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May 2 years of hard-work not go to waste

It's been a while since anyone has posted a blog on the DD site. It's also been a long time since there has been any activity within the band itself. I say this with a heavy heart that we've been on a hiatus for a few months now and y'know what, I'm pretty much responsible for it.

I've been in England for many months now as I've been seconded here for work. So no, it's not as if we're bickering with each other. There's still a lot of love between us all . I do miss doing "band" things with the rest of the boys and girls, but unfortunately my work commitments demand that I be here. It'll still be a long time before I'll be back in KL permanently.

Anyway, I can't wait to start jamming again with the rest once I am back for good. We've got an album to finish up!

I know this is 24 days late, but I just want to wish all readers and random people surfing our forums...

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" *beep beep*

Anyway part of my New Year's resolution was to write (or "blog" as its more hip-ly known) to keep (future) fans and friends updated on our progress as a band, and also as entertainment ala stuff to read when your waiting for your computer to process something at work .

So what's been new on the Dire Dilemmas front? Well after our Rhasta Shack gig (thanks again for all those who came!), and a 1 month Christmas + New Year hiatus, its back to the eponymously named Studio J for more recordings! This time we're aiming for a full-length album. We've got a total of 11 songs already, plus more on the way! (if only the creative juices could flow faster... pardon the innuendo haha) We've decided to re-record the songs on our EP, and give it a much more polished finish, as Jon's got more experience mixing now, plus he's got more toys to play with! (he has yet to post pics of his brand spankin' speakers )

Now producing an album is a truly painstaking, arduous process. Doing the EP has taught us alot about what goes into recording and mixing. (Don't ever underestimate how much work goes into something like Pussycat Doll's!!!) There are alot of things in the background that, if you really listen, enhance the overall mood of the song (the catchi-ness). Random notes, soft harmonization, all give the song a really professional finish. Think of the music as a well-cooked steak, you may have some prime meat (e.g. good music), but the way you cook it, the length of the cooking time, your sides, the wine you eat your steak with (i'm getting hungry), all the little things really makes it all the more enjoyable!

So with that in mind, we're taking our time with this album creation, really flesh out the "spaces between" (to quote Dave Matthews Band), and in the end, come out with something beautiful!

Our 1st Step takes us to 21:05 Productions in TTDI. The owner/tauke is JD, the Pop Shuvit guitarist who also happens to be a fully qualified sound engineer, and also an affable & friendly chap. There, we'll be laying down the drum tracks for our songs first. Once we've come out with a good clear recording, we'll be taking the drum tracks and mixing them back in Jon's studio, after which comes all the rest of the stuff (guitars, piano/keyboard, vocals)

We've marked 3rd February as the recording date, pretty exciting! Our hopes rest with Lionel's firm yet soft hands.. sounds like a Johnson & Johnson hand lotion advert We'll try keep the blog posted with updates on this journey! So mark this space! (that's not an invitation to pee on it by the way)

November 18th - WOOHOOO!! Well, DD had a our first ever promo gig at Rasta Shack, and from my point of view, it was... a Blast. WHEEEE!!

Thank you all of you who came to support us on our special night hehe.. We do hope you had fun. Did ya did ya?

Well, for those of you who weren't there (tsk tsk tsk), DD played two sets worth of songs, most of it original pieces.. 11 of them to be exact. It was a fun mixture of fast rock songs, slow rock songs, mid-tempo-turn-to-fast-and-pounding rock songs, quiet-to-loud rock songs.. and err.. other variations of rock songs. Hehehehe.. Well, with the exception of one cute poppy piece (2 Hours), a dancey one (Who Do You Love) and a Jazzy number (Long Hard Road). Oooh.. it was fabulous! Something for everyone. See how nice we are.

Anyway, we started off at 8.30, to an almost full-house worth of people, but it being our very first public gig, we had a small case of nerves :p.. Well, I did anyway.. But after a little while, we got warmed up, and the 1st set whizzed by pretty quickly.. We then took a break, and the crowd gave some very nice and encouraging feedback and that spurred us on to a much more energetic second set. It was a lovely feeling to get the crowd interacting with us.. special kudos to Jeremy's fanbase hehehe.. the Justins, Emmett... Pravin - for the video-ing, and the gaggle of girls up front.. Audrey, Adeline, Diana.. etc. We saw you. you girls didn't really dance, but you sure seemed to be enjoying the music

Darn.. wish i knew everyone's names..

Okay, on with my long story.. (hey, it's super satisfying for me to relive the night ok.. so bear with me hahah).. 2nd set was great. Fairuz sure turned the energy levels UP with Mr. Brightside and Radio!! And Jeremy and Jon and Agnes and Lionel... y'all are STARS! Sure wish the stage at Rasta Shack was big big Bigger!! Then would have been Fun. Nevermind.. there's always next gig. Can't wait for that!

So anyway.. the second set went fab, loved you guys for grooving to us. It brings a brand new type of satisfaction that I for one never really appreciated before... As long as people looked like they were loving the music, we could perform endlessly. Too bad the end of the second set had to come.. via the very well-received Long Hard Road. One of my personal favourites.

Then came shouts of "Encore, encore!!!!" Ooooh.... what fun.. And so we played Tear one last time.. It was fabulous!


Thank you to everyone for coming. Please continue to support us. We've got lots more in store.. that was only our very first foray into the public eye as Dire Dilemmas. More to come... watch this space!!




P.S. For all of you who did go that night, do let us know what you thought about it all We'll welcome any sort of comments!

Oh gosh.. what a trip!

*At precisely 7.45pm on Sunday 24th September, Jon and Sheafs are talking over MSN and listening to the Campur Chart Show. The countdown has reached #2 and they're shivering in their boots. Why? Because there is one last spot, the MOST COVETED SPOT on the countdown, and there are 2 songs on last week's chart that have not been played. Dire Dilemmas 'Time for me to Tell You' and Pop Shuvit's 'All That Glitters'. Oh my.. That implies one of two things: Either Pop Shuvit is number 1 and DD have fallen off despite all efforts at collecting votes. OR.. Dire Dilemmas have done the totally unexpected - knocking out big-wigs Pop Shuvit into Campur Chart oblivion!*

Well.. to get to the point.. we did the latter. OH MY GOOOOSH!! Would you believe it?? We're NUMBER ONE!! Yipppeeee!!

Thank you to all of you who voted for us.. you have our utmost gratitude and i wish i could hug you all hehehe!

Well.. Let's see how long this ride can last. Everyone, don't stop voting ok? Keep us on the air please! You all are the BEST!