Pinoy talents are all making good

There is a sweet love story behind the group US The Duo. The duo is made up of Michael and Carissa Alvarado. Carissa was born in California and is half-Filipino. She met Michael when they were both invited to play extras in a music video shoot in L.A. It was love at first sight. Little did they know that their singing careers would also take a sudden magical turn.

Michael and Carissa were both trying to make it as solo artists and getting nowhere when they met four years ago. It was after this that things started to happen. They sang their wedding vows and this got a lot of attention on social media. On a lark, they shot and uploaded six-second videos of themselves singing covers and saw these get millions of views. They only showed half their faces but because they’re talented, soon they were opening for Oprah Winfrey. They also had a new name together, US The Duo.

They got a label deal next, with Republic Records and not long after, they were recording their own compositions. No Matter Where You Are, their wedding song, which Zoe Saldana also sang in the movie The Book of Life, became the album title and lead single. The song rose to the top of the charts and received 23 million views on YouTube.

US The Duo has a sparkling, happy sound. They remind me of The Corrs and Roxette but simpler and softer. It is the sort of singing that harassed millennials absolutely adore. They can certainly use those quiet, romantic moments that US The Duo provides with its music.

No Matter Where You Are also includes Smile And Keep Your Head Up, Make You Mine, Final Bow, Come Back, Don’t Lay Your Head, Falling In Love, Heartbreak, Dear Mom & Dad and ‘Til The Morning Comes.

Introducing Zion Aquino, whose soulful singing is described as a cross between Amy Winehouse and John Legend. He has caught the ears of well-known songwriter Trina Belamide of Now That I Have You fame and she gave him one of her original compositions to record. The love song is Ever My Only Love. Find out how great he sounds by visiting his own site at https://soundcloud.com/zionaquinofficial or by going to Spotify where you can listen to it for free. It is also available for downloads on cdbaby.com and iTunes.

Zion hails from Dinalupihan in Bataan. He works as a senior account manager in an advertising agency. He has been singing since he was a kid and has already amassed a lot of trophies from various contests. Zion is also a survivor of colorectal cancer, which I believe makes his extraordinary singing prowess all the more remarkable.

Pinoy to win Moonman trophy soon?

Great news from the MTV Video Music Awards front and more reasons to watch the live telecast on the MTV Pinoy channel on the morning of Aug. 31. It is not only Gab Valenciano who got a nomination, there are also other Pinoys who might be bringing home a Moonman trophy soon. And take note, they are all choreographers. This has got me wondering. We have been trying all these years to break into the US market as singers and musicians to no avail and now that it is happening, it is Pinoys as dancers and choreographers.

The nominations are: Gab Valenciano for Additional Choreography to 7/11 by Beyoncé; Nappy Tabs made up of Filipino Americans Napoleon Dum’o and his wife Tabitha, who are resident choreographers of the high-rating TV show Dancing with the Stars for Best Choreography to Don’t by Ed Sheeran; and for Urban Dance Camp Teachers Keone and Mari Madrid for their work in Never Catch Me by Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar which is nominated for Best Cinematography

And not to forget, one of the biggest nominees at the 2015 MTV VMAs is none other than pop star Bruno Mars. Bruno grew up in Hawaii but is definitely half-Pinoy with a Filipino mother. Uptown Funk, his collaboration with Mark Ronson, is up for five categories including the much-coveted Video of the Year. It is also nominated for Best Direction which Bruno shares with Cameron Duddy; Best Male Video; Best Pop Video; and Best Collaboration.