One Click Straight releases single “Small Talk”

Manila-based pop-rock band Once Click Straight recently released a new single called Small Talk. According to guitarist Sam Marquez, the song is about a common situation most people find themselves in when talking to a person they want to get to know. “It depicts the desperation a person is willing to go through for a…

Deconstructing art: creativity and the creative process

Gourmet. Indie. Hipster. Just some of the words in the English language that are being thrown around so carelessly on a daily basis that their meanings have been twisted beyond recognition. Among all the words being kicked around in daily discourse, one could spark debates that could last for years on what it really is:…

The Vanstock - Under the City

Under the City | The Vanstock’s single launch

It is way past midnight and you're still out in the city, walking. Alone. There's a light drizzle, sprinkling the almost empty streets. Occasionally a cab would pass by, slowing down as it nears you, hoping you'd need a ride. Some buildings are still alive at this time of night. You could tell from the…

UP Jammers’ Club: Bandemonium Battle of the Bands

The UP Jammers' Club, presents BANDEMONIUM battle of the bands First prize is 3,000Php, Certificates await second and third places. Cash prizes for Best Vocalist, Best Guitarist, Best Bassist, and Best Drummer. Contestants are required to perform 2 cover songs plus 1 original song. Each band will be given 20 mins to perform. Auditions/screening of bands…

Embercore: Eight years in the pit

Text by: Kimmy Baraoidan Photos by: Chris Quintana and Kimmy Baraoidan Longevity and endurance are hard to come by these days with fast-changing times, disposable things, and instant everything. Embercore built itself from the ground up. Since 2007, the group has been putting piece by piece together with buckets of sweat, long hours of practice,…

AJ Cosca (left) and Alvin del Rosario of DreadKnot Used (center); and reggae artist Kokoi Baldo (right) jam during the Nalu Music Fest in Baler, Aurora. Photo by Kimmy Baraoidan.

Nalu Music Fest: Two nights of aural bliss

Text by: Kimmy Baraoidan Photos by: Chris Quintana and Kimmy Baraoidan Surfing, the beach, good music. That’s Nalu Music Fest in a nutshell. Three days of paradise. Who wouldn’t want to go? To temporarily escape work and domestic responsibilities was always a welcome opportunity for me. We arrived a few minutes before midnight at the…

Jim Paredes at TEDxADMU

Takeaways from TEDxADMU (Part 1)

Text by: Kimmy Baraoidan Hipster stuff. That’s what one of my clients said I was doing when I told him that I would be away for a day to attend TEDxADMU. One of my life goals is to attend a 'main' TED Talk in the U.S. However, at the moment, I’m financially challenged, so that…