Time for ‘A-pop’? ASEAN artists push for more collaboration

MANILA, Philippines — When the 2017 ASEAN Music Festival last Nov. 14 was scrapped reportedly due to “overcrowding,” one lost opportunity was to see not just some of the country’s top bands perform, but also what the rest of the ASEAN music scene has to offer.

The organizers had lined up Thailand’s Asia 7, Malaysia’s Nading Rhapsody, Cambodia’s Ting Tong and Chamroeun Sophea, Laos’ Sack Cells, Myanmar’s Eint Chit, Indonesia’s Mia Ismi Halida, Vietnam’s Tuan Anh ans Brunei Darussalem’s D’Hask, apart from our very own Ransom Collective, Ben&Ben, Sandwich, Franco, Silent Sanctuary and Parokya Ni Edgar. It was only Parokya ni Edgar, being the opening act, that managed to deliver a few songs before organizers made the “tough call” to stop the concert for the sake of public safety. It was intended as one of the culminating festivities of the successful 50th year celebration and Philippine chairmanship of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

Some of the foreign acts appeared overwhelmed by what happened, posting crowd shots and expressing thoughts and apologies on social media.

Asian 7 uploaded on YouTube a video of a performance recorded from their hotel room as a way of saying “thank you.” The band also wrote on Facebook: “Thank you Manila... With your unexpected situation here, that was uncontrollable, don’t be discouraged, keep going. For the other ASEAN bands, now we are friends, brotherhood. Hope to see you guys again and have fun together next time as well.”

Despite the cancellation and the what-might-have-beens, Parokya ni Edgar took to Twitter to point out the obvious: That the local music scene is alive, well and indeed, worth supporting. And for the other pop, rock and folk music artists from the 10 member nations of the ASEAN region, it’s high time to step up efforts for more cross-border collaboration, whether it’s a concert or album that ­— like an answer to K-pop, J-pop or C-pop — celebrates the sounds of “A-pop” (short for ASEAN pop).

This was one of the hopes and ideas raised during a presscon for the visiting ASEAN artists, hosted by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) at the PETA Theater.

According to Indonesia’s Mia, “Indonesia is also a huge archipelago (like the Philippines), with lots of tribes, cultures, good singers and good music. I really wish I could bring them one by one, like the traditional music of Indonesia, because there’s so many. There are 34 provinces, and each province has its own music, its own dialect/language, and it sounds so different from each other.” 

“Maybe in the US or Europe, people don’t know that we, Asians, the music is going strong and a lot of Asian countries have great voices. Whenever I travel, I think the most beautiful voices are in the ASEAN area. So, it’s really an honor for me to represent the country. Because of this, we can unite and talk to each other, and hear what’s the same or different, then maybe in the future collaborate more often and travel more often to each other’s countries,” the singer/violinist added.

For Myanmar’s Eint, “Music is a universal language. This kind of concert is really great. I had a chance to come here and I’m really thankful for that. I’ve been envious of the Philippines for a long time because a lot of Philippine bands are performing in Myanmar. A lot! It is one of my dreams to perform (here).”

The artists took the chance to voice out their appreciation for fellow musicians from the host country. During the presscon, one Cambodian artist sang impromptu Anak, the ‘70s song by Freddie Aguilar that became an international hit sans the power of social media and translated into over 20 foreign languages.

Eint has long been aware of Pinoy musicians because she said hotels, clubs and restaurants in Myanmar have been hiring Filipino entertainers and bands. 

She admitted with a laugh, “It’s very sad that Myanmar people are not hired because of the Philippines. I was jealous for a long time. Even if they are not famous or popular (in the Philippines), what I see in them is that they are very good at communicating with the audience. They really know how to! I know that because I’m an artist, too. So, I know how to make you happy; like if you’re bored, I know what to do to you. That’s what artists do.”

The pop star added, “Among Myanmar people, some can (speak) and understand English, but some, they cannot. But all the Filipino bands know how to communicate even though they (audience) don’t understand their English. That’s what an artist really is. That’s why I (envy) those bands.”

Eint was also part of the roster of artists featured in the ASEAN pop concert held here last August, where she had the chance to listen to some of the big-name acts in the country. “I’ve heard of Franco, really nice and really handsome! And if he’s single (laughs)... maybe, a Myanmar and Philippines collaboration? I think his band is rocking, and I’m popping, so pop-rock,” mused Eint.

Mia, on the other hand, was happy to share the stage with balladeer Christian Bautista also last August. “Actually in Indonesia, Christian Bautista is very well-known. You know his latest song, Kapit?” she asked, breaking into Christian’s new song. “Christian is doing a duet, I think, with one of Indonesia’s pop stars. He’s going to Indonesia for a performance in December. When I took a photo with him, all of the Indonesian fans were like jealous, ‘How could you do that (laughs)?’ 

“The first time I came here, Christian was like coming to us, offering water, asking us one by one, ‘Do you want to drink?’ I was like, ‘You’re a big artist, you don’t have to do this. I feel bad.’ And he was saying, ‘No, this is my country, this is my way of showing hospitality to you.’ I really like that because even if he has a huge name in ASEAN, he’s still hospitable to us. One thing I really like about the Philippines also.”

Meanwhile, the Asian 7 band met and befriended Ransom Collective through an ASEAN-India music fest sometime this year, saying that “their music is in our phones. We really love their music.”

For Tong of Cambodia, when he joined the I Sing World competition last month, there were several Filipino contestants, with some even fielded as bets of other countries. “When I heard that I have to come to the Philippines, I just felt so amazed and blessed because I could see how Filipino people perform on stage and also share the stage with them.”

For these musicians, they believe ASEAN artists both have contrasting and identical characteristics and experiences — from musical styles to successes and struggles in their chosen career.

Mia shared, “I started learning music since I was four years old because my mother forced us to. But right now, I’d say thank you to her. In Indonesia, I think the hardest part is, for example, you want to become a banker, you go to school, then you will become a banker after, or study dentistry then become a dentist after. But for an artist, you need more than that. You can learn about music for the rest of your life, but you still need that luck thing to be a pop star, you need the sympathy and empathy of people, you need a lot sponsors. We’re also an emerging country, so it is not as easy as maybe in America, you know, or not as established them. We still need to individually try to look for the money, look for other experiences to have a little name in our country. 

“Some people in my country choose to be like a social media darling, or do phenomenal things like maybe have an artist boyfriend or put on a lot of make-up... They can try everything, but for myself, I really want people to know me because of what I do in art, because to be an artist isn’t about popularity, it’s a bonus. An artist is someone doing art. The most important thing is that we have to continue doing art. After this, what’s next? We have to be creative every day, and maybe other people don’t understand that urge. But we really need to do that, not because we want people to notice us but because we want to send a message to people through art, or something like that.”

Asian 7’s band members said that in Thailand, “90 percent are pop music listeners” but they march on with their brand of music, fusing Thai and even traditional sounds from other countries with western influences. “We know it’s hard for us, and it’s hard to earn money and how to become a superstar, but we always try to do something new, something different to show to the people.”

For Cambodia’s Sophea, it took her 18 years and two bands with varying genres to get to where she is now. The classical and folk dancer/singer did Cambodia-style contemporary blues/jazz and then later on, went pop. It was for her pop music that she gained support in her country, but it was for her Mekong Delta Blues group that she scored much-coveted Grammy nominations for Best World Music Album and Song of the Year last year.

“Maybe in your country, they don’t like your music, but in other countries, they realize that it’s good,” said her co-artist Tong.

Tong himself has been in the business for a decade, but his biggest struggle is how to make young Cambodians appreciate the homegrown and traditional more than the “new and international” music.

Nevertheless, they find merit in getting together, being exposed to each other’s work and exchanging learnings in such avenues as the ASEAN music fest. Even if the concert didn’t push through, they spent several days touring TV and radio shows to showcase their music, at the same time bonding with each other.  

Tong described it as a door opening to many other possibilities. For Asian 7, getting acquainted with other countries’ music will also inspire and enhance their own music.

Mia believes it is very important that ASEAN artists unite. “Why? Because we have the same yet different (traits). We can travel to each country in Asia and music is the best way to do that. I’ve always wanted to go abroad (for my music) and we could start that in ASEAN.”

These ASEAN activities, she further said, “give us hope to make other things in the future. If no one starts the way, there would be no way ever. So, this starts the way for us to connect with each other better, have time together and think about having a collaboration together. This small and big start can be everything for ASEAN, really.”