Star Music’s newest batch of promising artists

MANILA, Philippines — ABS-CBN’s record label Star Music rings in 2018 with a bang as it continues to introduce new artists with fresh tunes. Only a few weeks after adding Moira dela Torre to its roster of musicians, Star Music officially welcomes the newest batch of artists it recently signed up. They are JC Santos, acoustic singer Migz Haleco, singing duo Miko & Gab, Filipino-Japanese artist Natsumi Saito and Agsunta.

It was like an intimate gig held at ABS-CBN’s Dolphy Theater when the venue was transformed into a music bar last Tuesday as these artists performed their brand of music prior to a presscon. 

JC released his first single Pwede Naman, composed by Gabriel Tagadtad and produced by Kiko Salazar. The Mr. & Mrs. Cruz leading man, who first ventured into theater acting before his foray into movies and TV, will also be launching his self-titled debut album on Feb. 18 at Robinsons Place Manila. The actor is now also part of Ang Probinsyano.

Migz, on the other hand, officially launched his latest single ‘Pag Ika’y Nagmahal some weeks ago. Formerly part of the duo Migz & Maya, Migz was the interpreter of Bes, one of the song finalists at the Himig Handog 2017. He is also a member of ASAP’s Jambayan.

Mico Juarez and Gabriel Umali — more popularly known as Miko & Gab, the singing duo behind Hugot — have also joined Star Music. The two met as contestants in the reality singing show Pinoy Boyband Superstar in 2016 and eventually became friends. They frequently did covers together, which gave them the opportunity to discover that their voices blend well. Asian Artists Agency, Inc. boss Boy Abunda manages their career.

Meanwhile, Natsumi is The Voice Kids 1 alumna from Camp Kawayan under mentor Bamboo. She launched her eponymous debut album composed of six tracks including Ikaw Lang Talaga, Hero in my Heart, Nananaginip Ba ng Gising?, It’s Never Easy and Hard to Get. Her carrier single, Para Lang Sayo, came out in October. Natsumi will also be available in Japan soon.

Finally, Agsunta — composed of Jireh Singson (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboard), Mikel Arevalo (lead guitar, backing vocals), Josh Planas (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Stephen Arevalo (drums, percussion, keyboard, backing vocals) — is the band that has made waves among Filipino millennials online. The group introduced its music through its self-titled debut album produced by Rox Santos. It carries acoustic and soft melodic rock tunes including its carrier single Di Ba Halata.

Agsunta rose to fame via YouTube and Facebook videos, particularly the Agsunta Song Request webisodes featuring unique OPM versions, as well as from the Agsunta Jam Sessions uploads of its performances with popular musicians.

Migz and Agsunta will have their first-ever concert titled ValenTimes 2 on Feb. 15 at Teatrino, Promenade Greenhills, with Iñigo Pascual and Ylona Garcia as guests.

With the growing number of musicians signed up by Star Music, audio content head Jonathan Manalo said, “We never stop discovering or launching new breed of talents, like this latest batch, because they are the ones that inject renewed energy into the industry. Kumbaga, you just don’t rest on your laurels and stop (on your) previous success, so you would not become outdated. It is important that the succession bench is always there. Alam mo kung sinong isusunod mo sa mga icons that you have created. So, discovering new breed of talents should be never-ending.”

“And just the same, every time we launch fresh talents we look for variety of sounds that they can offer and their authenticity as artists. So, we’re very proud with this batch that we presented to you, (they truly have) real talent. At the same time, they speak the language of the audience that we are marketing them to — the millennials. They know better the sensibilities, those hugots, kung papaano kakausapin yung market. It keeps the cycle of OPM going. And that’s our little contribution to the music industry at magtuloy-tuloy na,” he further said. 

Asked what’s in store for them this year, Jonathan replied, “We plan on releasing like three to four singles per artist so marami pa kayong maririnig na bago from them in the coming months. We mix and match the artists kung sino ang magkakatipo and magkaka-genre and then we will soon announce the concerts that are lined up for them.”