Far Thinking : New Glasses Dilemma

In the end of this Jun 2024 I would like to present you another story part of Far Thinking. Today's story was about my glasses. As spectacled person since my elementary school, I often forgot to take off my glasses while sleeping. It's been a couple of time, my glasses broke because I kept it on during my sleep. Until last year, I think it was last October.. my only seven months old glasses broke in the morning, I woke up with tears since I felt I just bought it for only a few months before. Then it took two months for me, to finally buy the new glasses. I was trying to fix my glasses at first but I felt to bought a new one instead. 

Long story short, in December near with new year of 2024 my new glasses arrived. The problem was it loosen very quickly on my nose, so it always fell off to the ground. I just fixed my glasses last week which is in June. During January until June I had several moments that I found it was funny, so I decided to put it on a scene in Far Thinking. Hope you like the comic strip! It featured with my co-workers: Gisha, Putri, and Keisha. Thank you for cooperating and gives me permission to put it on my blog.  

I'll see you in another story of Far Thinking... thank you for visiting!

Far Thinking : New Glasses Dilemma (#2)

A Short Review: Old Friend by Hazel City

Hi all, gonna write a short review, today.. we will talk about an album called 'Old Friend' by Hazel City. It released on 23rd June 2023, yes! Today marked as the first anniversary for the album! Congratulations.. To be honest, Hazel City's song can be my lifetime soundtrack. Because I felt it relate to mine. I just really like his art, songs, and music! I will try to write a short review of this album based on my opinions.

This album consist of nine songs, i.e: Rain; Sailor; Becca; Snow; Gorgeous; Really; Dirt; Rain 2; and Root. My favorites are Rain, Becca, Gorgeous, and Root... Having to know Clay in Twin Peaks and seeing him doing a solo makes me wonder how he expressed his own music. Been watching a lot of Twin Peaks videos, but one video during lock-down covid era time in 2020 was giving me a guidance. He was doing a charity of a magazine under the name of Twin Peaks. Clay played three songs (Sweet Thing, Stain, I Don't Want to Miss You). You can watch the video on here: Link to the video. Generally, the video is him and his guitar a very simple set. This album is look a lot like it, simple but it brings comforts to its listeners. I don't know in musical ways, but I heard piano sound, guitar, percussions, and extra sounds sometimes such as phone ringing, someone's conversations also put on the song in the album (makes more unique). As the album consist of nine songs, I'll be grouping them by three parts. Okay, here we go.. 

Part 1: 

The album was first started with a solo piano, melody, the song called "Rain" very calm music. It tells a story of a man waiting for his girl, wondering where she is and pray for the girl to be safe and come home as he is eagerly to meet with her. I think the song is very sweet, also this one song has its own video directed by Clay Frankel and Jackson James (link: Check the video on here). Second song called "Sailor" a love song by the romantic Clay. I can hear he plays guitar on here, acoustic one I suppose. Then, a violin...? There's a solo violin at minute 01:23 of the song (correct me if its not a violin sound). The song was ended by the phrases of "You're the one I love." Third song, my fav "Becca" female vocalist... when I heard this song, I remember an American Folk Song like Everly Brothers what I mean is emphasized a story... because if you know the lyrics (the most variables one). It has many parts. I really like how the song sounded, the lyrics, well its kind of a sad story though. 

Part 2: 

"Snow" it is an instrumental music, I think it's a piano... but at the start we can hear a conversation... then comes to the gentle music. the song only lasted not more than 80 seconds. Fourth song also my fav "Gorgeous" hehehe very sweet song but sad at the same time... very relatable with my love live tbh. This could be my life time soundtrack! "Really" a combo Clay and the female vocalist singing together. I think it's a guitar sound, it is a gloomy song. The main character was in love with someone but I think the feeling not reciprocate, and main character wonders around and asking by itself some questions.. like what they sung on the songs. 

Part 3: 

Final part... "Dirt" I don't really know what instrument he plays on this song.. I'm afraid to guess, I think there is also piano it supposed. But whenever I hear this song what I remember was an old movie "Cold Mountain" because it has the same vibes of music as in that movie. Traditional, old american kind music. I think this song was telling about a boy expressing about his ex... hehe maybe... a disappointment. "Rain 2" female vocalist, I could tell that this song expressed a sincerity in loving someone. I can't tell any others... very deeper meaning.. Lastly, my first fav song from the album "Root" I can hear guitar... the song tells a support to someone that being adored by the main character. Also the main character was keep reminding the person an affirmation about rooting them and promise for future "So, here's getting good and old."

Wait we haven't talk about the cover! The cover for the album is a silhouette of gargoyle in full of greenish vibe. For a complete listen, Clay uploaded his songs on Spotify: Link to stream the album. Well, for an update Clay is now on tour with Waxahatchee.. also with Colin Croom too as her guitarist and pianist. I saw a couple of his posts, Clay paints some arts too. Thank you for sharing your music to the world.. I do really entertain by your art, keep moving forward and success for Clay! 

Thank you for reading... happy weekend, as an update I had finished my sketched of Far Thinking last week, gonna do coloring first then up on the blog.. 

Old Friend by Hazel City Cover
(picture gathered from Spotify)

Wasted Love

Song said drunk in love 

I said drown in love 

Someone said it's a sick love 

Will it remain the same...

Sometimes a bad love

Will be wasted in time

"I won't take your time and expected you would reciprocate this feeling..."

"A strange feeling called love, did you notice it?"

A Girl Tale

I would never know

If the path I chose 

Brings on how we meeting

If only I know the future

I would might not be in doubt

Yet thankful because God had us met

On that sudden meeting

"I believes loves come in different time and a sincere love is there without any payment."

Dazzling Smile

Meeting you was dazzling

Newest manifestation

Seeing you was dazzling

Smiling without hesitation

Knowing you is dazzling

My one motivation

Talk to you was dazzling 

Do you fancy a relation?

Farida, 05 Jun 2024

Utterly Sweet Thing

No, never in my life 

Having this kind of emotion 

Braving myself up for a change

Waiting for the right moment

Your smile winning all assumptions

It guided me on a bad weather

Pardon me for all these obsessions

Because I can't barely think any other 

Needing your help for curing this sickness

Antidote for this venomous mind

Little sweet feelings which sometimes

Makes me wonder much...

Hidden Thoughts

Tonight the moon is hiding from me 

Clouds seem to help him 

Funny yet strange feelings

Want to meet even though uncertain

No smile only heart-talk

Impossible to get to know him 

Is it only an instant attraction?

Name always come through my mind

Kept sounding and says:

Please, stay with me for a little while

Farida, 07 Jun 2022

Heavenly / Matter

Heavenly feelings

Seems far from logic 

Tell me it's wishful thinking 

Cause in you what's left was magic 

I may not what you ask for 

Have a brief gaze at the night sky

Without you is the matter

Murmurs quietly for you to stay 

extra page: 

"I realize something, I was too afraid to know you." 

"So, I came to the point, where I may too far guessing." 

"Only God will help me to get through this."

----

"If I'd be honest, the path I took now was all towards you."

"May I have another chance to meet?"

Last Port

 Starting over for some minds 

As the clock kept ticking

Waiting the last port I should stayed in 

Ashes burnt, ain't for memories

Only be remembrances of those who believe

Farida, 05 May 2024

Far Thinking : Drop-dead Sign

Hello, this is a new project called "Far Thinking" meaning that I would share a related stories of what I've been experienced throughout this time. Emphasizing my thinking that occurred on that time and expressed using arts, for this I choose to do a comic strip. Finally could be posted by now, had been drafted the sketch from March 2024. It colored on 12 Apr 2024 using watercolor. Do please enjoy reading this short comic strip. 

Ramadhan month is already gone, happy Eid Al Fitr 1445 H for those who celebrate. I hope we could still spread kindness, and keep the spirit inside ourself, ameen.. Also, been lacking focuses since my beloved cat that I taking care of during the last 2 years had an accident. She got hit by a motorbike (most probably). So, during this lebaran holiday I am doing an extra care of her... I hope I could help her as much as I can. 

Final words, thank you for coming by  and have a good day in wherever you are in right now. 

Far Thinking: Drop-dead Sign (#1)

PDKT 2024 an Event by J-Rockstar Club Indonesia

Hi, it's only been two days after the event. Here some a brief story when I attended PDKT 2024 of J-Rockstar Indonesia. As you may know, J-Rocks is a band from Indonesia, their name bigger because of a Band Hunt (Nescafe Get  Started) a decade ago. They started as a band since 09 November 2003. A lot of people saying they sounds alike with Laruku (everyone's knew them). But it is not about music comparison, even I didn't follows Laruku - L'Arc~en~Ciel so much. So guys, just want to share, my experience here. 

J-Rocks are consists of Iman T. Rachman (Vocalist and Guitarist), Swara Wimayoga (Bassist), Sony Ismail (Guitarist), and Anton Kelces (Drummer). I've been known these guys since my junior high school's time, and some years later had a little bit out of tracks of knowing them. Until on 23rd March 2024 I looked to them again by watching them live for the first time in AEON Deltamas. Truly mesmerized, I'm sorry if I seems like a bit crazy but they gave me unknown energy within myself. I hope its a positive energy, though. Back to the story line, I went to their fan's event in Kebayoran Lama. Knowing that J-Rockstar Indo has invited the band and offers an iftar menu as well. It was on 29 March 2024. Met a lot of J-Rockstar, it was my first time as well to be attended such a powerful solid environment. Everyone knows each other. 

Long story short, they pulled a lil' gig there in a coffeeshop, had a ceremonial for Basecamp Launching as well. Wima and Sony played a song or two together with J-Rockstar Indo. Had to see my first auction event too, I was not knowing how auction should goes, it was very fun! They also mentioned that J-Rockstar will active again in recruiting members. PDKT itself stands for 'Pendekatan Diri Kepada Tuhan' if I'm not mistaken, translated to "personal approach to God." The event originally an annual event that conducted every Ramadhan Month (Fasting Month for Muslim). They said it has been absence for so long, and this year with only 3 weeks preparation, they started to revive its back from the dormant time. Congratulations all the J-Rockstar members for the successful event, thank you for working so hard on it. Also want to thank to J-Rocks for making music, and shows me that hopes and dreams are still can be depend on. 

Because of I've been crazy over the J-Rocks music, here my playlist on spotify: J-Rocks Playlist I may edited and put more songs on it, but for now let's peacefully listened to their songs.. I also put some songs based on anime I watched/known on it, just to gives some Japanese vibes. Guys, also don't forget to streams Imanine's Music (Iman's solo music), he has a very cool song called 'The Way of Life' an instrumental song from the latest album (The Holy Spirit Streams). I don't know until when I will look up for them, but I really want to share of my thoughts on here. 

Upcoming schedule for J-Rocks that I know is they will be performing in The Sounds Project No. 07 in Jakarta on 11 August 2024 (Day 3). Go look up for the tickets on this link. Wima revealed yesterday that Sony had workshop for songs, and talked a bit about the next album which will be coming this June 2024. They already released one single "Tanpa Air Mata" on 23 December 2023. Let's waiting for the their big news. 

Thank you very much, felt very happy by just listened to their songs. Well, I guess I should stop typing, cause its already long enough to be read. Bye guys, I'll be updating some arts soon. Drafted a new scrap comic-strip, I should finish coloring the sketched first. Be happy, be healthy. Wima said don't forget to do your workout! Sony said please sleep enough, and don't stay up late. Until the next post, bu-bye! Thanks for reading. 

Free Stickers from the J-Rockstar Indo ^_^

The small gig from J-Rocks (Wima and Sony)

Rest / Restless

Here comes the point 

Where someone should rest

Forget and drink the last pint 

Because nothing to be bet off

All assumptions might unreal 

Only your thoughts kept me restless

Something still going on 

Somewhere that no one would known

"As the time grows, feelings heavily changes, not like a person you've been counted on."

Gigs Story - Twin Peaks

Hi! I'm here to compile a lil bit of my experience on seeing Twin Peaks live in 2019. First, want to give you a brief introduction of who are Twin Peaks! Twin Peaks (TP) is a band from Chicago, Illinois. They consist of Cadien Lake James (guitarist), Clay Frankel (guitarist), Jack Dolan (Bassist), Collin Croom (guitarist/keyboardist), and Connor Bordner (drummer). All of them are vocalist in some songs (depends on who engulf the most on the song), only Connor who isn't singing. They already released five studio albums (Sunken (2013); Wild Onion (2014); Down in Heaven (2016), Sweet'17 Singles (2018); Lookout Low (2019)); 1 live album (Urbs in Horto (2017)); and 1 EP (Side A (2020)). 

I knew TP from Skegss (as they toured in AUS together back then). But I need to update you that TP now (I guess) still on break. As they never posted anything except their merch on instagram. Also, Clay is began his solo career under the name of Hazel City (his new album 'Old Friend' was out in 2023), and more seeing him in his other project (Grapetooth) as they released another single in 2022 (Shining and Infinite Source). Cadien focuses on having a show in radio, and his probably continuing his study (assumption), Collin toured with Whitney and other Chi musicians. Jack and Connor, I dunno. 

I went to Berlin once before I went again for second time to watch TP live. My first visit, I was having no internet connection! Pretty chaos back then, I was having no idea on how I could reached my sister there (she went for job matters). I went to Berlin from Poznan (around three hours time) by bus. I reached ZOB like at 6 am. I looked for sim-card in the near gas station just right beside the ZOB (bus terminal in Berlin). I asked for help but no people is around, the only person I met was the clerk on the shop there. Also he was not interested to help. Long story short, I could meet with my sister around 11 am, after braving myself to went using taxi. I remember I used the computer in ZOB, I paid 5 euro for 10 minutes using internet (it was very very slow computer, pentium 4). For that, I could at least typed an email to my sister, explaining my condition and I told her I would be there at 10 am by taxi. So, I was having a stressful experience then when I planned to see TP in Berlin, I was very prepared! 

Summer 2019 I was started to work in a factory. The show was in Fall, exactly 08 Oct 2019 (I will always remember). The payment from the summer job handed in September, I used a huge amount of it to travel to Berlin for the show. It was Tuesday, I was having a class throughout the week cannot call in sick or whatever it was. I was still attending a class, then 3 pm I went to the station to catch a train to Berlin at 4 pm. At the train, I prayed and prayed once I arrived to be able to use internet. At the border line of Poland and Germany (Frankfurt (Oder)), my signal was slightly disappear. Then I screen capture every the g-map the route from East Berlin Station to the Musik und Frieden (the venue). All the transport recommendation thorough. And yes, goodbye to internet. I had lost my internet once I arrived there. 

Thank to me, I already captured all the information before, I paid for one day ticket for transport. Went to HBF and used S-Bahn to go to the venue, walked and crossed the Spree river (Oberbaum Bridge).  A little lost and asked local people on where does the venue located. I arrived in the venue around 6 pm, the gate opened at 7 pm. Waiting outside the venue, meeting with Clay outside! Took a picture with Clay. Then went to the venue, bought merch (tote bag). Watching DEHD live as opener. Then TP :') until 10:30 pm. I asked for photograph with TP members. The pic is below! Having conversations with Cade, and gave them chocolates. If you guys want to see on how was their performance, go straight to my youtube channel (link: my yt channel). Because I having no internet, and I already tired to ask for help. I went to ZOB using taxi. It costed me more but I need to catch my bus on time since Wednesday I still need to go for class. 

pictures from the gig, I pre-ordered CD and their shirt online that time

At 12 am, I finally waiting for the bus back to Poznan. I was in Poznan at 6 am, and came back to dorm to prepare for class. I met with new people form the gig, a girl from Japan and a man from Chicago. Thank you for helping me taking pictures with TP. 

Experience is expensive, this might be one of the most exciting one. Moral of the story, planned your travel gig properly.. because everything might be happened and try to dance through it. God will helped, inshaallah. 

Keep fighting in a good fight, live your dream... cause you can do it! Thanks for reading, see you around in another post.