Where are the recruits ? (bằng tiếng Anh ~ 英語で)

Where are the recruits ?
From Awaken-live to the mysterious Mrs & Mr C.

Drunken Kuma auditioning to become member of Awaken.

Last year, if you remember well, I posted an ad to recruit live musicians for a new version of Awaken. I’s time now to give you desperate fans a clue of what’s happening.

Desperate fan : "How come I don’t see any trace of that promising new line-up yet? "

To my delight, several musicians were enthusiastically interested in joining the team, but due to geographical issues, we had to call it a day before even trying anything.


Desperate fan : "Oh… bad bad ! "

Nooo, two of them were eventually hired.


Desperate fan : "Two ? Who ? "

Wait. This story is the proof that sometimes, “the journey is more important than the destination”.
So, on a warm evening of Spring 2008, a couple of friendly musicians (a female singer with her male multi-instrumentist partner -both names will be left secret for, let’s say, contractual reasons -laughter-) to see what an integration into the Awaken Universe could offer them.
A delicious Vietnamese dinner and some glasses of wine later, it was decided that we would have to give it a try, if not more. The power of Vietnamese food ? Wine ? Probably both.

Two recruits... is it really the new line-up of Awaken ???

Desperate fan : "Yeah !! When is the concert planned ? "

Our friends (let’s call them Mrs & Mr C, since their family name doesn’t start with C at all) also had a bunch of songwriting ideas in their pocket.
Not surprisingly, it quickly became obvious that more than just playing the old Awaken stuff live, we would also work on new songs. A new Awaken single. Then play all live.


Desperate fan : "Great ! "

Yes, but then came the distance problems again. We began to face a dilemma: continue to reach the goal of launching a new Awaken, with the risk that it could not be active before the next 10 years, or creating a new project, where I would only become an active guest, rather than a ghost full-time member of Awaken.

Mrs & Mr C were already members of their own band (which name will also be kept secret, for te same improbable reasons). After a few negotiations, it was finally voted to work on their first album. I became their musical partner, songwriter, arranger, additional keyboardist, or whatever boasting title you can imagine. An employee, to look on a more realistic side of the denomination.

Awaken during a rare live performance, 9/1998.
from left to right: Gilles Snowcat, Julie "Cunégonde" Absil, Paul G. These are NOT Mrs & Mr C.

This is quite a première for me, having done my own stuff in a dictatorial way for a loooong time. With that new band, my big ego must accept the ‘censorship’ of ideas, the fact that they can be edited, rearranged or even sent to thrash without any trace of regret (except mine). Accept that a detail has to be reworked over and over instead of being spontaneously improvised, despite my urge to watch "Pressure Study" on TV. Accept that the music almost has to match a defined genre (something close to what they call brit-pop, to give you an idea). As you guessed, Awaken has never been into that kind of restrictions, the only limits being those of my own imagination, cosmic reception or technical (un)abilities. Working with Mrs & Mr C is an interesting experience, musically and humanly. To be short: a good lesson for my big ego.


Desperate fan : "So, when can I hear those new songs ? "

When the album will see the light of day is still a mystery to me and so is it to you. I don't know either if I will join the band for the forthcoming live shows, but be sure you'll be sp... errr... warned when the right time comes.


Desperate fan : "But tell me… what about Awaken ? Is it over ? "

Don’t worry, don’t commit any suicide nor strike or celebration: like a red day on blue street, nothing changes ! Awaken, Nekokawa and Snowcat-solo remain yours truly's main opus. Lots of ideas are currently under the process of creation. I came from Beppu with a bag full of new energy that is now impregnating the air (and with a little luck the tapes of the recording machine).


Desperate fan : "But when can I hear Awaken live then ? "

Oops… then I guess I should place a new ad.

GS, 08th of May, 2009

PS: if you really die to hear some live stuff, you can still listen to the recording made at Radio Si here.

Live performance at Radio Si, 7/2008.