12 February 2018
Self-doubt is the default state of mind for many on the cusp of change, especially young individuals who are making the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Namira Rasman (‘Namie’) is no different. The BA(Hons) Music graduate from LASALLE College of the Arts remembered how she was anxious about her future when she began to write her debut single Passing Voices, which was released on 1 January 2018.
“While it is natural to have thoughts, sometimes over-thinking can be debilitating and hampers you from achieving goals. You want to move forward but you are somehow stuck in this limbo, floating somewhere that is neither here nor there,” she recalled.
This very same feeling left Namie hesitating on whether or not to launch her extended play (EP). After receiving positive feedback from fellow musicians who have heard her tracks, Namie realised that it was simply just the insecurity that was speaking. With renewed resolve and greater self-assurance, she pushed forth and scheduled her EP to go live on 12 February 2018.
Verse one from Passing Voices:
Everything she said was true;
I believed every single thing I’ve heard;
That it rushed into my veins;
While I quivered at the weight of those passing voices.
“I’m proud of the songs and the work everyone has done to help me achieve this. I never thought I’ll be releasing an EP at the end of my studies at LASALLE, but here it is and I’m thankful for the opportunity,” Namie shared.
During her final year of studies, Namie submitted a demo to an open call by LASALLE’s School of Contemporary Music. The Karma Studio Recording Project offered BA(Hons) Music and Diploma in Audio Production Level 3 students a chance to use the state-of-the-art Karma Sound Studio, Thailand, to consolidate their education into an actual master recording fit for commercial release.
Photo courtesy of Miloco Studios, 2018.
Though the idyllic backdrop of tropical Thailand and the villa-style accommodation can lull one into tranquility, it is not all fun and games at Karma. With a history of attracting some of the most eminent audio engineers such as Tony Maserati (who has worked with Madonna, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé) to produce music at Karma, Namie and Diploma in Audio Production student, Ngoc Dung Truong (‘Yoom’) , had an important task to complete.
Preparations began even before departure to Karma as the instrumental tracks to accompany Namie’s vocals had to be recorded. From the camaraderie forged through numerous classes and performances done together, Namie’s friends banded together to lend her their strength – alumnus Andy Chong was on Guitar, classmate Arthur Wiyono contributed Bass, current student Yap Ting Wei played the Drums, and lecturer Weixiang Tan provided Piano and Synths.
As a firm believer in open collaboration, Namie welcomed her friends to add their own flavour to the songs. As ideas built over rehearsal sessions, the harmonic composition of the EP tightened. Upon reflection, she said: “I think that for artists, it is important to not be too rigid or fixated on a particular outcome because this may limit the full potential of a work. It is with experimentation do we then realise that some things fit better than others, and some things just don’t work out no matter how much you want it to.”
With the instrumental tracks in tow, Namie and Yoom (pictured above) departed for Karma. For five days there, Namie recorded the vocals for her EP, and Yoom completed all the technical requirements for the production, such as editing and mixing of individual sound recordings. The outcome of their work was unveiled live during LASALLE’s annual Lunchtime Concert Series on 12 February 2018, and was made available on Spotify, iTunes, and BandCamp.
As a teaser, we asked Namie what listeners can expect and she shared that besides Passing Voices, there are three other tracks within her EP, Notes. She will also be sharing several new songs that are earmarked for her forthcoming album. With this performance, Namie hopes to showcase the depth of her music that has roots in Jazz, Electronic Music and Soul.
“Even before coming to LASALLE, I’ve always been interested in Jazz, so I was trying to work towards this sound I had in my head. But of course, because you haven’t been exposed to the theory behind Jazz harmonies, or different kinds of music as an art form, you’re just grasping at straws. My time at LASALLE has definitely aided me in solidifying the kind of music I want to make,” Namie concluded.
