Nat’l camp to musicians: Help find the direction of Filipino music

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MANILA – Help define the future of Filipino music – that’s the message that Ryan Cayabyab shared to the musicians who attended the Elements National Songwriting Camp held at the Bahura Resort and Spa in Dauin, Dumaguete.

The music camp is now on its 5th year. It was founded by Cayabyab, Twinky Lagdameo and Julio Sy, Jr. It aims to bring together 60 young musicians in a bid to inspire them to improve on their craft. Some of the topics n the session include Philippine music overview, science behind voice production, music creation, lyric writing, collaborating and arranging, and more.

“Our idea is not to commercialize music. Our idea is to make music and for them to be more creative and, for me, help find the direction of Filipino music,” said Cayabyab who is also the camp’s content director.

Those who attended the camp were privileged to receive mentorship from some of the well-known and celebrated Filipino musicians including Ebe Dancel, Abra, Parokya ni Edgar’s Chito Miranda, Jim Paredes, and Jungee Marcelo among others.

“In a way, we’re helping shape the future of Filipino music – popular music in a way – and help find that director,” shared Cayabyab.

During the session on the roots of contemporary Philippine music, singer-songwriter Joey Ayala urged the musicians to look for the reason for their music, or in other words the “cause.”

“It is possible that you will not gain popularity, but you will be part of history – not of recording history, not of commercial history. But you’re part of history,” said Ayala. “And majority of us here will be part of the not-so-known history.”

He added, “Look for your place in history. Ask yourself what is my cause?”

Ayala also shared that in writing a song, he does not allow labels to bother him.

Meanwhile, in the coming days, the participants of the Elements music camp will undergo various sessions including discussion and modules on lyric writing, headed by scriptwriter Ricky Lee; creativity, to be discussed by Jim Paredes; and various lessons on arranging, song writing, collaboration, and artist management with Jungee Marcelo, Jazz Nicolas, Jonathan Manalo, Gerard Salonga, Noel Cabangon, and Ogie Alcasid, among others.

“What we realize is the campers, after they come out of the camp, they are energized, they are inspired. And they become part of that movement,” Cayabyab said.