Music: A great night for OPM: Jack Daniel's Future Legends Indie Fest

Jensen and The Flips 

"Hindi natin keilangan ng foreign band para mapuno ang Circuit Makati!" 

("We don't need a foreign act to fill Circuit Makati!" Jensen Gomez of Jensen and the Flips told the crowd of about 5,000 in attendance as he and his crew, dressed in their signature neckties and white polo got the crowd singing and dancing to their signature sexy songs. This was at approximately 9:00 PM in the evening. By this time, already half of the more than thirty bands scheduled to perform on 3 different stages were already done with their sets and yet the night was still young and there was still more awesome music ahead.

About five hours earlier we left the house hoping to catch B.P. Valenzuela's set, unfortunately we didn't count on the Saturday traffic plus getting caught in the route of a Santa Cruzan when we were already in Makati. By the time we were already pulling up in the parking lot at Circuit Makati Tom's Story was already playing, Paul let out a pretty dramatic "dammit" -you see he loves the band with a passion, but what are you going to do right?

By the time we already claimed our passes, Mad Hatter Day was already playing, we  were held up in line because they wouldn't let my 19 year old brother in. His School ID did not have a birth date and the people on the gate wouldn't believe that he was already 19. Would you believe that I'm already turning 30 in June? I know, I can still pass for a 15 year old :P (so you see, it runs in our family) I understand that the staff was taking extra precautions at the event, at the wake of the Closeup Forever Summer incident guests were asked to sign waivers upon entering, bags were thoroughly searched and bringing in of food and beverage was strictly prohibited.

The Crowd Dancing to Tandems '91

It was a good thing that the supervisor was super chill and even if I was already getting impatient, we were already missing out on Mad Hatter Day's much awaited comeback, we were able to resolve the issue (they let my brother go through) without me blowing my top. Take note, next time bring a birth certificate or take a photo of it or get a government ID.

With that incident over and done with, we made our way around the huge concert grounds, thank God it did not rain! There were three stages set up with a number of different bands and artists from different genres were set to perform. So we were literally running from one stage to another to catch our favorite acts perform. Paul was on photographer mode and sniping away while I had my siblings and our cousin in tow.

I loved Reese Lansangan's remix for her song "Bleed" which she talks about in our short interview with her here. My brother was gushing behind me - "they play her songs on etc!" he told me. He had a fanboy moment when I introduced him to Reese when we ran into her that night.

Actually, I have a draft for that already but I haven't gotten to writing it yet. (etc features local artists for summer campaign) I hope I get to finish that write up soon!

We've been loving Oh, Flamingo! for sometime now and I'm really happy we were able to see them perform live (after a long time!) the young musicians have a casual unpretentious charm which translates to their music. The crowd was singing and dancing as well. Looking forward to more songs from them. We'd definitely get our hands on an album. :)

Farewell, Fair Weather 

Tandems '91, who we last saw in last year's Vinly Day ingeniously included some iconic Filipino songs in their set such as Hagibis' "Katwan" in their set, that was a nice nod to OPM!

Paul was more than happy to capture Tonight We Sleep whom he has been a big fan of for a long time. He was like a boy on Christmas morning, taking photos of the band as he sang their songs.

I would have to say that Farewell Fair Weather is my new favorite Indie band and I'm looking forward to hearing more of their music and seeing them perform live again. :)

When Autotelic took the stage - Wow! The crowd just got up and was dancing to their songs, my sister told me "They're all singing! (the crowd)" which is really overwhelming considering you would only see that kind of reaction from foreign acts but now even an Indie band can draw that from the crowd.

The crowd goes wild for Autotelic 

Here's a thought. Up Dharma Down 's "Oo" came out TWELVE years ago!

A funny memory about the song is that I actually caught my baby sister crushing on her friend when I noticed she was singing the song, a little too emotionally. It's something that we tease her about to this day when it comes up. So imagine the fun my brother and I had, ganging up on her when the song was performed live.

During their set at Jack Daniel's Future Legends INDIEFEST the band remembered their early years when "only five people would watch them in Saguijo" and now they fill events with crowds eager to hear their music.

Continue supporting local talent, you never know when your new favorite Indie band will be able to fill up concert venues on their own. Indeed, it is a good time for OPM when, bar gigs are frequently happening, EP/Album and MV launches are a common event. Sometimes gigs and shows happen at the same time, only a Kagebunshin technique would get us to all the events.

As a music enthusiast, I appreciate and am happy for brands like Jack Daniel's who believe in supporting homegrown local talent. Kudos to you! Cheers! (Slugs down a shot of Jack Daniel's) :P

Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down 

Aside from the awesome bands performing there was also so much to see and do at the event, there was an an awesome display of Harley Davidson motorcycles as well as their proud riders.

"It's just like 'Sons of Anarchy'!" my sister excitedly told me.

There was a photobooth where we had some pictures taken. There was also a number of various booths were you can check out band merchandise and even free stickers from The Yellow Room booth! (Hola!).

Winners of awesome prizes (mountain bikes, Gibson Les Paul guitars and a freaking Harley Davidson motorcycle) were given away that night. Congratulations to the winners! Those guitars tho! T_T

The  event culminated with Brain Salad which is made up of members of Wolfgang and Razorback and was conceived 15 years ago in what is described to be as "usapang lasing". 

Basti Artadi of Brain Salad. 

The legendary group is composed of Basti Artardi, David Aguirre, Louie Talan and Brian Velasco. 

It was indeed a great night for OPM, as a crowd of over 5,000 people gathered to hear up and coming acts and established artists. There was a lot of singing, dancing and good clean fun. The event's hashtag #WeAreIndiesTogether was creatively crafted as it calls to everyone to come together to celebrate and enjoy music. Our very own music, something we can truly call our own.

Click HERE for MORE PHOTOS! 

     

Music News: The Jack Daniel’s Future Legends Indiefest 2016: Bigger,Better, Bolder.

I just love it when a respected and established brand gets involved with the local music scene and it doesn't get any more respected and established than Jack Daniel's.

When we started the blog back in 2012, we didn't really know what we would be blogging about. The first few weeks and months was just like making or way in the dark; but there was one thing that Paul and I were sure of and that was our love for music. So we started covering gigs, featuring local artists, doing EP and album reviews, and as they say the rest is history. So we are more than thrilled to be able to witness a big local music event such as Jack Daniel's Future Legends Indiefest. 

Solidarity is at the heart of Jack Daniel’s Future Legends Indiefest, and is one of the main reasons why this highly anticipated event is shaping up to be one of summer’s biggest music attractions this 2016. By producing a unique outdoor music event that will keep you hyped up for months to come, Jack Daniel’s continues to strengthen its independent spirit campaign through a music festival that champions local indie music talents of top-notch caliber.
Come and experience a fired up weekend as the Jack Daniel’s Future Legends Indiefest invades Circuit Makati on May 28, Saturday from 4pm onwards.

Armi Millare - Up Dharma Down. Trinoma Activity Center. May 2013. 

30 bands. 3 stages. 

For the first time in Jack Daniel’s Philippines history, the music event will feature a three-stage setup geared towards exposing the finest music discoveries this side of the globe: Old No.7 (Main Stage), On The Rocks (Modern Rock Stage), and Barrel House (Indie/Alt Stage).

Have a drink or two of Jack and experience power-driven performances from more than 30 of today’s rising and established music acts hand-picked for the Jack Daniel’s Future Legends: Alasmedya, Attic Wench, BP Valenzuela, Bratpack, Conscious and the Goodness, Five Story Fire, Fools and Foes, Jensen and the Flips, Mind Money Circuit, Oh! Flamingo, Read Between The Lions, Reese Lansangan, Run Dorothy, Tandems ’91, The Squibs, The Sun Manager, Thea, Tide/Edit, Tom’s Story, and UBE; with the previous music program artists of Jack Daniel’s On Stage: Curbside, Earthmover, FOC Fashion, Mad Hatter Day, Peso Movement, Reklamo, Runway Crimes, Tonight We Sleep, We Are Imaginary, Wilderness, and Jack Daniel’s JDSet Chosen One; Mr. Bones And The Boneyard Circus. As an added treat, Jack Daniel’s On Stage Chosen One Farewell Fair Weather and co-top 3 Flying Ipis and Autotelic round up the festival’s stellar lineup.

Josh Villena - Autotelic. Satchmi Vinyl Day. April 2015. 

Headlining the roster are two of the country’s established indie icons: genre-bending supergroup Up Dharma Down and Brain Salad—an all-star ensemble composed of members from Wolfgang and Razorback, performing live for the first time ever!

On the heels of Jack Daniel’s Future Legends—a music discovery platform that aims to showcase the next batch of future greats honed by discipline, hard work, authenticity, creativity and independence, the Jack Daniel’s Future Legends Indiefest is also adamant in instilling camaraderie and solidarity among artists to ensure a tighter DIY music community willing to push for the recognition of the indie music scene as an integral part of the Philippine Music Industry. 

Mad Hatter Day. 70's Bistro. July 2015. 

BOOTHS AND FREEBIES!

As such, participating production groups, partner music websites, and upcoming local brands will be joining the cause with their own side activities and booths.

A JD Indie Rack Lane will be one of the go-to places in sourcing for your favorite bands’ merchandise and products, albums, shirts, ballers and more.

To make things more interesting, a JD Indie Hub will also stationed in the area to let you check out the Jack Daniel’s app and charge your mobile phones for an ample of time.

Festival goers who prefer the convenience of a smooth, safe ride can benefit from Uber’s promo just for all those on their way to the festival. The top transportation mobile app is giving away P150 discount for first time users by using the code: JDFLINDIEFEST.

Zalora, one of our event partners, is also offering P300 discount for every purchase worth P1,500, Plus!, festival goers can use their remaining tokens from the event and convert it into GC’s to purchase anything on the Zalora Website! http://www.zalora.com.ph/indiefest and use the code INDIEZAL 

Jensen and the Flips. Vinyl Day. April 2016.

Reese Lansangan. Vinyl Day. April 2016.

B.P. Valenzuela. Vinyl Day. April 2016.

The Jack Daniel’s Future Legends Indiefest is powered by JB Music Philippines, and would not be without the support and collaboration of its partner production groups Docdef Productions, OBF Productions, A Spur of the Moment Project, Cubism Family Productions, Flat Five Records, Yellow Room Productions, Revolver Productions, Locked Down Entertainment, and Red Ninja Productions.


Come over and get involved with this one of a kind music event that celebrates the diversity and potential of local independents. To find out how you can score an exclusive invite to the The Jack Daniel’s Future Legends Indie Fest, visit the official Jack Daniel’s Philippines Facebook Fan Page.

Celebrate indie music with Jack. Are you in? Play with heart. Drink with care.
For 18+ y.o. only.

Fresh Filter Vol.1 Vinyl Launch

Despite working odd hours (mostly the night shift), since both Paul and I work in the BPO industry. We still make the time to go out and support the local music scene. Paul came from working what would be considered a double shift while I still had work ahead but we stopped by the vinyl launch of Fresh Filter Vol. 1 at the Satchmi store in Megamall-because we wanted to be part of history of local music and we believe in it's cause and mission.

It's so Fresh-it's still breathing   

Unlike your usual radio shows which plays the contemporary chart topping songs (most of which are from foreign artists), Fresh Filter explores the rich yet undiscovered landscape of local indie music.
Helmed by DJ Russ Davis, the show features artists yet to be known and discovered and gives them a larger stage by playing them on the air. Listeners are then given the chance to vote for the songs that they would want to be included in the regular playlist of Jam 88.3. It's just unfortunate that Paul and I are not able to listen over to the show since we are mostly asleep when the show is on air (it plays in the afternoon during the weekdays and we're often asleep at this time due to our work schedules) but despite this set back we still follow the happenings in the show (thanks to Social Media).

Bundled OPM Freshness 

Fresh Filter Vol. 1 is a collective effort of Jam 88.3, Satchmi and so many awesome people to bring together a compilation of local music on vinyl. These indie artists cover a wide range of genres. The artists themselves belong to different generations and age groups and each of them have something fresh and new to bring to the table. The compilation is so diverse that you and your friends could party to some tracks on the record At Last (Tandems '91), Irish (Moonwlk), Accidents (Cheats), Pretty Car (B.P. Valenzuela) while your parents can enjoy some of the songs as well: A Quiet Walk Outside (Library Kids), I wouldn't Mind (Ourselves The Elves), Fools (The Ransom Collective). 

I'm a happy owner of the vinyl and it's great to hear your OPM favorites on vinyl it's a plus that you get to discover new acts as well :)

Launch and Bar Tour 

Last May 22, the vinyl had its launch at the Satchmi store at Megamall and despite the lack of sleep for Paul and an upcoming shift for me, we dropped by the launch to get a copy of the vinyl. Paul was so tired I literally had to point what he should take photos of, don't worry he had about 12 hours of sleep when he got home :P As Paul says - if there was a band called Ourselves The Elves on the vinyl, we would be "We The Sabaw" :P

Despite our usual predicament of being tired, sleepy and/or have work to go to, dropping by the launch and supporting this endeavor was so much worth it. It was a full house at Satchmi, there were so many people it was hard to move around and seeing that overwhelming support gives such a reassuring feeling that the future of OPM is still bright. I had to wait through an entire work shift before getting home, Saturday morning to play the vinyl on our Motorino and hearing the record for the first time made me even more determined to continue on our cause to support local music. I refuse to take in what my contemporaries lay before me as music. I would rather dig in the dirt longer and unearth rare gems that shine brighter and have more value, for they are ours, our own home grown talent just waiting to be heard and discovered.

Fresh Filter Vol. 1 will be sold exclusively in the coming bar tour. You can expect awesome performances from the artists on the record. :) Can't wait for Vol. 2! For more updates on awesome music and events make sure to like and follow Satchmi and Jam 88.3.

May 29 at Saguijo, Makati 

June 12 at A-Space, Makati 

June 26 at Cubao Expo, Quezon City

Music, Coffee, Beer and Feels @ Satchmi Valentines Event

Despite being in a scheduled team building in near by Linden Suites, Paul and I were able to sneak away to check out the #Feels @ Satchmi Valentines event and even if we just had about two hours of sleep there was an abundance of coffee and awesome local music to wake us up.

Can I just say that I love their Iced mocha :)

When we arrived at the cafe vinyl store Satchmi it was already jam packed with young music lovers spending hearts day enjoying live performances from up and coming local acts. The great thing about music is that even if it's Valentines Day it doesn't matter whether you come with a date, with friends or even by your lonesome self -you still get to enjoy!

There was definitely a lot of Feels going on in the Satchmi store amplified by the young talented musicians lined up to play that night. Since we came in late though we missed a lot of great acts :((

Hopefully we'll have a better schedule for the next Satchmi event- speaking of which make sure to mark your calendars for April 11 for Vinyl day - wait what Vinyl day?! 

The Sun Manager 

Yup you read that right folks Vinyl day is coming up and if the Feels event was any indication of how amazing and awesome the event is going to be well let's just say that I got a gut feeling it will be an event every music lover should not miss. 

Speaking of vinyls there were also some vinyls at P500 only! They were ingeniously arranged as blind dates since they were wrapped in gorgeous brown paper but had descriptions of the artist and genre as clues :P Unfortunately we weren't able to check out the vinyls since as I said the venue was jam-packed! It would be hard to get up to the blind date vinyl section without giving up our spot. 

Did I mention that there was free beer too? It just ran out by the time we got there :p 

Despite of missing on things there was a lot of amazing things that we did catch such as awesome performances from The Sun Manager, Fools and Foes of course Reese Lansangan (who has been on the blog a lot -> did an EP review on Reese and Vica's EP "Those Who Wander" here) I just have to say she is such a cute and amazing performer she literally shushed the crowd with her rendition of Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek with her harmonizer. Her original song Creeper has been recently uploaded on YouTube I had the privilege to hear the song live a couple of times already. Click here to hear her super cute stalker (not autobiographical) song.

Reese and Vica: Those Who Wander EP Review

Reese Lansangan has actually been in the blog a lot last 2014 - whether we were blogging or covering her art or her music; her colorful talents and personality has always been a presence in the blog. (Her hair isn't the only thing colorful about her). Well I think that I should start of 2015 with a new feature and write-up on one of Reese's creative outputs and this time it's 
Reese and Vica's "Those Who Wander" EP Review! 

We have the downloaded copy of their "Crossing Neverland" album thanks to Amplify.ph! But you what it's really different when you have the actual physical copy of the album or the EP (so -- does anyone know where I can get a physical copy of Crossing Neverland? Reese? Vica?) Also do you girls have a digital cover art for Those Who Wander? So I can update it on my iTunes - I'm kind of particular with the digital cover art :P 

Going back to the "Those Who Wander" EP if you enjoy any of their songs well then this EP is a welcome extension of their addictive harmonies, impressive guitar playing and superb song writing. 

Consisting of five songs, Those Who Wander is a great cd to pop in you player when you're looking for a way to relax, trust me their smooth vocals can remove the stress out of any bad day that you're having. 

Here are the five tracks in the EP: 

WARDROBES 

WITHCING 

WHAT'S WRONG WITH HOPING?

PORTUGUESE 

INTERLUDE 

Here are some of my thoughts on the songs in the EP: 

The first song that caught my attention (and I think is my favorite in the EP) is "Witching" which reminded me of Macbeth's Weird Sisters. 

Here is what the Weird Sisters said: 

"Double, Double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble-" 

While here is what Reese and Vica sing in Witching - my favorite part is the chorus and that pre-chorus is to die for

Eye of newt and blood of boar

Rabbit's paw fetch me some more

A lock of hair from virgin's head

A jar of thumbs underneath the bed

Wing of beetle head of snail

Light of firefly, rodent's tail

A box of frogs from the river's mouth

Crows caught flying towards the south

You really should listen to the song. It's creepy and beautiful at the same time. 

Definitely unlike any other song out there right now. If you haven't listened to any of this Indie-Pop duo's songs then you're missing half of your life! 

My second favorite song would be "What's Wrong With Hoping" and I think it's the ultimate friend-zoned song - just in time for Valentine's maybe? 

Here are some of the lyrics (in no particular order) and you can decide for yourself- 

Tell me where are we going

I'm waiting to see the world with you

Are we just friends who like to dream and travel far? 

Don't blame me for trying 

Are we just going to wait until it fades? 

Wow! Talk about some hugot lyrics! You might want to check out the song in it's entirety and I know that Reese and Vica will be performing in Satchmi's @Feels Valentines event on the 14th :p 

Autotelic Album Review

2014 was a good year for OPM, not yet the "boom" kind of good which I hope would come again one day, (think Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Parokya Ni Edgar) but good enough for there to be notable indie acts to break in the local music scene, release an album and gain a fan base and a following. 

Autotelic is one of those bands who with their distinct techno pop sound have catapulted in the local music scene. They have a unique sound that sets them apart from other bands. 

Fans and audiences can relate to their honest lyrics, mostly written in Tagalog. Only two songs from their 8 track album are written in English. 

I got their debut album for only P250.00 during Loop's Route 196 leg of their Manila tour, I've actually been meaning to get a copy of their album and/or catch them perform live in a gig but since our schedule has been a b*tch that has been hard to schedule or make possible. 

When I do album reviews, I also write about the physical casing that goes with the CD, I believe that this is also an important factor, especially since I've officially started collecting CDs :p (I would have preferred vinyls but it's just too expensive and si don't think that our local Indie acts would be releasing their albums in that format. Now does anyone know where I can have a CD player that's custom made to have a vintage look? Or maybe you guys would know where I can buy one - just let me know okay? ^_^)

In the case of Autotelic's album, the physical casing of the album is very well made, it even has the same quality as my The 1975 Deluxe Edition album and that's a very good thing. The album art was well thought off,as well as the art on the sleeves it has a contemporary theme and feel. The band also used their logo in a classy and subtle way. I was just a bit disappointed that there were no lyrics that accompanied the CD :( 

Autotelic's Pretty Lady Keytarist Kai Honasan 

It's a good thing that we were able to see Autotelic perform live since I believe that this too is an indication on the talent and musicality of a band and as I said in my blog post - these guys were a crowd favorite. The audience sang, danced and joked with the band throughout their set. 

The thing about Autotelic is that their sound is unique, it's light and easy to listen to, it's catchy enough for their songs to get stuck in your head (which is a good thing). Popping their CD in your car while on a drive, whether it is through the hellish traffic of the cities or long drives in the province is a good way to make your trips more enjoyable or bearable depending on where you are :p 

It's also a good chill out song, whether you are alone or with your friends. One thing I can say is that if you have your other friends listen to them - hindi ka mapapahiya (your taste in music will not be tainted in any way) as these guys bring a good name to OPM. 

Lead vocalist Josh's smooth vocals are perfect with the band's east going melodies coupled with cool guitar riffs and steady beats. Their music exudes positive vibes that just male you want to dance and it can brighten up any gloomy day. 

Looking forward to seeing more diversity and experiments from the band but in the mean time I know that they will continue in their streak through 2015. 

Catch you guys in a gig soon! I still lack 3 signatures on my CD! ^_^ 

LOOP in Manila!

We've actually been fans of Iligan-based band Loop even before their short (but definitely sweet) Manila tour. We discovered the band (and consider them our favorite band discovery of 2014) through Amplify.ph and Social Media and it has been love at first hear ever since. 

I started blogging and featuring Loop in blog posts and we were fortunate enough to have been sent a digital copy of their Flirting With The Universe album and we loved it! 

There are many things to love about this band and it seems that 2014 was a big year for them, from releasing a bad as* album, touring Manila and being part of I think every single Best OPM bands list of 2014. 

We actually just got to see them, after months of being friends on social media sites during their Route 196 show, we had work then so we were just planning to stop by to say "Hi" but then when does your favorite out-of-town band come for a visit right? 

So there we were (after being absent in local gigs for so long) enjoying a wonderful night of OPM. 

Brought to you by Green Apple Productions, this leg of Loop's Manila tour featured amazing local bands so this was how the night went. 

Tom's Story was up first, a 3 piece Math progressive rock band whose members look like they could be your younger and his friends, spending hours in the basement playing beautiful music. Paul likes these math rock, all instrumental bands (Pulso, TOE) I think he gets it from his Dad so I know he really enjoyed Tom's Story's set. Hoping to see more of this young band in gigs in 2015! 

Charisse Fanacier of Cebu based band Womb. 

Loop was not the only out-of-town band that night since Cebu's WOMB also serenaded the crowd. A 3 piece band using only guitars, synth and the hauntingly beautiful voice of their vocalist Charisse Fanacier. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a copy of their album Anethesiac, the last copy was literally snatched under my nose :( Hoping to get a copy so I can feature it in the blog. They do have a song on Jam 88.3's Fresh filter so you can check that out and vote for it too! ^_^ 

Next up was Cheats who I haven't had the honor of seeing live, as you've noticed we've been absent in gigs lately and well I can see what the fuss is about with this young and up and coming band who have sky rocketed in the local music scene. The young energy that they exude on stage is infectious and you will definitely be dancing and jumping to their songs. Too bad we weren't able to get a good photo since we lost our spot in front :( Hopefully next time ^_^ 

Paul and I are not normally techno-pop people but a change in the pace is always a good thing and Tandems 91 brought that and more with their set. When I saw the guys bring out their Mac books and synthesizers I immediately thought of the phrase: "Age Of The Sytnth" 

These guys know how to throw a party -if they are throwing one, you should definitely come on down because it's hell-a-fun! 

Autotelic

I've been wanting to see Autotelic perform live for a long time, especially since I've already downloaded their song "Dahilan" on Amplify.ph -and loved it by the way! I also love that these guys are active on their Twitter account and really reply to fans and I love that they set up so quick too! :p

Definitely a crowd favorite - they were singing along to the band's songs and dancing too along too! 

Another plus was that I was able to get a copy of their album (albeit lacking in two signatures) hoping to complete all 5 next time, album review up on the blog really soon (hopefully during this Christmas break) ^_^ Like Just like Loop and Womb, Autotelic has also been a part of OPM bands of 2014 lists. So I just know that there are bigger things for this band in 2015! 

Last band before Loop took the stage was "Three" (they're actually four :p) another impressive band who even bought along Christmas lights to hang around the mic stand, adding to that Christmas and soothing vibe and ambiance that made their performance really memorable ^_^ 

When Loop took the stage to perform I expected nothing but an amazing performance and that was exactly what we got. Kudos to bassist J.P. Portado who still played despite a broken arm- I kid you not his arm was in a freaking cast but he still played! Which explains why his dedication to me on their Flirting With The Universe album is literally just a scrawl but I still appreciate it!  A true professional indeed!

Taking a Walk with the Darlings of Technopop MOONWLK

LONG Overdue OPM Spotlight! 

I've always been a punk-rock kind of girl but ever since we've started on this journey of discovery and appreciation of local music I have come to love other genres as well. Case in point is the growing Technopop scene, which I got a good dose of when I saw Techyromantics perform live during Greenlight Music Fest. 

Since then I've been on the hunt for awesome Technopop acts and I'm more than glad to find that in the dynamic duo that is MOONWLK. I've been seeing Amplify.ph feature their songs and even some acoustic performances but unfortunately I haven't had the time to check them out but we were lucky enough to catch them perform live during the opening Reese Lansangan's The Gathering Season Solo Exhibit and what can I say I love what I heard and saw! 

Now I know that that was like weeks ago but Paul and I have been busy with other content on the blog (photography, movies) so much so that Paul has dubbed our Saturdays as "Shatter-days" hails from going straight to events right after Friday shift (which is Saturday morning, since we work the night shift). Even if we've been busy with other stuff and have significantly been absent in the local gig scene these past months that doesn't mean that we've stopped supporting local music, on the contrary this absence has me all geared up to continue with our local artist features- hence this post on MOONWLK! ^_^ 

Our first time to catch MOONWLK and we were impressed!

MOONWLK is an up and coming electro pop duo, comprising of Gabbi Buencamino (vocals) and Nicholas Lazaro (synth and vocals) I saw a lot of music from them from Amplify.ph but havent't been able to check them out then but when we attended Reese Lansangan's "The Gathering Season" solo exhibit we were fortunate enough to catch them perform live and this was the first time that we were going to listen to any of their songs and Paul and I were both very impressed! 

Our favorite song would be 20Twelve which you can download for FREE on Amplify.ph HERE! 

They really sounded great live - which is always a good indication of the talent of a musical group and MOONWLK definitely had that in the bag. Another thing that impressed me about them is that they actually have a couple of acoustic songs recorded with Amplify.ph and they were as beautiful as the original ones. Just goes to show that these guys aren't all synthesizers and effects, that they can strip down and sound as good with the basics as well. You can check out some acoustic covers HERE. 

Buencamino and Lazaro's interchanging vocals gives their songs a new depth and layers which coupled with their pleasant melodies and use of synthesizers makes their music multi-faceted, catchy and addicting. 

Just can't get over this duo- when I actuall heard "From The Night" by Stars on the radio I actually thought it was them - that's how good they are! They are in the same wavelength as foreign techno pop acts. I'm also loving that Jam 88.3 is playing some of their songs! I can only predict bigger and better things for this two! Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of an album or an EP. ^_^ 

The Yellow Room Battle Of the Bands

This is actually late news already but good news is always worth sharing no mater how late it is. 

It seems only yesterday when Mayonnaise won the Red Horse Muziklaban in 2004 (it's actually been 10 years!) I was in a College back then and never would I have imagined that Paul and I would be covering events and blogging for The Yellow Room Philippines- helmed by Mayonnaise front man Monty Macalinao, which is a talent management and recording studio for up and coming independent bands in the Philippines.

The Yellow Room Philippines is paying it forward and giving other talented independent bands out there a shot through THE YELLOW ROOM BATTLE OF THE BANDS. 

Through a rigorous elimination process, band hopefuls sent videos of their performances in the hopes of being included in the coveted list that would ultimately fight it out Rock Of Ages style in a good old Battle Of The Bands.

Paying it Forward: They too were Battle Of The Bands winners, which helped Mayonnaise sky rocket into the local music scene and now Monty Macalinao is paying it forward by giving that same chance to a new generation of musicians.
Taken during The Yellow Room Music Battle of the Bands
(c) Roi Francisco Photography 

Held last August 22 ab B-side, we were actually invited to cover the event but unfortunately we weren't able to because of work but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be writing about it (albeit late) I believe and admire the efforts that The Yellow Room Philippines is doing in order to showcase up and coming talent and as if that wasn't good enough, winners were not simply going to get a Certificate or a Trophy, prizes included free recording packages and even a contract for the winner!

These prizes would surely help these budding artists get their music across, it wasn't just exposure for one night, the Battle Of The Bands served as an opportunity for the bands, it was a door that opened for them, even if they didn't win- they could count that to experience and as for the winners -

Congratulations and I'm definitely looking forward to the new material that you guys will be coming out with!

Kudos to The Yellow Room Music Philippines! You guys rock! 

MABUHAY ANG OPM! 

You can check out the winners list below and their amazing prizes! 

First Runner Up - False Apart

OPM Spotlight: Getting To Know LOOP

I would consider it very lucky indeed that we got to discover the wonderful Iligan based band that is Loop, despite the distance-thanks to technology, social media and Amplify.ph we get to listen and enjoy their beautiful songs - and when I say beautiful, I mean beautiful, check out my review on their Flirting With The Universe album here!

As your friendly neighborhood music blogger (I don't think there is a lot of us out there) I am taking OPM Spotlight to a new level by featuring interviews from your favorite local bands- just to get to know them a little better :) 

I sent some questions over to LOOP and during a band meeting, the guys sat down to answer them so read on to find out how the band describes their relationship, their song writing process, how is it being an up and coming band in Iligan and what Manila based bands would they love to collaborate with. 

Why the name LOOP?

the name wasn't really planned. It was just blurted out by one of us (cant remember who) but it was probably because of a loop pedal.  

What's your origin story?

fresh from months of OJT in davao, Kim was thinking of forming a band so once she got home, she contacted us (JC and JP) both former bandmates from diffrerent bands and Micmic who hasn't really decided yet because of other commitments. We played one show which made us realize that the sound was somewhat incomplete and something was missing. Before the next gig, Micmic commited to the group and the rest is history.

Musical Influences?

we're listening to a handful of bands and artists from different genres from pop to metal. Recently, we're listening to a lot of A Great Big Pile of Leaves, This Wild life, And So I Watch You From Afar, and others. Just check out our individual Spotify profiles. 

Can you tell us about your song writing process? Who writes the lyrics? Who comes up with the melodies? Which comes first? Is there a specific sequence or process that you follow when you write and record songs?

The past two albums, the process was somewhat similar. Kim has acoustic drafts, she shares it with us, I come up with some arrangement and JC, and JP adds up their own stuff to it. Melodies are often made by Kim initially and then we as a group shape it up until we're somewhat happy with the outcome. Sometimes there are changes in the way some of our vocals are executed which often happens in the recording process. We're not really strict when it comes to the songwriting process in terms of how we do it. We just do it naturally. But we're serious when it's time to work on our songs.

Any Band practice rituals? Do you guys eat first? Do you eat after? Is there a particular food you guys like eating together?

we eat when we have money hahahaha. After practice i guess. We love hanging out at Micmic's house at night; drinking coffee.  Food? hmm. Probably, Pater and burger. 

Describe your band relationship. Dysfunctional family? Squabbling siblings? Barkada?

Youngest sister and 3 bully brothers type of relationship. hahahaha

Are the boys protective of Kim?

we're the ones who need protection.. from Kim... just kidding. Of course we are. :)

Ultimate Goal? World Domination?

well, like any other band; we love the idea of making music and earning from it in the future. 

Describe the OPM scene in Iligan?

we have good bands here but no venues. bars here house party bands and djs. we dont hate them for that, that's business. but that's how it is down here. we, the bands, have to spend a lot of money, ask for money, to organize gigs. 

You guys always declare that you're from Iligan. Is there a certain pressure that you feel? Like you are carrying the pride and weight of your hometown on your shoulders?

naaaahh. it's just that we're often ask where we're from. not sure about the carrying the pride and weight thingy. maybe. hahaha. 

OPM Spotlight: Reese and Vica

Reese Lansangan. 1/2 of Reese and Vica during Greenlight Music Fest.
Photo by: Pcheng Photography

I think I'm going to formally start a new segment in the blog which I shall call OPM Spotlight. It could be a Recommended Track to listen to or it could also be a Band Feature or Artist Feature or an Album/EP Review. I know I already have a bunch of earlier posts which would be considered under this category, so I guess I just want to make it official.

I know we blog about a whole lot of other things but I want to make sure that music, especially OPM has a loud voice in our blog posts and photos. This is our way of supporting OPM no matter how small it is. 

So without further adieu, let's get on with this OPM Spotlight with Reese and Vica! 

We haven't had the opportunity to see the duo in a gig or show- looking forward to catching them both live- soon I hope <3 but we've had the honor of catching Resse perform in her other band Dressed Up Days and as a solo artist during Greenlight Music Festival and ever since Paul and I have been fans. We've contended ourselves with downloading YouTube videos of the duo's songs but thanks to Amplify.ph we got to download their album Crossing Neverland and by downloading through Ampliphy.ph we also get to support Reese and Vica through their music - so everybody happy right? :) 

You can check out their songs -which you can download for FREE! Just click on the links!

ALBUM: Crossing Neverland 

Alice

Copycats

Magic

Mama

Open Your Eyes 

Peter Pan 

Silip

Walls

Mischief & Bandit