Ebe Dancel encourages aspiring singers to join ‘Elements National Singing & Songwriting Camp’

Ebe Dancel

ASPIRING singers ages 18 to 25 who are citizens and residents of the Philippines are all invited to apply in 7101 Music Nation’s much awaited and highly anticipated “2^nd ELEMENTS National Singing and Songwriting Camp.”

7101 Music Nation is the brainchild of three music aficionados namely its Artistic Director, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab; its Chief Executive Officer, established businessman Julio D. Sy, Jr.; and its Chief Operating Officer, music industry maven Twinky Lagdameo. The goal of the company is to build platforms that will gather Filipino artists and musicians and promote the sharing of ideas and talents to further uplift Filipino musicality and artistry. The ELEMENTS National Songwriting Camp is the group’s pilot project and it should be noted that after successfully hosting the Camp for songwriters last year, a new track has been added this time to include singers.

Recording artist and singer Ebe Dancel who recently released “Dalawang Mukha Ng Pag-ibig,” his maiden full-length album as a solo artist under Warner Music Philippines says that “Elements National Singing and Songwriting Camp” is a once in a lifetime event that every aspiring singer and songwriter should be a part of, “Aspiring singers and songwriters should apply because people like Ryan Cayabyab, Gary Valenciano, and Gary Granada...they want the proverbial torch to burn bright when its passed on to them [the aspiring singers and songwriters].”

Dancel who wrote all 10 tracks of his current CD including its carrier single “Muli” also explains that the camp is an opportunity for aspiring singers and songwriters to bond and learn from the mentors “What makes this camp different from other camps is that campers can get to hang out with Noel Cabangon and Jay Durias for instance and share a table with them, there’s a lot of interaction. They will surely learn a lot from the mentors and it’s really fun!”    

The camp is also open to all aspiring songwriters ages 18 to 35 who are citizens and residents of the Philippines.

There are a limited number of slots for each track and a select group of established and highly respected singers and songwriters shall screen and audition the participants for the singing and songwriting slots. A total of 30 singers and 30 songwriters will be chosen to join this year’s Camp which takes place in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental from Nov 6 to 10.  

Applicants for the songwriting track must submit an .mp3 of an original composition, lyrics to the uploaded song, and a two-minute video answering the question why they should be accepted to the Camp. The video should also include footage of the song being performed by themselves or with a guest singer.

On the other hand, applicants for the singing track, on the other hand, must submit a video of themselves singing an original Filipino song plus and also a two-minute video answering the question why they should be accepted to the Camp. The song must be performed a capella. No entries with instrumentation or a band will be considered.

The videos must be 5-10mb and in any one of these formats: .mp4, .avi, or .mov. Each applicant can only apply once as either as a singer or as a songwriter. They cannot apply for both tracks.

The five-day camp will include workshops, lectures, talks, one-on-one consultations, group collaborations and presentations, etc. under the tutelage of some of the country’s top Artists including Ryan Cayabyab, Joey Ayala, Gary Valenciano, Jett Pangan, Noel Cabangon, Jim Paredes, Gabby Alipe of Urbandub, Ebe Dancel, Jungee Marcelo, Raimund Marasigan, Gary Granada, Jed Madela, Dulce, Jimmy Antiporda, Angeli Valenciano, and Jay Durias, among many others!

Dancel further explains that in a lot of ways, the camp is contributing to the growth and improvement of the local music industry, “This camp aims to help the local music industry because the mentors are there to help aspiring singers and songwriters to hone their skills because someday the stage will be theirs and the camp wants to help them to get ready for that.”  

The application process is solely online and interested applicants may visit www.7101musicnation.com.ph. Deadline for application is August 31.