5.17.2011

The Take Off: Johnoy Danao


It is not every day that you encounter a musician who personally meets up with you if you’re buying an album. But this is how Johnoy Danao rolls.

This Bridge ex-frontman turned solo artist does most of his marketing and publicity, all while composing his own songs and playing gig after gig. He started grabbing audiences’ attention with his renditions of mainstream hits like Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’, Bruno Mars’ ‘Just the way you are’ and Robbie Williams’ ‘She’s the One’, among many others. Though he still includes these crowd pleasers in his current sets, his own compositions ‘Ulan’ and ‘Ikaw at Ako’ are also getting their share of fans. Amidst the clutter of independent artists in the industry, Johnoy stands out with his Jack Johnson-meets-Dave Matthews voice. His throaty vocals, both soothing and sexy, coupled with his superb songwriting skills, has established a solid legion of supporters which pushed him further to gig circuit popularity.

His debut solo album ‘Dapithapon’ is not just a testament that his musicality spans beyond being a cover artist. It might actually be a ray of hope for OPM. Penned in Filipino (save for ‘One Day’), the songs will make you appreciate the beauty of our language even more, not to mention that a couple of them actually have nationalistic undertones. With simple melodies and heartfelt lyrics to sing along with, it is not difficult to fall in love with Dapithapon the first time you play it. No frills, no unnecessary enhancements, the record is just pure, raw talent at its finest. Whether reflective or playful, Johnoy does not beat around the bush and cuts straight through the core. A personal favorite would be the single Dapithapon where he sings with a pang of melancholy that towards the end it actually hurts.

Listening to his record is one thing, but watching him live is a totally different experience. There were moments during the set when James and I would just look at each other and say, “okay, that was our cue to cry.” His sincerity radiates even in the most secluded corners of the bar, where we were most unfortunately located. If he wanted to, he could sing a string of BS and would still sound like a man proposing to the love of his life. Not that he would actually sing such.

Inside a jampacked (it was Standing Room Only as early as 9:30 PM…on a Monday night!) The Distillery, we caught up with Johnoy to talk about his album, his favorite basketball teams and his plan of covering a Katy Perry song.



Describe your music in 5 words or less.
Johnoy Danao: Wow that’s tough. Steady. Personal. Heartfelt. What else? That’s it.

Can you tell us about the people who inspired you to become a musician?
JD: Eraserheads.

Around what time was this?
JD: High school. First year high school.

What would be your favorite Eraserheads song?
JD: Wow. Sobrang dami pero siguro ano, Wag mo ng Itanong. [Wow. A lot, but probably, ‘Wag mo ng Itanong’]

First album you ever bought?
JD: Greatest hits ni James Taylor… Eraserheads kasi that time (high school) wala pa sa probinsya namin. I got to listen to Eraserheads kasi yung ate ko, nag aral sa UP. When she came back for vacation, she brought home a tape. [Greatest Hits by James Taylor. During that time (high school) the Eraserheads [music] haven’t reached our province. I got to listen to Eraserheads because of my sister who studied in UP. When she came back for vacation, she brought home a tape.]

What is the biggest challenge you’re facing as an independent artist?
JD: Maybe lack of money,*laughs* for marketing. But because of Facebook and other networking sites, I managed to promote my music. That’s it. I guess that’s the main problem. Financial problems. Medyo iba na rin kasi yung scene ngayon. Recording wise, I can record it in my house. Hindi na sya masyadong obstacle. [Maybe lack of money, *laughs* for marketing. But because of Facebook and other networking sites, I managed to promote my music. That’s it. I guess that’s the main problem. Financial problems. The scene is a bit different now. Recording-wise I can record it in my house. It’s not that much of an obstacle anymore.]

Speaking of your marketing strategies, we know you do a lot of publicity on your own, you meet fans, what was the cutest thing a fan has said to you? Cutest and/or strangest things?
JD: There’s this couple, meron silang baby, and they used my music as a lullaby. I think that’s cute. Hindi nakakatulog yung baby kapag hindi ako yung pinapatugtog. That’s cute for me. [There’s this couple who have a baby, and they used my music as a lullaby. I think that’s cute. The baby can’t sleep unless my music is played. That’s cute for me.]

How about any strange or weird encounters?
JD: Weird? Wala pa naman. Maybe ano lang, masipag mag text, pero wala pa naman. [Weird? None so far. Perhaps those who send text messages often, but none so far.]

TDG: Let’s now talk about your album, Dapithapon, what songs would you want to hear during dapithapon, during that specific time of the day?
JD: James Taylor’s songs. Jamie Cullum. Medyo pampa steady lang. Maybe Simon and Garfunkel. [James Taylor’s songs. Jamie Cullum. For steady vibes. Maybe Simon and Garfunkel.]

What's the story behind the album name ‘Dapithapon’?
JD: I called my album ‘Dapithapon’ basically because it’s my favorite time of the day. Plus number 2, title sya ng isang song. Alam mo yun, pag hapon na, tapos na yung araw mo, you can assess kung okay yung araw mo, if you did well. Plus, the sunset looks amazing. [I called my album Dapithapon basically because it’s my favorite time of the day. Plus, number 2, it’s a title of a song. You know, when afternoon comes, and your day is almost finished, you can assess if your day is okay, if you did well. Plus, the sunset looks amazing.]

Are your songs mostly autobiographical?
JD: Hindi naman autobiographical, but it’s personal. Probably kukuha ko ng mga things na nangyari sakin… [It’s not autobiographical, but it’s personal. Probably, I’ll get things which happened to me…]

And mesh it up with other certain things?
JD: But definitely, it’s always personal. Kasi ako, nahihirapan ako mag make up ng things. Parang na le lessen din kasi yung storytelling mo kung wala kang pinag huhugutan. [But definitely, it’s always personal. I find it difficult to make up things. Your storytelling is lessened when you have nothing to base it from.]

TDG: Speaking of pinaghuhugutan, you mentioned the song Ulan in another interview being a first date song. So it’s a true to life thing?
JD: Yeah it’s true. Sinulat ko para sa isang babae. Na niligawan ko. [Yeah it’s true. I wrote it for a girl I courted.]

Any success?
JD: Yeah yeah. Successful naman sya pero hindi naman sya forever successful. Medyo nagawa naman nya yung purpose nya. [Yeah yeah. It was successful but it was not forever successful. The song somehow accomplished its purpose.]

You’ve done a lot of amazing covers like Fix You, Love the Way You Lie. Is there any particular song that you’ve always wanted to cover, but for some reason you can’t find a way around the song yet? Or kind of apprehensive to cover that song?
JD: I’m not sure. Parang wala eh. Kasi every time I cover, sing a song, most probably gusto ko rin yung song. Very seldom siguro na kumanta ako ng kanta na ayaw ko. Kasi hindi ko sya mata translate into my playing style. [I’m not sure. I guess, none. Because every time I cover, sing a song, most probably, I also like that song, It’s very seldom that I sing a song I dislike because I can’t translate it into my playing style.]

Any recent song that you plan to cover soon?
JD: Katy Perry’s Thinking of You.

TDG: Sakit na naman sa puso. [Another heartache.]
JD: Yes, sakitan sa puso. [Yes, another heartache.]

TDG: Kinabahan ako, akala ko ‘Peacock’ yung sasabihin mo. [I got nervous. I thought you were going to say Peacock.]
JD: Ay hindi. Or Firework. Thinking of you. What else? [No. Or Firework. Thinking of you. What else?]

We’re down to our last two questions. Can you describe to us your dream gig? Sky’s the limit. Fireworks, confetti, anything goes.
JD: *After 10 seconds* Ang hirap. Every time I play, it sort of makes me feel really really good. Ito. Small crowd. Wala akong masyadong dream na parang wow. Siguro probably… [That’s hard. Every time I play, it sort of makes me feel really really good. This. Small crowd. I don’t have a really wow dream. Probably…]

A particular venue? Or like a dream collaboration?
JD: One gig would be with Gary Granada. Kunwari sabihin ni Gary Granada sakin, “Johnoy, ikaw naman yung kumanta nung sinulat kong kanta. That would be amazing. Or maybe some artist like Lea Salonga would sing my song. That’s a dream gig. [One gig would be with Gary Granada. If Gary Granada says to me, “Johnoy, please sing the song I wrote. That would be amazing. Or maybe some artist like Lea Salonga would sing my song. That’s a dream gig.]

But as far as venues go, you don’t have anything in mind?
JD: Wala. Di ko pa alam. As for my music, I just take it one day at a time. Or one gig at a time. [None. I don’t know yet. As for my music, I just take it one day at a time. Or one gig at a time.]

Last, super wildcard question. Based on your tweets, you seem like a basketball fan. And as two very clueless girls, can you tell us who to root for in the NBA?
JD: Root for Chicago Bulls or Lakers. Chicago Bulls mainly because of Derrick Rose. Probably the MVP this year. And Lakers, because Lakers, they’re Lakers.

But which between the two is your favorite?
JD: Lakers. I’m a Laker fan, as in die hard. Win or lose. Before kasi, PBA fan din ako eh. Purefoods naman ako nun. Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog. Wala kayong ka idea idea, no? Alvin Patrimonio, come on! [Lakers. I’m a Laker fan, as in die hard. Win or lose. Before, I was also a PBA fan. Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog. You don’t have any idea, do you? Alvin Patrimonio, come on!]

Any message for your fans? Or for the “people”?
JD: Support local talents. Buy their albums. It’s just what, P250. It could go a long way. Dun din sila kukuha ng pang gawa ulit nila ng album eh. Pag nakita nila na walang bumibili na album nila,pero they have to earn, para umikot ikot lang. Buy their album. [Support local talents. Buy their albums. It’s just what, P250. It could go a long way. They’ll use that money to make another album. If they see that no one’s buying their album, sometimes, it’s discouraging. You’re doing something, I know “for the love”, it’s just for the love, but they have to earn. Buy their album.] sometimes it’s discouraging. You’re doing something, alam ko “for the love”, something na mga ganun. It’s just for the love,

With a set to play and other fans to entertain, we did not hold him up longer. Talking to Johnoy feels like talking to your older brother, only with 10 times more talent and 100 times more Facebook friends. It seems like he’s not cut out for a career as a sports analyst, so he better just keep doing what he does best - bringing back the good old OPM we dearly miss, one gig at a time. 

Get the latest updates from this talented singer-songwriter at his official website.
Feeling friendly? Chat him up on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.

4 comments:

  1. Hi there. Fan girl forever over here. HAHA. OMG! I LOVE HIM. I cried the first time i saw him live. And then the next, and the next, and the next. Sobrang hinintay namin ng mga 2 months yung album niya bago niya nirelease. Hahaha

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  2. @C: Don't we all love him?

    Dear Johnoy, fan girl over here! :)

    xx,
    Two Difficult Girls

    ReplyDelete
  3. Naalala ko yung gig niya sa 70s mga ilang linggo lang bago yung album release, nilibre pa niya lahat ng nanood ng isang round ng beer. Astig.

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Anonymous chum: Sayang, we should all have been there!! Thanks for dropping by! :D

    ReplyDelete

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