First the Vengaboys, now AQUA!
What has Sydney become? It's like the 90's is coming back again and we're able to relive those childhood hits. Just to refresh your memory (in case you've forgotten or you're in denial) they were the ones that made 'Barbie Girl' and a whole suite of other lollypop pop songs (see what I did there?)
Aqua - Aquarium
I know you're all shouting, tell me more! I want to know when and where they're coming. Well their first show is sold out! (cue sounds of sadness and disappointment) but you'll be glad to know there is a second show up for offer!
When? 16th & 17th of March
Where? The HiFi, Sydney
How much? $60.50
Want to know more?
http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/52000/Aqua_sell_out_announce_more_shows
http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=53728&ref=moshtix&skin=
And just to re-live some memories, here's a couple of YouTube videos:
Aqua - Barbie Girl
Aqua - Doctor Jones
Aqua - Cartoon Heroes
What I got up to this NYE…
Thanks to Martin Bui for finding this epic video on YouTube of Markus Schulz' epic performance at the Metro on New Years. Most of you will remember this song as 'that Russian space song' which went pretty high up the pop charts back when we just started high school.
That song... If you never knew was called ResuRection by a (now disbanded) group called PPK. This version's remixed by Setrise and has this wicked darkness to it. Love it.
Here's a photo from the night, taken by Martin!
Markus Schulz NY Sydney
Happy Welcoming of a New Year (2012)
2012 has come and I'm still a lazy ass at updating my blog, despite this I have actually gotten a few things done as we welcome the new year. Hope everyone had a great NYE celebration, I sure did and what better way to do it than with some pumping trance music and hectic lasers (well also a house party for some pre-drinks). Not sure about everyone else, but 2012 isn't going to be a big bang of change, I don't have many complaints about 2011 and I'm going to take what I started last year and make it even better this year. Here's a pic shamelessly stolen from the Sydney City Council NYE website, NY fireworks are always bound to impress, at least in Sydney anyway.
Sydney Midnight Fireworks
Main things for me for 2012 will be more photography and DJ'ing, so keep an eye out, hopefully I'll be doing some bigger and better things with photography and getting a major kick on in regards to learning how to DJ.
For everyone who's got a resolution for 2012, good luck with it 
.
Ultimate Ears Triplefi 10
I've had these Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10's for about one and a half weeks now and seriously, I can't put them down! $195 for a pair of earphones may seem ridiculous (but the RRP of $499.95 is even more so 
) but I seriously think they've been worth every single dollar. Each time I listen to a song, it's like a new experience, even if I've heard it for a hundred times, these earphones just make it a whole new experience.
UE Triplefi 10
So, how do I describe these headphones in more detail than simply 'eargasmic'? Hard to say, I can't really find any flaws with them. The highs are very nice and crisp yet never ear piercing. The bass is very tight and punchy and it's seriously like you can hear the bass wind up into a sharp punch. They're very sensitive so they're easy to drive meaning they go plenty loud, and loud without distortion. If you do hear any distortion, it's the song and not the headphones. The mids are detailed and vocals do come alive bringing a very nice sense of depth. Only down fall I'd say is that the sound is so punchy and dynamic that it makes it hard to sleep with while they're pumping away.
Sexy case
Packaging of these things are similar to the UE700's but the case is a lot bigger and sexier with a nice metal finish. These earphones are large and they do stick out a fair bit, but it's definitely worth it as the sound they produce is simply phenomenal. Highly recommended and I believe thelogitechshop's ebay account is doing them for $199. They're probably best sounding in ear monitors (IEM's) you can get for that kind of money (well from what I've read at least). There's also accounts of them not fitting well if you have small ears, but they've been perfect for me and the Comply Foam makes it stay quite firmly lodged and sealed in my ear (and if you read my review on the UE700's, you'll know how much I love the comply foam stuff.
Ready to be DJ ntranced
So I've finally done it, I've bought some decks to finish off my first bedroom DJ setup. A pair of Pioneer CDJ 400's later and now I'm set to start mixing. I've had a quick play with it all and it's definitely not as easy as it looks. The most difficult part for me at the moment is to make sense of my vast collection of music and organising it in a way which is sensible.
The setup
Haha yes, it is the dreaded long exposure trail, haven't done those kind of photos in a long time, but there it is in all its glory, 2 CDJ 400's, a DJM 3000 mixer and a set of aiaiai TMA-1's (on my head an not pictured). Had it on my main desk for a few minutes just to plug it into my PC to see how it all goes and it does Traktor pretty well, but that will be for later 
.
The final piece
Hopefully I can pick it up fairly quickly and start cranking out some mixes .
Getting warmer…
Getting closer to unleasing dj ntranced 
received an early present yesterday while at work, a set of new headphones. These are known as aiaiai's TMA-1, set of DJ headphones produced by a Dutch company. Strange brand name, but quality product. Only did some rough research before buying them (used) and they seem to fit the bill in every aspect and it does seem like it was indeed made for DJ's as far as their marketing goes.
Stealthy look, single sided cable as well as being removable from both ends, perfect for my needs.
aiaiai TMA-1
Important question is, how do they sound? At first, I thought they were a bit too bassy and overpowering but after a few hours of listening, I kinda enjoyed it as it has a very smooth sound. While the bass is strong, it's very clear and punchy, but as soon as you put them on, you'll notice its sound stage, not sure how to describe it, but it's very 'big room' and warm.
Pretty happy with them and one step closer to DJ'ing. Just need some decks now.
New workplace – Commonwealth Bank Place
So in a little under 3 weeks time, I make the move across to our shiny new building which took over the site of the old Sega World in Darling Harbour. New building comes with a new style of working, a more advanced version of hot desking known as 'activity based working'. Plenty of glass surrounds the building to let in a lot of natural light as well as making it look pretty.
From the outside
From the side
Inside is very modern and looks classy as soon as you step through the front door, although it's got a revolving door (which i absolutely hate)
Lobby (north)
Looking up the atrium
No longer will people have permanent desks, it's all about moving around and being mobile, at least they're using mesh chairs .
New workspaces
Each area on the floors has its own feel/scheme to it with varying colours and textures.
Down from the inside
Kitchen area
Plenty of funky new furniture around, like these ear chairs which help project/retain your voice, making it easier to talk to people.
Funky 'ear' chairs
Best bit about the building is the top floor, level 6.
Top floor
It's got a great view overlooking the Pyrmont direction and is a nice area to go outside and chill. Would make for a great place for Friday drinks.
Top floor looking out
It's even got a BBQ! I had hoped to be able to use it to cook up a storm for lunch, but alas I have been disappointed and the BBQ needs to be booked or used for catering/functions only.
BBQ on the top floor
Balcony outside is definitely very nice and we get a tiny patch to build up a community vegie patch, as you can see, it's sorta dead at the moment.
Rooftop balcony
Can't wait to move in and to have some new shops/restaurants open up around and downstairs, I've read that Brazillian BBQ is already in the works and that makes me a happy man. Oh, did I mention we all got Mac laptops?
I am a marathon man
So official results for the City2Surf are in and I can be proud to say that I have achieved my target of a sub 90 minute time. I managed a time of 1:25:19, which I think is pretty decent considering it was my first time. Great experience but definitely gotta get myself into a higher group next year, too many people walking and blocking your way in the yellow group. If only they could force people to keep left 
.
Here's a crappy small watermarked (to the shithouse) photo of me near the finish line .
City2Surf Finish Line
Can't wait to do it again next year, hopefully in the green group with less slow people. Aiming for a sub 75 minute time . Shame that the Bridge Run is on the day after Defqon, don't think I have a chance of making that one.
Ah, how could I forget the precious finishing medal...
City2Surf Medal
I am a marathon man…
...well almost. This Sunday is d-day where the City2Surf will commence and I find out if I'm actually a marathon man or not. I did my final run on the treadmill at the gym today (yes, I know it's not the same) and I finally managed to do a 14km run. While the City2Surf is a little more hilly than a flat run on a treadmill, I think it's pretty good that I could manage to do the 14km run on the treadmill.
I actually managed to do it in 82 minutes with an average speed of 10.4km/h. Pretty happy with that and it instills some confidence for Sunday. Bring it on!
I also compiled a little chart to map my speed as I did the run.
14 kilometers!
For those doing the run on Sunday, good luck and see you at the end (I'm in the Yellow group btw).
Random Photo #3
This one's from Good Vibes in 2010 of one of the crew from Naughty by Nature, one of my first non-DJ type photos and quite like the combination of the fog in the background and the towel on his head. Shame that there's a videographer in the background.
Naughty by Nature
Details: D90 | 50mm 1.8 | f/2.8 | 1/250 | ISO 800
DJ ntranced is coming*
(*Ok, close but not really)
No idea when I'm actually going to make DJing happen but I've started off with a single piece of equipment, a mixer. Picked up a lovely Pioneer DJM-3000 4 channel professional mixer from a GraysOnline auction this morning and fired it up to make sure it all works and it does!
Pioneer DJM-3000
Don't have anything to compare it with really, but on first impression, it was heavier than I had expected. The rotaries feel nice and solid and the faders are quite loose but don't feel cheap. Pretty happy.
It's a shame I can't do much with it at the moment as I don't have any CDJs. But nonetheless it's a start . Check back in the near future when I'll hopefully get a pair off CDJs and a set of headphones and can start mixing up some trance.
Getting serious!
Under a month to go til the City 2 Surf and it's time to kick it up a notch, with these babies I'll be clocking up 14km in 90 minutes with ease .
Compression tights
Haha, to be honest, not sure how much of a benefit the compression tights will be, but at least it'll be nice to wear in the early morning on the actual day itself. I've put them through a few runs at the gym already and they feel rather nice on, feels as though there's no resistance when you're running. Who knows though, they're rather expensive so it could all be in my head.
City 2 Surf – 5 weeks to go
With five weeks to go until the torturous 14 kilometer marathon known as the City 2 Surf, it's been on my list of things to do for a few years and this time I'm actually going to do it. The proof is below, the bib came today and I'm in the Westpac Yellow group, i.e. the one for walkers and joggers. Probably should have gone into the blue group looking back now but I'm just starting out so Yellow will have to do.
53973
Bib number is 53973, nothing special or fancy about it but I'm aiming for a sub 90 minute time and hopefully if I can keep up my training at the gym, I should be able to make it. I'm currently quite confident of making it the whole way without walking, whether or not I can maintain an average speed of just over 9km/h over the treacherous heartbreak hill will remain unknown.
Hope everyone else doing the run has been preparing for it, it should be a blast .
New shoes – Ready for City 2 Surf
So enduring a 40 or so minute wait in line at the Adidas Outlet store in Lidcome, left with a cheap pair of running shoes. Adistar Salvation 2's, bargain price of $90 down from $250.
Ready to go
Guess this makes me ready for City2Surf right? Not like you need to do training or anything
City2Surf 2011
I've been meaning to register and do the City2Surf marathon for years! Now since CBA is paying for entries for the first 2000, I figured this year will be the year to do it.
I'd urge you all to join as well (even if you have to pay for it yourself ) and come join me this year.
Link to registrations is here: http://www.city2surf.com.au/default.asp?PageID=17826
I'll be fundraising for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and I'll post up a donation link when I get it. If you're not running yourself, please donate to the cause .