AniManGaki 2012 Day 1 (Band)

Finally here's my AniManGaki band entry. To be honest I was pretty skeptical about how this performance will turn out as our band is having a major member change and the leader had to go for a sudden trip (he could not join us on the day of performance). Can you believe it? We only met each other (all full new members) TWO days, 2!!! days before the performance; and worst we only had around 5 hours of jamming session together (you can minus out all the preparation time yourself). But you know the saying "Do or DIE", when humans are in desperate situation somehow we'll just do something that seems impossible. I remember our goal at that moment was to "NOT embarass ourselves on stage" and I guess that works. Afterall our reputation as a performer is at stake! So it's sort of a miracle that we can pull it off on stage.

 

The 5 hour practice went smoothly and I really LOVE the new members! They are all very fun people, and I'm sure we all enjoy music (even though some of them do not listen to Japanese music). It's hard to find people who clicks together but I guess we are doing fine (or maybe it's my imagination but I genuinely felt happy to have met all of them). Here's the new member line-up:

 

Vocalist : Sakurazuka Minori (me~)

[NEW] Lead Guitarist: Daniel

[NEW] Rhythm Guitarist: David

[NEW] Bassist: Dustin

Keyboardist: Joee

[NEW] Drummer: Crysler

 

And so, on the performance day we were supposed to reach at 8am for sound check, but only the drummer (Crysler) was there with me. Dustin (Bassist) and Joee (Keyboardist) were late due to unforseen circumstances - their car broke down in the middle of the road. For more you can visit Joee's Blog. The other two guys were late due to whatever reason I can't remember haha. Anyway in the end we decided to just fix the instruments right before the performance.

 

After the short, sorta sound check, Dustin's bass strings broke O.O , and so we had to go to guitar store to get them changed. Haha, all the bad luck seems to make the day more interesting. We had breakfast together at McD, and then everyone (except me) went to practice near the corner of the stairs. I was busy warm up for my solo performance.

 

3.30pm - Our performance time! I don't think we made any obvious mistakes, personally I think that this was good enough from a 5 hour jamming practice. I couldn't find any pictures that can see all full members during the live. But here's one of them:

 

 

Can't see the drummer in this picture T_T.

However! After the performance we had some mini photoshoot by borrowing Misao's photobooth, so here it is:

 

Joee and I: The only two girls in the band~

Daniel and I - Daniel studies music full time in UM, and has great guitar skills~

Two girls, Drummer (Crysler) and Bassist (Dustin): Dustin was really cool with his visual kei looks. Am amazed at his ability to pose in front of the camera. I'm sure he has many female fans wanting to take a picture with him, although he denies that fact haha. Oh and Dustin is a fan of Gazette just like me! He spends around an hour for that hair style too.

 

Two girls and the Drummer: Crysler always ignores me T_T...or maybe I'm too noisy hahaha. Too bad he might not be joining our band for performances anymore since he did not like Japanese music much, but am still happy that we worked together before!

 

I just realised I did not take any solo picture with David (rhythm guitarist). Wonder where did he run of that day. Anyway, David is also a very funny guy, whom I enjoy chatting with. I wonder if he feels the same too, bug am gonna continue bug him in the future haha.

 

This is my FAVOURITE picture of all! Our group picture!! Everyone looks cool (except me), it's definitely the best group picture I had for the band ^^. Too bad Carlson (band leader) was not there, but don't worry I'm sure we'll take more group pictures in future.

 

Hahaha, I really like this picture too. It looks like those behind the scenes pictures, like we are some super stars or something haha.

 

We performed 3 songs this time:

1. SCANDAL - Pride

2. Unlimits - Haruka Kanata

3. LiSA - Crossing Fields

 

Here's the videos:

 

 

 

 

I know I've repeated this many times but I really LOVE my band!! Like what Joee said in her blog, this is one of the best thing that happened on me as well ^^. Just like how happy I felt when I type this post, I hope my readers will feel the same too~.

 

Do visit my band's page: The CrestFall

As well as my fan page: jasmine minori

Thanks for the support!

The CrestFall Band (C2AGE 2012 mini report)

My band, as some of you might already know, is The CrestFall. We are a new 6-piece band, formed and started our performance activities this year. Here's what my band leader wrote as a introduction for our band (found in our FB band page):

 

"Our project was born of a deep admiration and respect for the artists and their music. What we hope to bring to our audience is not only the momentary joy of our performance but a lasting memory that would carve deep into their hearts. CrestFall strives to ignite the love and influence of J-POP more as widely it could known, rocking in 2012!"

 

And so, we have performed twice this year, up till now. First was at C2AGE 2012, sorry I'm too lazy to write up a proper entry for that because it was several months ago. But to be fair, since our band member changed almost drastically since C2age, I should post up some pictures of our old member line-up for C2age before writing my AniManGaki 2012 band entry:

 

Vocalist : Sakurazuka Minori (me~) 

 

 

Leader, Rhythm Guitarist : Carlson

 



Lead Guitarist: Eugene Cheah

Bassist : Nicholas

Keyboardist : Joee

 

Drummer : Ken Yue

 

I've had fun with all the previous members, and the performance on C2AGE 2012 was definitely a memorable one. As it was my first time collaborating with a band, I've learnt many things that I previously won't even encounter being the solo performer as I've always am. Working with people is of course more difficult than doing it alone, and there's 6 times the probability of having something wrong during live stage (excluding sound engineering/equipment problems); but thats the fun of it and I enjoy having variables in my life.

 

Here's more pictures of us in action during C2age 2012:

 

 

 

 

One last picture of my band leader and I, because he did not join us for our AniManGaki 2012 performance, just to be fair haha.

 

We performed 1 introduction piece and 2 full songs during C2age 2012:

1. Battle Soldier

2. KOTOKO - Light My Fire

3. LiSA - Little Braver

 

Here are the videos available on youtube. Video credits to Blaze Hee.

 

 

 

Do sit back and enjoy our first live performance ^^. AniManGaki 2012 Band entry will be up next.

AniManGaki 2012 Day 1 (Solo)

Yeah I know. It has been like more than 1 month since the event. But better late than none right? This will be my entry about how I felt relating to my solo singing performance + event. So anyway, here's some introduction of the event:

"AniManGaki is abbreviated from the words Anime, Manga and Gaki (Japanese slang for 'brat'). The event name was coined on 30^th of March at 3.00 am via MSN Messenger Chatroom between Yvonne and a crew member. The light bulb lighted eventually because of Yvonne’s nickname for the crew members. You’ve guessed it right; it’s the word 'gaki'."

And so, AniManGaki is a yearly event that aims to bring together "fans and lovers of anime from all walks of life". Apparently this year's theme was High School theme, so there's more cosplayers wearing school uniform themed costume - My band's keyboardist wore school themed stage clothes too~.

 

I know there's more reviews and walkthrough for this event done by other bloggers, but perhaps this review is a little different since it's from a performer's perspective. I'm happy to say that me (Sakurazuka Minori as solo singer) and my band (The CrestFall) was one of the performers for this event ^^.

 

Poster picture for bands and performances at AniManGaki. This was printed in the event booklet as well.

 

Event schedule for stage activities.

 

I was there in the event hall around 7.45am, in order not to be late for the sound check by 8am. Was not too worried about the sound check for my solo performance because it's just playing from my USB/CD. The main concern for sound check was the band, but the members were late, so...anyway this will be talked about in my next entry for bands~.

 

First I went to the ticket counter to get our stage passes, which was printed "Rock Band Superstar"; kinda funny but interesting. I was searching for Pau as she was the one who liase with me through emails regarding stage activities but she was not around (only met her later). After that I was lead by some helpful volunteers to meet Kenneth (the person who was responsible for the stage). He was a very nice person and we went through the sound check for my solo performance very quickly.

 

 

Stage pass.

 

After the sound check I was just hanging around with my band mates, having breakfast, rehearse quietly as many times as we can. P/S: So sorry I couldn't spend much time with some friends hanging around in the event. You all know I can't really enjoy myself before the performance >_<. Was always too focused on my preparation and warmup before stage.

 

My stage outfit this time was pretty simple. It was the first time wearing pants on stage actually. My band dress code was supposed to be semi-formal (which in the end all of us ended up wearing differently haha), and so I decided to keep my outfit simple. For solo performance I just top my white blouse with a punkish rock vest, braid my hair and decorate it with a mini hat (that'll do i guess haha).

 

Solo performance outfit for AniManGaki 2012.

 

Some pictures taken while I'm on stage. Photo credits to  photography and blue diamond photography.

I don't think I've made much mistakes for this performance, except for my final song, which I now learnt that I should not do a really tough song at the end of my performance (when i was fully exhausted). But oh well, it's always learning from mistakes ^^, will continue to do my best in my future performances.

 

OH but i've meet with several friends (Akiko, Sayoko, Nat and Fishie~). This was the first time I get to stay in the event longer after my performance since Akiko was kind enough to give me a ride home after dinner. Met Sacchin(Sayoko) and Nat while I was having breakfast in McD with my band mates, am feeling so sorry because I've forgotten that I was the one holding their entrance ticket. They had to go all the way to find me for the tickets O.O oh gosh so sorry.

 

This time, I get to walked around the event halls with Fishie~ We looked around the doujin stalls and obviously I'm too weak to resist buying stuff. Bought a pack of Kuroko keychains! I decided to get the entire pack which includes 5 generation of miracles + kuroko +kagami + 1 mysterious character; as I really do not have a favourite character in Kuroko no Basket (I absolutely ADORE them all!).

Full characters! Chibis are always so cute~ There's even Kuroko no2 on Kuroko's head ^^.

 

 Guess what's the mysterious character?
Drum rolls....TADAA~

It's Momoi~ I heard from Sacchin and Nat that there's Takao, would have been happier if I've gotten Takao instead.

After buying 2 sets of Kuroko chains (one for my sis), Fishie and I passed by a stall which erm..you can pay like RM1 (something like that I forgot) and pick a piece of fortune for yourself. And this is what I've gotten:

Quite a fun fortune telling hahaha. But I was not wearing blue underwear that day so I'm safe I guess? hahaha... and after that the booth helpers kinda poof some magic on me to increase my luck or something, don't understand but fun either way ^^.
 

Photo with Fishie + Kuroko no2. Wish I could have walked around more with her, and with other friends. Typing this post made me wanna go walk around events properly seeing booths one by one, wonder if I get to go CF, haha.

After the event, Akiko and I had dinner in Sakae sushi, which we had Sukiyaki and some salmon mentaiyaki (may have eaten more but I can't recall). Sukiyaki in sakae was sweeter than the one I used to had in Bdr Puteri, but still lovely all the same. Thanks Akiko for the ride home (and of course the chats and fun)!~

I'll end this post with my solo performance videos; I performed 4 covers on that day, sit back and enjoy~:
1. Hirano Aya - Lost my Music
2. Younha - Houki Boshi
3. Fukuhara Miho - Let it Out
4. Vocaloid GUMI - Setsuna Trip

 

 

A big hug and thanks for all who came and supported my performance, it really means a lot to me. Hope to have more time to hang out with all of you during events. See you guys in next event!

Please visit my FB page for more future updates: http://www.facebook.com/jasmineminori

Studio Recording Offer @ Fastlights Studios

As some of you might know, I was away to Spain and Portugal during the last two weeks of July. It was a very different experience, unlike other parts of UK. Will update about the trip if I have the time.

So, right when I came back from my Spain/Portugal trip, I pretty much rushed through to edit my tracks for Animangaki 2012(AMG) performance; as well as preparing songs to record for my first studio recording experience.

The studio recording deal was an offer I randomly saw at FB – RM50 for 3 Karaoke tracks recording (3 hours) + editing + mixing. It was quite a deal as I think the normal price to record a karaoke track is RM180 with sound engineer and editing. Studio ambience was fine (recording and working room), except that there was no sign board, door locked always and the whole place outside the working room was empty with not much lights, no furniture as well. Plus there’s only one sound engineer there, so it would be better for females to have someone to accompany if you would like to try out this studio ^^.

I have to say the tracks I recorded are only of average quality as I have only 2-3 takes (some small parts maybe more) per song, and there’s a time constraint of 1 hour per song. Perhaps I’m just not used to it as I usually have more than 50 takes per track when I do home studio recording. Editing wise I’ve learnt some stuff thanks to the helpful sound engineer and I believe after more practice I should be able to edit my own tracks better in the future.

To sum it up this recording deal should be suitable for songs that require minimal editing (clear vocals not much effects) and vocalist who can sing perfectly within very few takes (or for those who just wanna have fun recording some songs ^^). If I’m not wrong there should be more recording deals during festive seasons (Christmas, Valentine’s day, Chinese New Year..etc) and I won’t mind trying out for festive songs to have some fun again~

Do check out Fastlights Studios FB for more information regarding studio service and packages:

https://www.facebook.com/fastlightsstudios

Unboxing Samson C01U

I've been wanting to get myself a USB studio condenser microphone for years. And so after surveying, reading all sorts of net reviews and sound samples (and with the help of my friend), I finally found this lovely model to get along with - good quality with reasonable price~

Unboxing and fixing it took some time, and am overall satisfied with the sound recording test. 

 >> Box includes: C01U microphone, USB cable (long enough to stand and sing while attaching it to the computer), tripod desk stand, black pouch (some sort of plastic feel), and also a audio software.

I tried recording some songs partially to test out the recording quality and am so far satisfied ^^. Details are captured well and the tripod desk is more stable than I thought. But I think having a Popfilter is necessary to reduce the "pop" sound. After putting the Popfilter the recording sounds so much cleaner. I wonder if it's the mic or the filter, but there's no background noises (fan, air, etc) so I don't have to worry much about the recording environment.

Wanted to get myself a mic boom but it's already out of my budget, so I decided to purchase the Samson Shockmount first as it's quite a popular product.

Gonna play around my new gadget and hopefully record more song covers~