Bryan Termulo Bloggers’ Conference

Bryan Termulo

A friend once told me that he wanted to sing Dadalhin, the Bryan Termulo version. At that time, while I remember that I’ve heard the song before, I still had no idea who Bryan Termulo was and couldn’t connect the name with a face. Some time later, I finally saw Bryan when he performed during the 2012 Tambayan OPM Awards. My first impression was that he had some very loud fans who didn’t mind losing their voices as they screamed their lungs out for their idol. Less than two months later, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Bryan Termulo in person during a Bloggers’ Conference held at Moomba Bar & Restaurant.

During the time in between the Tambayan OPM Awards and the Bloggers’ Conference, I managed to catch and take note of Bryan whenever he performed at the Sunday noontime variety show ASAP 2012 with his group Boys are Boys that also include JM de Guzman, Markki Stroem and Alex Castro. But while he currently enjoys regular exposure over at the ABS-CBN, he had his start over at rival station GMA via the talent competition Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 3 where he ended up as the runner up. And things have been on the upswing since he started from there.

He released his debut album, Begin, under BWB Records and Music Production Inc. that included the tracks Bihag and Paano Nangyari. Both of these tracks were featured in the series 100 Days to Heaven which served as the precursor for him to become the Prince of Teleserye Theme Songs. This album eventually won the 2011 Awit Awards Best Album Packaging. Other achievements for Bryan was winning two silver medals in rock and original works, and one bronze in the R&B when he competed at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) back in 2010. Recently, he was also nominated as New Male Recording Artist of the Year at the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Music in 2012.

And now, Bryan has released his sophomore album entitled Hanggang Ngayon, also released by BWB Records and distributed by Star Records. BWB Records president Raul Leynes is optimistic that this album will surpass the success of Bryan’s debut effort. This album has eight songs: six new, original songs and two previously released cover songs as bonus tracks. Minus one versions of all the songs are also included in the album which will satisfy those who want to fashion themselves as the next Bryan Termulo.

When asked during the bloggers’ conference if Bryan had any hand in choosing the songs for the album, he admitted that he didn’t have any choice. He then quickly pointed out rather playfully that he managed to have his personal touch on the album through the printed lyrics in the accompanying postcards that were done in his handwriting. But he stressed in a more serious way that whenever he is handed out songs to sing, he makes sure that he studies it, then he pours his emotions into it as he draws from past experiences, and therefore stamping his own mark into the tracks hopefully affecting those who would listen to them. He also stressed that it was a conscious decision to have all the songs in Filipino so that it will be unique and will be able to connect more to the Filipino listeners. He does entertain the possibility of being able to penetrate the overseas market. But for now, he wants to firmly establish himself in the Philippine market.

After the arriving at home from the event, I immediately put his album for a few spins to hear from myself the rest of the tracks without any distractions. Bryan did sing a few tracks from the album during the conference but some people there were swooning over him which distracted me a bit from his performance. I noticed that Bryan sticks to the classic ballads, the type that speaks of heartbreak that curiously elicit screams from adoring fans during performances. While he possesses a wide vocal range for a male singer which the songs take full advantage of, he doesn’t resort to vocal gymnastics or overdo passages with unnecessary turns which have been sadly equated with good singing by most of the people here nowadays. But I do feel that he needs to have more texture and variety not just in his vocals but in the tracks as well to avoid sounding monotonous. It would be very interesting to hear him record a mid-tempo track someday. Overall, the material contained in this album doesn’t really push the genre forward but instead delivers the tried and tested ballads, relying on emotional hooks and eventually on the likeability and charisma of Bryan. I think that this has worked to his advantage based on his very passionate and loud fans whom I was told do faithfully follow their idol whenever he does his mall tours.

Speaking of mall tours, I can safely bet that Bryan’s fans have already made plans to support him as he promotes his album during these dates and venues:

August 25, 2012 SM Rosario

August 25, 2012 SM Novaliches

August 26, 2012 SM Bacoor

September 2, 2012 SM Center Las Pinas

September 8, 2012 SM Fairveiw

September 9, 2012 SM Sucat

September 15, 2012 SM Olongapo

September 16, 2012 SM Baliwag

September 22, 2012 SM Naga

September 29, 2012 SM Tarlac

I was pleasantly surprised by the aggressive marketing and promotional push employed by BWB Records in regards to Bryan’s second album. The label, which also manages him, is really pushing him into the spotlight since there is no other new male balladeer out there and the likes of Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, Mark Bautista and their contemporaries are now approaching their tenth year in the industry. And while Bryan, now an endorser of Cetaphil as well, has also delved into acting via his previous stints on All My Life, Wansapanatym and Budoy and also the upcoming series Against All Odds, he is still promoted as a singer first. And while he owes his rise in popularity through his cover of Dadalhin, the song will forever be associated with Regine Velasquez more. So the current heavy promotion of his latest single Hanggang Ngayon serves Bryan very well since it is his own song and will forever be associated with him. This single and album does establish Bryan as an artist who also contributes to the resurgence of original works in the local music industry.

The Bryan Termulo Bloggers’ Conference was presented by BWB Records and Music Production, Inc. in cooperation with LionhearTV, Pinoy Magazine, Cetaphil, BND Hair Gallery by Bing Nogara-Dio, Lifeline and Erase Placenta.

Hanggang Ngayon

Tracks:

1. Lagay ng Puso

2. Nasan Ka Na

3. Kung Maibabalik

4. Nagtatanong Lang

5. Aanhin Pa

6. Hanggang Ngayon

7. Dadalhin

8. Pagdating ng Panahon

9. Lagay ng Puso (Minus One)

10. Nasan Ka Na (Minus One)

11. Kung Maibabalik (Minus One)

12. Nagtatanong Lang (Minus One)

13. Aanhin Pa (Minus One)

14. Hanggang Ngayon (Minus One)

15. Dadalhin (Minus One)

16. Pagdating ng Panahon (Minus One)