MTV Emerge Winners

Here is a run down on the profile of MTV Emerge Winners

Faircatch
Rock/Experimental band Faircatch is composed of Lyndon Voltaire Baniqued in vocals, Johann Stephen Salas in guitars, Vistor Lozano in drums and Arvie San Buenaventura in bass. The band, which started in October 2008, strives to compose straightforward but catchy songs and is influenced by numerous artists from a mixture of different genres ranging from rock to alternative.


Yo Booty - Pino G

DirtyRoom Productions® | MySpace Music Videos

DRP – Dirty Room Productions
Hip hop group DRP is composed of Gryan Modejar “Pino-G”, Michael Angelo Bernardo “Mic-O” and Dino Reyes “Dno”. The members of DRP started on their own before teaming up with each other. The influences of the group include R. Kelly, T.I.P. and Threesix Mafia.



Soul Brothers
Formed in February 2006 in Cebu Rock band Soul Brothers is composed of Jay Dilan, Kniel Nangit, Randy Russel, Eddie Ybañez and DJ Yangzy. Playing several genres of music ranging from rock, reggae and rap to punk and hip hop, the influences of the band include Abba and Zappa.



Mid Nasty
Hip hop group Mid Nasty is composed of Greedy, Andez, Fry, Early, Cloud and Kurt. Mid Nasty started way back 2001 in Dumaguete City, with Greedy and Andez as the frontliners of the band. The band’s vision is to represent the Visayas and the rest of the Philippines to the world. Their influences include Nelly & St. Lunatics, Black Eyed Peas, Lyfe Jennings, India Arie, Ludacris, J-Kwon and Chingy.



TBG (The Band Glenn)
Alternative rock band TBG is composed of Glenn Capanas, Ferdie Manigbas, Javen Liam, Glenn Gejon and Jobim Nillo. The band started out as an acoustic double with Glenn Capanas and Glenn Gejon. After a year of being a duo, both decided on starting a band to try and make it to the mainstream music arena. The influences of the band include Dishwalla, Incubus, Boyce Avenue, Splender, Goo Goo Dolls and John Mayer among others.

Urbanation
RnB and hip hop group Urbanation is composed of Art Camonayan, Brian Babilonia, Ryan Lim, PJ Olivares, Ian Tan, Joshua Paz and Juan Paolo dela Rama. The band started out in 2004 and has been creating original music ever since—with genres ranging from RnB, hip hop, urban to pop. The influences of the band include Chris Brown, Akon, Apl.de.ap/Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake and Ne-yo.



The Pin-Up Girls
New wave and indie rock group Pin-Up Girls is composed of Jeng Tan, Ryan Nachura, Mitch Singson and Mondo Castro. The band was formed in the late nineties and has since created a lot of original compositions that reflect the craft of their numerous musical influences such as the Stone Roses, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Smiths, Pixies, The Cure, Violent Playground and The Dawn.

Admiring Apl.de.ap

I first saw Apl.de.ap in person and up close during MTV Emerge winners announcement night last November 27. He is a Filipino-American hip hop musician, record producer and is best known as a member of the Black Eyed Peas.



It amazes me how Apl has brought his Filipino culture into his collaboration with the Black Eyed Peas. Some of the group's songs with Tagalog lyrics include "The Apl Song" from the album Elephunk, and "Bebot" from the Monkey Business album.



Currently, Apl.de.ap is working on a solo album. He would be collaborating with fellow Filipino-American Chad Hugo of The Neptunes and Illmind from G-Unit to incorporate traditional Filipino instruments into his songs.



Last January, he made a debut with the single, U Can Dream, featuring Florante and Billy Crawford. In August, he released a music video for his second single named Mama Filipina.



Apl.de.ap started sharing his blessings through the Apl Foundation which is committed in giving back to communities and children within the Philippines and throughout Asia.

He recently established the music company called Jeepney Music that provides promotional and collaborative opportunities for artists to work with him. An artist's beats or music might be featured on Jeepney Radio or they might be invited to collaborate on a Jeepney Project.

Jeepney Music also fosters a non-exclusive community filled with content and connectivity between music, gossip, travel, food, entertainment, and living histories from the Philippines. It is one location where one can always track Apl.de.Ap and participate in the Jeepney community. It is currently based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California and currently handles DJs such as Free School, DJ Rockyrock, DJ MIA, and PoetNameLife.



Apl.de.ap recorded another tagalog song for Black Eyed Peas' fifth studio album, "The E.N.D.", the song is called "Mare". In 2009, he also had a song entitled "Take U to The Philippines" that is hitting the airwaves in the Philippines. The song is in partnership with the Department of Tourism of the Philippines.

Faircatch wins MTV Spotlight!

Last Friday (November 27), I went to Mall of Asia's Music Hall to witness the MTV Emerge event where the 7 winners have to compete to get the coveted MTV Spotlight prize.

The seven acts winning a one-year recording contract with Jeepney Music and mentorship under Apl.de.ap are DRP, Faircatch, Mid Nasty, The Pin-Up Girls, Soul Brothers, The Band Glenn (TBG) and Urbanation. Their contracts include artist management and promotion, digital distribution of 3 – 6 songs and a strategic marketing plan for them to be able to break into both the Philippine and international markets.

Created to discover the most promising talents in the Philippines, MTV Emerge will give these winners the chance to break into the local and international music scenes through a one-year recording contract with Jeepney Music. The seven winners were among a total of 1,858 entries received from unsigned musicians invited to upload samples of their original music on the MTV Emerge website from October 5 to November 15.

The winners, aside from being selected from the top rated and most voted entries, were judged based on their creativity, the originality of their craft, the eminence of their live performances, strong appeal to the public and the innovativeness of their lyrics and melody.

“The seven winners really are what we were looking for. Their unique talents very well characterize what MTV Emerge is about – homegrown talents trying to reach out to the world through their music while at the same time proudly representing our country,” said Apl.de.ap.

The MTV Emerge winners impressed the audience with their talents through different genres of music. DRP showcased their edgy RnB tunes, Soul Brothers hyped the crowd with their reggae beats, Faircatch awed the mass with their hard rock music, TBG made use of their awesome vocals and guitar skills, Mid Nasty drove the crowd wild with their novel hip hop tunes, The Pin-Up Girls went all out pop rock and Urbanation lightened up the mood with their soulful pop and RnB sounds.

After the winners showcased their signature songs, the Spotlight winner was chosen and presented to Faircatch.

Rock and experimental band Faircatch is composed of Lyndon Voltaire Baniqued in vocals, Johann Stephen Salas in guitars, Vistor Lozano in drums and Arvie San Buenaventura in bass. The band, which started in October 2008, strives to compose straightforward but catchy songs and is influenced by numerous artists from a mixture of different genres ranging from rock to alternative.

The panel of judges present at the MTV Emerge concert were Rico Blanco, Karylle, MTV Philippines’ Georgette Tengco and MTV SEA and Greater China’s Head of Content, Sari Trisulo. They chose a Spotlight winner who surpassed all expectations and emerged as the best among the best.

Apl.de.ap finished the MTV Emerge concert by entertaining the crowd at the Music Hall with his spinning skills.

MTV Emerge was a result of the collaboration of MTV, Secretary Ace Durano of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Jeepney Music, providing Filipino bands the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their talents locally and internationally. Through MTV Emerge, Jeepney Music and DOT were able to reach out to younger generations of world travelers, especially those who are drawn to the Philippines' musical culture. The search highlighted the global appeal of up-and-coming Filipino artists, and gave prominence to the Philippines' musical heritage on the world stage.

Hard to say I'm sorry? I don't agree!

Lately, I've been hearing this song on the radio and you know it is a fairly old one from Chicago with lead singer Peter Cetera on vocals. I never really agreed with it. There are a lot of ways on how lovers say sorry to each other back then and now. Like:

1. There is your usual love letter
2. Actual saying of "I'm sorry"
3. Serenade
4. Ask a friend or relative to say sorry for you.
5. Buy a greeting card with the words I'm sorry and give to the person.
6. If you are good in art (those in the 80s can relate to this), get an illustration board and draw an image reflecting your thoughts with the lyrics of this song. I have a friend who actually got this one.
7. With the mobile phone, you can always send a text message.
8. With the Internet, there's e-mail, instant messaging, chat, virtual greeting card or gifts.
9. And finally, just hold the person's hand or give the person a hug or if you are lovers then just kiss (LOL!).

Of course, if that person doesn't deserve an apology, you can always say the famous Gone with the Wind movie line, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

So to Chicago and Peter Cetera, I don't agree with your song.

Watch U2 Live Concert via YouTube on October 26 Monday 11:30 AM GMT+8

I am absolutely thrilled when I found out that U2 will be doing a live and free webcast of their sold-out Rose Bowl concert in California this Sunday. This is part of the U2 360 concert tour, promoting No Line on the Horizon, that just kicked off in the US last month.


Fans from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, U.K., U.S. will be able to watch the concert live via YouTube.

Those in the GMT+8 timezone will be able to enjoy the experience and watch it on October 26, Monday, 11:30 AM.

YouTube will be streaming live across five continents. The show will be available in the usual You Tube way, as video-on-demand, following two full replays - after the live stream - on both U2.com and You Tube.

The biggest challenge here will be bandwidth. So head-off to the fastest Internet connection you can find and enjoy the concert!

Charice Pempengco pays tribute to Michael Jackson

Thanks to Bitstop, I was able to watch the concert of Charice Pempengco last night at SMX Convention Center. One of the things I found out was that she is supposed to perform with Pop King Michael Jackson in his upcoming concert.

With Michael Jackson's sudden death, this will no longer be possible. However, Charice rendered two numbers to honor the pop king. Enjoy!

Charice Pempengco sang Billy Jean by Michael Jackson

Charice Pempengco sang You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson

Touched by Michael Jackson

I am one of the many who was touched by Michael Jackson's music back in the elementary and high school days. Those were the times when dancing PYT, Wanna Be Starting Something, Billy Jean, Beat It, and Thriller makes you cool. Being able to dance strut and moonwalk was the in thing. Even local celebrities like Gary Valenciano and Aga Mulach became popular then for being able to perform Michael Jackson numbers on stage.

How he changed since Thriller was I assume were brought on by the pressure of his popularity where he was always being watched.

His song, particularly Thriller, was such a rare piece that it even allowed a drug rehabilitation center in Cebu attain popularity.

But today, news about Michael Jackson's death by heart attack, ripples online and most of the tech-savvy first heard about it via social media or network sites Twitter and Facebook.

Rest in peace Michael Jackson. You will always be remembered. Have a great journey ahead!

See you at the Philips Go Gear Event on June 6!

Join the Philips Go Gear unveils its newest line-up of music and video players

Try the Let Your Ears Decide challenge! Experience the full sound technology that Philips offers:

With performances by:

• Unschooled


• Techy Romantics


• Taken By Cars


• and more surprise guests

Music bloggers are invited to sign-up here and see you on June 6, 2009 at Bonifacio High Street. Expect the organizer to contact you as well for coordination. Visit the site for further info at http://philipsbandwidth.blogspot.com/

Be inspired and win an iTouch from Firefalldown!

Firefalldown, a Filipino-British band, DRIVEN by a passion to INSPIRE people through music, is dead set on reaching people through their music, in the hopes of stirring listeners to make a difference in life and live out their God-given dreams. Now, you have a chance to join and inspire others! Share your thoughts with the world by creating a blog entry about the band’s music, how it connects with your life, and how you have been inspired!

Just 5 Easy Steps:

1. Sign up for the the band newsletter to get updates on the band and our music;
2. Write, in your blogs or social-network-site, about howFirefalldown’s music connects with your life
3. Link the word firefalldown to the URL(www.firefalldown.com) in your blog;
4. Post a picture with your article that best encapsulatesthe experience;
5. Send the link to your blog to firefalldowninspirepromo@gmail.com

Every blogger will receive a signed copy of the single Commissioned completely free!

Bi-weekly finalists will be posted on www.firefalldown.com and best blog over the next 3 months gets a free iTouch!

Join the firefalldown inspire promo and keep visiting www.firefalldown.com for more information and updates!

Looking for U2 Groupies Going to U2 360 Concert Tour Europe, USA, & Canada

Finally my wish is about to come true! I will be watching the U2 360 concert this year as U2 is scheduled to perform in major cities across Europe, USA, and Canada.

In fact, I'm dreaming a bit further and exploring the possibility of covering the whole tour. Although that would only be possible if I'll be able to meet someone or a U2 groupie in every location where I can join. With mobile Internet knowing to be fast in these target concert venues, I'm sure mobile blogging will be an exciting experience.

I'm now making inquiries with travel agents on how can this work-out if I'll be coming from Australia or Philippines. Although there is a possibility that in between countries or states, a bus or train ride can be explored. Your advise on how to cross from one country or state to another by other means of transportation, which may be cheaper than taking a plane, will be more than welcome!

So for those of you who will be watching the concert in these locations, I hope you can post a shout-out here especially if you want to help out fellow fans who wants to watch the concert in your location. (me! me!)

This whole tour is part of an effort to promote No Line On The Horizon. This is the new studio album from U2 that was just released this month. I will get my copy this week!



The band’s 12th studio album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite. The album is available in 5 different packages. This No Line On The Horizon version in Amazon.com is the standard album CD in a plastic jewel case w /24 page color booklet.

Goodbye Francis Magalona

For those of us who were able to enjoy the Bagets movie days, one will always remember Francis Magalona. Especially for those those of us who were so "ga-ga" over Aga Mulach and got cured by it when Francis Magalona came along.

Francis eversince then has re-invented himself from a dancer, rapper, singer, husband, father, among others. You will hardly hear any bad word or rumor being said about the guy. So you can say that he has lived his life well.

Knowing that he passed away with leukemia at age 44 (at Medical City in Mandaluyong) is quite sad. He is so young. What he went through is also a good reminder for us not to take our life for granted, despite what we perceive as far-fetch as we are still in our "youth" years.

(http://francismagalona.multiply.com)

Through social networks, Francis Magalona kept his fans & friends posted with his treatment. One of his latest entries even showed his photos as he went through his 4th chemo cycle then with supporters giving encouragement & prayers.

(http://happybattle.multiply.com)

There is also another blog, Happy Battle, that gets regularly updated by his wife, Pia, that gave progress as well on his treatment.

It can be fairly said that Francis is the 1st celebrity who used social networks to reach out and kept in touch with people, including friends and fans, that cared for him during the biggest battle of his life. Hoping that in the process, it will also bring courage to others who may be going through the same situation.

Rest in peace Francis Magalona. May you have a great journey ahead.

Video featuring Francis Magalona


(Prayers for Francis Magalona)


(Reach for the Stars)


(Kaleidoscope World)

See you at Media Arts Manila Field Trip on Feb. 25!

Media Arts Manila
in cooperation with Green Papaya Art Projects presents

FIELD TRIP
field recordings and soundscapes of corporeal and imagined environments

February 25 (Wed) 9 p.m.
Green Papaya Art Projects
41 T.Gener St cor Kamuning Road (near Brahma Kumaris)
FREE ADMISSION

The M.A.M. tour bus stops over at the Green Papaya Art Projects and ushers us through an acoustic safari of feral atmospheric fauna. Featured artists present their original phonography, creating immersive environments through the manipulation and playback of captured ambient sounds. autoceremony, Blend:er, Christian Conception, Mark Laccay, Mannet Villariba serves us their own brand of improvised acoustic ecology. Improvised video by Edsel Abesames and Tad Ermitaño. This show is supported by Globe.

Folks you'll meet at the event are:

• Edsel Abesames
  is a video editor / motion graphics person / director / racketeer / guitarist / poser / anime fan /overweight 32 year old / discontent drunkard.


• autoceremony a.k.a. Jing Garcia
  sound artist and award winning music producer. He established the Children of Cathode Ray backed in 1989, one of the early experimental and sound art groups in the country. Produced several music albums for different alternative music artists in the 90s. He is currently the tech editor for The Manila Times and Speed Magazine. He also hosts a tech segment on the late evening news on TV5.
  
  
• BLEND:ER a.k.a. Cris Garcimo
  is an electronic music creator and a noise enthusiast who lives in Cavite, Philippines. He started experimenting with audio acrobatics and technoid sonic landscapes in 1999. Being included in various album anthologies like Mood Swing Theater Volume 1 (2004) released by Kittenwhip Compilation and S.A.B.A.W. Anthology of Noise, Electronic, and Experimental Music (2004), Blend:er has often collaborated with E.X.I.S.T., SABAW and Electronica Manila artists.


• Tad Ermitaño
  is a media artist, writer and filmmaker. As far as the media art goes, he is interested in algorithmic/procedural editing and composition, new uses for the moving image and have been lately drifting into elementary robotics. His work "Quartet" was exhibited in the recently concluded International Symposium for Electronic Arts (ISEA) in Singapore.


• Grnd Ctrl a.k.a Christian Martelino Concepcion
  a manila based art director, experimental musician, DJ and event organizer. His breed of work roots from his propensity in the field of music and design. It is his passion for avant-garde films, art, fashion, experimental music and bizarre imagery that led him to create audible pieces as well as to do graphic design work. It wasn't until implementing his studies of traditional fine arts and his enthusiasm with avant-garde music that began his realization of his ideas, philosophies and visions by combining dissected sound textures with rhythm, to create soundscapes that pierce images inside our minds. His currently an active band member for the ambient/experimental/industrial band "The Slave Drum", busy with his own electro industrial act "Decay Transit" and does solo performances as "Grnd Ctrl". Uses both traditional and non-traditional sound sources with using samplers, synthesizers, transducers, effects and anything he can get his hands on. Has participated in several events from various production outfits and his group called "Circa1849".
  
  
• Mark Laccay
  is an award winning Audio Engineer who is the CEO of Sonic Logo Multimedia Inc. and a managing partner of Sweetspot Studios. He has worked as a Sound Designer for various films and is the main audio consultant for the "Dr. Jose Maceda Collection Digitization" Project. As an educator he taught audio classes at DLSU-CSB. He recently returned from the Austrian Academy of Sciences where he acquired a certificate of Audio Tape Restoration and Digital Audio Archiving.


• Mannet Villariba
  is a performance artist, painter, sound artist, visual programmer and designer. He has been active in diverse fields of art and design - including research and development. Yielding the outputs of sounds, images, and light through analyzing and transforming the numerical values gained from various sensors and input devices, he is a visual artist pursuing sensual peculiarity and interaction.

Upcoming Tour Dates 2009

I've been blogging about several concert tour dates of various artists at Busby SEO Test. Here are some with definite dates that I encourage you to check out:

• Billy Joel
• Coldplay
• Status Quo
• Eagles
• U2

Will add more artists once I have definite info on concert tour dates.

Till Your Well Runs Dry - U2

U2's Brian Eno, Edge, and Danny Lanois make sweet harmony with William Bell-penned classic. This is a dry run of sort.

No Line On The Horizon, the new studio album from U2, will be released on Tues, March 3, 2009. The band’s 12th studio album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite. The album will be available in 5 different packages. This version is the standard album CD in a plastic jewel case w /24 page color booklet. Reserve your copy now and get a great deal.

For avid fans, check out U2 tour dates this 2009.

6 Ways to Get Fans Engage Through Contests

There are many options that music artists can promote their music online. But these days, artists should go out of their way and involve fans as much as they can. This include:

1. Let your fans submit composition that can be used for your next song.
   Of course mechanics on royalties should be clear prior to start of the activity.
   
   
2. Have fans submit their music demo and be included in your next album.
   
   
3. Have a CD design contest and let fans vote for it.
   
   
4. Have fans do a cover of you or your band, upload in music video sites, and you pick the winner.
   
   
5. If you have a fast or dance song, then the focus can be on creating a special dance number.
   
   
6. Another could be the creation of a music video of the song or a spoof of it.
   

• I guess the point of this post is that artists, whether they are well known or still starting, should not hesitate exploring various ways they can promote their work and get the fans involved.

P.S. If you are interested in concert artist tour dates, check out busby seo test music category. developments