Friday the 13th might be unlucky for some but music lovers are in for a treat – as six award-winning Filipino artists are set to dominate du Arena on
Yas Island in a pre-Valentine’s Day concert
Rock That Love, a massive concert at du Arena, will gather an eclectic mix of artists from the Philippines on 13th February. Rico Blanco, Sponge Cola, Sitti Navarro, Karylle Tatlonghari, Parokya ni Edgar and MYMP will all be performing.
Zoom Artistic is organising the event. Amgad Wahba, Zoom Artistic’s general manager, says, “Music and dance is in the pulse of every Filipino – and they’re extremely expressive about their passions. What better way to show people that we care than reconnect them with their homeland? We looked at the music landscape of the Philippines, identified which acts are truly loved and found the most creative names. Then we sourced a spectacular setting.”
So, what makes each of the performing artists stand out?
Rico Blanco
Fact: Rico is an icon on the Philippine music scene. After starting out as a member and chief songwriter for the popular 90s rock band, Rivermaya, he pursued a solo career in 2008 with Your Universe – a 10-track disc that was released in the Philippines and neighbouring Asian countries. The 41-year-old singer-songwriter also pens tunes for commercials.
Notable hits: Rico wrote a handful of Rivermaya’s most memorable songs, including ‘Kisapmata’, ‘214’ and ‘Ulan’. He later assumed lead vocal duties for the band and produced the hits ‘Balisong’ and ‘You’ll Be Safe Here’. As a solo artist, Rico came up with the songs ‘Yugto’, ‘Antukin’, ‘Your Universe’ and ‘Neon Lights’.
Trivia: Rico is also an entrepreneur. He is the founder of the apparel brand, Koboi, and is a part owner of Capones, a bar in Makati, Philippines.
Sponge Cola
Fact: The band was formed in 2003, and is made up of Yael Yuzon (vocals/guitar), Gosh Dilay (bass), Erwin Armovit (guitarist) and Ted Mark Cruz (drums). Sponge Cola was part of the new breed of bands that emerged on the music scene in the capital Manila at the start of the millennium. Their brand of melodic pop and rock music appeals to a young audience. To date, Sponge Cola have released five successful studio albums.
Notable hits: ‘Jeepney’, ‘Bitiw’, ‘Pasubali’ and ‘Di Na Mababawi’.
Trivia: Yael and Gosh met at their high school’s theatre guild.
Sitti Navarro
Fact: Sitti brought bossa nova – Brazilian music that combines samba and jazz – to the mainstream in the Philippines with the release of her debut album, Café Bossa, in 2006. She is credited for putting a youthful stamp on a genre that was considered back then as highbrow. Aside from singing and performing, Sitti has also dabbled in TV hosting and stage acting – taking the supporting role of Mary Walter in Katy! The Musical (2008) and of Martha in Spring Awakening (2009).
Notable hits: ‘Para Sa Akin’, ‘Tattooed On My Mind’ (a D’ Sound original) and ‘Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw’.
Trivia: Sitti has a degree in business economics and at the University of the Philippines she was a dean’s lister – a category of students who achieve high marks.
Karylle Tatlonghari
Fact: Karylle’s musical talent must be in her genes, as she needn’t look far to trace it. Born to Filipina diva Zsa Zsa Padilla, the 33-year-old singer debuted with the album Time To Shine (2001). Since then, Karylle has generated hit albums, singles and concert tours in the Philippines and abroad. She is also seen regularly on the noontime TV variety show, It’s Showtime.
Notable hits: ‘Can’t Live Without You’, ‘Hiling’ and ‘Found My Smile Again’.
Trivia: Karylle married Sponge Cola frontman, Yael Yuzon, on 21st March 2014.
Parokya ni Edgar
Fact: Blending pop, punk and rock with comedy comes naturally for the boys of Parokya ni Edgar. Branded as a novelty group when they emerged in 1993, after two decades, the band has shown longevity. Parokya ni Edgar is composed of Chito Miranda (vocals), Buwi Meneses (bass), Darius Semaña (guitars), Gab Chee Kee (guitars) and Dindin Moreno (drums). The band has shown a natural ability to shift between genres without losing their trademark humour.
Notable hits: ‘Buloy’, ‘Mr Suave’, ‘Harana’ and ‘The Yes Yes Show’.
Trivia: The band’s original name was Comic Relief. The band used to feature two vocalists: Chito Miranda and Francis “Vinci” Montaner. Vinci left the group in October 2012 due to personal reasons, according to the band’s official statement.
MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud)
Fact: Resilient is the word that best describes MYMP. The band has survived shifting music trends and personnel changes since its inception in 2003. It’s now made up of founding member and guitarist Chin Alcantara and vocalist Jana Laraza. The duo is joined by musicians Bong Maquito (keyboards), Aaron Cadaing (bass) and Joel Tolentino (drums). Although the group is a cover band, they have also produced original hit numbers delivered in their signature acoustic style.
Notable hits: ‘A Little Bit’, ‘Get Me’, ‘Now’ and ‘Waiting in Vain’ (a Bob Marley original).
Trivia: Chin’s brother, Julius, thought up the name Make Your Momma Proud after their mother passed away from breast cancer.
5 minutes with MYMP
How do you keep your passion for performing alive?
Chin: When we chose music as our profession, it wasn’t about money, fame and the other perks that come with it. It was about our love for playing and singing. It’s as simple as that.
Had you ever thought of disbanding the group?
Chin: We’ve never thought of giving up. There will always be setbacks, but quitting and disbanding will never be an option.
How does MYMP compare to what it was in the past?
Chin: MYMP has evolved from an acoustic group to a full electrified band. But we have retained our signature acoustic style.
What do you like best about performing to Filipinos abroad?
Chin: The best thing is you can feel the audience’s excitement. You can see that they really miss the artists they grew up listening to.
5 minutes with Rico Blanco
Are you comfortable with your ‘legend’ label?
I take it as a compliment that people appreciate the work that I do. But it’s something that I really don’t think about.
How do you maintain your drive to create songs?
It just comes naturally because I love the art. It’s not like I’m consciously pushing myself to do it. I always think of it as a hobby that I enjoy doing rather than a job.
You’ve been successful with a band and as a solo artist. What else would you like to achieve?
I’m currently devoting time to my music label and artist management company, Balcony Entertainment. I am applying the lessons that I’ve learnt in the industry and hope that I can share them with other artists.
You’ll be sharing the bill at Rock That Love with other Filipino artists. Do you enjoy performing with other stars?
Yes. The best thing about performing with other artists is the diversity of music offered – for the audience and the artists. I love watching fellow artists perform. There’s also that excitement of attracting a new audience from the crowd to my music.
What can we expect from your set?
I’m happy that I was allowed to bring over my entire band. I’ll be doing my usual set of incorporating Filipino music with foreign influences, and of course I’ll be performing a mix of old and new songs from Rivermaya and my solo career. I’m really excited to be in Abu Dhabi.
TICKETS
Tickets from AED 95 from www.ticketmaster.ae
Doors open at 2pm. du Arena, Yas Island. For more information contact: [email protected] www.rockthatlove.com or search for Rock That Love on Facebook.
