Are You September?: music

Music fans and hipsters alike all flocked to Aseana City Open Grounds last Saturday, February 20, 2016 for Goodvybes Festival, a brainchild of Vybe Productions who are known for bringing international indie acts in Manila since 2014.

The line-up which caters mostly to synth-based pop music took off in full blast mode with several international acts from the west to headline their first ever music festival.

Passion Pit, whose concert in August 2015 got cancelled, finally landed in Philippine soil and many fans were pleased to finally see Michael Angelakos perform. Chvrches returns after a successful concert in Samsung Hall, Taguig last November 2014 with the same passion and generosity for their fans while elevating their energy and craft.

The two biggest indie acts were joined by up-and-coming London-based duo, Oh Wonder, whose music has been known through the internet and Stars, a Canadian-based band returning after a wild performance last 2013.

Stars with a 60-minute set and tons of energy.

I must admit I do not know Stars or their music but they got me at Amy's "I hope it all ends up in sex."

The only song I know was Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, apparently I am not the only one.

My favorite performance was Oh Wonder's, simply because I am a huge fan of their music. I came in the concert prepared to cry because of these guys. Josephine and Anthony looked so perfect together #relationshipgoals.

The closest we got to Anthony who took a sign from a fan that says Loving you is not hard. This was before they performed Drive.

The couple ended their set with Technicolour Beat (so sad they did not perform Plans). I hope they come back for a solo concert soon.

The crew was preparing the stage for Chvrches when they put this one up but took it down right before the band performed. Why?

The definition of perfect.

Lauren owned the stage during their set. She was everywhere! I heard a guy said Ang likot niya!

I was so amazed when Lauren played the drums during Empty Threat. We were really looking forward to this song but still got so surprised with her talent.

Again, perfection.

Highlight of the day was our meet and greet sesh with Chvrches!

Eugene and his friends adopted us and shared with us their space near the barricades!

Went to the fest with these guys.

Loving you is not hard. @ohwondermusic #GoodvybesFest #Drive #goodvybes #music #indie #festival #manila

A video posted by C. (@thetenthofseptember) on Feb 21, 2016 at 5:39am PST

As if we don't have enough reasons to love her, here she is making us so amazed with her talent. @laurenevemayberry x drums is love. @chvrches #emptythreat #goodvybesfest #goodvybes #music #manila

A video posted by C. (@thetenthofseptember) on Feb 22, 2016 at 6:43am PST

For a first, I think Vybe Productions delivered. It wasn't their fault PayMaya wasn't working the entire fest. We ran out of cash because we decided to load it all up in a card. Good thing there was refund. I wasn't able to watch Passion Pit up close. We had to leave our spot because we got so thirsty and hungry after five hours of standing.

Also, I wasn't able to watch local acts because we were busy preparing for the Chvrches meet and greet.

Looking forward to next year's Goodvybes Fest because I know this is the only way I can watch my favorite indie alternative bands.

:)

Talking about an ex is like playing with fire—it burns. There are so many memories to tell, so many mentions of the tears, the heartbreaks, and all the bad things that sometimes we barely talk about the small things.

I think I haven't talked about my exes this way.

I've always told everyone who tries to date me that I often try to get something out of someone (something about this part made me sing Madonna's Material Girl). Like something to remember them by (as if the heartbreaks weren't enough). I think I did a good job trying to learn something from them aside from all the life experiences (like never date a guy like him ever again).

My first boyfriend was a douche and our relationship lasted only for days so I barely got anything from him, except my first heartbreak. HA.

I can barely recall their order but I once dated a drummer. And nope, he didn't teach me how to play the drums but he did influence me to learn how to play the guitar. He's one bad ass of a musician.

I've also dated a painter who have taught me a lot about maturity (like never date a guy who thinks like a child) and appreciate all forms of art. He taught me how important it is to incorporate your identity with your art, like a signature. And I remember him whenever I see something similar to his personal brand of art.

This mixtape has nothing to do with them. It has something to do with someone who taught me a lot just when I thought I knew everything. I don't want this to sound like I'm throwing shade, so careful now.

I knew a lot about music even before we got together, but my ex has influenced me to go beyond different genres. I haven't enjoyed music the way I enjoy it now.

So here's a mixtape that I think will make my ex proud. *wink*

Track list:

Don't Wanna Be Your Girl Wet
Leave A Trace Chvrches
Greek Tragedy The Wombats
In My Head Betablock3r
Slow Burn MADE IN HEIGHTS
You're The One For Me Great Good Fine OK
Summertime The Mowgli's
How Hard I Try filous, James Hersey
Beat Of My Drum Powers
Shine Years & Years

I’ve been told beginnings are the sweetest part of relationships because it gives us a collection of feelings—happy, excited, weary, fearful, and high—and often times they all happen at the same time. Such beginning takes us to new heights and it makes us fear for the downward slope—because we know there’s always one—but it also teaches us to embrace it with bravery because we feel (I hope you have reached that certain point) that the person in front of us has a lot in store for us than just a potential dead end.

Some people often refer to the process as the chase and to me it’s a temporary high—so temporary yet so good that we would wish to experience the feeling over and over again. It’s the kind of memories that lasts the most when one tries to look up the traces of a love that’s lost. It consists of many firsts that sparked chances and opened many doors. Like a privilege meant only for you. But never forget the big picture. Privileges are sometimes a two-way street. It’s like being entrusted with someone’s secrets; like being welcomed to a party you’re supposed to gate crash; or gravely, like being handed over a gun and trusting you not to pull its trigger.

The chase is where you meet someone interesting that you know nothing about and slowly get to know the deepest parts of their souls—like how they want their coffees or what kind of music they play when the mood is off. If you ever get lucky, they will tell you stories of the scars they bear hoping you’ll love them for the bravery they had. They will tell you more about their past secretly hoping it won’t scare you. Above it all, you should also know that the chase is an opportunity not everyone has.

The beginnings are every relationship’s fatal flaw and maybe that’s why they call it the best part. It’s what’s expected from something as twisted as love.

This mixtape is a compilation of 10 songs that could easily make it to my personal The Chase soundtrack, if I ever get the chance to do the entire thing all over again. Haha. They’ve been on the loop for days now provoking me to rape the play button over and over again. I just felt the need to put it out there for those who are currently experiencing this wondrous phase.

I know it’s a lot easy to sing at the top of your lungs when someone makes you or when your heart and mind are surprisingly singing the same tune. But even if you are nowhere near happy, you should know that sometimes, you just have to sing it out.

So whether it started with a simple Hello or it knocked the hell out of you when you weren’t looking, let me say this to you: remember the chase, remember the highs of it. Let it hit you cold and hot.

Track list: