in at 1am!
  With Hassan at the booth in the Main Room

  
  With Ali upstairs in the Lounge.

  
  Still DJing like a microwave DJ. Need to pick up MIDI controllers! But just cause I use a laptop doesn’t mean the quality of the mixes are dumbed down! I’ll post up some sample mixes sometime soon!

  —–

• Excellent oldies running through my mind:
  1. Elton John - Tiny Dancer (how convenient that when I started getting into this song, the 2008 remix came along)
  2. Barry Manilow - Who’s Been Sleeping In My Bed
  3. The Carpenters - Superstar
  4. Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade

I bought these shoes 2 months ago, and look at them. Pretty dope. I don’t say dope usually, but Becca says it too much.

So I guess that’s all I’ll say for now. My radio show is on tomorrow and I should be playing a bunch of highly fresh tracks that I’ve just purchased from Beatport.

And here is possibly the funniest CD cover:

March Breaks Me.

A random image I took quite a while ago, playing around with Photoshop.

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Here’s some of my visual projects for this month…

• My friend Selma is having a campaign to get her elected for a VP External position onto UNB’s student council. So I was ‘hired’ to produce a campaign poster.

• The Engineering Undergraduate Society is having a joint event with the Nursing Society, called ‘Swimming With The Nurses’. Awesome event name. And so I’m gonna’ be producing the event poster, which I am scouring around for ideas for. Some want a girl in a bikini with a nurse’s hat on with a hypodermic needle in one hand and a calculator in another.

I enjoy making posters!

Post-Performance Report @ McLeod House Formal

So I just performed at the McLeod house formal. Desiree’s knocked out and in bed. And Jared is possibly watching television. And I am just sitting here and listening to a string of cheesy ballads from The Carpenters.

So I’ll cut to the chase, let me analyze how I did.

6.5/10.

Why such a mediocre score? Well…

Here is the definitive reason for such a score:

Not-that-great organization
I guess I messed up big time on the organization part, which in my opinion was just all over the place.

Worst Moments:

• Loading up “The Way I Are”, then realizing I downloaded an unreleased Timbaland tune when I played it. Sucked big time!!

Favorite Moments:

• Playing “Call On Me”, with the 2min+ buildup and the crowd forming a train.
• Randomly mixing “Love Like This” with “Stronger”. Two tunes that brought almost everyone to the floor, and kept them there.
• Playing arena-rock at the end (”Cleveland Rocks”, “Mr. Brightside”, etc).

But I think I’m just being too critical of myself perhaps.

I personally had fun though, especially during the house segment of my performance. Started out with the bumpin’ “Low” track, merging from 128bpm hip-hop to electro remixes of Rihanna and Timbaland, then moving to “One More Time” and even “Superfreak” and other classic tracks that got the house treatment. I just love house music. And I think the house segment had a consistent amount of people over a period of time.

Some things I learned:
People love singing song they know.
Never play “Makes Me Wonder” after “Milkshake”.

Just a little update on my DJing and performing life. Have a good weekend!

1 Week Left!

Next Friday I DJ at the Crown Plaza Hotel!

How prestigious, I think.

I’m excited.