Dan’s Bass Factory

I had a very intriguing conversation with some musician frens last nite. We all shared a common experience though i can say dat mine was on a smaller scale. I think the world lacks love, lots of love. If some musicians do claim about how sincere and honest they are, well why do we still hear ’stories’ . As a young musician slowly creeping into the scene, I’ve heard and seen many dishonest acts and unbelievable stories. I know i have a choice.
Last nite, all i was told was to be firm and to be bold to demand. When MONEY is concern it seems dat the devil is all involved. but i do understand dat there’s bills to pay and family to feed. and there’s also the skool of ppl that seriously loves to hold on to other ppl’s payment, i think they like their bank account to show figures even if it’s not theirs. MONEY is a weird issue even among frens sometimes, of ‘frens’.
i heard CHick Corea’s really punctual and sensitive about payment, perhaps i should play for him….haha. well, in this world full of deceit, can m’sian musicians survive? i guess if u’re planning to be a bachelor for the rest of ur life then can la.
Another point to ponder, wat separates a person from the issue (money) and wat separates friendship from the person of which the issue is derived from, or the issue from which the person is judged as.…catch my drift?
i might not be as carefree and relaxed 2 yrs from now, but i do hope to learn the straightest  and most honest traits in the business… i wanna keep it real while being able to pay bills…we’ll see if i live in a box 2 yrs from now.

"You don’t know what love is

Until you’ve learned the meaning of the blues

Until you’ve loved a love you’ve had to lose

You don’t know what love is

You don’t know how lips hurt

Until you’ve kissed and had to pay the cost

Until you’ve flipped your heart and you have lost

You don’t know what love is

Do you know how a lost heart feels

The thought of reminiscing

And how lips that taste of tears

Lose their taste for kissing

You don’t know how hearts burn

For love that can not live yet never dies

Until you’ve faced each dawn with sleepless eyes

You don’t know what love is

You don’t know how hearts burn

For love that can not live yet never dies

Until you’ve faced each dawn with sleepless eyes

You don’t know what love is…..what love is…."

Thanks to Julian I’ve come to really study this song by Raye & DePaul. I feel dat this song speaks to me in so many ways. Love is not just all nice and sweet. I know, even if it may be me who breaks someone’s heart. I know definitely about the damage caused by my very own words. And i sometimes feel that I’m paying the dues, dues that’s too heavy for me. I’m confused and depressed, it’s 3.38am and i’m thinking bout her and bout us.
As i listen to it’s melody and it’s walking basslines, I’ve come to breathe along with the notes and it’s pulse. Jackie’s version’s so darn painful, in a beautiful way, in a tearful way. I need assurance cuz I know that I can’t always rely on others for the tempo and groove. I need strength and discipline. It’s the same with Music and Life. We all live according to pulses, communications/relations, different form, feelings and emotions, etc etc.
Perhaps I’ve got it all wrong. I’ve lots of time to think bout things these days. I remember reading about a whole bunch of things in life being meaningless without the One true path. I know it’ll hurt, I know. Perhaps i’m just being stubborn. I think it’ll come to pass, i hope. Everything seems so cloudy and uncertain, and I hardly feel that way.

Emotions if divided can be seen as E and Motion. E is also known as Energy while Motion is a Movement. Therefore , emotions are energy in movement. And we all know that every moving thing is caused by; or is causing vibrations. And vibrations are movements hence described as ’something’ or its molecules in ‘motion’ in one same area or position.
So there, the maths shows that every Emotion that surrounds us are Energy traveling or rather Vibrations around us. This means, it is possible to ‘feel’ or ‘tune-in’ into these Energies or Emotion.
The very same thing is commonly used by 3 of the most powerful organizations and people in this world.
1) Politicians display the least Emotions but the fact is, they release these emotions through their Energy. (it is common to win people over.) Persuassion-fear, Promises-security, Modernisation-pride, Finance-greed/joy/security, etc etc.

2)Religious leaders preach with a lot of energy as well. It is sometimes had to tell if the energy is genuinely connected to the right emotions.

3) Musicians use emotions all the time in order to allow Music to flow through them. This is essential for creating a connection with its listeners. The energy of sound (vibrations) sight/entertainment, feel/rhythm. color etc etc all channels through the mind, body and soul of a Musician to allow him/her to play Musically.

Playing Musically or rather Music-ally is the same with being an Ally of Music or and ‘Alley’ of Music. Music exists, existed and will continue to exist. It is there before it is written, heard or played. Musicians are simply a medium that channels this ‘Energy’ or ‘Vibrations’ hence the better a person is at becoming an alley of Music, the better Music will sound through him.

-The Music Lesson by Victor L. Wooten

"if you don’t understand it, say you don’t understand it, but don’t ever push it away because if you do, you probably will never understand it, ever."

"it doesn’t mean a thing if you hit the right notes at the wrong time but it definitely is cool if you hit the wrong notes at the right time"

"it’s ego if you have something to say about everybody all the time"

"just like playing, you don’t keep your character and attitude in check ALL the time while trying not to hit the wrong notes, that’s why we practice day in and day out. but if you do hit a wrong note, you’re always a half-step away from the right one no matter what the circumstances are."

the bass player is always misunderstood, his role is significant yet under-rated. his presence is important yet constantly ignored. his sound must exist yet people fail to listen. his lines are crucial yet they aren’t given space to. his emotions has to be grounded yet everyone only speaks of their own. his timing must be rooted yet it is judged for all the wrong reasons.
the bass player of all people, knows the his role in perfect equation to everybody else. he ignores his need for taking pride in his achievements and gives his very best support. he is humbled and denies acknowledgment.
when the bass player explains a certain action, emotion or reaction, he is often misunderstood for his intentions. when time is lifted and shakes off the ground, the bass player gets the blame. when situations become floaty and uncertain, the bass player gets the stares. when sounds and noises do not match, the bass player is held responsible.
the bass player may injure the band. he may throw time and groove into jeopardy.  he may  distort its harmony with atrocious  notes.  he may cloud the values of each chord and remove the breath from accents.  so the  question is, when CAN ppl  really understand and misunderstand or even understate the bass player? and at that moment, who gives them the right to do so?
think of this in the aspect of a persons life and his doings.

I cannot walk the same path as you
Not because we aren’t similar
I cannot walk the same path as you
Even though it might seem better
I cannot walk the same path as you
At least not at the moment
I cannot walk the same path as you
But my spirit is not yet broken

I might sound self-righteous
But I’ve been through hard times
And though it may seem reckless
I’ve probably heard  the rhyme
I might sound self-righteous
But I only meant to be sincere
And if being honest isn’t courteous
Then I probably shouldn’t be here

I only try to be me
No lesser and no more
I only try to be me
To love and to adore
And if that sounds wrong
Then I have nothing else to say
For I cannot walk the same path as you
At least not for now not today

But that doesn’t mean you should take a different route
I believe the day will come for me to do what I should
And if whatever I’m doing and feeling for is rude
I’d still be cruel because I know I could and I would
I’ll still do the same things I did because it makes me human
I’ll still say the things I said because it shows I have a heart
I’ll still be the person I am because my soul belongs to no demon
And I’ll still think and feel the way I do because I’d never want us to be apart.