Surfing the radio with Kenyo and Pokwang

An artist is defined by his works. These masterpieces should not limit him to one genre or stroke. They should instead inspire him to go beyond the norm.

Kenyo has been doing that for a year with Radiosurfing after Mcoy Fundales, JM and Ace del Mundo gave Orange & Lemons a new name and sound. Pokwang did the same thing via Ang Album Na May Puso.

“It’s a warm-up project,” describes vocalist/guitarist Mcoy of Kenyo’s debut outing Radiosurfing. “The album consists of revivals (hits from the ‘80s) with the band’s pop stamp on it. We experimented and had fun while doing it. When you listen to the songs, it’s like chilling out.”

Reminiscing the not-so-old-good days is how you put into words the experience Radiosurfing brings to anyone. As Mcoy puts it, it is a musical scrapbook of ‘80s songs emanating from the trusty transistor. It goes down memory lane when time was laidback and there was no i-Pod which can store loads of tunes from artists of different eras. Kenyo remains faithful to why the songs were written in that particular time. Mcoy’s Radio is the perfect prelude to what the album is all about and how it should be treated.

Radiosurfing plays familiar ditties like Puttin’ On the Ritz, Sana (with excerpts from Handog), Love Me, Reality, Your Eyes, Let Me In, Kiss On My List, Ayoko Na Sa ‘Yo, Love Me (Lightly), Don’t Worry, Be Happy and HBK, a cleverly and tightly woven songs of Hello, Boulevard and Knife.

“We like surprises,” shares Mcoy. “We don’t want to be predictable. If we do that, it will be the end for the band.”

How are things going with Kenyo?

“We lost some fans but we gained new ones,” answers Mcoy. The new songs brought them abroad (Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego) where they performed before Filipinos who can understand the band’s musical innovation. Kenyo describes the reception as “super rock and roll.”

After the US tour last year, Kenyo is prepping up for the next one. But fans can catch the band on Feb. 10 at The Tenth Bar, Malolos, Bulacan; Feb. 12, Mariano Ponce High School, Baliuag, Bulacan; Feb. 14, UP Diliman, Sunken Garden (6 p.m.) and Hard Rock Café Makati (9 p.m.); and Feb. 21, SM Baguio.

Soon, Kenyo will release its sophomore album with a change in music again. The album is edgy and shows Mcoy’s Bulakeño roots. It veers away from the band’s Euro-pop influences. The 12 original tracks, written in Tagalog and English, seem to woo the listener. They are suave, groovy kundiman beats and present Kenyo’s changing pop sensibilities.

Pokwang, for her part, is setting the bar higher by releasing her debut album Ang Album Na May Puso. She lives up to the title by wearing a puso ng saging as necklace and posing like Rose of Titanic for the cover.

“I’m just trying my luck,” says Pokwang of her career change. “I just want to entertain everyone through (novelty) songs. I want people to laugh and make them happy.”

That’s what happens to you when you hear Sana Kunin Ka Na Ni Lord, Bonggacious, Pag Na In-Love Kana Sakin (Tagalog version of When You Tell Me That You Love Me), Bahoo, Gaya Gaya Puto Maya, Bratatat and Hai.

Given her comical take and showmanship on each song, Ang Album Na May Puso is a stress reliever. It will perk you up and forget your daily cares. The album is a musical entertainment as Pokwang only knows. Don’t expect songs that will strain Pokwang’s vocal cords, or performances that will take your breath away but tunes that will put a smile on your face. After all, Pokwang doesn’t have any illusion that she’s a diva. She is just simply a comedienne who can sing.