taciturns

HAPPY WOMYN'S MONTH!!!

2007-03-02T03:47:00.000-08:00

I dreamt of 17 full moons around me; one by one they appeared in the sky as I watched the stars. The moon is about femininity. I think my wish would soon come true and all our goals would soon push through: a feminine revolution in music and in the arts; a Renaissance of womanity. I dare ask my co-womyn: are we ready for this? I answer at once: let's all do this :)

charms

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2007-01-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

WELCOME 2007! Since it has the number 7, our lucky number, we are hoping this would be 'our year' :)
I know we have kept you, our avid following, waiting for long; for too long, if I must say. For us, the frustration and the desperation is too much to handle as well. We can only give ourselves more hope; we're not giving up :)
We have always been committed to each other, although we have different ways of showing it among ourselves. Thus, these differences create misunderstandings that cause the delays of the product of our craft. Priorities play an important role; and each of us differ in our priorities. I'm hoping that all of us in the band could finally settle our differences. But don't worry, we guarantee everybody that our album will soon be out. Not today nor tomorrow; not anytime soon, I guess. But, it will. I promise you that.
And this year, it will. I'm sure of that (or I'll kill myself! harhar!).
No, seriously, my crystal ball says the same thing.:)
Slowly, but surely...we want to give you good stuff as well :) It's my wish for this year. Plus this: please! please! pleeeaaasssseeee! NO MORE QUITTING! I wish none of my bandmates would think of quitting anymore. The procrastination for the album is enough. Or should I say, too much already?
Sigh. We need all your positive energies. please continue to support us.
Thanks :)
Charmzzzz...

The Real Thing: the UP Underground CD Sampler (album/compilation) out now in record stores!

2006-04-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

Matilda Song of the Month

2006-03-24T05:13:00.000-08:00

IYAK NI MARIA

Naririnig mo ba ang daing ni Maria?
Hindi mo ba naririnig ang hiyaw Niya?
'Di mo ba naririnig ang iyak ni Maria?

Trivia:
I (Charms) was eleven when I composed this song. I was in fifth grade, then. It was the first song I have recorded, thanks to my (then) best friend's recorder (that small old-school type).Our friendship included sharing of secrets we couldn't tell other people. Why? Because we were too shy and afraid to tell anyone the times we have been violated as a woman (as a girl at that). I was a devout Catholic, then, and a devout follower of Mother Mary--- I turned to her for solace, whenever I was caught in a predicament. When I made this song, I was thinking of all the cruelty and violence against women, and why all that should happen. And I was thinking then, if Mother Mary could have been God instead, maybe these things wouldn't have happened. When I was studying then the Holy Bible, I have observed how women were treated in the book. Since Mother Mary (like all the other women in the book) wasn't given greater power (always under submission or with inferior power), I surmised she couldn't do anything, but weep.

I was provoked to compose this song, one day, in 1991, when I had a fight with my mom, because I questioned the Bible too much. I locked myself in the bedroom, and started singing while playing the guitar. I tried my best to put some words, but all I could do was cry. A few days after, I tried to put words into the song,and have written a few sentences. However, after much thought, I have decided to retain only three clauses, because I felt more the urgency and intensity of the song's content with less words in it.

Every time I sing this song, I couldn't sing it the same way I first did. But it always feels heavy inside, though getting lighter through time. But the weight of its history is always there. So, when I met Lemon and Yvette (the founders of Matilda-they experienced the same traumas in their childhood), it was easy for me to share it with them for they embraced the song as if it were their own. We jammed it at the Kamia Residence Hall before we introduced it to Jovi, who embraced the song as well. Two years after, when Meryl came into the picture, she made the remarkable suggestion of putting screams into the song. And so, we did. Two years after, when Maricor was finally allowed to join the group for good (she was old enough), she gave the most spectacular addition.

As Iyak Ni Maria continues to gain numerous awards, accolades, and recognitions, she takes on more meaning and responsibility. She kept inspiring and helping a lot of people. She is truly a powerful song. Perhaps, it is because she has an impenetrable history of depth and advocacy.

Happy Womyn's Month Everybody :) May there be an end to oppression of women.

Pictures from last December's gig at the UPIS Fair

2006-03-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

Ayn on bass and Wina on guitar

Smile, Jovi! :)

Happy Anniversary, Matilda!

2006-01-26T00:22:00.000-08:00

Geesh. We never thought we'd stick together this long! It was in 1999 when Yvette, Lemon, Jovi and Charms got themselves acquainted to form an all-girl band. This day, 7 years ago. And Jovi's hair was very, very short, then. And Yvette and Charms were unable to focus on Ma'am Thelma Arambulo's discussion during class, because they kept talking to each other about the plans for the band.
Memories. Reminiscing is addictive.

Matilda Song of the Month

2006-01-24T22:09:00.000-08:00

LET GO

Her meadows, green
Your envy, green
What's the point of that green scheme
Blue, withered, wrinkled skin
Blue can make the darkest gleam
Red, fiery, glaring dream
Water heated, produces steam
Immaculate, unmarred crown
Stained purple by a sweet frown

Give up the fight
And you will win
Surrender your demons to the din
Give up the air, so you can breathe
Let go, and you will find it

You don't have to have what you don't have that she has
Everything you need, want
You earn but
not too fast
Look inside you
In the long run
You are quite all right

Torn between two emphatic scenes
One to give up
One to keep
Mess on their floor
Broom's at your door
Break the lock
Into the knob's core

Give up the fight and you will win
Leave all your demons to the din
Give up the air, so you can breathe
Let go and you will find me

In every wall
there is a crack
where light seeps in
Familiar beam that for so long
you haven't seen
Possession's nice
But you must learn to let go
and carpe diem

Trivia: Let Go is one of Matilda's oldest songs. It was included in my (Charms) "Impromptu" album (unreleased), a simple cassette tape with ten tracks delivered impromptly. All tracks were untitled. When I introduced the song to Yvette, Jovi, and Lemon, they loved it, so we immediately worked on it for public release on gigs. The original Matilda version wasn't as upbeat as the version it acquired when Meryl and Coi came into the picture. And the lyrics you see here are not the original lyrics as well. The original was heavier and... not entirely wholesome. I started rewriting the lyrics when our board of censors (Jovi) asked me to do so. In so doing, I tried to make it ambivalent, so others can interpret it in many other ways. That's why in the released and final track, the one you hear in our EP, the song was upbeat, enigmatic, optimistic (in a sense), and lighter.

The song was basically about envy and letting go. Sometimes, women can be very competitive and they compete against each other. When I was in High School, I used to have a friend who envied me greatly. In her envy, she betrayed me and stole a lot from me. She tried to have what I have. She tried to be me. She almost succeeded at my expense. However, I never confronted her about it. She confessed everything to me, though. It was through this song that I released whatever I wanted then to tell her.

When the atmosphere of the song became lighter, I knew I had to change the lyrics. I then put on more light into it. In no time, the untitled track became an optimistic one. Thus, the title and the theme, LET GO.

Until to this day, the song serves as a mantra for me whenever I feel like I need to let go of things, no matter how difficult. Sometimes, though, I sing on my own, the original version, whenever the need arises.

Happy New Year everyone!

2006-01-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody!!!

CD Samplers featuring Matilda

2005-11-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

Silver Shiny Jeepney

Released: 2005
Label: Alpha Records
Price: US$ 11.99

Featured songs/artists:

1. Party Song - Coffee Break Island
2. You Make Me - Eheads
3. Bihag - Imago
4. Inaasahan - Melancholics
5. Kahit Na - Bridge
6. Jive - Fat Elephant
7. Brownskin People - 18th Issue
8. Di Ko Na Alam - A.D.D.
9. For the Moment - Squall
10. Hey Body Rock - Hemp Republic
11. Hello My Friends, Hello - Bleud
12. Palm of My Hand - Cattski
13. Traffic - Bob Balingit
14. Kusina - Narda
15. Damn - Centerfold
16. High - Matilda
17. I Wanna Know - Brownbeat All-Stars
18. Fried Brain - Moyg
19. You're Always Right - Monsterbot
20. Come On - Neighbors

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Volume 1: The UP Underground Sampler

Released: 2005
Compiled by: The UP Underground Music Community
Contact Information: (0919) - 562 6039
Price: Php 120.00

Featured songs/artists:

1. Big Love - Oi Wag Dito
2. Para Lang - The Brew
3. Nababaliw Na Ang Payaso - Aizo
4. Bayan Ko - La Passionara
5. Asin at Sugat - Matilda
6. Insomniac - Chubibo
7. Tsong [Demo] - Giniling Festival
8. Pieces of April - Slow Dive
9. Metro Manila - Delta Joy
10. From the Underground - Sacramento

UP Dakila Events

2005-11-21T23:11:00.000-08:00

UP ACLE
(August 25, 2005)
- with Typecast
- Palma Hall, UP Diliman

Memorable quote:
"Patronizing pirated materials is not necessarily a bad thing; but if you buy a pirated tape of Britney Spears -- now that's something unforgivable."
- Ayn (educating the UP students)

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Dakilang Dunong 2005
(November 19, 2005)
- New College of Arts & Sciences Auditorium, UP Los Banos, Laguna

Memorable conversation:

Organizer: "Charms, kayo na ang mag-perform."
Charms: "Sige, pakitawag na sila."
Organizer: "Natutulog eh."

"Princess Batugan"; Saguijo (10/14/05)

2005-11-21T23:03:00.000-08:00

Matilda (with Rin [of Death by Tampon] subbing for Meryl on guitars):

Other Bands:

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*All photos courtesy of Melle.

"Breakfast Show"; Studio 23 (10/13/05)

2005-11-21T22:43:00.000-08:00

Wake-up calls placed: 2.00am
On the road: 3.ooam
Scheduled meet: 4.oo am
Arrival at Studio 23: 6.00am

---

Sound check: 6.30am
Start of Live show: 7.00am

"It really is a whole new experience when you're watching TV inside a TV station building."

"Have you tried reading inside a TV station building? I have."

---

Picture Taking with TV show celebrities: 9.00am

"We love you Bam-bam."

---

Sight-seeing: 9.30am

"Ano??? Evicted na agad kami???"

---

Brunch: 10.00am
Uwian time: 11.00am

Matilda Song of the Month

2005-11-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Asin at Sugat

Asin
sa sugat
hindi lang
mahapdi
nanunuot
hanggang magtubig
nagiging lawa
tulad ng paningin
ng mga matang luhain

asin sa sugat
hindi lang mahapdi
nanunuot hanggang
magtubig
nagiging lawa
luha ng paningin
pumapatak sa daan
nagpuputik

dilaw na nana
hindi hilaw

Asin
sa sugat
hindi lang
mahapdi
nanunuot
hanggang magtubig
nagiging lawa
tulad ng paningin ng mga matang luhain

asin sa sugat
hindi lang mahapdi
nanunuot hanggang
magtubig
nagiging lawa
luha ng paningin
natutunaw
natutunaw rin.

Trivia: this song just happened right before our eyes, without us being entirely aware of how it would turn out. Jovi started with the drums and Yvette put on the bass, then I started humming. Yvette suggested Tagalog lyrics so I did my best to create a Tagalog poem in accordance to the feel of the song. At first, there was no chorus, then I suggested some chords to Meryl and when she started plucking them, we instantly had a guitar riff. A year after this, Maricor joined us and put the finishing touches to the song.

Reminiscing the GBOB Experience

2005-11-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Hello girls... I see, this blog's been idle for weeks now. Allow me to resuscitate it for the time being before I resume work.

A few nights ago, Charms and I attended an eat-all-you-can oyster party at the 9Mile studio, hosted by Cherry and Archie of Cherry Cornflakes. At the same party, the two of us hung out with some of the guys from Naked Tongue. If your memory serves you well, NT was the band that won during the week that we participated in the GBOB event. They're a couple of nice dudes and Charms shared the same sentiments that they had about GBOB.

In line with most of the drunken conversations that we had at the oyster party, I'll be copy-pasting an excerpt from my blog about the airing of our performance at Ratsky just to relive the "wonderful" experience.

[For more accounts regarding Matilda's most recent gigs and get-together, kindly refer to my blog.]

GBOB Airing...

I wasn’t able to catch the airing of our GBOB performance on a Monday (last October 17th ). I wasn’t expecting it to be shown that early. The girls texted me about it but I was taking a nap at the time. It was already too late when I got to read them. The weekly event is usually divided into two or three bands for every weekday and I missed out on the day that we were shown. Luckily, there is a re-run of all of the bands’ performance and interviews (those who were slated for the featured week) during Friday night (October 21st). I then got home by night time and my daughter and I were glued in on the tube, waiting for 10.30pm to fall.

We sounded satisfactory except for the guitar parts which were mostly feedback on video. Trust me, it didn’t sound that way on the house monitor during the actual performance and sound check. What we were mostly surprised of was that, Jovi’s single-hand drumming stint turned out to be NOT that obvious as we expected. Ha ha.

See, Jovi customarily brings her extra sticks during gigs, but for some strange reason, failed to bring those for GBOB. It’s not that she needed them always, but I guess drummers traditionally bring them along for pre-cautionary purposes or just in case some unexpected mishap would occur. I’m no drummer so I wouldn’t really know. As a bassist, I don’t usually bring in an extra bass or strings. For the many times that I’ve broken a string or two in the middle of a set, I just end up borrowing a bass from one of the bands that we’re playing with, which, for me, is more practical.

Anyway, so THE unexpected DID happen during our performance!

Right from the beginning of “Sine Cura,” one of Jovi’s sticks slipped from her hand. Nobody was allowed to aid the participating bands and Jovi couldn’t reach for it in the middle of the continuous drumming that she had to do for the particular song. Being left with no other fall back, she just continued playing with one hand until the end of the 5-minute (or so) song.

During performance, I knew that there was something wrong with her playing but didn’t think that she was playing with one hand all throughout. I just thought that maybe she missed out on some of her parts, hence one awkward sounding moment there. I just learned about what really happened by the time we stepped offstage.

That was weird. And to think that it also had to happen during an aired, not to mention global, band competition event! Nevertheless, we managed to laugh things off and joked about it the entire time that we were at the bands’ lounge area upstairs of Ratsky. I kept telling Jovi that the interview should have been conducted right after the performance. If that was the case, she could have at least excused herself and claimed that she admires Rick Allen (Def Leppard’s drummer and known for playing with one hand since one of his arms got amputated due to a car accident).

Many other bloopers were encountered prior to the Jovi incident:. There was also the whole day search for Coi (the band’s violinist) at her sorority’s tambayan and at the UP College of Music (we haven’t heard from her for a whole week until we found her the day before we were to compete); the panicky registration of the members’ list and the consequential need for a “letter for approval” addressed to the head administrator of the event itself; the non-stop text barrage to every member who initially seemed uncertain about joining the event; the drunken lone practice for the event (where I couldn’t play a single correct note, was mercilessly reprimanded by Meh the whole time we were practicing, ended up trashing 9Mile’s equipment and the owners’ bandmate’s laptop adaptor, and woke up the next day with a fist-sized bruise on my left thigh--to mention a few) the night before; and, the last-minute unavailability of Coi since she couldn’t leave her orchestra rehearsals at Ayala (despite me sending the van and Jovan (Matilda's former manager) from Malate to Ayala, on the night itself). Thank you so much, Jovan.

The end result of our segment on air didn’t show that all these things took place and the whole performance was just like “the usual” tight set. Upon viewing ourselves on national television, it occurred to us all that we should have trusted Jovi more with her skills. She didn’t just earn her good reputation as a drummer for nothing. Add to that the fact that she’s been trained, since early childhood, to play skillfully by her dad (who was famous for being one of the best drummers back in the 80’s).

Modesty aside, what we saw on tv exceeded all our expectations and we were all very proud of ourselves despite not winning the large prize at stake.

As for the interview, some parts were edited to shorten it, but it came out good. It was mostly about the featured song (“Sine Cura” had something to do with the accident that befell Meh and the death of one of the victims), the band’s musical influences and the reason behind us playing only one song (there was an 8-minute time limit, including set-up, and most of the “unreleased” Matilda songs exceed 5 minutes of play time).

Despite all the bloopers, the experience was something special and unforgettable, and the girls wouldn’t mind doing it all over again (sans the hassles of course).

Matilda Song of the Month

2005-10-10T01:38:00.000-07:00

High

High, high,

high, high

I only wanted to be there high
But I didn't think that I would feel so high

Always was the earth
Looking up at the sky
Wonderin' how it felt to be up there high
You, the omnipresent
You, the ever-existent
My sanity you've enlightened
My being you have renovated

High, high

high, high
I didn't think that I would feel so high

Ladder up
high
But I'm still here

*I know I have no right to speak this way,
I restrain myself as long as I can
But when I can bear no more
My true self breaks loose
I defy everything
I am tired of being a cold, calm machine.

High, high,
high, high,
I only wanted to be there high
But I didn't think that

I would be higher

Trivia:
"High" is probably one of the most laid-back songs I have composed. It was the age of my interest on the writer Louisa May Alcott and there was this short story she wrote, "Jean Muir" that made an impact on me. Thus, I quote a paragraph from the story. I wanted so much to memorize the passage so to make it easier, I had a melody to go with it. Eventually, the melody evolved, and before I knew it, I had associated it with blind addiction.

The history of the melody:
The melody was a simple four-chord pattern composed impromptly during Matilda's first gig at the Kamia Residence Hall Open House in February 27, 1999. The audience loved us despite our amateurism and requested for another song. Without having anything left on our playlist, I (Charms) suddenly strummed my guitar with the first four notes that came into my mind. Impromptly, the set of lyrics that came out was just a greeting to the audience "Hi" and the rest, I didn't know what came out of my mouth. This happened during Matilda's original set-up, which included Jane 'Lemon' Jimenez on guitars and vocals, Yvette Tunguia on bass, Jovi Reyes on drums, and yours truly on guitars and vocals.

Please Support Matilda

2005-09-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

We are competing for the Global Battle of the Bands this Friday, September 30. Ratsky's, Malate; 7pm onwards.

There is an audience voting!

Please watch and buy any Asia Brewery product at the venue during the said event. There's a voting tag/form that comes with each purchase (Absolute and Summit drinking water, Colt 45, Colt Ice, etcetera...). You may vote more than once.

Entrance fee is Php 300, consumable.

Hope to see you all there! Thanks!

Paramita Album & Vid Launch

2005-09-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Please attend. It's free and Yvette will be playing bass :)

UP Quill's Piping Sigaw

2005-09-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Matilda played here. That was a night of San Mig Light, clove cigs, vegetarian tempura, orange juice, pesto, Beng, Billy and Roma.

Oi, Meh managed to play The Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia My Reflection" without hearing the song before. And, need I mention, that the band has never practiced this song. Ever.

Matilda Song of the Month

2005-09-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Drop D---

You’re denying me warmth
You’re expecting the chill of the harm
If you cannot scream the lies
Conceal truth from my wounded eyes
You lie and I die
You’re like a thief
Stealing my time
I scream
You don’t hear
We keep the meaning of things inside ‘til
we’re fed up

When will you end
Keeping your fears
Inside your dreams
Keeping your tears?
Until you hurt me
The one you love?
And hurt yourself
‘til your heart’s
dead?
Am I dead?

Trivia: Drop D--- was initially a song for a Filipino animation soundtrack before it became the love song that it is. We were once in this project administered by Jovi and Coi's brother, Kuya Chris, but we couldn't get the song right according to the formula he wanted so we just turned down the project and made it into our own song instead.I was then in pain,literally (with a stomachache) and figuratively (in the midst of a dying romance)so when we recorded it, impromptly the words that came out was just so full of it.

Matilda's New Professional Chemist

2005-09-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Meh just let us in on the latest good news during our gig at the Abelardo Hall (UP College of Music) last night.

Congratulations to Meryl Antonio-Reyes for passing the recent Board Exams for Chemists!

I'm sure both Billy and Triani are very proud of you. So are we ;)

ACLE Pics

2005-09-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

ACLE Poster for 1st sem, SY 2005-2006

...

UP DAKILA's Alternative Class

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Charms with Typecast

...

Charms with some UP Dakila co-members

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Charms Interviewed

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Ayn and Roma

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Jovi and Coi

Food for the Thought

2005-08-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Words of wisdom

(as found on an art exhibit invitation)

...

Yvette and Coi

...

Ayn and Coi

...

Meh.

...

Jovi.

...

Billy and Bheng

(of Kiko Machine)

...

* last two photos courtesy of Roma.

Sigaw Ni Maria Clara

2005-08-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

hey everyone :) this coming saturday, August 20, witness something extraordinary at BigSkyMind. Matilda will be playing according to the theme of the event entitled "Sigaw Ni Maria Clara." Show starts 9pm but we're playing around 10pm. Encounter a historical gig this saturday. We will be there with our sisters Princess Bato, Fatal Posporos, Narda, and Out For Lunch. You dare not miss this :)
See you!
Blessed be to all...

Welcome everyone!

2005-05-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

Hi to all of you! Welcome to Matilda's blogspot :) Named after our upcoming album, TACITURNS, we're excited to hear from you as well :)

Feel free to share your opinions. What do you think is the upcoming album about? Anyone who gets the right answer, wins a copy :)

See you guys around :)

Jovi's bday party

2005-05-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

happy 25th birthday to Jovi! growing older but growing wiser :) last saturday, may 7, was fun! sayang, wala si yvette...her loss hehe