Le blog du Baron

28/11/2009: IS BARON ZERO VICTIM OF THE GREAT FIREWALL ?

2009-11-28T08:14:00+08:00

I just came back from a few days in SHANGHAI and I was quite surprised to find out that I could not access LE BLOG DU BARON on my laptop from there. Particulary since I succeeded to do it on my mobile phone.

Could it be that the site has been blocked by the Chinese authorities ? Since it would be hard to describe it as 'pornographic' in nature (even though I can understand BARON ZERO music might not be to everyone's tastes !) it could be that my past support to the cause of TIBET has not gone totally unnoticed here.

I'm quite puzzled; could anyone help to shed some lights on this ?

26/11/2009: ONE YEAR LATER, SURVIVING THE AFTER MUMBAI

2009-11-26T23:36:00+08:00

It seems to be a tradition in many Hollywood movies that people who go through a life threatening experience have a sudden realization of their own frailty and come out of it transformed (as for example Jeff Bridges in FEARLESS), ready to change and reinvent their lives.

I'm afraid things do not quite work this way in reality, at least for me. It has been one year to that very day since I got involved in the terror attack at the TAJ MAHAL HOTEL and the after Mumbai is proving difficult. I cannot say that the experience left such a scar on me (except for the one on my left leg) and I certainly came out of it with the strong desire to make every day in my life count for something.

But one year later I have to admit things have not changed in the way I would like.

In truth not much has changed, except for the fact I'm more painfully aware that time is passing by and everything could end in the blink of an eye, without any warning. Every day feels like the same day and this is the most difficult things to live with.

I still feel immensely lucky and privileged to have survived through that night when so many people have lost their lives, or the lives of someone they loved. My thoughts tonight go to each ones of them and to the staff at both the TAJ MAHAL and the OBEROI who have put themselves at risk, often paying the highest possible price, because they felt it was their duty to protect their guests. They are the real heroes of Mumbai. And as usual with me, I will show my gratitude by dedicating them a new song which I've been planning to work on: FIRE AT THE TAJ.

25/11/2009: LIKE PETER PARKER HANGING FROM A THIN, THIN THREAD

2009-11-25T23:35:00+08:00

Imagine what would happen to PETER PARKER if he finally got promoted by Jonah Jameson at the Daily Buggle, with a better job, a bigger paycheck and more responsabilities. And imagine that he finally settled down with Mary-Jane and had a child with her. Do you think he would be happy hereafter having achieved some of the things he long wished for ?

Or do you think he would miss roaming the night swinging between buildings and looking to save the Big Apple from a hord of super-baddies ?

Well, you get the idea of how I'm feeling. Over the last couple of months my secret identity as BARON ZERO, the super-hero with the black and white Gibson SG, has slowly disappeared behind the brilliant marketing executive chained to his desk. And while the situation is not without its rewards, blogging and music have taken second stage after work and family life.

Time to get my fingers back on the strings and rock the night away. Sleep tight Singapore, le Baron is back in town ...

22/09/2009: THE BEST TIME OF THE DAY IS BEFORE DAWN

2009-09-23T14:55:17+08:00

One particular moment of the day which I've always liked is right before sunrise (when I can get out of bed that is, which is not so often). I find that most cities have a unique atmosphere at that time. Paris for instance puts on a very different face with workers delivering any kinds of good, bakers finishing their night shift, young ones coming out of a club and there a few better places than the back room of a small cafe in Pigalle to observe all this life.

I'm in MILANO for a couple of days for work and since I'm totally jet-lagged I got up very early this morning and went for a run in the empty streets. The fresh air of the night, the colours of sunrise and JUST LIKE HEAVEN in my headphones, this was really magical and a perfect start for the day. It almost makes me feel like getting out of bed everyday at dawn ... but I'm far too lazy for that !

16/09/2009: FINALLY RECORDING MY FIRST SONG IN FRENCH

2009-09-16T07:52:00+08:00

I'm finally getting down to recording my first song in French ... and it is not one of mines ! For the last few days I have been working on an acoustic version of NE ME QUITTE PAS from JACQUES BREL which will be played for the first time at the opening of the DIOR store in the new ION ORCHARD shopping mall this Friday.

How did I get to work on this ? I found out las week end (courtesy of FaceBook) that DJ Inquisitive was looking for some French music to put together a DJ set for the event and contacted him. In addition to sending him some tracks covering the last 40 years in French music (from Edith Piaf to Yelle through Francoise Hardy, the Rita Mitsouko and Noir Desir), I have also suggested to send him an exclusive cover of Jacques Brel's song. Which I now need to finish (and which I will off course post after the opening).

technorati tags: Bron Zero Jacques Brel Ion Orchard Dior acoustic version
keotag tags: Bron Zero Jacques Brel Ion Orchard Dior acoustic version

14/09/2009: ONE MINUTE REVIEW "ETC @ CRAWLSPACE"

2009-09-14T21:52:00+08:00

After more than a year in Singapore I'm proud to report that I finally managed to attend a concert from local indie legend ETC. And if I have one thing to say: it was well worth the wait.

Even tough I have always enjoyed the studio demos, it is really a band that has to be experienced live. Ben on guitars, Harvey on drums and a loop box in the middle, these 2 still manage to rock the house down. The guitar/drums format allows Ben to create an always changing canvas of melodies while Harvey hidden in the back keeps the energy level impressively high (and would be well worth the show on his own).

This is raw, sometimes chaotic, often surprising (few people would dare throw in some verse of Killy Minogue, Michael Jackson and Joy Division in the middle of the same song) and it's amazing that despite all this they manage to keep things tight and punchy. Big bonus point for my personal favourite PETER PANIC.

Have a look at the band MySpace page and get your ass down to their next gig if you are in Singapore.

technorati tags: SIngapore music scene Peace off ETC
keotag tags: SIngapore music scene Peace off ETC

11/09/2009: FRIDAY NIGHT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO PEACE OFF

2009-09-11T08:35:53+08:00

Price:

$10 (admission includes a drink of fresh Bandung. Limited edition of 5 litres)

Start Time:	Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time:	Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 12:05am
Location:	Crawlspace
Street:	North Bridge Road, Kg Glam
City/Town:	Singapore, Singapore

10/09/2009: WHAT THE YEAR AHEAD HAS IN STOCK

2009-09-10T08:29:00+08:00

I came back to Singapore a week ago and in all honnesty I would rather be anywhere else. I actually have started to mentally refer to Singapore as "the island of doom" ! Which is unfair since it isn't such a bad place to live. But after spending the last couple of weeks trecking in the Alps, I have finally come to realize that living in a big city is not what I want anylonger. I feel greater clarity, I feel that I'm starting to know better what I want my life to be. Not only in terms of where I want to live, but also what I want to do.

I can't help feeling that the 365 days of my life will be crucial and that by the same time next year things will look very different. At least this is what I set myself to achieve: living closer to nature probably back in Europe. And in all likeliness doing another job. Which is quite frankly terrifying since I have done the same for close to 20 years and I'm very good at it if I can say so myself. But it is also exhilarating to think about having such freedom and what it could bring.

Of course the 1 miilion dollar question (quite litterally) is how I will be able to make a living and have enough time to work on all my artistic projects.

technorati tags: Singapore trecking Austrian Alps changing life
keotag tags: Singapore trecking Austrian Alps changing life

06/09/2009: FINALLY BACK ON MY OWN TWO FEET

2009-09-06T18:31:00+08:00

Yesterday I finally went for my first run since the operation I had last December after snapping off my left Achilles tendon. It wasn't much of a marathon but I felt quite exhausted after running 30 minute in the humd Singapore heat. And this morning when I woke, my left leg was wooden stiff and I could barely walk.

But what can I say ? I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah) and having come back a long way since the longest night of my life, it does feel like a sweet victory.

technorati tags: Baron Zero Mumbai terror attack running Achilles tendon
keotag tags: Baron Zero Mumbai terror attack running Achilles tendon

05/09/2009: ZEROCAST #26

2009-09-05T16:01:00+08:00

Finally here is the latest issue of ZEROCAST, slight delaied due to trip to Europe. It is hard not to feel somehow depressed being back here all on my own. But luckily there is always some music to listen to. And with new remixes from THE DEAD WEATHER, FEVER RAY and PASSION PIT, this is exactly what the doctor recommends.

Here is the detailed track listing (and if you like what you see, check this out):

BLOC PARTY One More Chance (Alex Metric Remix) download buy
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Summertime Clothes (Dam-Funk Remix) download buy
FEVER RAY Triangle Walks (Allez Allez Remix) download buy
FRANZ FERDINAND Can't Stop Feeling (WhoMadeWho Remix) download buy
LITTLE BOOTS Remedy (A1 Bassline Get Hype Remix) download buy
MISS KITTIN & THE HACKER Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix) download buy
PASSION PIT Little Secrets (LehtMoJoe Remix) download buy
SALLY SHAPIRO Miracle (Bogdan Irkuk Remix) download buy
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO Audacity Of Huge (Naum Gabo Remix) download buy
THE DEAD WEATHER Treat Me Like Your Mother (Diplo Remix) download buy
WHITE LIES Nothing To Give (M83 Remix) download buy
YEAH YEAH YEAHS Heads Will Roll (DAN OH Remix) download buy

All the tracks featured in this blog are the sole property of their owner(s). If you like what you hear, please support the artists by buying their original work or going to see their concert. If you would like your songs removed from this site, email me directly and I will take them off as soon as possible

technorati tags: Zerocast #26 podcasting killer remixes le podcast du Baron
keotag tags: Zerocast #26 podcasting killer remixes le podcast du Baron