“Bastusan na!”

Not a lot of bands can get away with having this as a slogan. It’s rude, it’s harsh, it’s nasty, and how would all those conservative ears react? But they get away with it, because, well, that’s how their music sounds!

The band in question needs no introduction. They’re Kjwan, one of the biggest—and loudest—rock acts in the Philippines.

The Manila-based group has been unstoppable since the members got together in 2003, pounding eardrums with their unforgiving sound, most notably in the foot-stomping first single “Daliri”. Over the years, Kjwan—whose current lineup consists of Marc Abaya, Boogie Romero, Kelley Mangahas, and Inky de Dios—have become a favorite among head-banging, hard-rocking Pinoys everywhere.

After Kjwan’s self-titled debut in 2004 came two more albums that saw them improving on and adding softer elements to their rock formula: 2 Step Marv (2006) and 13 Seconds to Love (2009).

In 2007, Kjwan snagged the grand prize at the first IKON ASEAN music competition in Malaysia, where they beat out 30 other Southeast Asian acts in the group category. With an international triumph under their belt, Kjwan was granted the Ani ng Dangalaward by the Office of the President and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and were honored as anInternational Awardee at the 21st Awit Awards. Oh, and they also have a slew of NU Rock Awards, MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards, and MYX Music Awards to their name.

Kjwan is set to release new material in three four-song installments in 2012, beginning with Kjwan IV: Volume One, which was launched earlier this year.

Press play on the videos below for a hit of Kjwan’s brand of rock.

and here's the music video of their current single, Walang Kaso, of their new release

Rock out as Kjwan wrecks the stage at the first-ever Manila Music Festival, happening on May 1 at the Alphaland Bay City, Paranaque City.

When we hear the words “international DJ”, the image that most likely comes to mind is that of a fair-haired, tight-shirted Caucasian male lording over the decks as a sea of sweat-drenched clubbers sways below him. The imagined DJ in question would possibly be American, but most likely European.

As his name suggests, Shinichi Osawa is no white boy. But he sure could give his light-skinned, blue-eyed peers a run for their money.

Shinichi Osawa is one of the most prolific electronic superstars to come out of the Eastern hemisphere. This DJ/producer/remixer started out as the leader of the acid-jazz collective Mondo Grosso in Japan. When the group disbanded, he worked as a producer for a number of Japanese pop, jazz and R&B acts. He eventually resurrected the Mondo Grosso name, releasing two albums to worldwide critical acclaim.

But his biggest break came when he dropped the jazz as well as the Mondo Grosso moniker and did an about-face with the electro-house album The One in 2007. It featured his infectious, party-starting cover of The Chemical Brothers’ “Star Guitar” with Au Revoir Simone on vocals.

London-based dance label Southern Fried Records later picked The One up for European release, firmly planting the prodigious Asian on the global electronica map.

Since then, Shinichi has shared the stage with no less than Fatboy Slim, Pete Tong, Erol Alkan, 2manydjs, and LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy. He has also reworked tracks by Snow Patrol, Jamiroquai, Kings of Convenience, La Roux, Basement Jaxx, Van She, Boys Noize, Felix da Housecat, and Digitalism, stamping their singles with his glitch-infused, guitar-suffused electro-house goodness.

Hit play on the videos below for a Shinichi Osawa original, a cover, and a remix:

See Shinichi Osawa wave the flag for Asian house music at the first-ever Manila Music Festival on May 1 at the Alphaland Bay City, Paranaque City.

Anyone who’s been to a major music congregation like Coachella in the US, Laneway in Singapore, or the recently held Malasimbo in Puerto Galera knows that the festival experience is all about two things: (1) enjoying great live music by a dizzying gaggle of great acts, and (2) doing it in a setting where you’re surrounded by folks who dig the sounds as much as you do.

That feeling of fierce camaraderie you build with your friends when you spend a whole day together at a festival—not to mention the infectious thrill of seeing your shared favorite bands in one venue—is enough to make you want to join hands and break into song.

To help make your festival experience one that will merit a special spot in your music-loving hearts for all eternity, we gleefully present to you the Manila Music Festival BUNDLE TICKET SALE!

For only Php6,000 for a group of five people, you can save up to Php800 each! You get more savings the bigger your group is; the bundled ticket price is Php10,000 for a group of 10 people, giving you up to Php1,000 in savings each!

You may order your group tickets here. We urge you to order soon; the promo runs from April 16-25 only!

Regular tickets go for Php1,500 (pre-selling) and Php2,000 (at the door). Tickets are available via Ticketworld. Watch this space for the list of other venues where tickets are sold.

Go ahead, let your buddies in on Manila Music Festival’s BUNDLE TICKET SALE! Plus, your barkada will be among the first-ever Manila Music Festival’s pioneer audience. How’s that for a bonus?

All you DJs out there, read below!

LINK TO APPLICATION FORM: http://tinyurl.com/7w3wyc3 

The Manila Music Festival site is a 200 meter x 150 meter portion of reclaimed land right along the coast of Manila Bay. The perimeter of the festival grounds is literally meters away from the sea wall. This is a portion of Manila Bay where the air is fresh and there is wide open breathing space. This is definitely a priceless feature in a city as dense as ours. It's located on Alphaland Bay City, Aseana Avenue in Paranaque with access from Macapagal Avenue (near the Mall of Asia)

Prepare to be overwhelmed... by a whole lot of blues! 

and couple this awesome aview with your favorite tunes, and you have Manila Manila Festival. See you on May 1 everyone.

Utter the words A Tribe Called Quest in hip-hop circles, and you’re bound to draw appreciative murmurs and deferential nods.

The highly-touted, platinum-selling hip-hop group made up of MCs Q-Tip and Phife Dawg and DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad slinked coolly into the burgeoning 80s hip-hop scene with their eclectic jazz-and-funk-infused rap rhythms, and the sound of hip-hop would never be the same since. Just ask Kanye, Pharrell,Ludacris, Outkast, and The Roots—all self-confessed fans of ATCQ.

With ATCQ’s name casting such a tremendous shadow over each of its members, it’s easy to assume that they could never measure up to the group’s iconic stature once they set out on their own after the group’s split in 1998. But Ali Shaheed Muhammad begs to differ: whether as a solo DJ, rapper, or producer, he’s doing ATCQ’s legacy every bit of justice.

Practically a kid when he formed ATCQ at 15 years old, Ali has since honed his smarts to become a production whiz. Together with Q-Tip and Jaydee, Ali put up production company The Ummah in 1995. His post-ATCQ output also sees him working with Faith Evans, Mos Def, and D’Angelo. He later teamed up with En Vogue’s Dawn Robinson and Tony! Toni! Tone!’s Raphael Saadiq to form the supergroup Lucy Pearl.

Ali boasts four Grammy nominations to his name: two as a member of ATCQ, one as part of Lucy Pearl, and another one for his work with D’Angelo.

Ali released his solo debut album Shaheedullah and Stereotypes in 2004, which features the song “All Night”. Hit play on the videos below for a sampling of Ali Shaheed’s beats with ATCQ, Lucy Pearl, and as a solo act.

See for yourself what makes Ali Shaheed Muhammad a hip-hop heavyweight as he takes the stage at theManila Music Festival on May 1 at the Alphaland Bay City, Paranaque City.

Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine, The Chemical Brothers—all these hip-hop, rock, and electronic greats bow down to a certain music legend named Afrika Bambaataa. 

Who’s he, you ask? Bam has "only" been christened one of the three “Godfathers of Hip-Hop”, an honor he shares with fellow breakbeat pioneers DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. He is widely revered in hip-hop circles as a foremost figure of the movement when it sprung from the Bronx, New York in the late 70s and early 80s. 

Other monikers frequently attached to his name are “The Amen Ra of Universal Hip-Hop Culture”, “Father of the Electro-Funk Sound”, and “Master of Records”.

Singles like “Planet Rock”, “Looking for the Perfect Beat”, and “Renegades of Funk” have been covered, sampled, remixed, and referenced by everyone from Paul Oakenfold to LL Cool J—just goes to show how seminal and far-reaching his sound is. Hit play on the videos after the jump for an Afrika Bambaataa primer.

Besides being a hitmaker, Bam is an advocate of hip-hop as a vehicle for social change. A life-changing trip to Africa turned this erstwhile gang leader into the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, a collective of socially awakened DJs, rappers, break dancers, and graffiti artists that counts KRS-One, Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Jungle Brothers among its brethren.

In 1990, Life magazine heralded Bam one of the “Most Important Americans of the 20th Century”. In 2007, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, putting him firmly in place as one of the leading lights of hip-hop.

Pay homage to hip-hop visionary Afrika Bambaataa as he shares the stage with groundbreaking international and local acts at the first-ever Manila Music Festival, happening on May 1 at the Alphaland Bay City, Paranaque City.



Afrika Bambaataa
Click here to like AFRIKA BAMBAATAA's facebook page

Manila Music Festival
twitter: Twitter.com/ManilaMusicFest
facebook: Facebook.com/ManilaMusicFestival 

Want to be the opening act of the first ever Manila Music Festival? Here’s your chance!

Mechanics

1. Contest is open to Philippine-based indie-rock bands.
   
2. The band must have at least 45 minutes worth of original music. No cover songs. The band must present proof of this as part of the application requirements.
   
3. Application period is April 10 – 15, 2012 (3pm, local time) only. Only applications via the Manila Music Fest Indie Band Competition Application Form will be screened.
   
4. Screening process is on April 15 & 16, 2012. Festival organizers will make sure that all applications adhere to stipulated requirements.
   
5. Approved applicants will be subject to online public voting via the Manila Music Festival Facebook page from April 17 – 24, 2012.
   
6. The band with the highest number of votes at the end of the voting period (April 24, 2012 22:00 local time), wins!
   
7. The winner will be announced on April 25, 2012.
   
8. The winner will open the Manila Music Festival on the main stage on May 1, 2012.
   

Application forms are available here: http://tinyurl.com/83ev9pw

And to all the fans and band-friends, now's the time to help your favorite musicians be a part of history. Once the public voting starts, it's all on you guys to get them on stage. Like that post, share it, tell all your friends and watch them on May 1, 2012 at the Alphaland Bay Area for Manila Music Festival.

Follow us on twitter: Twitter.com/ManilaMusicFest
and like us on facebook: Facebook.com/ManilaMusicFestival