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The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is on the lookout for that “new Pinoy sound” through a new initiative as part of its Kanto Kultura project.

Kanto Canta is an online music competition encouraging amateur and unsigned musicians - solo (one-man band) or group of a maximum of seven members - to come up with original compositions incorporating one or more indigenous musical instruments.

The song must be in Filipino or any native dialect, or a mix of both.

Song entries must also contain a music or performance video shot in any Pinoy “kanto” or area, and rendered in minimum 720p quality. The video shall be posted as an unlisted video on YouTube.

The CCP, through this project, hopes to boost appreciation and interest in local music at home while also exploring the possibility of breaking out internationally.

The model? The massively popular Korean pop or K-pop.

“The purpose of this project is to inspire amateur Pinoy talents to be innovative and creative so as to be noticed in a now highly saturated environment and with overwhelming content which is the global stage via the internet,” said Michelle Nikki Junia, member of CCP's board of trustees, in a virtual press conference yesterday, February 17.

“With this objective in mind, we will be able to hopefully discover our Pinoy sound that can parallel to the phenomenon, K-pop.

The Korean government who had a significant contribution in the success in taking Korean artists on the global stage, we at CCP, in our minuscule capacity, would like to jumpstart this journey through CCP's Kanto Kultura.”

Maximizing the online platform will allow the CCP to connect to the public, especially to the youth, and continue its advocacy in promoting Filipino culture through arts.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the already great challenges facing the CCP in fulfilling its objectives of fostering a consciousness of our cultural heritage and fostering its development,” Michelle lamented.

She continued, “Physical performances are limited with social distancing and other prescribed health protocols. Many are reluctant to venture out and attend concerts, plays, and other performing art events, go to the movies, visit museums, and even shopping malls where cultural events are occasionally held

“That's why a deliberate effort is initiated by the CCP board to capture the interest of young Filipinos through the new art forms and using electronic means.”

A total of 15 finalists will be chosen for Kanto Canta and will win prizes worth P150,000.

The lucky artists will also enjoy unlimited local and international opportunities with assistance from the CCP.

Submission of entries will open this coming Saturday, February 20.

For more information, visit CCP's Kanto Kultura on Facebook.