"If home is where the heart is, then we're both just fucked."

So I was looking at old pictures, and stumbled upon these...

Still remember those days? Haha. I decided to check the event blog just in case they made a part II of this after I moved here. I told you how it went back then. Chill.. I'm not about to get all nostalgic right now, but after I visited the blog, I thought the post last time was kinda self-centered hahah and today I realized many new things about this event. I started to appreciate it more and more even after all this years. In-fest 2011 was a very humble event and probably there are still rooms for improvement in terms of event management but I walked out of it with a lasting impression on how a music and art festival feels like. It was on a small scale but come to think of it, it was a great concept. I still remember clearly what it felt like being there. I'm still a festival rookie, I haven't been to lots of 'em so I might not know what the actual good festival should be like but In-fest left a footprint in my heart. I've learned a lot from it. It gets deeper this time.

It was a place to show what you've got without looking for a trophy or title. It was very honest.  "But then isn't that how everything normally goes? Just like a normal gig when you play your original stuff?" --you said. Well this is different.

There was 1 major difference: The purpose. Not the event's, but the crowd's and the performers'.

"Geez, of course those 2 would be different from one event to another."--you said.

Ok then lemme break it down to ya.
Whether it is Rock In Japan, Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, Big Day Out, etcetc, no matter what genre, theY went there to SEE THEIR FAVE MUSICIANS and expect to hear songs that they know and like. and if they stumble upon one awesome opening act or supporting performers or maybe some good new musicians, great. that's a plus. Nobody went to festivals not knowing any of the performer. You paid hundreds of dollars to see musicians you don't know? I don't think so. Except for parents who came to accompany their kids. And boyfriends to protect their girlfriends. Also some people went to support their musician friends who will be performing that day. the crowd weren't the kind that came solely to see what kind of stuff you're gonna bring to the table. They weren't the kind who purposely went there ONLY to listen to stuff from people they've never heard of before. They listened to the performers before, liked it, and then decided to see them live because they liked them first.

In-Fest was filled with respectful audiences. They were there because they actually went to see and listen to what every performer had despite of their personal preferences. Musicians came out as who they are--as a total stranger to the crowd--. no prior fandom whatsoever. The performers were all indie and barely known anyway. 

As musician,When we perform on a normal gig, we worked hard to please the crowd and those who invited us to play with what we had. We worked hard to entertain. We worked hard so that they wouldn't be throwing us tomatoes or rotten eggs or "BOOOOO"s. We expected people to engage with us, to receive our message, to relate with our songs, and so on. we worked hard for them to like us. The pressure is everywhere and subconsciously we tried our best to fulfill their expectations.

At In-Fest, in essence, musicians  only have one purpose: To be heard. This is our song. That's it. No frills. Take it or leave it. This is where applause, compliments, and acceptance are mere bonuses. I was having the usual pressure.. "will they like it? I HAVE to play well. There were so many talented people here...etc etc" but then when I saw the other band who played before us, those thoughts vanished. I saw the crowd's faces. I saw them taking it in. They were there to listen. To pay attention at each of our form of art so willingly. I mean, there were different genres and some of them were on the extreme end but they accepted it all. They listened to every performers regardless of genre. It was truly a platform to express ourselves as musician. It was a place to be heard. At that time, anything else didn't matter.

So I thought: we need more events like this. We need a platform to be heard. The atmosphere was very welcoming and very encouraging to us emerging musicians. It encouraged me to learn more, to make music more because that's who I am. I just had to get it out of my head.

In-fest was "Freedom of expression" at its best. FREE ADMISSION BRAH!! There was art & jewellry gallery, movie screening room, music stage, and communal painting wall.
 

The communal painting wall was behind us.

There were A LOT of musicians each day. At first people were gathering and socializing in the gallery and some at the backyard where the music stage was at. It was grassy so people sat on the ground chillin while having some Nasi Lemak and Lemonade. And then the music started. Some people went upstairs to see indie films and then came down to see music performances. As the night went, it got awesomer. We were moshing and headbanging to "Fetus" and "Xerpent", and then we had "Like Silver" who turned the grassy backyard into a dancefloor. Heck there was nightclub-esque lighting yo! And some people brought booze. It was a shame we went home early (although it was pretty late already). I think it went on till sunrise lol.

Man, I felt right at home.

Right at home, bitches. :)

What if we hold it in dog-eating place... Somebody gotta make it happen right?. Hmm.