Darren Espanto and Jayda Avanzado drop surprise collab single ‘Sana Tayo’

 

Young singers Darren Espanto and Jayda have partnered for the first time for the warm and rosy love song “Sana Tayo Na” produced under Star Music. 

‘An evening with Pilita’ at The Theatre at Solaire

Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Song, icon and legend of the Philippine entertainment industry for the past 6 decades, goes on stage at 8 p.m. on November 17, 2017 at The Theatre at Solaire for “An Evening with Pilita”.  

Pinoy boy band JBK impresses ‘X Factor UK’ judges

Another set of Filipino acts is aiming to replicate the success of the girl group 4th Impact who made it to the top 5 in the hit reality show The X Factor UK Season 12.

Since the premiere telecast of its 14th Season on Sept. 2, three Filipino acts have already advanced to the next round of competition.

Revisiting BoybandPH

Exactly a year ago, Pinoy Boy Band Superstar premiered on ABS-CBN. The 28-espisode reality singing competition had one goal – to find the members of the boy band that the network wanted to groom.

Trending Pinoy covers of ‘Versace on the Floor’

Halle Berry shared a clip showing her glamorous feature as she strips of her Versace gown and jumping into a pool. Take note, the post-Oscars video is in slow motion and Bruno Mars’s hit “Versace on the Floor” is playing in the background.

Cyrus Villanueva feels at home in Manila

You followed Cyrus Villanueva’s journey in X Factor Australia where he made it through to the Grand Finale and eventually won the talent competition. Now, the Filipino Australian singer is living his dream as a recording artist writing and performing songs across the Land Down Under.

Kim Chiu’s Mr. Right

Hasn’t Kim Chiu found the love of her life? The perfect guy who she can call the icing on her cupcake?

Well, Kim’s love life may have been a hot topic but this question is not going down as another juicy detail of her romantic escapade. It’s just part of the song called “Mr. Right,” a single from her sophomore album that also features an updated version of “Crazy Love,” the single released eight years ago.

Abra’s musical influence is not rap

Young rapper Abra is an established hip hop act but before he was able to introduce his own brand of music to his fans, he himself was also a fanatic of a particular genre. Interestingly, it’s not rap or hiphop.

                                                Abra traces his roots not to rap but to rock

Twenty-four-year-old Raymond Abracasa, better known as Abra, got his start in the music business as a heavyweight in the rap battling (fliptop) arena and as a member of Pinoy hip hop group, Lyrically Deranged Poets (LDP). Apart from the numerous accolades he has received since his debut as a solo artist in 2012, Abra is also famous for his compelling lyrical style coupled with witty antics.

But where did he get that style and what influenced him to tackle socially relevant issues in his music?

“I was a rock fan growing up,” the rapper told The Standard, ”Before Eminem and Kendrick Lamar came into picture, I was listening to Parokya Ni Edgar and Eraserheads. And there’s this particular song from Parokya that inspired me to rap.”

Abra was referring to the 2005 rock novelty “Bagsakan” culled from the band’s Halina sa Parokya album. He credits the late Francis M and Gloc-9, who lent their talent in the song as featured artists, for inspiring him to follow in their footsteps.

“When I heard the song, I told myself, ‘Uy iba ‘to,’ and from then on I started liking the genre,” he revealed.

The young rap artist feels blessed that he’s in total control in terms of writing and creating his own music. It made him stay true to his advocacy of discussing political and social pains.

                                            VJ Yassi Pressman, Paras Sharma, Abra, Domingo Ramon C.
Enerio III, Mark Whitehead, VJ Alan Wong

“I don’t compromise my music. I am so blessed that I can freely express myself and nobody tells me what not to say or what not to wear,” the rapper explained.

And his ingenuity as an artist has a favorable outcome, it obviously bears fruits, some are already ripe for his picking. For instance, the music video for his song “Gayuma” (Love Potion) has already reached more than 32 million views on YouTube, the highest number generated by any local artist to date.

His impressive achievement, being a relatively new player in the music business, is a solid statement that Abra is one of the driving forces that keep local music afloat. It is enough for him to receive numerous awards and for him to earn the respect of his colleagues in the business.

Abra will be one of the highlights of MTV Music Evolution music concert in May 17. Handpicked by MTV, alongside Gloc-9, to represent Philippine hip hop in the grand event, Abra feels surreal as he will be sharing the staged with the most revered names in the world of hip hop.

Philippines on the international music map

There’s an outdoor musical happening in May that will put the Philippines on the international music map. It will also solidify the country’s position as one of the top entertainment destinations in the region.

                                         VJ Yassi Pressman, Abra, VJ Alan Wong

In a media launch last week, Mark Whitehead, executive vice president and managing director, Viacom International Media Networks Asia, officially announced that the country is hosting MTV Music Evolution. It is the grand gathering of hip hop artists and aficionados across the globe. Its first edition will be held on May 17 at the historic Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park in Manila.

Grammy Award-winning hip hop act, Naughty by Nature, the Philippines’ most celebrated rapper, Gloc-9, and Philippines’ hottest hip hop act, Abra  are going to be part of the first wave of artists to grace the MTV stage.

The official from MTV Asia elaborated that MTV Music Evolution “is a live music concert that brings to life the evolution of a music genre and enables young people to experience and discover how music styles and sounds have evolved over the years. It will showcase iconic and contemporary hip hop acts from both international and local music scenes on a single stage, while featuring the best of Philippine music and culture to international youth audiences. “

The grand event is expected to reach an international audience of more than three-quarters of a billion households in over 160 countries as the show will be recorded live for global telecast under the MTV World Stage global series.

“The Philippines has such a strong music influence and has become a popular entertainment destination. With a successful history of partnership with Tourism Boards around the world, we are naturally thrilled to be collaborating with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippine to bring MTV Music Evolution to our fans in the Philippines and around Asia,” said Whitehead.

R&B royalties, anyone?

We first heard of Kris Lawrence being called “prince of local R&B” last month when he performed at the Manila wedding reception of Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista. And that left some scribes asking what happened to JayR who used to have that moniker.

Why Jason Dy deserves to win ‘The Voice Philippines’?

In a televised grand finale last Sunday, young singer Jason Dy of Team Sarah won the second season of The Voice of the Philippines.

Introducing Brad Go’s ‘Hush Project’

ON A street in Midtown Manhattan, while walking home from work late one night in September 2012, the then 25-year-old Brad Go met a beautiful girl. It was raining and she didn’t have an umbrella.

Like in any romantic movie we know, in a moment like this, the guy would approach the girl and ask her to share his umbrella. Then he would walk her home. The meeting wouldn’t lead to a kiss just yet but they would exchange numbers and agree to see one day, probably to see a movie or just have dinner perhaps. Then the rest, as they say, is going to be a happy ending.

What makes OPM tick

ORIGINAL Pinoy Music is alive and kicking, at least for thousands of people who flocked to the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds last Friday for the Fusion Concert Tour that featured some of the biggest names on local music scene.

Foreign acts dominate Manila concert circuit

ALTHOUGH Chris Brown was a no show at the Philippine Arena New Year countdown event, concert aficionados will have a long list of options as international music stars are set to dominate the local concert scene in the first quarter of the year.

After the award-winning breakthrough British band, Bastille, rocked Manila on Jan. 5, another rock band will perform at the Mall of Asia Arena on Jan. 24. Called The 1975, this English indie rock band based in Manchester with a predominantly teenage fans.

The rise of terrible singers

SHE has already made millions as a celebrity endorser and television star and for starring in a string of box office movies, but Anne Curtis was not satisfied yet, she’s also conquered the music business—sort of.

In September 2011, the then 26-year-old Anne unveiled Annebisyosa, a record album that features six tracks all produced by Viva Records. The CD turned platinum the same year.

Cinemajam redefines film and music festival

IT WAS a rainy Saturday night on Nov. 29 at Greenfield District Central Park in Mandaluyong, but it did not stop young people in their hoodies and umbrellas from entering the ates of Cinemajam to be part of the second edition of this one-of-a-kind event.

Rock meets orchestra at ‘#LifeRocksPH’

HOW many times do you see a fusion of rock and classical music on stage?

Indeed, you are in for a musical treat when elements of classical music are integrated into rock music or vice versa. This musical approach takes both old and modern audiences to a whole new level of musical orientation, not to mention enhancing their musical experience.

At a very rare occasion, former Sugarfree frontman Ebe Dancel, Wolfgang vocalist Basti Artadi, and top acts Sandwich and Radioactive Sago Project performed onstage with the the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

(From top, clockwise) Marc Abaya’s Kjwan, Razorback, Basti Artardi, Radioactive Sago Project, Imago, and Sandwich

             

Entitled Life Rocks, the musical event held on Oct. 23 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City also featured Razorback, Tres Marias, Imago, Kjwan, and Megan Aguilar. It was a two-and-a-half hour musical treat for both rock and classical music enthusiasts including those who appreciate contemporary collaborations.

With Diwa de Leon as the musical director, familiar OPM songs like Imago’s “Sundo” and “Akap” were rearranged for the orchestra. As evident in the show, it also endeavored experimenting and bringing new music to a broad and varied audience.

“We intend to do this annually. In fact we are already planning to have the next leg of this concert series in December and another one in March,” Yana Acosta, concert producer, told the Standard Today during the event’s press conference.

A concert for a cause

The concert, which was organized by AVA Prime and Philippine Life Insurance Association, aims to help and contribute to the continuing efforts in rebuilding the lives of our incapacitated brothers and sisters across the Philippines.

Proceeds shall be for the scholarship of those who have been orphaned by the recent calamities that ravaged the country. The selection process shall be via the institutional partnership with Museo Pambata and the scholarship program of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

“We intend to supply their education until college,” Acosta revealed and added, “We are trying to save the lives of the children incapacitated by calamities through this rock concert.”

Acosta made it clear that even if the concert is a benefit event, the artists who performed did not do it pro bono.

“We are the one that invited them and we respect their talent and artistry. Considering that these artists will also appear in the next legs of the concert series, they must be paid,” Acosta affirmed.

According to the concert producer, Life Rocks is the first of many events that comprises the launch and advocacy of the upcoming music lifestyle show, The Lineup, which begins airing in November on TV 5. It is in the same program where the beneficiaries of the scholarship program will be featured. A documentary will follow the stories of the beneficiaries for a year.

Music appreciation is all about experience

PEOPLE can easily fork four thousand bucks out of their pockets for an Anne Curtis or a Daniel Padilla concert, but they can hardly shell out a thousand pesos for a symphony orchestra concert, say at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Although still thriving, classical music has already lost the position it held on the local music scene, or to put it bluntly—people who prefer repetitive tunes and lyric believe that this genre is slowly dying in the Philippines. 

The same old Sandara Park

AHEAD of 2NE1’s May 17 concert, Sandara Park visited Manila and did some rounds of appearances on TV, including an interview in Aquino & Abunda and Gandang Gabi Vice, and a surprised visit in It’s Showtime and Pinoy Big Brother house. 

Red Hot Chili Peppers headlines 7107 music fest

Legendary band Red Hot Chili Peppers headlines the 7107 International Music Festival, a two-day concert destination hosting the world’s most beloved and influential musical acts.

Charice now a Guinness World Record holder

After being dubbed “The Most Talented Girl in the World,” openly gay and former Glee star Charice Pempengco has earned yet another international distinction, this time for her stint as a judge on “The X Factor Philippines.”