ICONIC FILIPINO singers/songwriters and siblings Joey Ayala and Cynthia Alexander, will be performing together back to back on Jan. 27 at the Conspiracy Garden Café in Quezon City.
The show was originally scheduled for Jan. 12 but was postponed due to the passing of the siblings’ mother, poet Tita Lacambra-Ayala, on Jan. 9.
Mr. Ayala is known for his folk/rock music style that combine traditional Filipino instruments with modern pop music.
His debut album, Panganay ng Umaga, done with his band, Bagong Lumad, featured songs such as “Agila (Haring Ibon)” and “Wala nang Tao sa San Filomena.”
Among the traditional Filipino instruments he uses are the kubing which is a bamboo jaw harp, and kulintang, an eight-piece gong set.
Mr. Ayala has won several awards including Best Traditional Song at the KATHA Music Awards in 1992 for “Pag-uwi,” the same song also won the Grand Prize at the Metropop Song Festival in 2001.
He also won Best Music for his work in Lav Diaz’ movie Batang Westside (2001) at the 2002 Gawad Urian Awards, considered the Philippine counterpart of the Academy Awards in the USA.
He has so far released 14 albums.
His younger sister — who has occasionally performed with his band — is an independent artist who has performed in music festivals around the world including the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia.
Her first album, Insomnia & Other Lullabyes (1996) featured songs like “Malaya” and the titular “Insomnia.” The alternative folk/rock album won her the Best Alternative Music Album and Best New Artist Award at the 1998 Katha Music Festival.
In 2012, Ms. Alexander composed the musical score of Ballet Philippines’ Pusong Wagas where she used electronic, industrial, indigenous, contemporary and pop elements.
She was also part of world music band HUMANFOLK, known for combining folk music with jazz, rock, and electronic music. The band includes guitarist Johnny Alegre, percussionist Susie Ibarra, drummer Roberto Juan Rodriguez, and electronica artist Malek Lopez.
The band was given an Awit Award for Best World Music Recording for the song “Para Sa Tao” from their eponymous debut album.
The one-night affair of Joey Ayala and Cynthia Alexander is on Jan. 27, 6 p.m., at the Conspiracy Garden Café, 59 Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. Entrance is P850 and comes with a free drink.
For ticket reservations, contact 0995-908-2504.
