Spotlight on Swissy

PHOTO BY JOAN DEL MUNDO

Swissy is a young and promising pop-folk artist who is creating a strong impression among local listeners. Just very recently on the 25^th of October, she launched her second album titled “One Hour by the Bed, the Rest is in my Head”.  Swissy is one of the more interesting and captivating artists around in the local scene. For some time now, I have been hearing a lot of positive feedback about her performances and how she is able to establish an easy and quick rapport with her fans. I was impressed and this made me want to learn more about her. So,  come join me as I Interview Swissy.

1) How old were you when you first started to show interest in music?

I started showing interest in music as soon as I could talk. My mum told me that, at the age of 2, I used to sing, or more like mumble, “Bakit Ba Ganyan”  haha.

PHOTO BY JOAN DEL MUNDO

2) What kind of music were you exposed to as a child?

Lots! My dad was – and still is – a big music buff so my brother and I grew up listening to 60s and 70s music like The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Stevie Wonder, jazz standards and musicals, as well as pop music like Madonna, Whitney Houston and the like.

3) Being half-Australian and half-Filipino, how did this mix affect/influence your taste in musical inclinations?

I’m actually full Filipino! I was born here but moved to Melbourne, Australia, when I was a kid. To be honest, I don’t think growing up in Australia influenced my musical tastes that much. It’s really more my family who influenced my musical tastes growing up. However, I wouldn’t have discovered some of my favourite Aussie artists and vocalists if I hadn’t have grown up in Australia.

4) I have researched and learned that you chose to come to the Philippines to build your career here as an artist. When did you come to the Philippines?

I came here in October, 2006.

6) What was the first and most significant thing you observed in the music scene here and how different was it in Australia?

The first gig that I ever went to was a Chillitees gig at Saguijo. I had no idea that talent like that existed in the Philippines. I always thought the scene in the Philippines was just pop or rock. I was blown away by the talent of that band and immediately approached Dan Gil of the Chillitees. Australians are also way talented but I felt so much more soul in the Filipino indie music scene.

PHOTO BY JOAN DEL MUNDO

7)    Prior to your decision to come here, did you already have contacts here in the local scene?

I had one contact – Betta Dans from Thirdline.

8)    When and where was your first gig here?

This is jogging my memory! I think it was around November, 2006, at the Center for the Arts in QC. I did a solo acoustic gig as an audition for a record label. I didn’t get it haha.

9)    How were you approached by Toti Dalmacion of Terno recordings to sign with his label?

I actually approached him. I’d met Dan Gil from at Saguijo and he put me onto Toti.

10)    Is it true that when you were still in Australia you were already being offered a record deal?

Oh no, no record deals until I moved over.

11)    Going back to your debut album titled: “She smiles” released in 2008, how was the recording process– did you have total control over the sound, lyrical content and direction of the album?

I recorded half of the songs in Australia so the songs were arranged by my good friend, Chris Wilson, and the other half was recorded and arranged by me here in Manila. Yes, I had control over everything which was nice.

12) What is your favorite song from your debut album?

I never get tired of listening to and performing “How It All Started”. That would have to be my favourite.

13) How do you describe your musical style to those listeners who aren’t too familiar yet with your music?

That’s a hard question. It’s difficult to pin it down to a single style. I started off writing purely folk/pop songs with a lot of jangly guitars. Now, however, it’s kind of evolved into, I guess, adult contemporary/jazz/folk/pop with bits of electronica..?! Yeah, tough question.

14) How many musical instruments do you play? Were you self-taught?

I play guitar and a bit of keys. I took one year of piano lessons but didn’t really learn much so yeah, I guess I was self-taught in both instruments.

15) The years between the debut of your album in 2008 and the launch of your second album just recently Oct. 25, have there been creative and artistic changes in your song writing process and in the direction of your musical preference?

In terms of songwriting process, not much has changed over the years. In terms of direction and music preferences – absolutely. I guess it comes with maturing as a person. My musical preferences have also “matured”. I listen to a lot more jazz these days and opened up to more electronic sounds. Actually, I’ve always been a fan of electronic music but it’s only now that I’ve really experimented with and incorporated into my own songs. If you have a listen to “Does It Really Matter?” and “Always The Same” on the new album, you’ll see how it’s far removed from the first album.

16) In your second album titled: “One hour in the bed, the rest is in my head” What subject matters do you sing about?

Ah, I sing about family. Some of the songs are pretty much me analysing life and me talking to myself about life. Oh, and of course I sing about crushes which I guess we all experience even as adults! I also included a cover of Todd Rundgren’s “Hello, It’s Me” which I’m really happy about.

15) How was the recording process for your second album? Who were the people you worked with to bring the album to life?

Like the first album, I recorded half in Australia and the other half in Manila. I couldn’t have done it without Chris Wilson from Chris Wilson Recordings in Melbourne and Joey Santos from Love One Another in Manila. Mond Merle and Ronnie Dizon also laid down some bass and keys tracks for some of the songs.

17) What are your favorite songs in your second album?

I like After All for sentimental reasons and For The Sake Of Who which we recorded with a “demo” kind of feel.

18) Are there any local musicians you wish to work with in a gig or concert?

I got the chance to play at Outerhope’s album launch a couple of years ago and would love to work with them again at some point. It would be awesome to work with Apo Hiking Society too!

19) Locally, who are the artists that you admire/respect ?

See question 17 hehe.. plus Paramita, Reklamo, Bagetsafonik, Jaycie & Honey, Mistress, Sinosikat?, Cuidad, Hannah + Gabi, Tarsius, Updharmadown, Encounters With A Yeti, Sleepwalk Circus, Joniver, Johnoy Danao, Toto Sorioso, Yosha, Sans Saboteur, The Camerawalls and much more.

20) If there were any artists in their prime, living or dead, you wish could perform with on the same stage for one night only, who would they be?

The Beatles, of course!

21) Has there been any unforgettable/funny experience you had as a performing artist? Would you care to share it?

There have been many unforgettable experiences over the last 6 years but – and I keep telling the same story when asked this question – the most unforgettable experience would have to be my Japan tour in 2010. I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy! It made all the work I’d put into my music worth it.

22) What are your aspirations as a performing artist?

To keep making music and to reach more and more people, both in the Philippines and internationally. I opened up a little record label called Little Cloud Records and will be based in Australia come November this month.

23) Your real name is Christina Del Mundo. Who baptized you “Swissy”? Does that name have a special significance to you?

It’s a childhood nickname that my dad gave me. I kinda lost the nickname after primary school and was known as Christina until I moved back to Manila and resurrected my nickname! So yes, it does have special significance because it’s what people know me as here and it will forever remind me of the crazy ride I’ve had!

24) What is your message to your fans?

Hello and thank you for the love and support you’ve shown me in the last few years! Every applause, every compliment, every “Like” and every comment hasn’t gone unnoticed. I appreciate every single gesture. I hope to see you again when I visit Manila! Much love to you! xx

25)   Who is “Swissy” in a nutshell?

Swissy is…a dichotomy.