Mixing Room

Saturday, June 18, 2005

My son Arnold JR had a passion for singing eversince he was a young boy, but it was just a year or two ago I noticed that he was getting better at it. Now besides continuing his studies, he does regular gigs with his acoustic group called "Soul Ground". He had always been interested in joining singing contests but felt that he wasn't really ready until recently, when upon my encouragement he joined the latest season of Search for a Star in a Million on ABS-CBN.
He got in the top 50 and performed group singing when they were trimmed down to 40.
But he got axed when it was trimmed down to 30. Now for the life of me, I can't understand why after he gave a good enough performance, he got axed. I've been in the music business for quite sometime and I have never been nor will I ever be biased about vocal performance even if it is my son's own. but I do believe that someone who's experienced enough to be in a band and now in an acoustic group and has done various recordings under Star Records and who once filled in as lead vocalist for the Akafellas be taken out so early in the game. You mean the 30 other singers left in the competition were better? Well i guess it depends on what criteria they used for judging. After being praised bythe shows own judges and being observed as one of the better contenders he still got axed.
And that was why my son felt bad, because he felt that he gave a good enough if not better performance than no more than 20 others. It seems like the judging was questionable! or rather the judges don't really have a say on who goes and who stays. I guess whoever made that stupid decision to axe him early in the competion had his or her reason to do so. In total disregard to the so called judges in this so called prestigious competition.
Funny... after doing a recent album for this show, I've always thought it was a "singing" competition and not a popularity contest for who ever is in charge.
Oh well that's fairness for you I guess!
JR my son has gone back to school and still performs regularly when he can since this bad experience has not dampened his passion for music.
I for one will never again work on another album for this "Singing Competition Show" simply because I no longer believe that it is fair and honest.
I guess in the end what matters is the ratings.
I'm proud of you JR and be proud because that show doesn't deserve you.

--MXRR at 12:39 AM
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Thursday, June 09, 2005

Smiling Jon and Bored Arnold... i haven't seen Jon in a while since he's so busy with being judge for auditions for talent shows in ABS.

--MXRR at 2:10 AM
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Hey look at that monster beside me!!!

--MXRR at 2:05 AM
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Here's Sheryn and Jon with Ricky Sanchez and my "dawg" Marlone taken during a break from Sheryn's vocal recordings for her upcoming album.

--MXRR at 2:02 AM
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As promised, here's a studio pic of the new band called Rock Steady... that's teddy on the mic... last seen on that cool Globe commercial

--MXRR at 1:57 AM
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Saturday, June 04, 2005

With Sheryn Regis still in the US and Erik Santos still looking for the right songs... and with Jon M being busy with auditions for the next Search for a Star in a million auditions, i was pleasantly surprised with the work i'm doing for other acts besides the ones i do for Star Records.

First off i'm doing the album of Edwin Marullano who recently bagged the Best Novelty Recording award in the just concluded Awit awards... Edwin wrote and produced the song " Hindi ako Bakla" by Tuesday Vargas, apparently he earned enough royatlties from the song to actually produce an album of his own. With his original compositions as well... none of them in the same vein as his famous novelty hit.

Then i'm also working on an album by the guy in the Globe commercial... the one with music by Radioactive Sago Project ... the tall thin guy with a goatee to boot, his name is Ted so naturally he has a band called Rock Steady... get it Rocks TEDdy? hehe

Then i'm also doing an album for a guy named Mike Bon... he was one of those guys who was into the acoustic scene but is now coming out with a Pop Album ... now this project i like because we're doing everything using live musicians... live drums, electric bassist and live guitars. His pop songs are really something worth waiting for.

I just heard that Nikki Gil will doing vocals in the studio now that she has an album coming under EMI records.

Also we're about to start the album of Shane Corpus, who happens to be one of the finalist from the Born Diva Competition .

And i also have a side project ongoing wherein i'm producing songs myself for a client based outside of the Philippines... this is really cool since we communicate by email and overseas phone calls... and by sending the material and rough mixes via the net.

And i thought that i'd be spending my days mostly in the gym because Jon was kinda busy... oh well... now i hope i have time to do Jon's albums when he comes back to work. :-)

Oh and a note to the people who wants a copy of the " Anghel na walang Langit " theme song... I think it will be available soon as a cut on a compilation album of TV Theme Songs from Star Records though i'm really not sure when this is going to come out.

I think i'll post pics of these upcoming acts soon...
Darn!!! talk about being busy...

--MXRR at 2:43 AM
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