A rare pollenated weekend

Anything that is rare must be special.

Sheila and the Insects regrouped early last year under a condition that our commitment must give more priority to family, dayjob, and other businesses that help pay the bills.  We still wanted to write and play music.  But we are also grounded by reality.

And so Sheila and the Insects rarely do gigs these days.  But when we do, we aim to make it special.

Last Saturday in Saguijo was one of those.  It turned out to be a splendid pollinating moment for us and I hope it felt the same for the fans.

Photo by Laurice Alaan

Special thanks to Hillary Isaac and JAM 88.3 for the perky morning talk, Philippine Daily Inquirer for the huge print feature (we didn't expect this and strangely made us worked harder for the show), to Marty Floro for posting her video footage of 'Maude' and 'Quick To Panic'.


Video by Marty Floro

Thanks to Paranoid City - great electronic-rock stuff you got mga bai.  Thanks to the wonderful and warm people of Lilystars Records - Denise, Val, and of course Tonet, especially to The Camerawalls.  Thanks bai Clem for the time and commitment.  Of course, BIG BIG BIG BIG thanks to Ms. Kate Torralba for making our visit in Manila fun-filled.  Never had a dull moment when she's around.

To those who went there, I hope you enjoyed the pollination as much as we did.  Thank you very much for staying with us.

Video by Marty Floro

A Camerawall (again) at Baybeats 2010

There's a big event happening on Aug 21, 2010 in Singapore and I happen to be part of it.  No it's not an Insect gig.  At Baybeats, I'll be a certified Camerawall.

It's the 2nd time I'll be playing with the band and just like how it was in May, I'm sure you and I will enjoy every bit of it.  Only this time it's gonna be a lot better.

Oh and just to give a bit of info on what's going on behind the walls, Clem and I are taking steps on possible collaborations.  How to go about it is still in the works but it's something I'm personally excited about.  Something to look forward to.  I'll try not to disappoint TCW fans if this pushes through.  That's a promise.
 

Meantime let's wait... and while waiting, I hope to see you in Singapore.

How to be a Camerawall

I don't know really.  Though I did become a Camerawall for day on May 15, 2010.


Spent hours cramming on TCW songs in the middle of a very hectic week including 'I Love You, Natalie' (not in video).  Thanks to Lilystars Records especially to Val and Tonet for the markings of these beautiful vids.


Here it is at the CICC (Cebu International Convention Center).  Rehearsal free.

Launching 'Matahum Nga Cebu'

It's the first time this song will ever be played live.  I hope this won't be the last so I'm writing the chords down just in case.

Intro: G/B - C - D - Em (3x)

G - D/F# - Bm - Em

       G/B     C      D - Em

Langit akong namat-an

          G/B     C        D - Em

Dinhi sa yutang natawhan ko

       G/B       C   D     Em

Pagkaanindot sa pinalangga ko

       G/B - C - D - Em

nga Cebu

       G/B       C    D - Em

Pagkatahum sa hulagway

         G/B         C    D - Em

Sa gipangandoy ko'ng kalipay

       G/B     C

Sa tanang panahon

      D    Em      Esus      E7

Bisan asa karon, ipasigarbo ko...

Chorus:

    A                 E

Matahum nga Cebu, mauswagong Cebu

  Bm            D

Tubod ning mga damgo ko

      A               E

Mabaghoong Cebu, mamugnaong Cebu

  Bm           D

Ikaw da ang kalipay ko

F#m             E/G#

Imong kaanyag, awiton ko

Bm            B/D#          E

Adlaw, gabii, Cebu isinggit ko

CM7    FM7    BbM7   E7

Cebu...      Cebu...

   Am                F

Miabot na gayud ang imong panahon

   Dm          G   E

Karon ang higayon...

(Chorus chord pattern)

Panggaon ta, awiton ta...

Matahum nga Cebu, mauswagong Cebu

Mabaghoong Cebu, mamugnaong Cebu

Matahum nga Cebu, mauswagong Cebu

Tubod ning mga damgo ko

Mabaghoong Cebu, mamugnaong Cebu

Ikaw da ang paglaum ko

'Kismet My Version' is a videoke contest

I want to look back to wonderful memories such as this and say ."I've done something outrageous."  And 22 Tango Records thought of this.  Well it's Cattski's... her mind at work.  She seems to never run out of things to think about.  I think this videoke event is a really good idea


Have fun making your own videos.


Here's the mechanics (drafted by Cattski and reposted from Squidoo):

1) If you're...

A girl...


A boy...


If you're both (uhm that didn't sound right...hahaha!) or if you want to sing with a partner, sing the duet version.


2) Use your web cam, phone cam or any type of video device and FILM YOURSELF (or ask someone to do it for you) while you sing Kismet with the VIDEOKE/MINUS ONE YouTube vids below. Make sure you have a working pair of computer speakers so the accompaniment will be picked up by your PC's microphone! (This has been done before by a lot of people, I'm sure you can figure this out). Be creative. Come up with your own style, apply gimmicks etc, you're free to do whatever you want, but please we beg you, don't go naked!

3) Upload your own Kismet video on YouTube, Facebook and send a link or PM Cattski on Facebook via www.facebook.com/cattski.espina, www.facebook.com/CATTSKI, or you can email the YouTube link to cattskiespina@yahoo.com. You may also tweet her.

4) Deadline of submission is December 11. The winner gets an entire Kismet Merchandise (CD, shirt and journal) and will sing his, her or their version of Kismet together with the band (Zafra or Cattski) on December 12 for the KISMET MY VERSION LIVE at the Outpost.

Cheers!

We love surprises don't we?

I didn't expect this to happen.  Great crowd.  Cattski knows.  One good fateful evening.  Thanks Goth.

Live bleeds and video drama tricks

For those not familiar with studio recording jargon, the word "bleed" means another musical instrument has been recorded in another musical instrument's pick up microphone.  Get it? No? Never mind.  Of course you can't hear the bleeds because Paul Canada did a splendid job on the mix down.

And I must tell you, no love relationships were caught in this music video (wink wink).  But if you insist, blame it on Kaloy Uypuanco for doing a really good job (on the video okay?).  But mind you we were all just characters acting like recording artists...errr... yeah we were all just acting.  The rest are all  video tweaks and tricks.

Enjoy!

Lyrics to KISMET

The record will be out soon. Thank you for the inspiration.

KISMET words and music by C.D. Zafra

Spending that time again

With the memories from June to September

Downtime, your heart is breaking

Like glass it shattered

Then one day he came along

He started painting colors

But he doesn't know that you cared

There you are staring at the stars

You're falling in love again

You don't care if it's so much to bear

'Coz you're falling in love

Falling in love again

He thinks of you tonight

You said you don't feel the same

But somehow he's getting in

Your heart is but denying

There's so many possibilities

You got cynical

But deep inside you knew

There you are staring at the stars

You're falling in love again

You don't care if it's so much to bear

'Coz you're falling in love

Falling in love again

And then you look back now

The pain is lost again

Your hopes are shining like the sun

And the memories changed

It's now but rearranged

'Cause something good is happening

And you don't wanna let it go

There you are staring at the stars

You don't care if it's so much to bear

'Coz you're falling in love, falling in love again

There you are staring at the stars

You're falling in love again

You don't care if it's so much to bear

'Coz you're falling in love, falling in love again

Falling in love again

Falling in love again

Falling in love again

Falling in love again

ZAFRA version recorded and mixed at Backyard Project Studio by Kerryl Gonzaga Demeterio

CATTSKI version recorded and mixed at 1032 Recording Studio by Jan-Daryl Bantug

Produced by Ian Zafra

Exec. Producer Ysai Perez

(c) 2009 by ICO Music

(p) 2009 by ICO Music Publishing Inc.

The story of Jude, Insoy & Me (part 2)

After countless and never-boring studio sessions, Jude, Insoy, and myself finally decided last Sunday to release the track we've worked on months back. For the record, Jude published the song on June 1, 2009 with its final title 'Matahum Nga Cebu' in his song blog site.

The tambourine sounds happier

I would carry with me a lengthwise Beatles notepad in case an idea hits me I'd scribble down the lines and images on the sheets.

Since Midweek Sessions' comeback in Feb 2007, reinventing the logo had become a persistent need. And for a long time the right inspiration just don't happen. Sketches, sketches, and more sketches.

Then I saw a sketch of a kick drum looking like a tambourine.

Bingo!

After that I talked to Lucille Umali a.k.a. Palot. She's one of those graphic artists I know who's got sharp ears for creative collaborations... perhaps even with the vague ones.

So I brought my notepad, talked, presented my sketch samples to her, and asked if she would be interested to translate the tambourine idea into a logo.

We came up with this.

The Story of Jude, Insoy & Me (Part 1)

Jan. 28, Figaro IT Park 9-ish PM - we had to meet; Jude Gitamondoc, Insoy Ninal, and me.

Feb. 02, The Outpost 9-ish PM - our very first jam. Was it I who proposed a few chord progressions? Jude played the electric piano. Insoy pretended to participate in the vocal exercise but was also busying himself with the Tanduay shots while keeping it out of the roving guard's sight (good work bai).

Feb. 03, Gmail 3:21 PM - Jude recorded the melody via his mac and sent it for... uh... posterity?

Mar. 01, Gmail 1:38 AM - Jude emailed the 16 bit mix sample, the credit for the musical arrangement goes to Jad Bantug.

Mar 01, Gmail 6:20 AM - Got a follow up email from Jude with subject heading 'PROPOSED LYRIC for Malamboong Cebu, Mauswagong Cebu (with rough demo)'. The chorus line goes...

Malamboong Cebu, mauswagong Cebu
Tubod ning mga damgo ko
Mabaghoong Cebu, mamugnaong Cebu
Ikaw da ang paglaum ko
Ugmaron ta ang atong kaugmaon
Maghugpong ta ug manlimbasog
Alang sa Cebu

Apr 03, Gmail 2:19 PM - Malamboong Cebu, Mauswagong Cebu sem.mp3 semifinal mix was sent.

Stay tuned...

For What It's Worth

You have no idea how excited I am to see you... no matter what may unfold after that. I LOVE YOU >:D< :-* :x and I have waited for this day to come... I am dying to see you again. I really am. No matter what happens after that...

Darn It! I Couldn't Hit The High Notes...

For some strange reasons, Thursday usually becomes my favorite day of the week. That evening last week turned out to be a rad one indeed - the first studio rehearsal with Marc Nadela and Jay Young.

Yep. For the first time in a long time.

Anyhow, last year Jay and I recorded 5 cuts for a supposed demo of original songs I wrote (the vocals and guitar tracks were laid in his cozy bedroom - hmmm... somehow that didn't sound right, did it?).

One of those cuts was a song called "Kismet" and we thought of trying it out that night just for kicks.




The chorus line goes...

There you are staring at the stars / you're falling in love again / You don't care if there's so much to bear 'cause you're falling in love... falling in love again.

Sheila And The Insects Is Probably Meant For A Good Cause

Okay... I must admit we probably sucked. I slipped my fingers through the strings more often than I should. Boobop played another chord and I couldn't play the right progression either (at least that's how I remembered after a dose of seemingly countless beers).

Bisoy was doing okay... no wait. He was fantastic.

But generally we all sucked... we didn't see this coming - so unprepared, rusty, and a little less confident. Nobody warned us anything about this. But the crowd made it a really good set.

Jai was it you who started giving the push on stage? But I couldn't blame you... there was rock 'n' roll running in our bloodstream that night.

Ok I said enough... and oh did I say we sucked?

So what?

Hell, it was probably one of the best Sheila and the Insects gigs ever...

Thank you very much for all those who believed in the band's music. I am so happy to know that SATI have inspired a lot of bands in this generation and may we inspire many many more bands for years to come.

Cheers!