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A Storm in a Beer
Bottle
Heineken's recently concluded Malaysian leg of the
global Found @ Thirst competition, which saw DJ Fono win
the coveted prize of opening for Paul Oakenfold from a
nationwide selection of contestants, stirred up a little
controversy.
Firstly, attacks flew back and forth on Malaysian dance
music forums between punters and (disguised) scenesters
accusing the competition of being unfair or rigged. The
Klue messageboards,
for example, were rife with comments denouncing the
standard of DJing on display during the heats.
"I wonder what would Oakenfold thinks (sic) when he sees
mambo-jambo DJs in his finals. Probably laughed (sic) at
the Malaysian club scene for having clowns playing junk.
Is this how we are going to potray our Malaysian DJs?"
was one of the tamer responses to the competition.
Other posters were not so kind. As an example of the
frivolous personal attacks that these messageboard
discussions sometimes degenerate to, someone posting as
'eric kuppa' had this to say about the contest: "A big
fuck U to Terence C who was part of the judging team and
to those Dickheads working in Bates"
Clearly, Found @ Thirst wasn't going to be a walk in
the park for Heineken or the hopeful contestants. This
was also the case when the Singapore leg was held at
Zouk last year, when Singaporean punters vented their
frustration at what they percieved was a popularity
contest rather than a genuine test of DJ skill. Posters
on the notorious 'Singapore
Dance Forum' (formerly
danceandsoul.com's
forum) ran roughshod over the winner, DJ Small, and
runner-up, Yukun.
However, perhaps a more interesting, although more
low-key point that arose because of Oakenfolds star
presence is the disclaimer on
Heineken's
website stating that "To enter the Heineken.com
website you must be non-Muslim and at least the legal
drinking age of 18 years"
While reasonable enough, some punters who were trying
to win passes to see Oakenfold through a 'Match and Win'
contest conducted through the Heineken website were
unhappy because this disqualified them from the contest.
This contest gave the top 50 high scorers a pair of
passes to the Oakenfold party at The Mines, access to
the man's autograph session at Tower Records, and a
goodie bag.
Either because they didn't read the fine print or
through sheer optimism, some Muslims apparently tried
their luck at the Match and Win contest, and managed to
get on the High Score board.
One such individual, who claimed to have reached the
fourth spot in the rankings, said that "suddenly" all
the apparently Malay/Muslim names on the score board had
been erased. Indeed, a check at the High Score board
revealed no Malay/Muslim names in the top 50 ranking.
The individual, who declined to be named, had this to
say about the sudden 'cleanout': "All my effort gone....
but what to do? The tickets are so expensive. It might
be better if Heineken does these kinds of contests in an
entirely non-muslim country next time,"
When asked about the 'non-Muslim' regulation, Farrell
Tan, Heineken's account manager at their PR company,
said that the regulation is "mandatory where alcohol is
concerned in Malaysia".
He added: "You will find similar disclaimers on
tobacco-related websites as well, as they both fall
under the same type of category"
When asked about the individuals whose names had been
unceremoniously removed from the high scores, he replied
that it was "probably done" to protect Heineken and that
the beer giant had the right to erase the names of those
who had "lied" about their religion when entering the
site.
A check at a few beer company websites revealed that
some did indeed require viewers of their site to be both
above 18 and non-Muslim.
Carlsberg's
website states "Access to this Site is NOT allowed
for under-aged users. The term "under-aged" is defined
by the rules regarding age of consent of your own
country, but in general you must be over 18 years of age
and a non-Muslim to view this Site" but
Tiger Beer's
website, only stipulates an above-18 clause for its
website viewers.
British American
Tobacco, which owns Kent, among other brands, does
not restrict minors or Muslims from viewing its web
content, although it does state that it does not collect
information of under-aged viewers.
So, all and well and good, there are certain
restrictions in place in a country like Malaysia, which
as the government is fond of telling us, requires a
great deal of care when dealing with "sensitive issues"
like race and religion.
But the question could be asked, does the minor
Heineken incident really point to racial and religious
differences that often go ignored in the local party
scene?After all, isn't it the stereotype that Malays are
herb-smoking drum n bass or hip hop addicts, Chinese
listen to feng tau and trance on an MDMA high while
Indians enjoy RnB and large doses of alcohol?
Such stereotypes are often perpetuated through
unspoken gestures and looks or the occasional overheard
whisper like "eh, Backroom got alot of melayu, one you
know?" or "don't go to Bangsar lah, all the machas
there" and "Warp is full of feng tau bengs, lah, don't
bother"
Of greater concern is the fact that sometimes, these
stereotypes seem to perpetuate themselves in reality.
For example, how often do you see a mixed-race group of
clubbers at an event? Based purely on personal
observation, it appears that most clubbers in KL tend to
hang out with their own race, and rarely make an attempt
to inter-mingle.
Race and religion are facts that should not be
ignored or buried under racial stereotypes. They ought
to be recognised and engaged with, and in the microcosm
of clubland, with plenty of social lubricants available,
it seems like the most conducive environment to do just
that.
-joon
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Note: Below is Silicon Sounds'
frontman, Gay Messiah Jay's take on the much-maligned
Religion of Sound event that took place at Zouk,
Singapore, last week. It has been edited for clarity.
ROS: The Things
You Were Not Meant To Know
It has been kicking me in the head the past week bout
the outcome... even more when I did most of the
organising and directing for 3-4 months prior... how a
would-be chance of a lifetime blew up back in my face
all just for a few demons inside me left unleashed by my
own will... still baffles me. Cancel out all the forum
critics, take heed with no disrespect and a lot has been
learned,
BUT:
Truth be it the blackness of the event came from none
other than the person who masterminded the whole
thing...
Me, Myself & Gay Messiah Jay
The bottom line is that, I got too wild on stage due to
PUI (performing under the influence) which I am very
infamous for. After repeatedly being warned by Tracy
Phillips (marketing manager) of Zouk, which was made
known to her in a previous performance of mine she
attended, I didn’t take her warnings seriously and we
all can say is I myself was lost on stage that night.
Hence breaching very simple protocol, [for an event
that] could have turned out disastrously on any scale.
Most of the audience might have thought otherwise and it
was all part of the performance but not Zouk Management,
who took the matter very seriously.
[Our] relationship with Zouk has deteriorated to
nothingness (much understood and expected) (note: Jay
says that Zouk has recently been in touch and there is
no bad blood between them), not because of
Sleepwalker's (MC and producer) stage antics, not
because of Muon’s “alternative” set that failed to
please a handful at Zouk and not because of the Religion
of Sound (ROS) collective that has passed but because of
myself, Gay Messiah Jay and the unprofessionalism that
came with me on the night, apart from what a lot of
people have been criticising in the forums regarding
stage antics / sound etc.
I would like to give a public notice of apology towards
Tracy Phillips and Zouk Management, who entrusted me
with a lot more than a simple local producer would be
entitled too, as well as to all the acts involved in the
ROS, Muon, The Sleepwalker and all the supporting
artistes and cohorts. What I tried to bring about as a
beginning has turned towards a very bad end... which
will be tattooed in my heart for much time, till
proclaimed otherwise.
On that note I have put the ROS to sleep, not only due
to the outcome of the event but also because of
religious groups that have voiced their views about the
ROS. Everything has just been a very big atomic cloud of
controversy regarding the event on a whole.
I have also had a very full read on all the critics and
I have to say a lot has been learnt and will be learnt
in order to pull of a similar event in the future... if
there shall be given one, on our shores or elsewhere.
Much sadness has been brought towards all the acts
involved. As my friend and co performer Muon said, "big
event hence - BIG feelings". For all the critics who
have given their views, much thanks for taking the time
to speak up from your perspective. Once again I must
stress that a lot has been learnt and will be learnt!
As for Silicon Sounds (SS) and myself, siliconsounds.org
has gone down for some reconstruction and will be up
ASAP with a new outlook and crisp sounds ... from the
soul I have to say no downs can uproot my music and
beliefs, I will continue to churn out whatever I deem
feasible and hope for the best from within Singapore or
which ever part of the world SS resides in.
All that to rest, every single one of the participants
and aids all accumulating to around the no. 25 put their
full hearts into the night and gave it everything .. The
former ROS collective gave their blood, Muon rocked the
night - The Sleepwalker ultra rocked the night, as well
as all their supporting acts! As for me... be it drunk
or the night’s overall sound quality being an issue ...
I still gave it 100 percent then and ever since the day
I committed myself to all things SOUND.
On a last note: To me this is not at all acceptable – a
perfectionist by trade, I have been doing this for quite
awhile and all effort and sacrifice has been flushed
down the drain for just one wrong turn, stuff like this
gotta happen to somebody rite? As of now it’s like I’m
starting from scratch or worse even. I would like to
reach to everyone reading this to not let their demons
take control and mess up their lives or would-be huge
opportunities within their lives, or worst... others
opportunities. We all have demons, the only way to
overcome them is to take those demons, before they take
you.
Till again!
Respects, Peace & Love.
Sincerely,
Gay Messiah Jay
Silicon Sounds
030403
<Siliconsounds.org
-> web & new stuff up between “end April – May”.>
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Bombs, Nightclubs and Pneumonia
So the long-awaited sequel to the Gulf War has
finally hit screens worldwide. Millions hang on to every
inane word and trivial angle of the major news networks
as anchors struggle to fill airtime. So what does this
mean for nightclub denizens and committed hedonists
everywhere?
It seems likely that in this current climate of orange
alerts, 24-hour jet patrols over major US cities, the
coalition of the willing and homicide bombers, there may
be a dip in the number of people on the dancefloors
every night. It can't be easy to boogie the night away
knowing about all the death and destruction going on
across the seas. Especially if it's on the TV all the
time.
Of course, the converse could be true, more people will
want to retreat to the snug, womblike confines of
clubland for their fix of anti-reality (or hyper-reality
for some), happy to take their mind off the sorry state
of affairs known as international politics. To
paraphrase one Mr. Velvet, nothing beats la-la-land.
In Asia, the war has led to seasoned travellers like
Japanese techno maverick, Ken Ishii thinking twice about
extended air travel. Apparently, he has decided to stay
put while the bullets and bombs are flying.
In unrelated incidents, Moby and Terry Francis have
cancelled their stops in Singapore because of a lethal
strain of pneumonia called severe acute respiratory
syndrome (Sars), which apparently, needs to have both
adjectives 'severe' and 'acute' tacked onto it just to
underline it's deadliness.
But does all this add up to less club nights for us in
Malaysia and Singapore? Hell no... just get on down to
la-la-land. Just don't bury your head in the sand.
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And in Other News...
In the rarified air of Clubland, we
usually forget that the rest of the country (or the
world for that matter) lives in a much more restricted
environment. In Clubland, we are free to do as we
please. Pop a pill, dance all night, hook up on the
dancefloor… yes, sometimes even on a weeknight! But it
would do us good to bear in mind that Malaysians and
Singaporeans are still governed by a very tight set of
laws that constantly limit our actions and thoughts.
The most recent and compelling
example of this is the raid on independent news provider
Malaysiakini. The website, which won the Media Pioneer
award from the New York-based Committee to Protect
Journalists in 2000, was effectively shut down after the
police confiscated their computers and servers over an
UMNO Youth police report.
UMNO Youth (a wing of the biggest
component party making up the ruling coalition, Barisan
Nasional) filed the report because they felt
Malaysiakini had published a “seditious” letter that
questioned Bumiputera rights. Malaysiakini and its
editor, Steven Gan, stood by their journalistic
principals by refusing to divulge the identity of the
letter-writer, who used the pseudonym ‘Petrof’. The
police, in turn, felt it was their professional duty to
carry out the investigation by confiscating all of
Malaysiakini’s computer equipment, despite Gan’s offer
of a written undertaking guaranteeing the integrity of
the information.
Gan and four sub-editors were then
questioned at the Dang Wangi police station for hours,
ostensibly to get more information on the identity of
Petrof. A day later, several computers were returned to
Malaysiakini. However, instead of a triumphant return,
Malaysiakini now faces eviction from their cosy Bangsar
Utama premises by landlord (and government-backed) PC
Suria.
Many quarters of civil society,
both in Malaysia and abroad, have stood up for
Malaysiakini so far, from international groups like
Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders to
the Malaysians who donated their computer equipment and
even Barisan Nasional leaders.
The raid starkly illustrates the
thin line Malaysians still have to tread between
exercising their right to free speech and invoking the
ire of the government. Harsh truths to be learned, very
much like the occasional police raid on clubs, when the
lights go out and the music is killed, except this time,
there’s more at stake than just a good night out.
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We might already be a week or so into 2003, but it’s not
too late to influence the course of KL clubland’s future
with…
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My New Year Wish List 2003!!!
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(1) More independent events!
>We saw plenty of corporate-sponsored action last
year, what with Kent's Elevation and The Last Blast,
which amassed a body count of more than 20,000
cumulatively. However, we also saw the advent of the
Regenerate parties by promoters Tempo and Frenzy.
The Regenerate parties were as eagerly anticipated as
the big Kent ‘dos and they have successfully garnered a
loyal following of ex-Movement heads, jaded punters and
newly-turned 18 year-olds. This was largely thanks to
its fresh outdoor feel and the always exciting trek to
Cyberjaya. The 6am license and bangin’ techno probably
helped a little as well!
Elsewhere, newly founded breakbeat crew Beatmonkey
and old dnb hands Loops Collective also put up some
pretty good nights with their regular Back2Basics event
at Bangsar’s Bilique. Besides giving Bangsar a space for
listening to some quality music apart from Echo (which
can get packed with scenesters very quickly), they also
blazed a trail for oft-neglected genres.
2002 also saw some great one-offs like Frenzy’s World
AIDS Day party featuring Mr C (and a host of supple
models to float your boat) and the Klue Urbanscapes
party at Grappa Soho. Both had plenty of local celebs
and hipsters in attendance, what with Chef Wan at the
Frenzy party and just about every
musician/artist/performer crammed into Grappa, but they
also delivered where it mattered – there was great
music, an excellent vibe and we variety-starved KLites
lapped it all up.
(2) New faces in the booth!
>If the complaint in the past was that we weren’t
supporting our local DJs enough, that has been answered
by the rousing response veterans like Gabriel, Burger,
Groovedoctor and Jungle Jerry receive every time they
take the decks.
But the new problem, the ‘Malaysian Clubland
Dilemma’, to paraphrase a wise doctor, is that there is
too little new blood entering the scene.
Besides the aforementioned veterans, there seems to
be a dearth of local DJs who can rock a crowd with no
questions asked.
If the scene is to remain fresh, vibrant and healthy,
then there must be a constant infusion of new talent and
energy. So let’s see more fresh talent stepping up to
the plate and hopefully, those at the top of the heap
right now won’t try to hold them back.
(3) Less drugs!
>Come on guys, you know you don’t need drugs to
party. That’s an individual choice… but why screw things
up for everyone else, too? One guy (or girl) gets
busted, that’s the end of the party… so choose well!
(4) More genres!
>Breakbeats in Malaysia advanced by leaps and bounds
last year, thanks mainly to the dedicated primates in
the Beatmonkey crew. Amazingly, they’ve already brought
in Botchit & Scarper’s SOTO, Supercharged/Against the
Grain’s Krafty Kuts and T-Mac and Gully from Perth,
Australia to our shores and plans are afoot for more
quality breaks in the coming year.
Together with Loops Collective, they’ve also widened
the narrow boundaries of KL’s dance music spectrum by (re)introducing
the irresistible sound of breakbeat and drum n bass.
Sick of the monotonous drone of progressive house?
Too tired to break your back to techno? Don’t own a pair
of neon jeans to listen to feng tau? Then get down with
blazing basslines and smokin’ broken beats at their next
party. At least we have a choice now.
What would be really great would be a truly leftfield
party… something along the lines of an electro night, or
even better, a funk & soul night, block-party style! If
someone had the balls to do it, we would only benefit
from a more open-minded music policy in clubs so that we
can appreciate the sounds of broken beat, nu jazz and
other leftfield doings outside of the bedroom.
But let's keep things in perspective... dance music
and clubs are only a tiny part of the world out there...
so also on the wishlist for 2003 are simpler things like
peace, good health and LOTS OF MONEY!
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Holier Than Thou
You know the type. Orange comb in back pocket,
ill-fitting branded clothes, 'golden monkey' bleach
job... they are the ones who go clubbing every weekend
just to get drunk, get laid and show off the multi-coloured
strobe lights on their handphones.
They don't care about the music or the vibe.
Cluelessly, they cheer at every breakdown...
hell, they probably think Pete Tong's a Chinese guy who
lives in Cheras or Yishun!
They can be spotted at every club, dancing in a
circle, bouncing happily to the beat and usually
flushed, bug-eyed and flailing their arms wildly in all
directions. Ah... the Uneducated Clubber in his
element... bottles open on the table, plenty of nubile
girls to look at and a beat to dance to. A truly
deplorable sight.
Or so some would like to think. Some Educated
Clubbers go out of their way to highlight the
shortcomings of their less well-read brethren. They can
be found on every forum and messageboard, expounding at
length on the importance of The Music, the sublime
quality of The Vibe and the supreme position of The DJ.
Those who disagree with this group of Educated
Clubbers, who usually earn their 'degrees' in Australia,
the UK or the US, are given a good flaming for their
complete lack of clubbing Knowledge and Sophistication.
These Educated Clubbers believe it is their
responsibilty, nay, their duty, to inform and enlighten
the less fortunate masses. And so, taking time off from
their steady diet of Mixmag and Muzik, they tell us what
it's like "in the UK" or the way it was
"back in Sydney" or what a "journey"
they go on every time they hear Sasha spin.
Ironically, this bunch condemns the
"narrow-minded" tastes of the musical
mainstream, and feign shock at the mainstream's
inability to appreciate Real Clubbing Music, while
preaching a brand of dancefloor fundamentalism that
prevents all exploration and prohibits open-mindedness.
For them, it is not enough for someone to "like
a song" that the DJ is playing or go out on
weekends to get cheap '1-for-1' drinks. The poor,
uninformed person must realise that The Music is the
reason for clubbing, not alcohol, and that
"song" is in fact, the latest big "choon"
burning up Pete Tong's playlist.
Nevermind the fact that these Educated Clubbers are
usually too busy trying to recite the track-listing from
Dave Seaman's Global Underground to actually listen to
the set. They don't have time to dance, they've got to
make sure that they lift their hands at just the right
angle (not too high, don't want to look too
enthusiastic) when the breakdown comes.
While these people clutter up dancefloors pondering
who will be voted the next Number One DJ, those
ignorant, Uneducated Clubbers with their bad hair and
flailing arms sure seem to be having fun.
I could be wrong, but isn't having fun the point?
-joon
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ASHES TO ASHES?
The World Cup ended with a bang at Malaysia's Bintang Walk
thanks to insane amounts of hype and the cash poured in by
the main sponsors, Dunhill.
Come 2003, however, tobacco companies
will be banned from advertising or sponsoring events of
any kind. This is the Health Ministry's attempt to get in
line with the World Health Organisation's efforts to
implement a global law to restrict the use of tobacco.
However, the impending ban on tobacco
sponsorship doesn't merely concern rabid football fans or
Dunhill Double enthusiasts, it concerns Malaysia's nascent
club scene as well. As we all know (in fact it would be
impossible to ignore the ubiquitous blue signs) the club
scene has been built on sturdy sales of carcinogens.
Kent and Salem are the major players
in the scene, and have probably sunk hundreds of thousands
of ringgit into acts like Fat Boy Slim, Paul Van Dyk and
Gatecrasher. The Health Ministry's efforts to curb tobacco
sponsorship, which is in line with the World Health
Organisation's (WHO) attempts to institute a global law to
control the use of tobacco, has the potential to make any
promoter tremble.
It could spell the end of weekly visits by superstar DJs
and huge events, just as Malaysia is making a name for
itself in the global scene. With no sponsorship money,
promoters would be hard-pressed to foot the massive
expenses (made worse by the weak ringgit) involved with
booking an international DJ. Will the crowds evaporate,
leaving promoters in the red or clubs with empty
dancefloors?
That could happen, but it is very
unlikely. Clubs are a potential goldmine for sponsors,
full of up for it hedonists with loose wallets. The
tobacco giants will probably exploit loopholes in the
system. According to local scenesters, this could mean
anything from setting up a separate promotions arm to
restricting advertising only within the club. So no logos
or flashy print ads, but we'll still be seeing the
familiar blue and white inside.
Even if the cigarette companies ARE
eventually forced to stop sponsorship completely, alcohol
manufacturers would step in to play a bigger role in
providing backing for promoters. The bottom line is, the
tobacco ban will not be the disaster some people expected.
The cats with the cash will find a way to spend it,
regardless of legislation.
In fact, a complete lack of sponsors
may even be a good thing, because it would give local
jocks more opportunities to play out and grow, creating a
truly Malaysian dance scene and a genuine electronic youth
culture. Perhaps last night's Regenerate party, when
hundreds of people drove out to desolate Cyberjaya to
party with a 100% local lineup, is the best testament yet
to the strength of a locally-driven movement.
Imported DJs are a great crutch for
an infant scene, but like anything else that is living and
growing, Malaysia's dance music must begin to stand and
walk on it's own two legs.
-joon
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