Gang of 4 songwriters move up from the underground
Underground music is not all about raucous rock from bands with icky monikers like Flying Ipis or Duraan Duraan.
There’s still fun to be had in, of all things, acoustic music delivered by aspiring musicians with normal names.
On a Tuesday evening in March, promotions outfit Downorth Musique showcased fresh young talents at the regular Songwriters’ Night at Conspiracy Bar in Quezon City, which coincided with the release of a music sampler called “Kami Namin.”
Paula: a weirdly comical vibe
Paula Alcasid wrote the anniversary theme song of the College of Nursing of her alma mater, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
A licensed nurse now, she pursued her muse by joining the 2013 Elements Songwriting Camp.
Her latest triumph was having one of her compositions featured in KZ LTandingan’s recently released album.
At the Songwriters Night, Paula presented her turn to shine via “Antibiotic,” backed by a pre-recorded piano track.
Her fractured sing-song vocals give the song a weirdly comical vibe as its lyrics deal with the need for an antidote to falling in love.
“The song is kinda experimental,” she told Yahoo Celebrity Music. “I’m telling about a dire need for a fix and yet the music is cheerful. I’d like to see how listeners respond to such contradiction.”
Khael: packs a musical and lyrical punch
Armed with a guitar, Khael began his set with “Tameme” which as its title suggested, talked about unexpressed deep-seated emotions.
But it was his second song, “Tsinelas,” that packed a musical and lyrical punch.
In slow strummed chords, Khael sang: “Ako’y magpupuyat hanggang mata ko’y mangitim / Makapiling ka lang / Sasamahan kita kahit magtakip silim / At mga tala’y mawala.”
The promise of till-death-do-us-part unraveled in four terse verses.
Khael, 27, said he dabbled with poems in high school and he started writing songs just to make good use of a guitar at home. He learned the chords from songhits magazines then began applying chord patterns to his own poems.
“I have high hopes for my songs on the sampler. I wrote ‘Tsinelas’ for a loved one. Basically, when my lady goes out, she’d be wearing different pairs of shoes but she’d be wearing slippers at the house which I’d gladly offer it at her feet every time she comes home. It’s my way of saying ‘You don’t have to do something big or grand to show your love.’’’
Pikoy: influenced by Japanese musicians and 90s rock
Pikoy, aka Nicole Angeli Pechon, started the show with “Go,” a twee pop acoustic number that went well with the audience. On the sampler, it’s a pop-rocker highlighted by Pikoy’s child-like vocals. Her other self-penned song, “Ang Feeling Mo,” dripped with teen angst built around throwaway funny lyrics.
Pikoy said that she began as a minor YouTube sensation among her college friends.
She would go on opening as a solo performer for bands hailing from her native Antipolo City.
“My songwriting is influenced by Japanese musicians. I like the way they deliver a certain feeling to the listener like me who doesn’t even understand what they’re singing about.
“I also like to listen to female experimental singers like Bjork and Lykke Li. Also, Up Dharma Down, Parokya ni Edgar. I’m kind of in my 90s rock phase these days.”
Jeffrey runs the indie label that could
The March Songwriters Night at Conspi was put together by Jeffrey Yumol who runs Downorth Musique and is music director at BPO Radio, an Internet-based music broadcasting channel.
Jeffrey said he doesn’t know how to play any instrument and his contributions to the Kami Naman sampler are a computerized mix of hip hop and r&b songs.
“I used to submit demo tracks to record labels but I don’t think they ever listened to them. I then decided to establish my own label, Downorth Musique, and I have already produced four albums on my own.
“I have attended Songwriters Nights for the past two years where I had the chance to meet the songwriters on the sampler. This is just for starters. It’s just a foretaste of the albums I have started recording with my artists.”
So far, so good. Downorth is certainly headed beyond the margins of today’s OPM.
For inquiries or bookings, contact Jeffrey Yumol at jeffreyumol@yahoo.com . Check out the label’s Facebook.
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