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 NEW YORK– One night, eight people are gathered in a small dining table inside a nice townhouse in North Jersey. There is pasta with white sauce on the table, along with freshly baked garlic bread, some wine and pizza.
It is by no means a formal dinner. It is more akin to a group study where laptops are open and humming, papers are scattered, and the sound of pencils shredding lead on white bond papers blends with the crackle of toasted crust, laughter a music.
The eight people in the meeting represent different sectors in the Filipino-American music industry and they are in caucus to select the artists, and songs that will make one of the most highly anticipated albums this year–Rock in the Box 2.
After deliberations and tallying, the meeting ends, and a final roster is at hand. Rock in the Box 2 is on the way.
“It is not an easy task”, says J. Antiporda, Soulworks Records VP. “ Selecting 16 out of 100 songs to make the record is a task that will give anybody sleepless nights for quite a while.”
Given the volume of submissions that the record label, Soulworks Records, received from artists, it is indeed a daunting task to trim the fat to come up with the lean portion that will best represent the Rock in the Box series.
After deliberations and tallying, the meeting ends, and a final roster is at hand. Rock in the Box 2 is on the way.
“It is not an easy task”, says J. Antiporda, Soulworks Records VP. “ Selecting 16 out of 100 songs to make the record is a task that will give anybody sleepless nights for quite a while.”
Given the volume of submissions that the record label, Soulworks Records, received from artists, it is indeed a daunting task to trim the fat to come up with the lean portion that will best represent the Rock in the Box series.
“ Rock in the Box has become a brand in the scene. It is a compilation album that everyone wants to get into”, says Rich Saguirre, another A&R for the label.
With the success of the first Rock in the Box released in 2006 and featured 14 of the best East Coast bands and artists, most new artists clamor for a yearly box.
Antiporda adds that there should not have been a Rock in the Box 2 this year at all. The label just bowed down to the public’s demand. “They have asked the label to make the box a yearly release. But the label just can’t do it since it takes a lot of work to produce it. However, last year, the requests were just overwhelming so we gave in and agreed to produce the sequel this year, 2008. The original schedule was 2009.”
The Artists
Here are the artists that will make Rock in the Box 2.
*Note: According to Soulworks Records, the list may be subject to change in case the label and artist/s fail to agree on contractual and or production matters. If that happens, the disagreeing artist/s will be replaced. The label reserves the right to do so.
ACI9 ( Illinois)
Carpools (California)
Steel Polly ( Maryland)
Noizytoyz (Canada)
Then Again (New Jersey)
Stella’s Notch (California)
Out of Luck ( Canada)
P.I. (Washington D.C.)
Qwadra (New York)
Rayzed (California)
Super Kabote (California)
The Mary’s (Georgia)
Binky Bianca ( New Jersey)
Mike Christian (New York)
Trickbag (New Jersey)
Circled Sin – (Maryland)
Production and Launch
The label disclosed that the first quarter of 2008 would be devoted to the production of the album. In addition, if production turns out well, a summer album launch is expected.
The launch might echo the two-night show like the 1st anniversary shows of Poptimes Magazine, according to some label insiders.
The first night could be a gig that would gather the artists featured Rock in the Box 1, and the next night will be the launch proper for Rock in the Box 2.Though these plans are from the label, there are no specifics yet.
Despite the bad news of Fil Am bands breaking up or losing members, 2008 could still be a great year after all.
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