By Warner Music Philippines, July 23, 2007
Armed with the knack to make the combination of jazz, soul, funk, R&B and good ol' rock n' roll accessible and proudly Pinoy, 2007 will definitely be the year when Warner Music's latest signed act SinoSikat? will break out from their underground/cult fame as the band to beat and once again prove that the Philippines is home to the freshest and most talented outfits via their self-titled debut available now in record stores and popular music shops nationwide.
"Pinoy Soul" replies vocalist Kat Agarrado straightforwardly when asked to define the band's sound, which is in comparison, not unlike the fusion of such artists as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Aretha Franklin into a more local, modern and exciting package. "You have to listen to it to be able to understand it," says Agarrado by way of trying to nail the exact words to describe the music she and bandmates- drummer Reli de Vera and guitarist Nick Azarcon- have been cooking up for the past few years since the band's inception in September of 2004. "Soul comes from within, what is true... the audience will surely feel it when they hear it. It's something original. Made in the Philippines, made by Pinoys" she proudly declares of the album's 10 tracks, nine of them original and one cover of seminal 80s Pinoy outfit The Advisor's "Telepono," as Azarcon says that the music is "more black than white," in addition to the former Passage vocalist's reply. "But for me, I'd rather let the music speak for itself as far as influences go."
In fact, the band's first single, "Turning My Safety Off' is proof that the band's sound, reinforced by powerful and well-received live performances, is both intelligent and accessible, as it enjoyed massive airplay on various radio stations like its video did in the country's major music channels. Its sultry, slow-tempo groove and build best characterizes the direction, yet the band's capabilities are taken up a varying notch with other dazzling displays of talent in tracks like the invitingly wily opener "Akin Ka," the cool slow jam-ish "So Blue," and the pulling-out-the-stops progressions of the funkadelic "Praning" and the upbeat "Prayer." Though the album literally screams of Unbridled energy and attitude, there are also poignant moments where the band explores intimate emotion and sound textures, like on "Pag-lbig" where Agarrado offers a fine display of vocal dynamics, and on the flute-spiced "Tragic Beauty" which is about as perfect as Sunday afternoon coffee as it is a breather from the Traditional straight up rock n' roll the current music scene is riddled with. In a nutshell, SinoSikat? creates music perfect for every occasion, every person... and does so with a rare sincerity not so often heard these days, here and in abroad.
We have good music, we want to reach as many people as possible, to make them realize that there is this kind of music available in this country, not just your run-of-the-mill bubble gum pop-rock."
"When we started the band, I had 3 songs, which we started jamming on and arranging. but the band was just our personal, creative outlet back then, and we played / we gigged for the love of it, for we all had other things to do to make a living," says Kat of the band's origins. "But we were amazed by the response of the people and got inspired to continued to make more songs... and now we feel that 2007 is our year... timing is everything and the time is now! We hope that the Filipino people, as well as the others, would open their hearts and their minds to this new sound, and to support local acts who are unafraid to promote original music locally."
So watch out for the attack of Pinoy Soul's finest perpetrator, SinoSikat? as their much-awaited debut album is now available in stores nationwide, from Warner Music Philippines. To learn more about the band, fans can log on to the band's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/sinosikat1. join the band's Friendster account using their email sinosikat@yahoo.com, and/or their mailing list http://launch.groups.vahoo.com/group/sinosikat. Special thanks to: Adidas Phils., Lee Jeans and El Pueblo Ortigas.
So spread the love, support local music... be part of the Pinoy Soul movement!
View pictures from their album launch