Johnoy Danao tells artists: ‘Don’t make albums just for profit’

ORIGINAL Pilipino Music (OPM) singer Johnoy Danao has a piece of advice to his fellow artists: don’t just release albums to make money.

Danao, who is part of the “Tunog Natin: Songs From Home album,” asked fellow OPM singers to make music which is true to their style and one that they could be proud of.

“Kung maglalabas ka ng album, panindigan mo at alam mo na maipagmamalaki mo siya bilang musikang Pilipino, hindi lang basta gagawa ka ng album para kumita,” Danao told INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of the 25^th anniversary celebration of Avida Land last October 14.

When asked on why OPM is not having the recognition it deserves, Danao said that Filipinos do not seem to appreciate the mainstream songs by Filipino artists that dominate today’s airwaves. However, he emphasized that the audience is not the only party to be blamed.

“Mayroong decline of appreciation pero hindi mo naman masisisi ang mga makikinig, ang mga Pilipino, kung hindi ka talaga gagawa ng magandang material. So kailangan, as artists, respetuhin mo rin yung craft,” he said.

Danao, who became known through his acoustic renditions of hit songs, asked Filipinos to have the initiative to discover new OPM talents.

“Kailangan lang po naming ng tulong niyo, na manggaling sa inyo ang inisyatibo na maghanap ng bagong tunog. Magtulungan po tayo,” he said.

Danao’s advice followed the criticism of singer Rhap Salazar who pointed out that lip-synching Filipino artists should not have albums. AJH