Finalists to Dreams Get Real revealed

Would it be a band, a boy band or a solo act?

Getting a crack on being the next Original Pilipino Music (OPM) star are the Top 6 of Dreams Get Real, a music talent search organized by McJim Classic Leather. Battling it out in the grand finals slated on June 30 are Archetype, CK Arca, Dream of Pearl, Fifth Dynamics, JBK and Neo Domingo.

In the run up for the finals, the finalists have recorded and released their debut singles in radio stations nationwide and will be featured on MTV Pinoy this month. A jury composed of music industry stalwarts led by project head and public relations executive Chris Cahilig and arranger Jonathan Ong of Sonic State Studio will take into consideration radio airplay, radio chart and YouTube views as well as overall potential in selecting the grand winner.

“McJim Classic Leather initiated the competition to give undiscovered Filipino talents a chance to be heard while expanding the library of OPM with fresh melodies and lyrics that resonate the national sentiment,” says Cahilig.

“We applied McJim’s principle of quality and originality in choosing the six singles recorded by the finalists,” he adds. “We are optimistic and confident that these songs will help advance our agenda of enlivening the local music industry.”

In the Top 6 is Archetype from Tondo, Manila that recorded Di Na Biro, which is the group’s own composition. Composed of Alvin Traqueña (rhythm guitar), Ar John Patalay (lead guitar), Nikko Martin Francisco (bass guitar), Tricia May Casauay (vocals) and Zejemiah Gonzaga (drums), the band plays alternative and rock and considers Hillsong, Paramore, Up Dharma Down and Kamikazee as their musical influences.

“At first, I thought we join in this competition just for experience, because honestly, we lack outside exposure,” says bass guitarist Nikko. “But as I think of it deeper, Dreams Get Real is a venue for us to showcase our talent, to prove that we can do more.”

CK Arca, on the other hand, is Calvin Khaye from Caloocan City who interpreted Certified Good Vibes, an inspirational song composed by Raffy Calicdan, a PhilPop finalist and member of The X-Factor finalist Take Off. CK sings and plays pop, R&B, classic rock and standard music and looks up to Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Steve Perry and Aerosmith. He joined the competition to “gain more experience as a singer and to work with one of the best management companies here in the industry.”

Another Top 6 entrant is Dream of Pearl, whose debut single Panalo is composed by Oli Agustin of Letter Day Story. The amateur band, which hails from Caloocan City, is composed of Alfonso Abrenzosa (vocals), Mark Jayson Dizon (guitar), Von Christian Vizmanos (bass) and Evan Briones (drums). Playing alternative, rock and acoustic, the band considers Eraserheads, Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar and Silent Sanctuary as their musical influences.

Being part of the Top 6 has been a big boost for the band’s confidence and it considers the competition a door opening to many opportunities. “We believe that Dreams Get Real is a big break for us,” says vocalist Alfonso. “This is a chance to show our talent and our music.”

Another group taking a shot for the grand prize is Fifth Dynamics, from Antipolo City, meanwhile recorded Anyare, a self-composed piece written with the help of Cahilig, the discoverer and manager of 1:43. Composed of Mark Cordovales (vocals), John Peterson Leyva (rhythm guitar), Eljon Nono (lead guitar), Daryl Jay Santos (bass guitar) and Aldrin Condat (drums), the group plays pop-rock and alternative rock and follows the musical lead of Rivermaya, Bamboo, Kris Allen and Boyce Avenue.

Dreaming one day of representing the Philippines in an international competition, Fifth Dynamics hopes to kick start that goal by becoming a recording artist. The competition has proven to be an eye-opener in more ways than one. “So far, our experience with Dreams Get Real is beyond our expectations.”

Another finalist is JBK which released Anong Meron Ka, composed by Urie Tesorio who is behind Hayop sa Ganda and Ikaw at Ako of 1:43. Hailing from Mandaluyong City, the trio is composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario and Kim Ordonio. Their musical influences include The Wanted, One Direction, All4one, Boyz2Men, Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz and Emblem3.

It was the competition that prompted the three friends to create a group and show their musical skills. “The tagline itself, ‘Dreams Get Real,’ prompted us to join the competition,” says Joshua. “We want that dream to get real. And knowing McJim is there to back us up, we are lucky be given an opportunity to represent an undeniably great brand.”

Last but not the least is Neo Domingo, whose vocals gave life to Pagbigyan Mo Na, also penned by Tesorio. Neo is Epifanio Domingo III from Quezon City who plays acoustic pop-rock and R&B and admires John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Bruno Mars and Gary Valenciano. The competition is a way for him to showcase his own composition and hopefully achieve success in the industry and “promote OPM.”

The grand champion of the talent search will receive cash prize worth P50,000 from McJim Classic Leather, a recording and management contract and a grant to record a single and release a music video. The second placer will get P25,000 in cash and a trophy, while the third place winner will receive P15,000 in cash and a trophy.

“McJim Classic Leather is pulling all the stops in creating a memorable show during the finals night,” says Cahilig. “Having gone through a rigorous search, the Top 6 are poised to have the biggest performance in their young musical careers. Only one will emerge as winner but I’m confident that, with the right attitude and motivation, all of them will stake their claims in the music industry.”

Like the Official McJIM Classic Leather Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMcJIM) and find out how you can support the Top 6 of Dreams Get Real talent search.