Dear Future AL1en,
In this episode we share with you a first of a series- [we aL1ens in this pod deem to foresee-] our first ever AL1en Sound Transmission from highly esteemed veteran in Manila's electronic music scene- Sound Artist/Creator/Producer and Dj - Jon Romero.
Press PLAY ▶️ and embark on an 'expert trip mental mind bender' aptly titled Request by S. Best experienced with proper speakers/pods and a relatively open improbable state of mind. 🛸 👽 🪄💫 ... ENJOY!
As a bonus we have expedited a quick Q&A below in order to delve into the brilliant mind behind the noise - the ambient - the sound - the alter ego who is-- JON ROMERO aka BASTARD OF BEATS aka TROBOL KONTROL aka…
WHAT OTHER ALTER EGOS HAVE YOU HAD JON?
"Bastard of Beats (dj name), Trobol Kontrol (sound art performer), Auroragazer, Aurora Borealis, Death to Jon Romero..."
WHAT WERE THE INSTRUMENTS YOU USED ON THIS TRACK?
For beats and melodies... an Akai audio producer console, For glitch, ambient and noise section... delays, multi-stomp effects, a self modified reverb, and sound bridge (ito yung gawa kong Touch Synthesizer, na ginagamit ko din sa mga artworks ko) and additional textured sound using zero input technique.
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START CREATING MUSIC? WHAT IS THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT YOU PLAYED?
"I started when I was in High School... that was in the early 90’s when we formed the band Choking Brownies with Joi Oroc on guitar/vocals, Papen Arcales on bass and I was the drummer. We focused more on doing original compositions na agad during that time. The band lasted only until the late 90’s lang.
(in this photo from L-R: Jon, Joi Oroc, Papen Arcales with Dott Seki & Gary Pueblo)
Then Joi and I, napunta na sa Skies of Ember. It was also in 1999 when I launched myself as a solo performer- Aurora Borealis... hanggang sa maging full band (with Knell Fabiania, Joey Santos, Yul Roque, Dennis Joaquin, Pancho Domiguez)... the rest is history and then Lirio Salvador asked me to join Elemento which gave me the boost and confidence in doing more experimental music and sound art."
DESCRIBE THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT YOU CREATED? DO YOU HAVE A PHOTO OF IT?
"It’s not really a thing that I “created”, I actually delve more into the modification or the altering of the circuits in electronic gadgets. Which is- nalaman ko lang na ang tawag pala sa process na yun is, “Circuit Bending”.
TEKA HINDI BA CREATION MO YUNG INEXHIBIT MO? YUNG WHEN YOU TOUCH IT MAY SOUND?
"Yes.. as an artwork. But yung electronics nya is modified or circuit-bent device."
AH GETS GETS! SO PARANG RE-MIX? *haha
"Made of Circuit Bent Device. Yun yata mas tamang term 😁 Pa-add na din ang ILY-TxF Family as influence.... ❤️ (referring to the now defunct I Love You Store & Today x Future in Cubao X, QC.)"
AWWE HAHA AT PANO NAMAN NAG INFLUENCE ANG ILY-TXF?
"Sa pag create ng events"
AHH HAHA TRUUE ANDAMI MO NGANG NAGING EVENTS! CAN YOU NAME THEM HERE?
YUN LANG BA? FEELING KO MARAMI PA
"Yan yung regular... sa Futurist yung Exit Music sana and Headroom kaso hindi na nagtuloy. hehe, I EXIST for TARA pala... yung very first event na ginawa ko sa expo pa tayo nun. 2008 yata yun.
OOOOH... AH I REMEMBER! THAT WAS A FUNDRAISER DIBA?
"Yes"
WHO ARE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT?
"This is a good question... most of the younger generation or yung ngayon lang ako nakilala hindi alam yung pinagmulan or kung sino yung mga nakasama ko. Of course, my first bandmates, Joi and Papen. Petty Revilla and Niko Maravillas of Smile Plenty, yung ginagawa at pinapakinggan nilang music ahead of their time. Si Petty din yung madalas nagbibitbit sa akin sa raves at mga private parties dati. Roger Lopez, he pushed me na ipagpatuloy yung ginagawa ko. Lirio Salvador and Espasyo Siningdikato Family kung saan mas lalong na-develop yung artistry ko. And Knell Fabiania who is very supportive sa mga ginagawa ko."
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT LISTENERS TO REAP FROM YOUR WORK?
LAST QUESTION... GOING BACK TO YOUR ALTER EGO NAMES- I'M CURIOUS, BAKET: DEATH TO JON ROMERO ?
Wala lang kasi akong maisip na name nyan... eh kaso nakalineup na ako for a gig. Naghanap lang ako ng mga collaborators for the gig.
SO MARAMI KAYO? IN DEATH TO JON ROMERO? I WANNA KNOW THE REASON BEHIND THE NAME.
Ito yung mga collaborators ng Death sa World trade.. hindi ko na mahanap yung sa sa Guijo. (from L-R) Joey Santos, Knell Fabiania, Gilbert Sanchez, Cris Garcimo, Orvin Sayos, Roger Lopez
HAHA KALA KO MAY DEEPER MEANING PA 😅 CHECK OUT THEIR LIVE PERFORMANCE (below) AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 14 YRS AGO!
WHAT'S YOUR EVERYDAY CARRY? LIKE YOU CAN'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM.
A house key with a small screwdriver attached to it.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Always. Even if I don't have a plan I am always thinking of the future.
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This piece is brought to you by Odile_TV , The Dystopiarist & The Other Daddy: Two gallivanting wanderers & a daddy like no other exploring the present accordingly through curious research & blissful relaxation.