Cynthia Alexander: Difference between revisions
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==Albums== |
==Albums== |
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* ''[[Insomnia & Other Lullabyes]]'' ( |
* ''[[Insomnia & Other Lullabyes]]'' (1996) |
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* ''Rippingyarns'' (2000) |
* ''Rippingyarns'' (2000) |
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* ''Comet's Tail'' (2005) |
* ''Comet's Tail'' (2005) |
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Revision as of 00:35, 2 March 2011
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Cynthia Alexander |
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Cynthia Alexander is described as one of the best revered musicians and singer-songwriters in the Philippines’ contemporary scene. Her intuitive music, characterized by alternate guitar tunings, compelling melodies and prose-poetry reflect an intelligent artist seeking refuge from her rejection of pop trivialities.[1]
As a multi-instrumentalist who produces and arranges her songs, she succeeds in crafting music distinctly Asian in character, anchored on elements of Malay and Indian ethnicity, yet warmly assimilating Western influences, such as jazz, blues and touches of classical.
Biography
Born Cynthia Ayala (later, Alexander), she attended school at Ateneo De Davao in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, and began playing guitar at the age of seven. Her brother, renowned Filipino folk-rock artist, Joey Ayala, provided her with early lessons in chords. In the late 1980s she joined the rock group, Hayp, as bass guitarist, which plied Manila's underground music venues such as Club Dredd and Mayric's Bar. Her skill with the bass brought her an international recognition in 1989, when she won the Best Bass Player award at the World Band Explosion Finals at the Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Hayp's album was released in 1991 by WEA Records Philippines, whereupon she joined her sibling Joey Ayala and his group, Bagong Lumad, which toured the U.S., Canada, India, Japan, Borneo, and New Zealand. In Joey Ayala at ang Bagong Lumad, she played the octavina, the agung and indigenous percussion instruments (the tungkaling, bungkaka and kubing). Her collaborations with Joey Ayala are found in three albums, namely Encantada (1995), Parol (1996), and Langit at Lupa (1997). She also recorded with the Pinoy Rock pioneer, Mike Hanopol, and performed with the prominent OPM group, Apo Hiking Society.
Cynthia Alexander's solo debut album, Insomnia & other Lullabyes, was released in 1997, to massive critical acclaim. Alexander was hailed as a musician in the mold of Joni Mitchell and Patti Smith; a true artist refusing to compromise ideals for a pop hit. Alexander proved that a female musician could be independent and successful in the Philippines. She was nominated as Best New Artist and Best Bass Player in the 1997 NU107 Rock Awards; and was awarded KATHA Music Awards for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album for Insomnia in 1998.
Rippingyarns, was released in 2000, which won Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Album Design and Producer of the Year (Cynthia Alexander with Maly Andres) in the 2001 KATHA Music Awards. The album track, "Intertwyne", also won KATHA awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Alternative Music Vocal Performance and Best Alternative Music Composition. Additionally, the album track, "Motorbykle", received massive airplay, winning the Song of the Year award in the 2001 NU107 Rock Awards.
The third album, Comet's Tail, was released in 2005. Cynthia was awarded Best Guitarist and Best Producer (with Angee Rozul) in the 2005 NU107 Rock Awards.
Cynthia Alexander released Walk Down the Road in 2009, a live album, featuring her longtime Bagong Lumad colleague Mlou Matute on keyboards, darbouka, backing vocals and kulintang; along with jazz bassist Simon Tan, young drummer Rickson Ruiz, and the Indian musician, Charanjit Wasu, on tabla.
Albums
- Insomnia & Other Lullabyes (1996)
- Rippingyarns (2000)
- Comet's Tail (2005)
- Walk Down the Road (2009)
Side projects
- REMIX (2003)
- Rama at Sita (2005)
- Pasasalamat (2008)
- HUMANFOLK (2009/2010)