MANILA, PHILIPPINES—If you love music, make music, or have ever listened to a song and liked it, you’ll want to hear this: big things are about to happen in the local music scene. HOMONYM, the premier Music Agency in the Philippines, is joining forces with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to hold the first-ever Philippine-centric International Music Conference & Festival on October 4-5, 2019 in Green Sun, Makati. The name for this one-of-a-kind music affair? Sonik Philippines.
“There is a need for us to reach out to the world and show them what we have here.” Says Mike Constantino, Founder and CEO of HOMONYM, and the proponent behind the feat that will be Sonik Philippines. Taking inspiration from international music festivals backed by their government to put local acts at the forefront, Mike wanted to give musicians here that same platform. “The implications that this would have to the local music scene are far-reaching and immeasurable,” he says, since Sonik Philippines is not only tailored for artists and marketers, but the entire music industry—especially the backend.
With full support from the NCCA, this Music Conference x Festival is poised to push the local music sector, as well as open up and strengthen Philippine relations with more Ministries of Culture around the world. It’s been a long time coming, and both parties are pouring together their passion for arts to finally bring a world-class overview of music to Filipinos
Sounds cool…but what is it?
Sonik Philippines is a 2-day Music and Business Conference that focuses on both the Creative and Business side of the industry within the Filipino context. Who is it for? Professionals, enthusiasts, aspiring musicians, basically anyone who appreciates music and wants to improve their work under world-class standards.
Showcasing local talent to a global stage means elevating our craft—not just the glamorous artistry, but also the behind-the-scenes work that makes it all possible. Expect talks, panel discussions, showcases, and of course, a whole lot of music for the people who make magic happen on and off stage.
Regional Reach Meets International Impact
Of course, Metro Manila isn’t the only part of the country that listens to or makes music. Sonik Philippines was developed with this in mind, and working with the NCCA has helped put things into perspective. The goal is to bridge gaps within the music community, so musicians all over the country (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, even OFWs!) can learn to speak the same language, move in one unified direction, and elevate our craft on a national scale.
If you’ve ever asked questions like, “What’s it like to work in the music scene?” or “How do I make it big as a Filipino artist?” you won’t go home empty-handed. Big names in the industry and independent artists will be joined by speakers from Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Spain, Korea, Taiwan and more, to give some answers. Aside from that, Sonik Philippines is also working in partnership with the Taiwan Ministry of Culture, adding dozens of music executives and 3 Taiwanese artists to the roster. Inviting speakers from all over the world offers a more expansive viewpoint, but ultimately, the discussion will be centered on the Filipino context and experience. There is a single-minded goal of connecting the Philippine music community with each other and with the world.
What’s music without a good show?
There’s no better way to celebrate than to play some good music—and everyone’s invited! To cap off the 2-day Music Conference x Festival, an impressive line-up of local and international performers will take center stage and do what they do best. After all the talks and discussions, the only thing left to do is immerse yourself in the music.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves! If you want to know who the speakers and performers are, you’ll have to wait for now. More details will be announced very soon, so mark your calendars and keep an eye (and an ear) out—Sonik Philippines is coming, and it’s a milestone for the local music scene that you won’t want to miss!
Sonik Philippines is the first-ever Philippine-sanctioned Music Conference x Festival, happening on October 4-5, 2019 in Green Sun, Makati. In partnership with the National Center for Culture and Arts (NCCA), its goal is to give Filipino musicians a platform to share and improve their craft, connect the local music community with each other and the world, and elevate the Philippine music industry.
