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Silverfilter: Living the Music
From heading Electronica Manila to composing popular commercial jingles, Cyril Sorongon is getting his music out anyway he can.
Published in Youngstar Magazine July 2004
Cyril Sorongon is no different from most twenty-somethings: he has a day job, loves watching movies, hangs out with his friends, suffers from a slight addiction to drama every now and then and hasn’t given up that endless search for that special someone. As a guy who describes himself as “funny, emotional and versatile,” Cyril is as typical as typical can be. That is, until you hear his music, observe him spearheading an Electronica Manila meeting, find out the long list of commercial jingles credited to his name, talk to him how his passion for music devours his life and watch him perform live – then all traces of the stereotyped twenty-something fly out the window.
An advertisement jingle composer/arranger for TV and radio by day and burgeoning live electronic artist by night, 24-year-old Cyril Martin Raymond Joseph Sorongon aka Silverfilter, would have been happy and content “playing the drums for some band” or fronting one “as a vocalist.” However, things took an interesting turn as he is now regarded as one of the youngest commercial jingle composer/arrangers in the country and included among the list of today’s most promising live electronic performing artists with his unique musical styling of melodies and music that are as diverse as they are entertaining.
In 1998, fascinated by the music of Chemical Brothers and Prodigy, he experimented with electronic music using the music software Fruity Loops which he ironically installed by mistake. Quickly hooked on the style, he continues to work with music software to this day. “Empowering kasi yung feeling na you could make a whole track all by yourself,” he shares.
His background in electronic music landed him his first job as a commercial jingle composer at age 18. “When they asked for samples of my work, I let them listen to my electonic songs. They liked it and let me work on a project.” The project was the 30-second Petron Rev-X commercial with the Sex Bomb Dancers. Apparently, he exceeded expectations because he hasn’t stopped working on commercial jingles since. As a freelance artist currently working for two music/audio post-production studios, Cyril has gained a long list of musical credits to his name. Notable among those he made for television are Bench (with Richard Gomez’s son), Wacoal (with Sarah Mier), Tanduay (with Assunta da Rossi), season themes for PBA and NCAA, Eight-O-Clock, Honda Accord, Inquirer, McDonald’s, Rejoice (which was released throughout Asia), Wendy’s and Gold Eagle Beer, the latter two of which were also released on radio together with Blue Bay Tuna, Century Tuna and Payless Noodles. And that’s just a quick glimpse of the long list. “I also have my own home studio, Switch Studios, where I work on my tracks and music for work-related and personal projects,” he shares.
“The agency gives you a peg or what they want the commercial to sound like. Then you make your own. It’s as simple as that,” he explains, when asked about the song writing process. “Scoring is more difficult, ‘coz you put music along with the changes in the commercial – like accents, sound effects.” Not that he’s complaining. “Working on commercials helped a lot in molding me to become a better musician,” he shares. “Because clients have different needs, I get exposed to different music styles, broadening my knowledge about different music genres. I love this job! I hope to do this forever.”
In 2002, Cyril created the Electronica Manila mailing list, not expecting that the group he founded, borne out of his simple need for seeking out fellow electronic music enthusiasts would turn into the premiere collective of Electronica Artists in the Philippines that boasts of both local and foreign members, and the who's who in the Pinoy electronica scene.
“Only a few people in the country actually do this,” says Silverfilter of live electronic music, which was once available only in Europe and the United States. “I can honestly say that the Filipinos are at par or even better than other electronic artists from different countries,” Silverfilter declares. “And I’m proud that we can offer something to the world, at the same time letting our fellow-countrymen know that…there are actually Filipino electronic artists.” Presently, almost six years since he started tinkering with music software and tweaking controls on his synthesizers, effects boxes and drum machines, Silverfilter happily adheres to his calling as a live P.A. where every electronica gig proves to be a completely new experience that audiences could look forward to every time as he describes what he does as “…a hybrid of the DJ vibe, which is the dance vibe, and performance, which is yung appeal of a live performance ng band.”
Primarily influenced by Underworld, Fat Boy Slim, Armand Van Helden and Ritchie Hawtin, this multi-genre artist has recently released In the Meantime, a five track EP whose dynamic and playfully inventive melodic lines take listeners to an enjoyable and surprising journey through some of the more popular styles of electronic music, from chill-out to electro-pop to house and breakbeats.
Establishing himself as a talented, rare-breed musician who’s definitely here to stay, Cyril continues to feed his passion and bring his brand of music to listeners whenever, wherever and whichever way he could, from playing at various venues to creating music for television and radio. “Love what you’re doing or else people won’t love it,” he says. Spoken like a true an artist who got into it “for the music, and not for anything else.”
Silverfilter’s Hit List
(An) Orange mocha frappe. Kasi… una, may coffee, pampagising…Eh diba parang kenkoy ako. Tapos… sweet… Naks! Yihee…! Tsaka, yung color, orange! I can brighten your day!
If you were a music genre, what genre would you be? Funky house. Kasi it sounds happy. Eh I’m a funny guy. Yung funky house, happy siya, eh. Parang you wanna jump. Ganun.
Describe your music in three wordsTasty, pumping, fun
When, where, and what was your first gig like?Sanctum. 2002. Tense. I did only one song.
What was your most memorable gig? Fete De La Musique 2003. Kasi talagang everyone went wild, they were dancing, and being a live electronic artist, it’s a challenege, eh… to make them move.
What song best describes you? “Wishlist” by Pearl Jam What song or who do you listen to when you’re having a bad day?John Mayer What song or who do you listen to when you’re in love?Always with Me, Always with You, a guitar instrumental by Joe Satriani
What’s in your CD changer? Sneaker Pimps - Bloodsport, Daft Punk – Daft Love and Fever Incorporation - DJ Kicks
What’s a usual day like in your life? Wake up, turn on pc, make music, take breaks when they call you to eat, watch tv/movie channels during breaksWhat would people be surprised to find out about you?Yung pagiging straight-edge ko. Clean living, ganyan. Well, lagi naman silang surprised… kasi parang they expect you to be into it.
5 things that could be found in your walletBusiness cards that I give away, money, my Ayala discount card, pictures, my UP ID
Words of wisdom you’d like to share?Set a goal and keep at it because you’ll definitely get there if you work hard for it but be patient because everything has its own time. Live the Music. Put God above all.
© Valerie V. Mayuga, 2005
To join the Electronica Manila mailing list, log on to: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/electronicamanila
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