Q & A with Zara Smith

In the course of only two years, Handuraw Events Café has turned into one of most happening gig venues in Cebu, especially for independent musician and artists. Below is an interview with Handuraw Events Café part-owner, Zara Smith, a musician herself who had a pre-launch of her band's new album dubbed "Unraveling" which coincided with the café-resto's 2nd anniversary early this week.

Handuraw as venue for musical expression

Serendipity: What is Handuraw's positioning in this age of Cebuano Music?

Zara Smith: Handuraw is a venue where new, raw, upcoming bands get to play and expose their music artistry. Handuraw became the venue for original music in Cebu. Handuraw welcomes all types of music that is original.

S: How does it feel being hailed as the best venue for Cebuano Musical expression?

ZS: Handuraw is created so that it is the venue for Cebuano musical expression and if it is known to be that and Handuraw has and is serving its purpose.

S: How does it feel celebrating your 2nd year in the local entertainment industry?

ZS: Handuraw is thankful for all the support of the people who have contributed to making Handuraw the venue for artistic expression. Handuraw in its 2nd year is there for the artists and the people who go to Handuraw are there to watch these artists and Handuraw thanks all of them for their support.

Music as personal expression

S: Give me a little background of your music and how you started?

ZS: I, Zarah Smith have been writing since at a young age. Only at college did I put together my writing and music. After college I pursued my originals with a group of artists in a band. It took quite some time to get the band together so Unraveling is music created from the year 2000 to 2006 and with various artists in collaboration.

S: Why Unraveling? Tell us about its songs.

ZS: Unraveling is the title because people are just about to hear the music and lyrics and understand its meaning and purpose of why its created. The album Unraveling has 15 songs such as island, witness, glow, all, circles, the sea in me and existence and more.

Each song has its own meaning and its up to the listener to unravel its meaning. You can get the lyrics and samples of the album unraveling at this site: www.zarahsmithband.com

S: Describe your music in terms of genre/ styling and as a form of personal expression.

ZS: My music can not be classified and or labeled in a particular genre since it is a collaboration of various artists and original songs from the year 2000 till present and compiled into the album Unraveling. Its content is a fusion of various types of music such as jazz, blues, chill, funk, and rock.

We, the band, would prefer not to be classified in a particular genre so to that our musical expression may not be limited. Music in itself is an art where it is an imprint of the artist and a collaboration and or unity of sounds unfolding to create what we hear now. The lyrics create the setting and the music sets the mood.

S: What are your plans regarding the formal release of your album as last Tuesday was only its pre-launch? Although Cebu Music is thriving, are you planning of going to Manila?

ZS: We are to have a pocket concert series of album launching dated on August 18, September 6, and October 14 and an Album launching in Manila and various places throughout the Philippines.