From being a vocalist of the band Orange and Lemons, Mcoy Fundales joined Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition season 2, but surprised viewers later on when he voluntarily left the house.
After that,
Mcoy came back to Universal Records and formed a new band called Kenyo, with
his two former band mates in Orange and Lemons: Ace del Mundo (guitars) and JM
del Mundo (bass guitars). Their group
first released their debut album, a musical scrapbook titled Radiosurfing, last year that allowed their
group to conduct a U.S.
tour.
This 2009, Kenyo has released their second album titled Maharlika, and they were joined by two new band mates: Cleng Ocampo on
guitars and Ariz Villalon on drum/percussions.
Kenyo was
coined from the Tagalong word Bulakenyo since all members of Kenyo are natives
of Bulacan province. Ayon naman kay Mcoy, ang title raw ng album nilang
Maharlika has a story behind it.
"I did some
research in Bulacan
Museum and I found out
that Maharlika originated from four Tagalog terms. ‘Yung una po, Majer-Likha—it's a Malayan term that means "great piece of work." Tapos going back pa,
meron pa siyang mas lumang Tagalong word na Mahar-Lika which means, beautiful
creation at du'n naging Maharlika. Eventually
modern [meaning] po natin is nobility, pero, ‘yun po talaga ang meaning niya."
Kuwento pa
ni Mcoy, "Noong una po, we we're
thinking about it. I asked for a sign kung ‘yun ba ang magandang title
ng album namin na bago. Paglabas namin sa Universal Records, we saw a plate
number na actually, it's a police officer or own by a Military officer natin,
nakalagay Maharlika. And then, going
home, I realized na dumadaan ako sa
Maharlika Highway.
So, all the signs are pointing. The signs we're there na Maharlika."
Mcoy recalls how their sophomore album was formed.
"Well, as
you all know after Orange
and Lemons, I went inside the Big
Brother House. I was invited by the people who helped us din naman from ABS.
So, I just can't say no, so, parang pahinga ko na ‘yun, retreat. I did that
one.
"When I was
inside the house, ‘yung magkapatid, they formed another band. When I got out of
the house, nagkita ulit kami, siyempre, nandoon pa rin yung urge to play music
and that's when we decided to form Kenyo. Then we had Ariz na pinsan po nila and Cleng who is from
Bulacan din to play guitar. Para maiba
rin sa Orange and Lemons, dapat lima na tayo ngayon para
mas makapal din ang tunog.
"Tapos last
year, nagkaroon kami ng project album, so, we decided to do two cover songs,
‘yung Sana and
Ayoko Na Sa ‘Yo. It was Radiosurfing na more than a month lang naming na-record
and it was released by UR [Universal Records].
"Pero ang
hindi alam ng lahat, we were writing original songs na last year pa to a point
po na we have enough materials to actually record two to three albums. So, we
chose the 12 ones, to put in Maharlika.
This is like our second album but if you ask us how we feel, this is our
first talaga kasi, ito ‘yung original. Last year was a project album."
Ang description
nila sa sound and music ng Maharlika ay, "para siyang kundiman na pinabigat. "
May distortion pero ‘yung mga lyrics niya, parang Bulakenyo talaga.
Kenyong-kenyo talaga the way it was written."
One of the
original songs of the album is titled "Filipina."
Si Mcoy raw ang sumulat ng kanta.
"Parang
tribute ko po to all Filipinas here and abroad.
When I was writing the song, nasa mall ako, e. Nakatambay ako. Parang dito ko lang nakita sa atin na may
mestiza, may chinita, may morena, may mukhang Latina, they are all Filipinas,
pero, lahat ng ganda na makikita mo globally, parang nasa loob lang ng MOA [Mall of Asia]. Parang nasa atin lang."
Another
thing that makes this album special is their first collaboration with female artist Hi-C from Dice & K9. The result is the track titled "Simulan na Natin."
"It's a
very sexy track. First time for us to do that kind of track and for me to sing
with someone. And Hi-C is now appearing
for Playboy magazine this month and we're very happy na she graciously invited
to sing with us sa album. It's a very nice track. So, it open doors for future collaboration
with other artists."
He's also
looking forward to sing with other OPM artists like Rey Valera, Rico Puno, Jose
Mari Chan. But what holding a reunion with his former band mates in Orange and Lemons?
"Ah, mas
looking forward ako to sing with other artists," natawa niyang sabi.
TRACK LISTING.
1. Filipina
2. Tadhana
3. Hanggang Sa Muli
4. Simulan Na Natin
5. Wish On A Star
6. Kalayaan
7. Meantime Girl
8. Strong Man
9. Someone For You
10. Learn To Swallow
11. Alay Na Alaala
12. Hanggang Sa Muli (acoustic)