This is a collaborative piece devised with the members of a forward-looking Malay dance ensemble that I’m collaborating with. Our performance will be filmed and screened – along with a behind-the-scenes interview – on OKTO channel in February 2012.

Given the short space of time from our initial meeting to the performance – we had ten days – we decided to use a different collaborative method. Rather than meeting up regularly to jam, we would agree on a concept, and then I would go off to compose, and the dancers would surprise themselves by choreographing to the new work. Thankfully the group consists of a small group of dancers.

The common ground that we faced was that as artistes, we struggle to have ourselves heard. We are challenged by obstacles posed from within and from without. What obstacles are these? They include listeners’ expectations and our own artistic expectations. Sometimes they conflict; sometimes they complement each other.

What you hear on this track is the original 7-minute version. For logistical reasons posed by the nature of a film shoot, I have edited and produced a 5-minute version.

I. Uncertainty

II. Chaos

III. Peace / Piss

Why does the third movement contain two words? We may calm down and discover reconciliation with amongst our conflicting artistic values, but the tension remains and surfaces from time to time, hence the juxtaposition of fitting and ill-fitting chords in the music.