MANILA, Philippines - The metro now enjoys forms of alternative entertainment that are passing our conscious attention.
There are the Rap Battles, where rappers cleverly insult each other in smooth and entertaining ways. Or open mic nights, where spoken word artists recite poems about love, loss and life’s inequality, struggles and finding self and self-realization.
Indie music is also very much alive. The new digital album, Shapeshifter, packs Eyedress’ unique multi-varied style in some 20 tracks. He allows it to metamorphose with its minimalist sonics and heavily manipulated vocals complete with well-executed video ideas helmed by Julius Valledor.
Hip Eyedress (word-play for first name, Idris, a.k.a. Idris Vicuña) is the first Filipino musician signed to a British record label, XL Recordings, home to such high-recall artists as Adele, Radiohead and The White Stripes.
Born in Manila, he lived in Southern California as a teen, returned to Manila until he briefly resided in London when XL Recordings signed him. He is currently based in Manila where Shapeshifter took shape.
Hip Eyedress is the first Filipino musician signed to a British record label, XL Recordings, home to such high-recall artists as Adele, Radiohead and The White Stripes.
As player, recorder and producer, he collaborated with other singers and musicians, inviting them to work on individual tracks of Shapeshifter including Return of the Wicca Mane (featuring Edgar the Breathtaker), Add to the Peace (feat. Bubble Based Boy), Lies Tear us Apart, Future with You, Secret Agent on Vacation (feat. Chris McCombs), Trust the Process (feat. RH Xanders & Jasmine), When the Planets Align, Ghost Whip (feat. Ankhten Brown, Pyramid Vritra & Tyler Major), 1990 (feat. Pyramid Vritra);
Danger There (feat. Ankten Brown), Witch Bitch, Sports (feat. Thisisda & Sporting Life), Don’t Trust Them (feat. Thisisda & Oscar Worldpeace), Patience is Better Than Love, The Sexorcist (feat. Jiin & Sweyn Jupiter), Superficial Paradigm (feat. Miche), Night Sky, Watch Your Front (feat. Jasmine), You Make Me Feel (feat. Jasmine) and Sweet Apple Smile.
Jasmine in three tracks is Jasmine Isabel Cabrera, youngest daughter of National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera and Caroline Kennedy and Eyedress’ proudly infanticipating girlfriend.
Eyedress thinks the fresh output is “a lot more positive and happy” due to the creative freedom at his will. Kim Taylor Bennett of Noisey reviewed it as a “warped and wonderful LP.” But the teamworks are really unusual, sometimes eerie and gothic, oftentimes romantic and touching, but always unique and cool in its anti-commercial impulse.
For sure, his music is adult stuff as lyrics are infrequently graphic but its imagery will make any stoner happy. The strategy is working that he has started to crack the metro but also the major capital cities like London and Paris.
Shapeshifter includes a new music video and a documentary of Eyedress’ UK tour in 2014 and offers unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Downloadable @https://eyedress.bandcamp.com, it can be purchased as an album and/or singles from the album.