Fresh Plays Vol. 1

I can not put any further emphasis on how streaming sites like Netflix and Spotify became part of my daily routine. It makes my day/night go smoother. I have recently made a personal playlist for indie Filipino acts that I really enjoy listening to. I named it 'Fresh & Manik', because the name 'Various Artists' is already taken.

On a previous blogpost (here), I have mentioned the priceless joy and excitement in discovering fresh sounds especially from new artists. [Insert 'kilig' moment here.] There's too many to mention, but for this post I will be sharing 4 artists that restores my faith and fandom in music.

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Reese Lansangan.

This 20-plus year old artist have accomplished a LOT that it probably filled up her CV: a fashion designer, visual artist, singer, songwriter, perhaps a master juggler as well. Her album Arigato, Internet! is a goldmine of clever lyrics and indie-pop with a folksy touch. Her song Autopilot is on the playlist. Exploration No.5 is also worth, ahem, exploring. Its music video is also a must-see for visual artists, or for any aspiring artist looking for inspiration.

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The Putings.

There are tons of upcoming local rock bands, but not all are rolling. The Putings bring a fresh vibe to the band scene as evidenced by their single Craziest Feeling being up voted on local FM stations. They recently launched the MV for the song, and the catchy 'OooOO-wuuhooOo' will play on your head for days. Rumor has it that this 4-man band inspired Vladimir Putin's name, and not the other way around. Watch out.

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B.P. Valenzuela

For better understanding of the musical genius of B.P. Valenzuela, try to play and view this video of her live-gig. Before, I never gave much credit to electronic musicians. But seeing it live gave a whole new perspective for me. It is entrancing.

Despite her precision and careful use of electronica, her soulful tunes and her honest voice stands out. A true artist sounds great on their recordings, but as shown on this video, a great artist is someone that sounds much better live.

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BennyBunnyBand

Bennybunnyband is a band that is exemplified by its name: quirky, fun and easy on the ears. Their sound is energetic, in which they proudly call 'Kuneho (Filipino for Rabbit) Rock.' Their lyrics are borderline emo and cheesy but injected with unique rabbity rock feel. They've been on the indie scene for years, but given the right moment they'll surely hop in with incredible success.

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Those are just some of the fresh artists that will soon rule the airwaves. So give them a try, pop in your favourite earphone gear, and treat your ears in fresh musical greatness.