Chiro, the first local band to have a digital album

STAR RECORDS recently launched the band that won the grand prize in the first Nokia Music Connection, the Chiro rock band (pronounced as Kiro, a Latin word meaning “hands”) at Scarlet Jazz Kitchen. They’re given the distinction to be the first band to launch its own digital album in the country.

The complete tracklist of the album includes their version of “Batang-Bata Ka Pa” that’s now a hit on radio, plus “Iyak Na”, “Pahiwatig”, “Alaala” and “Handog”. The band is composed of Toni Rose Reynes (the lead vocalist and only girl among the group), her older brother Ivan Louis Reynes as drummer, Faelmar Ocampo on guitar who composes most of their songs and Erick Gabriel on bass.

So how was the band formed? “Katuwaan lang noong una, we started as an acoustic act six years ago in our hometown, Angeles,” says Faelmar. “Then dumami nang dumami ang kumukuha sa amin to do gigs. Busy kami with shows in Pampanga at bihira lang dito sa Manila.”

“Big break for us ang pagsali naming sa Nokia contest,” says Toni Rose. “More than 200 bands joined and we feel so blessed na we won. Star Records signed us up for two years.”
Star Records expects their fan base to grow now that they’ve recorded an album. You can get their digital album from Astrovision, Odyssey and SM Record Bars. They’ll give you a card for only P99 and you can download their songs from starmusic.ph. Individual songs maybe downloaded from starrecords.ph and later, on I-tunes and Amazon.com. “Pero sana, ma-release din kami in an actual CD with a full length album,” adds Faelmar.