Vol. 2, Post # 4: Karmi is my Most Liked Musician - Part 1

Just a month and two days ago, I, together with my family and some close friends, asked for support to vote for my sister Karmi for STAGG's Most Liked Drummer of 2010.  It was a very long one month for us.

For those who voted for her on the Music Source Facebook Page, have you ever wondered how her life as a musician have started?

Let's look back.

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Karmi, an "Aiza Seguerra" look alike (gusto ko lang talagang sabihin yan hehehe!), started to show her interest in music when she was in elementary... I guess, when she was in grade four or five.  At first she started to play the guitar. She used to play that every chapel service in our school.  Nung uso pa ang song hits at power pack na may guitar chord charts sa gitna, she studied the chords all by herself and for a short period of time she was able to play songs with that.  She also learned how to play the bass guitar and a little bit of piano/organ.

See! Aiza Seguerra diba? :)

Upon entering high school, she started to play drums.  Not on Pearl, not on Yamaha, or on any other brand of drum set.... but on an improvised one, made of water containers.  She played drums for our small community church chapter every Wednesdays.  

She eventually joined our Youth Band and then our church's Sunday worship leading team.  Whenever the band joins inter-chapter competitions during summer camps, her drumming skills were never left unnoticed.  Maybe because people are not used on seeing a girl playing drums.  As years went by, this talent just went to a higher level of proficiency.  At a very young age, she was able to conduct drum workshops in our church's different local chapters.

After high school, she entered UST to study Music, but a year later she auditioned and transferred to UP to pursue her studies, majoring in percussion.  In this age she was exposed to different kinds of percussion instruments--the marimba and timpani to name a few (she even named her dogs after these instruments).

At 18, my dad gave her a Blue Sonor drumset as a gift for her. She even had a special slot on her surprise debut's program--the 18 drummers.  Her drum guru, Sir Jun Regalado, even graced the event.  I guess these things encouraged her to take her skill to another higher level.

Karmi using her drumset on her YouTube drum videos

Karmi with Drum Legend Sir Jun Regalado. Well this is not exactly her debut pic with him :D

Several years after, she was given the opportunity to be a part of our church's Central team of instrumentalists - the Jesus Army of Musicians (JAM).  This paved the way to a "larger territory"--she was able to reach out and minister to our brethren not only here in the Philippines but also abroad by conducting workshops and performing on worship events and music camps in Thailand, Taiwan and Canada.

Karmi with the Musikatha team at JIL BC Canada's Anniversary

Drum Workshop at JIL Taiwan

Karmi with other Asian percussionists at SAYOWE - Thailand

Her being a part of this team made us realize how God significantly transformed her from a shy girl to an anointed, skillful young musician.  This transformation pushed her to reach out more people.  She was given opportunity to play drums for different artists like Richard Poon, Sam Milby, Acel van Ommen and Yeng Constantino.  This opened doors to more opportunities for her as a sessionist drummer.  Jack Rufo, one of the country's guitar legends, opened an audition to play for him on drums for a new band called Novus Luna.  Out of the many who gave a shot, she emerged and given the chance to be the band's drummer.  Together with Jack, Gareth Somers on bass and Barbara Jeanne on vocals, this band is now active and starting to make "noise" on the local music industry.

With Richard Poon at MYX Live

Karmi Plays for Sam Milby at Malolos Bulacan (click this link)

Karmi plays for Acel at Cebu

Novus Luna's song for RPG Metanoia OST - Star Cinema's entry to 2010 MMFF

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One night, Karmi was browsing the internet, and saw this STAGG Most Liked Drummer of 2010 Photo Album on Facebook, comprised of photos of nominated drummers from different famous bands.  Here our conversation started:

Karmi:  Ate Karen, tignan mo to oh.  Kelan kaya ako manonominate sa mga ganito noh?

Karen: ..... *went back to the kitchen to look for something to eat*

Karmi:  ATE KARENNNN!!!!

Karen: ???? *looks back, puzzled"

Karmi:  NOMINATED AKO!!!! Shaccckkksss!!!

Karen: !!!!!! 

And this is where it all started.

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Watch out for Part 2 :)