What music influenced you in your life?  How have Filipinos influenced popular music?  How have Filipinos and Filipino Americans challenged and continue to challenge preconceived notions of their musical culture?  In this episode, we talk to UC Irvine professor Dr. Christine Balance and her partner Gary Gabisan about Christine’s new book Tropical Renditions.  In our conversation, we explore various Philippine and Filipino American music scenes from Philippine indie rock to showtunes to OPM, and, of course, karaoke.  We even bust out singing an old school Catholic church hymn!  Take a listen (or “disobedient listen,” if you will)!

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on iTunes here!

Grab a copy of Christine’s brilliant book, Tropical Renditions: Making Musical Scenes in Filipino America, here.

Gary Gabisan is also part of the Filipino martial arts group, Los Angeles Doce Pares.  Check out some of their classes here.

Finally, check out Christine and Gary’s awesome Super Astig Blog, a blog dedicated to all things super astig!

NOTE: This Episode is preceded by a recording producer Mike made for the “Songs We Carry,” a joint project of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, The Music Center Los Angeles, and Christine and Gary’s Super Astig Blog.  You can listen to the entire project here.

NOTE #2: This is Joe.  In the episode, I ask about the racialization of music.  I had actually meant the racial segregation of music (which perhaps confused our guests), but couldn’t articulate it right then and there.  Mea culpa.