Good tunes from Phillip Eno

Me (Lito Vales) and my wife (Nerissa Vales) are filipino. We're the main members for Phillip Eno and our old band Uncletoe's Portasound. I'm also in The 88th, Oh Yeah!, and Templestay Forever; but the other members aren't filipino....I will be releasing a solo project, Hormencio, later this Spring.

OT: Hi, How are you?
PE: Doing fine.

OT: How did you begin making music?

PE: Nerissa and I started recording music when we moved to NYC in the 90s for art school.

OT: Can you tell us who are the people behind Phillip Eno?
PE: Phillip Eno started with me and Nerissa, as a side project from our old band Uncletoe's Portasound. Then our friends Ken Fernandez, Russell Hubley, and Katy Dauble joined along. Other friends contribute on a regular basis (Drew Wheeler, Phil Papas, Michael Ward and others)

OT: What is your favorite piece of production gear?
PE :I'd say my 12 string rickenbacker, but that's not really production gear, huh? How about my roland groovebox?

OT : What are your particular musical skills/abilities?
PE : I play different instruments (guitar being my main instrument), but producing music is my favorite. Nerissa also plays everything, but mainly vocals and violin.

OT: What was the inspiration behind the music?
PE :Growing up with bands like Joy Division, The Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, New Order, The Jazz Butcher, Primitives, Pale Saints, Stereolab... And present bands like Sambassadeur, Broadcast, etc...

OT : What might we expect from the future from Phillip Eno?
PE :This year, Phillip Eno will be releasing 2 new albums, part of our Cactus Killer label's new box set. An acoustic album of older songs, and an album with brand new material.

OT: Another questions sir, About the upcoming 2 albums, where/how can they be purchased from?

PE: The 2 upcoming albums will be available on our website for free downloading. If anybody wants an actual cd, they can order it thru our website store.

OT: can you tell us something about the Cactus Killer Radio/Products?
Do they feature other Filipino artists too?

PE: Cactus Killer Products is or label we started to house our band recordings, as well as our friends' bands. We also catalogue design, art, photo, video, and book projects under Cactus Killer Products. Cactus Killer Radio (podcast) was started to promote our music. As i continued the podcast, i started adding new, lesser known, indie music i'd find that i thought would fit with our music.
As of now, we don't have any other filipino artists on the label, but hope to in the future. I've been talking with Madness from the 7th floor about collaborating. Maybe we can release it on the label.

OT: Who were your musical influences?

PE: Joy Division, the Smiths, New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, Bauhaus, Jazz Butcher, Stereolab, Pale Saints, House of Love, Primitives, Broadcast, Kate Bush, Throbbing Gristle, Altered Images, The Jam, The Church, Magnetic Fields, Heavenly, Pixies, etc... Factory records, 4AD, Morr Music, Postcard Records, Sarah Records, Labrador Records, C86, Tweepop, etc.

OT: Thanks Lito! Cheers!

Myspace Link: Phillip Eno

Madness From the 7th floor

Hello, How's everything going?

Everything is A-okay!

What are you currently up to?

aside from procrastinating, i am currently in the process of starting an alternative band. and from time to time i produce music for friends who needs background music for their films.

Who were your influences?

Radiohead, The Dead Hours, Supercar, Secret Frequency Crew, Midori Hirano, Yano, Grin Department,
Cambio, Monsterbot, U2, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Explosions in the sky, life, my surroundings, experiences, madami po!

Can you tell us the Brief history of Madness from the 7th flr plus the style of music you play?

MFt7F started when the band i was in disbanded, i was looking for some sort of outlet where i can put my ideas. my friend at the time was using fruity loops, so i tried it out, and it was easy to use, so i was making pieces from there and then booom. the big bang = mft7f.
about the style, i dont really have a particular style that i follow, it is very organic when i make the pieces, quite ironic that i use a computer to make them eh? hehe. it is what it is.

How did you come up with a name? :)

this name was just temporary to tell you the truth, i was still looking for the right name for the sound that i have. so mft7f was just a random name that i came up with at the time, and it sounded pretty good, but ultimately i ended up using this as the name.

Any other new bands and/or new albums that you would recommend checking us out?

you guys should check out this korean folk indie group called "Bluedawn." I am a big fan of them. Too bad they broke up. and check out this swedish indie pop artist called Jens Lekman, also a big fan.

Any last words? :)

Libre kita ng fishbols sheng pag balik ko sa pinas this december. You make a lot of artists happy! keep it up po.

Link: myspace

pictures from http://www.myspace.com/madnessfromthe7thfloor

Say hi to Spazzkid

I use: My Imagination, Ableton Live, Reason, Fruity Loops, a Dozen plugins and effects, Guitar, Toy Keyboards and my voice
I like: milk tea, independent and obscure music, taking long walks, good food, learning new stuff and travelling.
My music: is a mix of stuff that I’d like to hear
I come out: normal most of the time

I enjoy: listening to music, watching bands that I like, reading stuff I find interesting, watching TV: discovery and national geographic
I haven’t: shaved a few days already
Sometimes: I’m idealistic, but aren’t we all are?
I would really like: to go to Japan, France and Germany someday and experience first hand how the music scene over there is.
I tend to: be really annoying at times J I have an album hopefully coming out within the year. So please watch out for that

Another thing that I’d like to know more about spazzkid,

You have close musical connections with other artists – how do you collaborate and how did you begin working together? Can you list down these people you’ve worked with?

Yes, most of these collaborations were sent over online. The wonders of modern technology enables the tech savy musician to send over riffs and sound samples over the internet to a partner in crime who would then arrange or add-into the sent track. Most of the musicians Ive worked with were either a) online friends bound by same musical tastes or b)friends of friends.

Some of the people ive worked with and are currently working with are : Paofario Diaz (of El Mercurio), Eggboy (Diego Mapa ), Owel Alvero (Bandang Shirley), Carlos Tanada (Up Dharma Down), Taken By Cars, FoodShelter and Clothing, Mong Alcaraz (Sandwich), Battle City and several remixes for other artists and bands whose names escape my mind this moment.

Thanks mark for sharing us your music and for sparing time to answer our questions. Good luck to you and Cheers!
- thank you very much and congratulations on the job well done! cheers!

Links: multiply, myspace

Photos by Pong (ppagong.multiply.com) and pics from Pki! house party

Blend:er –Cinematic Experimental Electronic Music

How did you start in making electronic music?


As Orbital said, “Electronic music is like garage punk, you use what you got.” When I started dabbling in electronic music production, I just used available resources. I started with tape decks and cassette recorders back in the 90’s. I tried recording interesting sounds, noise manipulation and overdubbing. Then I eventually created music projects using 4-track recorders, drum machines, synthesizers and computers.

Why the name Blend:er?

To connote mind-transporting and soul-stirring sonic concoctions. I also wanted to adopt a name that will capture the whole electronic music production. The intention is to highlight the experimentation involved, the process of putting different sonic elements, the tweaking of parameters, and wondering how it will sound. For me that is the majesty of trial and error in experimental electronic music. There is a thrill in what you can discover and produce. Somehow, it is also like blending beautiful errors.

What is your favorite gear?

My Roland SH-101 synth! Definitely! It is a vintage monophonic analog synthesizer. It is amazing! It is very intuitive. It can produce a wide range of sound structures and textures when you tweak and play it. Some say that only a few people own a Roland Sh-101 in the Philippines. It is quite rare and hard to find. It is a collector’s item already.

What are your musical abilities?
I compose and arrange all the parts in my tracks, from melody to sound processing, textures and dynamics.

Aside from electronic music production, I also play synth, guitars, bass and drums. Recently, I just bought an esoteric harp called “Suzuki Harp”. I’m learning how to play it. It looks like a typewriter at first glance. But, I really started as a guitar player. Back in the early 90’s, my brother introduced me to trash metal acts like Anthrax. He bought a drum kit and started playing drums for a trash metal band. Shortly after that, I got interested in playing guitars. Then, I also discovered bands like Led Zeppelin, Sonic Youth, Helmet and many others. At the same time I was listening to electronic acts like Orbital.

Right now, I approach the guitar more as timbral source. But I’m focusing on playing and tweaking synth, music programming and sound design. I play with a guitar sessionist who handles the guitar parts during gigs if necessary.

I’m currently looking for a violinist, cello, xylophone and a harp player, preferably based in Cavite also. If anyone is interested and want to join the fun, you can contact me via e-mail. Just send an e-mail to blender_musika@yahoo.com.

Please tell us more about your track entitled “Eudoxia Vervain’s Don’t Take your Life (Blessed the Soul Blend:er Remix)?

The original track was composed and performed by Eudoxia Vervain, a classical piano-trained solo artist. It was a song on the gravity of suicide. She said that one of her friends who heard it believes that it will help not only those who have attempted suicide, but also those who are contemplating suicide. My remix version is a mixture of classical, cinematic tension, experimental electronics, ambient noise and cut-up spoken word.

I heard that it is now being played on a net radio?

On Joko Jun Net Radio, an independent Filipino Internet radio based in Canada. Electronic music is being played every Thursday and Friday. To request the song you may send an e-mail to webmaster@jokojun.com.

By the way, I am open to collaborations and remix projects. It would be interesting to have collab/remix projects with indie pop, hardcore, shoegaze or ethereal bands. If there are also indie film makers who need soundtracks or someone to do the sound design for their film projects, they can contact me via e-mail also.

What do we expect from Blend:er?

Lately, I’ve been doing some personal tracks dedicated to my girlfriend, who is now in California. She just left last January. It is my way of transcending distance and telling how I love her. There is a nice feeling when you create music for a loved one. It is so unique and personal because it is not something that you just buy from a store.

For projects, watch out for an international compilation coming soon. Aside from gigs, I will also work with some film makers, animators and visual artists for studio projects.

I’m also planning to release an EP this year. I am thinking of creating more touching and uplifting music. I remember what some people say about Mozart and Beethoven. They say the Mozart can bring a listener to heaven, while Beethoven can bring down heaven to the listener. It would be nice to create that feeling within the context of electronic music production. It is like creating a divine connection and bringing back all the glory to God. I believe in the Parable of Talents. We are all stewards of talents and skills given to us. We have to unfold, hone it and bring something back. I wish to create tracks that would leave something to a listener, and add more to life. It is similar to a cinematic experience, like bringing in your heart and soul something for the rest of your life after listening to the music.

Thank you Blend:er! Any parting words?

Thank you very much to Overtune Project! Cheers for you! If anyone wants to learn more about electronic music, experimental noise, and sound art or if you want to check out other artists, feel free to join Electronica Manila Yahoo Groups or S.A.B.A.W. Yahoo Groups.

Check out also the gigs and events organized by S.A.B.A.W., New Media Arts Manila (NMAN), Experimentation in Sound Art Tradition (E.X.I.S.T.), Chris Manifesto of Circa 1849 and LOCALl://e! Lastly, let us keep the bayanihan spirit alive. Let us love our country and take care of the environment. Thanks again!


Link Multiply: blend:er
Link Myspace: blend:er
Location: Cavite, Philippines