MOJOFLY

Mojofly
Mojofly in 2015
Mojofly in 2015
Background information
OriginPhilippines
Genres
Years active
  • 1999–2008
  • 2015–present
MembersLougee Basabas
Beejay Valera
Ali Alejandro
Kiko Montecillo
Mark Reese Gelbolingo
Past membersKitchie Nadal
Ricci Gurango
Rann Golamco
Allan Elgar
Junjun Regalado
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/mojoflyofficial/

MOJOFLY is a pop-rock band from the Philippines.

History

1998-1999: Beginning, the release of Birthday album

The band was formed in 1999 by bassist Ricci Gurango after his departure from Hungry Young Poets, he added members including Jun Jun Regalado III on drums, Raymund "Rann" Golamco on guitars and Katrina"Kitchie" Nadal on vocals the band released its first single "Minamalas" written by Ricci Gurango, the single was played on radio stations and become the #2 most requested OPM song on pop station RX 93.1, and charting on other Manila FM stations as well. and their debut album "Birthday" were released in September 1999, the album consists of 14 songs 5 were written in Tagalog, two tracks (Puro Palusot & Half Wishing) were written by Rico Blanco and will be feature on the song "Half Wishing".[1][2]

2001-2002: A Million Stories

In December 2001, Guitarist Raymond Golamco left the band to concentrate on another career.[3] and their follow up album A Million Stories was released in 2002,[4][5] The album helped propel singles such as Another Day and Scooter Boy to national recognition. In the same year, drummer JunJun Regalado left the band.[6]

2003: Kitchie Nadal's departure

In June 2003, Nadal left the group to embark on a solo career. Her last gig with the band took place at June 14 at Robinsons Metro East.[7][8]

2004-2007: Lougee Basabas Era

Mojofly then introduced Lougee Basabas as the band's new frontwoman in only a matter of days. By year's end the group joined the “indie” bandwagon with their self-titled EP (featuring the singles “Turn,” “Mata” and a recycled arrangement of their 1999 single “Minamalas“), sold-out despite being available only in gigs. Because of Mata and the revived, revv-ed up Lougee-version of Minamalas, MOJOFLY (EP) showed the new sound of their group. In January 2005, the band is back to the studio to record their upcoming album to be released in March 2005.[9]

The band went on to release an LP aptly entitled MOJOFLY Now (June 2005), still under independent label luKas Music of artist manager and music publisher Karin Araneta.[10] This time distributed nationwide by EMI Music Philippines, Lougee took over the reins in songwriting and gained MOJOFLY “street cred” through her novel, cutting-edge compositions. Currently promoting MOJOFLY Now Special Edition (August 2006), the 2-disc package marries the original ‘05 full-length and an A-VCD featuring live tracks from their first major concert at the Music Museum (September 2–3, 2005)[11] and the 3D-animated music video of Tumatakbo.

MOJOFLY is the first local artist to venture into full 3D animation in Philippine music video history. The work was previewed at the 19th Singapore International Film Festival (April 2006) and won Best Animated Video and Favorite Indie Video at the MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2006] (August 2006).

Apart from once garnering the much-coveted slot for MTV Lokal Artist-of-the-Month (March 2005), MOJOFLY also boasts a list of celebrity endorsements from Del Monte Pizza Sauce to Penshoppe and Cream Silk Conditioners. The theme song Choose and vast multi-media exposure from the Cream Silk “Girl Power, Pink Power” campaign brought MOJOFLY's sound and Lougee's vivid image into every household.

2007-2008: Final years

On 2008, bassist - Ricci Gurango, departed from the band. The remaining members (Lougee and Ali) took in Richard Carandang and Ace Evangelista to play the bass and lead guitar respectively. With the new members, the band decided to rename their group as DeLara.

2008-2011: DeLara

DeLara remained active from 2008 to 2011 and produced two studio albums (self-titled "DeLara", 2008 and "Just Free", 2010). After the separation of the band, Lougee Basabas went on to pursue a solo career performing in local venues and events. Shortly after, she auditioned for "The Voice of the Philippines" season 2 on ABS-CBN in 2014 and became part of Team Bamboo. A year later, Lougee married Ali Alejandro (Mojofly drummer since 2004)[12] and had a baby boy named Leon in 2016.

2015: Return of Mojofly

In 2015, Mojofly started to perform in small production events but had not publicly announced their return to the local performing circuit. It was only later in the same year that they started to record their 4th studio album (2nd studio album with the 2nd generation Mojofly members Ali & Lougee) with Yellow Room Music Philippines, headed by Monty Macalino (vocalist of Mayonnaise (band)). The band was able to release 1 single entitled "Rally" in May 2018 for online and streaming platforms invoking that Mojofly is back with members Kiko Montecillo on Keyboards, Beejay Valera on Lead Guitars, and Mark Reese Gelbolingo on Bass.

Present status

In March 2019, Mojofly released their latest 8-track album entitled Mula Noon.[13]

They also released two songs recorded during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, "Kapit-Lapit" and "Pwede Naman".

Their hit song "Tumatakbo" which won Best Animated Video at the MTV Pilipinas Music Awards in 2006 became the theme song of the fantasy-drama series The Lost Recipe which aired from January 18, 2021, on GMA Network.[14]

Personnel

Current members

  • Lougee Basabas–Alejandro - vocals, guitars (2004–2008, 2015–present)
  • Ali Alejandro - drums (2006–2008, 2015–present)
  • Kiko Montecillo - keyboards (2018–present)
  • Beejay Valera - guitars
  • Mark Reese Gelbolingo - bass guitars

Early members

  • Kitchie Nadal - vocals, guitars (1999–2003)
  • JunJun Regelado - drums (1999–2002)
  • Raymond Golamco - guitars (1999–2001)
  • Ricci Gurango - bass guitars (1999–2008)
  • Allan Elgar - guitars (2004–2007)

Discography

Studio albums

  • Birthday (Sony BMG Music Philippines) (1999)
  • A Million Stories (Sony BMG Music Philippines) (2002)
  • Now (luKas Music/EMI) (2005)
  • Mula Noon (Yellow Room Music PH) (2019)

Singles

  • "Rally" (Yellow Room Music PH) (2018)
  • "Kapit-Lapit" (2020)
  • "Pwede Naman" (self-produced) (2020)

Compilations

  • MOJOFLY - EP (luKas Music) (2003)
  • Now Special 2-Disc Edition (luKas Music/EMI) (2006)
  • 2 in 1 Series: MOJOFLY (Sony BMG Music Philippines) (2006)

Compilation appearances

  • 2006 Songs from Dawson's Creek Volume 2 - "Peak" (Asian Edition) (Sony BMG)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
1999 "RX 93.1 Year-End Awards for OPM artists" Best New Artist — Won[15]
2002 NU Rock Awards Drummer of the Year (for Junjun Regalado) Nominated[16]
2003 16th Awit Awards Best Album Package "A Million Stories" Nominated
2005 NU Rock Awards Best Female Award (for Lougee Basabas) Nominated[17]
2006 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards Best Animated Video "Tumatakbo" Won[18]
Favorite Indie Video "Tumatakbo" Won[19]
NU Rock Awards Best Female Award (for Lougee Basabas) Nominated[20]

References

  1. ^ "Don't mess with bad Mojofly". philmusic.com. Jesamyn M. Go. Archived from the original on April 9, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2006.
  2. ^ "MOJOFLY: They Got Their Mojo Workin'". philmusic.com. Jim Ayson. Archived from the original on September 23, 2005. Retrieved September 23, 2005.
  3. ^ "Mojofly A Million Stories". Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Mojofly Spreads Its Wings". philstar.com. Erika Aquino of Young Star Magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2002.
  5. ^ "The Mojo's Still Working". philmusic.com. Jim Ayson. Archived from the original on April 7, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2003.
  6. ^ "Pinoy bands rock with new releases". philstar.com. Baby A. Gil. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Kitchie Quits Mojofly". mtvasia.com. Clara Enriquez. Archived from the original on September 2, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2006.
  8. ^ "Lead Singer Left Mojofly to study". Anna Luisa Villarico. June 16, 2003. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Mojofly is back in the studio". philmusic.com. Philmusic. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  10. ^ "Mojofly: Out with the old, In with the Now". philmusic.com. Philmusic. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  11. ^ "Mojofly Now: The Concert". philmusic.com. Philmusic. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  12. ^ "IN PHOTOS: Ali Alejandro and Lougee Basabas' Balesin wedding". December 18, 2015.
  13. ^ "Mojofly returns with a new album". easyrock.com.ph. Mitzi Santos. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  14. ^ "Mojofly, ilang Clashers, at cast ng 'The Lost Recipe,' bahagi ng OST ng programa". gmanetwork.com. Maine Aquino. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "RX 93.1 Announces Year-End Awards for OPM artists". philmusic.com. Jim Ayson. Archived from the original on October 21, 2003. Retrieved October 21, 2003.
  16. ^ "ROCK AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2006.
  17. ^ "NU ROCK AWARDS 2005 : The Official List Of Nominees". Retrieved May 8, 2006.
  18. ^ All in the Family: The MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2006 Winners,[dead link] "TitikPilipino.com", Retrieved January 29, 2008
  19. ^ All in the Family: The MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2006 Winners,[dead link] "TitikPilipino.com", Retrieved January 29, 2008
  20. ^ Gil, Baby A. (November 24, 2006). "NU 107 Rock Awards nominees". PhilStar.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

External links