enriquemarcos

Home » Archives » December 2006

Young balladeer is a throwback to the ‘Romantic Era’

December 29, 2006

By Dennis Ladaw

Manila Times

December 22, 2006

Enrique’s second album, ‘I Made It Thorugh The Rain’, features a collection of ballads that make good use of his velvety singing voice. His voice sounds romantic and is reminiscent of Marco Sison or Mon David. The latter happens to be one of his mentors. Mon and Enrique are contract artists of Candid Records Philippines. Aside from the title track, Enrique does covers of Elton John’s ‘ Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ and Stevie Wonders show-stopping ‘Lately’.

The original songs are also catchy. There’s Sammy Asuncion’s ‘Dance With Me’, a jazzy number that could feel at home at any bar in New Orleans. In fact, when Enrique sang the song at his album launch at The Podium, he was backed up by a group of shapely Rockettes-style dancers. Rest assured, no other mall in Metro Manila has seen such a glorious sight or heard such a glorious voice rendering the bouncy number.

Another track is Vehnee Saturno’s “Where Love Has Gone”. This is not to be confused with the bittersweet love theme from the 1964 movie drama popularized by Jack Jones. The Saturno track is in fact more upbeat than the Jack Jones ballad and Enrique says he feels so proud that the revered composer wrote a song especially for him.

In an interview with E&S, the soft-spoken Enrique said that as a child growing up in Bukidnon, he would listen to the records of his father and grandfather.

“They were avid fans of Sinatra, Matt Monroe and Engelbert. Iwas singing their songs at the age of seven,” he recalled. “I was never familiar with the contemporary hits, like rap or hiphop. If you live in a province like Bukidnon, you dot get to hear much of the new hits.”

Enrique inherited his musical talent from his late father, who never worked as a professional singer. The younger Marcos, however was always on demand at weddings and other family events at a very young age. “I was a boy soprano, so I sang all the songs written for female singers. But I also like the songs of Martin Nieverra and Gary Valenciano. They’re two of my favorites,” he said.

His voice inevitably broke when he turned 14. He thought he would never sing again but when he joined a school choir, he received professional training and managed to develop a pleasant baritone voice. After college, he moved to Manila to find any kind of work he could get his hands on.

“I didn’t really set out to have a singing career in Manila. That wasn’t my plan at all. I just wanted any kind of job, I was’nt choosy,” he said.

He found work at a factory that makes carton boxes. It was an unlikely place to open any doors to a singing career but it was the factory that served a major stepping stone.

As it happened, a co-worker of Enrique was getting married and he was asked to sing at the wedding. Among the guests at the reception was his former manager. Needless to say, she was bowled over by Enrique’s performance and she became his manager on the spot.

A demo tape were recorded which was shipped to London where the labels top honchos were based. In no time at all, Enrique was signed on and he became Candid’s first male recording artist from Asia. His first album was released in 2004 (A Collection of Classic Love Songs – CAN-KC-008).

Everything should have come up roses for Enrique but the singer suffered a series of setbacks that puts his promising career on hold. His manager had a falling out with Candid and his father died after a long bout with his Alzheimer’s Disease. Enrique had to come home to Bukidnon.

But he has a new manager now (Sherilyn Pascua of Music Brdige and Media Trends) and he’s back with Candid. Said label is considered to be an independent label. But Enrique said he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out on what a mainstream label could offer him.

He explained Candid is always looking for singers who can offer something different. “They also give me an artistic freedom. They make a list of new songs I would be recording but they also allow me to choose Barry Manilow’s ‘I Made It Through The Rain’, because I relate to the lyrics. I grew up in a small town and im here now in Manila. My career was put on hold, my father passed away but that all behind now,” he said.

Enrique busies himself by promoting his album in various parts of the country. He’s also very visible in German Moreno’s “Walang Tulugan” variety show on TV. He’s also brought in his mother to live with him in Manila.

He said he doesn’t live on the fast lane as he still manages to live a quiet private life. He bought his mother a house I Las Pinas and opened a new business for her to run, a coffee shop. “On my free nights, you can catch me there singing, siyempre!” he laughs.

Posted by enriquemarcos at 11:15 am | permalink | Add comment

Enrique Back in Full Swing

December 14, 2006

Yesteryears standards make up today’s alternative music.

Twenty something singer Enrique Marcos, however, offers no apologies for his choice of music. Enrique sings love songs spiked with jazz or swing, just the way Sinatra and Nat King Cole did during their time.

At the album launch of his second album at The Podium last Sunday (November 26), Enrique said he sings the standards to attract young people to this most wonderful sound. He said its amazing how a number of young people today go for this type of sound.

Enrique’s second album, ‘I Made It Through The Rain’, is a fusion of jazz standards, classic and contemporary pop. Songs like the title cut, originally by Barry Manilow, the Matt Monro Classic ‘You’ve Got Possibilities’, Sinatra’s ‘Around the World’ or Barry Gibb’s ‘First of May’ are rendered a new life by full, round voice of Enrique.

Enrique first came into view in 2004 with the launch of his singing career on wings of a debut album, A Collection of Classic Love Songs. With this album, he became the first Filipino artist to be signed by Candid Records, which had just set up a Philippine office.

Enrique was a small town boy from Malaybalay Bukidnon before moving to Manila as a wedding singer. His rich, full voice impressed Candid executives, who had even planned a London release of his album.

The singer said a few things jeopardized his career, and personal life, last year. He lost his original manager (now managed by Sherilyn Pascua of Music Bridge 09157719879), then also lost his father.

For a while, he said he thought his career was in limbo. He also got sidetracked by the sudden death of his father. Enrique says he remains unfazed by the instant popularity of other male singers who have emerged from TV talent searches. Confident of his talent, the young man believes the world can be a better place to live in if more and more people make beautiful music.

** Nestor Cuartero

Moviegoer -columnist

Tempo

November 29, 2006

Posted by enriquemarcos at 6:46 pm | permalink | Add comment

Mon David, Enrique Marcos at The Podium

London International Jazz Competition grand winner Mon David and upcoming balladeer will take center stage in back-to-back performances at The Podium’s Lounge Area November 26 starting at 3PM.

A joint project of Candid Records Philippines, Crossover 105.1 and The Podium with Remy Martin and Cointreau Liquor and Astroplus, this will highlight album launches of two of the most powerful voices in the local music scene. It is a display of masterpieces of vocal male prowess.

Candid Records is a jazz label based in the United Kingdom that includes Stacey Kent, Kyle Eastwood, Jim Tomlinson, Jamie Cullum and British Filipina Mishka Adams among its artists.

At 3PM, the new voice of romance Enrique Marcos will release his second studio album under Candid Philippines “I Made It Through The Rain”. A former wedding singer from Bukidnon, Enrique honed his vocal chops with his grandfather playing the piano.

The album, produced by Sammy Asuncion of Spy/Pinkpikan, is a mix of standard and contemporary tracks from top Philippine songwriters including Vehnee Saturno. His album is a fusion of jazz, standards, blues and pop rearranged to suit Enriques soothing voice. The highly enjoyable album is backed up by top musicians Koko Bermejo, Koyang Avenir, Louie Talan and Mike Guevara.

At 4PM, jazz legend Mon David will release his new album “My One And Only Love”. This new Candid Records release ranges various genres and inspirational music. The 12-track CD is an anthology of Mon’s musical compositions and new deeply loved jazz classics.

Recognized as one of the country’s top singers, Mon David is backed up by a powerhouse quartet of top musicians: Koko Bermejo, Colby Dela Calzada, Mark Lopez and Mike Guevara.

** Philippine Daily Inquirer

November 24, 2006