phinmag: a personal experimental media project

Owning an MP3 player can be a dangerous thing for me. These days my thirst for new sounds is crazy! I’m checking out so many new musicians – some are still very much in the underground scene and totally unheard of anywhere outside their own city! – I’m having a hard time keeping track of them.

Here’s my current list of new music I’m looking out for:

Jack’s Mannequin
I only heard one song (can’t remember title) from this band on MTV’s TRL and that was it. Would love to hear more if I can find their music here.

Elefant
A pop-punk band that was recommended in one magazine I read. Since I’m on a roll with pop-punk music lately thanks to Fall Out Boy, I figured I should check them out too.

Matisyahu
Now, this one is interesting… I’m not a fan of rap or hip-hop music but I thought of giving Matisyahu a try out of curiosity. Besides, I never heard reggae-influenced Hasidic rap before. Suddenly, Matisyahu has made bar mitzvah the hippest party in town (not that I’ve ever been to an actual bar mitzvah before).

Project Jenny, Project Jan
Well, if you’re into experimental electronica music, this duo has some interesting songs.

Cloud Cult
This is a college band from the US. Their music is quirky but I kinda liked it.

Dirtie Blonde
New band from LA with a debut album out this month. They have been confirmed as supporting acts for Teddy Geiger (another great singer-songwriter) and INXS.

Song/Video: Seventeen
Artiste: SingleTrackMind
Director: Jack Wung

The moment the video came onscreen, the first thing that popped into my head was Coldplay’s Yellow video: a man in a hoodie walking on a deserted beach on a rainy day, singing.

In Seventeen, a single off Kuching-born musician SingleTrackMind’s upcoming sophomore album, the opening scene has SingleTrackMind walking on a beach singing a song about closure. The difference between the two is that SingleTrackMind’s look less gloomy. Coldplay’s Chris Martin just looked drenched and unwell in his video, shot on a dark rainy day at a very solemn beach.

Anyway, nevermind that. Back to our rocker dude, SingleTrackMind and his new video…

The video, shot on location in Pattaya, Thailand last February, was directed by Kuching-born indie filmmaker Jack Wung and also stars Kuala Lumpur-based model-actress Stephanie Chai of – yes, you’ve guessed it! – Kuching.

Lucky me got a chance to watch this video before its official release some time this year when SingleTrackMind’s second album is release as well. I love the song Seventeen. The music incorporated the sape, a traditional instrument rarely used in modern music, throughout the song. The lyrics are poignant, about the sense of loss, letting go and moving on. Basically, finding closure.

The video sees two lost souls: One, a woman named Claire played by Stephanie, who pretty much floating through life after the loss of a loved one and having a hard time coping her grief. The other is a man portrayed by SingleTrackMind, who is a like a spirit or ghost floating in-between realms because he can’t leave until he’s assured that the one he left behind has found closure and moved on with life without him.

I like the fact that Jack had made a short film of sorts for this video. I like music videos that tell a story. Those are usually a joy to watch, even if it’s a sad one.

The video begins with rain and ends sunny. Like the tears shed have dried, replaced with the courage of coming to terms with the loss, remembering the life of the one who had gone, and live on.

Deep stuff there, huh?

Um. Anyway, look out for SingleTrackMind’s Seventeen video soon. He is expected to release his upcoming album mid-2006. Will Seventeen be the first single? Well, we’ll see, won’t we?