Minsan Fest celebrates Filipino music artistry
Attending an Original Pilipino Music (OPM) festival that cuts across genres and features a dynamic lineup of headliners is enticing and exciting.
It is what Minsan Fest (stylized as minsan fest) offers to the public and music enthusiasts. Behind it is minsan studio, an independent video production company that has created shows and is venturing into music festivals.
The minsan fest is happening this May 17 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
The STAR had a chat with Jason Conanan, head of minsan studio, who gave some bits and pieces on how minsan fest came about.
“We’re mainly a video and events production company. So, we produce events for corporate clients or other artists,” said he, who works extensively in the music industry.
Jason is manager of Reese Lansangan and has worked as a sound engineer for Up Dharma Down and Toneejay. He was part of Coke Studio Season 1 and has a separate business that does audio post-production for films.
This has allowed him and his studio to build “a network of artists who are friends, I would say, and because of that we’re able to work with these artists on a different level,” added he.
From there, they have created a bond and trust in each other.
So, it’s not surprising that minsan studio and collaborators from the entertainment and music industry would come up with a
music festival.
The music fest features Ebe Dancel, Minaw, Zild, Reese Lansangan, TONEEJAY, thesunmanager, Clara Benin, Autotelic, SUD, Mayonnaise, The Itchyworms and The Ridleys. Jason shared that the first minsan gig was a pay what you can. For minsan fest, concert goers aged 24 and below will buy the pass worth P349 and the “youth-ish” pays for P699.
It’s an affordable and enjoyable musical showcase.
“It’s an effort that is really community-based,” said he. “Ano kami parang group effort, para siyang isang malaking project, nagkataon lang na magkaibigan na kaming lahat (it’s a group effort and a big project and it just so happens that we’re all friends).”
It’s also their way to give back to fans, the young and the young at heart. They play a key role in popularizing the artists’ music and making it relevant to this day with social media.
The idea behind minsan fest can also be likened to bar gigs, said Jason. The artists do not only play their hits, but also perform their “hidden gems” and songs they want to try out.
They can also play “a different version of the same song.”
“Sinasabihan ko yung lahat ng artists na sige gawa tayo ng something na bihira ninyo lang gawin (I told them to play something they rarely do), yung bihira ninyong tugtugin, dito ninyo tugtugin (this is where you can play it),” said he.
“Pwede kang tumugtog ng hits, pero mas gusto ko yung B sides (you can play your hits but I also want you to perform the B sides).”
Aside from celebrating Pinoy music, minsan studio, like through the festival, is envisioned “to elevate Filipino music artistry” to the level that is similar to what’s happening to K-pop, said Jason. That’s also a wish of an OPM fan and supporter.
With the lineup of artists and musical experience that await one for the first minsan festival, one can anticipate another music fest.
“As of now, mukhang namang may i-a-announce naman kami at the end (it seems we have something to announce at the end of the show),” said Jason, adding that the minsan festival or sometimes festival in English, might become a madalas fest, like it could be mounted often. “Well, tignan natin (we’ll see).”
He shared that minsan studio has already lined up shows and the public will know each soon.
To make music festivals like minsan fest sustainable and successful, Filipinos should support them by finding time to watch.
“For us, as long as it is sustainable. The heart of any career in music and creativity is sustainability. As long as it is sustainable for us, producers, for the artists and for the fans, most importantly, we will continue to do this,” concluded Jason.
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