Entertainment

With the official release of her Tower Sessions Live CD through Sony Music Entertainment and a reunion event involving her legendary bands Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle, Filipino singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis marks a significant milestone in music.

Both events commemorate her 25th anniversary in the Philippine music industry as a lady who effectively mastered Pinoy rock through emotionally stirring composition and uncompromising artistic freedom. It is indeed a wonderful event as we witnessed a great milestone that is full of love and light. She delivered all her songs with a grateful heart and we enjoyed it so well.

The Tower of Doom members Eric and Carlo Perlas produced Barbie Almalbis’ Best Hits live album, which has a fresh arrangement of her classic and contemporary songs. Kyle Cayton recorded the album, while Simon Durias mixed and mastered it. Along with more recent songs like “Days Are Long,” “Silaw,” “Tigre,” and “Kumpas,” the album’s first single, it will also include classics that defined careers, including “Firewoman,” “Torpe,” “Tabing Ilog,” “The Dance,” “Goodnight,” and “Just A Smile.”

“It’s always been a dream of mine to record our songs live, because we’re always rearranging songs as a band, and I think there’s something special that gets captured when the we play live together,” Almalbis shares. “My producers and collaborators did such a great job of making you feel like you’re at the gig. You can feel the power of the kick drum and the bass, and then have guitars blasting in your ear — in a pleasant way, of course.”

Aside from the release of Tower Sessions Live on digital platforms, Barbie Almalbis is set to headline her 25^th Anniversary concert at 123 Block, Mandala Park on March 11 (Saturday), from 2pm onwards. Celebrating the impact of her music as a guide to many people’s journey in life, the show will reunite her with former bandmates in Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle.

Aptly titled Firewoman:25 Years of Barbie Almalbis, the mini-music fest will also feature sets by some of the country’s finest acts, including Sandwich, Gab Alipe of Urbandub, Clara Benin, I Belong To The Zoo, Kai del Rio, and Bird.

Reflecting on her career as an artist, Almalbis expressed gratitude to her fans who have been supportive of her endeavors through the years. “I didn’t have so many plans growing up, but always just dreamt of playing music. I’m so grateful that I get to do this and share the experience with others too. I’m always touched by the support of my fans and friends, and really humbled and encouraged by their words and stories about how these songs have also become part of their journey.”

Under Sony Music Entertainment, Barbie Almalbis’ Tower Sessions Live is now accessible on all digital platforms throughout the world.

You may get tickets for her forthcoming performance, Firewoman:25 Years of Barbie Almalbis, on TicketMelon. In collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment, Backspacer Records, JB Music, Nova Health Shop, D&D, Smirnoff Mule, and 123 Block, the event is hosted by GNN Entertainment Productions.

Follow Barbie Almalbis on socials:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This might very well be a verse from a love song. Yet The Dawn, one of the nation’s pioneering rock bands, poses this query in their brand-new song, “Earth.” The song “Earth,” famous for its anthems like “Salamat” and “Iisang Bangka,” poses the existential query, particularly in light of the current political, societal, and even personal concerns.

It’s been a struggle to be a human. There’s always the question, can we go on like this? Is this how we’re supposed to deal with things? Is there a better way, says The Dawn frontman Jett Pangan. “We, as human beings, when we’re faced with troubles that seem insurmountable, we tend to look the other way. Maybe not to say we’re in denial, it’s more of the fear of the unknown.”

He pointed out that it’s not condescending but, in fact he asks himself the same question. The pandemic also raised that big question. “We’re all hoping that after all these we become better people,” he said.

Trust The Dawn to come up with a song that is timely and relevant. The society has seen a rise in mental health concerns among the youth. In fact, in a study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), it highlighted that between 2013 and 2021, there are twice the number of young Filipinos who felt loneliness, sadness, and being disliked.

One of the band’s guitarists Rommel “Sancho” Sanchez, emphasized that “Is love still a thing,” can also be read as “is empathy still a thing?” Sanchez said that with the mode of communications now, it’s easy to be snarky. Their hope is that through this song and with this one powerful line, people will pause, reflect, and hope that they can be a little kinder.

Apart from the significance of its lyrics, there are a lot of reasons that make “Earth” distinct.

It was recorded during the pandemic and every member of the group had to record individually. The Dawn drummer JB Leonor shared he made a story with the drum parts alone. There’s a reason for every note of the drum.

“Earth” is the last song that their bassist Mon Legaspi recorded before he passed away. And it was an ode to him that they committed to finish the track.

Sanchez was the last one to record the guitar parts. “I lost the recordings when my hard drive failed. We had to ask permission from Mon’s sister and asked a friend to help extract his parts. It was really difficult for me to record my parts,” he said.

The song itself went through a lot and now that it’s here, it is definitely a treat not only to the loyal fans of The Dawn but to everyone who appreciates great music.

The band is motivated to continue by the response to “Earth.” Francis “Kiko” Reyes, one of the guitarists, deserves credit for claiming that the band’s creative connection persisted throughout the pandemic. With all of his rally cries and the response to the new song, Pangan exalted that an EP, or new collection of songs, was imminent.

The Dawn wishes to be a part of the music scene since they are aware of how dynamic it is nowadays. He continued by saying that people are more accepting of music today because of the blurring of genre and label boundaries. They don’t say whether the music is too hip-hop or too rock. There’s no border to cross now that music has merged in all genres, and The Dawn has been blessed with a platform to be heard over the years. This time, it’s their new song “Earth.” The Dawn is a band with a lot to offer, and like the true rockstars they are, they follow their musical inclinations. No categorization, just genuine love for music. Play The Dawn’s Earth music now on Spotify and Youtube.

In February 18, 2023, EK is bringing back “Hug-A-Palooza” to honor the month of love (Saturday). This 2023 celebrates the 5th anniversary of Hug-A-Palooza, a celebration of warm entertainment and surprises that are followed with warm caresses to be enjoyed with family, friends, and coworkers.

Around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, EK’s very own P-Pop girl group will perform at Hug-A-Palooza at the AGILA Grounds, while Victoria’s Way and The Kings Men will serenade the crowd.

Have a chance to meet and greet the cast of iWantTFC’s newest series, TEEN CLASH, and prepare to have a wonderful and unforgettable time with Jayda Avanzado, Markus Paterson, Aljon Mendoza, and more to spread more “kilig” this season of love.

Moreover, the Enchanted Kingdom will debut its first Eldar’s Fair, bringing back wonderful memories of school fairs. Expect a ton of fun games and unique surprises from the jail booth, marriage booth, and dedication booth for everyone who visits the booths. The dates of Eldar’s Fair in 2023 are February 18, 19, 25, and 25.

Visit the official Enchanted Kingdom website at www.enchantedkingdom.ph, the online store at https://store.enchantedkingdom.ph, or the company’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph for more information on promotions, ticket bookings, and reservations.

The DNB-infused bop is produced by his frequent collaborator Trizzy

Young Cocoa, a Filipino rapper and producer, revisits his memories of growing up in Jakarta in “J-TOWN (PM)”    a new song released by pan-regional label OFFMUTE.

The talented young artist claims that “J-TOWN (PM)” depicts a crucial period in his life when he accepted the benefits and drawbacks of living in a cosmopolitan metropolis, pursued his ambitions, and encountered people from all backgrounds.

“The song is about how I feel about Jakarta,” Young Cocoa reflects. “It’s not so much a nostalgic visit as it is one where I express how much impact the city has had on me.”

While the majority of the lyrics are delivered in English, some of the lines in Young Cocoa’s latest track are in Bahasa Indonesia. The Manila chart-topper shares, “The way I did it was inspired by other Southeast Asian artists who would mix English and their native languages into their lyrics. I chose to incorporate Bahasa because I felt it was necessary to tell my story as authentically as possible, as this is a more serious take on how I normally structure the lyrics and storytelling of my music.”

Trizzy, a regular partner of Young Cocoa’s, produced “J-TOWN (PM),” encouraging the emerging artist to develop and broaden the scope of his sound. The song presents a grittier, tougher, and more serious side of Young Cocoa while giving listeners a chance to get to know him on a deeper lyrical level. It combines drum n’ bass sounds with UK Garage and lo-fi textures.

“JTOWN is the most different song I’ve ever made,” says Young Cocoa. “I consider it a benchmark in my discography in terms of my sound selection, tempo, mood, and overall evolution of taste.”

In the upcoming months, Young Cocoa’s debut mixtape, Sari Sari, which features “J-TOWN,” will be made available. Along with several bops, the soon-to-be-released EP has a collaboration with an Asian musician he met at a music festival last year.

Check out Young Cocoa’s “J-TOWN (PM)” on all digital music platforms via OFFMUTE.

Follow YOUNG COCOA on socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyoungestcocoa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/youngcocoa_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_youngcocoa

Follow OFFMUTE on socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offmuteASIA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/offmute

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offmute/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offmute

Returning for a second year is Enchanted Kingdom’s unique Valentine’s Day celebration. On top of the Wheel of Fate, Enchanting Royal Dinner in the Sky offers a memorable and romantic dinner date where visitors may take in the spectacular view of Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Enchanting Royal Dinner in the Sky, which EK is hosting this year to commemorate the season of love, will feature the Faerie King and the Faerie Queen, the kingdom’s royal couple from their fictional storybook characters.

Visitors can reserve either the Php2,700 couple’s package or the Php4,900 group package. Regular day passes, a dinner for each, love locks, and a keepsake photo are all included in both packages. Call any of the following numbers: (+632) 8584 3535 loc 1905; 0920 983 3624; 0999 884 8445; for questions and reservations. Email [email protected].

Visit the official Enchanted Kingdom website at www.enchantedkingdom.ph, the online store at https://store.enchantedkingdom.ph, or the company’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph for more information on promotions, ticket bookings, and reservations.

To celebrate The Eraserheads’ reunion concert last night, Sony Music Philippines artists released their revamped versions of “Christmas Party” and “Magasin”

Top OPM acts like SB19 and NOBITA have reimagined some of the supergroup’s most cherished songs as a way to celebrate the success of last night’s reunion event.

The updated versions, which were made available today under the Sony Music Entertainment banner, preserve the music of Eheads’ timeless allure while giving it a more modern feel that appeals to streaming listeners.

With their unique interpretation of “Christmas Party,” a track from The Eraserheads’ fourth studio album, Fruitcake, P-Pop Kings SB19 perfectly captures the spirit of the season. The five-member boyband transforms the original into a merry banger by adding dance-pop, R&B/hip-hop, and modern funk to the mix while retaining the spirit and vigor of the song’s bygone era.

“The Eraserheads are one of the most influential bands of our time,” says SB19 in a statement. “We retained everything that’s great about the song, but made sure to add our own creative direction in terms of overall sound. There’s a balance of artistic liberty and compromise in the way we approach the material, and we’re definitely happy with how it turned out.”

Stell of SB19 adds, “we feel honored that we were chosen to recreate the song. Our tour schedule was really tight, but gladly we were still able to push through with it before leaving LA. Recording in a different country also feels surreal, we didn’t expect we’d reach this far.”

The eclectic rendition of “Christmas Party,” is produced by August Rigo, the hitmaker behind some of BTS’ biggest global smashes (“On” and “Black Swan”).

NOBITA, whose single “Ikaw Lang” is the most streamed song of 2022 according to Spotify Wrapped, expressed enthusiasm and gratitude when they found out that they’re part of the music project that pays tribute to the generation-defining catalog of The Eraserheads. “We grew up listening to and playing Eheads songs,” the alt-rock group says in a statement. “NOBITA heavily draws inspiration from their music, especially their brand of songwriting. Their work has shaped us into where we are now, and we’re forever grateful to their enormous contribution to OPM artists, young and old.”

For their part, NOBITA adds a little jazz-pop treatment to “Magasin” without completely losing the song’s upbeat and heavily melodic arrangement. Slightly slowing it down with stripped-down finesse, the chart-topping five-piece act puts sunshine back in “hugot” with endearingly surprising twist.

Five of The Eraserheads’ famous albums were re-released in full 360-degree spatial sound to provide audiences a new immersive musical experience, in addition to the updated songs by some of today’s top hitmakers. Among these important albums is Ultraelectromagneticpop! Cutterpillow, Fruitcake, Sticker Happy, Circus (25th Anniversary Remastered), and The 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition.

Sony Music Entertainment has released “Christmas Party”  by SB19 and “Magasin” by NOBITA on all digital music platforms across the world.

Sony Music Entertainment is part of the global Sony family. Learn more about our creators and labels here.

Another P-Pop talent with enormous worldwide potential is about to be introduced by Sony Music Entertainment and ShowBT Philippines Corp., the entertainment company behind the breakthrough of award-winning boyband SB19.

Novice Mona Gonzales is one of the industry’s newest crop of megastar aspirants, boasting more than 17 million followers on TikTok alone and a remarkable list of viral anime soundtracks.

The promising solo act marks her debut as a recording artist with “Always Remember,” an effervescent cut that champions the value of self-worth and preservation in an attempt to bravely face the world and conquer everything. Capturing the unabashedly colorful spirit of K-Pop and J-Pop with commanding confidence, Mona Gonzales aims to uplift listeners with her anthemic and captivating delivery—doing it like a seasoned pro.

“The way I personally describe it is something like a soft pop rock for me,” says the promising TikTok sensation turned P-Pop star. “The sound of electric guitar with a pop style beat is dominating through the whole song. The style is not really new, but the sound is unique in its own way. It’s a little different from the OPM that we’re used to. I think that makes it interesting.”

Produced by Oh Won Lee, an industry veteran who has helmed tracks by K-Pop icons Stray Kids, SHINee’s Taemin, and Wanna One, and the country’s very own SB19, “Always Remember” is an inspirational track that pushes the envelope of modern pop production with breezy, summer hooks and a minimalist instrumentation. The end product is a mesmerizing take on P-Pop, one that is creatively boundless and flows with so much effortlessness.

As Mona Gonzales puts it, “Pinoy Pop Music doesn’t really have a certain and specific style and sound. Most of us new artists want to be unique. That’s true for me, but I want to add a new flavor and variety along with the existing Pinoy pop music right now. And with every Pinoy music artists, we will prove that P-POP can expand. And then people will talk about how the Pinoy pop music has evolved, its potential and where it can go.”

A vibrant music video that figuratively depicts Mona Gonzales’ path as a budding artist is released along with the song’s release. Mona Gonzales dances, sings, bounces, and walks with the zest of someone ready to explore the world on her own terms in this video, which was filmed in several locations that highlight the stunning nature of the Philippines.

“Always Remember” by Mona Gonzales is currently available on all digital music services in the world thanks to Sony Music Entertainment and ShowBT Philippines Corp.,  here is the music video.

With the release of her peppy Christmas song “Pasko Kasama Mo” via WATERWALK RECORDS and Sony Music Entertainment, Filipina singer-songwriter Hazel Faith spreads holiday cheer.

Bringing back the gilded memories of Christmas and reminding listeners why it’s the best time of the year, “Pasko Kasama Mo” sees the budding superstar revisiting the holiday experience with technicolored bounce, funky chords, and a ’80s city pop lilt.

“My mother has been asking me to write Christmas songs since forever,” says the multi-talented act. “But I had a hard time writing my own because I felt like all the great Christmas messages had already been made. For that reason, and the truth that I only saw Christmas as a tradition, left me uninspired. But after the Lord renewed my faith, it’s like my vision turned technicolor. Suddenly, I was excited to celebrate Christmas. Not because of the parties, the foods, or the gifts but because I was finally looking at the One whom Christmas is all about. Truly Christmas felt hollow without Christ himself. And that led me to writing Pasko Kasama Mo. This was finally something I had a unique perspective to.”

The track was written by Hazel Faith herself, and was arranged, produced, mixed, and mastered by Albert Tamayo, a good friend of the gospel-pop sensation. Faith, in particular, felt eternally grateful to Tamayo for being part of her music journey and lending his talent to the project.

“It’s a joy for me to be able to showcase his genius in Pasko Kasama Mo as well,” adds Hazel Faith. “When it came to the vibe, it was probably influenced by my feeling of nostalgia and then looking forward to all that is new. But honestly, I just told kuya Albert to make it sound like a station ID.”

With the help of Grammy-winning composer Jungee Marcelo and a rap verse by Jericho Arceo of WATERWALK RECORDS, “Pasko Kasama Mo” successfully portrays the joy and spirit of Christmas with a retro-modern vibe. It’s a bop that evokes the cozy coziness of a house and is brimming with life, vigor, and unmistakable personality.

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Listen to Hazel Faith’s “Pasko Kasama Mo” here.