Ahead of their concert in Dubai in October, acoustic duo MYMP talks to ExpatMedia.Net about music, being electrified and immortality

  DUBAI – It’s not an easy job when your editor tells you that you have to write a story on MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud), the duo who hit all the right notes to make their mark in modern Philippine music history as the band that popularized acoustic sound in the country. With that assignment in mind, I scoured the internet for news updates. I found two recent news items announcing their October 14 gig in Dubai. The rest were interviews dating back to 2014. “What’s up with that?” I asked the band. “Honestly I don't know,” answered Chin Alcantara, the band leader, music composer and their steady pillar for the last two decades. He told me to visit their Facebook page instead. “With the advent of social media it is so much easier to know and get in touch with artists. Our Facebook page is up to date and so are our other social media accounts. So I don't know why you couldn't get updates. He! He!” he said, obviously amused. Just a few scrolls through their Facebook page gave me all the latest news I needed. Alcantara and vocalist Jana Laraza proved to be social media wizards and are very much active on that platform as they are with all their local and international gigs. It makes sense, since the band has a massive following, not only in the Philippines but abroad where they also have a huge fan base. In fact their song “Say You Love Me” from their Versions & Beyond album stayed in the number one slot in Korea’s hit charts for three straight months. MYMP will also represent the Philippines for the second time at the 2016 Asia Song Festival in Korea on October 7, joining a star-studded lineup that includes top K-Pop artists such as EXO, Seventeen, Twice, Mamamoo, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and Simon Dominic. Ahead of their concert in Dubai, the acoustic duo talks to ExpatMedia.Net about music, being electrified and immortality. Excerpts from the interview:   Hi guys. Thank you for this opportunity to interview you for Expat Media. So, you're back in Dubai in October. I have to say I have lost count of the number of times you have performed here. Can you refresh my memory, please? Chin: Ha! Ha! Ha! We've lost track as well. But I'm sure it's been more than five times.   So, what can your fans expect at your acoustic concert this time? Chin: Although we've had several shows in Dubai, majority of those who watch us are first timers. So it's a must that we play many of our songs that they come to love. And we'll be doing songs from our new album “Electrified” as well. Jana: It'll be a stripped down show because we will be playing an acoustic set this time.   You don't give a lot of interviews, do you? Jana: We're just busy with our regular gigs and shows, on top of creating albums and rehearsing.   What's new with MYMP? Any new album or concert lined up after your Dubai gig? Chin: We have a new album out titled “Electrified”! Actually we'll be performing in Korea's Asia Song Festival before Dubai. After Dubai we'll be playing in Indonesia's First Forest Music Festival. Jana: We're still in the process of making a new album. And we have a concert in Indonesia in November.   Are you working on a new original song? Chin: We're always working on new originals but often times it doesn't make the album. But we're still trying and we're not going to give up soon.   MYMP has been around for at least 10 years (correct me if I am wrong). Why do you think you have survived for so long? What have you done to stay relevant in the music scene? Chin: Twenty years to be exact if you count the pre-album years, and 13 years since being a recording artist. How do I answer that question without sounding conceited? Ha! Ha! I think we survived because we popularized (not created, take note) a certain genre of music that is easy to relate to. Jana: Maybe it's our drive to be better in our craft. Having regular shows or gigs so people won't forget that we are still active.   MYMP has had a few changes in lead singers. Can you be naughty for a few minutes and share some secrets about each one of them? What were they like as colleagues? Chin: Next question please! Ha! Ha! Ha! I'd rather that this was off the record. He! He!   The two of you make up MYMP although you generally perform with a backup band. Is it easier to share or develop artistic ideas in a smaller group than in a large group? Chin: Definitely! It's similar to having multiple chefs in a kitchen. But there are pros and cons actually. More ideas sometimes mean better artistic quality but will take more time. Jana: I think the larger the group the more ideas will come out.   What is the most difficult thing you have to deal with when it comes to working with each other? Chin: Like any other company with many employees, each person is different so the way you treat them must be customized. It's true what they say: management is a never-ending job.   What do you love and hate about each other? Chin: Personally I like how everybody let's me do the driving as the band leader, if you get what I mean? He! He! But I hate it when oftentimes I do the driving. Of course I need ideas and inputs from them.   What do you think is your biggest accomplishment as MYMP and as an individual? Chin: Well, as one article put it, we are essentially immortal because we have recorded original and cover songs that will forever be remembered as MYMP renditions. Jana: Being able to stay on the scene and not giving up. As an individual, conquering my fear of performing in front of large crowds and, of course, singing and performing abroad both for our kababayans and foreign supporters as well.   Speaking of fans, you do have quite a lot of non-Filipino fans, like Indonesians, Malaysians and Koreans. Why do you think you appeal to them? Chin: Music is the universal language. So cultural and language barriers are broken when an artist makes a good melody which is easily relatable. I think this is what happened to our music in other countries. Jana: Maybe because they can relate to our songs. And our music is a bit different from the music they have in their country.   What are your plans in five or ten years from now? Chin: Well, the goal is to keep making music whether it's original or cover until we literally can't do it anymore! Personally I would like to concentrate on being a record producer and discover and hone upcoming talents. Jana: Tour around the world, both work and vacation.   Finally, do you have anything to say to your fans? Chin: A big thank you! You are the reason why we are where we are right now. Don't stop supporting us and we promise to keep making music that will mean something to you. Jana: We love you and we appreciate your support! Hope that you will continue to support us and be with us until the end.   DON’T MISS IT What: MYMP Strictly Acoustic Where: Club of Asia, Wafi, Pyramids, Oud Metha Road, Wafi City, Dubai When: October 14, doors open at 9pm, show starts at 10pm Tickets: Dh150 (VIP) and Dh100 (regular) Contact: 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