Chicosci
Chicosci | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | Alternative rock, post-hardcore, emo, rap metal (early), nu metal (early) |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Members | Miggy Chavez Mong Alcaraz Calde Calderon Ariel Lumanlan Macoy Estacio |
| Past members | Yug Esquivias Sonny Baquisal Joel Salvador Jan Kevin Santos (deceased) |
ChicoSci (often typeset as Chicosci) is a 5-piece Filipino rock band based in Manila. The band is composed of Miggy Chavez, Mong Alcaraz, Calde Calderon, Macoy Estacio and Ariel Lumanlan.
Background
Formation and early days
ChicoSci (previously Chico Science) was originally composed of Miguel "Miggy" Chavez, Miguel "Mong" Alcaraz, Carlos "Calde" Calderon, Jan Kevin Santos and Joel Salvador from the Ateneo de Manila University. They later recruited guitarist Sonny Baquisal and long-time friend Eugene "Yug" Esquivias to solidify the songwriting process. The band won an inter school Battle of the Bands and spent the prize money recording a demo – an investment that landed them a two-album record deal with EMI Philippines as A&R'ed by three executives for the EMI Local Label Bob Guzman, Larry Chua, and Darrell James Laxamana. The band released the albums Revenge of the Giant Robot and Method of Breathing.
Career as Chico Science
The highly successful debut record established Chico Science Support as one of the forerunners of the new generation of rock. Revenge of the Giant Robot spawned hits such as Amen, Soopafly, and the MTV hit, Sink or Swim. This album was also nominated to the prestigious Awit Awards for Best Rock Recording. Their first-ever music video Sink or Swim, directed by Lyle Sacris, also won as the Best Directed Video for the 2001 MTV Pilipinas Awards. Later on, they decided to change the name Chico Science to ChicoSci, in order not to be confused with the Brazilian singer.
Career as ChicoSci
Always trying out new things, the band continued to work on redefining their sound. Shifting their musical direction to a more melodic style, they sought Raimund Marasigan for guidance in working with their second album. True enough, both audiences and critics embraced the new sound of ChicoSci. Method Of Breathing included several hits such as Glass is Broken, Rolento, and the highly-infectious Paris. Interestingly, Paris holds the record for the most number of weeks a song (foreign or local) has stayed in a countdown. It stayed in the NU107 Midnight Countdown for more than 52 weeks and gave Chicosci the Song of the Year award at the 2002 NU 107 Rock Awards.
In 2004, the band released their third album, Icarus, under Viva Records. The band again enlisted the help of Marasigan, who brought along Buddy Zabala, to produce the band's most experimental album. In May 2004, the band gained media recognition by becoming MTV's Lokal Artist of the Month. The songs Theme from Conversation with Fire, Shallow Graves, and An Argument, enjoyed media airtime, also went into the NU 107 Midnight and Year-end Countdown.
On June 6, 2006, ChicoSci released and launched their self-titled 4th album. Having been in the studio for more than a year, the band boasts it as being their best work to date. The self-produced album features catchier melodies and more synth playing from Alcaraz. At the same time, there is minimal screaming and more focus on Chavez's singing, the most obvious change on the self titled album.
With the release of their carrier single A Promise, ChicoSci gained more popularity as their market grew. ChicoSci went on to play in Malaysia and Singapore as well as local hot spots like Cafe Saguijo. The album has spawned four singles, A Promise, Seven Black Roses, ChicoSci Vampire Social Club and Last Look. The music video for ChicoSci Vampire Social Club won the Favorite Rock Video at the 2008 Myx Music Awards. The band released their fifth studio album, Fly Black Hearts in 2009.
ChicoSci also covered EMF song Unbelievable from the Various Artist Album, 90's Music Comes Alive in 2012, the same year, the band also covered their very 1st tagalog song Magasin from Eraserheads from the Various Artist Album, The Reunion: An Eraserheads Tribute Album.
Discography
2000 – Revenge of the Giant Robot
2002 – Method of Breathing
2004 – Icarus
2006 – ChicoSci
2009 – Fly Black Hearts
2012 – This Is Not A Chicosci Record
2015 – Bakla kami! Lalo na si Miggy! (Deluxe)
Achievements
- Listener's Choice Award - NU107 Rock Awards, 2009
- Favorite Artist of Philippines - MTV Asia, 2008
- Best produced album - “Method of Breathing,” 2002 NU107 RockAwards
- Song of the year - “Paris,” 2002 NU107 RockAwards
- Guitarist of the year - Mong (2002 & 2006 NU107 RockAwards) and Sonny (2002 NU107 RockAwards)
- Best Director - Lyle Sacris for “Sink or Swim,” 2001 MTV Pilipinas Music Awards
- Best Designed Album Cover - “Revenge of the Giant Robot,” 2001 NU107 RockAwards
- Male of the year - Mong, 2006 NU107 RockAwards
Nominations
- Song of the year – “Diamond Shotgun,” 2009 NU107 Rock Awards
- Album of the year - “Icarus”, 2004 NU107 Rock Awards
- Guitarists of the year - Mong and Sonny, 2004 NU107 Rock Awards
- Best album packaging - “Icarus”, 2004 NU107 Rock Awards
- Drummer of the year - Joel, 2002 NU107 Rock Awards
- Best rock recording - “Sink or Swim,” 2001 Awit Awards
- Song of the year - “Sink or Swim,” 2001 NU107 Rock Awards
- Best music video - “Sink or Swim,” 2001 NU107 Rock Awards
Members
- Miggy Chavez – lead vocals
- Mong Alcaraz – lead guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Calde Calderon – bass guitar, vocals
- Ariel Lumanlan – rhythm guitar
- Macoy Estacio – drums
Former members
- Jan Kevin Santos † – unclean vocals, producer (1996). Co-Founder of ChicoSci. Santos left to join Santos Syndicate and died due to alcohol and heroin overdose.
- Eugene "Yug" Esquivias – percussions (2000–2007). Last appeared on Seven Black Roses music video. Esquivias left for Canada.
- Sonny Baquisal – guitars (2000–2007). Last seen on ChicoSci Vampire Social Club music video. Baquisal left to go to Italy with his family. Replaced by Ariel Lumanlan of the metalcore band Arcadia on November 2007.
- Joel Salvador – drums (1996–2008). Last seen on ChicoSci Myx Live Performance. Replaced by Macoy Estacio of the post-hardcore band April Morning Skies.