Star Records signs up Chiro

MANILA, Philippines - Star Records has signed up Chiro, through its sub-label Nugen, after the four-piece band won a nationwide band competition spearheaded by international brand Nokia.

An acoustic act with strong pop-rock sensibilities, Chiro bested over 200 participants in the Nokia Music Connection challenge that attracted some of the finest showbands and aspiring rockers in the land. The contest was concluded this year and this group from Angeles, Pampanga emerged as the champ.

“What we want is to be one of those acts respected for putting out intelligent music, not disposable songs with appeal that do not last long,” expressed Toni Rose Reynes, the group’s lady singer whose vocal strength as frontwoman easily draws comparison to Up Dharma Down’s Armi Millare.

Though the citation might be irresistible to some, Toni has a voice of her own and that her band sounds authentic to a deep degree.

Chiro, (pronounced as ki-ro), a Latin word for “hands,” has recorded a number of originals and covers for its debut collection released through digital mainstream. Most of the tracks are radio-positives, with Pahiwatig, a musically progressive piece that tackles love and desertion, serving as lead single.

The complete tracklist of their self-titled digital album includes: Batang-bata Ka Pa, Iyak Na, Pahiwatig, Alaala and Handog.

“We started as a straightforward acoustic act six years ago,” shared guitar player Faelmar Ocampo. “We’ve been around playing gigs in our hometown and finally got the break to record under mainstream label after we won the Music Connection competition. We’re definitely enjoying the ride.”

A tried-and-tested act in the competitively thriving show band scene in Pampanga, Chiro, with its “original and eccentric” sound, has been winning fans over, especially after hearing them play live.

With Gino Cruz at the helm and Rox Santos of Star Records supervising album production, this promising act immediately got the respect of veteran composer and Metropop winner Jungee Marcelo who collaborated with them on a pop filtered song he wrote called Alaala.

Toni, then a college student of UST where she and Faelmar met and formed their first band, added, “Di pa nagsi-sink-in sa amin ang string of blessings coming our way. What we can assure though is we’ll stay grounded no matter what. Ang habol namin primarily is to spread our music.”

Completing Chiro’s line-up is Toni’s brother Ivan Louis Reynes (drummer) and Erick Gabriel (bassist).

Chiro’s self-titled prepaid digital album, Chiro, is available in Astrovision, Odyssey and SM Record Bars. To redeem the digital album, log on to www.starmusic.ph.

Individual tracks may already be downloaded from www.starrecords.ph and soon on i-tunes and Amazon.com.