Gel Jose

Embracing the Global Potential of Visayan Pop: PhilPop 2020 Introduces Second Batch of Songs

PhilPop, the country’s premier songwriting competition, returns with an eclectic set of new releases from the finalists of the Visayas cluster.

The sophomore batch takes regional pride to unprecedented heights with its sterling showcase of contemporary pop songs representing authentic Visayan expressions through language, culture, and experience.

Distributed by Warner Music Philippines, the homegrown tracks are available today, October 30 (Friday) on all digital and streaming platforms worldwide. The entries include “Suyo,” composed and interpreted by Noah Alejandre and Reanne Borela also know as the duo reon; “Hinungdan,” composed by Michael Catarina and interpreted by James Gulles; and “Ayaw Na Lang,” composed by Jerika Teodorico and interpreted by Lourdes Maglinte.

Suyo: Love beyond cultural differences

Breaking cultural barriers, “Suyo” tells the story of quarreling lovers from the opposite sides of the country. Over the course of the intricately produced jam, composers Noah Alejandre and Reanne Borela exchange sweet banters to win each other back in Bisaya and Tagalog, respectively.

“This song breaks the norms of OPM songs having only one language and giving emphasis on couples who are from different parts of the country,” Alejandre explains the inspiration behinf the new tune. “Both of us never really experienced being in a relationship, yet we made the song as if we were in one and took inspiration from our imaginations. Reanne took inspiration from her friends who were in relationships and have witnessed how they would fight about the simplest things and get back together right after. They took this as an opportunity to create a playful song that resulted into the song.”

With its understated charm and infectious pop songwriting, “Suyo” stands out for putting a new spin on the classic love song template. It seamlessly blends the charm and tension points of two different languages, showcasing a pure kind of love that goes beyond cultural and geographical differences.

Hinungdan: Subtlety done right

Weaving folk-pop instrumentation with striking vulnerability, “Hinungdan” brings back earnestness and subtlety at the forefront of the songwriting process, allowing words and melodies to wander into the open space and take off.

Cebu-based composer Michael Catarina cites British singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran, Passenger, and James Bay as major influences in writing “Hinungdan”—a song about “a person who is having a hard time telling his feelings for someone.”

Catarino relates to the universal appeal of the self-penned composition, sharing how he felt the same at some point in his life: “I can’t deny but I have personally experienced this as well. Way back then, when I wrote this song, I was just embracing the moment of being frustrated by writing the things that I couldn’t say.”

Ayaw Na Lang: Sultry jam for the lovelorn

According to PhilPop finalist Jerika Teodorico, “Ayaw Na Lang” is a Bisaya phrase that translates to “never mind” in English. “The lyrics are from the perspective of a lovelorn person slowly acknowledging and accepting the fact that although her love interest seems to return even a fourth of the feeling, a romance between them just won’t do,” the Cebuana composer and songwriter reflects. “It’s a very confusing feeling to deal with, and as a songwriter and a person who has a hard time processing my thoughts and emotions, I felt compelled to make a monument out of that half-joyous, half-torturous moment. It was also me trying to assure my love interest that it was fine, and there were no hard feelings after that night.”

From a musical standpoint, there’s nothing over-the-top about “Ayaw Na Lang” in terms of production and arrangement, but its charm lies on the gritty, throwback vibe that arranger and co-producer Anjelo Calinawanbrought to the mix, making it sound like an ‘old-meets-new’ kind of jam. The overall product is something that Amy Winehouse or Duffy wouldn’t mind singing their hearts out, but in the entry’s case, it’s songstress Lourdes Maglintefilling in the shoes to interpret this smoky, jazz-pop originalwith both sass and soul.

“Suyo,” “Hinungdan,” and “Ayaw Na Lang” are now available on streaming and digital platforms worldwide via PhilPop and Warner Music Philippines.

Image and details provided in a recent press release.

Alex Bruce drops infectious new jam “Yakap”

It’s been a very challenging year for the music industry in general, but not for Filipina rapper Alex Bruce, who continues to enjoy commercial and critical plaudits—thanks to her slickly produced, empowering anthems.

Her Wish 107.5 Bus performances of “Mind As A Weapon” and “Pull It Off” have garnered more than a million hits respectively, while the latter earned the young prodigy a record for the youngest female artist to have scored a top 3 on Wave 89.1’s weekly chart. To top it off, the 13-year-old rapper/songwriter has recently teamed up with global hitmaker August Rigo, whose songwriting and production credits include BTS’ “Black Swan” and Justin Bieber’s multi-platinum album, My World 2.0, for the trap banger “Go Crazy.”

With barely two months left for 2020, the feisty newcomer isn’t showing any signs of slowing down with the release of “Yakap,” an endearing love song in hip-hop/R&B form.

Intricately laced with dreamy atmospherics and infectious beats, “Yakap” finds Alex Bruce dealing with her first-hand experience on puppy love and infatuation. Her latest single plays out like a simp-worthy jam: thematically appropriate for Alex Bruce’s age, but charismatic enough to sweep listeners off their feet.

“Yakap is all about my crush,” the bubbly newcomer fondly shares the inspiration behind the urban jam. “Well, if you guys didn’t know, I’m 13 turning 14 this Christmas, and like a normal teenager, I started to experience weird things like puppy love. So for me to express my feelings, I wrote a song about this person.”

The song was a three-way collaboration with Alex Bruce, her dad, who is currently in Australia, and music producer Cursebox. The songwriting, recording, and production were done in a span of two weeks, with the involved heads brainstorming and working together though Zoom meetings to discuss matters related to the new track. Alex adds, “Sometimes it’s hard because I have online class and it’s still very different from homeschooling that I’m used to. I’m still adapting to this kind of set up, all of us are.”

For what it’s worth, “Yakap” truly has the makings of another game-changing hit. It’s another testament to Alex Bruce’s incredibly compelling talent as a rapper, singer, and lyricist—a triple-threat that will surely go to places in the many years to come.

“Yakap” is now available on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

Image and details provided in a recent press release.

Outback Steakhouse, MOA Complex

Are you a steak lover? I know I am!

A big hunk of beefy steak, grilled to tender and juicy perfection, can do wonders for my mood.

A place to be for good steaks is Outback Steakhouse.

Outback Steakhouse is an Australian-inspired steakhouse with a global presence. True to its inspiration from Down Under, it has a casual and easy-going vibe which translate to boisterous fun while enjoying great-tasting and hearty fare with family and friends.

Prior to the lockdowns brought on by the pandemic, I was able to have a lunch date with Hubby at the Outback Steakhouse branch in the Mall of Asia Complex.

First, we were served a loaf of freshly baked brown bread and butter to nibble on while waiting for our orders.

Then, we gave in to out steak cravings with:

Appetizer Platter (Php649). An appetizing combo of Kookaburra Wings, Crispy Fried Calamari and Crispy Volcano Shrimp. The variety of flavors and textures will whet your appetite for more!

New York Strip (Php1,499). A 284g cut of New York strip steak flavored with Outback’s special blend of seasonings then grilled to medium doneness. To go with this, we ordered freshly made sides Coleslaw (Php99) and Aussie Fries (Php129).

Outback Steakhouse halted its operations during the enhanced community quarantine but re-opened in May for takeout and delivery, and, by June, started accepting dine-in guests to sate the steak cravings of the metro’s denizens.

So if you feel like having a hearty hunk of perfectly grilled beef for your meal, do drop by a branch.

This Outback Steakhouse branch is located at Blue Bay Walk, Macapagal Avenue Corner EDSA, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City, open daily from 11am to 8pm for dine-in, takeout and delivery. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 88931026.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

Eastwood Citywalk 1, Libis, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Ground Floor, ATC Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Got my #YabuAtHome, finally!

One aspect of pre-COVID-19 life that I miss the most is dining out.

The excitement as I step into one of my go-to restaurants, the anticipation for my favorite dishes and the joy of biting into familiar flavors and textures… all these are part of the enjoyable experience of dining out.

Some of the dishes I enjoy most when eating out are the katsu sets from Yabu: House of Katsu.

Yabu takes pride in its tokatsu. Thick cuts of premium meat from local farmerd are coated in panko (Japanese bread crumbs) and deep-fried at precisely 165 deg C then allowed to rest. The result: brightly golden katsu with crispy panko coating giving way to juicy and tender meat.

Aside from the freshly-made tonkatsu, each Yabu katsu set consists of refillable steamed rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage and slices of seasonal fruits.

The fam and I enjoy dining at Yabu for the delicious katsu and the unli rice and shredded cabbage. Being able to eat our fill at this resto makes for great value for money.

However. the pandemic made itself known to the world in quite a big way, and with all the restrictions resulting from the quarantine, dining out will never be the same.

There was a time when I despaired of ever getting to enjoy the katsu sets I craved for.

Then, Yabu introduced the notion of enjoying its signature katsu sets without having to leave the house.

Thanks to #YabuAtHome, now available via GrabFood’s long-distance delivery, I had my family’s katsu faves delivered to my home, where we can enjoy them in comfort and safety. These included:

Rosu (Pork Loin) Set (Php460). Thick and juicy pork cutlet with a trimming of fat.

Hire (Pork Tenderloin) Set (Php425). Thick and juicy cutlet with no fat.

Chicken Set (Php430). Thick chicken breast fillet.

Each katsu set comes with pre-packaged katsu sauce, miso soup, shredded cabbage with dressing, and a serving of steamed rice. While we had to waive the unli rice refills, we were able to make do by cooking additional rice at home. Problem solved!

I’m so glad that I won’t be deprived of my katsu faves during quarantine.

This Yabu: House of Katsu branch is located at Lower Ground Floor, Ayala Malls The 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City, open for dine-in and takeout Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm, and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 87293872 or +63 915 5130094.

“Sige, I-cover Mo Lang! Project” attests to 6cyclemind’s enduring appeal

As an initiative to introduce the younger listeners to the generation-defining anthems that conquered the airwaves for almost two decades, Sony Music Philippines and 6cyclemind are finally releasing the special compilation, Sige, I-cover Mo Lang! Project on Spotify and other streaming platforms worldwide.

More importantly, it brings a great opportunity for new artists to breakout in the music scene.
The covers record, which features shortlisted entries from music fans remaking select hits from 6cyclemind’s acclaimed pop-rock catalog, contains three tracks that were rearranged and given a fresh new spin to contrast or complement with the band’s distinct sound.

Released as digital singles a few months earlier, Bianca’s “Biglaan” and Twenty-Nine Eleven’s “I” took creative liberties in terms of arrangement and interpretation, but retained the original’s melodic sensibilities as a way to preserve and recognize its timeless appeal.

To date, Bianca’s version of “Biglaan” has racked up 1.6 million streams on Spotify, while Twenty-Nine Eleven’s version of “I” has amassed more than 3 million streams on the same platform.

Payapa Project, composed of Dan Billano (Vocals), JepoyAlmario (Percussion), Tatit Escolano (Guitars), Choi Gonzales (Bass) and Raf Gonzales (drums), completes the trifecta of releases from the Sige, I-cover Mo Lang! Project. The alternative rock outfit, through their vocalist’s powerful voice, was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to render their own version of “Kasalanan,” a chart-topping song from the album, Project 6cyclemind. Their infectious take officially drops today as the third and final single of the tribute compilation.

These songs are now re-released into a music video format helmed by the band’s manager and sixth memberDarwin Hernandez. The final versions of the cover tunes were recorded at Backdoor Recording Studio, and were produced by 6cyclemind and Soupstar Music.

Sige, I-cover Mo Lang! Project is now out on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

Burger + Burrito Group Meal delivery from Army Navy

Hubby’s go-to delivery resto to get his bite of burrito is Army Navy.

It is a fast food restaurant chain that specializes in freshly made and premium burgers and burritos. What makes it stand out is its military theme, which probably also explains the store’s appeal to Hubby.

While browsing through his Grab app, looking for something to snack on in between Slack meetings, he happened upon Army Navy’s Burger + Burrito Holiday Group Meal. He immediately placed an order to share the snack bundle with the fam. This group meal consists of:

Two Classic Burgers. Quarter-pound beef patties served with lettuce, onion and tomato in sesame seed buns. Quite filling for a snack.

Two Burritos. Hubby opted for steak burritos which consist of beef pieces, Spanish rice, frijoles, lettuce and cilantro wrapped in flour tortilla. I wish this had more meat in it. Other burrito variants available are chicken, pork carnitas and vegetable.

Two Orders of Freedom Fries. Thin-cut and seasoned fries with a zesty and crispy exterior.

Four Jars of Libertea Iced Tea. Army Navy’s house-brewed iced tea. These are not much on sweetness and they have an aftertaste that doesn’t appeal to me. I love the reusable jars these are served in, though.

My preferences aside, Hubby continues to be a loyal Army Navy customer. And as long as he shares his snacks to the fam, I won’t be complaining.

This Army Navy branch is located at Hampton Arcade, C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City, open daily 24/7 for pickup and delivery. Just call +63 2 83333131 or course your order via GrabFood.

New HBO drama series INDUSTRY premieres November 10 exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

From first-time creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, HBO’s new eight-episode drama series Industry debuts same time as the U.S. on Tuesday, 10 November at 11am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO with a same day encore at 11pm on HBO. A new episode premieres at the same time weekly. Industry follows a group of young graduates competing for a limited number of permanent positions at a leading international bank in London.

Following a group of young grads fuelled by ambition, youth, romance and drugs, Industry examines issues of gender, race, class, and privilege in the workplace.

Starring Myha’la Herrold (“The Tattooed Heart”), Marisa Abela (“Cobra”), Harry Lawtey (“City of Tiny Lights”), David Jonsson (“Deep State”) and Nabhaan Rizwan (“Mogul Mowgli”) as “The Graduates” and Conor MacNeill (“Artemis Fowl”), Freya Mavor (“Skins”), Will Tudor (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) and Ken Leung (HBO’s “High Maintenance”) as “Management,” Industry gives an insider’s view of the black box of “high finance” through the eyes of an outsider, Harper Stern (Myha’la Herrold), a talented young woman from upstate New York. Following a group of young grads fuelled by ambition, youth, romance and drugs, Industry examines issues of gender, race, class, and privilege in the workplace as these impressionable young minds begin to forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sensory blitz of Pierpoint & Co’s trading floor, where meritocracy is promised but hierarchy is king.

Having come to London from New York to join the prestigious Pierpoint & Co., Harper (Herrold) will stop at nothing to prove herself the best hire in her graduate class. Harper’s drive intensifies as she finds herself surrounded by people born into privilege, like Yasmin (Marisa Abela), who, despite her background, faces her own challenges. Yasmin has had different expectations placed on her since childhood and is tired of being underestimated professionally. At Pierpoint, Harper and Yasmin need to prove their worth as professionals amongst their fellow grads. One of their peers is Robert (Harry Lawtey), who joins the bank from a working-class background, believing it a true meritocracy where putting on a suit will help distance himself from his past. Robert’s roommate, Gus (David Jonsson), by contrast, is built for institutions like Pierpoint, having come from Eton and Oxford, and sees it as another tick on a checklist that will lead him straight to Number 10. Doe-eyed Hari (Nabhaan Rizwan) has dreamt of working in banking his whole life, dresses like a modern “master of the universe,” and is determined to succeed, no matter the cost.

In the hierarchical ecosystem of Pierpoint, the graduates look aspirationally up at the Managing Directors whom they sit next to, while those senior figures are secretly looking down fearfully, wondering who’s going to take their seat. On the sales desk (CPS), MD Eric (Ken Leung) is Pierpoint’s number one producer who sees Harper’s potential and takes her under his wing, while VP Daria (Freya Mavor) is a great counterpoint to Eric’s aggressive sales strategy and can show Harper that there’s more than one way to be a salesperson. Yasmin’s direct line manager on the foreign exchange (FX) desk is Kenny (Conor MacNeill), a VP whose prejudices cloud his judgement of her merit. Meanwhile, Theo (Will Tudor) is a second-year research analyst whose establishment charm and strong counter-consensus market calls make him a Pierpoint poster boy. The young recruits may be fresh out of university, but the demands and expectations of these mentors and the industry itself are sky-high, and ultimately seduce the grads into modes of behaviour before they’ve even got a chance to figure out who they are.

Episodes include:

Season 1, Episode 1: “Induction”

Premieres Tuesday, 10 November at 11am

Five young graduates do whatever it takes to make themselves indispensable at preeminent London investment bank Pierpoint & Co. As hungry outsider Harper (Myha’la Herrold) grapples with a decision that will gravely affect her future at the bank, she and party-boy Robert (Harry Lawtey) take very different approaches to their first few weeks in the bank. Meanwhile, Yasmin (Marisa Abela) braves the unchecked disrespect of her superiors, and Hari’s (Nabhaan Rizwan) unhealthy work habits raise companywide red flags. Written by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay; Directed by Lena Dunham.

Season 1, Episode 2: “Quiet and Nice”

Premieres Tuesday, 17 November at 11am

With Harper (Myha’la Herrold) struggling to find her feet in a new city, Pierpoint throws a morale-boosting appreciation dinner which sees her challenging a drunken, irate Kenny (Conor MacNeill) while Gus (David Jonsson) alienates senior management by discussing his team’s future. Meanwhile, Yasmin (Marisa Abela) comes face to face with the culture of her new team and takes her flirtation with Robert (Harry Lawtey) to risky new heights. Written by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay; Directed by Tinge Krishnan.

Season 1, Episode 3: “Notting Hill”

Premieres Tuesday, 24 November at 11am

When Pierpoint loses a major client, the grads face their most challenging – and potentially rewarding – test to date: devising pitches to drive new business. After the dissolution of his team finds him reassigned to a disinterested new supervisor, a creative Gus (David Jonsson) partners with Robert (Harry Lawtey) to catch Clement’s (Derek Riddell) attention. Meanwhile, as she navigates a complicated living situation with Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Harper (Myha’la Herrold) attempts to juggle conflicting requests from Eric (Ken Leung) and Daria (Freya Mavor). Written by Sam H. Freeman; Directed by Tinge Krishnan.

Season 1, Episode 4: “Sesh”

Premieres Tuesday, 1 December at 11am on HBO GO and HBO

After a wild birthday celebration with Robert (Harry Lawtey), Yasmin (Marisa Abela), and Greg (Ben Lloyd-Hughes), Harper’s (Myha’la Herrold) workday spirals out of control. As a discrepancy in one of her trades puts her team at risk for major losses, Harper seeks support from a surprising source, while unexpected trouble at a networking event brings Yasmin and Robert closer, and Gus (David Jonsson) further alienates his coworkers. Written by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay; Directed by Ed Lilly.

Industry is created and executive produced by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay; Executive produced by Jane Tranter, Lachlan MacKinnon, Ryan Rasmussen, David P. Davis and by Ben Irving for BBC; Co-Executive produced by Ed Lilly; Produced by Lee Thomas. Produced for HBO / BBC by Bad Wolf. Writers include Konrad Kay, Mickey Down, Sam H. Freeman and Kate Verghese. Directors include Lena Dunham, Ed Lilly, Tinge Krishnan, Mary Nighy.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month. To subscribe, call your local SKY office or fill up this form.

Show details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Culinary journey at Pandan Asian Cafe, Tomas Morato

Part of the fun of traveling is the eating the local food. By tasting the signature dishes of the locale – see what flavors the people savor, how they use available ingredients and more – you get to learn much about their culture and history.

Sadly, I haven’t been able to travel to our neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, as other priorities got in the way. However, there is a way to get a taste of Southeast Asian flavors, thanks to Pandan Asian Cafe.

One of the recent ventures by Chef Mike Sarthou (or more widely known as Chef Tatung), Pandan Asian Cafe brings iconic Southeast Asian dishes to Quezon City’s dining public.

The resto is situated where Lazat Fil-Asian Restaurant & Bar used to be. It maximized the place’s open and airy layout, adding vibrant greens from decor and plants, which add to the feeling of freshness.

Before the pandemic made itself known, I had lunch here with my officemates. Our Southeast Asian meal consisted of:

Nasi Goreng (Php285). The Malay version of fried rice with chicken, eggs and vegetables and distinctly flavored with sweet soy sauce called kecap manis.

Orange Chicken (Php450). A variation of General Tso’s chicken wherein battered chicken is served drenched in fruity orange sauce.

Salt and Pepper Squid (Php340). The Chinese version of fried calamari wherein squid pieces are covered in light batter, then deep-fried to become crispy on the outside, tender and chewy on the inside.

Sticky Rice (Php210). Traditional Thai dessert of sticky rice in coconut cream sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with mango slices.

Iced Vietnamese Coffee (Php160). Also known as ca phe da, it is made by allowing hot water to drip through medium to coarse-ground dark-roasted Vietnamese-grown coffee beans into condensed milk then stirring with crushed ice.

I’m glad with the break from the usual lunch fare that Pandan Asian Cafe provided our group. I just found the portions a little small.

During the ECQ, the resto temporarily halted its operations but re-opened last July. It also expanded its offers to include party platters of its best-selling dishes for takeout or delivery.

So if you feel like expanding your culinary horizons, drop by or order a food tray to go.

Pandan Asian Cafe is located at 76 Scout Limbaga Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries, reservations or delivery requests, call +63 2 83550998, +63 2 83515279 or +63 917 7748999.

From bits to pieces: making an impact with Neil & Marter’s handmade wearable art

Neil & Marter aims to influence people in supporting the slow and ethical fashion movement through handcrafted accessories using upcycled materials. The brand is launching a crowdfunding campaign to introduce a limited-edition collection together with artisans from Marikina City

A startup fashion brand proves that it’s possible to be socially and environmentally responsible in a fast fashion-driven world.

Neil & Marter was born out of curiosity and environmental wellness by interior designer Mark Boni Marter and aspiring fashion designer Neil Capistrano.

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It started with the abundance of scrap materials from Bon’s interior design studies. Conscious of how fashion waste hurts the planet, they thought of maximizing the use of oddments of genuine vegan leather and fabrics to create wearable art.

Armed with basic leather crafting tools and techniques, the creative duo produced their first batch as gifts to family members “At first, I wanted to craft everyday accessories like bags, wallets, and cardholders out of Bon’s luxury leather collection,” Neil shares. “One day, my mom requested a pair of earrings for her, my aunts, and cousins. We had fun with the learning process and ended up making 25 pairs.”

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This led them to venture into an ethical fashion social enterprise that caters to modern and eco-conscious fashionistas who value the origin and process behind the brands and products that they support.

While they have different art styles, Neil and Bon share their love for personal self-expression through ethical fashion, making a positive impact on the environment, and a strong desire to create opportunities for the local crafting community.

Bon explains, “I’m into modern pop art, art deco, and abstract while Neil likes contemporary art and minimalism. At Neil & Marter we infuse our preferences with architectural details and symbolic representations of cultural diversity. We conceptualize and execute designs ourselves, handcrafting each one with care.”

“Being mindful in using leather and fabric scraps is one of our core values,” adds Neil. “People throw away the excess or off-cuts but we save every bit and try to incorporate it in our future designs. This extends to our choice of hang tags and packaging.”

Their three collections of artful dangles feature food and pop culture references: Whimsical (Kabuki- & Oblina-inspired), Juvenescence (Legos and Rubix cube), and Food for the Soul (breakfast food items and fruits). These unconventional but chic pieces caught the attention of fashion editors from various publications, social media influencers, as well as ANC’s On The Money Entrep Lab.

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The brand is currently expanding its product line with mixed medium repurposed accessories of patchworks, geometric bags, and wearable art shoes. The Cattle’s Cradle collection will be launched and exclusively available for purchase through a rewards-based crowdfunding campaign on the Spark Project website starting October 28, 2020. The items will be produced in collaboration with women artisans of Marikina City who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with campaign supporters receiving their limited edition pieces by December 2020.

Beyond the aesthetic statement products, Neil & Marter strives to redesign how people think about fashion, renew the appreciation for our local makers, and restore people’s confidence in self-expression. They are in the business of saving the earth (and the creative industry), one piece at a time.

Find @neilmarter on Facebook and Instagram.

Little Mix reigns supreme with the release of “Sweet Melody”

Co-written by Ariana collaborator Tayla Parx, and co-produced by No.1 hitmaker MNEK, ‘Sweet Melody’ is a pulsating and infectious pop song emblazoned with gigantic harmonies and a driving rhythm.

Award-winning British pop group Little Mix made an impressive entrance on several music charts in the Philippines with the release of “Sweet Melody,” the new single off their upcoming album Confetti.

The sassy banger emerged triumphant on its first day of release, as it trended at No. 1 on Twitter Philippines, and debuted on top of the iTunes Philippines’ Songs chart during the same timeframe.

The sassy banger emerged triumphant on “Sweet Melody’s” first day of release, as it trended at No. 1 on Twitter Philippines, and debuted on top of the iTunes Philippines’ Songs chart during the same timeframe.

Co-written by Ariana collaborator Tayla Parx, and co-produced by No.1 hitmaker MNEK, ‘Sweet Melody’ is a pulsating and infectious pop song emblazoned with gigantic harmonies and a driving rhythm.

Its edgy and highly choreographed music video is also making waves on YouTube Philippines as it climbed to No. 10 on its trending list with more than 7 million views on the third tracking day.

More about Confetti

This November, the world’s biggest girl band will finally release their highly anticipated sixth album this November, Confetti.

Jade, Perrie, Leigh-Anne and Jesy have been working on the album since last year, perfecting a collection of thirteen solid gold pop songs that showcase their sensational talent for creating music that crosses generations.

Confetti sees the band team up with the cream of current pop creators including Tayla Parx and MNEK, pop supremos TMS and long-time collaborator Kamille.

About Little Mix

Little Mix have established themselves as the world’s biggest girl band – they have sold over 50 million records worldwide, collected over 18 million Spotify listeners, received over 3 billion YouTube views, and collated 12 billion streams worldwide.

2019 witnessed the band win their second Brit Award – for Best British Video for ‘Woman Like Me’, and perform the same song live at the ceremony. They also won two Global Awards for Best Group and Best Song, followed by their 4th EMA Award for Best UK & Ireland Act.

2020 Top 10 hit ‘Break Up Song’ has so far been streamed 75 million times and
incredibly became their 15th UK Official Charts Top 10 hit with 300k UK sales. This November will see the band both perform at and host the 202o MTV EMA’s.

Little Mix are currently on primetime BBC One every Saturday night with a brand new TV series Little Mix The Search. The series, made by ModestTV, sees the band creating bands and becoming mentors to a new wave of talent. The singers who have made it into new bands gain access to Little Mix’s inner circle who have contributed to their phenomenal success, including vocal coaches, song writers, producers and stylists.

Little Mix’s “Sweet Melody” is now available on all digital platforms worldwide via RCA / Sony Music.