From Radio Republic: Empty Boots at the Gate

Archiving articles from my Radio Republic column, Drinking Coffee as the World Goes By:

"But this, the issue of gatekeepers, is something people should think about. When we say gatekeepers, we’re talking about people or entities whom we trust to be the ones to tell us what good music is. Be it Casey Kasem, Francis Reyes, or any other DJ or music figure that we consider has a finger on the pulse of whatever music scene they’re in, they are gatekeepers. They steer us to what’s new, what’s happening, and what is, presumably, the Next Big Thing."

Read more at https://www.radiorepublic.ph/empty-boots-at-the-gate/

From Radio Republic: Generations

Archiving articles from my column in Radio Republic, Drinking Coffee as the World Goes By:

"But the coming of the Internet screwed with the formula. While in the past you could get along on album sales, that’s now more of a cost to be shouldered, rather than a profit center; finding your own way to sell merch or set up gigs for yourself is the name of the game, as is using internet social media and broadcast platforms in a cost-efficient manner."

Read more at https://www.radiorepublic.ph/generations/

The Old Guy's 7 Things to Remember When Pursuing a Hobby or Career in Music

After reading an article by my friend Joey Santos (7 Music Myths New Bands Should Avoid), I figured that somehow, I do have some thoughts on music – coming from being a 41-year-old “hobby” musician. Here goes:

1. Every time you question why you are making music, ask yourself this: Is it because you want to make a living from it, or is it because you love it? If you want to make music seriously, music that you love and you want to make a living from it, then you should start planning everything out. After all, a serious music career is about the same thing as setting up your own company.

2. Making the music that you like is not the same, mostly, as making music that other will like to hear from you. There are no hard and fast answers to this conundrum, because the line in the sand that you must draw between being true to yourself, and accepting that you want people listening to you and buying into your music (literally, as in they will pay you) will be up to you. Sorry, there are no easy answers for this one.

3. Building a fan base is just about as difficult a process as making music you want. That's because you have to choose, in a way, what sort of fans you want to have. There's a delicate balance in between “being true to yourself” and “I will be attractive to a larger fanbase than my friends.” And yes, it takes time and effort, on the same level or near to making the music that got you into all this in the first place. If you want to remain reclusive and just known for your music, then you have to accept that you won't have that big a fanbase, or you better be sure you are a songwriting genius.

4. The question of becoming part of a musical movement, be it based on the music itself, on a generational surge, or a visual look, will always be one of how long you're willing to ride the proverbial wave. In this sense, you have to be as savvy as Madonna at her peak: being able to ride successive trends while retaining a basic identity. Conversely, you can also choose to be independent of any trend – but you have to make sure your individuality is such that your practically an icon waiting to be enshrined.

5. Forget the physical proof of music – in other words, say goodbye to CDs. In fact, the idea of a long-playing album is also suspect. What is important now is to have a regular presence in the online world, be it with a personal blog they can follow, singles that are released regtularly, or with a merchandising plan that keeps people aware of you. These days, you are selling you, aside from your music. People want to buy into you and your music.

6. Gigging is not everything. And the same holds true for writing songs in the studio, as it is for merchandising efforts as well. In other words, balance everything. Yes, this can be very difficult if you have band members to worry about. Again... time management is the key.

7. Do make sure that you have a strategy for using as many social media platforms and communication sites. E-mail lists are important, since you can use them across multiple platforms and mass-emailing services. The same goes for making sure that you maximize your content in two ways: for a general feed, and with some tweaks to maximize for the specific social media platform you will use.


Finally, and this is the #8: HAVE FUN. If you are not having fun, then what the hell are you doing spending so much time on all this in the first place???


*Photograph by Garon Honasan of Cog.

Article - Music, rebellion, and generations: Mamatay ka sa ... ingay?

Music, rebellion, and generations: Mamatay ka sa ... ingay?

Being a music lover, I’ve held the idea or a long time that I could take just about any song and appreciate something in it. Be it pop, metal, rock, jazz, or blues, I figure that there must have been something in it that made its writers want to write it, some sort of truth.

That was, until, I have to say it, I heard songs from Justin Bieber. And Rihanna. And, recently, Daniel Padilla. Now, I’d like to make the qualifier here: I don’t mind the singers themselves, I mean, hey, they’re making more money than I am, that’s for sure. But the songs! Why would anyone want to listen to those songs?

And that was when it hit me: I’m the older generation now.

Click here to read the full article at The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Seven Wishes for OPM, Amended.

Click here for our Facebook site. I'm the bassist. Left-most.

A friend, Vin, linked an article on Facebook. It was about someone's Seven Wishes for OPM. As I read through it, I realized that I had a very different set of wishes. Here are those wishes, and I hope they come true.

1) I wish people would stop obsessing on the traditional ideas of "ORIGINAL" in OPM. Get over it. If it's an original song that takes from popular tropes and types of the day, then it's Filipino as long as it's made by one. Covers? Well, that's a matter of taste. Youtube? Why not? If you don't like it, then go somewhere else. The rule is: never take away from anyone who is trying. That's just a subtle sort of arrogance.

2) Songs start with the writing process. Some people think it may be easy to write, but it really is both a talent and a skill - natural and learned. However it may be, it pays to keep on writing. Didn't get the last song right? Put the lyrics, chords and melody in your library - you never know when the right pieces will come along. And if they don't, take that song as a lesson on what could be improved. Listen to people who diss you with a grain of salt - and pick up the good stuff. The negativity, just leave it behind.

3) Don't blame the kids for not going to the gigs. Face it, it's a new paradigm for kids these days. The best thing to do is to adapt to this reality. Make sure you do have online content - and through that, encourage them to come to the gigs. Learn merchandising, too.

4) Forget the hometown heroes. Just listen to good music, wherever it comes from. Regionality is great, but only if it's worth it. That way, if you do get into the music, you won't have those blinders on, either.

5) If you're in a band, always go for self-improvement. Even if you did get famous on three chords and a microphone, it pays to learn how to play better, write better and perform better. On a selfish note, you'll get damn good at impressing people. On a non-selfish note, you'll end up being a better draw and money's worth for your fans. Both are GOOD.

6) It's good to move on from the classics, but never forget why they're classics in the first place. Yes, I know we're all tried of hearing the 'Heads, Wolfgang, Razorback and Juan dela Cruz songs prepetually being covered, but there's a flip side to it: listen to these songs, figure out why they're the classics, use those lessons to do things your way.

7) Don't wish for someone to save the decade. Just wish that more people will get into music. That more people will love music. That more people will pick up instruments. Forget about saving music, just go out and play.

* originally posted in my Facebook account