This is my way of grieving. I miss you, Mama. I miss your voice.
I decided to extract audio from my early videos of Mama (+). I used these as training files to extract her tone and speech patterns. I ran these through an ML protocol and sharpened it through text-to-speech AI. After several tweaks, EQ work, tempo work, etc., I think I ended up with a reconstruction of Mama's voice with what I think is ~90% accurate. There are a lot of parts where I can "hear" her, especially when she calls me "Nak". That's exactly how she called me. Her message, I prayed for. Intensely. This is what I think she would say.

Mama.

Artist: Kyla
Album: "Beautiful Days"
Released under EMI Philippines 
Release date: 2006

Remix by Jal Taguibao

*Remix is not for sale*

Love is by Kyla (Jalski Remix)

The song was composed and initially recorded with a few tracks in 2009. It was uploaded in Soundcloud, published under the title "Embrace". 

I added a few more tracks to beef up the sound and to mask some of the unwanted ambient noise (if you listen closely you'd hear a rooster in the background because the vocal and guitar tracks were recorded around 4-5am in my bedroom) and decided to retain the original title "Odysseus for Penelope".

I'm putting my foot down; this is final. No plans to revise it any further.

"Share" if you think it's worth sharing. Sorry for the "drama". :)

Odysseus for Penelope

I recorded this song from my condo in Mandaluyong in 2008. I was trying to imagine a song that will make sunbathers to enjoy ambient/chill out music (at the beach or by the pool) and, at the same time, make them more conscious about their timed exposure to the sun (give or take 10 minutes in the Philippines during the "safe" hours of the morning or towards sunset).

This was also recorded during a time when I realized the beauty of electronic music that is more "minimalist". I realized that ambient music is not "hurried"; it is meant to set moods.

I am uploading it especially for my students who will be taking their exams next week. I think this music might be perfect "cooling down" from the readings and the stresses of university life.

Best listened to via headphones/earphones.

"Share" if you think it's worth sharing. "Like" if you think it's worth it.

Enjoy!

Sleep and Sun

This a cover/rendition; it is not my original composition. In fact, this is nowhere near the original arrangement/interpretation of the genius behind this song -- Mr. Gary Granada. This is just my humble rendition of the song which, as I clearly recall, I first heard when I was watching a Metropop Competition on TV. Gary Granada won in this competition; he was both composer and interpreter. 

The lyrics are incomplete so, begging the indulgence of Mr. Granada and the listeners, I changed/updated a few of the lyrics and re-arranged the sequence of some of the parts.

I recorded this using my phone (Samsung Galaxy Note 2). It was initially in .3ga format but I converted by renaming the file to .mp3 I recorded this in the middle of the night. The phone was positioned on a pillow; I was indian-seated on my bed playing the guitar. This is very rough as it is raw.

Mabuhay po kayo, Sir Gary Granada! Nakatatak pa rin sa alaala ko ang husay ng inyong letra at musika.

Mabuti Pa Sila (A bare rendition)

AssociateProfessor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Strength enthusiast. Music listener.

jalski