Connecting people through music

More than a month ago, I wrote about the first Nokia Music Connection competition held in Makati. Just recently, the search that gives unsigned artists a chance to jumpstart their musical career had a bar tour and area elimination for its 12 promising talents in hot spots in Quezon City for three consecutive nights.

The bar tour started with soulful original performances from Pieces of Jane, Bigtime Drama, Bandang Malaya and Farrington Heights at Gweilo’s. The following night, finalists Jennifer Reroma, J Quibs, Djop and Shayne and Nicko Katigbak filled White House on the 84th with great tunes.

The Quezon City elimination ended with smashing rock originals at Rockville Bar. Band finalists Subtle Sound Discord, Blue Boy Bites Back, Runmanila and Ginoong Vitalis performed their variations from pop funk to experimental rock.

Each participant performed two songs in front of a live audience and before judges Star Records album producer Jonathan Manalo and managing director Annabel Regalado-Borja, corporate communications manager of Nokia Philippines Nikka Abes, Myx VJ Robin Nievera and lawyer Marivic Benedicto of Star Records.

From the area elimination, six finalists will be selected to compete in the grand finals, where they will get the chance to win P200,000 in cash, a recording contract with Star Records and their very own music video produced by Myx. Finalists will perform one original “Nokia” song composed by Star Records and one performance piece during the big date set tomorrow.

(The third leg of the competition will move on to the Ortigas area for its final elimination and bar tour. Watch them perform on www.nokia.com.ph/musicconection and vote online for your favorite contestant. Simply register on the site and click the “Vote” button. You can also vote via SMS, just key in VOTE (space) NOKIA (space) the designated number of the artist of your choice and send to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun Cellular subscribers; and 231 for Smart and Talk N Text subscribers.)