Playlist feature: Kai Atienza reveals vision for band Analemma

Kai Atienza, a former marine biologist and street performer in Australia, recently partnered with an Iloilo-based friend to establish jazz funk neo-soul/R&B electro-progressive band Analemma.

“It [started as] a collaboration between me and a batch mate from Elements music camp. After the camp, we contacted each other and we ended up working for six months online. This was a 99% online collaboration kasi he lives in Iloilo and I’m here [in Manila],” she revealed.

The fruitful partnership produced great result so they decided to keep working together.

“Nagbabatuhan lang kami ng tracks and then after five songs, we said ‘Okay, let’s make an EP!’ He believed in my cause and I believe in his skills and his cause as well so we became Analemma,” she added.

Though it is not a walk in the park, they decided to produce their songs independently so that they can take ownership of their songs and express themselves in the exact brand that they want to.

“Kasi napag-usapan namin ng partner ko dito sa band. I don’t think a lot of major [labels] would carry something that is not so pop, not very mainstream. Eh 'yung music namin, medyo may ka-weirdohan. Sobrang mixed siya talaga and we’re also scared na medyo mag-iba 'yung feel, hindi ma-preserve 'yung creativity namin once we sign in a contract,” she revealed.

Her motivation for writing and sharing music are founded on the desire for people to be more open-minded about the industry and have a deeper grasp of various genres.

“I wanted to spark a fire in other people’s hearts na ‘ah, pwede pala tayo mag mag-explore sa music.’ Hopefully someday, yung music na katulad [ng sa amin], 'yun din yung mainstream. 'Yung everyone would be so open to listening and creating music like this,” she concluded.

For the first time, Kai will perform Sold and Bound, one of the songs that will be part of Analemma’s EP. She’s set to do an acoustic version of the electronic/jazz funk song on the Playlist stage tomorrow. She will also be playing in 1018 Bar on November 18 and Mang Rudy’s on November 19.

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