Pulse.ph : MUSIC + CULTURE
July 31st, 2007
July 31st, 2007
SHE CONQUERED THE LOCAL ROCK SCENE FOUR YEARS AGO WITH HER DEBUT SOLO ALBUM. NOW, KITCHIE NADAL IS WORKING ON EVEN MORE AMBITIOUS THINGS.
July 20th, 2007
THREE’S COMPANY: SAY HI TO THE NEW MTV VJs
Admit it: these music video channel VJs, you’ve see them smile and joke and clown around on TV, you’ve watched them interview rock stars and introduce videos, and you’ve thought to yourself, in between mouthfuls of potato chips: I can do that. Well, the good news is: You’re wrong. Oh sorry, did I say “good news”? I meant “sad truth.” The fact is, being a VJ requires more than the ability to grin from ear to ear and look good (though of course it helps if you aren’t so hideous that the sight of your bare face makes infants burst into uncontrollable crying). It requires one to be comfortable in front of a camera or a live audience, the ability to think and improvise on the fly, to connect with an interviewee and get interesting info from him or her in an insanely short amount of time, and of course, to know a great deal about music, past and present. Needless to say, not everyone meets all these requirements. Literally thousands of people from all over the Philippines mustered up sufficient amounts of self-delusion, however, to apply for this year’s MTV VJ Hunt. Held only once every two years, previous winners include such famous faces as KC Montero, Belinda Panelo, Derek Ramsey, Anna Shier, Patty Laurel and Colby Miller. The initial screening narrowed the teeming masses down to twelve finalists: six guys and six girls. These finalists went through a series of challenges—broadcast on MTV Philippines, of course—over a span of some weeks, building up to the MTV Finals Night, held at the SM Mall of Asia last June 22. This was the big one: a live event, hosted by MTV VJ extraordinaire Sarah Meier, that tested the twelve in front of a real audience. They had to introduce each other, introduce random music videos, interview an array of celebrities, and get interviewed in turn by surprise guest Tado. They had to show off their musical knowledge, their improv skills, and, at one point, even their dance moves. The last trial was called Make Your Mark, where the finalists, whittled down to six by this point, had to present themselves in a maximum of 30 seconds: this is me, in a nutshell, and this is why I should be the new MTV VJ. When the smoke cleared, MTV had chosen—not two, as expected—but three new MTV VJs. Sweet, fresh-faced Andi Manzano, a student and DJ; smart and sexy host/model Kat Alano; and rock band frontman and host Sib Sibulo, We talked to the winners, and here’s what they had to say: What was the first coherent thought that went through your head when you realized you had won? SIB: I’m not quite sure anymore but it was probably something like “F*ck yeah! Party na ‘to!” ANDI: "Really? Me? Andi?" It was a very big surprise for me, since I was the first one called. At that time I was in awe and I couldn’t believe it. It was the best 5 minutes of my life! KAT: Well, after all the spiels and thinking were over I didn’t really have any coherent thoughts in my head! My brain kind of turned into mush, but I just remember being really surprised when Sarah hugged me and just saying "Oh my God thank you so much" and the rest was a bit of a blur! During the MTV VJ Hunt, as far as you knew, they were only going to choose one guy and one girl. Which of your co-finalists did you feel was the biggest ‘threat’ to your winning, so to speak? KAT: I didn’t really feel any ‘threat’ so to speak but I did feel that there were a few people who had a good chance of winning, because like I have said before, everyone brought their A-Game. I guess I would have to say that I thought either Sheena or Andi might have bagged it. SIB: I always had a feeling that Eri and Brent would make it to the finals. Eri because he’s a seasoned host since he’s been working as a tadjock for quite some time, and he really is one of the better talkers in the bunch. And Brent just because he’s so damn good-looking and was an ‘it’ boy about two years back. ANDI: Definitely Kat Alano. I love you Kat! She’s been doing this for years. She’s a natural, and hey, I love her accent. [smiles] How did you come up with your Make Your Mark presentation? Why did you choose to present yourself that way? KAT: I just wanted to be myself really, I wanted to host and do my best to be entertaining. The Black Eyed Peas part of my spiel kind of came over me in a wave the night before, I had been wanting a way to get the Pinoy side of me out and that was what popped into my head. As for the being lifted in by the Solid Gold dancers a la superhero style, I wanted to show that I have a wackier side and I used to do that kind of stuff in dances before. I just wanted to show that I’m a bit more than all talk. [smiles] ANDI: I chose to keep it plain and simple and pour my heart out on stage. Nothing special. More than talent… I wanted MTV to see who I was: Andi. Just a simple girl with big dreams. SIB: Congressman Vic-vic Sibulo, a fictional character I made up, is actually a tweaked impression I do of my lolo on my mother’s side. My grandfather on my father’s side was mayor of Naga City back then, and so was his brother, the real “Vic-vic Sibulo”, Vicente Sibulo. The Congressman Vic-vic Sibulo I made up is a combination of all of these elements. I had to think of something that was completely out of the box, something no one would expect at all, as I figured everyone else was probably going to give half-assed presentations. I felt that it really had to be something high-impact as this would leave a lasting and convincing impression on the judges, and would also majorly demoralize the competition. I really went all out on this one, practicing and editing my speech, picking out a cheap D.O.M.-looking barong in the mall, and hiring bouncers I’ve met in gigs I’ve hosted in the past. It was a complete show and made good TV I would think. What was the toughest part of the whole MTV VJ Hunt for you? KAT: The waiting!! It was just agonizing, because the hunt was stretched out over a long period of time, I’m not complaining though. [smiles] ANDI: Making friends and being with them for months and knowing that you guys might have to go your own ways after. SIB: The toughest part—well, aside from the grueling shooting sched we had during the first couple of weeks—would have to be Finals Night itself. The preparation, the pressure, THE DANCE NUMBER, the whole shebang was just uber stressful. But from the night itself it would have to be the VJ-ing task. 10 seconds was just not enough to come up with something brilliant and completely coherent and though I may have probably started strong with my spiel, it didn’t quite end it as well as I wanted it to. If I had 30 seconds I would’ve killed it. And the funnest part? (Aside from winning.) SIB: Well, as corny as it sounds—and I’ve always thought it was bull whenever I hear it said—the most fun part was meeting the other finalists and getting to hang out whenever there were lulls at shoots. We were always dicking around, making fun of Eri. We’d even hang out after shoots for a night cap or two, or seven. The Antipolo shoot was mad fun! KAT: I think it would have to be just spending time with the rest of the contestants, we really made for a fun group, everything that we went through brought us a bit closer and we were so comfortable with each other, we were making inside jokes and cracks all the time and we’re all kind of goofy. I’ve really developed a soft spot for them. Yes, it may sound like a beauty queen answer but it’s true, I swear! ANDI: A lot! Every challenge or meeting had its own story. Name 1-3 music videos you really, really love (and why, if possible). KAT: Oh my gosh… how hard is it to narrow down… hmmm. Rihanna’s "Umbrella" Video is great, I love the way that they did it and for some reason that song is just addictive… and almost every video Missy Elliot does is crazy, she always has the most awesome dancers and kooky ideas and who doesn’t love Missy Elliot’s music? SIB: I’ve seen too many music videos that picking out 1-3 favorites would just be impossible. Off the top of my head though I’m really liking that new Timbaland (feat. The Hives) video, “Throw It On Me”. I really like the song and the video is kinda stylized to look Sin City-ish; it’s got that comic book-film noir look. And I love The Hives! What aspect of being an MTV VJ are you most looking forward to? ANDI: Working with the best people in the world. Attending free concerts and events, ha ha! Meeting foreign artists—JT, please? Freebies of course. Traveling and a lot more. And the stories I am going to tell all out of experience. KAT: I’ve been hosting for a while now but being an MTV VJ is just such a big stepping stone in my hosting career—I’m looking forward to EVERYTHING, the hosting, VJ-ing, the events, the parties, the people, the work, just about everything. SIB: I’ve always loved doing events. I’m such a party boy. I love the perks of the job, like all-access passes at event and concerts, and freebies and all (I’m cheap and very easy to please!) Ooh! And the traveling too if there is going to be any, I barely did that in the old show! Then there’s the celebrity status. Yes, it’s all going to my head. Bwahahaha! On the flip side, what aspect of being a VJ, if any, are you dreading? SIB: I dread… DANCE NUMBERS. No more dance numbers please. How does being an MTV VJ fit into your plans for the future? KAT: This IS what I want my future to be! I have wanted an opportunity like this for a while now and I am going to count my blessings, work my hardest and have a blast doing it too! SIB: Hopefully being an MTV VJ further cements my place in Philippine cable television history—up there with Jojo A., Tado, Sam Oh, and newfound hosting sensation, Ramon Bautista! Hahahaha! Heck, it might even open doors to mainstream—free—television for me. Then I’d get to do more dance numbers on noontime shows. Then I’ll get a love team, and then get myself into a horrible sex scandal. OH NOOOOOOOO! ANDI: This job is the best job in the world. Everyone dreams of becoming an MTV VJ so how can it not fit the plans of our future? We make way for it. [smiles] Photos from the MTV Philippines site. Read more about the MTV VJ Hunt here. The MTV VJ Hunt Finals Night airs on MTV Philippines (Channel 57 for Sky Cable subscribers) on July 18 at 9 p.m., with replays on July 20 at 3 p.m., July 22 at 8 p.m., July 26 at 6 p.m., and July 28 at 5 p.m.
July 18th, 2007
Don’t forget — the MTV VJ Hunt 2007 Finals are airing tonight, July 18, on MTV Philippines (duh) at 9 PM. (Channel 57 for Sky Cable subscribers, yo.) I was there on the night itself — backstage, actually, just generally making a nuisance of myself with the production crew and my all-time favorite VJ, Sarah Meier, who was the main host of the evening — and I can tell you, it was a fun show, with the VJ wannabes rising to the occasion, not to mention the impressive performances, especially by the AllStars and Sino Sikat. Here’s a quote from one of the judges that night, local hip-hop living legend Francis Magalona: “It’s NOT about ‘you-speaka-da-english well,’ it’s NOT about being handsome or beautiful. It’s NOT about fashion, and it’s DEFINITELY NOT about SHOWBIZ or being an “artista” (I cringe at the term because back in my dad and mom’s time an artista was someone who could do it all, act, dance — like the cha-cha, the mambo, tap dance, do the boogie — sing, host, project well, and had to be TALENTED). MTV VJing (or VJing in particular) is about being extemporaneous, being a good LISTENER, being well read, knowing something about music, being a quick thinker, and had to hold his/her own when interviewing FAMOUS PEOPLE.†Right on. Check out his Multiply blog for more. And drop by the MTV site for more VJ Hunt stuff!
July 17th, 2007
I imagine Swedish chanteuse Pernilla Andersson wakes up every morning on the right side of the bed. I also imagine she has blue birds braiding her golden hair every day. She might also have mice that make her gowns for special occasions. I imagine this because Andersson has the kind of voice that is so pure and sweet that little farm animals have no choice but to do her bidding. Even bigger animals, like humans, are defenseless against her charms. Andersson has been compared to Norah Jones and the comparisons are rather justified. Aside from being a pianist, Andersson has Jones’ mellow and laidback style of singing, particularly on songs like “Here Goes My Heart.” Their paths diverge however, when it comes to mood. Cradlehouse is decidedly lighter and more playful than any of Jones’ work that there’s a danger of developing diabetes when listening to Andersson. The songs are often stripped down to simple piano and drums, which really brings out her clear voice. “To Make You Feel My Love” and “Some Other Time” are instantly likeable. “Scarlet Woman” is reminiscent of Peggy Lee’s “Fever”, only with a little more Swedish. Standouts include “Lovesong”, a slightly alt-country song that would fit into any top 40 radio station playlist and “Hit & Run” where she applies her own brand of funk. Andersson has an enviable talent for gliding between lilting love songs and jazzy melodies. Even though Cradlehouse was released in 2004, the songs stand up well. Ten, even twenty years from now, Cradlehouse will still be worth a listen. The album could’ve been made in the 70’s, it could’ve been made two years from now — either way, the songs have such a timeless quality that the year of manufacture is irrelevant. The songs can sometimes be so mellow that there’s a danger they could fade into the background. Then again there’s nothing wrong with background music. But it would be a shame if people didn’t take a closer listen to this Swedish singer. Andersson’s music is perfect for slowing down, lying back and letting little cartoon mice do your bidding.
July 13th, 2007
FATAL POSPOROS’ TOP 10+ FEMALE INFLUENCES
For the first time in my career as a music journalist (or any kind of journalist for that matter), I finished off an entire tape—as in both sides A and B—on just one interview: with all-girl rock group the Fatal Posporos. Granted that there were people who interrupted our interview for various reasons (like the waiter asked Aia if she had been sitting at a particular corner table while the Fatal Posporos were playing, and duh…), it was still longer than your average interview because you had Kris Gorra, Donna Macalinao Diez, Annette Ortiz and Aia de Leon finishing each other’s sentences, adding details the others may have forgotten, teasing each other in mid-thought, lapsing into chikahan, so giddy were they at their ultra fun reunion gigs. Read more…
July 13th, 2007
Holy crap, it’s DJ Rap! And she’s coming here! Man, I used to own a copy of Learning Curve, back in the late 90s when we all wanted to be DJs and we thought that electronic music would save us all. Maybe I’ll drop by. Hell, Warehouse 135 is walking distance from my office. Wiki wiki: “Charissa Saverio (also known as DJ Rap, born 1969) is a British drum and bass disc jockey. While the majority of her work is in the jungle style, her more popular work is in traditional electronic music. Her most well-known CD, Learning Curve, was released in 1999 to critical acclaim and resulted in several highly stylized music videos, including 2 versions of “Good To Be Alive” (one for the CD version and another for the rarer radio remix) and “Bad Girl,” a song about having to be a strong woman to survive in today’s world (which puts her previous occupation as a topless dancer in sharp relief).” And looky looky: she’s in this video for BT’s “Never Gonna Come Back Down.” “Right on to the lady with the beer over there in the pink skirt, right on to all them mmmmmm English girls named Charisse… Fucking blonde English girls with ghetto names, you know what I’m saying? I love that shit.” — M. Doughty, providing vocals, free-association and DJ Rap mash-note sentiments for BT’s “Never Gonna Come Back Down”
July 11th, 2007
You can get Dog Problems, the second album by The Format, for free! (Yeah, so what? you might say. I can get all sorts of albums for free through the internets. The difference is, this particular download is officially sanctioned and will not send you to jail or hell.) That’s right: just go here and one of the best albums of last year will be yours. I love these songs, particularly “She Doesn’t Get It,” “Dead End” and of course “Dog Problems.” Offer only lasts ’til JULY 16. Here’s an excerpt from the PopMatters review: “Horns abound, sugary Beatlesesque harmonies lace the songs, swelling strings kick in. In other words, it sounds like Disney on crack, and what’s really surprising is that it doesn’t crumble under all that feel-good weight. Ironically, it all sounds radio-ready in the most creative way imaginable.” Go go get it!
July 11th, 2007
So for the past few mornings, to get me up and about, I’ve been listening to the excellent, extensive reworking of The Zutons’ “Valerie” by London-based DJ/producer Mark Ronson, featuring Amy Winehouse. With its frisky beat, sassy horn section, gender twisting and Winehouse goodness, it is just tons o’ fun. It looks like one of my favorite songs from 2006 is going to be one of my favorite songs from 2007 as well. I only hope they release Version here.
July 10th, 2007
NIMBUS NINE: WHATEVER THE WORLD BRINGS
It’s a hot Friday night in Makati. A short-lived fall of rain has made the air heavy, and inside SaGuijo Café and Bar, the temperature has risen even further, due to a camera crew that has set up an array of bright, heat-generating lights. It’s the second leg of BURN magazine’s bar tour: an impressive array of performers is on the bill, and the event is being filmed. A lean young man in a loose T-shirt takes the stage, accompanied by his band and a DJ. They’re still waiting for one of the band members, but they start up a groove that makes the heads in SaGuijo start to bob, and the man on the mic starts to spit rhymes. He glances around the place, and starts rapping about himself, his crew, about the guy sipping beer at the bar, about the event, about anything, really—and the flow is fresh and the lines amusing and the audience gets into it. The young man’s name is Nimbus Nine, and if you’re any sort of hip-hop fan at all and you haven’t heard about him ‘til now, it’s way past time you did. The missing band member arrives, and Nimbus Nine and company launch into “Manila Boys”—a totally infectious number off his first album, Philippine Phenom. It’s party-ready without being stupid, and full of clever lines, vivid scenarios and Pinoy pride. It’s also far from his only good song, as anyone who’s listened to his CD or watched one of his shows can testify: there’s the laid-back “Island Lovin’,” the colorful and near-hypnotic “Jeep,” “Semento at Buhangin,” “Tell Me Why,” and on and on. Nimbus Nine’s music is immediately appealing without being too lowest common denominator, and his rhymes and sounds evoke beachscapes and city streets, and meld strong Pinoy and Stateside influences. Barely out of his twenties, Nimbus Nine, a.k.a. Gino Feraren, has racked up some notable credits in his career so far. According to urbanappeal.net, he was named Open Mic New Artist of the Year by RX 93.1’s 93 Flava in 2004, and in 2005, he had the honor of opening for Ja Rule’s show at the Araneta Coliseum, alongside established artists like 7 Shots. He’s also a member of the eclectic hip hop collective Turbulence Productions. PULSE.PH had a bunch of questions for the young hip-hop star on the rise. How did you first get into hip-hop, as a listener and fan? Back in my early adolescent years, around 12 or 13, I was already pretty much into poetry and was introduced to hip-hop music by my cousin from the States. I later fell in love with the music and lyrics of the artists I was listening to at the time—mostly East Coast-based rappers—and got hooked ever since. When and how did you decide to get into hip-hop as a performer? What first made you think that this is what you want to pursue? This phase in my life I remember vividly…The dream to seriously become a hip-hop artist was ignited around 1999. I was an incoming high school freshman at that time. Rapping was merely just a hobby for me, but it was something I loved. From then on, I knew I wanted to be involved in the music scene. What encouraged—or discouraged—you? Aside from the support of my family and friends, what personally encouraged me to pursue it was my passion for the music and culture. Among all the dreams that screamed in my head, hip-hop was the loudest. "What for is a person’s life if he/she doesn’t live it in pursuit of a dream…" How do you come up with subject matter for your songs? Do you make a special effort to emphasize Filipino terms and imagery, such as in "Jeep" and "Manila Boys," and if so, what’s behind that? Well, for me, song topics and concepts just pop out of sheer inspiration. It could be a word that has multiple meanings, or a personal experience I’d like to convey in the form of another story—part fact, part fiction. A joke, a quote, a person… Whatever the world brings. I’m sure you know how that goes, bro. He he. With regards to my songs that depict Filipino terms and imagery I do make a special effort in emphasizing them… the reason behind that is simple: I wanted to contribute in defining a style that was local and distinct. Just like if you were to hear, let’s say Jay-Z or Snoop, respectively… you’d know which one was from the East and which one was from the West just from their slang alone. So, in the same context, my aim for composing some of my songs a certain way was really just to give the world a glimpse of a Filipino style of hip-hop. You rap in both English and Filipino. Is one easier than the other for you? Is the writing process different? How do you choose which language to use for a particular song? To be honest, I’m more comfortable writing and rapping in English and am still in the process of developing my writing and rapping in Tagalog. In choosing which language to use, I guess I just go for what feels right. Describe further how you come up with your songs—the music and samples, collaborations, the production aspect. In the production aspect, I have various styles in approaching it. Most of my beats are done by the producer and I just end up with it fully made… then we just alter it during recording sessions. Some beats though, I have in my head… and I’m blessed to be surrounded by great artists all the time that I’m privileged enough to gather the ones I feel would best extract that sound I had in my brain and manifest it into actual music. What did it feel like being in your first freestyle battle? Are you more comfortable doing battle rhymes now? How do you prepare for that? Being in my first freestyle battle was an awesome experience! It’s definitely more of a mix of adrenaline and wit. And just like any battle, preparing for an MC battle comes with a lot of practice. I guess the best way to practice for it is to have a training regimen: read, freestyle and think up of witty punch lines… I have to admit though, I’m not in best shape for battling nowadays… but it’s always a good [lyrical] exercise. I finally saw you perform live—you had a full band, and the sound was great. What made you decide to switch to having a full band, and is this how all your performances will be from now on? Who is in your band and what are their roles? Thanks bro! I’m glad you enjoyed! Band members: Carlo Bernardino on Bass, Ipe Flores—who was part of the now defunct band Pinoy Stories—on guitars, and Chano Redil, also of Sinag, on drums. Having a full band set-up just feels so much better for live gigs since the energy draws the audience more into the performance. I still will be performing with just a CD or DJ though for some gigs. Depending on the situation I guess… You also had a female singer join you on some of the songs. Who is she, how and why did she come to join you guys, and is she also a regular part of your shows now? She’s Abby Asistio… a young, budding and rising talent from the R&B world. We met during The Community series of events last summer and decided to collaborate for our live set during our recent gigs. What are the advantages and troubles that go with being an independent hip-hop artist? Is signing up with a major label in your plans for the future? The advantage of it all is total creative control… from music, to cover design to collaborations to marketing, et cetera. On the flipside, the disadvantages are lack of funding, distribution and manpower to fully maximize on a certain project. Signing up with a major label is definitely part of our future plans. How would you describe the local hip-hop scene? The local hip-hop scene is gaining a lot of strength these days. There’s definitely more hip-hop heads popping out now than ever before. So hopefully it keeps getting bigger and better in the near future. What is Turbulence Productions? How do you feel about other hip-hop oriented groups, like Steak or AMPON or Dongalo or the others? Turbulence Productions is an independent hip-hop label that mainly deals with music, video and events productions to help uplift hip-hop culture in the Philippines. With regards to other camps and crews, my views are simple: the more the merrier. We all help each other out anyway… from supporting each other’s gigs to collaborating on different projects. It’s a beautiful thing. Which rappers and DJs—particularly local ones—do you admire? What music have you been listening to lately? The local rap scene is filled with a lot of talented rappers and DJ’s but right now, my current favorites are [MC’s/rappers] God’s Will, Jonan Aguilar and Marquiss and DJ’s Bliss, Jena, Xcalibur and Arbie1. Currently, I’ve been listening to a lot of local talent; Turbulence Production artists [PhD, Urban Outlawz, Sinag/God's Will, Marquiss], Mike Swift, PKSO, Los Indios Bravos, Nyko Maca, Kjwan, Julianne, SinoSiKat… As well as sounds from John Legend, Lloyd Banks, Rhianna and a whole lot more… The latest articles that I can find on your career are dated mid-2006. What have you been up to since then? Basically just been gigging here and there… Working with different artists and on various up and coming projects—W.O.W, GK, Pinoys Finest, Camino Rondalla to name a few. Just been keeping myself busy with the music, he he. Where can people buy your album/s, or watch you perform? People can get our albums and mixtapes either at Our Father’s Coffee (OFC) Taft, OFC Robinsons Galleria, by order via webpage [www.turbulenceproductions.net] or through hand to hand selling… Gig scheds are usually by invite so we just post up bulletins online or text folks to come and watch. What achievements as Nimbus Nine are you proudest of, so far? So far, one of my greatest achievements is being able to perform in Taiwan with the likes of international stars like Loon and Jin. And of course having people from various parts of the globe bump my music… That’s a major accomplishment for me already. What are your plans for the future? My plans for the future, hmm…well, I just wanna see me and my peoples successful in our fields of expertise. So I plan to keep staying busy and on the grind, he he. Nimbus Nine says: “Watch out for the HipHop AKO campaign, Three Kings Mixtape, Illustrado LP, Marquiss Album [G.R.A.E.], and W.O.W [Writings On The Wall] events.” Visit NimbusNine’s MySpace, drop by Turbulence Productions, and read more at Urban Appeal.
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