CYNTHIA ALEXANDER is an independent singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, vegetarian and self taught painter. Borne from the genes of the Ayala clan of artists, daughter of poet painter Tita Lacambra-Ayala and fictionist painter Jose V. Ayala, Jr., younger sibling of Joey Ayala.
She has over 10 years of performing experience in the Philippine music scene. She won Best Bass at The 1989 World Band Explosion in Tokyo; session bassed for Mike Hanopol and Jun Lopito and Apo Hiking Society; she played gongs, other percussion and bass performing and travelling with Joey Ayala at ang Bagong Lumad before she finally decided to go solo.
A self-taught musician, the music is highly intuitive, her subjects range from experiences of ordinary everyday living to supraconscious themes. Insightful, playful and melancholic. She has always looked to the east for answers to Soul Life - this has always influenced her content and sound. You will hear it in her guitarwork (which is exceptionally proficient), she almost always has it tuned down to a 'standard C' which drones akin to the sitar. She has studied a few basics on tabla (an indian percussion) and sitar (popularized by Pandit Ravi Shankar, a stringed gourd) for reference and weds this assimilation with Philippine Maguindanaoan gong rhythms.
Her music is highly versatile and intense, crossing the genres of folk, world, new age, rock alternative, television or even ad music '.to make the best out of 'nothing'. She is a 'fixture of the local alternative music scene where "intelligent" artists seek refuge from the rejections of pop inanity.' Unsurprisingly, the majority of her audience is female, perhaps owing to the fact that her work imparts a shared vision and strength.
She insists that everything she does has to do with living on a peaceful diet. The overall effect of her work encompasses time, race and creed. A crescendo of voices, guitars, tabla triplets and prayers in an other tongue and suddenly you are one with the universe, Anahata Nad (All is Sound) - a sonic cosmic communion , a Climax - 'perhaps Love on the 4th Dimension'.
CYNTHIA ALEXANDER GROUP
She performs solo or with the group. Her main live musicians play an essential role in this transcendent cadence, integral parts of a whole.
Mlou Matute (synth, vocals, gongs and kulintang, dumbec) is an Asian Music Major and teacher of Koto and Gamelan at the University of the Philippines, she is one of the first students of Aga Mayo Butocan;
Sancho (the other guitar) is a guitar major, ex-recording executive of a major label;
Charanjit Wasu (tabla, dholak and dhol) is a native of Hyderabad and founding member of SingIndia;
Louie Talan (bass) is the rockstar bassist of many popular groups (Razorback, Kapatid, Pinikpikan, Mishka Adams etc);
Koko Bermejo, that impeccable jazz drummer of Johnny Alegre's Affinity.
The Cynthia Alexander Group has opened the mainstage(World) for the French Spring Music Festival 'Fete de la Musique' (Manila) for four consecutive years and performed at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, Borneo upon the invitation of Randy Raine-Reusche in August 2000 joining stage with international world music artists like the Masabo Culture Company from the Ivory Coast and Benin; Aja Addy from Ghana; Isizikulu Siga 7 from South Africa and Inka Marka Music from the Andes.
Cynthia Alexander has gathered awards for her solo work, she has 3 solo albums INSOMNIA & other Lullabyes (1997), RIPPINGYARNS(2000) and COMET'S TAIL (2005). (REMIX (2003)and SITA & RAMA (2004) are side projects.) She designs the covers and layouts of her own music albums.
She wrote the theme song of The Exchange (2001) by Probe Productions, the first reality tv show in the Philippines(Channel 5).
Cynthia Alexander has 3 music videos and was MTV Lokal's Artist of the Month of May 2005.
She has over 10 years of performing experience in the Philippine music scene. She won Best Bass at The 1989 World Band Explosion in Tokyo; session bassed for Mike Hanopol and Jun Lopito and Apo Hiking Society; she played gongs, other percussion and bass performing and travelling with Joey Ayala at ang Bagong Lumad before she finally decided to go solo.
A self-taught musician, the music is highly intuitive, her subjects range from experiences of ordinary everyday living to supraconscious themes. Insightful, playful and melancholic. She has always looked to the east for answers to Soul Life - this has always influenced her content and sound. You will hear it in her guitarwork (which is exceptionally proficient), she almost always has it tuned down to a 'standard C' which drones akin to the sitar. She has studied a few basics on tabla (an indian percussion) and sitar (popularized by Pandit Ravi Shankar, a stringed gourd) for reference and weds this assimilation with Philippine Maguindanaoan gong rhythms.
Her music is highly versatile and intense, crossing the genres of folk, world, new age, rock alternative, television or even ad music '.to make the best out of 'nothing'. She is a 'fixture of the local alternative music scene where "intelligent" artists seek refuge from the rejections of pop inanity.' Unsurprisingly, the majority of her audience is female, perhaps owing to the fact that her work imparts a shared vision and strength.
She insists that everything she does has to do with living on a peaceful diet. The overall effect of her work encompasses time, race and creed. A crescendo of voices, guitars, tabla triplets and prayers in an other tongue and suddenly you are one with the universe, Anahata Nad (All is Sound) - a sonic cosmic communion , a Climax - 'perhaps Love on the 4th Dimension'.
CYNTHIA ALEXANDER GROUP
She performs solo or with the group. Her main live musicians play an essential role in this transcendent cadence, integral parts of a whole.
Mlou Matute (synth, vocals, gongs and kulintang, dumbec) is an Asian Music Major and teacher of Koto and Gamelan at the University of the Philippines, she is one of the first students of Aga Mayo Butocan;
Sancho (the other guitar) is a guitar major, ex-recording executive of a major label;
Charanjit Wasu (tabla, dholak and dhol) is a native of Hyderabad and founding member of SingIndia;
Louie Talan (bass) is the rockstar bassist of many popular groups (Razorback, Kapatid, Pinikpikan, Mishka Adams etc);
Koko Bermejo, that impeccable jazz drummer of Johnny Alegre's Affinity.
The Cynthia Alexander Group has opened the mainstage(World) for the French Spring Music Festival 'Fete de la Musique' (Manila) for four consecutive years and performed at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, Borneo upon the invitation of Randy Raine-Reusche in August 2000 joining stage with international world music artists like the Masabo Culture Company from the Ivory Coast and Benin; Aja Addy from Ghana; Isizikulu Siga 7 from South Africa and Inka Marka Music from the Andes.
Cynthia Alexander has gathered awards for her solo work, she has 3 solo albums INSOMNIA & other Lullabyes (1997), RIPPINGYARNS(2000) and COMET'S TAIL (2005). (REMIX (2003)and SITA & RAMA (2004) are side projects.) She designs the covers and layouts of her own music albums.
She wrote the theme song of The Exchange (2001) by Probe Productions, the first reality tv show in the Philippines(Channel 5).
Cynthia Alexander has 3 music videos and was MTV Lokal's Artist of the Month of May 2005.
source: www.cynthiaalexander.com
