POSPORO(S)Philippine-Spanish concerts in Metro Manila

Spanish flamenco and pop rock singer Soleá Morente and local band Kalayo raise the curtain on the second month of Posporo(s), a series of concerts launched in September by the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the Instituto Cervantes de Manila and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to promote indie music from both countries, making it possible for Spanish and Filipino musicians to meet on stage.

Born to a flamenco singer, as a teen-ager Soleá was raring to devote herself to music but her father, an eminent name in flamenco, Enrique Morente, told her that it was not yet the time, that she should be studying in the university and get to know the world first hand. And so she got a degree in Spanish Philology.

Although as a young girl she would sing with her father in his recordings, her career in music did not start until 2012, when she was invited to collaborate on an album as a tribute to her father by Los Evangelistas, a band composed of four members of Los Planetas and Lagartija Nick, both fundamental points of reference in pop-rock music in Spain, with whom Enrique Morente helped to bridge the gap between flamenco and rock with some masterpieces such as the revolutionary album “Omega”.

Hailing from a family immersed in the flamenco culture, it is no wonder that the songs of Soleá Morente have been influenced by that art form. But what is distinctly her style is that she fuses flamenco with indie music or even acid or psychedelic rock, something that that she sees as the most normal thing to do as she believes that “one should not fear doing things differently from how they have always been thought to be done” (Tentaciones, June 18, 2016). This statement takes shape in “Tendrá que haber un camino” (There Must Be a Way), her first solo album.

Homegrown band Kalayo sets the tone for the performance of Soleá Morente. The group formerly known as Pinikpikan is sure to intoxicate the audience with its hybrid music, mixing traditional Filipino music with international indigenous and

contemporary sounds. Ethnic musical instruments accompany Kalayo´s songs such as the hegalong (two-stringed lute), bamboo poles and sticks, Mindanaoan log drums, gansa and agung (Philippine flat and embossed gongs) as well as djembles (African drums).

Kalayo, which means fire in the Visayan dialect, is convinced that its music is not just a lifestyle but a conviction upholding peace, equality, sanctity of nature and respect for human dignity and rights. “We believe music builds understanding and harmony”.

A fitting end to the concert is a session with DJ Parallel Uno, a.k.a. Pasta Groove a.k.a. Il Primitivo.

Posporo(s) is a musical project under the framework of cultural cooperation between Spain and the Philippines. The key players of Posporo(s) are the independent music scene of both countries, represented by four Spanish bands and the same number of Philippine bands, with different styles and artistic approaches but are all an indication of what is happening in the contemporary music scene in Spain and the Philippines despite a 12,000 km-distance separating the two countries. The main objective is to facilitate the exchange and meeting between Spanish and Filipino musicians on stage and promote alternative Spanish music and introduce to Spanish media and audience some of the most intriguing Philippine bands.

Posporo(s) is an initiative of the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and the Instituto Cervantes with the collaboration of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain, the Association of Singers and Performers (AIE), the Etxepare Basque Institute, Unión Fonográfica Independiente, Rustan’s, Turkish Airlines and the De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde. Posporo(s) has also the collaboration of the creative studio Team Manila, responsible for designing a special edition T-shirt for this series of concerts.

Posporo(s) Part 2. Soleá Morente + Kalayo in concert: roots & crossroadsEvent: Posporo(s) – Soleá Morente with Kalayo Date: October 22 at 9:00 P.M. Venue: 70s Bistro, Anonas Street, Quezon City

Posporo(s) press kit

October

Posporo(s) / October press release

Spanish-Philippine concerts in Metro Manila

Posporo(s)

Guest DJ: Parallel Uno October 22, 2016. 9 pm 70s Bistro

With the collaboration of:Organized by:

Venue partner:

Special thanks to:

Posporo(s) / October press release

Posporo(s) press kit

Her father, the flamenco star Enrique Morente, said that Soleá would slowly find her space because she has so much talent and things should be done well. That is why she first got her degree in Spanish Language Studies and then made her way into music and the artistic scene.

Her singing career started in 2012, when she collaborated in the preparation of an album as a tribute her father by Los Evangelistas, a band composed of four members of Los Planetas and Lagartija Nick, both fundamental points of reference in pop music in Granada as well as in Spain.

In 2015, she presented her first solo album “Tendrá que haber un camino” (There Must Be a Way) in which there are references to the experimental indie music scene of Granada, the flamenco heritage from Sacramonte, the traditional gypsy neighborhood in Granada, the paternal revolutionary beginnings of the album “Omega” as well as some sentimental pop songs written for her by other Spanish musicians such as La Bien Querida and David Rodriguez.

This album is an electric translation from the tradition. In “Tendrá que haber un camino”, Soleá Morente reinterprets poems by Spanish poets such as Antonio Machado and Federico García Lorca. She also covers two songs by Leonard Cohen which in the end have not been included in her father´s album “Omega”. She likewise brings together the creativity of Spanish musicians from the independent music scene and her flamenco background in order to create her own style, an open dialogue where conformism is forbidden.

Albums: Encuentro, 2013. (With Los Evangelistas)

La Ciudad de los Gitanos, 2013. EP.

Tendrá que haber un camino, 2015.

Sangre y Alquitrán, 2016. Single.

Website: http://www.soleamorente.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SoleaMorenteVEVO

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

Record Label: http://www.elvolcanmusica.com/index2.php?com=artista&artista=Sole%E1%20Morente%20&id=44

Soleá MorenteSpain

Posporo(s) / October press release

Kalayo’s music is a powerful blend of Filipino -Asian traditional, western and other contemporary melodies, beats and languages. Pioneers in the Philippine world music scene since the 1990s, Kalayo’s music has evolved from percussive roots music to other-world-ecstatic. Grounded and connected, engaged and detached, all at the same time.

ROOTS AND CONTEMPORARY FUSION

Formerly known as Pinikpikan Band (1989 -2008), Kalayo concocts a hybrid music genre of Filipino traditional, world indigenous and contemporary sounds.

INSTRUMENTS

We use voice as music instrument and music instrument as voice. We play guitar and hegalong (two-stringed lute), bamboo poles and sticks, Mindanaoan log drums and African djembes, Philippine flat and embossed gongs (gangsa and agung) and even aqua drums made from water containers.

NOT JUST A LIFESTYLE

Our music is our belief, our faith. We believe in peace, equality, sanctity of nature and respect for human dignity and rights. We believe music builds understanding and harmony.

MEMBERS

Sammy Asuncion leads the pack, a veteran musician with 45 years of service to the Philippine and international music scene; Carol Bello; Budeths Casinto; Jean Paul Zialcita; DJ Rodriguez; Reli De Vera; and, Kenway Barcelona. We sometimes play with guest artists.

Album: Kalayo Malaya, 2011.

Albums as Pinikpìkan: Atas, 1999

Obra Encantada, 2001

Kaamulan, 2003

Website: https://kalayomusic.wordpress.com

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

KalayoPhilippines

Posporo(s) / October press release

Dj Paralell Uno is a music producer, beathead, vinyl junkie from Manila who is well versed in the music of Manila Sound. As a practitioner of the art of sample-based music, ancient archetypes get broken down and reconstructed, giving these musical pieces new life through modern technology in a way that is palatable to today’s youth.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/feplnY4MMcU

https://youtu.be/5dmXIyguiZo

DJ Parallel UnoA a.k.a. Pasta Groove. Il Primitivo

Philippines

What’s coming up next?

DeloreanSpainThis alternative dance band from Zarautz, which started out in 2000 exploring electronic music, dream pop and many others, has just released its new album “Muzik”, the quintessential of its house music.

TarsiusPhilippinesTarsius is composed of Diego Mapa on laptop and Jay Gapasin on drums. Both individuals are active musicians in the local scene and also form part of two other Manila-based bands: Pedicab and The Radioactive Sago Project.

NOVEMBER 19Venue: XX XX, Makati City

…and many more to come on December 10…

Posporo(s) / October press release

For further information:Iñigo Cerdán Matesanz

Cultural Officer Embassy of Spain in the Philippines

e-mail: emb.manila.ofc@maec.es

With the collaboration of:Organized by:

Venue partner:

Special thanks to:

Follow us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/posporosphilippinespanishconcertsinmetromanila/