Isang Taon aims to capture the feeling of how it’s like to be locked down during the pandemic after more than a year. The line, “nabubuhay ka ba talaga?” is both an affirmation of how difficult it is to cope with life during the pandemic and a challenge for all of us to find a way to truly feel like we are living (and not just surviving) during these times.

CREDITS

Produced, arranged, and performed by Dirty Kitchen
Composed and written by Chris Carandang

Chris Carandang – vocals, ukulele, acoustic guitar
Datu Arellano – guitars, virtual instruments
Joel Alagao – bass
Nick Formoso – virtual percussions

Mixing, mastering, and cover art by Datu Arellano

LYRICS

Nabubulok ang isipan 
Sa kakanood ng telenobela
Nabubulok ang katawan
Sa kakaupo sa upuan

Isang taon ng nakalipas
Nabubuhay ka pa ba?
Nakakulong sa iyong isipan
Nalulunod sa kaba

Lumalabo ang paningin
Sa kakatingin sa telepono
Tinatamad ng bumangon
Mula sa kama
Nawawalan na ng gana

Wala na bang panghahawakan
Ganito nalang ba ang kalagayan
(Naglalaho na ba ang kinabukasan)
Hahayaan lang lumubog ang araw
At uulitin muli

Isang Taon

Patahimikin was written in response to the forces that aim to silence those who seek to tell the truth about the extra-judicial killings and human rights violations that are happening in the Philippines today. It was born out of the frustration of seeing people not only abuse their positions of power but also seeing how many people in the country seem to tolerate and turn a blind eye to what is happening around them. It depicts the absurdity of how people can worship and idolize someone who outright says that he has killed people and who encourages the police to kill as well.

CREDITS

Produced, arranged, and performed by Dirty Kitchen
Composed and written by Chris Carandang

Chris Carandang – vocals, ukulele, acoustic guitar
Datu Arellano – guitars, virtual instruments
Joel Alagao – bass
Nick Formoso – virtual drums and percussions

Mixed and mastered by Datu Arellano
Cover art by Joel Alagao

LYRICS

Patahimikin
Ang mga hindi sumasang ayon
Sa akin

Wag kalimutan
Ang salita ko ay batas
Kaya sundan

Kaya matakot na kayo sa akin

Pagpapalain
Ang mga sumasamba 
sa akin

Ang aking utos
Patayin ang pasaway
Lagot kayo

Kaya matakot na kayo

Ang kabataan ang pag-asa
Nakatingin sila sa'yo
Habang kayo'y nakaluhod
Sa harap ng hari ng mundo
Walang iba kundi ako

Ako, ako, ako, ako!

Patahimikin! 4x

Patahimikin

Ulan

Moon Song

Freedom

Ride

Into Grey

Manahimik Managinip

Live at Mag:net Cafe, Katipunan, Quezon City

Bangungot (Live at Mag:net Cafe)

Broken Pieces (Live at Mag:net Cafe)

Dito Sa Kalawakan (Rehearsal)

When You Are Silent (Demo)

Dirty Kitchen was born when cousins Chris Carandang and Datu Arellano, after years of casually jamming to their favorite songs, first performed their first ever gig at their aunt’s, artist Agnes Arellano’s house in the summer of 1998. It was during this gig that they first debuted some of their original songs inspired by their favorite 90’s bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Radiohead as well as local legends such as Cocojam, Spy, Pinikpikan, and Jun Lopito, all of whom they were fortunate enough to meet personally through their Tita Agnes. 

As they continued to make music and perform at known venues such as Freedom Bar, Magnet Cafe and Penguin Cafe, the lineup of Dirty Kitchen evolved as Chris and Datu would invite classmates and schoolmates, from Ateneo de Manila and Makiling School for the Arts respectively, to play with them until eventually they were able to record their first self-produced and self-titled album in 2005 with Nick Formoso on drums, Joel Alagao on lead guitars and BJ Villanueva on the bass. The lineup would eventually change further to include Derek Ileto on bass when BJ left for America.

After some low key success despite not having a label, the band eventually announced that they would be doing their final gig in 2015 at their most regular haunt Magnet Cafe in Katipunan.

Fast forward to 2020, they were able to collaborate again as Dirty Kitchen on some new songs that Chris wrote in response to the frustration and helplessness brought about by the pandemic. Similar to their older songs, the new songs, Patahimikin and Isang Taon, do not shy away from commenting on socially relevant issues such as the extra-judicial killings, the violation of human rights, and the fight for freedom of speech in the Philippines, as well as more personal issues that touch on mental health.

Dirty Kitchen

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