December 15, 2011 – Thursday 1pm – Nashville
"That's song is brought to you by Red Abbey, 'We make your favorite beer'. Kiss the Radio by me, will be back after a short break, and don't change the tune." Tayaw watched the radio host do his DJ thing.
Tayaw is currently inside the studio of 97.5 WSDF FM, a well-known music radio station, one of the many of its kind in Nashville. Tayaw was actually invited by Joe, the radio host himself, after Joe saw him perform in Blackbird café the last weekend. Tayaw was hesitant at first but because he was also curious about the interiors of a radio station, and that doing an interview will be beneficial, he agreed.
"Hey Isaac. Come, take a seat here. Do you have your guitar ready?" Joe asked. "Yep. I'm all set. What are we doing?" Tayaw asked in return. "Oh. Nothing much, really. Just some questions about your background, you playing two songs, and reading some questions from our listeners. Thanks for coming.�� Joe explained what Tayaw will do later on.
"Here. Be sure to always speak close to the microphone and press this whenever you want to clear your throat." One producer of the radio show instructed Tayaw on what to do. Tayaw, interested in the workings of the studio, is also absorbing everything he can.
"Hey, I wish you would play 'Invisible Man' later. I like that very much." The producer, who has seen Tayaw's video on Red Abbey Sessions, requested. "Sure. I'm glad you know the song." Tayaw said. Tayaw then heard in his headphones a voice. "Alright. Joe! Back on air in 3, 2, 1!"
"You're listening to Kiss the Radio with your friend, Joe. Today, I'm joined by Isaac Yawat, a young man y'all may have not heard of. Even if that's the case, you will surely hear of him in the future. Isaac Yawat, say hello to our listeners." Joe introduced Tayaw.
"Hey everyone, I'm Isaac. It's great to be here." Tayaw smoothly introduced himself. "So, Isaac, what our listeners don't know is that you're actually not American." Joe asked.
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"That's right Joe. I'm a Teungeb native." Travis heard Tayaw answer Joe's question on the radio. Travis then pulled over his car on the side of the highway to listen.
Since his report to the police and immigration didn't work in removing Tayaw from Blackbird café, Travis already gave up bothering Tayaw. Travis, over the past two weeks, was blown away by Tayaw's sets in Blackbird Café. He also had to witness the musicians of Strawberry Front, people he looks up to, focus and work hard in preparing their sets just to catch up to Tayaw.
While listening and watching Tayaw practice, Travis also realized how much he lacks as a musician. He was able to look more into himself and his skills. Knowing how to play some chords is not enough. Singing a song is just not as simple as singing it. Copying famous singers' styles, while impressive to some, will stay as a party trick.
He learned from watching Tayaw that strumming a guitar is not as simple as just strumming it to the beat. He has to strum with the appropriate pattern and appropriate rhythm to match the story and emotions of the song. He learned from watching Tayaw's face that singing is not simply hitting the notes, but to also feel them. Why did Tayaw slurry his voice in some lines, but not in some? Why Tayaw chose to sing softly in some words, and loudly in some?
After exploring these questions, Travis stopped signing up in Blackbird café's open mic nights. Not only did Travis realize how far Tayaw is up the music ladder, he also realized how good other musicians are in the bar. The performers he thought are worse than him; actually have the subtlety and artistic flair honed from experience.
He realized that they have experience he does not have. With this, he finally took Henry's advice and looked for other bars for a stage. Once he grinded enough for experience, he will go back to Blackbird café again to try out.
"Tell me, Isaac. How did a young man from across the pacific, learn to play an all American music genre? Even though I'm looking right at you, I still can't get over how unusual it is." Joe asked Tayaw. Travis, hearing this question, got curious as well. He also shook his head as he remembered his words of dismissal at Tayaw's knowledge in playing country.
"Just like truckers here in America, my dad also has a similar job driving dangerous winding roads every day. He found that country music is the only genre that gives him the feeling that he can keep on driving. So, as a child, I always listened to my father's mix tape of various country classics." Tayaw replied. "So, even though you're a Teungebian, you basically grew up listening to country music, much like us here in Tennessee." Joe said in understanding.
"Exactly. So after I got my first guitar from my dad, I also started playing those songs I listened to. I mean, who among the people here in Nashville did not, once in their youth, learned how to sing and play Annabelle's 'Charlotte' on the guitar?" Tayaw expanded on his story. "Haha. That couldn't be any truer." Joe also chuckled in reply.
Travis, listening to this, realized that it's the music that matters. It did not matter whether Tayaw came from Teungeb or from China, as long as he loves country music just as an American would, he is qualified to play country.
"Everyone, I actually first met Isaac here at the famous Blackbird café last week. That's when I became a fan. I also want others to listen to your songs, but not everyone from our listeners can listen to you here in Nashville every week. Where else can they check your music out?" Joe asked.
"Oh. There's a new Youtube Channel made by Red Abbey Brewery called Red Abbey Sessions. I'm the first musician to perform for them. Y'all can listen to five of my songs there for free." Tayaw said, promoting Red Abbey sessions for free.
"Are you advertising for Red Abbey? Haha." Joe nervously asked, caught off-guard by the plug. "Oh. No, no. But hey, Red Abbey, if you're listening, call me if you want me to promote your beer." Tayaw denied Joe's suspicion by promoting himself to be an endorser instead. This also amused Joe. "Hahaha. Anyways, everyone. You can listen to Isaac's five songs for free at the YouTube channel Red Abbey…" Joe forgot the name of the channel. "Sessions." Tayaw added. "Red Abbey Sessions." Joe finished.
"Isaac, I noticed that while you have your original songs, how come I can't buy them anywhere." Joe, who loved almost every original that he saw Tayaw play, found it a shame when he found out that Tayaw does not have a CD album.
"Ah. I've just released them on iTunes a few days ago. You can find it if you search Isaac Yawat. It's in iTunes for now as I have not yet signed with a label." Tayaw replied. "No wonder! Well. I sure as hell am going to download them later." Joe was glad to hear it.
Travis, who watched Tayaw for a few weeks, was also curious why Tayaw was not selling CDs. Travis, estimated that Tayaw at least have played 10 original songs in his gigs, so he looked up Tayaw on iTunes. Only then did he find that Tayaw has not released any country song, aside from rock, ballads, and folk.
"Oh. My producer just informed me that you actually released an album last September. It's not country though." Joe said, with a conflicted face. Tayaw who saw this, has to think of something fast. Many country fans are purists after all, so he has to answer carefully.
"That's right. I actually wanted to release my country songs first, but in Teungeb, country music has very small number of fans. That's why I had to rearrange some of my songs that were originally country, into genres like rock, folk, or ballads for Teungebians' tastes. I also had to replace half of the songs in that album with Teungebian songs." Tayaw bullshitted.
"Ah. That's unfortunate. Had you been born here in America, you would have released more country songs." Joe said in understanding. Travis who was listening to this, also felt a little bad for Tayaw. "To be a talented country musician in a country that does not appreciate country must have been difficult." Travis mumbled.
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"Let's read a question from our listeners. Isaac, if you may?" Joe asked Tayaw to read the question.
"This is from -8312 and they asked. 'Joe, my abusive girlfriend always threatens to kill herself whenever I tell her I want to break up. We've been together since we were 17 and after 8 years, I'm still with her, suffering everyday. She would punch me or slap me when she gets mad at something. It doesn't actually hurt because she's 5'1 and petite and I��m 5'11 and I work out.
"'Still, it gets stressful. I'm always watching my back where or when the next punch will come from. She also verbally abuses me. Calling me names, insulting my parents, insulting my manhood.'" As Tayaw read the question, he started feeling horrible about the man's situation. He continued.
" *sigh* 'Whenever I tell her I'm leaving after we fight, she would point at a knife and say she would slash her wrists, or point at the balcony and say she would jump the moment I get in my car. She would say that everyone will find out that I'm a piece of shit when she's dead. I'm afraid for myself, Joe. I'm even more afraid of hurting her, or even worse once I can't take it anymore. What do I do, Joe?'" Tayaw sighed deeply in frustration after he read the listener's concern.
"To our dear listener, let me tell you this, first of all. You are a strong and brave man. I could only imagine how you feel being in your relationship. You are also kind, very kind that you put her first before yourself even though she's treating you that way.
"Even though you're kind, I believe she does not deserve the kindness you're giving her. So, I advise you to go ahead and leave her. Talk to her parents, talk to the cops to watch over her. Uhh." Joe was basically stopped here. He does not know what else to say to advice the listener. "Isaac, what do you think about this?" Joe passed the question to Tayaw, to Tayaw's shock.
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g'day folks. I beseech your help to share my novel. I'd appreciate it very much.
thanks you.
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