MANILA — Here’s a treat for Filipino “BrightWin” fans. Bright Vachirawit, one-half of the “2gether” tandem, is set to release a cover of an OPM hit, Dreamscape Entertainment announced on Tuesday. Dreamscape Entertainment is the local partner of GMMTV, the Thai production company behind “2gether.” The song Bright recorded has yet to be announced, although a previous teaser has prompted fans to speculate it’s Eraserheads’ “With a Smile.” They will know for sure once the cover is released on Friday, 3 p.m. Bright, whose “2gether” character Sarawat is part of a band and sings numerous times in the series, has been sharing covers on social media. In a June media conference with Philippine media, the Thai actor said he intends to cover more English songs, so his international fans can understand the lyrics. At the time, he also teased that singing a Filipino tune is a possibility, but said that first has to study the language. “BrightWin” fans will also get to see more of Bright and his onscreen partner Win Metawin, as the series to “2gether” is set to be simulcast in the Philippines starting August 14. news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- The ongoing pandemic has seen the world or communities of people come together and in spite of difficult circumstances have reached down into the very best of themselves to help those affected. We’ve seen fundraisers for displaced sports officials, out-of-work musicians and bar and venue staff, and teachers to name a few that have been beneficiaries. Last Saturday night, July 25, it was the jeepney drivers who were feted as young indie musicians Elise Huang, Tamara, Mix Fenix, Cucay Pagdilao, RJ Dacanay, Reese Lansangan, Vanya, and Martti Franca performed almost a three-hour set online. “This is for our beloved jeepney drivers,” said organizers Never Gonna Jeep You Up, an initiative to help drivers affected by the mass transport ban and jeepney phaseout during this COVID-19 pandemic. “Nakarating tayo sa school dahil sa kanila. Nakarating tayo sa mga date natin dahil sa kanila. Nakarating tayo sa mga job interviews at client meetings dahil sa kanila. Nakauwi tayo ng ligtas dahil sa kanila.” The charity organizers announced Monday that they were able to hit their target of P250,000, which will be used to purchase canned goods, noodles, hygiene kits, and detergent for jeepney drivers and groups that ply routes in Manila and Quezon City. “Personally, performing in this fundraiser was very fulfilling,” said Mix Fenix, who is signed to Ivory Records. “This is for a cause and it is for those who haven’t earned since this crisis hit this March.” “Some of the organizers are from UP-Manila. I am from UP-Manila and because our school is located near the Supreme Court, there are often rallies outside. We – the artists who performed and the organizers – wanted to make people realize the cause is also personal because we ride the jeeps to get around. We want people to understand that what they do is vital to everyday life and their own lives have been severely disrupted by this pandemic.” news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- A long lost DZRJ classic, “In Love With You” by Phase Two -- a staple on their FM radio station rotation -- has finally seen the vinyl treatment 44 years later. The song was written by Johnny Alegre who since those halcyon days of the 1970s made a name for himself as a jazz and world music musician. Among his bandmates then was noted guitarist Joey Puyat. Along with Sam Sen on bass, Uly Avante on drums, and Colby Calzada on keyboards, they recorded the song as Phase Two. As Alegre tells it, “In late 1975 or early 1976, I auditioned a handful of songs to my bandmate, Joey Puyat, who was fishing for ideas to record. Joey chose ‘In Love With You’ as the right vehicle.” The song was recorded in the now-defunct Cinema Audio recording studio in a matter of days and Alegre trooped over to DZRJ then located in Sta. Mesa and handed over the cassette recording to legendary disc jockey, Howling Dave. “Suffice to say, that the song was on heavy rotation simply because it blended with the spirit of the times,” explained Alegre of the breezy early staple of Pinoy rock. The band endeavored to get signed by a local record company but was ignored. The song, on the other hand, has taken a life of its own even decades later. “Many people to this day come up to me saying that 'In Love With You' was their theme song leading up to their raising a family. The thought of that is its own reward,” shared Alegre. Alegre with his old cohort, Puyat, and occasional conspirator Kris Gorra-Dancel (of Fatal Posporos, Cambio, and Humanfolk) on vocals, Dennis Mabanta on bass and Paolo Manuel on drums, re-recorded the song as “#Hourglass” to breathe new life into the classic. The result is like an indie pop rock gem down to the DIY spirit. “'In Love With You' is restructured, brought sonically forward to the new millennium with the best resources we could muster. I was not uncomfortable playing it again,” summed up Alegre. The re-recording was undertaken right before the COVID-19 pandemic with the vinyl copies making it into the hands of Alegre right before the lockdown last March 11. This marks the first time that the song is available in any format whether physical (vinyl, cassette) or digital. The new version is on Side A of this seven-inch record release while the classic version is on Side B. Only 100 copies of this – on red vinyl to boot -- were pressed (in England) and are available for sale at P950. news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- Singer-actor Sonny Parsons, best known as a member of the OPM novelty macho group Hagibis in the '70s and '80s, passed on Sunday, May 10, at 61 years old. His son Jeff Parsons told ABS-CBN News that his father succumbed to suspected heart attack due to heat stroke between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Tayabas, Quezon while on a charity drive with his motorcycle club, Law Enforcers Riders Association of the Philippines (LERAP). “We do not have complete details yet of his final moments," said the younger Parsons who, as of this writing, is en route with his family from the Parsons residence in Marikina to the Islamic Center in Taguig. He said the family has yet to finalize Parsons’ burial arrangement following Muslim tradition. "He was a datu and we will see how to carry out his wish to be cremated," he said. At the height of their success, Parsons and Hagibis churned out “Katawan,” “Legs” and other hit songs extolling Pinoy virility. Parsons also transformed himself as an an action lead star in the '90s. He was elected councilor of Marikina in the late '90s. Parsons last performed with Hagibis at the Philippine Arena concert of Imelda Papin and was slated to tour Australia this year. news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- Singers who perform regularly in music lounges, bars and other entertainment venues are feeling the impact of the Luzon-wide lockdown, as they are left with no gigs on their schedule and are now practically jobless. While their weekly calendars normally teemed with regular, nightly performances, special singing engagements in corporate shows or weddings, even out-of-town fiestas before the COVID 19 pandemic, musicians find themselves without any income-generating activities in this lockdown. In reality, “entertainment is considered non-essential,” lamented Freestyle vocalist and lone female member Ava Santos. “That’s why all our bookings for March, all the way till June, were cancelled. The events industry is greatly impacted, too.” The month-long lockdown has greatly affected the jobs of entertainers. Freestyle regularly performs at 19 East Bar and Grill in Paranaque City and also at 12 Monkeys in El Pueblo, Ortigas Center. Both venues are presently closed and non-operational.
“We have instantly become jobless,” said Santos. “Performing is our main source of livelihood and most of our clients have cancelled, if not postponed their bookings. It’s lucky if we could ask for cancellation fees, but that’s not the case for everyone.” Aside from Santos, Freestyle members include Joshua Desiderio and Mike Luis (vocalists), Gerd Banzon (drummer), Joel Guarin (bassist), Bobby Velasco (musical director and keyboardist) and Gino Aguas (lead guitarist). The band’s manager, Celeste Pacana, attested the bands are really hard hit. “No work, no pay,” Pacana said. “Worst, they have no benefits. No insurance. That is the problem with the artists. They live by the day. That’s a sad reality. Few prepare for their future or a catastrophe as this [COVID 19].” Music veterans Side A also regularly performs in 19 East and 12 Monkeys. “As performers or professional musicians, we rely on regular bar gigs and special shows or concerts as our main source of livelihood,” said Side A bassist, Ned Esguerra. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a terrible impact on us financially, since we are currently unable to perform regularly. The health concerns are, of course, the main focus, but the income lost affects a great number of us in the entertainment industry.” Aside from Esguerra, Side A is composed of Naldy Gonzales (band leader, musical director and keyboardist), Ernie Severino (drummer), Yubs Esperat, Jr. (vocalist and acoustic guitarist), Lee Von Cailao (lead guitarist). MUSIC ROYALTIES, DONATIONS Stages talent and indie artist Bullet Dumas echoed the sentiments of the band members. “If we have no gigs, we don’t earn anything,” he said. “Maybe you can get royalties from the songs you wrote if you have publishers. Other artists can earn from that. I started Band Camp, where people can download my songs, though no one is downloading now. I just set it up even before for use in my future records.” Dumas mentioned certain applications online like Kumu, Patreon and Twitch, where people can just donate money while the artists are streaming themselves. “What gamers are using through Facebook, where people can send ‘stars’ that can be converted through money,” Dumas explained. “These are the little projects you can share with your patrons, who can get exclusive content. I believe the shift to online was inevitable. It just got pushed forward earlier because of what happened.” Hans Dimayuga, a contestant on the first season of “The Voice of the Philippines,” acknowledged that he earns from performing regularly in entertainment venues. “Since all performance venues are closed, we don’t have any income now. I think this also extends to all freelancers,” Dimayuga noted. Before the lockdown was enforced, Dimayuga was a regular at the Grand Bar and El Calle Music Hall at Resorts World Manila. He was also performing weekly at Z Hostel and Casa Bambu, entertainment venues in Poblacion, Makati. Seven shows from Dimayuga’s schedule were cancelled or postponed. Sadly, not all the producers have assured the artists that the shows will still be restaged in the near future. The producers simply cannot commit to any specific date yet. “Only the weddings have rescheduled an exact date,” Dimayuga offered. “The corporate events and bar gigs are all TBA (to be announced).” Dimayuga is thankful he recently received financial assistance from FILSCAP (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), deposited to his bank account. Apparently, FILSCAP readily did its part to safeguard the well-being of its members amid the pandemic. Maria Clauja, a singer based in San Pablo City in Laguna, similarly suffered the same fate when she was left jobless by the lockdown. “It became hard for me when all the regular gigs and the events where I was supposed to perform in were cancelled,” Clauja lamented. “My gigs were what brought my budget weekly and even monthly.” Prior to the enhanced community quarantine, Clauja had four regular bar gigs weekly, where she got paid P800 nightly. She performed regularly at Jaberacks in Candelaria (Quezon), Suki in San Pablo (Laguna) and Gastro Publiko in Lipa (Batangas). She also did “harana” gigs in Laguna every week, by schedule. She had eight weddings, where she was scheduled to sing. Revenues for all those performances were practicality lost. And only about 20 percent of the producers have committed to restaging the scheduled engagements. SAVINGS FOR A RAINY DAY Freestyle's Santos said the owners of the establishments they performed in were “in communication” with the band earlier. “They were perhaps hopeful that the situation will eventually improve and all will go back to normal. We all are,” she said. Esguerra, meanwhile, is uncertain about the exact number of shows and events that got cancelled or postponed in Side A’s calendar. “But the more we extend this quarantine period, then more gigs are in danger of being aborted,” he said. “I do believe that a lot of producers out there are very decent about these matters. Both sides are willing to find a reasonable solution to all the scheduled events that got messed up.” Thankfully, some artists have safely stashed up for times like this. “If the quarantine period gets lifted soon, then some of what I saved in the past may just be enough to pull us through until we can get back out there and work,” Esguerra said. “Saving for a rainy day really came in handy, because it’s pouring down hard right now.” Esguerra now realized how important it is to have emergency funds. “Some of my musician friends raised money for our other musicianfriends who are seriously hit by this, including those who are sick and those who have small children.” With no income, Dumas is aware his savings is an important financial anchor at this time. “Some of us are indie artists. If you have savings, that will work for you. If you don’t, alanganin ka. We check up on our other band mates regularly, if they can still support themselves.” Their “roadies” (road managers) or those who help the artists in their gigs and performances, are likewise affected by the lockdown. “They also don’t have money,” Dumas granted. “That’s tough. We are also raising funds for those guys. As Johnoy (Danao) termed them, they are not ‘alalay,’ but they are those who assist the musicians.” Even before the lockdown, Dumas recalled events were getting cancelled already. “Gigs were few. There were very few audience in the venues,” he noted. Dumas’ shows were cancelled and rescheduled. “I was supposed to have a gig in Siargao for the Holy Week,” he said. “That got cancelled, too. We couldn’t travel because of the lockdown. “It’s a good practice to ask for a 50 percent down payment, for cancelled shows. When Taal volcano erupted, I also had a show that got cancelled and moved. But that one already gave a down payment. So that will still push through in the future.” Before his schedule came to a halt, Dumas was seen regularly at Conspiracy Garden Café along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City. That was where he had been performing since 2011. He also performed at 70s Bistro along Anonas Avenue, Route 196 along Katipunan Avenue, 12 Monkeys in Ortigas and Saguijo Bar in Makati. COST-CUTTING MEASURES The artists have realized that they have to adapt to cost-cutting measures to cushion the impact of this COVID-19 pandemic. Dimayuga is fortunate he now lives with his parents, which is a big relief for him. Admittedly, Santos has been looking for things she can do online, since she has no other streams of revenue in this lockdown. At present, she has done cost-cutting measures at home. “Since the world is put to a halt, all the luxuries are eliminated,” Santos said. “We just enjoy however we can at home, eat whatever we have available. We haven’t really sat down and sorted out our finances. When the bills arrive, then we will adjust.” Esguerra has no other means of “steady” income aside from performing. “Although I do have revenue coming in from other musically related endeavors, but none of them may be considered steady, because the income is never constant and more of a seasonal occurrence.” He considers himself still “fortunate” that just before Manila went under quarantine, he was able "to secure just enough to get by for the duration that was initially set down by the government.” Still, he imposes cost-cutting personally to cushion the impact of the lockdown. “There really isn’t much of an option given that pretty much everything has closed down,” Esguerra said. FACEBOOK LIVE Clauja is thankful to the help extended by the government not only to her and her family, but to the families of other struggling musicians who also need assistance. She particularly mentioned the five kilograms of rice and canned goods given to the families weekly that they received. “That’s a big help to the families who had a hard time getting by daily,” Clauja maintained. “I help my parents in our small family business. We earn by delivering yema cake, moist chocolate cake, langka pies and tarts.” Clauja is also doing live Facebook gigs, where the payments are pinned to her bank accounts. “So that they can also give tips,” she said. The amount from her other streams of revenues accounts for 20 percent of what she earns. With money allotted to pay for the rent, Clauja said the budget she now have is simply enough for her daily expenses. “Nag-cost-cutting po talaga kami in our family,” she said. “Kung ang gastos po namin sa food for a day is P500 before the lockdown, ginagawa po namin na P100 daily lang ang mailabas na pera, hanggang maaari. More on veggies ang niluluto po naming, kasi mas mura at healthy. Budgeted po lahat, para tumagal ang P500 sa isa isang linggo.” Cost-cutting is something that everyone needs to do, Dumas acknowledged, now that everything is indefinite. “We don’t know how long this lockdown will be. Even if it gets lifted soon, people will still have trauma to go out. But after COVID-19 is gone, people will be excited to go out, meet their friends and family. The music industry will benefit from this. Some people are not earning, so when the lockdown gets lifted, they want to earn again. Babawi sila.” Dumas insisted he is personally “still okay” amid the lockdown. “Although no one is downloading [my songs], I can probably write a song, upload it somewhere and earn from it. Right now, I’m still okay. I know everyone is having a hard time. These are tough times. “We are doing shows, streaming those shows on Facebook to raise funds for the less fortunate. Even I have been trying to help others. We’re pushing for that. My other artist-friends, we help each other. Good thing, I am under Stages, that’s why I’m not too worried. They are helping me. Anytime I need them, I’ll just let them know. I’m not flat worried. I’m worried for other people.” For the entire year, Dumas has safely paid for rent in his place in advance. That was a big financial load off his back. “The monthly bills, nakaka-stress,” he said. “I saved up for something. I’m still okay. I have a roof. For food and other necessities, I can still manage.” Asked about other possible means of revenues, Dimayuga couldn’t give any other reply. “My earnings only come from shows and from a couple of F&B establishments I co-own. Music production houses and ad agencies are also closed so we can’t really do any home-based recordings where we can also earn from. “We’re taking a back seat on all purchases and trying to focus on efficient shopping for basic necessities,” he explained. “The best thing right now is to stay home, stay healthy, take care of our folks and work on our craft.” Dimayuga remains certain that his colleagues in the entertainment industry can get through this pandemic season financially. At present, they have their savings, whatever little the amount may be. “These are the moments we save up for. We have to be wise with our expenses,” he said. Without necessarily shelling out financial aid, Esguerra considers himself a huge fan of positive reinforcement and encouragement. “I try to set an example to my friends by keeping calm at all times, despite everything that goes on. Hopefully, that somehow helps them settle down in the face of immense pressure and trials. I also believe in the power of prayer and the importance of praying for others.” MISS PERFORMING While “human interaction” proved to be tiring for artists who performed nightly before, Dumas misses doing it now that they are not performing onstage. “Before, it got tiring. After a gig, you would rather stay at home or go to your family and do whatever you want. Now, I miss my friends. I also miss performing. I miss the exchange of energy between the audience and the performer in live gigs.” Dumas continued: “Now, you don’t feel it while performing in front of your computer or your phone. You see the applause, the likes, the comments. I guess even silence is important. When you know that people are actually listening to what you’re singing, that’s awesome. Pero iba pa rin ang actual response ng tao. Iba if you get really nervous onstage with a live audience in front of you.” Clauja, meanwhile, thinks the families of her singer-friends are admirably coping well with this pandemic, even if they are hit hard. “Sa tingin ko po, wala naman po masyado nahihirapan,” she said. “Lahat kami ay nakakaraos at okay.” Dimayuga is aware that some of the other artists are also doing Facebook Live shows, with tips or donation information. “The least we can do is share it,” he said. “Share their music, let them be heard. If we can persuade the bigger artists in our industry to follow suit, that would be monumental.” For her part, Clauja said: “When someone offers to help me, I always think about my other musician-friends and my fellow singers. We have received help from others and in turn, we also help them in our own, little way. That is the only way we can also do our share to help. Not really financially."
Granted that this pandemic is unprecedented, but what are the hard lessons learned during this time? “We are realizing that at this time, we can only depend on an artist union/organization and our own artist community for support,” Dimayuga said. Being healthy and staying healthy are important, Eguerra emphasized. “Work even harder. Save. And always keep a good head on your shoulders to help get you through hard times. Santos insisted saving up is important, too. “It’s important to save a portion of our income for times like this. This is the ‘you never know what’s going to happen’ part of life.” Still, everyone keeps the faith the performers will emerge stronger from this crisis. “Having a personal emergency savings fund is the most important thing,” Dimayuga said. “Second is being a member of an artist organization. I’m positive that artist organizations will now take extra steps to prepare for this, like setting up disaster relief funds for its members.” Dumas maintained online shows can undoubtedly create a platform for the artists. “There are shows where artists perform in benefit gigs through their social media accounts. Artists can still earn from that. Maybe in the future, if the platform really works, artists will get paid already. “Those who want to help, they can waive their talent fees and just perform. We can ease the tension. It’s nice to see that fellow artists and people appreciate you in this tough time. Thank you for performing for us, Johnoy [Danao] and Ebe [Dancel], we did an online show. All three of us performed. Iba pa rin ang silbi ng music now.” Dumas admits the online platform is indeed a good avenue for artists and easily accessible, too. “If the platform looks promising, even after the lockdown, it should stay,” he said. “But the downside, people will no longer go to bars and gig venues. People will no longer flock to those venues if they can easily watch the shows on their phones. Iba pa rin ang live shows. Filipinos love musicand there’s no such thing as live performances. I am confident that people will still watch live shows.” Santos remains realistic that it might take a while before people go out to watch shows again. “Now is the time to practice and hone our crafts at home,” she said. “Improve whatever we can given the amount of time given to us. There is funding from the government, but I’m not sure if it has reached the groups yet. There are so many of us in the arts community. Hopefully, soon, there will be a clearer directive.” “I hope the bars where we perform will offer help in whatever way they can,” Clauja added. “At this time, there were very few who reached out to help us. We are not employed by those establishments. We have no proof even if we perform in those venues every night. “But we need their support. We need their help, especially if this lockdown gets extended. They cannot bring back the lost revenues from those jobs that never materialized. We are on-call artists and musicians. Sadly, we are not regular employees.” source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA – Not even the coronavirus will stop Sandwich from conducting a jam session. On Thursday, members of the Filipino alternative rock band held a virtual jamming, the video of which they uploaded on Facebook. With each of them playing their respective musical instruments at their own homes, Sandwich played “Return to Center,” a track from their “Thanks to the Moon's Gravitational Pull” album released in 2003. Watch Sandwich sing their hit song amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 around the world. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- For Ebe Dancel, the stage musical "Sa Wakas," which featured songs of his former group, the disbanded Sugarfree, was unexpected. He was surprised being personally approached by "these eager kids from Ateneo" who have high regards for his work. "They approached me one day and told me they wanted to do a musical using my songs. And it was a time when I was feeling low in my career. I said, yes, of course, by all means. I thought that was it. Then they asked me to compose a new song, something exclusive for the musical they are doing, which I learned was titled 'Sa Wakas.' I was more surprised by their frankness, nag-yes na nga ako to use my songs tapos they asked me pa to compose a new one," he said, laughing. The new piece was "Bawat Daan," written in 2013 for the musical's initial staging. As it turned out, the musical was a big help for him. Sugarfree disbanded in 2011 and he had just launched his first solo album "Dalawang Mukha ng Pag-Ibig" in 2012 under Warner Philippines. Then came "these kids from Ateneo." It can be said the musical helped Dancel get back on track again. "Sa Bawat Daan" eventually became the title of his second solo album, released in 2015 under Star Records. Now after nine years, he is back with PolyEast Records. "It's like coming home. 'Baliktanaw' is a long-awaited album. It has nine songs from my Sugarfree years," Dancel told ABS-CBN News. "And it is just tip of the iceberg. We might launched it in vinyl later this year." He enumerated these titles: "Burnout," "Mariposa," "Unang Araw," "Kwarto," "Cuida," "Tulog Na," "Dear Kuya," "Wag Ka Nang Umiyak," "Hangover," and a new single titled "Hanggang Kailan Kita Mahihintay." "If you noticed, maraming 'di nakasama like 'Hari Ng Sablay,'" Dancel said, pointing out they can only have 10 songs.
"PolyEast and I collaborated in trimming the list. We meet halfway. Ang gaganda talaga ng versions na ito. Maganda rin naman 'yung nauna pero ito, pati vocals kundisyon na kundisyon. These are versions of my songs the way I want them to sound right now." One may wonder, why he chose PolyEast, then and now? "Looking back in the 1990s, PolyEast (formerly EMI Philippines) was the only label that wanted to take me in. Nanggaling kasi ako sa wala eh. Tumutugtog ako sa Mayrics, lima lang ang tao, aalis pa yung dalawa," he said, laughing. The carrier single, "Hanggang Kailan Kita Mahihintay" has been made available on Spotify and other streaming devices. On February 29, "Baliktanaw" will be released in physical CD format during his solo concert at Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City. Dubbed "Ebe Dancel with The Manila String Machine," the show is accompanied by a 20-piece orchestra with Paolo Valenciano as creative director and Chino David (formerly of Silent Sanctuary, now with Hale) as musical director. "The carrier single was originally written for Paolo Valenciano's debut album in 2014," Dancel pointed out. Speaking of composing songs for other artists, Dancel said it's been a decade when he made a promise to Regine Velasquez and he has yet to submit one. Dancel also said he wants to write songs for or have a duet with Sarah Geronimo. "She's the most talented artist I've known and I wanna give her the best because she's the best," he said and paused for a few seconds. "But I wanna write for myself. Kakabigay ko ng kanta sa iba ako nauubusan," he added, laughing. When it comes to collaborating with other artists as co-performer, he readily mentioned of Unique Salonga, the 20-year-old composer-rock singer and former frontman of IV Of Spades. Many consider Salonga as one of the main torchbearers of his generation. Like Dancel in his early years, Salonga composes hits and potential hits, he can sing and he has lots of years ahead of him. "He's the best songwriter I've come across with in a long long time. He writes the perfect songs that I can identify with. He's a wonderful person. He's terrific on stage. That young man is going places. Well, he's already going places." Asked for advice to budding musicians who want to write their own materials. "Stop looking into writing your first or next hit because these days, you don't know what's going to hit or miss. The tastes of people? They change. You write and write from the heart and everything will fall into place." source: news.abs-cbn.com
The recent re-release of the Eraserheads’ “Ultraelectromagneticpop” on vinyl is sold out. No surprise there. Except that it commands a huge price in the resale market. In two months, we’ve seen it reach almost Juan dela Cruz Bandproportions. What that means in the old Juan dela Cruz Band records sell anywhere from P8,000 to 30,000 per title. At one time on Ebay, all the records were on sale for almost a half million pesos! It is insane. It sounds too incredible, yet it is true. Now whether anyone bought it is anyone’s guess. As for “Ultraelectromagneticpop,” what we’ve seen it sell for ranges from P7,000 to 10,000 and now up to a whopping P20,000 (equivalent on Discogs). There were more than 40,000 copies of that pressed in compact disc and cassette and it is rare that you will see it for sale. The one time I did see it — and it wasn’t in near mint condition — it sold for P13,000. In fact, I have seen the Eraserheads’ last album, “Carbonstereoxide,” sell for P3,500. The “Ultraelectromagneticpop” vinyl release saw only 2,500 copies pressed. So there is that desirability for the title. It’s just that the resale price is outrageous. Since the return to prominence and popularity of vinyl, we have seen Original Pilipino Music releases from the 1960-1980s shoot up in price. Those old records of the Dawn, Apo Hiking Society, Identity Crisis, Gapo Volumes 1 and 2, Anakbayan, Mike Hanopol, Sampaguita, Wally Gonzales, Jose Mari Chan, Gary Valenciano, and others have really gone up in value. Of those released in the last decade, the “Ang Nawawala” soundtrack (with about 300 pressed) are hard to find and it is rare to see it in the back seller’s market. If there is any title among those recent re-releases that could possibly — and I must stress possibly — fetch a high price in the future is Slapshock’s “Twelve Point One”. Technically, it isn’t a re-release as there is no compact disc or cassette version of this de facto “greatest hits” release that is a double-side picture disc! It does seem to have sold out as I do not see it anymore. Other new releases include The Dawn’s “Greatest Hits” but we aren’t really sure if the original analog masters were used or a compact disc as the local record companies have done so. The re-press versions of Apo Hiking Society or even the Boyfriends’ greatest hits retail for P1,500. Yet, some folks resell them for several hundred pesos or even up to a thousand pesos plus more. The problem is with the old record bars of yore a thing of the past (save for those in the indie market), most do not know where to buy them and simply look online where these re-presses are sold for a higher price. When Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts” was released during the last Christmas season, resellers automatically added P300 to their price (limited edition or not). The terms “independent” and “underground” are loosely used, but it seems that the latter relates to punk and metal releases while the former is anything not of the aforementioned genres. But for our purposes, we will simply use the term independent. Or indie, as it sounds way more cool. There is an average of 10 releases on vinyl every year by indie artists. They come out in an assortment of 7-inch singles or extended plays singles or 12-inch Eps or full length albums. They sell anywhere from P350 (for seven-inchers) to as much as P1,500 for the 12-inch full length. Pricing is definitely key. Of the indie releases in the last 15 years or so, I’d say for the punk and hardcore community, the releases of Abrasive Relations that will curry a lot of value. Post-rock band Legarda has a split single release with Boston’s “The Saddest Landscape” two years ago. What makes this very hard to find is only 50 copies were pressed. However, I don’t imagine this will sell huge in the resale market is it is only those in their immediate community who know of the release or will even care to have one. If you go back to the 1980s, Ocean Zoo’s EP, “Animal Party,” is rather difficult to find and commands a high price when it is on the market. When that came out in 1980, it sold for P5. It didn’t do too well except for those who were into the scene back then. Right now, it is a Holy Grail for local rock music fans. Supposedly, the Eraserheads’ second album, “Circus,” will also be out on vinyl this year. And we hear that Parokya ni Edgar will also have a record out this year. Whether it is their debut “Khangkhungkherrnitz” that originally came out in 1996 or a greatest hits release remains to be seen. Whether this is a limited edition or not also remains to be seen. And whether this will command a high resale price is anyone’s guess. I am also told that it isn’t only OPM releases that sell like crazy. Certain records released during the New Wave era also sell for insane prices. Seona Dancing’s release “More to Lose” or those releases by the Care — “Whatever Possessed You” and “Flaming Sword” — are in demand that those with copies of these from countries in North America or Europe have jacked up their prices for the Philippine market (apparently, they aren’t as in demand over there). During the Record Store Day celebration two years ago, we saw Seona Dancing’s “More to Lose” priced at P14,000! Incredible. Was it like this when I was buying vinyl in the 1980s? Not really. The only records that I know that were priced steep were the original UK presses of Beatles records. Personally, I am happy that vinyl is back. On the other hand, the hunt for records I want brings me back to those days. The one exception are these resale prices. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA – It has been more than two weeks since the Taal Volcano erupted that left thousands of people in Batangas displaced. Many celebrities have already begun doing their part in reaching out to the evacuees, and now artists in the local music industry are getting together for a fundraising concert. “Tulong Taal: A Musical Collaboration for Taal Rehabilitation” will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome on Saturday, February 1. According to website PEP, the concert was a brainchild of veteran composer Vehnee Saturno, who likewise composed the song “Tulong Taal” after the calamity struck. The song was interpreted by a group of singers including Ice Seguerra, Isay Alvarez, Kakai Bautista, Robert Seña, Frenchie Dy, The Company, Poppert Bernadas, Ebe Dancel, Jaya, Aicelle Santos, Bayang Barrios and Angeline Quinto. “The music video aims to inspire ang mga kababayang Batangueño at mga Pilipino. We hope to generate fund from this which will also go to funds for Tulong Taal,” Alvarez told PEP. All the singers involved are hoping that with their upcoming fundraising concert, help may be extended to more displaced families in Batangas. source: news.abs-cbn.com
Six years after the release of their debut album, “Somewhere In Time,” and what seemed like a never-ending change of personnel, indie band populardays have added two key players that have resulted in a change of musical direction. From the indie pop sound that characterized “Somewhere in Time,” populardays, with holdovers in vocalist and guitarist Erick Lucas and drummer Jann Paul Tatad, have been joined by the duo of Mike Ducusin on guitars and vocals and Veronica Macato on bass and vocals. If Ducusin and Macato’s name sound familiar that is because they perform also as the indie pop duo, Veronica and I. With the two in harness, populardays has shifted to a more shoegaze sound, something the band feels was a natural progression. “People come and go,” succinctly puts Lucas. “As for the new lineup, it’s great. Mike brings in a New Wave touch while Veronica draws from her 90s vibe. Musically, we’re still evolving. In our early release, we had a few songs that had that shoegaze and dream pop feel. This time, we wanted to go all the way.” The new band and the different sound was also an easy transition for Ducusin, who says, “I grew up listening to punk and New Wave which are the roots of the indie sound. My passion for the music also influenced Veronica (Mike’s real life partner).” The newfangled quartet just released a new single, “Lost in Space” that takes you up to the stratosphere. Macato’s gossamer vocals already add another dimension to populardays’ sound. They’ve also connected with Philippine shoegaze royalty when they opened for trailblazers Sonnet 58 during their vinyl record launch late last 2019. Now, they’ve dropped a new single and video. “Fans can expect more new stuff from us,” promises Lucas. “I think the scene is growing,” points out Ducusin during the Sonnet 58 show at 70s Bistro last year. “Every band brings something to the table. We are happy to a part of it.” The popularity of shoegaze and dream pop is at an all-time high all over the world. Domestically, there are regular productions that feature bands and listening parties. Shoegaze post-rock outfit, Sound Architects will be releasing their second album, Regenesis, this coming February 1 at Mow’s. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- Dennis Garcia, founding member of the legendary Filipino band Hotdog, passed away Saturday night as posted by his youngest daughter Isa on his Facebook page early Sunday morning. He was 69 years old. Garcia or Mr. D as he is fondly referred to by friends and colleagues in the music industry is the older brother of Rene Garcia, lead singer of Hotdog who passed away in 2018. As pioneers of the so-called Manila Sound sub-genre, Hotdog helped usher a golden age of Original Pilipino Music that began in the mid-70s. Together with brother Rene, the elder Garcia wrote most of the band’s biggest hits including “Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko,” “Manila,” “Annie Batungbakal,” “Bongga Ka Day,” “Langit na Naman” and “Beh Buti Nga.” Over the years and despite numerous line-up changes, Hotdog’s popularity never waned as evidenced by the constant clamor for them to continue performing their greatest hits. Just this decade alone, the band headlined several reunion concerts. Even after Rene’s passing, Hotdog continued to be in high demand in the live circuit with recent high-profile shows at the Hard Rock Café, 19 East Bar & Grill and Bar 360 of Resorts World Manila. Garcia himself initiated the band’s show at 19 East last November to pay tribute to brother Rene, Joey “Pepe” Smith and Rico J. Puno, who were honored by the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) with their own commemorative postage stamps as part of its recently launched Pinoy Music Icons collection. Also known for his work in advertising, Garcia dabbled in the visual arts as well in recent years. In 2013, he spearheaded “Pers Lab Atbp,” an exhibit featuring paintings that interpreted Hotdog’s original songs. The artworks were created not only by himself but also creative friends like Nelson Cruz, Myra Mendoza-Portillo, Dennis Magdamo and Bong Pedro. Five years later, Garcia, Cruz and photographer Quincy Castillo mounted “Tres Pares,” a similar exhibit again based on Hotdog’s classic tunes. Late last year, Hotdog again made headlines when their signature song, “Manila” was used in the opening of Southeast Asian Games. Asked why Hotdog’s music has stood the test of time, Garcia told this writer in a 2011 interview that “the remarkable staying power can also be attributed to the subject matter of the songs and the style of writing - simple, down to earth, unpretentious, real.” “And those qualities are what a great legacy is made of,” Garcia concluded. Garcia is survived by his wife Pam and children Angela, Paolo and Isa. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA - Filipinos often find it amusing when they chance upon foreigners who are able to say words in Filipino. Even more impressive, however, are foreigners who sing their own versions of original Pilipino music (OPM). Here are 3 foreigners who have made the rounds on social media with their covers of OPMsongs: AGON HARE Polish vlogger Agon Hare recently wowed social media users with his cover of Juan Karlos Labajo's “Buwan,” a song that became a big hit here that it even spawned an online challenge. As of this writing, the video, which Hare posted on Aug. 4 on his Facebook channel Project Nightfallhas garnered 3.6 million views and over 82,000 shares. Hare gave twists to his rendition by adding an English verse and performing a verse in the rock genre. In an e-mail interview, Hare said he chose to do covers of songs in different languages after being unable to find “any meaningful music on the mainstream [American] market.” The 30-year old vlogger, who is currently based in Singapore, recounted that he discovered “Buwan” while buying food. “I was buying a salad here in Singapore and I heard a song on a radio. So I gave it a closer listen and absolutely fell in love with the song,” Hare told ABS-CBN News. Hare first learned the meaning of “Buwan” before singing and noted how Tagalog was easier to learn compared to an Indian Hindi song that he studied for a previous cover. “I sang a song from India and it was much harder to learn. I feel like Tagalog language is really close to English and Polish with some of the pronunciation so I managed to learn it much easier,” he said. Hare said he plans to do a cover of “Anak” by Freddie Aguilar and collaborate with Filipino singer Bugoy Drilon, who reached out to him after he posted his “Buwan” cover. ANNA RABTSUN Russian Anna Rabtsun was a contestant in the 2016 music competition “I Love OPM,” where foreigners faced off against each other performing Filipino songs. One of Rabtsun’s most memorable covers was “Sirena,” the Gloc-9 song that talked about the life of a gay person. “For me the song had deep meaning and also I wanted to challenge myself to sing a Tagalog rap song,” said Rabtsun. “It took me some practice and repetition but eventually it worked,” she added. Romance led Rabtsun to learning Filipino and eventually, the Philippines. She met her husband, a Filipino, in the United States in 2016. The couple are currently based in Naic, Cavite. Rabtsun also runs a YouTube channel where she posts vlogs and covers of Filipino songs like “No Erase” by James Reid and Nadine Lustre, and “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,” originally by prolific Filipino singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid. DAVID DIMUZIO American David DiMuzio from Nashville, Tennessee fell in love with OPM when he first visited the Philippines in 2010. “The first Filipino artist whose music I really started listening to all the time and became a big fan of was Rico Blanco,” said DiMuzio. “My dad’s mom was Filipino so I’m part Filipino. I was always interested in the Philippines for many reasons,” he said, adding that he grew up with a Filipino best friend. DiMuzio, 27, is noted for his YouTubevideos, which are mostly covers of Filipino songsand have garnered over a million views. The singer has also collaborated with local artists such as Yassi Pressman, Yeng Constantino, Sam Mangubat, and Aria Clemente. In an effort to spread OPM to a wider audience, DiMuzio released in 2014 a project album comprised of English versions of Filipino songs such as “Hanggang” by Wency Cornejo and “Muli” by Rodel Naval. “It is very difficult to reimagine a Tagalog song in a beautiful way in another language while at the same time still keeping the original intent of the lyrics. It took me months to perfect each song in that ‘Reimagined’ album project,’” DiMuzio recounted. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA -- Legendary Pinoy rock icon Joey "Pepe" Smith has passed away. He was 71. The sad news was shared online by his daughter Daisy Smith-Owen on Monday morning. "Thank you for everything papa bear ko. Thank you for being the best dad in the world. I know you're in the best place now, no more pains papa.. i will see you in few days. I love you to the moon and back," Smith-Owen wrote in her Facebook page. Smith-Owen said Smith was rushed to the hospital early Monday. The musician suffered a stroke in November 2017 and also recently underwent eye operation. Before his successful solo career, Smith was part of the iconic Juan dela Cruz band with Wally Gonzalez and Mike Hanopol. "Juan dela Cruz" band is known for their hits "Beep Beep," "Balong Malalim," "Titser's Enemy No. 1," "Himig Natin," "No Touch" and "Kahit Anong Mangyari." In an interview in December 2017, Smith said he would like to believe that his songs were his biggest legacy. "Yung mga kantang ginawa ko. Yung tinugtog ko at ng bandang Juan dela Cruz. Siyempre kapag pinakinggan nila yan, parang bumabalik sila doon. That's the only connection to it," he said. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA – Portia Carlos finally broke her silence on Sunday to address “speculations, gossip, malicious rumors and lies” surrounding the death of her late boyfriend, Razorback drummer Brian Velasco. Velasco passed away last January 16 in an apparent suicide. In a lengthy statement sent to entertainment site Push, Carlos explained that Velasco had bipolar disorder “that causes extreme mood swings that include mania or hypomania (emotional highs) or depression (lows).” Because of his condition, Carlos said doctors put Velasco on medication and he agreed to take it religiously. However, they learned from the helper who regularly cleaned Velasco’s condominium unit that the musician had not asked her to buy his meds. “After his death, they also saw some meds in the condo when his supply should have been used up by then. The helper knew when she was supposed to buy the meds if Brian had been taking it regularly,” she said. “His manic episodes were VERY SIMILAR to his bad drunk episodes. And we all thought he was taking his meds, specifically because he has not had a manic episode since he started taking them. SO, NO. HE WAS NOT ALONE NOR ISOLATED IN HIS LAST FEW DAYS. WE HAVE SEEN WORSE AND WE JUST ASSUMED THAT IT WAS ALCOHOL AND THAT HE WOULD BE SOBER IN A FEW DAYS,” she said. Categorically denying that Velasco was depressed, Carlos said her late boyfriend was actually making plans prior to January 16. “On Jan 12 and 13, we spent hours training my always angry shih tzu Jack and Panchito to co-exist because we planned to live together this May so we won’t have to pay for 2 broadband accounts, 2 Meralco bills, 2 assoc dues, and decide each night which unit we were gonna sleep at, only because we needed 2 units in the same building to separate my dog from his Alfie (his recently departed dog). We thought a puppy would be easier for my dog to learn to co-exist with,” she said. “On Jan. 13, he messaged another drum teacher-friend and asked her when their drum recital was. On Jan 13, over dinner, we were talking about the color of his suits for two upcoming weddings in my family. On Jan 15, OR A DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT, he spoke to the mom of a student and asked if they had plans to go on a trip because he is scheduling a recital soon,” she added. According to a psychiatrist she talked to on Saturday, Carlos said Velasco certainly had a manic-depressive episode based on the events and activities she narrated to the expert. Meanwhile, Carlos also denied that Velasco was beating her up and that their worst fights were all shouting matches. Carlos said Velasco was not sad his band was on its way down. “In fact they’re in the last stages of an extremely major project that he had been so happy and excited about. Something so big that, if I'm not mistaken, has never been done in the PH music industry,” she said. She said Velasco’s family also did not waive the autopsy to supposedly cover up drugs in his system. “Not true. Brian did not do any drugs, not even weed. He just liked alcohol. Drugs was never a consideration in the 'waiving' of the autopsy. To us, we just lost someone we loved in the most tragic way,” she said. Velasco joined Razorback in 1996, replacing original drummer Miguel Ortigas, and helped the band become a household name after the release of their second album, "Beggar's Moon." Razorback's last album, "Acoustic ng Ina Mo," a compilation of acoustic versions of their hits, was released in 2015. Last year marked their 28th anniversary as a group and saw them drop a new single, "Stargazer," featuring Wolfgang's Basti Atardi. Velasco's death came more than a week after Razorback headlined a benefit gig for OPM legend Wally Gonzalez, a founding member of the influential rock act Juan Dela Cruz Band. source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA – Former “Pinoy Boyband Superstar” contestant Tony Labrusca is
grateful to his "La Luna Sangre" co-stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel
Padilla for defending him against bashers.
In the hit primetime series, Labrusca plays one of the closest friends of Bernardo's character Malia. Because of this, some die-hard supporters of the Bernardo-Padilla love team see Labrusca as a "third party" and have been bashing the young actor on social media.
Labrusca has been receiving mixed comments for his portrayal of Jake Arguelles on “La Luna Sangre” with
Padilla and Bernardo have since defended him with Padilla reminding their fans that Labrusca is only playing a role and should not be attacked.
"I did see his interview when he told his fans and bashers to stop. So I appreciate that," Labrusca told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday during the launch of his debut single "Tanging Ikaw."
"I'm proud of them for standing up especially since they are the official anti-cyberbullying advocates here in the Philippines which is something that we should all be very proud of."
As a supporter of anti-cyberbullying, Labrusca shared that he will be having a speaking engagement on its effects as well as the power of social media on August 26.
"I'm really excited for that. I really want to take this opportunity that God has given me to show people that there's a lot more important things that we have to work on and focus on," Labrusca said.
Meanwhile, Labrusca kicked off his music career with his debut single "Tanging Ikaw," which he composed in collaboration with Urie Tesorio and Bryan Lotho.
The music video, which was directed by Callalily frontman Kean Cipriano, is set to be released on August 25.
According to Labrusca, "Tanging Ikaw" is his gift to his fans and supporters.
"I'm really excited and I hope that they like it. I'm such a people-pleaser, I really want them to enjoy it," said Labrusca, the son of actor Boom Labrusca and singer Angel Jones of the '90s group Kulay.
He was known for that snarl and sneer. A hellraiser on stage who rocked hard, played hard, and drank hard. Prolific, he recorded and released 11 albums in 22 years with four different bands and won a smattering of vocalist of the year awards. “If I could,” he lets me in on a secret, “I’d do more records.”
They say that you can’t keep a good man down. Indeed. And we are in for a treat because we’re in the midst of the second act of the life and career of Basti Artadi. After battling a brain tumor and a health condition that could have prematurely ended his musical career, if not his life, he owes his return to an iron-clad will power and determination. And he let me in on another secret: “The music, man. It keeps me going. No music. No life.” “What started me down my present path in music is my health condition,” elucidated Artadi. “I remember the afternoon my doctor told me what my inevitable outcome would be. He just said it -- mouthing words through pressed lips that were stretched as far right as possible -- rather nonchalantly to my face like it was nothing: ‘Eventually your mouth is gonna move to the side of your face and your gonna talk like this, ‘hmmmph, hmmph hmmph.’” One side of Artadi’s face wasn’t working. As a result, the muscles on the other side were pulling the other. Talking became difficult. His morale eroded but he quickly pulled himself up. “And that wasn't the scariest part, man,” continued Artadi. “The scariest part was he couldn't give me a time frame. It could happen at any moment. It could be quick or it could take years. And I remember thinking, ‘Damn, this is the end? You mean, I won’t be able to sing anymore? And with the tumor, will I have another thing to worry about?’ I walked out of that office with a big cloud over my head but after a bit of thinking, I decided I was gonna do as much music as I could -- genre be damned! As long as it’s good music I’m game. I want to make sure there’s a ton of music that I will do. You know that musical tic tic boom? That’s literally me everyday.....” Post-surgery, Artadi is able to smile now. “I have a lot of movement in my face. I can feel my mouth move back to the center. And if I keep practicing, I can smile without having to clench my teeth. I don’t slur when I speak (and thank God for that because people thought that I was drunk all the time). So the small favors are all good.” Artadi has retained his sense of humor. He knows he has beaten the disease for now and he has a new lease on life. With it comes a greater appreciation for everything. When Wolfgang recorded “Acoustica” in 2000, it set in motion a desire to explore new musical frontiers. That live album by the hard rock band was recorded with acoustic guitars and a toned down sound. Two songs on the album -- “Center of the Sun” and “Aquarius” -- featured the UP Singing Ambassadors. “That year, I began to think about doing other music but it it’s time,” thought Artadi. “I pegged myself in a hole for so long. I can’t keep singing like it is 1995 (when Wolfgang’s first album came out) I actually don’t think I should be doing that anymore. Why am I saying, ‘no’ when I should be saying ‘yes’ to everything? It isn’t about the genre. It’s about good music that pleases you and others. Good music is good music.” “I don’t have time to listen to people who should peg me as ‘that vocalist from Wolfgang.’ If I listened to everybody, my career would be even more twisted that my face. Some would say, ‘Ah, you should be playing or singing stuff like the first Wolfgang album. My response is, ‘Then why don’t you play the first album?’” Artadi paused. Sucked some air in. The passion hasn’t dissipated one iota. “Why don’t you hop aboard my bus as I start this new journey?” asked the singer.
The bus has seen stops with Basti Artadi and the Nice Ones, the Jazz Bastards, and Plan of Fools. All departures from the hard rock sound where he first made a name for himself.
Of the three, the Nice Ones is the outfit with a rock bent. The other two showcase Artadi’s tastes and range.
“You take a look at what guys like Raimund Marasigan and Ely Buendia are doing and they are so totally different from the kind of music where they first made a name for themselves,” pointed out Artadi.
The Jazz Bastards were inspired by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox where contemporary songs were re-arranged with a swing, jazz, or lounge music bent.
Plan of Fools is a super group that includes Rommel dela Cruz (Freestyle/Barbie’s Cradle), Marco del Leon (Paramita/Reklamo), Bea Lao (General Luna), Kim Lopez (Trinidad), Gabba Santiago (Tom’s Story), Louie Talan (Razorback), Tin Virtucio (Kosmikskala), and Princess Ybanez (Rouge). No, the music isn’t alternative but shockingly totally left of center from anything any of the individual members have done during their careers or with their respective mother bands.
“It’s country and folk-themed,” admitted Artadi with a chuckle. “You didn’t see that coming now, did you?”
“It was Bea’s idea and well, it’s something completely different. Really? Did you ever think you’d see a master bassist like Louie Talan playing the banjo? I am excited about the work we are doing. There’s a lightness to the music we are producing.”
This coming June 15 and 16 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Artadi will be performing in a unique show titled, “Three In One: Perfect Blend.” Davey Langit will perform contemporary pop music while Lara Maigue will showcase classical music. Closing out the show will be Artadi.
“I think the cool thing about the show is that you have three different types of genres,” pointed out Artadi. “If the people in the audience listen to only one kind, we are hoping they will develop an appreciation for the other types. And that’s how you grow and expand the music, man.”
“The music scene today – if we’re talking about artists making music and the creativity levels – well, that’s off the roof! Whew! But in terms of people flocking to shows or even buying albums, that needs improvement. You need someone or some band to give it a push. It needs something to come along and jump start it again.”
Is that the Nice Ones or the Jazz Bastards or even Plan of Fools?
“No, man. I am not rock and roll’s savior or even the Pinoy music scene. I am just a man making music. It’s my life.”
