normal...

feelin not so normal today. not happy, not sad. just in the middle somewhere. it's not weird either. but my normal is usually super happy and friendly, but today's a little different. but i'm content with it. i know i need this transition type of feeling. i was walking thru the park today and just was being optimistic about things i guess. i know it sounds really corny, but i was thinking to myself "damn, i'm in Boston, i can do whatever i want, and i need to make the most of this." i looked up and was just like, wow, this whole city is just waiting to be figured out. and i can do that. no distractions here, just me and music. chillin. i think i'm at peace.

had lunch at Chicken Lou's today or something like that next to Northeastern University. it was good and a good breath of fresh air to be at another college. especially after my Ear Training test, which was freakin me out all night last night, but i did well. i got an 80 on melody and 93 on rhythym. its alright i guess.

walked around with my roomie pablo, his friend chris, and andrew. also met a guy named Teague who went to berklee but transferred to northeastern. went to this hiphopunderground.com store which is a store but has its catalogue online and you order stuff and then the guy working gets it out for you in the back. bought this new hat.


went home, took a nap, and then walked back to class. this class is pop/rock player/vocalist. we play songs and each person has to sing and play. we only have 4 people in the band. i play piano. the teacher is awesome, shes really nice. she told me today that she knew i wasn't feelin so hot (even tho she has only known me for a week), so she said to just let it out with the music. i asked everyone if they could play the 4 chord tribute cuz i know it makes me happy when i sing and jam like that. so we did it. and i felt much better.

went home again, bought bread at 7eleven. ate 2 sandwhiches, and co-hosted randolph's show, and now i'm learning a few songs for my private lessons. Visions by Stevie Wonder, and Love Dance produced by Quincy Jones.

oh and i have a new video. also, my show is tomorrow on blogtv.com so please check it out!! thanks guys!!! ya'll are hittin up the mulan video like crazy! new disney medley tomorrow at the show! hahaha.




Honors for this video (9)

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-aj

weekend...

yesterday was that wedding, and it went real well. i went to the mall after and chilled by myself, talked to a good friend on the phone for like 50 minutes and had a good vent, and called one of my good friends andrew rhim. he met up with me at the prudential center (the mall) and we ate, and i talked about all my problems, and im glad he was there to listen, cuz hes missin home too and girl problems or whateva, he relates esp cuz hes a songwriter like me hahah. were so emo sometimes. wowww!! but yeah then chilled at his house and jammed for like 5 hours.

the walk back home wasn't so bad, i called randolph, and talked to kristina and she kept me company for my walk home. it was like 12:30AM and i was walking alone on the phone, with an umbrella in one hand. i swear i could be on the new jonas brothers album cover HAHAHA

thats exactly how it looked. hahahah. except not so wanna be panic at the disco. went home, wrote a song that pablo inspired the title for, and finished another song i was writing on thursday... im excited for you guys to hear them. ill be introducing the newest one entitled "Little Piece of Home" on blogTV.com on TUESDAY! so check out my link http://blogtv.com/people/ajraf for the schedule. 

can't wait to show you guys! the other one is a collabo with a very talented musician. more details to come! i also co-hosted RuSoul last night on blogtv, it was fun, thanks russ! today's a good day, the rain's not too bad, but it's not helping my current situation of the feelings i am having right now. hahah. tonight i play mass at the six o clock mass.

today at church, i really felt welcomed by the community. i sang "Here I Am To Worship" for meditation and people came up to me afterwards telling me they were crying and they were moved. see that's what music's about. and especially when its for the Glory of God, people can relate. to be honest, i think about leaving this city everyday, but being at church really makes me feel at home. playing music is my passion, ya'll know that right? but playing music straight up for the Lord is more rewarding than anything. forgive me for the sudden spiritual blog topic but im just being real here, feel me?

my mom texted me back this morning from a text i sent her yesterday telling her sorry for getting the lip piercing behind her back. she said it was ok and she supports my decisions. people, don't disobey your parents. hahah. im a bad example of that, but it truly did hurt when she was disappointed in me. im glad everythings ok now. love you momma. i know you read this. hahah.

anyway, hope you guys liked my new video. another video coming soon. shoutouts to everyone who comments my blogs regularly, i really do appreciate everything. 

oh also! i went to COLLEGEFEST today. by myself. hahah. a bunch of booths like energy drinks banks websites, got a bunch of free ish, but it was 10 bucks to get in. the longest line was for the PLAYBOY lounge, didn't go, too many weirdos in line and not worth it probably. not that i WANTED to go in there. ok i'll shut up now.

-aj

"i think i'll go to Boston..."

whasup guys. so as you know, lyddz and i have been collaborating on music and what not, so very soon you'll see more vids from us! we're so glad you enjoy them. anyway she left yesterday at around 1PM and walking her out to the taxi was hard, that "little piece of home" was going "back home" haha.

and a real quick PS, i know only some of you guys read this but: me and lyddz are JUST FRIENDS, please no gossipping! hahah.. no foreals. k thats all i have to say about that.

anyway, i'm coming back next week to visit my sister especially for her birthday but also family and friends thank God. i needed this break from Boston. and lydia being here was kinda my break from Boston, i'm real glad she came. who's next?! save me from my loner being. hahah

also: GOOD NEWS! i finally got a wedding gig out here, i'm playing piano for a wedding today cuz the pianist is sick (thats the bad news but its ok pray for him) and i'm getting paid! just like how it was back home.. finally some help with the bills. the wedding is in 2 hours and i'm excited. can't wait to start playing more weddings, they are seriously touching, and the fact that i was there for that couple's most important day is INSPIRING to me.

here's a video that pretty much explains my life right now. hahah. special dedication to lyddz who came ALL THE WAY out here, though we've had our problems, i know we'll get through it. miss you girrl! (sorry bout the emo-ness in the video)
click here to watch!

first visitor..

just wanted to thank LYDIA PAEK haha for being here in Boston and being a familiar face. i really needed it. 

we have just been doin videos, and last night we just hung out at harvard square and went shopping. we've just been catching up and what not, but most of all we have been makin music. thats whasup! 

sorry this is such a short post, but just thought i should keep you guys updated with what's going on. she leaves tomorrow =( sucky! i cant wait to be back in California tho... next weekend (the 3rd) for my sisters birthday! but im goin back on sunday... ahhh sucky. school has been alright, i've missed a couple of classes but nothing drastic, miss you all and i will post soon. new videos, tonight!

check out our new video!

with love,

aj

musiq soulchild

ok so i have a special guest blogger for u. she went with me to the musiq soulchild concert tonight, which was totally INSPIRING, and she arrived last night around 11PM. ladies and gentlemen, here is lydia paek! =) yayyy

hellerrr :]

hey bloggers!! so tonight was freakin awsome! MUSIQ SOULCHILD is unbelievable.Too unbelievable that i cannot describe how unbelievable it was.You guys just have to expirience yourselves. The opening acts did pretty bad, out of tune and the audience booed :[ which was not nice at all,they looked nervous. So far Boston has been a stress reliever and a time for me to take a fresh breath of air. I have met really nice people and shopped around newbury st. and me and AJ both bought Supras! so much money! MINES is better though HAHA. More videos to come from AJ and LYDDZ. im so lucky to have talented musicians and singers to play instruments and sing with me. AJ is a great friend and you guys that have not met him yet will love it when u meet this dood. SHOUTOUT to  RANDOLPH i love you nigguhh. YOU are an inspiration to me and keep doing what youre doing. me and aj were talking aboutt how you would bee jumping up and down at the concert and we really wish you were here. love and miss you..more videos from me and randolph too soon to come!! RB and DUSTY-i wuv you guys so much and thanks for being great friends to me.till we see eachother again wich will probably be like next week, miss you guys!checkout my dance crew-www.myspace.com/questdance.

-lyddz<33>

love yall mucho, lydias so sweeeet<3>

here's a video we did. more to come.

ohhh and i had another audition today... i sang here all alone pt 3 and got so into it and i literally choked up and like pretty much cried like for a millisecond.... booooo! pray for me tho =)

-aj

no more air bed stress...

sleeping on this airbed for the last 3 weeks was hell. hahah. i mean it was okay for the first week. but after that its just a chore to sleep rather than it being a good thing i guess. hahaha. i'm getting my order in from iKEA!!! woo! that i placed 2 weeks ago! they lag so bad. wow. i am excited. i finally get to furnish the room and actually be comfortable being here. if im not in school im on this cheap kitchen stool with my computer on the kitchen counter or laying on the awkward mattress. 

i ordered a bed, matress, bed base, matress cover, desk, and a side table with some drawers in it. i am too excited. my roommate dwight just got his stuff in right now, so pablo and i are just waiting. oh real quick, thank you to those who watched the last minute blogtv show. special thanks to the ops and all the other artists who were there.

and thank you to all my friends who still text me to see how i'm doing, or even on rare occasion-- call. haha. miss ya'll! i'm getting a visitor today! surprise! =]] this means videos to come. many videos i believe.

besides assembling all the stuff, i'm gonna be going to the airport at around 11pm and then come back to build some more. i do have class from 4-6 tho. sucks. =\ haven't got the results from the callback, but you KNOW i will let yall know!

**EDIT

here's an email i got about Singer's Night just right now.

Hello, and thank you for your exceptional audition and callback for  2008FA Singers' Night. I'm sorry to have to inform you that you were not  selected for the show this semester. But your performance was excellent,  and we hope you will audition again next semester.  Thanks so much for your efforts, Sean

damn it. =\

-aj

dj - "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger right?" totally true.

genesis - of course aj rafael loves genesis

szue may - thank u for tuning in all the way from the UK =] and yes its tough, but we'll get thru it right?

janice - thank u for the pointless story, it wasnt pointless, i enjoyed it

living without family..

sucks! hahaha. i mean its cool i guess.. but freakin today i had to do laundry so my roommates and i went to go do laundry at the laundr-o-mat.. freakin SCAM i tell you! 2.50 per load... so we were like WOW... ripoff. but then we saw the dryer and it had a little price thing that said .25 so we were like alright! only 25 cents for the dryer! 

i got some mexican food around the corner and came back and my roommate pablo told me that it was not .25 per dryer load, it was .25 per 5 minutes!!! WTF!!! hahaha... 

not sure if laundry is supposed to cost 9 dollars every time... but damn...

also grocery shopping is a hassle without a car. can't really buy too much...

sorry i complain a lot, but thats what blogging's for right? remember, if you have any questions or anything like that, leave a comment and i'll try to answer it for you in the next post!

oh and if ur wondering about the callbacks for Singer's Night... i did well i must say! i did "me" the best that i could... so if thats not what they want, then thats on them... i got called back for the accappella group as well... we'll see what happens! ill let you know updates ASAP. oh and i might be on blogtv today.. maybe?

blogtv.com/people/ajraf

love,

-aj

another audition...

and another callback! yay =) but i'm thinkin that callbacks are all the same, well at least for me.. when i got called back for the Aladdin auditions for the broadway show at Disney California... when i got called back for Singer's Showcase.. when i got called back for Playhouse Disney Show at Disney California... Beauty and the Beast at RCC... etc etc... its like they always see something at the audition like "hey this kids got somethin, lets give him another chance" and then i go to the callback and theyre like "oh nevermind we thought he had something i guess not" hahaha..

but today im gonna walk in confident (as i have been) and just be me. cuz thats all that i can be. 630 tonight. i'll let yall know how it goes. 

with love,

-aj

callbacks...

callbacks went awesome i thought, well i did the best that i could, but i didnt make it... =\ i'm kinda bummed but then again i kept telling myself before 'it is what it is' haha... ahh.. but yeah it's all good... freshmen barely get in so i hear. i'll blog more later, tonight right after i found out i didn't make it i tried out for singer's night which is different from singer showcase. i sang "something happens" they seemed to like it, and my judge is my private lesson teacher. anyway, have a good night.

the walk back home wasn't so bad, i talked to a good friend, and it was cool from there.

-aj

nerves..

are kicking in... well i auditioned for something else today. an acappella group called "Pitchslapped" (myspace.com/pitchslapped) and its here at berklee and i sang "I'm Yours" acappella. it was pretty cool... but the audition that i'm really nervous about is the callbacks for singer/showcase. i feel like theres so much pressure, and like the odds are against me. gahh.. 

anyway, this morning in ear training 4, i had an issue. i've always noticed it before, but it just started to annoy me. theres this girl in the class who has perfect pitch and she ALWAYS laughs at everyone when we dont get the pitches right on solfege. solfege technique is Do Re Mi all that but with like Ra and Me inbetween and all that jazz. the teacher points to random pitches on the board, and the whole class sings it. we mostly get it, but sometimes we go flat, and when we do, this girl in the front freakin looks around smiling and laughing and i know everyone is super annoyed cuz its like NINE O CLOCK in the freakin MORNING omg. we're all tired still and yall singers know in the morning its a little tough to get the right pitches. but damn what a cocky move. "i have the most amazing pitch in the world so whoever doesnt get it is stupid and im gonna laugh at them"

omg

anyway

sorry. haha. the blogTV.com live webchat was so fun! thank you guys. sorry bout the sound. but i figured it out. its like a gate effect on the volume for blogtv. i have to be at a certain db level for the mic to pick up and send it out on the web back to u guys. so sorry about the technical difficulties, and thanks to all the ops who helped keep the show going, and also to Gabe Bondoc for co-hosting with me. 

hope u guys liked the new piano medley! =] honors!

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thank you so much. im so glad you enjoyed it. for there being some old school songs on there, i'm surprised a lot of you youtuber teens know these songs!! not that im not one, but yeah ya'll impressed me with ur songlists and what not. 

anyway, tomorrows the big day, thank you for your prayers! i'll let you know how it goes seriously! i miss you guys. oh and dont forget to leave me comments on this blog letting me know that you read and what not, and if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask =] love yall.

-aj