Art & rave project based in Manila, Philippines. Featuring contemporary sound recordings from the Philippines, the diaspora and beyond.

Gemnital, who grew up in the 90s, embarked on a musical journey ranging from Hip-Hop and R&B to rock, jazz, experimental music, exploring the realms of psychedelic, funk, and disco. As time went on, he delved deeper into various genres but eventually circled back to Mandarin golden melodies.

During his studies in Leipzig, Germany, he found himself immersed in underground warehouse parties held in ruins and forests. Later in Berlin, he discovered his true self in a multitude of clubs and queer parties, mastering the art of creating and maintaining energy and ambiance within different spaces.

Now back in Taipei, he is a regular DJ at Pawnshop. On the dance floor, he aims to play without boundaries, seamlessly blending familiar and unfamiliar tracks picked from his diverse musical experiences, creating an atmosphere of pure dancefloor bliss. Recently, he has been exploring the intersection of Techno and House, seeking speed and exhilaration from genres like Hardgroove, and strives to craft sets that take the listeners on a captivating journey with well-defined peaks and transitions.

In recent years, he has also performed at the Organik Festival and Spectrum Festival in Taiwan, Wonderfruit Festival in Thailand, "Host" party of Mihn club in Hong Kong, Zhaodai club in Beijing, Savage club in Hanoi, The Observatory club in Ho Chi Minh City, Kockiri and Nyapi club and Permit warehouse party in Seoul, Smutt queer rave party in Manila, as well as Sublet and Leak Your Own Nudes parties in Sydney, consistently delivering bouncy, rolling rhythms filled with joy.

Beyond his DJ persona, Gemnital is deeply involved in sound research and the field of sound art. He is a university lecturer and critic in the realm of sound art, and his personal sound walks and installation works have been showcased at art festivals such as Berlin's 48 Stunden Neukölln. In 2023, he collaborated with renowned sound artist Betty Apple for the sound performance “Body Planty Party”, Taipei Arts Festival at Taipei Performance Arts Center(TPAC). In 2025, he performed at TPAC again for the after party of the production “Respublika”.

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.

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