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| Meet MADAM, O/C Records' contribution to the growing Pinoy Pop movement!! (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/O/C Records) |
Five-year-old record label O/C Records has an ‘odd’ take on the continuously rising P-POP (Pinoy pop) movement as it launches a new all-female group called MADAM comprising of singer-songwriters Mitzi Negado (EMN98), Alyssa Remulla (Aly Remulla), Alyssa Janine Cruz (ALYSSA) and Ashlee Factor (Pappel).
EMN98, pronounced as ‘emanate’ is O/C Records’ first ever The Next Odd Creature winner. She writes music based on her own story which also makes her imagine that she is in a cinematic universe. Her passion for music led her to actively perform in different school gigs, events and even became a vocalist of a pop rock band when she was still a student. Her music is heavily inspired by life and what it is all about. EMN98 has been recently recognized by music fans through “Interlude", her collaboration single with fellow MADAM member Aly Remulla. It was part of the original soundtrack (OST) of the VivaMax series ‘Lulu’ starring Rhen Escaño. Aly Remulla and her music can be best described as a form of escape from the hustles and hassles of life, into the comforting embrace of nature, or the loving arms of someone beloved. With a voice that’s sure to calm the weary heart, she sings songs about longing for that warmth in a cold night, that serenity in a chaotic world, and simply that time to be laidback in an ever-hectic life that’s ever moving forward. She is the voice behind the track “Alon", an OST of the film ‘Nerisa’ starring Aljur Abrenica and Cindy Miranda.
ALYSSA is an exceptional instrumentalist at heart who knows how to tug the heartstrings of people through the playful strumming of her guitar strings that can strike a chord with everyone whose lives have been made weary through its constant motions. With this and a subdued yet confident voice that can turn heads and catch ears, she tells stories of love, being loved, not being loved, and all the heartbreaking and gut-wrenching life experiences in between that will surely relate to your own stories of love and life. Recently, her single “Lahat” was chosen to be the OST of the Cinemalaya 2023 entry ‘As If It’s True’ topbilled by Khalil Ramos and Ashley Ortega. Pappel is a music prodigy that will force you to confront the unnerving and pressing matters that you’re otherwise too afraid to do on your own that will make you reconsider your views on them or at least, stop and think about the truths behind them. Her haunting singing, combined with the often melancholic themes her songs tackle will surely send chills down your spine and make you feel uncomfortable about the disturbing realities that are happening all around us all the time. Her hit track “Taguan Sa Maliwanag Na Buwan” was part of the OST of the VivaMax film ‘Habangbuhay’ starring Elisse Joson and Mccoy de Leon.
MADAM started from the idea of O/C Records co-founder, president and chief executive officer (CEO) Kean Cipriano to form the alternative pop/R&B quartet within the record label's existing ‘Odd Creatures’ roster. It’s “a different kind of all-female group,” he says. On the other hand, O/C Records co-founder and vice president Chynna Ortaleza-Cipriano, at the same time, shares, “Kean and O/C Records team have huge respect to the P-pop movement.” She describes MADAM as their “contribution to the scene". MADAM is set to launch their debut single titled “NARARA", a song about the tension of revealing their feelings to the person they like and the fear of unreciprocated love. Taking advantage of their talent as songwriters too, they all contributed to the song’s lyrics piece by piece.
