Not your average Chiseled Indie Freshers

Palma Violets, a band that I have recently discovered, mostly due to my delay in the receiving of British Indie hit magazine the NME. According to them, they are the "best thing to happen in British music" and I admit, at first I was more than a bit sceptical. 

After witnessing the obvious boyish good-looks from the blown up black and white photographs of Sam Fryer, Chili Jesson, Pete Mayhew and Will Doyle in my (not so latest) NME issue, I admit, I was somewhat taken back by just how much their looks may have taken a part in their success. I mean, they were what Indie-heads wanted to see. Reluctantly, I was drawn to their debut single Best of Friends and sat back to absorb the music... not the looks. I was pleasantly surprised. 

The lads themselves.

 These four greasy-haired guys are far better than my brutal expectations placed them out to be. Their appealing balance between The Libertines and The Clash (two bands near and dear to my heart) is absolutely captivating. Once I pressed play right up until when I pressed replay, I was in a sort of trance where it was only me and the simple, yet bold guitar riffs. It was simply different - the same - but different. Nothing like I've ever heard, but something that sounds so familiar. Stop me, please.




There is not doubt that I am unclear about what makes them so appealing, and no - it's not just their fresh faces and what I want to see in Indie. Their sound gives me a sort of hope. It makes me look forward to what else my generation can come up with that won't make me cry. It makes me dance around and anticipate with the highest of hopes. Music is such a complex art form, and these guys have it in the palm of their hand without even realising. They are all probably thinking it's all fun and games is drugsland, being adored by women and drowned in sweat while destroying the technology around them. It is all that, but it's so much more as well. 

I decided to write about them because they have been such a pivotal moment in my life. They have reminded me why I took up a love of writing in the first place. It's all about the music. I lost myself for a bit, being constantly bored of the same old routine just eating away at me. Now, this new and actually good band has brought me back from the dead. I've re-found my passion and I look forward to reigniting it further. 

Thanks guys, I don't think you'll ever know how much I appreciate this. 

Norliza.

The Hierarchy of Egos in an International School

I go to Jerudong International School and I am so grateful to be in such a racially diverse environment. However, There is much more to hate than to love in such a place.

Here I go, back to my negativity, but I honestly have a point to make in this, just bare with me.

I have a wide range of friends from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Korea, local Bruneian and people of mixed origin. However, it's not all equality and diverse intermingling.There is a clear hierarchy in my school, and I find that the case in all schools around the world.

Just think about one of those high school movies or chick flicks and their caricatures of people within the school environment; the geeks, the jocks, the artists, the bimbos, the nerds, the weirdos, the list goes on. Think about how accurate those characters are in relation to your own life. I know, it's a bit far fetched and naive to believe that these teen romantic comedies are anywhere near real life, but I think that it is more prominent than one might think.

Upper school and Sixth form (or High School for our Americans) is a truly horrible experience. It can cause one to break down, hate themselves, try to be someone they are not and ultimately be left out. On the other hand, it has the power to boost knowledge, life lessons, social interaction, friendships and (depending on which side you would put this) egos.

Sure, it is a great thing to be popular, adored by jealousy and having the pride of two thousand followers on Twitter. I think it's dangerous though, and I'm going to say it now, this all is going to sound a lot like a jealous teenager who is just living in the shadow of all these popular people.

First result of for 'Sheep Cartoon' on Google.

It seems like the whole world is calling out for a leader and we are all mere followers. Sheep - that's a common term for it. All trotting along monotonously with no real personal identity and originality. School life, anyone? I am one of these sheep, who follows around a popular kids aura without even realising it. I don't want to do it, I dont think it sounds too appealing trailing after the excrement of someone's bulging ego. We all do it, though, and we can't help it.

We all want to have a better life than the one we already lead. We want some sort of closure as well from other people to tell us we are better than someone in someway. It all sounds so selfish and petty, but we all need it. Everyone wants to look irresistible all the time, they want to be top in all their lessons and have people want to talk to them.

Once again, I cannot stress my point far enough to make an actual clear purpose for my writing. I just write to amuse, to seek opinion and friendships, I want to be like everyone else - just like everyone wants to be like everyone else. I made this so that what I say becomes publicly seen and hopefully heard.

Hello is anybody out there?

I just feel like I am writing this to myself.

Norliza.

The Brunei Bubble

Living in a isolated part of the world makes it slightly harder to get a sense of real life. They call the place I live in the "Brunei bubble", and with good reason too. Everything is too nice, safe and squeaky clean. No troubles or tension, nothing to be afraid of.

What's the problem with that?

People here seem to not know how life is lived outside of their comfy stretches of land. It's utterly boring. I want some excitement, some action, something to look forward to and something to fear. Life is never just a walk in the park, it's never smooth and easy rolling. There are hard times, there are really fun times too, but there are definitely going to be hard times.

I sound petty and selfish in this sense. Probably because people are questioning why I would want to criticize such a place that has a lack of crime and poverty. Well, I've lived here for twelve years; moving from Scotland (where my father is from) with my brother and mother (from Malaysia). All the years I've been here, never once have a felt a sense of achievement. Ruled by a single Sultan and his gang of relatives, they stand tall and proud and far better than mere citizens. Like most monarchies, their totalitarian and snobby attitude manifests - it doesn't seem to affect their people much, however. You can see police escorts guiding second cousins, aunties, uncles, nephews, nieces of the Sultan down a busy road because oh, best avoid the traffic. All well and good, your majesty ('s relatives).

I've never been a big believer in the idea of a monarchy. It's outdated and out of the people's control, creating a gap that will never be filled between ruler and subjects. The leader of the country should be a leader everyone wants not a leader that is within a certain family. Rules and regulations seem to be the top problem in the struggle for a Bruneian voice. Strict curfews, bans of gathering, extreme censorship, ban of alcohol and many other non-negotiable enforcement.

I'm struggling here, to see what I was so attracted to in the first place. When I was five, growing up here was bliss. Now I am seventeen and I don't see the appeal at all.

I am now pursuing a path to creativity in my mind, but any art form here is condemned. Impossible to gain an understanding of theatre, art and even dance I'm finding it hard to appreciate myself. People need some sort of closure when it comes to a perusal of your interests.

Life is not perfect, mine definitely isn't. I'm a manic-depressive and strong opinionated seventeen year old girl. I can never achieve artistic expression, what with the monarchy and hold on people's lives. All I can do is wait and hope that Brunei finds some sort of voice.

It is a beautiful place and it is an ideal place.
Just not for me.

                                  The sun going down by the river in Kuala Belait, Brunei

There is no way of summing up my views - my bipolar writing style is a challenge, but I really cannot express my feelings with words. I love and hate Brunei.

(I hope this is an adequate first post.)


Norliza.