'SOLO' music trailer

The 2 lessons I learned

Salaam. These few weeks have been very busy for me. I was so busy I never thought I could get any busier. But like I said busy is good. Busy keeps you on the ground and works fast. And during these few weeks I learned a few valuable lesson as a musician

A year ago while I was working with Acis with vocal parts, he actually taught me a lesson that I will cherish forever. Being the man that I am, i would try my very best to have colours on the harmony parts rather than unison or a plain octave. I would not stick to the parts that was given to me instead rearranging it to make it sound better. But what I failed to understand was its not about individual talents, but individuals coming together as a unit. It is about giving your best when you re needed and not over doing it. I was asked to stick to the normal lines or octave because the Music Director had asked me too. 'It is not how good you are, it is how good you work with others'.

Same goes to the show I had at Nerofico the other day (Friday to be precised). While performing that night I realised what Acis had told me earlier was right and understand completely what he was saying. Its like im completely in Acis shoes. I had the best musician in their own world. Led By Zailan Razak, Hiran Benton and Wan Gigi, I personally admit that they are one of the best I have ever worked with. They would do improvisations right at the spot and are truly amazing. But what so ironic that night is I think that it was practically the worst show I did. My worst night is when I performed with the best musicians. Why? Because I wasnt feeling their music and everyone was so good that they forgot to stay in one unit. Everyone was trying to have their own moment that they forget the show was all about me. Dont get me wrong im not dissing them neither am I blaming them. They are great musicians. Period. But have you ever heard 'less is more' ?

Secondly, practice practice practice. I remember reading this somewhere but as a musician and a performer our work is to practice. We only have fun during our show. If you re not happy practicing you should consider doing something else. So practice your heart out and have an ample time of rehearsal. When I performed with Joe Flizow, the Music Director asked everyone to go back to the studio at 2am in the morning to tighten things up eventhough we had a long and tiring day of full dress and the actual show was the following day. Alda (MD) knows what he is doing. There is no such thing as reading your chart or just adlib or just feel without practice. That s bullshit. Musicians and bv need to know their cue, chords and even the singer too. There is no such thing as loose and see what happens during the show. You need to establish rules before trying to break em. If there is no rules how on earth you know what and where to break?

Summary: 1) work in one unit 2) practice, practice, practice

SOLO music video

The first time i proposed the idea of the music video, most of the influential people in the industry was against it. Diorang cakap its a waste of money. Even lagu yang meletup pun some of em takde video clip. But i wanted it to be a brand for myself. A music video is not just a short clip, but it serves as your profile too. But they dont understand, some of em has the nerve to say 'ala andi ko buat cincai je sudah'. Janji ader video.

Thats not how i work la. Kalau nak buat, buat all out. Kalau tak jangan buat langsung. There is no such thing as buat halfheartedly. So it took me sometime jugak to decide the director and the storyline. Director memang banyak kat luar, but unless I was the son of Tan Sri Azman or Muhyiddin Yassin, i need to get the right director that doesnt charge me that expensive but yet produce good quality. So i met a few until one day a friend of mine suggested these students from ASWARA. They appear to be humble, and very hardworking, and most important is they work very sincere. So after loads of meeting here and there, we finally shoot the music video.

The process was interesting for me bcoz not only i funded the whole project, i had very less manpower at the same time im acting as the Production Manager. Gilerlah i ve never had experience doing that. But then again i cant afford to hire more people, bcoz the more i hire the more the cost is. So i had to make loads of calls, learn about image, props, and the headache was securing talent. My music video needs loads of talents from young kids to adults. And then, locking down the artiste to preparing the schedule. That was a total chaos for me. But given the chance, id do it again hehehe

And like i say, the production team was very sincere. A normal music video would take the maximum 2 days, but in my case, to get a proper shot, and since this is their first project too, we shot 4 days. Now thats crazy ass production. Sounded like a Grand Brilliance production plak kan. And to make it more interesting, i roped in a few other established name from the industry. Julia Ziegler was the heroin, Dira Abu Zahar helped directing it, Altimet was feature in it and i also had a special appearance by Fahmi 'Apek' our very own football goalkeeper. Talking about marketing kan :)

We also had support from a few organization. TQ to Downtown Coffea and Tea for sponsoring their premis and Polis Diraja Malaysia for their support, the lockup and also a few policeman who offered to be in this glamorous entertainment world hehehehe

To all that was involved in the production, the directors, the cameraman, the lighting man, the extras, the makeup artiste, the hair stylist, and to my family, from the bottom of my heart, i appreciate your presence and help, and thank you from me again.

Now lets wait for the trailer (huh? got trailer meh?)

I'm a 'PRODUCER'

Lama tak menulis, and tetiba rasa nak menulis update terkini on my career. Dimulakan dengan berita yang my album might not be released this year due to promotional purposes. After consulting the management, we have planned to release the full length album insyaALLAH next year. Dont get me wrong, kalau nak kira album memang besok jugak boleh release bukan saja satu, but dua album terus. Lagu - lagu kebanyakan memang dah siap record with the music and other collaborating artiste. Boleh je buat macam other artiste record terus keluar album, but we are aiming bigger. We want the brand of 'Andi Merican' goes parallel with the music. Yes I admit that my last single 'SOLO' was like 10 months back, and we need a proper follow up. Just to update you guys, there will be a follow up. We just finished shooting the music video that has Julia Ziegler, Altimet, Dira Abu Zahar and Fahmi Apek (Malaysia very own goalkeeper). And my upcoming single will be released after raya. So tunggu !!!

So what am I busy with now? Well currently my schedules are tight up with music work and producing in the studio. Alhamdulilah, semenjak 2-3 bulan nie, there are more artiste, manager, record label enquiring about my songs and production. Ader jugak yang dah sangkut. It took me some time to realize that 'producing' is my kinda thing and my direction. Thanks to Abg Roslan Aziz yang dok paksa focus on that, so right now i will be focusing on making good music and producing other artiste. So there goes. Singing comes second. So nanti kalau nak keluar album, keluar je lah but the brand as a producer is already there. Syukur :)

Other than that, me and my partner is now planning for something big. We are looking things from a higher perspective. Pray for me. Kalau jadi, it would be something good for the music industry and talents out there. Amin !!!

Dari meja 'Andi'

D. I. V. A

Ingin menjadi seorang diva, ikutilah langkah - langkah berikut:

• Tubuhkan group vokal berkumpulan. Tetapi jangan tumpukan pada vokal
• Fokus kepada pemakaian dan cara menari sahaja.
• Menari hendaklah dalam keadaan tidak teratur
• Jangan belajar music. Tapi kalau nak belajar jangan bayar. Mintak secara percuma sudah mencukupi!!!
• Jadi seorang diktator yang bukan sahaja membuat keputusan tanpa persetujuan ahli lain, malah menolak idea ahli2 lain
• Buang ahli tersebut jika berlaku sebarang percanggahan idea.
• Hanya dengar music hebat dari Britney Spears dan Pussycat Dollz
• Jangan rendah diri, seorang DIVA perlukan attitude
• Bila bekerja dengan orang, wajib menjadi sombong terutama kepada Producer dan Music Director. Tak perlu bersalaman dengan ahli music dan penyanyi latar
• Buat - buat tak kenal pada kawan2 yang sudah banyak membantu
• Tidak boleh berurusan secara terus, tetapi melalui pengurus. 'talk to my manager please'
• Patahkan microphone sewaktu persembahan, dan tak perlu minta maaf dan rasa bersalah
• Ulang lagu kalau sekiranya tidak berpuas hati dengan persembahan sebelumnya
• Teruskan mencari ahli ketiga, dan buang, dan cari balik !!!
• Bila tiada pengganti, bergerak sebagai DUO

Song Development Chart

I saw this written by Roger Wang, the guru in fingerstyling guitar. I guess this is a very basic method on making a song. You cant go wrong if you follow these basic simple rules :)

First, start with the basic idea. Choose any topics you wanna talk about, or come out wit your own melody, or if you re a writer, you may start scratching down your basic lyrics and then humm to your tune

Once the idea is there, work on the music arrangement. Some musicians work on their arrangement together during the brainstorming of the idea of the song. I guess whatever works with you and however you're comfortable with.

Then do a complete demo and take time to review it. Dont rush. Try to get as many people to listen to it and get their honest feedback !!!

If it doesnt feel right, you might wanna go back to square one and fix the problem :)

But if you feel right, and you believe it would work, start practicing, have a few jam session, and then start recording. A good musician would know whats a good record.

All the best :D

Happy New Year 2011

Sedar tak sedar 2010 dah pun melabuhkan tirainya. Im all excited to work harder and see what 2011 has to offer. Here are my target for the whole year with god's will insyaALLAH

PERSONAL

• Spend more time with family
• hantar tok pergi umrah
• Jaga solat
• more stable financially
• new car the end of the year
• lead a good life (spend more time at the gym, i suppose)

MUSIC

• Create atleast 20 songs for 20 different clients
• Launch my album by third quarter of this year
• setup my own record label and publishing house
• master music instrument such as keyboard and guitar

Korang pun perlu ader azam korang. So sebelum terlambat, selamat tahun baru pada semua ye. Semoga tahun nie kita mendapat keberkatannya dan mencapai segala yang kita impikan