RAd the music blog: Callalily’s Listening Session and Bloggers’ Conference

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Callalily’s Listening Session and Bloggers’ Conference

October 12, 2012, 7:00 PM

Eastwood Central Plaza

Quezon City

Ever since Minsan, Callalily’s cover of the Eraserheads classic from the Reunion: An Eraserheads Tribute Album came out; I wondered when the band will come up with a studio album containing new material. It had been three years since the band’s self titled album and a lot has happened since then: Alden Acosta left the band, their former label closed their Philippine office and frontman Kean Cipriano ventured into acting and did a project with BBS. But now, Kean and the rest of the band Tatsi Jamnague, Aaron Ricafrente and Lemuel Belaro have gone back to the studio, signed up with Universal Records and are in a thankful mood via their latest single Pasasalamat as they await the release of their newest album entitled Flower Power.

Callalily's Tatsi Jamnague, Aaron Ricafrente, Kean Cipriano and Lemuel Belaro

In anticipation of the album’s upcoming release, Callalily recently had a listening session and a bloggers’ conference preceded by a contract signing over at Universal Records. I was really looking forward to this since I’ve been bumped into Kean a few times in the past few months and I kept asking him when Callalily’s new album would come out. He kept on answering that it would be soon. And sooner than anyone thinks, Flower Power will finally be launched through a special show this October 12, 2012, 7:00 PM at the Eastwood Central Plaza.

Callalily signs contract with Universal Records

First things first, the whole affair started with the actual contract signing by Callalily and Universal Records executives headed by Ms. Kathleen Dy-Go. Then, the band quickly set up for a teaser of their upcoming album launch show by performing three songs, Buhay, Sabik na Sabik and the new album’s lead single Pasasalamat. This single shot through the top of MyMusicStore Philippines' charts and trended on Twitter when it was first released. Throughout the performance of these songs, I got really drawn towards the HandSonic 10 Hand Percussion Pad that Lem was using thinking that it would be a very nice Christmas present to give myself. Then, everyone got the chance to listen to some of the tracks from the upcoming album. The most notable for me was Walang Sumipot, a possible second single, for it featured a very complex drums part that almost never duplicated a measure. This track featured a whole drum kit but I wondered how Lem would pull it off if he used the HandSonic 10 instead during a live performance.

During the Q & A that transpired after the listening session, Kean expressed that this album feels like a first album for them, since they’re beginning anew with Universal Records. And that they hope that the launch happening on October 12 will set the pace for this album. The band chose Flower Power for the title since Callalily is indeed a type of flower and it evokes the movement from the 1960-70s. And they feel like that they are on a comeback campaign after three years since their last album. This new album feels special for them since it’s the first time for the band to go on a collaborative songwriting process in which Kean likened it to building a puzzle. Before, members just came up with a finished song and they would just finalize the arrangement. But now, it’s a more intense process that allowed them to feel the emotions and lyrics more. Also, they teased that Tatsi’s vocals will be showcased on the track called Buhos ng Ulan.

Callalily has been around for seven years and they’ve dealt with each other through the good and the bad. They’ve earned the respect of each other and have learned how to treat each other as family. And there’s nothing left to do but to be thankful as the days tick off until Callalily release Flower Power. See you peeps on October 12, 2012 at the Eastwood Central Plaza!