I believe that OPM is very much alive

Reaching Out: Julz Savard of Save Me Hollywood at B-Tone Bar, Tanay Rizal 

I've always been an optimistic kind of person, you know the type that looks at the glass half full instead of half empty. So with regards to the statement that OPM is dead, I would have to disagree. Sure, there is truth and a painful reality to these "non-singers" and "pabebe" wannabes, sold out concerts in arenas of people who can't sing and albums sold from box-office personalities who only come out with covers of love songs.

I foam at the mouth when I think of these things especially since I know of so many underrated talented artists who play the local bars around the Metro, record songs from their rooms and peddle their CDs for half the price of foreign artists. 

Just open the radio stations, what is the ratio of foreign songs being played to local ones? Which songs are dominating the charts? Clue, they are most likely not from around these parts. 

Soft whispers, Strong Pulse 

It's a good thing that there are radio stations like Jam 88.3 which constantly play and promote local independent acts. Did you know that the radio station worked with Vinyl Titan Stachmi to produce and release a compilation of songs from some of the country's up and coming artists and release it on Vinyl? I'm a proud owner of Fresh Filter Vol. 1 and I'm listening to it right now as I am writing this, all the more determined to let the people know that OPM it is not dead. It is very much alive, playing to crowds in small bars, in soft whispers, a strong pulse, felt unfortunately only by a few.

OPM is alive, in the crowded bars of the Metro. Em Tolentino of Circa in District 2140, formerly Freedom Bar.  

There is an argument that our music scene is in the state that it is also because of consumers who choose to patronize novelty songs, the kind that eat your brain cells and offers no art, imagination or which cannot stir feelings aside from the kind of band-wagon hype which makes mindless zombies out of our population. Yes these are the masses who can't see (or hear) behind a beautiful face "singing" heaven forbid another love song cover. We can't do anything about that anymore, it's already there. The situation is what it is so the question is what are you going to do about it? 

Here's My Problem 

How and why do I say that OPM is still alive? Well- my problem, yes, it is a problem is that there are so many good OPM bands and music out there that my problem is I don't have the time or the funds to discover, listen and experience them all. 

Observe: 

Currently on my CDs/records to purchase list: 

Toni B. - Carnival 

Imago - Kapit

Never The Strangers -(New album)

Save Me Hollywood -Headlights 

The Ransom Collective- 

Idioms and Dispositions - 

Cheats - 

Drive Me To Juliet (Cebu based) - Kiss & Tell (album)

Jensen & The Flips - Honeymoon 

Barbie Almalbis - (New Album) 

Techyromantics - 

MOONWLK -20Twelve

Up Dharma Down -Capacities (on Vinyl) 

Maude

Pulso 

I'm looking forward to new music from these artists: 

Midnight Meetings 

Mad Hatter Day 

Tandems '91

Tom's Story 

Loop (Iligan based) 

Skymarines (Davao based) 

Autotelic 

Reese & Vica 

Kai Honasan 

Reese Lansangan 

Paraluman (currently recording in the studio)

December Avenue

Happy that Circa just released their long overdue EP :) 

*Apoligies for bands/artists I may have forgotten to mention* 

There are so many bands I've been meaning to check out but haven't had the time, between working the night shift and having events on weekends it's been a challenge. Speaking of working the night shift there are actually a lot of gigs and events that we couldn't go to or had to pass on because of our nocturnal schedule. We'd probably have more bands and artists to feature if we had an ordinary schedule. I haven't even been to 12 Monkeys bar yet, been wanting to go there but nothing has worked with our schedule yet. Hopefully soon. 

'Right back at 'ya' Monty Macalino of Mayonnaise at 70's Bistro 

Tools Of The Trade 

Social Media is a double edged sword but in the case of promoting OPM you can actually put it to good use. Amplify.ph is an awesome website where you can download songs and get to support the artist at the same time. The website also has articles which features playlist for different moods as well as staff picks and recommendations to help you get started. 

Some of our up and coming artists are also on Spotify! Tip. Don't check out the OPM playlist on Spotify itself, I have an OPM playlist you might want to check out, just follow me @ica_cheng. 

News on gigs and events is easier to spread through social media. Follow your favorite local bands on their social media sites for news and updates, some bands are active on social media and even reply to tweets, questions and comments :) 

Once you have a band or artist you've come to like, don't be selfish-share them to friends and family! Post it on your timeline! Instead of sharing those pabebe videos, post something worth while. 

When people ride in our car and I'm playing some of my OPM picks I tell them (proudly) "OPM Yan!" And go on telling them how this artist is still in College and made the album before she was 20 (yes- B.P. Valenzuela that's you) or how members of this band also work in a Call Center like us. We bring my siblings and older nephew to local gigs and introduce them to local acts they can look up to. :) For our younger nephew, we watch Myx with him and recommend some OPM picks :) We make sure the next generation know what good OPM is. 

I really wanted this piece to take an empowering direction, instead of pointing fingers and complaining about how OPM is dead, let's be part of the solution. Let's actually do something. There are so many ways and means to help get OPM out there, it's not going to be easy, we would all need to do our part. Let's keep OPM alive, it's struggling to stay alive but honestly with the amazing quality of music out there, it shouldn't be. Are you up for the challenge? I know I am. #OPMIsAlive