yes, back again I am.

It's been a good 6 weeks since my last post, now don't go quote me on that because I'm not entirely sure. But it's been pretty wild.

I mean really wild.

Exams are coming up and the end of the year is kind of upon us, so I thought may as well think things through now eh?

I just wanted to start this post by introducing you to this cool tree in front of the Japanese House at Monash University. It's quite large, and it towers over the car-park I walked through almost the whole of this year. I never gave it much attention except when it changed. From green to brown, from brown to empty and back to green. It was kind of really cool, watching it change, over and over. And every time it changed it was like a little marker, like I could kind of remember what position I was last time it changed.

You know the feeling when your walking on a long track, and then you look back and your surprised with how far you have come? That feeling overwhelmed me nearly every single time. But something did kind of hit me then, that when you look back over a certain time, you don't remember everyday, which is kind of scary.

I guess you only remember the significant days you have. Theres no point in remembering what you had for breakfast 3 months ago, right?

Let's put it this way, the significant days you have, being the most memorable, make a noticeable impact on you in some way. And these are the days that when you see that tree change, that flash before your eyes when you look back.

I can kind of say, we measure ourselves in significant days.

So let me take you back, say 6 weeks. It was the first week of the holidays, and I had one of the guys from the band over, and we were jamming, all well and good. We had a gig lined up for the next night and we were pumped for band prac the next day.

It was a pretty awesome feeling.

We slept late as usual, putting down our guitars, and woke up a couple of hours before band practice started. Had lunch, cleaned out the garage and waited for the rest of our people to come. After that, we had a massive practice, writing basically one full song. Which is an awesome song by the way. Anyway, night came and we got into the van and got driven to the Venue. It's was a pretty average gig, the crowd were really flat but our little 'risk tonight following' came and made it worthwhile.

So we played our music, which is the most satisfying feeling.

Well, getting to the point, I remember being in the car on the way back and thinking to myself:

'I could do this for the rest of my life.'

So in saying that, it was a significant day.

In the days that followed I was incredibly overwhelmed with that feeling, the feeling of determination or even accomplishment. It provided a little snapshot of how I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life, and for that reason it was significant.

So looking at the tree, first week of school, it's like everything flashed before me, and it was kind of a consolidation, of a little part of me.

That was really important,

"I'm on my feet, I'm on the floor, I'm good to go."

-Banu.

As always, I'll introduce by saying that it's been a while. I think I have already explained why its always 'a while' when it comes to me.

It's been a tough couple of weeks, lots of assignments and SACs, so haven't really got the time to really vent out my thoughts. In saying that, it hasn't been a bad couple of weeks, its been alright. Well, it was just basically a blur of homework.

Right now, I feel like really grounded. I had a shower and I decided to go through all the old photographs that take refuge in my living room while listening to some blues. It just feels good to look out to old photos. It provides a snapshot into how life was then, and you can really see how much you've grown, how much you miss your cousins and how much you miss those days. Sometimes its really overwhelming.

Humans have a tendency to look into their past. I mean, where-ever you are in life, if you are 10 years old, or 83, looking back on whats been always deems a task of recollection, of remembering those lost memories.

Don't think of me as some old guy, at the end of his life looking back on whats been, but it feels right to think about yourself.

Thinking about yourself is the only way we really confirm our identity, I think it's safe to say I'm in the process of still figuring it out, probably why adolescence is such an interesting time, so looking back on photos helps me remember forgotten stories that are pretty significant to me.

It's kind of really important to remember where you come from and how you got to the point where you sit now, photographs in that way help contrast.

When I look at my photos, it's really hard to believe that I'm looking at a little child who is me, or who was me, 8 or 10 years ago. Or when looking back on parties with my friends, it's alarming to see how much have changed or grown apart or even stayed the same. It's really important to remember others, as they would have changed you, maybe in a really small way, but your experiences shape who you are.

Next time you get to sit down with some old photo albums, take it, you'll find that you'll learn more about your parents, your family, your crazy uncle and in the end, more about yourself.

'It's just another story caught up in another photograph I found.
And it seems like another person lived that life a great many years ago from now,' - Jamie Cullum

-Banu

Hey all,

Once again, it has been a while. I should post in smaller intervals, but I guess it gives me some time to accumulate thoughts.

Well, I've been ohkay I guess. You know how it is; go to school, come home, study, listen and play some music and sleep. But it's leaving a little gap somewhere, like a little crack in the surface. I have no idea what it is, but it's lingering presence is daunting.

It's so hard to put it into words. I get the feeling it may just be my imagination once again, because that really leads me into some weird places.

There's some things I'm not willing to accept. It's not like I'm unhappy, I'm a pretty cheery guy, as most of you should know, but I guess, rather, it's like a little thing on my shoulders.

Lingering.

Right now, I'm listening to some really nice jazz, in a quiet melancholy, I'm guessing my parents went to sleep, because I can't hear much else.

We create this little sphere for our own lives don't we? Us teenagers.

The only thing that matters, right now, is us, we are the center of the universe.

We know everything.

Blank pages, waiting to be written.

I guess this feeling comes from the waiting.

It's a little snickering thing isn't it? Life I mean. It has it's only little path for you, its quite a niche thing. I love it. I love the uncertainty. It's exhilarating.

But I guess it could be broken up into three little actions.

You got your destination eh? Lets call it the cause, scrap that let's call it the reason.

Then you got your path, to the reason.

After all of this, you have your way of seeing the path and destination, your take on things, your view, your perception.

Let's call this the reaction, okay?

These three sections, are often really scattered, I feel, not everyone grasps all three factors firmly, some not having any reason but having the path and too much reaction. Some having the reason no path and little reaction, blinded by the reason.

The craziest thing, I feel quite comfortable, treading on this little fate, leaving a trail.

But then there is my reaction, it's not completely satisfied sometimes. As much as I hate that small emptiness, I am completely loving the search, really savoring it.

Ah, man.

Deceptive little thing.

"Maybe I'll just fall in love, that could solve it all, philosophers say that's not enough. There must be more. But I'm still having fun, and thats the key."

-Shazz, loving every second.

well, wow. Its been ages since I last posted eh?

here I am now.

Holidays.

Hm.

I guess its rolling down now, coming down to the last couple of days where I shall start singing those Back to School Blues.

But anyway, it's been a good couple of weeks.

After such a hectic and tough first semester of crazy and robust studying, I really needed the break. I really felt like I did give it all I had.

I was tired.

I needed rest.

I needed to live again.

I needed to confirm my existence again.

Epic, I know.

As epic as it seems, I think I fulfilled these elaborate tasks by simple things.

For once, just doing nothing, felt like doing so much.

Hours of just lying around the house with my Guitars, making music, scrapping the piece that I worked on for the last 4 hours and starting all over again.
I love that I have that freedom with my music. I never feel bound. Maybe I'll talk about that another day.

Another thing that I did alot over these holidays is jam.

Oh Jamming for the first time after ages is like almost as good as the first time having sex all over again. Not that I know how that feels but I imagine a similar part of my mind is used for sexual pleasure that's used for my musical side.

ANAYWAYYS.

Jams with the guys are so laid back. It starts about at 7 o clock at night.

I get the call:

"Hey Banu man, Jam my place in half an hour."

We get there, and just talk for the first couple of hours.

Feel the room.
Feel the vibe.

The stuff we talk about is not what we would normally talk about. Just the fact that we are going to be making some music later on, I don't know what it does but it motivates us to think and express things we normally wouldn't. I mean yeah, after all they are your mates but for once, you don't make jokes.

We talk about everything, from life to death, from friends to family.

and most importantly, music.

After this little stage I guess, we strap up, plug in and start.

And when it comes down to it.

Sometime you feel it in the room.

and Sometimes you just don't.

Thats the hardest thing to accept, that you are not going to feel it every time.

Boy I wish I could.

"What is feeling it you ask?"

"OH PLEASE TELL US BANU-CHAN!"

Well, basically it's like making love with music. I don't even know if its that, but I do feel something.

I think I'll explore this in more depth another day, but Hendrix summarized it nicely when he sang:

"Feeling sweet feeling,

Drops my fingers, fingers,

Music sweet music,

I wish I could caress and kiss you,"

Great song by the way.

But yeah. This holidays, I felt it.

Felt it like a hoe feels the money.

Felt it like virgin, cutting it for the very first time.

Felt it like a mammal, cus' baby lets do it like they do on the discovery channel.

After this, we sleep, often in the same bed, which isn't weird or anything.

Seriously it isn't.

People you play music with, know you better than most.

I know, I don't usually think of my jams with the guys in such depth, I mean it is really a laid back thing. And it comprises of a lot of sleeping, useless chord progression, hopeless attempts at writing songs and us just putting down the guitars and bass, and just talking again.

All in all, it's a really satisfying feeling.

And just getting a chance to with the guys many times this holidays was really fulfilling.

Call me a hopeless man, for believing in such things.

But I'd rather be a hopeless man who believes in life,

than a cold realist who lives in fear and anger.

"All I'm going to do is just go on and do what I feel."

Jimi Hendrix.

Over and out,

-Shazz.

Friday, well was an interesting day.

Really, really confusing, but rather confronting.

Winter.

Oh I love this season. It has this weird effect on me. I think more, about everything.

It's really weird. I chuck on my scarf on in the morning, throw on a warm coat, grab my umbrella and put on my headphones.

It gives me a chance to recollect, about everything. From A to Z. As much as I hate it when I overthink things, this time, I needed to.

On Friday, I finally grew up.

Well all these years, I get this weird sensation. I don't know if it happens with others, but even it is only for a few seconds, it's like a massive whack in the face.

For those few seconds that it happens, I feel like I completely leave my consciousness, and re-assess my life from the outside looking in. Its like I lose my own identity for a couple of minutes.

bizarre.

Before you take your g-string and sell yourself to a smoking pig with a strangely sexual hat, I should probably tell you this feeling isn't as epic as it seems. I bet if you tried hard enough, you would able to see it too.

Some times I have to mentally tell myself to stop and drift back into reality. I never really induldged in the feeling. It's one of melancholy and almost like I've lived for so much longer than I have. Usually, this feeling left me confused and upset. But yesterday, I think it formed a new person all together. I started to see and accept who I was looking at and thinking in.

If that makes any sense. You know how sometimes you think and you tell yourself,

"Dude, its wrong to feel like this, you should feel like this."

or

"Why the hell did I just think that? I shouldn't be thinking about that."

well, I always thought those sub-conscious thoughts which are not sub-conscious at all just happen, maybe just come and go.

But on Friday, the weirdest thing happened.

I accepted them.

I accepted that I, myself, think that way.

I accepted the thoughts I have as my own.

It's like I'm not ashamed of thinking freely anymore. I can pursue any trail of thought as I desire.

I don't exactly know where this comes into growing up but rather I could say I am growing strong.

Strong in the sense that I have the ability to think something and not reject the thought out of emotion, in the sense that I can take what I think.

This whole thing could be some random infatuation, in a plea to understand myself, but fingers crossed it isn't.

"I like these cold, grey winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood."

- Bill Waterson

-Shazz.

Its been a while, diary.

but alot has happened over the last few days.

I don't really want to dwell on what happened but it's been tough. Ofcourse I could go on about my sadness and melancholy but who wants to hear me whining eh?

but all in all, I've realised something over the last couple of days.

I have some really good friends.

Like incredible friends.

The band, are just so good to me. I don't know, but there lies a certain utopia in old friends. Whenever I meet them, I feel as if I'm home. They know all there is to know about me and probably things I don't even know about myself. Just the fact that they are always there for me, is overwhelming. When I'm jamming with the guys, I'm in my niche, I truly am who I claim to be. It's like so satisfying, I don't feel anything else but the music and the presence of the people I love in the room. Everything else is non-existent.

We've been through alot, but we always manage to pull through at the end. I love you guys, this is my thanks. To all those nights that I just needed someone to talk to, or just needed someone to share my silence with, thankyou.

Thanks to Tan, for always listening to me, and I mean really listening, you're probably one of the people I can truly say anything to. Our midnight jams and our early morning calls, bring me back to the real world.

Thanks to Simon, who can always cheer me up, no matter what the situation is, I love you to bits man, sometimes I feel as if we're growing apart, but you prove me wrong everytime. I've known you for a while, and today man, you're still on of those people that really share the same passion for music as me.

Thanks to Georgia, for caring. After these years, you've got to know me so well, you've listened to absolutely everything I have to say, and even though I don't see you much anymore, I know you're one of my closest friends.

Thanks to Hai, who's personality always lightens my mood. You're just so easy to be with, and you can just tell when somethings up with me. I remember last year, I was in a piss bad mood, and you came up to me and asked me what was wrong. Hai, you can read me like a book, never change.

Thanks to Hannah, who isn't in the band. You are just so awesome. How can you be so awesome? Seriously, your personality, is like no-one else's. I can trust you with anything and everything. You are there for me forever and always. Please don't change, no matter what people say. Our conversations are exactly what I need.

You lot share with me, possibly one of the most important things in my life. Music.

I mean it.

My new friends, at JMSS are some of the most caring people I will ever meet. Gosh, even though I do keep to myself quite a bit, I find my self sharing things with people that I never thought would understand. You guys offer help when it's needed and thats so important.

Thanks to Damo, even though we've been through a lot this year, you're still like my brother man. I never thought we would get so tight. It's almost like we share a mutual mind, you know exactly whats happening with me, all the time, it's kind of scary.

Thanks to Eddy, for sharing his thoughts with me. You are one of the most insightful people, you always know what I need to do. Our talks about things as far fetched as the fate of humanity to the bathrobe your dad wears makes me feel like you truly understand my depth (or shallowness.) You're one of the only people whom I share the same level of thought with.

Thanks to Hafiz, you're like the most invigorating person I know. You've been through fuckloads this year, you've grown so much. Every time I see you man, my mood is lifted subliminally. You make me feel right, all the time. I'm pretty sure everyone is convinced we are downright gay together, but I don't find it weird at all when you decide to shout out "I LOVE YOU!" From the other side of the building.

Thanks guys, really.

I could keep going on and on, about some of my greatest friends, but that would take forever.

So I'll keep it down to the people who have been there for me, for the last couple of weeks. I hope one day I will be able to be there for you guys, like you have been there for me.

You make it all worth it. All of it.

"You know its nothing new, bad news never had good timing.
Then, the circle of your friends will defend the silver lining."

- Shazz

Music,

What is it really?

Going to the roots, sound waves of different frequencies that travel in time, different times to create tempo and rhythm. Scales constructed from frequencies that have consistent intervals.

Consistency.

To the root of physics to create an artistic medium. Never really looked at it that way huh?

To the root of physics to create an artistic medium to which people feel, feel not physically, not mentally but spiritually. Some what a combination that can create something else inside of a person, re-creating an identity for 4 minutes, devouring a spiritual soul and pleasuring it with emotion and feeling. Physics, pleasures your soul.

Thats hot.

I guess people think of music, but they don't really think about it. I mean think where it comes from, how its even present.

Definition I found on Google: an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

Structure, continuous, consistency. There that word is again, music seems to fall into place with consistency. When I make music and even if it is for a second, I see myself outside the glass door looking in at myself, and I think, what is it that I am actually doing? Am I hitting different frequencies of sound determined by the thickness of strings in a sequential way to make it sound pleasurable to the soul?

Or am I just using what I learnt to make progressions that sound appealing?

I don't even know, so if you find out please call me.

I don't know how to explain where I fit when it comes to music, or where it fits with me, all I do know is I need it, and I probably always will. I may not even know a lot about music, but I know enough.

Some how this "art of physics" has grasped my soul, in a way I never thought I would be devoured.

It just falls into place, its like screwing a nail into the perfect hole, it fits so smugly and theres no room for anything else.

"Recreates an identity for 4 minutes."

Songs.

In my opinion they are manifestations of music ran over with emotion.

A song gives so much and asks for so little.

Emotion.

You become it, it becomes you.

The music is consuming.

I guess, it's going to take a while to fully grasp the thing.

And I hope I will truly grasp it.

Not wander aimlessly and hit me in the face at the end of the line.

Just getting this down, I think is an achievement.

I need to keep what I know close to me,

"Trap doors to endless wisdom."

Shazz,

I'm back, it's been a while oh diary.

I've had time to think, about a lot recently. Things have been different, I guess things are finally starting to feel somewhat complete, as odd as that may seem. A topic that is pretty sensitive to many.

Life.

I've had a lot of time to analyse friends situations and people's conception of the world. Often hearing the phrase.
"Arghhhh, life is so shit, I wanna kill myself."

This really pisses the fuck me off my chair.

Life is complex thing, even though each beings may seem so insignificant.

Life is there to live.

to experience.

to win.

to lose.

to see.

to feel.

to hear.

to hate.

to Love.

Life is there to be LIVED.
Pessimism is the key to let life pass you buy. No-one waits for the miser on the side of the road criticizing the world. Pessimism holds you down. Limit's your existence.

Life does have its downs, but they aren't there for self-pity, they are there to experience, grow. I may just be sounding like a steroid pumped motivational speaker.

But it's the truth.

I made the conscious decision, to not let things pass me by. It completely changed the way I think. Everyday is not "just another day" or just "bludge subject day," but rather an opportunity to live, an opportunity to experience.

Life is a beautiful thing. It's like a bird who's wings have been clipped by pessimism.

You could be the bird that soared to heights you never thought were possible, or you can sit back and criticize the way it falls and the way it falters, but in the end, your still the one on the ground.

Next time you say it, you know what I'm talking about.
"Life's shit."

Really think, is it really?

What can you appreciate?

Remember that, your probably just into your adolescence, you have your whole fucking life infront of you.

Have dreams.

Have hopes.

Have belief.

Don't abuse your time, but love every second of it.

"Come out darkness, bring everyone you know. I'm not running and I'm not scared."

Oh and before I leave, masssssive shout out to a little girl named Mishti, who's birthday was today, well no so little, cus she's older than me now.

Hope you had a awesome day, remember it for yonkers.

- Shazz.

Hey guys,

Today's post is real personal, so don't get your panties in a knot.

Last night, when I came home from a mates house with my parents, my sister told us that we had got a call from India, normal enough I know, but she seemed really uneasy, the call from India was urgent, she said.

Course.

We feared for the worst.

Mum dialed the number, seemed to take forever.

My uncle picked up the phone and told us the news.

My mum's uncle had died.

I didn't even know him. He was just another familiar face.

The scariest thing was that I didn't know where I stood. At all.

I was completely off guard, I didn't even know how to react, whether I should be sad, grateful the news wasn't about my grandpa, nothing.

I was feeling guilt you know, because I wasn't sad. But should I?

Should I feel sad?

Theres only so far empathy can go.

I didn't know him. I met him maybe once.

It really bothered me.

You may be thinking, "Oh dude, all you think is where you stand? What about your family?"

Well if I did know, I wouldn't be writing here, and again, how can I feel what I haven't experienced?

I guess its the price we have to pay by living here.

I think thats just another thing we have to live with, our whole family is in India, I don't know all of them and because we're down here, we miss out on so much. I missed the whole extended family thing all together.

It's quite confusing, to determine where you stand when it comes to this, you just don't know what happens, whats gonna happen. You miss out on so much general knowledge, almost the whole culture flies over your head, and when you finally get the chance to go meet your family, you feel like complete outsiders.

I guess you think that our family back in India should be mature enough to look pass this, and they probably are, but it really saddens me.

I miss out on the joys and the pain they endure also, like yesterday.

Completely separated.

I haven't really understood where I stand, but I think I will.

"Death is terrifying because it is so ordinary. It happens all the time." - Susan Cheever.

-Shazz.

Well,

Here we are again.

It's raining outside,

I love the rain, I guess it just calms me, brings me back to terms with real life.

Well anyways,

I was watching the news the other night and I don't know why, but all the stories that night reflected human ignorance and greed. It really got me thinking, more than it should.

Humans are animals, yes? After all, each individual man wants to survive, no matter what.

Survival of the fittest, Darwin's theory.

Humans are inevitably reduced to survival of the fittest. There are still people living in our world who's only obligation is to get food on the table for their family or themselves.

But lets look back 100 years.

This obligation was not only for 3rd World countries but for a lot of the population. The poor class was the most dominant. Only the rich had the ability to dream. Newton, Bohr, all of them of the richest. They had no quarrels about food and such trivial matters.

We have come a long way.

People these days, can think and I mean really think.

Think about not just themselves but the people around them.

Think about the world and the problems present.

Most importantly, every man has the ability to Dream.

If we have come so far in only so long, imagine what we are capable of.

So much.

People can think now, and really appreciate what we are here for.

Unity

This is how human kind will achieve unity, when every single man will think and acknowledge that things need to be done, action needs to be taken.

The world will truly change.

Right now,

Our lives are consumed by greed.

"The rich man's inspiration becomes the beggars greed"

-Shazz

Ah,

back I am.

really getting into the cycle of school now, settling in I guess.

Makes sense.

There's something about this cycle though, it seems so fucking inevitable. You try so hard to make today different from yesterday, but the harsh reality is that your back in the same reality. You fall at it's wrath no matter how hard you try.

Day in, day out.

That little voice in your head that you disregard oh so much is shot for crying too loud and again you become just another commuter on the train, just another student in the pack, just another person. Shits me.

Everyday, it needs to be different.

Humans need to experience.

Experience everything in their insignificant life here on this speck of life.

Not enough time to stall.

Make try and affect that person's day, yeah, that guy that sits next to you in maths class everyday,

Say "Hi" for a change, who knows what could happen?

Say "Thanks" to the bus driver, might just make his dismal day.

I decided at the start of this week that I would practice what I preach.

There's this one old man, who catches the same bus in the morning as me, for about 3 years.

Next time I see him, I will talk to him. Atleast an effort,

Everyone has their story, and experiences, share yours, make yours, hear others'

Embrace life.

Shazz.

Shit yeah,
New school. I guess four weeks in, I can finally judge.
Its been erm interesting. Really quite interesting. Hmmm,
I've made some bloody awesome friends, which is probably one of the reasons I'm tanking this out.
Staying positive. I dunno.
The last four weeks.
I found that the decisions that I'm making, well they are really forming the kind of guy I want to be.
Just small things. I guess you could say these are the years you really find your own identity.
Thats why the last four weeks have been crazy. I'm finding those parts of my mind that I thought I lost along time ago, rediscovering me. If that makes any sense.
Rediscovering.

Shazz.