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By Nica Cellini G. Catanes, Special to The
Manila Times
They are back, this time without any pretentious
English accent. Mcoy Fundales, Ace and JM Del Mundo—the other half
of the now-defunct chart-topping band Orange and
Lemons—in the limelight once more as Kenyo.
These Bulakenyos are serenading fans with
revivals of Florante’s classic folk anthems “Sana” and
“Handog” from their new album Radiosurfing. Divorced from former
band mates with Brit pop pretentions, the boys go native instead.
Flocking together
After their former band’s breakup, the three
joined the “Bagong Kenyo” values enrichment program of Gov.
Jonjon Mendoza of Bulacan wherein they visited towns and gave
inspirational talks, hence the name. The Del Mundo brothers hail
from Plaridel and Fundales from Baliuag. Though drummer Jeff Lima
did a recording with Kenyo for the debut album Radiosurfing, Aries
Villalon, cousin of Ace and JM and also a fellow Bulakenyo, plays
the drums during live performances. Definitely, they are keeping
this effort amongst fellow locals.
Fundales, vocalist and former Pinoy Big Brother
Celebrity Edition 2 housemate, recalls that each of them had bands
in Bulacan before forming Orange and Lemons. They started seeing
each other on gigs where they did frequent back-to-back sets.
Going poetic
This album is but a portent of things to come.
They reveal, “It’s a warm-up project for us, introducing the
band. We’re like starting things all over again. We think of a fun
album.”
Fundales confides that their next album will
feature original compositions in the style of the kundiman, the
popular love song of Bulacan. It is in songwriting, he says, that
Kenyo delves into their deep, poetic Tagalog-speaking roots.
“Instead of writing a song saying ‘I Love You,’ we will finds
more poetic ways of saying it,” he explains.
However, he also acknowledges that the province
is at the crossroads between urban and rural influences. The three
look up to fellow Bulakenyo artist like Rey Valera known for
compositions, “Pangako Sa’yo” and “Maging Sino Ka Man,”
among others hit songs that was integral to the “Manila Sound”
of the 1970s.
Despite their obvious prowess in music, Kenyo
stays grounded echoed by the words of Fundales, “If ever we attain
a degree of success as performers, we will show that it won’t go
into our heads, how we came to be in Bulacan, that is where we will
return again and again.” The band is adamant in remaining sincere
to their craft and grounded in their roots.
Calling and obsession
Perhaps it really takes one to know one. With
hits bands today like Session Road from Baguio and Urbandub from
Cebu, Kenyo is also bound by a common core. The hearts of those who
aim to come out from their nooks and crannies definitely would find
assurance with the brilliant exposures given to those who tried. The
only condition is perfectly summed up by Mcoy on behalf of Kenyo’s
ride back to the scene: staying true to their music and an infinite
dose of patience.
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