CHAPTER 2 was featured on Pinoy Chronicle's August 2006 issue. Interview conducted by Mr. Herbert Y. Magtoto. Excerpt below. 
AUGUST 2006 Issue  CHAPTER 2 On the night of August 12, 2006, the impatient crowd at the Perlas Ng Silangan – which had been waiting for the show to begin – started ordering their food. The show that billed Willie Nep for President with the Chapter 2 as the front acts. And when Chapter 2 navigated the stage and threw a rousing rendition of KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree”, Michelle Branch “Game of Love”, Eric Clapton’s “Change The World” and Sting’s “King of Pain,” the vibe immediately shifted. Although they played covers they have their own material. Somewhat surprisingly, Chapter 2 fully engaged the crowd to their Michael McDonald’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” bathed the audience’s rapturous and response to Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” and CSNY’s “Love The One You’re With” that had the crowd howling for more. Reception for OPM (Original Pilipino Music) like “Ale” and “Labuyo” proved that Chapter 2 never forgot their roots. Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” was inviting. They also treated the crowd to a Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” which was captivating. The audience doesn’t care if Chapter 2 made time for older songs, but they delivered a healthy dose of one-unique sound. My first meeting with Chapter 2 was at the Showbiz Festival 2006 (Himig Natin) in Columbia University on July 29, 2006. I asked if they don’t care for an interview. Here are the excerpts. CUTUY HERRERO is no newcomer to the entertainment world. She is the daughter of film and stage actor/comedian Subas Herrero of "Champoy" fame. Cutuy first gig in the States was during the late 90’s to Noel Gambao’s Manila Nights. Noel asked her to be a part of the gig at that time. Since then, she has been showcasing her talent by performing as lead female vocalist in various bands throughout the New York and New Jersey area. Cutuy works as a Conference Planner for D&B Business Education Services. Cutuy likes her job; it just in the way of singing full time. Cutuy had an embarrassing moment when she sang at an 18th birthday party and forgot the lyrics to the song. She also has tough moments like when she declined an opportunity of singing with good friends. Cutuy likes to stay home. If she wants to escape, she will spend a lot of time in the Syracuse/Rochester area with her sisters and their respective families. Her job perks are to travel a lot and go to cool places. Cutuy don’t consider herself a star (yet). The only people who recognize her are her family and friends (according to her). She would love to perform fulltime and not have a regular 9 – 5 jobs. She has a lot of friends in the entertainment industry in Manila. A lot of them went to school with her at the Ateneo. She has a group of friends here in the States who have the same love of music as he does. NOEL TAMPAC is Chapter 2's resident comedian is also the heart and soul behind its well-recognized pop/acoustic harmonies. Noel got his musical chops from his training at the Asian Institute for Liturgy & Music. He has conducted various church choirs and was a member of the Christian choral group "HIS SOUNDS" where he met his lovely wife. He conducted the winning group at the first Filipino-American Choral Competition held at Lincoln Center in NY during the 90's, and also performed with a band called the "Sound Foundation". In the realm of pop/acoustic/rock music, his training has provided "structure" that has defined and enhanced Chapter 2's sound. Noel started out as choir director at his local church back in the Philippines and a freelance music director. A lot of good things had happened in Noel’s career as a musician and he would consider all of them as a break and opportunities to share the gift of making music and hopefully recognize the Giver, which is God. He likes what he’s doing right now. According to him they (with the group) have the best job in the world. “People who thought that they have the worst job in the whole planet (when it’s not) would come see us to be entertained. Now how cool is that? He quips. Making a decision and knowing that people might get affected or hurt is tough to him. On his spare time, he usually drives around while listening to some good music. His job perks are: “You get to meet some good musicians and learning from them… and meeting some “not so good” musicians and still learning from them.” He got a lot of friends in the music industry. Being in the limelight to him is “being with people who treats you right and allowing you to be a better person.” WENCHIE OLITAN started in the music biz at a very early age. He can play multiple instruments but decided to stick with the drums and percussions. He went to the Yamaha School of Music in the late 80's, and then studied with Pat Petrillo (Patti Labelle's drummer) and Mike Smith (Progressive Jazz Instructor) in the 90's. He's been involved with recording music for R.L. Stein's "Goose Bumps", and has been playing in an all-original band doing the NY, NJ, and Philly circuits for ten years. Wenchie plays with various party bands and is currently the mainstay drummer for Chapter 2. Wenchie’s break was 12 years ago with his first 4 piece original band. He would be embarrassed if he doesn’t exceed his expectations on playing his part in the band. Things he doesn’t like in doing his job are stress and hectic schedules. When Wenchie wants to be a professional golfer (maybe). Some of his friends are in the music industry. Wenchie don’t want gossip and Paparazzi if he’s in the limelight. nobody believes in him about his capabilities is tough to him. If he wants to escape from work he will play golf and hang around in his basement studio. He is satisfied when his band mates and the audience are enjoying his performance. MARLA GARCIA VILLACORTE started training in classical piano at age 6 and was a 2-time winner in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (Piano) in the Philippines. She dabbled into acting and singing when she joined PETA-MTTL as well as a church choir when she was in her teens. She then became a member of the Likhanghimig chorale and became the head of the Music Ministry of PREX, another local church choir. Later on, she did a few back-up vocal stints including a Valentine concert with Ariel Rivera. Currently, Marla is back at the keyboards with Chapter 2. Marlas’ first job was a teacher of Chemical Engineering. At present she’s a consumer researcher - finding out how people react to new products coming out in the market. Marla’s first break was when she’s pinched-hit for a friend doing recordings and was asked to be one of Ariel Rivera’s back-up singers in one of his Valentine Concerts in the Philippines. She had her share of embarrassing moments like tripping in front of the whole congregation while in a choir. When it comes to music Marla is perfectionist but, (to her) “when you’re a mom, you start to learn to let go of the perfectionism.” Balancing the so-called music career with another full-time job that requires travel, caring for a 19-month old baby and a husband (a.k.a. second baby) and housework is really tough for her. She doesn’t have spare time and couldn’t escape because she spent time with her little one or cleaning the house. Her incentives with the band according to her, “I love it when the audience appreciates our music. It gives me such a great high with the energy of the audience and it is quite fulfilling to get wonderful comments for putting up a good show. At least our efforts don't go to waste.” DENNIS SY was a member of the NY singing group ALIBATA before embarking on various solo performances. He had 2 solo concerts in NY, front-acted for Banig at her City Center concert, a guest performer at Kuh Ledesma's Atlantic City show, and has performed with Dawn Dineros and Jennifer Cuneta at a Valentines show. He recorded and released a CD entitled COLOURS in 1998. Apart from performing and composing, Dennis is a computer consultant for a financial institution on Wall St. It was EJ Villacorta of Repertory Philippines who him his break by including him in her Broadway shows, performing with Audie Gemorra, Josephine Reyes etc. He’s usually embarrassed by how he sounds after a live show when he hears the playback of the recording. So far no embarrassing moment yet on stage (fingers crossed) To him: “As an artist, you put yourself out there and you're constantly being judged for the things that you create musically. That is when you have to be true to yourself, and find satisfaction not from the opinion of others, but from how you view yourself as an artist.” “(Breaking into the business) the start of a career is tough to him especially in the music business. But at the same time, it’s the most satisfying because they (Chapter 2) are creating and performing for the sheer joy of it, with no pre-conceived expectations. He said “It's ok to fail now caused we haven't really achieved anything yet. It's always tougher to maintain the weight than to lose it.” On his spare time he’s at home (is where everything is real) - where there is no pressure of being judged and if he’s accepted in the society. Next to that would be coffee bars and inexpensive places where he could get great food, like Chinatown (laughed!). His incentives in doing music are: their audience continue to derive pleasure from their performances, their music, their harmonies, or that the audience could identify with the lyrics of a song that they wrote - those are what keep them going in this business. According to him he’s not a star yet. He’s still in the computer consulting, singing and writing songs on the side. “Certain things in life, you do not do for the money or for the pursuit of fame, but because you derive pleasure from doing it. Music will always be that way to me,” he said. Foremost, his band mates are his great friends, but the majority of his friends are outside the music industry. There you go, Chapter 2’s schedule is tight. If you want to hear and watch them perform you can watch them on Sept 16 Gary V in Vegas, Sept 23 Backup for Pops and Martin at Mohegan Sun, Sept 24 MYMP concert in NYC at Columbia University, NY. |