AJ Rafael puts Pinoy Pride in perspective

Although YouTube sensation AJ Rafael is proud to be Filipino and is all for Pinoy pride, he believes talent is more important than a musician’s ethnicity.

“At Filipino parties in the US, some book Filipinos for performances not because the artists are good but simply because they’re Filipino---even when it’s clear that they don’t practice,” he told Bulletin Entertainment and select members of media in a recent interview.

“It’s good to be able to relate to an artist because you come from the same culture but it’s also good to appreciate art based on merit.”

Rafael, who has been on vacation in the country with his family and band members for a couple of weeks now, thinks focusing on ethnicity sometimes have a backlash.

“Like when Bruno Mars got arrested for drug possession, some people were like, ‘So, that’s how Filipino musicians are.’ It sort of reflected on the culture but the truth is, regardless of ethnicity, we are just human beings who are all capable of making mistakes,” said he, who uploaded his first video online six years ago and has not looked back since.

The singer-songwriter noted that some Filipinos only declare their ethnicity when they are here.

“Not until they get to the Philippines do they admit, ‘I’m half [Pinoy] or quarter [Pinoy]’ or whatever. Me? I don’t mind saying it because I would like the world to know what ethnicity I belong to.”

But will he announce it even without being asked or prompted?

“No, because I don’t think that’s important when it comes to art. From an artist’s level, I want to be as respected as other artists -- say, Jason Mraz and John Mayer -- for what I do  and not have people going, ‘Look at that Pinoy who…’

“But, yeah, I’m never gonna hide who I am.”

He named a couple of Filipino artists whom he appreciates. These are MYMP, whose music he discovered way back 2004, Kitchie Nadal, South Border, and Gary Valenciano and his daughter, Kiana. Rafael is open to collaborating with any of them as long as they are “down for it.”

Rafael actually performed with Gary on “ASAP 2012” recently and had recorded a version of Rihanna’s “We Found Love” with Kiana, whom he “discovered” via YouTube.

“I saw one of her videos and ‘Like’-d it. Some of my followers, who check out whatever it is I ‘Like,’ saw the video, too. Later, I contacted Kiana directly through Twitter and we ended up doing this duet.

“See, that’s the good thing about social media. People don’t have to go through managers but directly to the artists themselves,” he said.

Another boon that social media has given artists such as Rafael is the establishment of a solid fan base. This 22-year old music artist from Moreno Valley, California has over 350,000 subscribers on YouTube, 200,000 fans on Facebook, and 90,000 followers on Twitter. On strength of his online clout, Rafael has been invited to perform across the US, in Canada, and even Europe.

As of this writing, Rafael has already left Manila to kickstart his Red Roses Tour in Southeast Asia. Produced by Monsoon Productions, Rafael along with Noah Bartfield, Danny Morledge, Andrew Rhim of the AJ Rafael Band will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore.

According to a release, Rafael has adopted the CRIBS Foundation, a welfare institution committed to the care and recovery of abandoned and abused children in the Philippines. Proceeds from Red Roses at the Manila concert will go to CRIBS.

Rafael and his team are also in discussions with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation on how to partner for future advocacies and campaigns.

 AJ Rafael’s album, “Red Roses,” charted at number 13 on Billboard’s “Heatseeker” chart.

By JOJO P. PANALIGAN
mb.com.ph

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