To the Baybeats committee, crew, our loving friends and our loyal ZS supporters, those who came, watched, sang, screamed, shouted, clapped, moshed, jumped, dance, moonwalked, bodysurfed, headbanged, tap your feet, punch your fist in the air, took videos, took photos, bought CDs, t-shirts, buttons, worked, sweat, carry heavy equipment, want-to-go-toilet-but-chose-to-stay-for-our-set, we love you and we thank you for sharing this occasion with us! We have started writing the next album and we promise it will be harder, heavier, and much odder.


Simon

Rocking in English

"In the arena of rock music, however, two of Singapore’s best bands – Zero Sequence and B-Quartet – are ploughing ahead with English-based albums, despite the odds and the lure of the Chinese and Malay-language markets. And they are entrusting their fate to independent label Aging Youth Records. Call them foolhardy if you will, but they must be doing something right since both bands have been nominated in multiple categories for Voize.my’s inaugural Independent Music Awards in Malaysia."

"Zero Sequence has just undergone a promising change of vocalists, with Goodfellas’ Mang stepping in to fill the shoes of former frontman Ming, who left to sing with his new rock’n’roll band SkyRocket. Mang has collaborated with Zero Sequence many times, and if those outings are anything to go by, he’s the man to take the band to the next level. An independent Japanese label has agreed to distribute Zero Sequence’s debut album Flight Of Transcendence in Japan, and guitarist Simon Yong hopes this will lead to Japanese gigs, which would offer great visibility in that huge market. The progressive rock band has started work on its second album, which will hopefully outdo even the excellent Flight Of Transcendence."

- Christopher Lim (The Business Times, Friday 13 March 2009)

Some of you might have seen him in action with Zero Sequence a few times already. Friends for many years, the very talented Mang (codename: Mangsta, Mang-Key, Stick-Man, KungFuMan) is officially a Zeroian!

Here's some more updates:

1) There are now new arrangements in our old songs.

2) Mang plays second guitar, which means the band sound is much fatter than usual now. (Zero Sequence is officially FAT and OVERWEIGHT!)

3) We have started writing. We promise the 2nd album will be much wicked and bad-ass! (refer to picher below)

Till then!

Simon

Somewhere in mid 2005, Ming reformed Zero Sequence and took the band to a remarkable victory at Singapore Street Festival Band Competition 2005. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xYQMeBrjYg

Though we were crowned champions, it was a different victory in our hearts. After a 2 year hiatus, after a minor adjustment in the line-up, and after a coffee session at McDonald’s somewhere near Lucky Plaza, the question of what many who have/could have asked, “when are you boys gonna get off your lazy asses to play again?” has been answered (cue in dramatic music).

Ming wrote incredible lyrics and tunes. One of my favorites is “Wreckage”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvx1zO7rad4

He doesn’t just “write” them, he sculpts and shapes them, and he made Zero Sequence songs artistic and sophisticated. Ming is deep and thoughtful. He doesn’t express much with words, but his actions do means something. He bought us fashion accessories from Bangkok, Yeo’s Soya Bean (the classic old school bottles mind you!) before Imran left for USA, plenty of booze after shows (nope he is not an alcoholic).

..

We would like to thank Ming for his passion and his brilliance with Zero Sequence. Do check out his new band SkyRocket at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36480184826

Simon

Distributed by the Singapore Press Holdings, SUTRA is a new Malay lifestyle/entertainment magazine just launched this month. Be sure to get one off the shelves! Here's the SUTRA album review and Berita Harian article!

Hello folks, for those who missed these articles, I have finally managed to steal (easy job) them from Aging Youth and a couple of kind friends who had taken the extra time and effort to scan and put them up on the cyberspace somewhere! So here goes:

Lime Magazine

Business Times

Lime Magazine

LIVE! Magazine

Today

LIVE! Magazine

MyPaper

Thanks to the helpful folks from Aging Youth, "Flight of Transcendence" is now available at the following:

- HMV

- Sembawang Music

- Gramophone

- Earshot Cafe ArtsHouse

- Roxy Records

- Straits Records

- Sinema @ Old School

Get your copy now if you haven't. And if you don't see it on the shelves, please do ask the assistant. Sometimes they forgot to put up new copies after the previous were sold. For those who already had the CD, we thank you very much, and hope you enjoy the music as much as we enjoyed making it. The album recieved great reviews and for those who missed the papers, I'll put up the articles to share once Ezal scanned them!

Till then and take care!

Simon

Brandon Khoo

Nazrey Jay

Bani Hidir

Thank you Brandon, Nazrey, and Hidir for your time, effort, and professionalism for being a Zero Sequence while "Lunatic Bear" Imran is away. It was a real pleasure working with all you amazing people!

It has been 10 months the band last shared the stage with original drummer-boy Immy and we now look forward to Weekend Trip at Youth Park on 21st June with him again! Welcome home dude!

It is only the beginning with many more great things to happen. A weekend that we, as humble and aspiring musicians can look back and proudly talk about it for the next few years. "Flight of Transcendence", distributed by Aging Youth Records has finally landed.

It has taken us 3 years to conceptualize, compose, arrange, and put our best work to date on a record that not only pushes our boundaries technically, but also musicality. Leonard Soosay (Snakeweed Studio) describes the concept album as "a piece of work with a lot of love". Indeed it is. Deaths, illness, broken relationships, and many other personal experiences during the making of "Flight of Transcendence" have brought the band closer and of course, stronger.

The celebration of the album at the 3-night showdown at The Esplanade Powerhouse was a blast.  The only person who was not present is drummer boy Imran Salleh, codename: Lunatic Bear. His 5 months of work commitment in Texas USA had Brandon Khoo standing in, and we are very grateful for his efforts and professionalism. He makes sure the band continues to move in odd-time signatures!

The Zero Sequence line-up for the 90min non-stop Sunday main event comprises some of the finest and yet humble musicians in Singapore I ever have a chance to work, play, and joke with. Namely, Ming (vocals), Mathilda D'Silva (vocals), Ezal Sani (keyboards / musicpole / guitar), Joanna Lim (keyboards / laptop), Joan Chew (violins), Reuel Ramos (bass), Brandon Khoo (drums), and myself on electric and acoustic guitars.

A few days before the show we were all stress up, especially Ezal, who was the coordinator for the event. We blew the budget Esplanade has allocated for us. Chloe has to submit a long explanation letter to convince her supervisors it's gonna be a great show with a great turnout. There wasn't much media publicity of the album launch, and we were the only act performing, so people who will be attending will be the people who are coming for us. Tell me, how can we not be stress about it?

3 days after the launch, we received statistics from The Esplanade that we had 721 wonderful people turned up to show their love for us on the Sunday main event! We couldn't ask for more. A sensation for Zero Sequence. We will continue to write more good stuff and indeed, it is only the beginning with many more great things to happen.

Simon (codename: Storyteller)

Make a date with us on the 14th April 2007 at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. 2 electrifying sets you don't want to miss! We'll be showcasing our original materials from our upcoming album "Flight of Transcendence" as well as paying tribute to some of our biggest influences who made us who we are today (Wheeoweeet! I talk like real only!). We would also like to announce that for this gig, we'll be capturing some of the biggest panty dealers in Singapore to perform a couple of tunes with us (High Risk Project).

.: T O   C A P T U R E :.

Wanted Man No. 1: Mang
Codename: The Mangsta
Crime Committed: Excessive Abusing of Microphones and Geetars

Besides he's gonna do a duet with Ming (how loving!), we're still trying to convince him to do his infamous Kung Fu stunt he just learned from the Eastern mountains.

Check out his band The GoodFellas at http://www.myspace.com/goodfellassg

Wanted Man No. 2: Nazri
Codename: Naz
Crime Committed: Using the Kick Drum to store and transport Porn Magazines and VCDs

While Ming and Mang doing a duet, Ezal and Joanna battling out on the keyboards, Imran and Nazri will have their intimate moments too: Drums Battle!!! I don't know how they're gonna do it, I only heard Nazri will be bringing a cute little wooden box + chimes + shaker + tambourine + a suntan lotion.

.: T O   W A T C H   O U T   F O R :.

Sexy & Dangerous Man No. 1: Ezal
Codename: Nose, sometimes "Ezal Pineapple", but most of the time Nose

The man whom I've shared the stage with for the millionth time. Ezal is gonna play the keyboards and geetar for this gig. To all photographers (especially chief of Bandaids, Maz) please take note, it will be priceless: Ezal will be doing an emo punk-rock style jump on one of the songs. Don't ask me which song cos I seriously do not want him to jump because he'll be using my geetar and if he ever falls and my geetar breaks into two pieces I'll kill him!!! *Nice jacket btw*

Sexy & Dangerous Man No. 2: Imran
Codename: Lunatic Bear (cute)

I had a nightmare one night. The person in the drawing (below) came up to me and shook my hand. "My name is Imran and I like to eat chicken chop without coleslaw and beans."

Let me just say this. 70 percent of the nightmares I previously had all came true. I am so beri afraid.

Sexy & Dangerous Girl No. 3: Mathilda
Codename: Matt

A tremendous singer and performer. The first time when I shared the stage with her when she hit the high notes, my G-String broke. This time I'll be standing by my 18-string monster for a "High Alert Activation"!

Matt will be teaming up with Ming and Mang for a Triple-M Showdown for this one!

Sexy & Dangerous Man No. 4: Reuel
Codename: The "Ob-stract" Mr Maximizer

No comments on this fella. Just look at the picher below and go figure out.

See you folks there!!!

Cheers,

The Rover

2001, it was known as the Substation Garden then when we first played Stasis (4). The crowd was awesome and we were rocking out with some of the finest acts in Singapore such as Rudra, Meltg Snow, Objection Overrule, and Moods. Imran made his debut for Zero Sequence as a 6-string-bass player. The gig was a blast, really. His arrival opened up more channels for obscure creativity and insane imagination, bringing Zero Sequence a higher step to Progressive Rock. Anyway Stasis 4 was like half a decade ago when we were all cute boys...

We're back!!! STASIS 9. Where cute boys turned (freaking) hot! Young soundscaper Joanna will be making her first appearance with Zero Sequence at Stasis 9. This will be the first time we're playing with 2 keyboardists. Interesting... yes it is... Joanna has got some serious chops hidden behind her "progressive" brain, so you might see a different side of her when she starts to work those fingers of hers!

In my next post, I'll tell you more about our upcoming album and its progress. Yes! We finally have got an album title! Till then, and Merry Christmas!

Simon