KJWAN @ The 5th Backdoor Ventures ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Many describe 2003 as the year when the local rock scene seemed to have lost its identity and the people's ears weren't trained to appreciate new music anymore. It was at this time when Kjwan shot into the Philippine music scene.

Coming down raw and real, their self-titled debut album in 2004 spawned the hit song “Daliri.” This became an ode to the new generation of rock listeners and a calling to be true to oneself. Their album's popularity came not only with the unique name but also with the unforgettable sound.

The Manila-based band is made up of distinct personalities. Each individual has a musical inclination and their tastes don't always blend in as seamlessly. This may sound like a formula for a blow up but their friendship and the trials that they have traversed through have held them together.

Long-time friends and former high school band-mates Marc Abaya (vocals) and Kelley Mangahas (bass) got together with fellow Ateneans Jorel Corpus (guitar) and J-hoon Balbuena (drums) to form the band’s initial lineup. In 2004 by Boogie Romero (guitar), another high school friend and former band-mate of Marc and Kelley, joined the lineup.

Kjwan released their second album, “2StepMarv” three years later. It was all about the more complicated matter of growing up musically. Reviews consistently talked of the better quality of songs, revelations of individual talent, and the introduction of new musical elements into the predominantly rock sound.

The band won Favorite Indie Artist in the local music channel MYX’s music awards night. Their video “Pintura” nabbed “Favorite Guest Appearance” with the help of a seasoned actress, Chin-Chin Gutierrez. They were also featured for a month on MTV Pilipinas in December 2006. They enjoyed a month long feature as Yahoo Southeast Asia’s band of the month and another month long feature as “Celebrity VJ’s” in MYX for the whole month of April 2006. They also got nominated in 6 categories in the 2007 NU Rock Awards for Artist of the Year, Best Live Act, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (with Angee Rozul), Vocalist of the Year (Marc Abaya) and Guitarist of the Year (Boogie Romero).

At this time, the band also had the chance to show what Philippine rock is made of to various countries abroad. They headlined HK-Live, in Central, HK last October 2007. HK-Live is a monthly showcase of the Hottest Acts around asia in HK’s Fringe Club. They were also part of the Annual Baybeats Music Festival in Singapore.

One of their biggest breakthroughs was winning the grand prize in the Asian and Philippine leg in IKON ASEAN Competition. Held in Putrajaya, Malaysia and watched by hundreds of thousands all over the region, their performance made an impact to the Asian Music Community. Kjwan bested 30 other bands from South East Asia.

Kjwan has just released their third album entitled “13 Seconds to Love.” Inspired by the fact that a great song can be determined in just thirteen seconds, the band brought this along in their song writing with love as the common theme.



Awards and Achievements:


Kjwan (1st album)
- Nominated for Best New Artist, Best Video, Best Album Packaging and Best Drummer at the NU107 Rock Awards.
- Nominated for Favorite New Artist and Best Video at the MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2005


2 Step Marv (2nd album)
- The band won Favorite Indie Artist and Favorite Guest Appearance at the Myx Music Awards


Lokal Artist of the Month for MTV in December 2006
Yahoo Southeast Asia’s band of the month
Myx Celebrity VJ April 2006


Nominated for Artist of the Year, Best Live Act, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (with Angee Rozul), Vocalist of the Year (Marc Abaya) and Guitarist of the Year (Boogie Romero) in the 2007 NU Rock Awards


IKON Champion
Kjwan won the group category of Southeast Asia-wide competition, IKON at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2007


21st AWIT AWARDS
INTERNATIONAL AWARDEE : 2007 FIRST ASEAN IKON


HONG KONG
- They headlined HK-Live, in Central, HK last October 2007 (HK-Live is a monthly showcase of the Hottest Acts around asia in HK’s Fringe Club)

SINGAPORE
- They got to participate in the Annual Baybeats Music Festival at Singapore in 2007

MACAU
- They also performed at the “HUSH!!” Music Festival at Macau in 2007


13 Seconds To Love(3rd album)
- Exclusively preloaded in the Nokia 5800 Express Music


PULP Magazine COVER STORY(Dec - Jan 2009 issue)


MYX Magazine COVER STORY(Feb - Mar 2009 issue)


BANDA Magazine COVER STORY(January 2009)


13 SECONDS TO LOVE : THE KJWAN ALBUM LAUNCH
- 3rd album was launched by PULP magazine and NOKIA at A Venue February 6, 2009


UR105.9 Artist of the Month (February 2009)


ANI NG DANGAL AWARD
- from The Office of the President and The National Commission for Culture and the Arts(NCCA)
“In recognition and appreciation for winning the 1st prize in Group Category in the 1st IKON ASEAN in Malaysia which has brought the country pride and honor and will serve as an inspiration for other artists to hone their own creative potentials.”