Colton Dixon talks about the meaning behind debut album, The Messenger

Title: Colton Dixon talks about the meaning behind debut album, The Messenger

Written by Jamie Ortega || Photo by Kevin Pableo

Colton Dixon fans will surely have a special Valentines’ Day this year. Why? Because the Season 11 finalist is ready and eager to perform for his Pinoy fans as a special guest at Jessica Sanchez’s solo concert tomorrow night. Yes, Coltonis ready to give his best as, together with Jessica, they light up the Big Dome for one special evening.

The charismatic Christian rocker, who blew Idol audiences away with his energetic piano playing, impressive vocal chops and remarkable stage presence, is also currently promoting his debut album entitled The Messenger. The recently released compilation, distributed in the Philippines by MCA Music,   boasts of two hit songs that have already topped the Christian and Gospel digital sales charts. The numbers amassed by Colton’s talent speak for themselves-Never Gone, his first hit tune, sold 21,000 units during its’ first day of release, simultaneously topping the iTunes Christian and Gospel singles chart, Billboard’s Christian Digital songs, and Christian/Gospel Digital songs charts. Colton’s second hit song entitled You Are, hit the top spot on the very same charts and was also selected as USA Today’s song of the week last October.

Manila Concert Scene, together with select members of the media, had the great opportunity to chat with Colton at his press conference last Tuesday afternoon at the Edsa Shangri-la hotel. Showing no traces of jet lag (despite a two hour flight) the handsome rocker revealed a story behind one of his songs,  revealed the message of his album and even gave advice to people exploring their faith.

Why did you call your album The Messenger?

Calling my album The Messenger was a good way for me to put things in perspective in terms of my personal faith, to make people realize that while I am sharing honest emotions and experiences based on this the album moves along like a rollercoaster ride. There are not two songs that sound alike, which is something I worked hard to achieve and am excited about. Working with my amazing team of writers and producers I wanted to share different experiences that I have gone through, the lows and the highs.

What is the central message of the album?

We’ve all been deep in that valley and I know what I’ve been through. Whenever I’m in those dark places I feel that God has pulled me through and I want to inspire others by telling them about my experiences. That’s the central message of The Messenger.

I would like to ask you about one of the songs in the record, You Are, what is the story and inspiration I heard that you wrote it for a friend of yours?

At that time I didn’t want to give away his identity, he just gave me the clear now, but I actually wrote this song for a friend who was really going through a rough time, he attempted suicide at some time and his name is Jared and he plays guitar in my band. This was really just a chance for him to pour out his testimony into the song and say, “When I cant find the words to say how much it hurts youre the healing in my heart” and I didn’t even know at the time, I had no idea what he was going through. But it wasn’t till the time we were writing it there was still that unresolved conflict deep down, it was just a chance for him to wipe that slate clean and throw it out through a song. We were really just trying to sum up a worship song and what that means to us, little did I know it was so awesome when he told me that. It was so cool to see how the fans connected with that song.

What advice can you give people who are exploring their faith?

                I never said that it is going to be easy, but for me I found God when I was 7 years old. I remember feeling that God-shaped hole in me and feeling that nothing else can fill that and there is nothing else that makes me feel the way that I do about that. The only way I can put that, just knowing what He did, it is just amazing to me, it blows my mind everyday and like I said, there are some harder days than others. Songs like Never Gone that show he is still with you, songs like Rise, there is even a song in this record called Scars that means so much to me, my fans helped me write my song. Hearing their songs, their testimonies, what they’ve been through, I remember this one she was best friends with her cousin, he went off to war came back, and he tried taking advantage of her. And her language changed and she said, “I am just called to share God’s love,” and she said that with a smile on her face, because we are all guilty and sinful. And it just blew my mind so that inspired Scars, today is a new day to learn from our mistakes and we are forgiven from our mistakes and so many songs from our record apply directly to that. Just people exploring, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, but to me, God works.

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Creed's Memorable Moments in Asia

Creed held their very first press conference yesterday for their upcoming concert to be held tonight at the Big Dome and during the press conference, Creed talked about their musical influences, stories from their songs and we asked them about their memorable moments performing in Asian countries.
Watch the video below to know more about their memorable experiences in Asian countries.

See Scott Stapp and his band, Creed for the first time in Manila tonight, November 11, 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tickets are still available at Ticketnet. Call 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph to buy tickets online. You can still buy your tickets at the venue. This is a CNCA Media Concepts Inc. concert and another Manila Concert Scene Exclusive Concert Coverage

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The Fray, excited to perform at the Big Dome tonight

After ten years of waiting, The Fray finally invades Manila and their excited to perform for the first time in-front of their thousands of Filipino fans in the Philippines tonight, November 10, 2012 at the Big Dome

The band held their first ever press conference in the Philippines yesterday at Bar One of Holiday Inn Galleria and they can't wait to see their Filipino fans at the venue.

And yes, The Fray LIVE in Manila tonight, November 10, 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tickets are still available at Ticketnet. Call 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph to purchase tickets online. This event is brought to you by That's Ntertainment Productions and another Manila Concert Scene exclusive concert coverage

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Foster The People Live in Manila Press Conference Photo Coverage

Foster The People held their press conference in Manila yesterday at the EDSA Shangri La Hotel Manila. Check out our photos from their press conference here on our special photo coverage. All photos taken by Kevin Pableo for Manila Concert Scene

Foster The People with their promoters for their show in Manila

Gold record award was awarded by Ivory Music to Foster The People

Mark Foster - Vocalist

 Cubie Fink, the bass guitarist of the band

 Mark Pontius - The drummer of the band

Special thanks to Dayly Entertainment, Karpos Multimedia Inc. and Ivory Music

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Billy Corgan on making relevant music and staying connected

Title: Billy Corgan on making relevant music and staying connected

Written by Jamie Ortega

Photo by Kevin Pableo

                 How does one prepare to meet a rock legend?

                These are the very words floating through this writer’s mind as she enters the function hall of Edsa Shangri-la hotel for the press conference of the legendary rock band Smashing Pumpkins last August 6, 2012. For the kids who were too young to remember what music was like in the 90s, here is a crash course to keep you all up to speed: the Smashing Pumpkins possesses the distinction of crafting one of the most acclaimed bodies of work in musical history. With multiple Grammy awards, a platinum album entitled Gish, a nine-time platinum album Melon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, and a four-time platinum album entitled Siamese Dream, there’s no denying the fact that the ‘90s rock scene was largely defined by the epic , dense, and emotional music created by Billy Corgan (lead vocals, lead guitar)< James Iha ( rhytm guitar), D’arcy Wretzky (bass guitar) and Jimmy Chamberlain.

                

Finally the moment arrived - Billy Corgan enters the room, a towering figure at 6.3. He is  wearing a long-sleeved black striped top, a black hat he puts on and takes off every so often, with a sweater draped over his shoulder.  It’s interesting to note how normal one of the music industry’s most influential musicians looks as he sips water from a bottle every so often. As he shares his thoughts about the evolution of his music and the state of the music industry today this writer is mesmerized. Make no mistake about it, she has been to a lot of press conferences and sometimes the press receives the same statements over and over- but when it came to Corgan, the rock musician illustrated concepts and thoughts that kept her mind churning ‘till the wee hours of the morning.

                Billy kicked off his bold explanations by saying the music industry operates on a “dumbing down principle.” It's incredible to me how sophisticated people really are when you give them the opportunity to be sophisticated,” he opined.”The music business essentially operates on a dumbing down principle. How dumb do we have to go to sell this record to the most amount of people? There are very few bands who are able to keep their intelligence on record, Radiohead are a good example. They have a very high message and are still very popular. But for the most part the charts are dominated by music that's essentially dumbed down in melody, style, tone, texture, and message because it reaches the most amount of people."

According to Corgan, people in the music industry place more importance on the commercial aspect of the entire business- instead of creating good music they would rather focus on increasing the popularity of the performer -which translates to selling more records and making more money.  

                So, how does one fight the “dumbing down principle”? Corgan says by seeking wisdom from veteran musicians. "I grew up around a lot of Filipinos, in the outskirts of Chicago, and there's always that uncle, that grandma, who knows what the hell's going on. That's where the real wisdom is, you have to listen to that. You can't dumb your family down, you can't dumb your community down, you can't dumb your country down, you can't dumb your bands down. I think with where I am now I don't want to be dumbed down. I just think that's the worst thing for rock and roll."

                Towards the middle part of the press conference the Smashing Pumpkins frontman talked about his own music. Asked to reveal the inspiration behind the latest Smashing Pumpkins album Oceania, Corgan said he wanted to delve deep into the “sense of alienation in love and life.”It’s about feeling connected and yet being isolated,” he said, using modern technology as a prime example of how people can be “so near yet so far.”

                On a lighter note, the Pumpkins frontman kept invited media guests in stitches as he revealed his own experience with Filipino culture, working as a cleaner in a Pinoy restaurant in Chicago. “I was paid $2 per hour and I could eat for free,” he recalls. After he helped himself to a large portion of the food he complained to the owners about his low wages. “But Billy, you’re family,’ well, you can’t get more Filipino than that,” he quipped, making members of the media break into laughter.  Before the question and answer portion came to a close, Corgan accommodated a few more questions as press people spontaneously blurted out their queries.

So, how does it feel like to meet a rock legend? Pretty darn amazing, if you ask me.  Just when things couldn’t get any better, proving that the Smashing Pumpkins frontman isn’t just a brilliant musician but an all-around nice guy, too, Corgan signed CDs and other Smashing Pumpkins collateral before finally leaving the venue.

For more press conference photos, you may visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151319741033032.567747.318414213031&type=3

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We The Kings Live in Manila Press Conference Pictures

Here are some of the photos from the recent We The Kings LIVE in Manila concert press conference which was held at the Gweilos Bar in Eastwood City, afternoon of May 28, 2012.

All photos was taken by Kevin Pableo.

See more pictures from the press conference here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447942601901124
Special thanks to Built By Sonic and Dayly Entertainment

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Pinoys give Craig David a good kind of insomnia

Title: Pinoys give Craig David a good kind of insomnia  WRITTEN BY JAMIE ORTEGAPHOTO BY Kevin Pableo for Manila Concert Scene

Ask a bunch of people what makes them happy and you’re sure to get different answers. People have various versions of happiness. Money, friends, or family are just some of them, but for the people at Coca-Cola seeing the ecstatic looks on faces of their fans as they sip the sweet, fizzy, refreshing drink is what gives them pure joy.

In celebration if its’ 100th anniversary in the Philippines and as a way to thank their consumers for making them happy for all these years, Coca-Cola staged a huge concert at the SM Mall Of Asia Concert Grounds last March 23, 2012. Pinoys were treated to a grand musical spectacle which started at 3pm and ended at 4 am the next day as some of the country’s biggest local bands and artists including Gary Valencaino, Sarah Geronimo, Rico Blanco, Gloc-9 and Callalily plus international superstar Craig David performed their hearts out!

Everyone at Manila Concert Scene thought that it would be Taio Cruz performing but when we heard he was replaced by Craig David we were beyond ourselves with excitement! We love all his songs from Whats Your Flavor, Unbelievable, to the epic Insomnia. Right before the concert we were lucky enough to see the Brit superstar up close and personal at the press conference held hours before the concert at the Manila Diamond Hotel hosted by MYX VJ Chino Lui Pio. Read all about it here: 

(included in the photo beside Craig is Ms. Anubha Sahasrabuddhe Marketing Director of Coke Philippines)

MYX VJ CHINO : What do you remember from your stay here?

Craig David: What I remember the show was great, and seeing the fans which was overwhelming because they showed so much support. Just going for a run in the streets was pretty cool, people would look and say, is that Craig David? And they weren’t sure, you get to see parts of Manila that way because usually in the car you see buildings here and there.

 MYX VJ CHINO: Nobody chased you around?

Craig David: Trust me nobody would be catching me.

Question: How do you find the Filipino audience and what brings Craig David happiness?

Craig David: When you come so far and you see such embrace of the songs, as an artist it is amazing how I can carry the song but how people from different countries react to the same song is also amazing. What makes me happy is people chowing on pasta (press people were eating pasta at that  time), what makes me happy is how I can create something from nothing and see how people react. It is the most beautiful thing and it makes me travel to so many beautiful things around the world and this place I wouldn’t have seen if it wasn’t for the beauty of this music, and so I would say that is one of the things that definitely makes me happy.

Question: What can people expect from your performance tonight?

Craig David: A few cool singles here and there, I guess it would be wrong if I didn’t do Insomnia (laughs) from out here and the two places I have been to here and Russia, two places and that song connects beyond belief further than I can imagine. One of the stewardesses asked for a photo but one of the things she pulled out from her iPhone was Insomnia just in case I forgot the lyrics, I love it, will have fun tonight that’s all.

Question: Who is your musical inspiration?

Craig David: Michael Jackson is just a name I am locked into. There is just a lot of people that inspire me but Michael Jackson is one of the key people in music because he musically crossed all genres of people, he isn’t just a great entertainer he also has a unique voice. And the songs he wrote I just think are classic, they sound the same now as when he released his albums. And not many of those artists that we have, and there are great artists in the world but not many are you can say is a true superstar.

Question: You’ve been tweeting about working out, what triggered that? And what would cause you to have insomnia?

 Craig David: As a kid growing up I was quite overweight and I always said I would take it to the other extreme. Ive always kind of like yo-yo-ed but the move to Miami was big for me because it was very much about look there. Your tops are off half of the time and I was tired listening to myself saying let’s train for a minute because you still want to drink you still want to eat while expecting great results. So I was like let me lock in for a period of time see if I can get results. That’s why there are a lot of tweets saying the abs are out today, I think if you work really hard and you see results you should be proud of it

When you go to the gym go with an attitude like, have the attitude of when you are with your girl and you close the doors in your bedroom, the stuff you get down to, when you go to the gym you should have the same attitude and you will see results.

Craig David: Probably a song that is not finished will be what keeps me up.

Question: If there is one song you would dedicate to the Filipino people after Coke’s 100 years what would that be?

Craig David: The song would be Insomnia, it is a song the Filipino people owned. It is amazing a brand known all around the world which everybody obviously knows about, I love the fact that if you really know your Coke you will rock it in a glass bottle. And not because I am here, but the Coke I have on my fridge at home is the glass bottle of Coca-Cola.

Question: Can you enumerate 3 Unbelievable songs that happened in your life?

Craig David: The first time hearing one of my songs on the radio was pretty amazing, knowing hundreds upon hundreds of people are listening to your songs at the same moment, first time I announced an arena tour at Wembley Arena and just to see my name up there, travelling, I have gone to incredible places, met some amazing places, met some amazing people, some not so amazing people, and the music has allowed me to open my eyes to the world and I try and tell people to just travel. If you can take a year off of your life and travel it is one of the most important things otherwise you become close-minded, so many diversity in cultures, and food, I think those things are what you do to me.

Question: If you weren’t Craig David what would you be doing?

Craig David: I would be kicking back with a bottle of Coke and DJ-ing which is something I love. And it was kind of between DJ-ing and picking up the microphone and writing songs, if that happened {and I pursued a career as  a DJ } I wouldn’t be giving the kind of performance I would be doing right now but I would still be a DJ. I still think there is a big void in the world of DJs who can pick up the mike and either sing, harmonize and rap, and still DJ. That for me is something I still see I mean, hey, you can still bring music and rock tracks{as a DJ} but picking up the microphone and performing {as a DJ} that is bringing the music to a whole new and different level.

Question: Are you single?

Craig David: I am single, when you reach your 30’s you want it to be relationship status you want it to be like you are in one. You want to be tweeting, I am with my fiancé now, but right now STILL SINGLE! What I will check out is the show to ride the plane and go back to Miami, I have never done that that quickly. People think it is all glamorous but you go there, do 22 hours on the plane, spend a few hours in the country, do 22 hours back on the plane it isn’t glam, but the actual performance makes it worth it. I will be coming back to promote my new album and I hope by the end of this year I have a finished album myself

Question: What is your message to your Filipino fans who supported you throughout the years?

Craig David: Obviously a big thank you and just continue to support it doesn’t matter if it is out, it’s coming out every year or if there is a period of time in between my albums there seems to be the same kind of love whenever I come back here so a massive thank you. I am hyped for the show tonight beyond belief! It would be cool to be a part of some local acts who will be performing tonight.

 See more photos from the press conference here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.397149266980458.104535.377943715567680&type=1

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