New rock chicks in town

They are named Ana, Sid and Paige. They are now known collectively as My Odessa, the hot new band in town. They make a refreshing sight. They are young, pretty, talented and they love rock. In fact, they do not only love rock, they have decided to make a career out of it. They write, sing and perform rock. And this does not mean just plain rock. These girls, Paige Buan 20, on vocals and bass; sister Sid 18, drums and vocals; and Ana Guisingmadali, 17, guitar, can really dish out the hard stuff.

That means the likes of Black Dog by Led Zeppelin or Highway Star by Deep Purple or Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns and Roses. This type of rock was what they grew up listening to in their native Tagum, in Davao. They learned to play and sing imitating Robert Plant and Jimmy Paige and the ilk of those rock heroes. Now doing that is just like learning from the masters. Sort of like learning to paint by copying the strokes of Van Gogh and other masters. And these girls learned a lot.

So they went off wowing audiences with stunning covers of rock classics in school programs, talent contests or wherever they would be allowed to play. Would you believe they would even go to rock joints, pay to enter then try to get on stage and perform. Confident enough to know they can make it, Ana, Sid and Paige created their own music. Thanks to their supportive parents, the girls were allowed to relocate to Manila where the music action is and where they can now show off their work.

It is here where they found a manager, Nonoy Tan, formerly of Wadab and daddy to Champ of Hale and where they were later signed to a label, Viva Records. With Tan as album producer My Odessa chose its best originals which now make up the group’s self-titled debut album. The first single out of My Odessa is Baroque. It is a composition by Paige and Sid that has been getting excellent feedback and airplay and which has already broken into the Pinoy MYX Countdown of Top 20 videos.

My Odessa is an all-original collection by the girls. Most of the contents came all the way from Davao, while others, especially the love songs were later additions after My Odessa found out kids here do not really swoon over Black Dog and prefer to be romantic even when they rock. So some sweetness and light, like Baroque, were added to spice up the package.

Other songs in the album are Together We’ll Fly, which is about friendship and was the band’s entry to a Davao music competition where it won grand prize; Goodbye Na Lang, which is about letting go; Numb, about knowing one’s priorities and reaching for your dreams; plus Harlequin, Bakit Nagkaganito, Let Me Stay, Now That You’re Gone, Sleepless and the best of the lot, the wistful Agos.

My Odessa is on a two-month tour of Padi’s Point bars, which started last month. Remaining dates in the series are at Padi’s Point Araneta Center on Oct. 8; Monumento, Oct. 9; Las Piñas, Oct. 15; Marikina, Oct. 17; Alabang, Oct. 23; Calamba, Oct. 24; and Avenida, Oct. 31. Catch Paige, Sid and Ana perform Black Dog and cuts from My Odessa.

Pinoy MYX’s Top 20 videos

The Top 20 videos on Pinoy MYX Countdown this week are : The Fight is Over by Urbandub; Leap of Faith by Hale; Now by M.Y.M.P.; Yugto by Rico Blanco; Puso by Sponge Cola; The Search is Over by Rachelle Ann Go; Million Miles Away by Nikki Gil; Kailan by Bamboo; Saludo by 6Cyclemind; Ako’y Babalik by Callalily;

Kundi Man by Silent Sanctuary; Disconnection Notice by Pupil; A Very Special Love by Sarah Geronimo; The One Who Won My Heart by Christian Bautista; I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Nina; For the First Time by KC Concepcion; Freak Out Baby by Itchyworms; Eternally by Mark Bautista; Baroque by My Odessa; and Boy Kulot by Rock Steady.