VIBE PH Showcases OPM Artists, 70's-80's Music on LIVE Performances

Spent the afternoon and evening over at VIBE and watched their weekend show at the Meralco Theater. The lineup was just something I couldn't pass on because they promised a couple artists to be there. Particularly OPM Icons Top Suzara of popular band FREESTYLE, alternative pop rock bands SHAMROCK and NEXXUS. There's also the young, good looking and talented lad Kenaniah, promising OPM act Hezekiah, 25 year old Yael Yuzon and his band Spongecola, plus the very lovely Gigi de Lana (who's doing a number on the same stage!). 

They call this the OG Night which is done live on TV5 Saturdays at 6:15 PM. It's unbelievable to see the work they put out from this place because it took a whole town to set it up. Hosts we saw (or rather called Vibe Jocks) include Ana Ramsey, Dylan Menor, Ryle Santiago, Paulo Angeles (who was also nursing an injured foot), Kych Minemoto, Queenay Mercado and a few more millennial jocks later on in the evening. They came out guns blazing singing OPM numbers from late 70's to early 80's. It was absolutely fun!

 

We got to talk to them behind the scenes, after their photoshoot, they got me hooked up to talk to the artist before they went on stage. Let me tell you about Kenaniah. 

 

 

The boy called KENANIAH

Been following Kenaniah for a while now. I've seen him do shows left and right, create his own music and sing them with so much gusto, and definitely see how passionate he is with his craft. It's no surprise to see him on the Vibe PH stage as he gets on the 9th spot of the Main Vibe Leaderboard. The lyrics embody a guy who doesn't see the value of his efforts and end up questioning if it is enough. It is pretty sad, but he made the misery music quite catchy. The man is a genius, and I can't wait to see him be in bigger stages soon. Check out how he did it on the Vibe stage:

 

 

After doing it LIVE, I got a hint that he's a bit sick (it was the reason why he wasn't able to perform the previous week. He's got new music and plans for more gigs soon, follow him on socials @imkenaniah on IG since he updates regularly there. Thank you Kenaniah for ALWAYS being so nice! 

 

 

Also got to talk to 25 year old Yael Yuzon, Spongecola and the very beautiful Gigi de Lana. The VIBE stage is the actual second time they are performing their new song "NAGHIHILOM". Yael describes it as heavy, as it is about healing. They were very nervous about it, but knows people will LOVE this song. Gigi described it as a difficult process, even told the audience that healing is never easy process. All I can say is, I hope this isn't the last time they'd make songs. It's amazing!

SHAMROCK has got a new vocalist named Bradley Holmes (of The Voice fame), and he's being loved the same. With the plethora of songs they've got being immortalized on GMA dramas, the audience got to sing along with it when they performed on the Vibe stage. They've got a new single called PASAKIT, and it's a bit different from their previous songs because it's a bit catchy, pop rock ish, something you'd play on a drive and jam with. Here's a short chat we had with them:

 

 

If you have time, there's a couple more videos I uploaded on my YouTube channel (YouTube.com/kumagcow) These are just some of the things that you can expect with Vibe. Make sure you watch their prime time show on TV5 or their social channels because they also post performances there. I enjoyed my time covering the show and I can't wait to see more Filipino artists on the Vibe stage. They're now LIVE on Saturdays at 6:15 PM so don't miss it!

Karylle holds DATE NIGHT Concert at Manila House

Karylle holds Date Night at Manila House

Had the chance to interview the gorgoeus Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon earlier at a restaurant earlier in Quezon City. She was blooming, you can see it in her eyes and she was so excited about what’s about to happen in Manila House, the exclusive members only club in BGC. They’re allowing people in for this valentine’s day concert that they’ve entitled DATE NIGHT and this very intimate place would be a nice place to start your evening.

Karylle says “Everyone has a perfect date and this is mine, the most beautiful place in Manila, lots of art, and every corner is instagrammable. For those finding something the perfect place to hang out and chill, this is it. I invited my band the Passport Holders, gifted singer Charles Kevin Tan, my good friend Kris Lawrence, and special cocktails overlooking BGC. It’s in front of the old fort, at the Net Park building. It’s a secret place with exclusive membership but they’re opening it for the public on Valentines day. It’s a very light gig, like a cafe. I would like to also invite you to the Ishin-Denshin International Music Festival concert for Marawi, I’ll be with international artists, local stars to help rebuild the city. We always do concerts during these months but it’s going to be more intimate. I like to setup little parties, this will be new for them and I want to leave a lasting impression to everyone who’s gonna watch and I’d like to do that.”

She adds “I would like to do a song from the musical Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko so expect me to actually have something from that show. I cannot say no to musicals so if someone wants to produce it just please let me know. There are years that I do big shows but I’d like to sing for couples, I find when I sing close to someone very nice, I’m super old school. Ed Sheeran is my romantic muse when we got married, Yael always watches shows and live music gets me into the mood. It feels good to be alive if you’re in that groove. We did a concert in Shangri-la last Christmas, we are recording right now and sometimes I let Yael listen to it before I do it, even my Mom. Date Night for me is a Sunday, like a lazy afternoon, I look at my Booky App and we go to more than one restaurant and a lot of walking outdoors. Some of my favorite spots are Poblacion, the Fort, in art installations, it would be nice to take strolls.”

She was also asked about the status of Vice Ganda’s health and she mentions “Vice reminds me to always think about my health seriously, he works hard and I always have a good idea of her schedule and I hope she gets to also rest.”

About the concert, Karylle adds “You’ll hear standards, romantic songs, and I hope they like it. Froilan is such an amazing singer, one that you should listen much too. I’ll be also working with other international artists, ones that I have already worked with before and you’ll see that soon.”

Although they won’t be celebrating Valentines day together as both Karylle and Yael will be at work on these dates, she shares “Yael is super romantic, he sings for me to entertain me. He inspires me to write, and that is a good thing.Yael and I will probably spend holy week somewhere in the US or Korea, we’ll flip a coin. That’s where we usually do big vacations to meet friends and family.”

DATE NIGHT again will happen at Manila House, at the Net Park Building in BGC. The entrance is right in front of KPUB Barbecue and beside Green Pastures. You’ll see the park benches in front of it at 4th Avenue. This is produced by ALV Events International in cooperation with Manila House. For tickets, you may call ALV at 6377016 or Manila House via 09178163685. It’s inclusive of dinner and cocktails, so enjoy the night if you’re there!

I might see you.

KUMAGCOW

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Yael Yuzon for Pioneer and FILSCAP's Campus Caravan Music WritingWorkshop

I could feel Yael Yuzon was a little nervous when he went up the elevator and even said it was like his first day of school when we did Pioneer and FILSCAP's Campus Caravan and Music Writing Workshop today at University of Santo Tomas. They just did the one in University of the Philippines with Rico Blanco and this time, Thomasians are up for a great afternoon of learning (the writing part) and of course playing music.

Some Tigers went out and played a couple songs before the workshop proper started, which was quite amusing because it looked like they already have music learned to begin with. 

Rico Blanco was there too to explain what FILSCAP was doing and their thrust is to try and go all over the country and teach or inspire soon to be writers. He also introduced Yael Yuzon for this leg's speaker. 

Yael had a knack of rambling so he tried to put up some bullet points to talk about while he was doing the workshop. He also told the story of how he wrote some of his hits like "Makapiling Ka" which stemmed from longing for his Mom who was a Flight Attendant and had to work and not come back for several days. He also connects music appreciation to comparing songs like Gangnam Style and Hotel California, to relationships and how to take care of it, then goes on and proves his point about production of easy songs with just a few chords, break them into different ways to do it so it won't be branded as the same as an existing one. He says it's not a problem because you can do it in a million different tempos and it would already different. He encourages to read books, watch films, in different languages, watch plays, as what you see would only be the thing that you could give back to the art. He adds "The power resides where the people believe. There's no bad idea if you do things with your process. There are a lot of variables when you are making a song."

"Songs don't actually have to be finished at all, because that's an opportunity to team up with another artist. If you can't finish it, set it aside and work on new ones. Either that or just finish it even when it's ugly. It's important to have closure, in any craft or skill it's hard on the first try and move on. Don't be so pressured because the good news is you can make a new one. Not all songwriters make good songs. It should be real and natural, like if you see it too polished people in Youtube would find it not good. But you can write a lot of songs, that's the good news. Orignality touches on the survival of mankind, we learn that by experiencing it. We understand, we share the information and communicate it. A lot of people are doing it but you can do it your way with your own songs, we are all unique. What will be original is the perspective. Filipino music can be anything. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Just challenge yourself and maintain your excitement because you were knowing the relationship of it, you go from guitar to piano even if you don't know it, just play and pick up stuff from other people." Rico Blanco adds.

It'a nice to see students were REALLY enthusiastic about this whole thing. If you see how their faces would light up after getting their questions answered by these artists, you'll get a sense that the future is bright for the Philippine music industry. I'm a songwriter too, it kinda made sense on some instances for me even if I'm not a music major, and for these guys who are into it, I think they just need more inspiration because there are no rules in music, measurements perhaps but it won't have to be something that would be forced on your throat . I'm sure they've given enough mojo to these students and might give them more reasons to join the songwriting competition at www.moveonlang.ph (visit the website to know the fine print). You too can do that. You can win as much as Php 100,000 in cash for the grand prize. 

KUMAGCOW

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