Getting to know them more: Laura Jane Caducio, Monty Macalino and Eunice Jorge

While many music aficionados have a superficial knowledge of our local musicians and grazing familiarity with their names, I thought it would be very interesting and quite gratifying to get to know them better on a deeper level. So I have asked a number of the finest we have around today the same three questions. Their answers below will give us a clearer picture of what defines them now as musicians.

1) Laura Jane Caducio (Vocalist/Guitarist) of LAURA.

Q: What were the influences at home and/or outside of family which helped form your interest in learning your instrument of choice ?

Laura Jane Caducio – My mum and dad were musicians themselves. My mum had piano and violin home classes. She used to perform in different theaters when she was younger and also performed as a singer and guitarist in different gatherings. While my mum had formal training, my Dad did not have. My dad grew up playing the guitar and performed in what they call, “combo” way back. Having the interest in music run through the genes of my parents, I guess, that’s what really got me into music, too. Whenever I see my mum play the guitar, I was always intrigued to play one.

Q: How and when did you realize you had a calling to be a full-pledged musician ?

Laura Jane Caducio – Since I was in high school, I had a strong desire for music that I knew I wanted to pursue a career with it, but then there were other “prettier” girls who formed a band and performed in our school. Although, I knew back then that somehow, I could play better than those pretty and popular girls, I was frustrated because I wasn’t able to share my music well because of the attention focused on them, so I backed off.

I just continued playing in church services and at home. College years came, and that was the time it came to me that my talent and desire should not be put to waste. I brought out the songs I wrote and joined songwriting competitions where I got recognition. When I came out of college, I tried to explore a bigger and different audience and tried to share my music to them. To my surprise, my original songs and performance were appreciated, and I was even told that I am an artist to look forward to. Since then, my passion for music grew even stronger that I knew I was born to do music for the rest of my life.

Q: How do you continue to hone your skills and continually raise the bar of excellence for yourself ?

Laura Jane Caducio – Practice. Perform. Practice. Perform! Learning for me is a never-ending process, and I get that through practicing and performing. During practice, I get to have a picture of how I should render my songs for my performances. I get to study and review my scales, chord progressions, dynamics, and singing through practice.

While in performing, I let all my heart out with what I learned from my practice. Although sometimes, there are things that I learn during performances. In performance, I make sure that I communicate my songs and feelings well to the listeners, may it be with body language, facial expressions, and lyrics and music clarity. I just really make sure that I am an effective communicator of my heart and spirit through music.

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2) Monty Macalino (Vocalist/Guitarist) of Mayonnaise.

Q: What were the influences at home and/or outside of family which helped form your interest in learning your instrument of choice ?

Monty Macalino – Growing up, I would remember my parents usually playing old records at home. This made me very interested in music. At the same time, in school, most of my classmates were also into bands. During my time, a lot of bands were guitar-oriented thus influencing me to pick up the guitar as my instrument.

Q: How and when did you realize you had a calling to be a full-pledged musician ?

Monty Macalino – I just graduated from high school that time when a friend of mine asked me if I was interested to play the drums for a certain band. At first, I hesitated because my primary instrument is the guitar. But out of curiosity, I said yes, only for me to find out that I’d be playing drums for Dahong Palay, which was one of the well-known metal bands at that time. After gigging with them for 2 months, I was able to play at well-known bars around the Metro with some of my idols. That made me realize that this was something that I want to do for the rest of my life.

Q: How do you continue to hone your skills and continually raise the bar of excellence for yourself ?

Monty Macalino – I believe in the saying that “Practice makes perfect.” By being patient, working hard and having fun. Vitamins. Rest. Haha !

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3) Eunice Jorge (Vocalist/Violinist/Guitarist/Keyboardist) of GRACENOTE.

Q: What were the influences at home and/or outside of family which helped form your interest in learning your instrument of choice ?

Eunice Jorge – My parents are musicians. My dad is a pianist and my mom is a singer. I started to play piano when i was five. So much so my interest in music got hold of me that i took it as my course in college. Through the years, i’ve been involved in a band in our church and that was the time i tried different instruments such as violin, drums, bass, guitar etc. Right then and there, i fell inlove with rock music and decided to form a band.

Q: How and when did you realize you had a calling to be a full-pledged musician ?

Eunice Jorge – When i was in second year high school, i’ve been challenged to write a song in our church just for fun. I enjoyed doing it and it turned out like my life journal. Then i met my bandmates in college and they brought life to my music. We started as a school band and we used to perform at some small events. Then we joined a legit battle of the bands and it got serious real quick. There I get to manifest what our songs are saying onstage and i’m just so blessed that i found another bunch of guys who believe in doing the same thing. Also, It feels great to have people who resonate to what we believe and say in our songs that it bounce back to us. We call them Gracians. They have no idea how they changed the trajectory of my life in a big way and I’m forever grateful. Until then i felt the calling and never had a plan B. I can’t imagine myself doing something else besides music.

Q: How do you continue to hone your skills and continually raise the bar of excellence for yourself ?

Eunice Jorge – I discipline myself to give time for practice even with my bandmates. It’s a bit hard these days, but i have to because i want to be a better musician. As i recall, my dad once told me “Practice makes perfect”. Although perfection may be a goal we can never actually attain other than perhaps.