New cover from us- Stay With Me by Sam Smith

❤

Fall 2012 T by Alexander Wang Campaign featuring Azealia Banks

How could I have missed this campaign?  I'm obsessed with Azealia Banks and I LOVE Alexander Wang! ❤

Walkie Talkies- Thinkin Bout You

Our version of Frank Ocean's Thinkin Bout You.
Recorded on a rainy Saturday when our classes got suspended :)
❤

Domino (cover) by the Walkie Talkies

A cover of Jessie J's Domino by the Walkie Talkies :) 
❤

Somebody That I Used To Know (a cover by the WTs)

Somebody That I Used to Know (cover) by the Walkie Talkies

I'm not really liking the audio on our recent videos. Riz and I used her iPhone to record so the flaws were supposed to be covered up by adding some echo. Riz doesn't have her mic at the moment soooo we had to settle for this. Hope you guys like it nonetheless. 
❤

I Miss You

I Miss You (originally by Incubus) by the Walkie Talkies
❤

Some clips from our performance

Walkie Talkies @ Bloggers United 2 from Bloggers United on Vimeo.

 ♫

Do it Like a Dude- Jessie J
We Found Love- Rihanna
Crazy in the Deep- Adele + Gnarls Barkley 
♫
As much as I want to post my photos from the 2nd Bloggers United bazaar, I am stopping myself from doing so because I'm not contented with them! I left my massive collection of Photoshop actions on my iMac so I hate all my photos right now (I was in a hurry to edit them). I'm in Cebu til the weekend and uploading my content on 3G just makes everything so pixelated. 
Will be back in Manila this Sunday! I'm in Cebu since our family biz is involved in two expos here. Riz and I also had to perform from Monday til Wednesday for the CIE trade fair. This trip has been so good for me but I think I am still craving to taste a bit of the bum life after college. 
❤

Someone Like You

I know Adele's super hyped up right now and I think (?) she's coming to Manila this December so I decided to do a post with her songs! 

Don't you just love this music video?!

Apple Juice

APPLE JUICE by The Walkie Talkies
2010

LYRICS

I won't bother with love notes
My hope's not coming back up
Losing every bit of luck
Luck was never a friend of mine
Luck was never a part of my life

Life long dreams aren't
Always what they seem
Never expect and you'll regret
Only that's not what they tell
All the girls who are dating
Boys who are wanting to kiss and tell

Kiss and tell
I'm sure as hell
Not gonna tell on you
Between you and me
I'm keeping you beneath my teeth
Between my lips
My lips are sealed
No I'm not gonna go around revealing
Feelings of intimacy
See you in a while
I swear I'm not in denial

Dialing your digits
I'm fidgeting in my seat
Seatbelt's fastened
Hasten a bit
Call me old fashioned
But I'm looking for something
Sweeter than apple juice
Are you sweeter than
Are you sweeter than
Could you get any sweeter
Any sweeter than you?

I won't bother with take out
Won't make out any one liners
Fortune cookies served in diners
Aren't s'posed to be the source
Of any unnatural force

Forcing Cupid, I'm stupid
For thinking he's
Willing to make any difference
Our days are running out of time
It's not long now before
You're no longer around to kiss

Kiss and tell
I've been dying to tell you

That baby I'm

Dialing your digits
I'm fidgeting in my seat
Seatbelt's fastened
Hasten a bit
Call me old fashioned
But I'm looking for something
Sweeter than apple juice
Are you sweeter than
Are you sweeter than
Could you get any sweeter
Any sweeter than you?

Kiss and tell I'm sure as hell not
Gonna tell on you
Between you and me
I'm keeping you beneath my teeth
Between my lips are sealed
They're sealed for you to kiss
Now tell me
You are sealed for me to miss
C'mere and give me a...


Filmed @TheSoundCircle
by Luis Daniel Tabuena
♥♥♥


Subscribe to the Sound Circle on Youtube!
More local artists will be featured. I'm so excited for the next few videos!

♥♥♥

And even if I rarely announce our upcoming gigs on this blog... Please drop by Route 196 this Saturday!


For our gig scheds, like or Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!

♥

Year of 4

I am a workaholic and I don't belive in NO. I don't believe in 'I need to sleep'. If I'm not sleeping, nobody's sleeping.

Independence is not easy, but it's gonna get easier.

My focus is not "bigger", it's QUALITY. And I wanna make sure it's something I'm proud of years from now.

♥♥♥

Watched this a few weeks ago with my beau while pigging out on some Dear Darla from Yellow Cab (the only pizza I'll always crave for) and was smiling the entire time. I can't believe he was able to watch the whole thing while in awe... He's not a fan of her music but admits that she can sing. Bey's definitely the only singer I've seen live who's never had a hard time dancing AND singing at the same time. She sounds WAY BETTER live and it's evident that she started at a young age. Her voice remains so crisp and her notes are so on point throughout the whole concert that you'll think it's pre-recorded and enhanced. Other artists nowadays sound like shit when they're performing crazy routines. Trust me, belting out tunes while dancing in stilettos is such a hard task and I barely survived each night I had to do that for our prods before. It's definitely not an easy task so I always praise whoever can do those things flawlessly. Sadly, only a few people can do that.

Beyonce's one of the very few pop stars that I really admire. I've been a fan ever since her Destiny's Child days. I don't go crazy over every song she releases, but this short video somewhat encapsulates all the things about her that I adore-- her realness/genuineness , perfectionism, fearlessness, creativity and a true understanding of her significance in the music industry. I admire her even more now that she's become her own boss. I really wish I can develop the same attitude towards my craft. She inspires me to strive for the best, to hang on to my virtues and to continue to strive for excellence.

♥♥♥

"You should be doing it just because YOU LOVE IT."

♥

our version of Stop by the Spice Girls

Last Sunday we got to record our version of Stop for the Sound Circle... We first posted a cover of this song on Rizza's Youtube account last year since we had to practice 2 songs from the group for Spice Girls night at Saguijo.
We love singing this song since it's fun and I guess most people think of it to be too much of a bubblegum pop song for us to cover.
We're having another gig this week at Casa Nami! Drop by tonight for Assassin's Cake. Other bands playing: Kapnobatai, Salamin, Sugarplum Fairy, Tiny Cactus and Not Applicable.

Sorry I haven't been posting too many photos... I've been trying to stop myself from going out too much (unless it's work-related) since I want to conserve my energy and time for my thesis! We only have a month to prepare and another month to construct the whole exhibit so it's.... seriously nerve-wrecking and exhausting.

Hope you guys like the video! I think another one will be posted tonight and it's one of our originals called Apple Juice (Kiss and Tell).

♥♥♥
P.S.
I Don't post gig scheds too often here, so please like our page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter or Tumblr for updates!

♥

I got my heart right here... I got my scars right here.

our mashup of "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele and "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley

♥♥♥

Now that we're done with our baby thesis (the last freakin' "BABY" that we'll have to put up with), it's time to finally listen to some good music, catch up on my Zs and then recharge myself. I need to get my endorphin kick, attend to a whole lot of other things and most especially BREATHE.
My thesis groupmates and I are just really glad it's over... One hour and a half inside the chamber of critique is something we always dread. Instead of thinking about how to explain our design direction well a while ago, all I could think of was the number of minutes before I can get out of the room. I know that makes me sound like a really bad student, but when you've been deprived of sleep for so long, drained of creativity and energy, there's nothing much left to think about... I'm looking forward to planning for our exhibit and thesis. Of course I'm not excited about the work load, I just really want to get it over with! Sorta funny how my mates and I just want to get this course done so we can take another course and follow a completely different career path (more on that sensitive topic on another post).
I can't even think of any more things to write about. Slept for about 5 hours already but after reading the e-mails and Facebook/Google Plus notifications I think I wanna reunite with my soft bed again. I feel like this entire week's done so much damage to my body, especially those last two days of zero sleep. We took 20-minute "power naps" but they weren't counted since we were still answering to each other's questions about our plate while taking turns on Nini's bed. (Seriously feel like I'm not making sense now)
I hope you enjoy the mashup I posted! I personally don't like the way I sang cos I was too chill (hello, sharps). But I love how Riz's voice is like a warm blanket (I love my sister's voice) and Rob's guitar skills are so evident. We're trying to meet up at Robin's dad's attic each week to produce more videos. Our aim is to get them all in one take, with no modifications in the sound quality during editing. We'll be adding more people to each jam session!!! Woohoo! Subscribe to the Sound Circle HERE. All videos done by Luis Daniel Tabuena.

Oh, and I hate myself for not discovering the awesomeness of Abel Tesfaye AKA The Weeknd early on... The whole album is just pure eargasm. Download it for free HERE.
My faves:

♥

Goodbye My Shadow music video

Barbie's new music video for her song "Goodbye My Shadow".

Decorated and rearranged the whole room on the first day of shooting... Can't believe I got to contribute to the "clutter" in this awesome video! Heh.... The room was really empty and different when we got there. They didn't decorate or fix anything yet since they had just moved in that are of the house. After day 1, they were saying how much they wanted to keep the arrangement of the furniture that way! We used everything that we could find in their house & nothing else was bought.

This was done by the very creative Luis Daniel Tabuena! I can still hear him discussing the concept over and over again in my head. Because really, you can't imagine the whole thing if you were in my place just looking at the set. And can you figure out the number of hours they took to shoot each photo, put each one in position and then take a photo of the photo on the set? MY GAWD. They should just make a stop-motion app. :))

From Barbie's YouTube page:

"Goodbye My Shadow" is the title track of the new album--coming out this week. We will bring CDs at our next gig in Route 196, Katipunan (Tuesday, May 24). Hope to see you there!

MUSIC VIDEO:
Directed By: Luis Daniel Tabuena
Produced By: Luis Daniel Tabuena
Director of Photography: Takeyuki Onishi
Cameraman: Mark See
Editor: Luis Daniel Tabuena
Colorist: Luis Daniel Tabuena

SONG:
Written By: Barbie Almalbis Honasan
Arranged and Performed by: Alden Abaca (Drums) Barbie Almalbis(Guitars/Vocals) Karel Honasan (Bass Guitar)
Produced By: Maly Andres
Executive Producers: Tommy and Ynel Tanchanco/12 Stone Records

Thanks to:
Kodak, Rolly Bombio, Patti Malay, Julianne Tarroja, Raleene Cabrera

♥♥♥

Okay, can I just fangirl for a bit? AAAH Barbie's one of the few Filipino artists I looked up to. I remember saying how pretty she looked with minimal or no makeup at all, and I remember wanting to be her when I was really young. I wanted to be a real rockstar like her! And now that I've met her, it's so awesome that I find her even more admirable- so down to earth, cool and blessed in life. She was the first to say hi to us at our gig, kept saying thank you when all I really did was to arrange furniture and de-clutter for a few hours. She's the only true female rockstar who's "made it" in our country and you just know she deserves it. (That's disregarding all diva-like or noontime show-related female singers... You get my point.) The first day of that shoot was just like a day with her friends, they were choosing outfits from her closet while we were sprucing up the place. The elements in the set were so simple but it turned out to be a really cool vid, don't you think? Props to Weedge for directing, editing, producing and tweaking the colors for it to look like it was Instagram-ed!

♥

Inside Bjork

Inside Bjork (released July 2003)














♥♥♥

I remember seeing one of Bjork's videos for the first time (Army of Me, 1995, the same tune in Suckerpunch) when I was younger and telling myself that she was weird and funny, yet her voice was clearly not... manufactured. I remember it because of the gorilla and the giant diamond, but I didn't understand any of that of course since I was just 5 years old.
Haven't forgotten her since then, and of course my love for her increased over time as I came to understand music more and more. Being able to go back to her after hearing so many new artists popping out by being marketed in insane proportions is sort of refreshing even if she isn't as current. She's certainly one of those very few artists who can dare to execute things that are just out-of-this world and not appealing to the masses at first, and get away with it with so many people just watching in amazement.
I found her funny and crazy when I was about 5, but you have to admit that a lot of the things she does in her music and videos is something we would all like to do every minute of our lives... That is, to be free and to ignore everyone else's opinions. Tell me if you can't relate to any of those happy dances in her videos. I'm sure at one point in your life you've done at least one really insane thing after hearing great news or whatever. Do people really want to dance the way media portrays sexy 24/7? Do we need to flaunt a perfect female/male form to come out sensual and attractive?
I'm blabbing on and on because it's rare for me to appreciate a lot of the bigger pop stars out there now, mostly because they're only being forced to do things to sell (for the most part, they have talent, but you can't blame them for following their music labels). YES I know not every artist is doing that, and you can't just force people to change their views on what good music is. Music should be something that awakens your senses, and if you achieve that by listening to (insert pretty pop star here), then so be it.

Anyways, I just wanted to say that she is one of those people I personally look up to, admire and only wish to become. I'm content with the fact that I can never be her (LOL). I just admire her for wanting to GROW and explore more and more, and she clearly does that without sticking to a trend in the industry and without basing her decisions on whatever people will mostly likely appreciate. The only key to helping the entire human race is INNOVATION, and that applies to any field. Bring something new to the table and a lot of people will question you at first, but you prove yourself right with a little pride and belief in yourself-- just enough so in the long run it'll make them stare in awe.
SO PLEASE. There is NO competition as to who's done this or that first, and who's more of a genius because only time will tell if you have indeed created an impact.

Okay back to Bjork...
Her lyrics don't seem relatable at first, just because they are poetic in form and they range from stories on womanhood, childhood, sensuality, nature, social issues, etc. It takes much more for a person to write or even think about things other than simple reflections of love or sadness- those two are really easy to write about (and obviously Bjork is known to NEVER take the easy way out). I love her for being able to take me to a higher level of thinking and feeling, which is not something I can ever do with the common club music unless you're intoxicated. Haha... I think it's somewhat like being in a bubble of joy and a state of abstraction, brought about by different things embedded in her music. I really envy her for being able to record the different points in her life with such beautiful music!!! I can only wish to do the same in photos and my other work, and I have a LONG way to go.
I think a lot of people have said the same things I've wanted to express about her in the 6 videos, so watch all of em!!!

Enjoy :)

AND... let us revel in her beauty!!!(Google image search saves me in this post)

She is often sexual, but she will never be "cliche sexual". Fishnet stockings are "an easy way out."

McQueen was rising at the same time Bjork made a music video in his dress.
From her video "Oceania" Yes, I am aware that she considers nature as her religion... Some can say she is an Atheist.
A very colorful rockstar. Her voice and her face is very childlike at first, then she wows you with its depth and sexiness. Seriously, is she human???
Sean Penn said that a person with her temperament need not to be trained, since she acts out of instinct. Training becomes an inhibitor for someone who has preserved his/her instinct at a young age... She won the best actress award at Cannes for her first movie without taking acting workshops. WOW.
With fashion:"It's about synchronizing what happens inside and out. And that's the same thing, not being able to relax unless I look on the outside as I feel on the inside... And then I like, I relax."
According to her, she is doing music for the everyday person. Her role is to be a communicator between all sort of different worlds. "I want to do so many things and I've got so little time."

♥

where the highs won't bring you down.

(1)

We met Reese Lansangan of Reese and Vica. Was flailing when she said she was a fan of our music.

Her blog just screams "I'm full of awesome."

(2)

(3)

Some of Barbie's "toys".

Liam's the cutest. He's always smiling/happy.

(4)

♥♥♥

(1)

03.28.11 // 21:00

Some friends from Cebu came to Manila for their educational tours and a jam session just had to take place. Met some new talented friends from Ateneo, too.

New Orleans didn't allow a big group to make some noise since they had a performer that night, so we had to take the group to CAV (just across Agave at High Street). It was fun. Wine and music's always a great mix.

Can't tell you how happy I was to actually sit down and talk to my friends. It's been a long while.

(2)

03.31.11

Just a few rendered illustrations (Kurecolor markers on clearprint) of the costumes & makeup we proposed for the movie Star Trek... This was for our Workshop 2 class-- we had to completely redesign 7 of the sets/scenes from the movie as well, but my other group mates took those tasks so I was left to do the makeup/costumes along with the details. I didn't get to take a photo of everything since I was rushing for a shoot the next day.

Please be kind. I haven't drawn humans in 5 years (LOL). And I promise they didn't look that streaky IRL. My camera+Flickr just really sharpens edges. Boo.

(3)

04.01.11 // 06:30

Early call time. Weedge asked me to help him out with the set design of Barbie Almalbis Honasan's music video for her new song, Goodbye, My Shadow. We just had to use tons of furniture and decor from their house. Forgot to take a before & after picture but the change was so drastic!!!

The concept of the video is SO unique and time-consuming. I can't really reveal much but I'll just post the final thing once it's released. I can't wait to see it!!!

(4)

04.02.11 // 16:30

Fifi, Javy, Jed and I went with Steven to attend his cousin's event. He was part of Whiskey Hill and they opened their store/headquarters at the rooftop of some building in Makati last Saturday. Couldn't stay long to watch the bands since I had to edit some things but we managed to check out the place and watch some skaters before leaving.

♥♥♥

I didn't really take too many photos since I just focused on forcing myself to actually TALK to people- to distract myself from thinking about the more stressful things. I took it as some sort of week-long break from school even if I still had projects. We don't have a summer break before our exhibiting term and graduation. Took advantage of the time my friends were on break instead. I never really see any of my high school buddies even if we live in the same city.

It's been months since I've spent time with my family. Riz is usually out or busy, locked in her room (I guess that's why you see us tweeting at each other instead of taking face to face, haha!) whenever we do end up at home at the same time. Some people have noticed that I was in a weird state, so thankfully the week provided some sort of remedy to whatever I was experiencing.

I am being played by those types of days that force you to become motionless. It's the same series of strong, self-destructive attacks that would've impaired the spirits of others... I really have to give myself credit for leaving just enough room for me to slowly rebuild and restrengthen my faith.

Gray skies are just clouds passing over.

♥♥♥

AND ONE MORE THING...

I AM NOT ON YM.

I don't have a Yahoo! messenger ID. This hacker keeps trying to tell people that I'm pissed with my beau, or that I'm done with school and bored all the time. A lot of my friends STILL get fooled and talk to him/her about a lot of things. Guys, please please pleeeaaase be careful... I don't want any of you revealing any information to this sick person using my name. It's been more than a year and it's still on the loose!

DELETE, BLOCK AND REPORT.

*screencap by Anna

:)

♥

the Gift of Christmas

It's out, it's out!!!

And so pretty :)

The Gift of Christmas

with songs from:

Marcus Davis Jr.

Julianne

the Walkie Talkies

the Plan

Jay Enrile

Paolo Valenciano

Robin Nievera

Get it for only Php200!

It’s going to be available starting next Wednesday (December 15) along the Church Simplified walkway at Bonifacio High Street and at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlets. :)

I'm LSS-ing on ALL THE TRACKS, you guys. The whole album is BEAUTIFUL and produced really well! Congratulations to all the artists and to Church Simplified for making two albums this year!!!

Proceeds for the album will go to help provide educational and economic opportunities for youth living in extreme poverty through WE INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES.

♥

snippy snap

a video by Inez Moro featuring an original from the Walkie Talkies- Uncertainties!Love, love, loooove black and white photos and films! Finally have one with me and Riz in it. Thanks, Inez!!! It was a really quick shoot but we love the outcome! :)



New cover from us!
Spice Girls' "STOP" by Walkie Talkies :) been wearin lots of bracelets thanks to Charmed Life

Finally did it. I've always wanted to chop off my locks since I never had fun with them anyways. Plus I think I'm never gonna get used to the heat in the Philippines! Mum was the one who was so nervous... She even kept my hair! LOL. I just really wanted it short. Issa and I made a deal to get a shocking haircut during her birthday (September) this year... We both did it a few weeks after her birthday, but we both didn't know that we were going to scrap out our original plans and just get a pixie cut! Her plan was to have undercuts on each side of her head but leave the top short, while mine was to shave just one side of my head and leave the other really long (think Alice Dellal).
Wasn't able to check my computer for a couple of days last week, but my friend mentioned that Issa's hair was really short already... Posted a photo of my haircut a few days after sporting it (and it's really better not to post a photo first- the reactions I get from friends- PRICELESS!)and found that the only difference between my cut and Issa's haircut was that she left her bangs flowy, while I chose to style the top a little with some wax! Great minds think alike, eh? :)
We're both liking the short hair... We've had long locks since forever! People here at home all wanna get haircuts now... but nobody wants to cut theirs as short as mine! LOL... I think you should just go for it if you really want to try it out. Quite happy that even my schoolmates think it looks better than my long hair (which I never even combed or styled on a daily basis, oops)... And that I look younger... Well I think I still look old whenever I wear makeup and wear heels. I can't really change much about my manly/strong features. Boo. And oooh, mum keeps saying that it makes me look like a real musician now. Totally LOLd at that comment!!!
And oh, it looks sorta gray-ish on the photo but I'm telling you, it's still my natural hair color. Don't be fooled. AND that video really doesn't do any justice to it... We filmed at around 1 in the morning after our gig at FEU plus a whole day of walking, so excuse its messy state! I love short hairrrr... I'm hoping this'll motivate me to not gain any weight and continue to keep fit. Super low-maintenance, I can mess it up, let people touch it and it would still look fine. Why didn't I do this earlier? More girls should feel this sort of freedom just like guys!!! Was able to reflect on how much money girls have to spend on treatments and hair products... Wow... Never realized all the unnecessary things salons fool us into doing... (not that I hate them, it's nice to get pampered once in a while!)
**Got my first haicut at Emphasis, Rockwell and then convinced mum to allow me to cut it even more right after at Bench Fix, Serendra.
:))

our version of "Us" by Regina Spektor

our Tumblr pageRizza's YouTube pagemy YouTube page
We were also featured last week on the Philippine Star's Young Star section. Thanks so much to Karen Bolilia for interviewing us! :)

live performance by the Walkie Talkies

our cover of the song "My Same" by Adele

Rizza performing a mash-up of the songs "Thinking of You" by Katy Perry and "Masterpiece" by Meg & Dia

at CIE's annual production called "FYI", Feb. 27,2010Sang 4 songs but we can only share these... Boo.

Walkie Talkies are back on track.

Rico and Rizza- late nights at the studio! Powered by water, Coke Light and gum :))
(sorry for the bad photo quality, i just used my iPhone to take this!)
The makings of our Tumblelog

Riz and I recently made a Tumblelog for our duo, Walkie Talkies!
Yeap, we're gonna be introduced as the Walkie Talkies. It started out as a joke made by Rico- we should name our duo as that since we are just soooo chatty whenever we're together. We just can't stop yapping! Oftentimes we even sound like we're fighting/arguing but that's just the way we talk.
We went through tons of names, and agreed that we didn't wanna be known just as "Ral and Riz" like most sister groups out there. It's mainly because we don't really look like sisters at first, we have different tastes in music and have different influences. After a while, the name Walkie Talkies started growing on us. I think it's mostly because of how our recordings turned out to be. Just a hint- it won't sound too acoustic and we're singing Rizza's compositions. ;) Surprise, surprise! But I can't post anything til it officially gets released. And oh, because of all the endlesssss conversations caught on tape, some might be included as "space fillers" in the CD. EEP! They are seriously embarrassing O_O
We're starting to record again after a short hiatus to settle in the new term in school. Rico's been busy with his music, too. Now we have to adjust our recording schedule to our school sched. Praying that everything turns out well and we get things done in a couple of weeks.
I'll be keeping you guys posted on our gig scheds, and for sure they're going to be announced on our Tumblr site. Trying to make a twitter account for WT too but we can't find any available username on twitter that's short enough and includes Walkie Talkies in it!
Ta-ta for now!
:)