We dearly love and enjoy playing twee and indie pop music. However, I cannot disregard the inclination to touch base with my blues, rock and roll and psychedelic roots from time to time. When Playboy Philippines invited us to be part of the roster of artists for the 2011 Rock The Rabbit on September 30 at Elements in Centris, we found the perfect setting for our heavier materials.
The event was headlined by Pinoy classic rock icon Pepe Smith and the equally classic Maria Cafra. We performed after them in a pretty late slot of around 2am to a thinning crowd. We enjoyed the gig and the stage nevertheless and played  our hearts out on two songs. Too much that my aged Fender strap snapped during the first song. Heart Abunda of Tanya Markova was there to save me with his hot pink strap. 🙂
Our first gig at Timbre, despite the rain, wasn’t bad for a Tuesday night. It was delight to find many Filipinos in the crowd and some locals who have been following our music since last year.
A Visit to the Timbre Music Academy
The excitement of the night didn’t wear off till the wee hours of the morning. We overslept during the day crushing our plans to take a stroll around the city. Our itinerary the following day starts with a short stop at Timbre Music Academy. It’s a unique facility that balances the learning curve of their students by providing not only theoretical or technical knowledge but also hone the practical aspects of performing outside the classroom. Timbre operates 6 live music venues across the city, featuring prominent local bands every night and all their instructors gig professionally so they are able to impart practical and proven techniques of a live music performance.
At Timbre Music Academy
Recording my Tip of the Day.
They often ask visiting musicians to contribute a tip of the day to their Timbre Music Academy Facebook page and YouTube channel. The tips can be anything music-performance related and will be recorded inside the academy. I shared some pretty basic strumming tips for those with budding interest in learning how to play the acoustic guitar. Below is the result:
The intro riff is the exact acoustic rhythm section I recorded for our song “The Emperor, The Concubine & The Commoner“. I stressed the importance of learning to play good rhythm. Sure, anyone can be a burning lead guitar player and rip out on solos. But solos occupy a small percentage in most songs, so one’s lead guitar skills are really only ever be as good as his rhythm skills.
Chilling at Timbre @ Old School.
With Sy Low - Timbre's Music and Marketing Manager.
Right beside the academy conveniently lies Timbre @ Old School, an acoustic bar nestled amid creative agencies and art galleries. This acoustic music space and watering hole’s laid back ambiance is just perfect for chilling out. It’s already open early in the afternoon. We chilled out and chatted for a while with Sy Low. She is Timbre’s music and marketing manager and the one directly taking care of us. She shared some of her interesting experiences with musicians they invited over to perform like Bob Dylan and some tidbits from past events.
If you’re an indie band playing indie music, what are the chances of getting on the commercial train in the current climate of our music industry? Not very high, of course. Rejecting what artists are force-fed, and the decision that we can do better ourselves is the fundamental premise behind the existence of indie labels, especially in the case of Lilystars Records.
When opportunity knocks
A few years ago, when I ceased to distress myself over the things that is crippling the health of indie and commercial pop music, I get relieved when once in a while, we receive a knock of opportunity that recharges our battery of hope to thrive and continue. The opportunity to gig abroad was one of them.
Last year, we had a very memorable experience at Baybeats in Esplanade, Singapore. Our first festival gig in a foreign country. A year after, we found ourselves back in the streets of this marvelous city, this time to perform intimate shows in a bar setting. We aren’t so good at finding gigs, much less having an ear and awareness for these types of engagements. Luckily, they find us.
As early as July, we received a generous invite from Timbre Group, a company with a diversified portfolio of a holistic and synergistic range of music, lifestyle, entertainment and education brands, to perform on September 13 and 14 in one of their live music bars – Timbre @ The Substation.
The experience was equally memorable as the last one. We got to play more songs (an hour each per night), meet and greet more people, sell more records and more drunken nights with just the four of us getting plastered in a back alley where Spicy Thai Thai Restaurant is located, helping ourselves with large bottles of Carlsberg (600+ml) and extra spicy Thai and Indochinese food till 3Am.
Day 1 in Singapore
We arrived at Changi International Airport a day earlier after boarding the first flight via Tiger Airways. Ben and Sy of Timbre welcomed us and took us to our hotel along Dickson Road. Along the way, i brought up the topic about the Old Changi Hospital, asking if the way it was documented in that horror flick is accurate. He shook his head and discouraged us from visiting that place, considered as one of the scariest places in Singapore. Try watching Haunted Changi to see what it looks like inside out.
We rested for a while and did a short tour of Little India complete with authentic Indian cuisine for lunch. Early evening we decided to visit Marina Bay Sands. Along the way, we kept admiring their ultra convenient bus and train system, so far in comparison with what Manila has to offer.
At Marina Bay Sands mall.
We were able to catch Wonder Full, the free spectacular light and water show, the largest in Southeast Asia. The show employed the mediums of giant water screens, vibrant multicolored high-powered Lasers, search lights, spot lights, fountains, surround sound, strobes, LED lighting, video projection and other special effects. The sights and sounds were astounding and breathtaking. A goosebumps galore moment for all of us.
Wonder Full is definitely a cheap thrill of world-class architecture and musical direction everyone visiting Singapore must see.
It was the best nightcap ever. The weariness from lack of sleep and travel blues was instantly swept away.
Waiting for the bus.
At the Substation – Sept 13
Well rested the following day, we headed early at The Substation where the Timbre branch is located to do a sound check. It was a sizable open-air venue which can hold around 250 people or more. Pretty big actually. We were expecting a closed, intimate space but the ambiance kind of feels like home.
Early sound check at Timbre @ The Substation
A view of one side of the venue from the stage.
Getting the hang of it.
When we finally got the feel of the sound and the stage, we killed the next hour with pizza and bottles of Heineken. Surprisingly, there were a number of Filipino employees working at the bar. And did I mention the front desk lady at our hotel is also a Filipina? One can expect great service on such occasions.
Pizza and beer with our roadie Antonette.
Danny Loong, Timbre's co-founder and creative director, introducing us to the crowd during our first night.
It began to rain the moment we climb the stage to begin the show. We had the pleasure of being introduced by the creative director and one of the founders of Timbre Group – Mr. Danny Loong (who also happens to be an excellent blues guitarist). I was able to chat with him earlier about the music scene in the country and a possible collaboration with Lilystars to bring in great Singapore acts to Manila and vice-versa. Something worth considering especially with the kind of hospitality, promotion and exposure they are giving The Camerawalls.
We also met some folks from Requiem Rising Singapore. An events production group consisting of Filipino young professionals and artists and indie/new wave music enthusiasts. One of their members Deo Virtucio, was kind enough to share some black and white pictures he took during the event. See them below:
Every number has a certain power which is expressed both by its symbol to denote its representation and by its connection to universal principles. Numbers have relationships with all things in nature, thus making them supremely powerful symbolic expressions.
This is based on Numerology – the study of numbers and their influence in our lives. While I do not practice or subscribe to this, it’s fascinating to sometimes look up on spiritual meanings behind numbers and explore how it applies to us for our own personal coherence on the subject. For instance, it’s significance to the anniversary of our band. We recently celebrated our fourth year as a group on September 9 at Gweilo Bar in Makati to welcome what we considered The Camerawalls’ founding date, which falls on September 10.
The symbolic meaning of number Four deals with stability and invokes the grounded nature of all things. Consider the four seasons, four directions, four elements all these amazingly powerful essences wrapped up in the nice square package of Four. Fours represent solidity, calmness, and home. A recurrence of Four in your life may signify the need to get back to your roots, center yourself, or even “plant” yourself. Fours also indicate a need for persistence and endurance.
Stable, grounded, solid. — Perhaps those four years of struggle and trying out new things on our own has made us experience enough to consider such. Humbling episodes year after year. I had the pleasure of working with great people, some of them good friends, to be able to come through with the challenges of getting back to my roots and be an indie band.
Looking back at the year that has passed, here’s a modest list of interesting events that happened to The Camerawalls since our last anniversary celebration:
1. Recruited a new drummer, Joseph Rudica, who’s also from Bulacan and drummer of twee pop band The Gentle Isolation. Related story…
2. Went back to Sonic State studio with producers Jonathan Ong and Robert Javier to record a new EP.Related story…
3. Released “Bread & Circuses” EP under Lilystars Records. The EP was launched on December 11, 2010 at Ayala Museum. Related story…
4. Fronted for the China Crisis during one of their shows in Manila. Related blog…
6. Our single Bread and Circuses, was named semifinalist in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition in the Folk/Singer/Songwriter Category. Related story…
6. Recently recruited George Carillo, our new electric guitarist, Â finally completing our sound during live performances.
7. Visited Singapore for the second time for a two-night show at Timbre @ The Substation. Related story…
The crowd at Gweilo that night were an odd mix of young students eager to see the band, young professionals, a number of foreigners, and some stray folks in their late 30s and early 40s. The rest are close friends of ours. The younger audiences did came as a surprise. Our music crossing over to high school and college students, without the benefit of radio and tv, is something of value.
To make it worth their while, we played two sets alternating originals with choice covers. Below is our take on a classic Ocean Blue song.
We closed the bar as usual and parted ways around 4AM. I love the intimate vibe our gigs in a small watering hole produces. Strangers meet strangers and like minded people, all infected with the music and camaraderie. We are thankful to all who came, bought the records at 40% off, and partied with us. Many of which have to travel far just to get there. Cheers and on to the fifth! – Clementine
Last week, preliminary to an internet radio performance at UR Faceradio, we posted an open invitation to all who might be interested to join us and become our guests during the show and receive a free copy of our new EP Bread and Circuses. See A Radio Invitation…
The involvement entails an easy task of e-mailing an answer to the question “Why do you like The Camerawalls?” The responses we received were more than heartwarming, enkindling us to the core, enough to inspire an immediate follow-up with new recordings.
“The exceptionally written words in every song catch my attention. Some songs are based in real life situation in which we can learn something good based on the message of a particular song. Another thing is their feel-good music allows me to see the day in an optimistic way.” – Kevin
“Because listening to The Camerawalls is like a perfect book, you bring me to a different world.” – Lori
The Camerawalls live at UR Faceradio with sessionist Carlo Gaa on keys.
“Dahil napakaganda ng inyong musika. Araw-araw kong pinapakinggan ang inyong magagandang kanta at minsan sinasabayan ko rin ng gitara habang kinakanta. Bawat lyrics, melody, instruments ay napakahusay. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil may natitira pang mga musikero na katulad nyo na talagang napakahusay. Salamat din sa mga cover songs nyo dahil nakakatuklas ako ng magagandang kanta kumpara ngayon na parang wala na yung quality ng musika.” – Mark
“I like It so much, because the sound is better than the others, looking back at your debut album ‘Pocket Guide To The Otherworld’, I find all the songs in that album so beautiful and amazing! I’ve never heard any band use rondalla before in a modern song. Then your song “Canto de Maria Clara” was derived from one the books that our National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal wrote. You leave me amazed, where in heaven did you get your songwriting techniques? In your EP Album “Bread and Circuses”, the most I like are “Longevity”,”My Life’s Arithmetic Means” and your single “Bread and Circuses”, I play it always in youtube.com and I always enjoy your songs, dreaming I was in heaven and flying in the clouds. What beautiful music you have!” – Bobby
Law Santiago
“I like the Camerawalls’ music because I am into indiepop and 80’s music (The Smiths, Stone Roses & Pale Fountains). I love the popish guitar sound of the band plus the soothing voice of Clem.Their rondalla/banduria approach when they performed in Club 8 in Manila was superb, eclectic and unique.” – Erick
“This is quite low but I like your music because of its very soothing melody. I am also amazed by the lyrics of your songs, but I cannot fully say that it is really the message that made me like your music because I am not sure if I truly got your message. There are also some songs which I find vague because, I don’t know, maybe I should improve my vocabulary. I salute you for keeping your music as non-commercial one. Sometimes I wonder how people could not know about your beautiful songs and listen to it just like the mainstream ones but I stayed selfish about it… your music’s like a treasure.” – Nicole
Joseph "Bachie" Rudica
“I like the sincerity and truthfulness in your lyrics and I like the creativity in your music! More power!” – JM
“I’m a metal fan pero I matured into your kind of music. I think your music is classy and very mature. It easily connects to my soul. Your music talks to me. Simple yet so much better than all those fast complicated metal. When I’m sad, stressed and hopeless, your music always cheers me up.” – Allen
“It’s different… kumbaga yung recipe ng masarap na pagkain. A masterpiece of lyrics.” – Tessa
Clementine
“Music has played an integral part in the lives of every Filipino and in the lives of every individual in general. It has served as a catalyst in the hustle bustle of daily living whether among the affluent, the middle class nor the less fortunate. It is indeed a powerful medium which can induce multiple response which can either be physiological, emotional, cognitive and behavioral.
Music can influence behavior in ways which are beyond one’s conscious awareness. Further, it promotes relaxation, alleviates anxiety and pain, facilitates communication which goes beyond words and explanation, inspire and soothe the spirit and the troubled mind. It is an essential foundation of our existence and the rhythm of our souls, consequently a few couldn’t live without it.Â
Never before in the history of humanity that an abundance of different genre of music has been made and so easily available in the world today, not to mention it’s accessibility through the advancement of modern technology. The development of electronic media has paved the way to make music more enjoyable. The question as to who and what is worth listening is a vital factor which will define what are we made of and what we value in life.Â
I have always been a music enthusiast and a lover of which that is good, lovely, virtuous and praiseworthy. Though I am not musically gifted I have a penchant of what is simply unique and extraordinary. Ironically, I have never been exposed to live bands not until recently, nevertheless, I knew one is worthy of my time and attention when I see one. The adventurous side of me made me discover zones I should pay attention to – The CAMERAWALLS .
Their music captured and awakened my heart in deep slumber and created a deep impact in me. It has the effect I had previously mentioned above. Never have I heard an all-Filipino band sounded so exquisitely beautiful. Their lyrics were so rich – intelligently, intricately and delicately woven together to create a perfect melody so relaxing and soothing to the human soul. All the three-man-band were equality gifted and oozing with talent and perfectly blend. Keep creating and making good music together. I’ll be tirelessly listening and loving your music ’til eternity passes away! More power and Godbless.” – Cathy
With friends and guests who took home free CDs with stickers and badges.
Many thanks to all participants. We thank you all for taking time and effort to be with us. Let’s do this again when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, see you in gigs!
The Camerawalls 