Do you know what it's like to feel like you have a raging anger in you that's on slow burn? As it simmers ... it continues to fuel you and then at the wrong time & wrong place it'd just explode. That's what it feels like for me. I feel like I'm on this timer that threatens to overwhelm me when not kept in check. It's damn frustrating to feel so stuck and trying hard to get unstuck but not really making much progress.
I am very sure of a lot of my choices and it really hits me hard when I get questioned constantly. It drives me up the wall that people assume I have not thought things through and what's worse is that it feels as if people don't realise that a lot of times I have counted the cost of making a decision. It's not easy to stick with things but the cost has already been weighed out. What I cannot say is what the future would hold ... while I know that my decision now to build up Four Forty Records means sacrificing every short term financial payoff, it doesn't make it any easier especially when everything I work towards now goes towards building the artistes in our stable. What do I see out of it? Honestly ... nothing much right now in terms of personal gain but everything in terms of working through the daily grind. What's worse is doing a lot of waiting around because we don't really call the shots. I really love what I do but it's tough facing the reality of the challenges that I must face. I do hope that this investment will pay off in the future but there really is no guarantee to that is there? I guess that's what it means to risk it all doesn't it?
The state of the industry is not too great right now and world-wide we're seeing a shrinking in terms of sales. That's why it's really important we begin educating the young about intellectual property and the damage it does to just go out there and download or buy a pirated CD. That includes software as well. Don't any of you every wonder just how many people depend on the sale of software or a music CD to keep on doing what they love? And while I'm on a roll here ... would it hurt to support local music or even international artistes as well? I really have seen lots of great local talent but what do we hear on radio more? Lots of recycled international songs and not that many local efforts. Make a difference ... and start listening to all kinds of music. We have some really good stuff locally and I'm not just talking about Juwita but people like Reshmonu and so many others both in the English & Bahasa Malaysia segment of the market.
Nuff said! I shall shut up now ... but I leave everyone with this question. Is there a future for the Malaysian music industry? And what can you guys do to be a part of it?
