‘Mga Awit sa J.P. Rizal’: New album of classic OPM

From the left, albumco producer Johnny Alegre, songwriter Ramel Mella and program-host George Mercado throughout a listening session. Picture of Hunter Ramirez.

It’s by no means too late for one thing as timeless as a traditional Opm – which describes the seven songs greatest in “MGA AWIT SA JP Rizal” – a brand new album written by a bunch of brothers and sisters referred to as The Melladys, delivered to life by among the most revered skilled musicians within the nation.

The album was produced by Filipino jazzluminary Johnny AlegreWho additionally gathered the all-star forged of collaborators: Medwin Marfil (Truefaith), Jazz Nicolas (The Itchyworms), Mikey Amistoso (Ciudad, The Itchyworms), Noel Mendez (Previously Wyry, Joeyat, Joeyat, Joeyat, Joeyat, Joeyat, Powyat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Powyat, Pownat, Powyat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Pownat, Powyat, Powyat, Pownat, Powyat, Pownat, Pownat, Powyat, Pownat, Pownat, Powyat (Wind. Rats, Kiss the Bride), Rommel Dela Cruz (Previously with Barbie’s Cradle and Freestyle), Paolo Manuel (Kosmikskala, The Jerks), Kakoi Legaspi (Dong Abay Music Group, Rivermaya), Marga Jayy, Alegre and extra. Ria Villena-Oosorio (previously from Bamboo) additionally contributed as an arranger.

Melladys is a play on ‘Mella’, the final identify of the 5 brothers and sisters – Alejandro Khasim, Ynocencio Ramel, Gabriel Thaib, Lolita Sairra and Ephraim Tahir.

Learn: 102 musical acts in OpM -Showcase

Within the Seventies, the Mella brothers and sisters, when youngsters, shaped a bunch of Tanglaw, performed these songs on the guitar and piano whereas dwelling in Rizal Village, Makati, close to JP Rizal Avenue – the inspiration behind the title of the album.

Khasim, the oldest and most musical, died in 1984.

At the moment, Thai, Shaira and Tahir are positioned in the US with their households, whereas Ramel lives in Manila and supervises the traits of the household in Sorsogon. In in the future, time and distance didn’t make their dream to file their unique songs.

The dream began to take form when Ramel once more made contact with Alegre, a former officerate in Ayala Corp. “I began engaged on one tune, which was enjoyable, after which the subsequent,” Aleegra remembers. “Earlier than we knew it, an album was manufactured from a extremely good Opm.”

Trying on the lyrics and construction of the songs, Alegre says it reminded him of a era that made music for its pleasure, freed from guidelines or formulation. “They inform the story of an intensive household of younger associates who gathered after faculty to make songs with out synthetic emotion,” he says. “In some ways they mirrored my very own experiences as a budding songwriter, as many people have been my era [in the 1970s]Once we simply made issues up whereas we went on. ‘

On his selection of musicians to file the album with the Melladys, says Alegre: “I felt that the songs deserved the absolute best inventive spirits. Jazz Nicolas, Ria Villena-Oosorio, Noel Mendez and the remaining are high.

Itchyworms’ Jazz Nicolas. Photograph by Hunter Ramirez

The love songs and life reflections of the album discover alternative ways of expression. “Ikaw, ako” (with Marga Jayy and Mark Laygo on singing) examines the dedication of some collectively, whereas “bit backyard” (sung by Tahir Mella) describes a romantic prospect as an unreachable star.

“Kailangan Ka” (Medwin Marfil about singing) provides hope within the midst of despair, and “Ito’y Para Sa Iyo” (sung by Mikey Amistoso) will get inspiration from nature.

“Dambana” (Carla Guevarra Laforteza and David Ezra) expresses religion and dedication, whereas “Pangarap” (Medwin Marfil) displays on overcoming challenges. “Gintong Panaginip” (Tahir Mella over singing) catches the spirit of daydreams.

Carla Guevarra Laforteza and Medwin Marfil.

Though folk-inspired within the core, “MGA AWIT SA JP Rizal” is musically wealthy of cheerful pop and delicate rock to Bossa Nova, Kundiman and contemplative ballads.

Throughout a preview of the album of the album on Backspacer Data (who supervised the pressing in Hong Kong in Hong Kong), the media grown within the music as a program -Gastheer George Mercado each tune with Alegre and Ramel Mella.

The simplicity and honesty of the OPM numbers will endure the take a look at of time.

“MGA AWIT SA JP Rizal” will likely be obtainable from 18 June as a vinyl launch solely at Backspacer Data. /EDV