The 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards, released the full list of this year’s nominees in November. 2022 was a tremendous year for Asian and Pacific Island representation in music and this success is acknowledged in the 2023 GRAMMY nominations. Leading the charge for Filipinos are Steve Lacy (RECORD OF THE YEAR, SONG OF THE YEAR, BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE, & BEST PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM )and H.E.R. (ALBUM OF THE YEAR - as a featured artist / songwriter, BEST R&B PERFORMANCE as a featured artist / songwriter, & BEST DANCE / ELECTRONIC PERFORMANCE.) Grayson Villanueva also snagged a nomination for BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA.
In addition to Filipinos, Asian representation is all across the board in the 65th GRAMMY Awards nominations. Check out the full list below! Don’t forget to catch the GRAMMYs live on Sunday, Feb. 5. You can watch it on the CBS Television Network and on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET / 5-8:30 p.m. PT.
Photo Courtesy of Steve Lacy’s Instagram
It looks like everything is getting back up to speed with live events and award shows. This year, the 8th Wish Music Awards (WMAs) sets the example by kicking off the awards season! The event was held at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and hosted by Gretchen Ho, Christian Bautista, and directed by Paolo Valenciano. The night celebrated the return of live music that includes performances from: Moira, Ben&Ben, Zack Tabudlo, Flow G, and more!
Apart from the awards given that night, Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid was named KDR Icon of Musical Excellence for her tremendous contribution to OPM and its industry.
“Maraming maraming salamat po sa karangalang ito. [N]agpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon for giving me this wonderful talent,” she said in her speech. For the younger generation of Filipino artists, she has this as her words of advice: “Keep creating music. Kayo ang future ng OPM.”
REGINE VELASQUEZ-ALCASID
The main attraction was of course knowing the winners in each of the categories up for grabs that night. SB19 took home the most number of awards, winning in three categories. The winners were determined by votes from a panel of judges which weighed 70% and from the public which weighed 30%.
Wish 107.5 donates Php100,000 to beneficiaries of major-category winners so a total of Php1.97 million will be handed out to Adarna Group Foundation, A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Autism Society Philippines, ChildHope Philippines, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Philippine Cancer Society, Resources For The Blind, Virlanie Foundation Inc., and Operation Smile Philippines Foundation, INC.
“It’s a big thing for us artists to share our music with each and everyone — and being able to help people in other aspects is way beyond. At a blink of an eye, we faced challenges that in previous years, would have seemed insurmountable. But when days seemed to have been engulfed in darkness, distress, and despair, we refused to give in. Instead, we all clung to a bright ray of hope — a hope that all will be all right in God’s time.”
ADIE
Check out the full list of winners below and rewatch the awards show on the Wish 107.5 YouTube channel in February.
Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Ballad Performance of the Year
Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Collaboration of the Year
Wish Pop Song of the Year
Wish Ballad Song of the Year
Wish R&B Song of the Year
Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year
Wish Hip-hop Song of the Year
Wish Contemporary Folk Song of the Year
Wish Contemporary R&B Song of the Year
Wish Song Collaboration of the Year
Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Wish Group of the Year
Wish Artist of the Year
Wishers’ Choice: SB19
KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy: Andrea O. Veneracion (AOV) Sing Philippines Foundation
KDR Icon of Musical Excellence: Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle (10 million views)
Silver Wishclusive Elite Circle (25 million views)
Gold Wishclusive Elite Circle (50 million views)
Platinum Wishclusive Elite Circle (75 million views)
Diamond Wishclusive Elite Circle (100 million views)
Cover Photo Credit: Wish 107.5
FELIP aka SB19’s Ken is continuing his solo music journey. The Filipino artist followed up the hype from “PALAYO” and “BULAN” by releasing a new song titled “Rocksta,” accompanied with an appropriately edgy music video for the hip-hop centric single. The P-Pop trendsetter also announced his debut solo project: “COM • PLEX,” a project in collaboration with Warner Music Philippines.
“Rocksta” features a monochromatic theme that showcases the frontman running through dance numbers throughout the empowering track’s performance. “Complex” is set to be released on February 3. Check out the music video for “Rocksta” below!
This week's MYX News Hot List, new episodes weekly at www.myx.global/myxnews.
We have our first ever Filipina-American Miss Universe! Representing Texas, Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel took home the prestigious crown last weekend in New Orleans. In an interview with Good Morning America, the 28-year-old designer discussed what her win meant to her fellow Filipinos: "Filipinos are so happy. They are just over the moon about it. It's a huge win for the community and just representation. It's an honor."
Previously, R’Bonney shared that her dad moved to America from Manila and that her parents married in the Philippines. Check out some IG content from the beauty queen below!
Photo Courtesy of R'Bonney Gabriel's Instagram
Bretman Rock is kicking off his 2023 with a major announcement! The Filipino social media star took to Instagram to announce his new book: “You're That B*tch & Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself.” Publisher HarperCollins described the book as: “A chaotically joyous collection of essays from one of the original influencers and the internet's sweetheart, Bretman "The Baddest" Rock.” You can pre-order the book here.
On the pre-order website, comedian Chelsea Handler also shared her thoughts on the memoir: “This book is hilarious and that b*tch made me laugh out loud.” “You're That B*tch & Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself” narrates Bretman Rock’s early beginnings as one of the most popular influencers in the world, including details about growing up in the Philippines, his Filipino culture upbringing, his family, and much more.
Check out Bretman Rock's Instagram post below and pre-order his book now!
Photo Courtesy of Bretman Rock's Instagram
Patrick Starrr welcomes Filipina artist and actress, Liza Soberano to the studio for a gorgeous makeup tutorial just in time for the Miss Universe pageant. They talk career, makeup tips, Liza playing Pia Wurtzbach, and more! Check out the chica between these two stars below!
The biggest takeaway in the video is that Liza wants to embody the LA-girly life. She's been flying in and out of California to not only work on her acting career, but also starting her music career under Careless Music. So we can expect new content from her coming soon!
"And I am over the moon, or the universe rather that she’s here as MY Miss Universe Philippines to transform in full glamour! Love you Liza!"
PATRICK STARRR
Patrick Starrr transformed the 2017 Most Beautiful Faces into a potential Miss Universe contestant. Viewers are taken through the makeup journey to take on the Miss Universe stage. You need tips on blending your eye shadow, applying foundation, getting those lashes, don't worry it's all covered!
Cover Photo Credit: Patrick Starrr Instagram
Many dream about becoming a Disney Princess and seeing themselves represented on screen. Recently, Filipina-American artist H.E.R. made that dream come true. The Bay area native is one of the music industry's most celebrated and accomplished singer-songwriters. Now, she can add another bullet to her resume as Disney's latest Belle. She expressed her excitement about what this role means not only for her but also for the community. “It's crazy! I can't believe it, honestly. I can't believe that I've come this far and that I have the impact that I have," H.E.R. told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview about being the first Afro-Filipino Disney princess in the new live-action hybrid 30th-celebration special of the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast.
Viewers can catch subtle elements of H.E.R.'s Filipino roots during the live-action musical. The apron worn in character includes a Philippine script called “Baybayin,” which spelled out "Belle" in the ancient dialect. Also, Belle's father, Maurice, was played by fellow Fil-Am actor Jon Jon Briones. Lastly, H.E.R. included the go-getter attitude exhibited by many Filipinos in her character.
The multi-hyphenate artist not only showcased her vocals during the production but also her acting and guitar talents. In a rendition of one of the most popular Disney tunes, "Beauty and the Beast," accompanied by the Beast himself, played by Josh Groban, she added her own flavor to the song by including a guitar solo. Overall, H.E.R. shares how happy she is with the outcome of the production, "I feel like I’ve always had that in me. I’m just really grateful, and I’m so happy on how it turned out."
H.E.R. also traveled to Manila for an ABS-CBN Global and MYX-hosted event that took place in late December at the Sheraton Manila Hotel. It was attended by partners, personalities from the music industry, and the country's leading entertainment press.
H.E.R. met with fellow artists from Star Music and local Filipino artists. This crossover between local and global artists is monumental as Filipinos continue to share their talents with the world.
“We’re very happy that H.E.R. is in town for the holidays. ABS-CBN Global and MYX are very excited about the projects we will work on together in the coming months.”
Aldrin M. Cerrado, ABS-CBN GLOBAL CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
With 25 GRAMMY nominations and five wins to date, H.E.R. has had an incredible journey, punctuated with inspiring projects and accolades that have ascended her to superstar status. In 2021, her powerful song “Fight For You” from the Warner Bros. Pictures film Judas and the Black Messiah won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
You can now catch H.E.R. as Belle in Disney's reimagined and reinvented part-live action, part-animated "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" which is now available to stream only on Disney+.
This week's MYX News Hot List, new episodes weekly at www.myx.global/myxnews.
Following the positive reviews that SB19 and NOBITA earned for their unique spin on The Eraserheads’ beloved classics, more OPM acts have come together to pay tribute to the country’s biggest and most influential band of all time.
Multi-hyphenate pop soloist Ace Banzuelo reinterprets “Ang Huling El Bimbo” with intimate, soul-crushing details. Transforming the epic anthem into a spacey jam, the young hitmaker peels back the layers of the original with his brooding, bedroom-pop styling. He imprints his own identity to the material, while valuing the lyrical profundity and awe-inspiring bigness of the original.
“It's great that I'm allowed to give it the sound and approach that I want. A lot of the original was kept, but a lot was taken away. This project became meaningful to me throughout the process because I was producing it as if I had written the song."
ACE BANZUELO
Alt-rock newcomers of Mercury and Any Name’s Okay vocalist Sof Abrogar join young hip-hop virtuoso Alex Bruce in reinterpreting “ Superproxy ,” a cross-genre smash originally performed by The Eraserheads and legendary rap icon Francis M. The newly formed ensemble breathed new life into the timeless tune with a more jagged sonic direction that sounds both retro and
futuristic at the same time.
“I think we pretty much did our own thing, but left the structures and melody of the song. It was a pretty tricky song to work on given the genre, but we’re pretty happy with how it came out nonetheless.”
MERCURY
“It was honestly an honor for us to be able to cover an Eheads song and be able to incorporate our own flavor into it,” says of Mercury in a collective statement. Alex Bruce was grateful to be part of this project, and considers the song one of her go-to jams. “This song is a masterpiece. It’s iconic. I wanted to add a little spice, a little flavor, and a bit of contemporary oomph to it. Our reworked version is a fusion of old school and new school.”
Growing up in a big family with a collective love and fascination for ‘80s and ‘90s Pinoy rock, Any Name’s Okay lead vocalist Sof was initially intimidated by the project, but took the challenge to heart in hopes of fulfilling her childhood dream. “Besides what I mentioned earlier about my family, I take particular inspiration from The Eraserheads’ lyricism in Tagalog or Filipino...The band inspires me to really root my own music in my own
experiences and in empathy for others’."
"Even in my own music career with ANO, I try to use Filipino in our songs as much as I can, and I really think the Eraserheads use the language in all its richness and strength. I also love how they are unapologetic in writing about our culture, whether that’s as shallow as UP life or as large as national politics."
SOF, ANY NAME'S LEAD VOCALIST
Apart from the revamped tracks by some of today’s biggest hitmakers, five of The Eraserheads’ legendary albums were re-released in full 360-degree spatial sound to give listeners a new immersive music experience. These influential records include Ultraelectromagneticpop!, The 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition, Circus (25th Anniversary Remastered), Cutterpillow,
Fruitcake, and Sticker Happy.
Ace Banzuelo’s “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and of Mercury x Sof Abrogar x Alex Bruce’s “Superproxy” are out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.
Fil-British singer and artist, beabadoobee is about to have a huge year as she gets ready go on tour with Taylor Swift. However, she's been hitting the festivals in 2022 and right before the year ended, she made an appearance at the popular BBC 1 Radio Live Lounge. Many artists have come through the live lounge to perform their hits and cover some of their favorite songs.
beabadoobee performs two songs, "The Perfect Pair" off of her album, Beatopia and she also sings a cover of Vanessa Carlton's "Thousand Miles." Check them both out below!
Cover Photo Credit: beabadoobee Instagram
Looking for a singalong that will have the entire hooked? H.E.R. recently stared as the Disney princess, Belle in the live version of "Beauty and the Beast" live on ABC. She is the first Filipina to take on the role and along with Josh Groban who played The Beast. The duo sang the classic tune, 'Beauty and the Beast,' but gave a unique twist to the ballad.
H.E.R. had a special guitar solo that added a modern sound to the well-known track and Josh Groban's rich vocals gave it depth to mesh perfectly with H.E.R.'s voice. Catch the performance below!
Cover Photo Credit: H.E.R. Instagram
