*for those reading from Facebook, please click on 'View Original Post' below.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
MuSic + Alex Uypuanco + Short 56
This month's MuSic + is 'Short 56' for Mint and independent playwright and stage actor Alex Uypuanco. We will set the mood this Wednesday as he introduces his passion and his way of telling a story. This is exciting.
*for those reading from Facebook, please click on 'View Original Post' below.
*for those reading from Facebook, please click on 'View Original Post' below.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Kismet Singles
It's not everyday that musician/artists get the chance to share ideas with visionaries like Ysai Perez (executive producer), and Cattski Espina (22 Tango Records label manager/proprietor). The experience of collaborating with these creative people felt more like a privilege.
I am also grateful and proud to have worked with people that helped this project move. Thanks to my bandmates - Jay Young and Marc Nadela, the ballad mates Jude Gitamondoc (the piano man), Miches Bianan, Junel Codilla, and last but not the least Cattski's musicians - Cedric Fernandez and Eimer Tabasa.
Of course I also am thankful for the very important back end people starting with Lucille Umali for the fantastic fuschia pink-ish album cover art; Paul, Mic-mic, and Jad for the great mix downs and masters; and The Outpost people for their patience during the ambush rehearsals having played Kismet over and over and over again (hope it didn't get any of those ears bleed).
I had the most fun with The Kismet Singles this year. This is an album with wonderful and priceless memories. From the time I wrote the lyrics (more than 2 years ago), to its early high pitched chord caught in video, to blogs and reposts and tweets and retweets, the brainstorm sessions, and now with the merch (shirt and journal)... it's amazing to finally see where it's going and how things could work perfectly...
...kismetically.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
About culture building
Just when everybody starts believing that things don't work, there will always be a few who would dare to take the plunge and think the other way.
These few usually stand out. These few usually become the champions of a cause (not to be confused with ego here). These few, with enough endurance, determination, and the right healthy and positive attitude - not the kind that restricts people, usually win.
One of the major challenges in achieving success is when the goal involves changing a culture or lifestyle. Normally when a person is told what to do, resistance is usually the first response - but only when he or she doesn't see the value of it.
An idea, like music is only good when a large lump of people can benefit from it. That's when a culture starts building itself. But of course believing in it is important and must not be taken for granted.
Persistence is usually the right path to take. As to knowing when the results come may be a mystery, it is the waiting and the challenge that makes it exciting.
These few usually stand out. These few usually become the champions of a cause (not to be confused with ego here). These few, with enough endurance, determination, and the right healthy and positive attitude - not the kind that restricts people, usually win.
One of the major challenges in achieving success is when the goal involves changing a culture or lifestyle. Normally when a person is told what to do, resistance is usually the first response - but only when he or she doesn't see the value of it.
An idea, like music is only good when a large lump of people can benefit from it. That's when a culture starts building itself. But of course believing in it is important and must not be taken for granted.
Persistence is usually the right path to take. As to knowing when the results come may be a mystery, it is the waiting and the challenge that makes it exciting.
Friday, April 10, 2009
A good song is a good design
When the brain starts thinking about resolutions and solutions, a great deal of it is spent on research and other geeky past times (most of it are intangible by the way).
The mind sort of brainstorms with itself.
Writing a good song is like reinventing and redesigning a widely accepted theory.
A good song is a good design when it's simple, timeless, thought provoking, may lead to problem solving, suggestive, and has a sense of symmetry. And funny as it may sound but a good song is one that seems to sound as if it's easy to write.
A good song exhibits a stamp of the present culture, community, language or slang, and breathes its own personality.
A good song is successful when people can relate to it... and this is not supposed to be confused with the term "masa".
A good song creates, strengthens, and recreates a culture cycle.
A good song inspires and moves people to do whatever they do best even better.
A good song is a design that is "tasteful".
The mind sort of brainstorms with itself.
Writing a good song is like reinventing and redesigning a widely accepted theory.
A good song is a good design when it's simple, timeless, thought provoking, may lead to problem solving, suggestive, and has a sense of symmetry. And funny as it may sound but a good song is one that seems to sound as if it's easy to write.
A good song exhibits a stamp of the present culture, community, language or slang, and breathes its own personality.
A good song is successful when people can relate to it... and this is not supposed to be confused with the term "masa".
A good song creates, strengthens, and recreates a culture cycle.
A good song inspires and moves people to do whatever they do best even better.
A good song is a design that is "tasteful".
Sunday, April 5, 2009
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...
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...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Song Blogging
One of life's interesting past time would be new ideas made available to explore or ignore.
Fellow songwriter and good friend Jude Gitamondoc came up with this Valentine innovation he calls song blogging. The only way to see if it works is if you try it.
Enjoy.
Fellow songwriter and good friend Jude Gitamondoc came up with this Valentine innovation he calls song blogging. The only way to see if it works is if you try it.
Enjoy.
Monday, January 26, 2009
45 Days
"45 days to go" says Meg in my mobile phone inbox. Don't worry Meg, things will fall in place. You'll see.
Music Is Hope
Some time ago, I wrote an entry professing that man is not poor when money is scarce... he is poor when ideas run dry. And ideas come to materialize in countless forms.
Movies, books, newpapers, food... you name it. In fact money was invented from the very question that there must be another way to trade goods without having to sacrifice a valuable asset. And from this point, understanding how important ideas are is a good start.
One of the reasons why I am so passionately enticed in the art of songwriting is because it is a translation of ideas derived from the soul's banquet of thoughts. For example, a song doesn't teach us how to love or how it works, it simply give us the idea of how it feels like from our personal experience.
Music impacts people - in all levels, simply because it motivates us to move and take action.
Music inspires us.
Music makes us see things beyond the physical. It breathes through us. It speaks the truth without hurting us too much. It is one of the languages of our soul.
Music is hope. The song is its deliverance.
Movies, books, newpapers, food... you name it. In fact money was invented from the very question that there must be another way to trade goods without having to sacrifice a valuable asset. And from this point, understanding how important ideas are is a good start.
One of the reasons why I am so passionately enticed in the art of songwriting is because it is a translation of ideas derived from the soul's banquet of thoughts. For example, a song doesn't teach us how to love or how it works, it simply give us the idea of how it feels like from our personal experience.
Music impacts people - in all levels, simply because it motivates us to move and take action.
Music inspires us.
Music makes us see things beyond the physical. It breathes through us. It speaks the truth without hurting us too much. It is one of the languages of our soul.
Music is hope. The song is its deliverance.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Right Mindset
Steve Jobs sees The Beatles as his business model. In some ways, I find this surprisingly appropriate and true.
Running a business is like leading a rock band. You may have every reason to get ticked off by the personalities of each individual you work with.
But the overall sum is mostly coming from focusing on the good of every individual and its valuable contribution to a goal - in my case is songwriting.
I found this video that briefly describes that and thought of sharing it here.
Running a business is like leading a rock band. You may have every reason to get ticked off by the personalities of each individual you work with.
But the overall sum is mostly coming from focusing on the good of every individual and its valuable contribution to a goal - in my case is songwriting.
I found this video that briefly describes that and thought of sharing it here.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
I.P. Talk With Meg Eteve
I.P. stands for intellectual property. Meg Eteve is the Executive Director for Creative Cebu's pilot project Tubod Fest slated in March 2009. It was a Bathalad evening at Turtle's Nest last night and I was there to finalize the arrangement for Midweek Sessions' Stripped this Feb. 4 with the local poets.What transpired in the first hour was an interesting talk with Meg on I.P. - about what Cebu's artists need, already have, and should improve or aim for. In synopsis, below is the outline:
What Cebu has:
1. Artists/Musicians
2. Songwriters
3. Event Producers
What we don’t have:
1. Music publishers
2. Performance Royalty Organizations (FILSCAP)
3. Regular airplay
4. Media venues
5. Record companies
6. Entertainment lawyers
7. Documentation
Of course the conversation didn't exactly go this way... duh
I hope artists/musicians/songwriters would take some time to consider joining Creative Cebu. I for one am strongly for it as I see this as a really good opportunity to "repackage" our perspective. Do drop by the music sector forum and tell us what you have in mind.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Spinto Band
With the many bands in the internet. With the endless and countless options to decide from... I discovered The Spinto Band.
My personal favorites are:
1) Vivian Don't
2) Summer Grof
3) They All Laughed
Wait.
No... actually I love all the tracks in their Imeem webpage. I'm not sure what label they're signed in with (I hope they're independent but it doesn't really matter).
Enjoy.
My personal favorites are:
1) Vivian Don't
2) Summer Grof
3) They All Laughed
Wait.
No... actually I love all the tracks in their Imeem webpage. I'm not sure what label they're signed in with (I hope they're independent but it doesn't really matter).
Enjoy.
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Current Setting (2007)
Originally published on Oct. 29, 2007 at 4:32 AM in Midweek Sessions
I'd like to start off by saying that there are so many great individual talents and good bands out there. Some of the bands that I want to note here are The Line Divides, Missing Filemon, Aggressive Audio to name a few. But I know there are still some that are just lurking beneath the surface. There's no doubt about that. To discover them is another story.
For example, one of our systems administrator in the office plays really good guitar. The only sad note is that he refuses to play on stage. I tried encouraging him but in the end, I get the same response. He defends by saying that it's for his own consumption - whatever that means.
I respect his preference but I really think talent should be exposed. At least, that's what I hope to believe. I mean, why would you bother yourself with baffling tablatures if you don’t want to bring yourself to the open? But then one can only flaunt it if the talented allows himself to.
In another occasion, a friend approached me and asked what I’ve been busy about lately. I knew he was referring to my current musical pursuits. There’s nothing to tell except for my corporate deliverables and I wasn’t sure if he’d be interested in that.
The conversation has lead to his ranting of what he observed about the music scene today. He said that he can’t find bands that really stand out nowadays. “Ambot. Ambot lang. Murag wala gyuy banda nga makaingon ka nga kuyaw gyud,” he said. To some, extent maybe he is telling the truth.
My observation is that not many bands, especially in our local community have that level of confidence that could bring them up to a certain degree of challenge. Many bands see things the way media presented it to them. And media made it look so easy.
In as much as I want to help in any way I can, I can only do so much. There will always be pros and cons. There will always be hitches. But the goal should stay the same. What we should look more are the benefits of every good music we write.
I love bands and I love music very much. Now I see that there is a need and chance to act as one of the vehicles to get some musical engines running (again). I hope to get my music engine running as well. I hope to inspire bands again. But I cannot do this alone. So please help me discover them.
I'd like to start off by saying that there are so many great individual talents and good bands out there. Some of the bands that I want to note here are The Line Divides, Missing Filemon, Aggressive Audio to name a few. But I know there are still some that are just lurking beneath the surface. There's no doubt about that. To discover them is another story.
For example, one of our systems administrator in the office plays really good guitar. The only sad note is that he refuses to play on stage. I tried encouraging him but in the end, I get the same response. He defends by saying that it's for his own consumption - whatever that means.
I respect his preference but I really think talent should be exposed. At least, that's what I hope to believe. I mean, why would you bother yourself with baffling tablatures if you don’t want to bring yourself to the open? But then one can only flaunt it if the talented allows himself to.
In another occasion, a friend approached me and asked what I’ve been busy about lately. I knew he was referring to my current musical pursuits. There’s nothing to tell except for my corporate deliverables and I wasn’t sure if he’d be interested in that.
The conversation has lead to his ranting of what he observed about the music scene today. He said that he can’t find bands that really stand out nowadays. “Ambot. Ambot lang. Murag wala gyuy banda nga makaingon ka nga kuyaw gyud,” he said. To some, extent maybe he is telling the truth.
My observation is that not many bands, especially in our local community have that level of confidence that could bring them up to a certain degree of challenge. Many bands see things the way media presented it to them. And media made it look so easy.
In as much as I want to help in any way I can, I can only do so much. There will always be pros and cons. There will always be hitches. But the goal should stay the same. What we should look more are the benefits of every good music we write.
I love bands and I love music very much. Now I see that there is a need and chance to act as one of the vehicles to get some musical engines running (again). I hope to get my music engine running as well. I hope to inspire bands again. But I cannot do this alone. So please help me discover them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
