Growing a community. These words get thrown around, but who are really doing that? Who are genuinely championing a community? Who are sacrificing themselves for the sake of an industry? Who are putting their skin on the line?
In my eyes, the Cebu music industry is lucky to have Cattski. It's been twenty years since she's been in music, and the last few years have been dedicated to creating a sustainable industry in Cebu as well as making it a legitimate music destination.
That was on my mind as I attended a press conference celebrating Cattski and Monsters the Musical. It must have felt weird for her. It's been a while since she's been celebrated. Through the years, she's been shining the spotlight on other artists. Helping them create their music, being a champion for them, and making sure everyone else outside of music heard their stories.
This time, we get to hear Cattski's story. Or more accurately her music - portrayed through Monsters the Musical.
"Monsters the Musical is a coming-of-age love story. Centered around two friends- Bea and Elle, the show explores the intricacies of a relationship that spans years. Bea and Elle discover themselves through each other, and encounter and battle their monsters together.
Monsters the Musical is a Cebuano musical marvel that expresses what it is like to be truly brave. An all-Cebuano cast, crew and live band that has put their art and their heart into this. This marks the directorial debut of Mr. Jude Gitamondoc - a professional songwriter, record producer and musical director, with a true love for Cebu and its many artists.
Featuring 25 songs by Cattski Espina, the narrative nature of her lyrics lend themselves perfectly to this story: a story about standing up to the Monsters of our own creation. Spoiler alert - Love Wins.
Monsters The Musical is the pilot production of MDF Productions."
After the press conference, I felt it would be a good idea to rebroadcast this interview. After re-listening to this, it gave me a good sense of what it takes to make a community thrive.
Enjoy this rebroadcast of my interview with Cattski in 2018.
SHOWNOTES
Paul Villarete (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)
Rappler
Monsters the Musical
My 5 Month old in 22 Tango gig
Squall
Smooth Friction
Ode To My Family by The Cranberries
Backyard Studios
The Outpost
A Space
Cebu Creators Growth Summit
Just Grow Cebu Music
My listening room experience in Qube Gallery (watched Vincent Eco)
Shhh policy
22 Tango Records
Undercover Grasshoppers
Wonggoys (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)
Fonzy Zerothreetwo Conversations episode
Martina San Diego
Ella Melendez
Lourdes Maglinte
Vincent Eco (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)
Mary Anchit
1032 Recording Studio
Room Eleven
SXSW Music Conference
How to build a music city
Rachael Yamagata
Luigi Balazo (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)
Sepia Times
Micah Almazan
Rescue a Hero (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)
Where can you find Cattski?
https://twitter.com/cattski
https://www.instagram.com/cattskimusic/
https://www.facebook.com/cattski.espina
This episode is brought to you by Qube Gallery, a progressive art space in Cebu, Philippines providing network and exhibit opportunities for contemporary artists with whom they work closely with and promote beyond the local reach. For more than five years, the gallery has mounted shows of engaging artworks and has also represented the Visayas region in various international fairs.
Aside from its physical space in Crossroads, Banilad, Cebu City, you can check out their online collection on www.artsy.net/qube-gallery.
This month at Qube Gallery: Myriad by Lean Reboja. He explores the complexities of the human psyche with his 4th solo exhibition, Myriad, opened on September 26, 6:00 PM, at Qube Gallery.
While Lean paints a fictitious world inhabited by beasts and bizarre characters, they are autobiographic and metaphorical accounts of his introspections. Pop surrealism, the core of Lean's technique, becomes the perfect conduit for Myriad's intention: to explore the in-betweens of the spectrum – the multiplicities and diverse possibilities engraved within us, choices and contingencies, and inner conflicts and dilemmas, that inevitably shape who we are.
Three ways to support the show: - Become a Patreon subscriber, click here.
- Buy Zerothreetwo Merchandise at the Assembly Online
- Share this episode on social media.
Music is Piano March by Audionautix