THREE aspiring musical acts were declared grand champions in the maiden edition of “Dreams Get Real: The Search for the Next OPM Star” organized by McJim Classic Leather held on Monday night (June 30) at Teatrino in Promenade,Greenhills,
Shining on stage with their unique performances and proving that they could be the next big thing in Original Pilipino Music (OPM) were band Fifth Dynamics, vocal trio JBK and solo performer Neo Domingo.
“The three-way tie was indeed unexpected. Since each of the Top 3 finalists—JBK, Fifth Dynamics, and Neo Domingo—brought something different to the table image and talent-wise, we decided to give our all-out support instead to them by announcing all of them grand champions,” McJim says in an official statement.
“Their undeniable potential, sense of originality, and the strong public acceptance of their singles in key areas nationwide made them all worthy of being called the future of the Filipino music industry,” the statement adds.
As grand champions, JBK, Fifth Dynamics and Neo Domingo received cash prizes and gift packs from McJim Classic Leather, a recording and management contract, and a grant to film and release the music videos of their winning singles.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Meanwhile, JBK’s “Anong Meron Ka” composed by Urie Tesorio was handpicked by special judge, Jim Paredes of the iconic APO Hiking Society, for the “Critic’s Choice” trophy. Paredes described the song as “the most catchy, nice, easy to like and remember” among the six singles recorded by the finalists. “It’s a great song actually,” he says.
Another composition of Tesorio coveted the “DJ’s Choice” trophy. Domingo’s danceable single “Pagbigyan Mo Na” was voted by selected radio jocks across the archipelago as their personal favorite.
Being declared as the next OPM stars was nothing short of life-changing for the three winners.
LIFE-CHANGING
Mark Cordovales, vocalist of Fifth Dynamics, who performed “Anyare” written by Cordovales and Angelo Katigbak with the help of poet and public relations expect Chris Cahilig, says that ”Dreams Get Real” has given them the chance to a connect to a much wider audience. “Dati, sa bars lang kami nagpe-perform, ngayon nasa radyo na, naririnig na namin yung sarili naming kanta,” he says. The rest of the band is composed of John Peterson Leyva (rhythm guitar), Eljon Nono (lead guitar), Daryl Jay Santos (bass guitar) and Aldrin Condat (drums).
Theboy band JBK, composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario and Kim Ordonio, was thankful that ”Dreams Get Real” provided them the avenue to showcase their talent.
“The experience has been exciting,” says del Rosario. “We are very much thankful to McJim for this awesome opportunity of being out our sense of originality as artists.”
As for the solo performer, Domingo, the search has made him connect to his OPM roots. “Yung mga taong narinig na nila ako before, ibang areglo, ibang tunog ang mapapansin nila,” he says. “Actually, yung totoong Neo ang makikita nila.”
“We’re happy and proud that McJim has provided the winners and the finalists the head-way to be successful in the music scene,” says Cahilig, who acts as the project head of the competition. “The listeners, composed of people from all classes and ages, are already hooked with the fresh-sounding, catchy tunes. We are confident that the performers McJim has discovered will become household names in no time.”
A proud Filipino company, top-quality leather manufacturer McJim has always been an advocate of world-class and original Filipino talent. In the past, the brand has engaged iconic OPM acts Jose Mari Chan and Randy Santiago as its brand endorsers.
The Top 3, along with the other McJim Dreamers Archetype, CK Arca and Dream of Pearl already had a taste of being recording artists by working with music experts, such as the respected arranger Jonathan Ong of Sonic State Studio for the Dreams Get Real: The Compilation Album, which features original compositions they performed during the search. Joining them are 1:43, which has just launched their newest album Kalye Pop featuring the monster hit “Hayop sa Ganda,” with the song “Pwede Bang Malaman” and Urie’s Attack with the piece “Mensahe.”
In the run-up for the grand finals, the Top 6 attended their very first press conference, made radio and TV appearances and were featured in MTV Pinoy. The songs are currently gaining massive airplay in radio stations across the country and being used in TV shows such as iJuander (GMA News TV), Maynila (GMA 7) and Letters and Music (Net 25).
