Who AM i?
Who I am is a great ponder. A lot of what we identify with is through our own desires and goals. And 1 definite desire I have is creativity, especially music exploration.
I’m extremely moved by string ensembles (violins, viola, cellos, double basses). I am broken open in deeply emotional movements of sound orchestrated and composed. And I am also carried away in ecstasy when drums and bass are grooving in deep rumbly, justaposing rhythms. This is where I am always drawn to.
However, my life has taken many turns and I found myself deeply engrossed in filmaking from a cinematographer and directors point of view. The way I love to imagine music was in a filming way, where you could imagine the environment, the mood, the storyline, the characters.
I’ve picked up a lot of skills along the way in many different disciplines to continue finding ways to stay creative but one discipline which created a big right turn in my life was Kriya Yoga. This practice shapes and hones your own existence, refining all of your own attributes to make your focus so razor sharp, it can cut through time!
Learning to grow and be strong within yourself, use the world to experience and trasnform yourself, to enjoy life and to live it. We got to believe but through accurate knowledge. And that knowledge comes from our connection to this world, to everyone on it. I’m learning to find myself more and understand truly how to be, as ethical enjoyment and prosperity seems to be so rooted to our contentness in the lives we lead, in families/friends/societies.
This meaning of the world is the meaning I wish to fuel my connection with the arts.
The Alphabet Project
My first experience with RMCC was actually volunteering as a mentor myself. I loved working with everyone from the children involved to the staff and organisers of RMCC.
I trust them deeply and respect the work they do to support “school-aged kids from refugee and migrant backgrounds to overcome the barriers they face as they settle into life in Australia.”
“RMCC helps the kids through weekly after-school mentoring programs that are tailored to their evolving needs. We work with the key figures in a child’s life – their school, teachers, family, community – to create a network of support to help the kids achieve positive educational and social outcomes.”
My Grandparents decided to flee their country during a dictorship and experienced hardship integrating through a massive language and cultural bareer with experiences of racism.
With our help through supporting RMCC, I hope to bring more support to familes and children so they don’t have to experience the hardships of what my family went through.
Starting off as a silly concept album idea for my previous band (The A-Z of Quantum Milkshake), I decided to actually create 26 compositions based on the Alphabet.
The 60 + musicians involved was a decision to create a unique world for each track, involve a more balanced representation of female and male musicians and of course, have the opportunity to have my friends and inspiring musos on the album.
I got assistance recording drums from record engineer Nick Herrera but after that, everything else was recorded by myself or recorded by the musicians themselves at home.
I decided to pursue mixing the album myself. Good and Bad decision. The bad being the many fustrating hours, days, weeks, months, years trying to mix the album. The good being after 6 years of attempts, I’m feeling confident in my mixing ability and knowledge.
Having this creative control over the project has given me many opportunities to learn and develop my art, seeing composition in new perspectives and experiencing the creative process in a more refined, open-minded, relaxed position
One of the most valuable lessons the project has taught me is the importance of mental health. One main reason for the delay of this project was my own harmful self-criticism and destructive perfectionism. I’m happy to now be a better mixing/recording engineer but it’s not the reason for its eventual release now. A cherishing, caring state of mind is the soul reason I can move forward to share the music being created, with respect towards myself.
It’s been a big project, one of my biggest teachers in creation. That’s the beauty of a creative release; the chance to imagine freely and expand yourself.
My mission as an Artist is to thrive in passionate creativity. My mission as a human being is to support my life and the lives around me.
So…
How do I continue exploring the boundaries of my art that can also support my family, friends and community?
The Alphabet Project is the biggest endeavor I’ve taken to explore the question of thriving in creativity and supporting those who need support. With 26 tracks composed, 60+ musicians involved, 6+ years of dedication to bring this album to life, I’m excited to bring this album to the ears of many people in an epic charitiable campaign.
Now mark the starting lifeforce of this projects campaign to raise enough money to support the children and families from Refugee Migrant Backgrounds in receiving funding and support from RMCC, based in Victoria Australia.
It has been a lot of work but there is joy in moving forward towards an artistic career where I can continue to dedicate myself to my Art and support those around me along the way.
