In “This Is Us,” the coming, two-night Valentine’s concert of the vocal group The CompanY and Aiza “Ice” Seguerra, the message these artists hope to convey is one of harmony—“literally and figuratively.”
For Moy Ortiz, the artistic director of the quintet, music could be a potent tool for binding people amid the divisiveness that prevails around the world at the moment.
“It’s a timely and timeless theme…We live in very interesting times. Everyone has the freedom to speak his mind. Social media can either build or destroy bridges. But music heals and is a great builder. And as artists, we can help the country by striving for excellence and doing our jobs to the best of our abilities,” he said at a recent press conference.
Meanwhile, in a recent visit to the war-torn Marawi City, Ice, the chair of the National Youth Commission, witnessed firsthand the profound effect of music on people.
Unforgettable
“I roamed around the city with my guitar. For the first time in so many days, they heard music, after constant sounds of guns and bombs. I sang some of my songs. They also requested Yeng Constantino’s ‘Hawak Kamay.’ And everyone was just listening and singing along,” he recalled.
“It’s an experience I will never forget…Music gives us that—
art brings people together,” added the singer-songwriter, who’s doing shows with The CompanY in Manila for the first time, after going on tour together abroad back in 2002.
Harmony, of course, likewise refers to the mellifluous melding of voices The CompanY—also composed of Annie Quintos, Cecile Bautista, Sweet Plantado and OJ Mariano—has been known for since the late 1980s.
“None of us here are belters. We all believe that you don’t have to reach high notes to be loved—you just have to sing honestly and earnestly. There’s nothing wrong with belting, but it’s simply not us,” Moy said.
Challenge
Aside from the two acts’ respective sets, they’re also expected to do group numbers, which will admittedly be quite a challenge for Ice. “Harmonizing is like meeting my waterloo. I can do it, but it takes a lot of work and practice. It doesn’t come to me naturally,” related Ice, who described the men and women of The CompanY as some of the most talented and humble artists he has collaborated with.
“This Is Us,” which will be held on Feb. 13 and 14 at the Music Museum (call 8919999), will also serve as a tribute for the late record producer Margot Gallardo, who’s behind some of the defining hits of both Ice (“Pagdating ng Panahon”) and The CompanY (“Muntik na Kitang Minahal”).
“She produced 14 albums for us and around six for Ice,” Moy said of Margot, one of his closest collaborators. “We pay tribute to the legacy of Margot, whom we fondly called ‘The Woman Who Built OPM’ for all the enduring hits she had produced from the 1970s onwards.”