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Happy New Year

Looking back over the past year, I've realised just how much my life changed in 2008. The transition from school to uni is an obvious one, and that came hand in hand with moving across the Atlantic to Boston. In short, I began a completely new life in a completely new place, and made completely new friends. Of course it was overwhelming, and the thought of leaving everything I new behind was terrifying at first, but I now find myself dying to go back there. Being home for the last couple of weeks has been pleasant, but unsettling. It's been amazing seeing all my old friends, and that was the most important part of this trip, but the longer I stay here the more I realise that Boston, and Berklee, is when I belong.

This year is set to be a very exciting one. Barack Obama is finally taking over the presidency later this month, the effects of which will be seen globally. This is also a crucial year in the development of the music industry. 2008 was an incredibly bumpy year for record labels, and this year is when the system will have to change. 2009 is also set to be a great year for music, with artists like Muse, John Mayer, Mute Math and Scott Matthews all set to release new albums.

I don't necessarily see the new year as a fresh start for me, because I had that fresh start in September. I need to continue with the progress that I've made over the past few months, both personally and musically. My real focus right now is writing music. Being back home has meant I've been reunited with my recording equipment, so I'm going to record and put up some music. I'll put things up as they're done, so watch this space.

Hiromi

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An eventful couple of weeks

I'll begin with the obvious. Come next year, the most powerful nation in the world (for the time being at least) is to be taken over by this man:

The past eight years have been plagued with Americans (along with plenty of non-Americans) hating their country and the people who lead it. George Bush Jr's moronic actions over the course of his presidency have resulted in a countless number of deaths and suffering, as well as an ever-strengthening hatred towards the West. So what difference can one man really make? This little story might give a hint. Last night, about an hour or so after Mr Obama's victory was announced, an overwhelmingly large crowd of people, ranging from the young to the elderly, of all races and genders, marched up and down the streets of Boston for hours singing and shouting in praise of the new President, overjoyed that things were finally going to change, and they could once again be proud of their own country. Granted that technically Barack Obama is just another politician with another set of policies, but he stands for much more than that. He's a symbol of hope, and at the moment he's the only chance America has to change it's image and sort itself out. Whether he manages this over the next few years can only be proven in time, but for now the enthusiasm he has inspired amongst countless Americans is already having a huge effect.

The election of America's first black president coincides with the state of California voting against gay marriage with a 52% majority. The success of Proposition 8 will rewrite the constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It is surprising in California of all states, which many would consider very liberal. The proposition is supported by blacks, evangelical Christians, Mormons and orthodox Jews. It's interesting how a common prejudice against one group can unite others. One strong supporter was quoted as saying that gay marriage and encouraged tolerance in schools are little more than "a recruiting process for homosexual behaviour". Such people should do themselves a favour and go back to school instead of getting involved in matters which have absolutely no effect on them.

Maybe not quite as important, depending on where you're from, a week or so ago two of the funniest men in Britain were suspended from the BBC.

You might already know, they were suspended for this. Admittedly the joke, while being very funny to begin with, was taken slightly too far by the third phone call, but at worst it was a bad joke. It certainly did not warrant the huge overreaction from the BBC, nor did it deserve the huge media frenzy that has ensued. I have no doubt that the majority of the people calling for the two to be fired are basing their anger on what they've read in the Daily Mail, and probably haven't heard the whole broadcast. Even Andrew Sachs himself didn't seem particularly phased by the events. The ridiculous media exaggeration is severely effecting the careers of two well-loved entertainers, which unfortunately is a common occurrence. The media is, for a huge number of people, the primary source of information, and along with that power of influence comes a large responsibility. Maybe one day they'll actually respect that, but don't hold your breath.