Man On The Side: The best of Pinoy indie on vinyl

In the inaugural issue of Forbes Philippines magazine, I wrote about how we are in the midst of a major shift in how music is distributed and consumed. Depending on who you ask, the industry is either on its deathbed or is poised for a major resurgence.

In the United States, for example, CD sales continue to go down, from about 165.4 million in 2013 to 140.8 million last year, a decrease of about 14.9%, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Even digital music nosedived 9.4%, from 117.6 million to 106.5 million in the same period.

On the other hand, music streaming continues to grow, with data showing that over 430 billion songs were played through services like Spotify, YouTube, Vevo, Soundcloud, Vimeo and Rdio in 2014. That’s an increase of 95% from 2013, and 363% from 2012.

But also on the rise, believe it or not: vinyl records. Some 9.2 million LPs were purchased in the US last year, up almost 52% from the 6.1 million sold in 2013.

Here in the Philippines, vinyl is inching its way back into the mainstream, decades after its glory days. There have been a few local artists that have come out with albums in the format in recent years, but a compilation record set to be released this week is noteworthy not just because it’s on vinyl, but because it’s composed of songs from some of the best independent OPM artists.

"Fresh Filter Volume 1" is the product of a collaboration between radio station Jam 88.3 and vinyl record store Satchmi. It takes its name from a program that airs on the alternative music station produced and hosted by Russ Davis. Debuting in July 2013, Fresh Filter shines a spotlight on some of the best local alternative and independent music and has become an avenue that connects artists with audiences eager to discover homegrown new music.

“I just wanted local artists and their music to get more exposure,” says Davis, who is also a voice talent and a guitarist for the band Slow Hello. In the beginning, the host sought out the music himself, but it wasn’t long before artists were sending their material to the show for consideration. What started as a once-a-week program now airs four times weekly, Monday to Thursday, from 5 to 6p.m., thanks to the tremendous support of artists and listeners alike.

The compilation followed soon enough. Davis believed serious music fans were ready to once again invest in something tangible to demonstrate their commitment to and support for artists. “It was that ideology, paired with the indie local scene, which I knew was thriving, that made us decide to release the compilation on vinyl,” he says. They partnered with Satchmi, which itself broke boundaries when it opened in SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall in September last year; there’s no clearer sign that vinyl has indeed started to hit the mainstream.

It took about six months from the time Davis and the folks at Satchmi conceptualized the project until the record finally rolled off the press. The compilation includes songs by A Problem Like Maria, Autotelic, BP Valenzuela, Bullet Dumas, Cheats, Flying Ipis, Library Kids, Moonwlk, Ourselves The Elves, Tandems ’91, The Ransom Collective, and Yolanda Moon. Davis himself handpicked the artists and tracks that make an appearance on what he hopes is only the first of many more compilation albums to follow.

“This record is to drive home the point that the local music scene is worth investing in,” he says. “I have no doubt that vinyl is making a comeback and I have faith people are going to latch on to it and support it.” — BM, GMA News

"Fresh Filter Volume 1" will be launched this Friday, May 22, at the Satchmi Store in SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall. Performing at the launch are Autotelic, Bullet Dumas, A Problem Like Maria, Library Kids, and Ourselves The Elves. The record will be sold at the venue. There will also be a bar tour featuring artists with songs on the album: May 29 at Saguijo, June 12 at A-Space Manila, and June 26 at Cubao Expo.

Paul John Caña is a magazine writer and live music geek. He is also co-founder of , an online collective of writers and artists. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana.