Kjwan’s fourth album to be released in 3 volumes
Hard-hitting rock band Kjwan returns with a new album—make that three—albums this year. Named “Kjwan IV,” the record is a series of four-song EPs the band will release this year, starting with “Kjwan IV: Volume One,” which the band launched on Saturday, March 31, at Saguijo in Makati City.
“Kjwan has always prided itself in trying different things and doing this album was an example of that,” says Kjwan bassist Kelley Mangahas. Indeed, as the band’s previous album “13 Seconds to Love” was the first full-length album released exclusively on the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music mobile phone, a laudable strategy to appeal to today’s music consumers.
New member Inky de Dios adds, “I think the multi-volume release is acknowledging the fact that full albums are not as accepted anymore, but it still preserves some of the album ‘experience.’”
Stuck to being indie
Especially of note is the fact that Kjwan has stuck to its independent guns all these years. With the accolades, awards, and citations they received from the AWIT Awards, the NCCA, and, yes, even the Philippine Senate—the approach was well worth it for the band.
With “Kjwan IV: Volume One” marks two things: singer Marc Abaya now also on guitar (after the last album, former Jorel Corpus went to Berklee to study music and eventually left the band), and the introduction of new member (and local music great) de Dios. Known for his participation with Indio I and Brigada, de Dios plays synthesizers and keyboards for Kjwan and adds a whole new texture and level of sophistication for a band always known for their hard-hitting and ballsy approach.
“Adding the synth and keyboard aspects of Inky was a way of giving us room to grow and experiment with sound,” according to Mangahas. “Inky is also a percussionist/guitarist/songwriter and producer. It was a no-brainer to get him into the band as our new member.”
Wanted: permanent drummer
Being the new guy is not difficult for de Dios. He has, after all, recorded for Kjwan in their previous albums, and has personally known the members for many years now. Even former Kjwan drummer J-Hoon Balbuena. “I met J-Hoon when he was a scrawny little freshman in Ateneo with massive chops and talent!”
With Balbuena no longer in the band like Corpus, Kjwan currently recruits sessionists like Wendell Garcia, Paolo Manuel, and Eo Marcos for their live gigs. Album drum tracks were recorded by Paolo Santiago (formerly of Hale and Join the Club). The band is still on the lookout for a permanent drummer.
“Kjwan IV: Volume Two” will be out sometime in the middle of the year. In the meantime, here is the band’s first single, “Walang Kaso.”
