Chicosci talks about running and their music
October 20, 2009
Nike+ Human Race Quick Links
CHICOSCI officially formed back in 2000, when vocalist Miguel Chavez, guitarist Mong Alcaraz, and bassist Carlos Calderon got together and joined an interschool band competition. They subsequently won, and since then, CHICOSCI’s career has gone from an after-school get-together among friends to a full-time profession.
CHICOSCI is
Miguel Chavez - Vocals
Mong Alcaraz - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Ariel Lumanlan - Guitars
Carlos Calderon - Bass, Vocals
Macoy Estacio - Drums
Chicosci is set to perform at the Nike+ Human Race 10K alongside Composition_B (Singapore), Taken By Cars (Philippines), Estranged (Malaysia), Thaitanum (Thailand), Agrikulture (Indonesia).
Q: Do any of you run? How do you keep fit? Is this how you keep your stamina during a performance?
MONG: Morning runs. Basketball around 4 times a week. And the gig itself is a contact sport. Chicosci is a contact sport.
MIGGY: Well I work out in a gym regularly. But yes, I do need more cardio. Haha!
CALDE: I play basketball whenever life permits
Q: What is the song(s) about and who/what inspired it?
MONG: The song's about how AIR is the best way to beat gravity's pull, how else did the sky win? hehehe. Inspired by the 45 minute LCD Soundsystem opus for Nike and the two great MJ's in our lives.
MIGGY: The song is about pushing and pushing, even though it seems like the elements are trying to make you fail. Musically, we took our cues from a band called Quicksand.
CALDE: Michael Jackson and Survivor (I think. Hahaha).
Q: How many track(s) have your band contributed to the Nike+ Music Project? What do you think about the project and its relevance to runners?
MONG: I actually did a remix a couple of years back for the project, and this is the first time I'm working with my own band on a piece for the project. The project's pretty cool, hooking up bands from around the region. UNITE ASIA!
MIGGY: We’ve made one. I think it’s an awesome project, since athletes always have music surrounding them, whether they’re training, or during events, or when they just wanna get pumped up!
CALDE: Just one track. The Nike+ Music Project proves once again that Nike is ultimate sportswear brand. Nike recognizes the fact that running, or exercising in general, is a multi-sensory experience. Nike addresses all aspects related to achieving a good exercise, including music.
Q: How do you want young runners to feel when they run with your music?
MONG: Generally awesome....and loved. hehe.
MIGGY: We want them to feel that even though it feels like your legs are getting heavier and heavier by the second, gravity won’t win this battle.
CALDE: Motivated.
Q: How different is a day concert versus a night concert for you guys? Especially one that starts at 7am?
MONG: Main problem would be getting our throats ready. So i guess we'll just have to stay up till 7am.
MIGGY: This is going to be something interesting, but we’ve played morning shows before at around the same time. So, we’re prepared somehow. But this will be an experience, for sure.
CALDE: Waking up is no problem. I just see the crowd more.
Q: Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about your band?
MONG: We have ongoing bets with each other every NBA Finals.
MIGGY: We are all geeks. …and we love shoes.
CALDE: We’re actually really nice kids.
Q: What goals do you hope to achieve as a band?
MONG: We want to be everyone's guilty pleasure. EVERYONE.
MIGGY: We would like to branch out, and have our music reach as many people as possible. We want to take over the world!
CALDE: Tour around the world.
Q: How do you see music as a motivator when running? What do you think about how music influences someone who runs, or anyone engaged in sport?
MONG: Trainspotting's intro is one of my favorite running with music/soundtrack sequence.....and it's already awesome just to watch. It just makes sense, to run with a soundtrack. And music makes a run even more personal, in an activity pitting self against self. Music serves both as personal taste and as a meter.
MIGGY: I think music pumps people up, so it gives runners that instant boost of energy to finish the course. And it serves as a great soundtrack as well!
CALDE: A great soundtrack means a great workout. Music sets the mood for people who exercise in general
Q: 2 tracks that you consider your favorite when you run, or engaged in sport?
MONG: JayZ - 99 Problems; Pantera - Domination
MIGGY: Engine #9 by Deftones, and Days Of The Phoenix by AFI!
Q: Is this your first time performing in Singapore?
MONG: This is actually our 3rd time to visit, and the battle with spicy food continues.
MIGGY: This would be our third time, if I’m not mistaken.
CALDE: Nope. We’ve been getting gigs here since 2007. We’ve become good friends with some of the local bands in Singapore. Singapore's awesome.
Q: How have you felt about the crowd in Singapore when it comes to your music?
MONG: Singaporeans are a smart bunch. They listen, and listening is a lost artform.
MIGGY: We received such a good response. More importantly, we made a lot of new friends that we still keep in touch with. And I think that runs deeper than just a band-fan dynamic. Building friendships is something important to Chicosci.
CALDE: They’re very open-minded and intelligent listeners.
Q: Tell us one thing that Singaporeans should know about your band.
MONG: We are your new favorite band.
MIGGY: We will, we will, ROCK YOU!
CALDE: Chicosci is your new favorite band.
Check out the other bands performing in the Nike+ Human Race 2009 Singapore leg: Taken by Cars, Agrikulture, Composition B and Estranged.
CHICOSCI is
Miguel Chavez - Vocals
Mong Alcaraz - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Ariel Lumanlan - Guitars
Carlos Calderon - Bass, Vocals
Macoy Estacio - Drums
Chicosci is set to perform at the Nike+ Human Race 10K alongside Composition_B (Singapore), Taken By Cars (Philippines), Estranged (Malaysia), Thaitanum (Thailand), Agrikulture (Indonesia).
Q: Do any of you run? How do you keep fit? Is this how you keep your stamina during a performance?
MONG: Morning runs. Basketball around 4 times a week. And the gig itself is a contact sport. Chicosci is a contact sport.
MIGGY: Well I work out in a gym regularly. But yes, I do need more cardio. Haha!
CALDE: I play basketball whenever life permits
Q: What is the song(s) about and who/what inspired it?
MONG: The song's about how AIR is the best way to beat gravity's pull, how else did the sky win? hehehe. Inspired by the 45 minute LCD Soundsystem opus for Nike and the two great MJ's in our lives.
MIGGY: The song is about pushing and pushing, even though it seems like the elements are trying to make you fail. Musically, we took our cues from a band called Quicksand.
CALDE: Michael Jackson and Survivor (I think. Hahaha).
Q: How many track(s) have your band contributed to the Nike+ Music Project? What do you think about the project and its relevance to runners?
MONG: I actually did a remix a couple of years back for the project, and this is the first time I'm working with my own band on a piece for the project. The project's pretty cool, hooking up bands from around the region. UNITE ASIA!
MIGGY: We’ve made one. I think it’s an awesome project, since athletes always have music surrounding them, whether they’re training, or during events, or when they just wanna get pumped up!
CALDE: Just one track. The Nike+ Music Project proves once again that Nike is ultimate sportswear brand. Nike recognizes the fact that running, or exercising in general, is a multi-sensory experience. Nike addresses all aspects related to achieving a good exercise, including music.
Q: How do you want young runners to feel when they run with your music?
MONG: Generally awesome....and loved. hehe.
MIGGY: We want them to feel that even though it feels like your legs are getting heavier and heavier by the second, gravity won’t win this battle.
CALDE: Motivated.
Q: How different is a day concert versus a night concert for you guys? Especially one that starts at 7am?
MONG: Main problem would be getting our throats ready. So i guess we'll just have to stay up till 7am.
MIGGY: This is going to be something interesting, but we’ve played morning shows before at around the same time. So, we’re prepared somehow. But this will be an experience, for sure.
CALDE: Waking up is no problem. I just see the crowd more.
Q: Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about your band?
MONG: We have ongoing bets with each other every NBA Finals.
MIGGY: We are all geeks. …and we love shoes.
CALDE: We’re actually really nice kids.
Q: What goals do you hope to achieve as a band?
MONG: We want to be everyone's guilty pleasure. EVERYONE.
MIGGY: We would like to branch out, and have our music reach as many people as possible. We want to take over the world!
CALDE: Tour around the world.
Q: How do you see music as a motivator when running? What do you think about how music influences someone who runs, or anyone engaged in sport?
MONG: Trainspotting's intro is one of my favorite running with music/soundtrack sequence.....and it's already awesome just to watch. It just makes sense, to run with a soundtrack. And music makes a run even more personal, in an activity pitting self against self. Music serves both as personal taste and as a meter.
MIGGY: I think music pumps people up, so it gives runners that instant boost of energy to finish the course. And it serves as a great soundtrack as well!
CALDE: A great soundtrack means a great workout. Music sets the mood for people who exercise in general
Q: 2 tracks that you consider your favorite when you run, or engaged in sport?
MONG: JayZ - 99 Problems; Pantera - Domination
MIGGY: Engine #9 by Deftones, and Days Of The Phoenix by AFI!
Q: Is this your first time performing in Singapore?
MONG: This is actually our 3rd time to visit, and the battle with spicy food continues.
MIGGY: This would be our third time, if I’m not mistaken.
CALDE: Nope. We’ve been getting gigs here since 2007. We’ve become good friends with some of the local bands in Singapore. Singapore's awesome.
Q: How have you felt about the crowd in Singapore when it comes to your music?
MONG: Singaporeans are a smart bunch. They listen, and listening is a lost artform.
MIGGY: We received such a good response. More importantly, we made a lot of new friends that we still keep in touch with. And I think that runs deeper than just a band-fan dynamic. Building friendships is something important to Chicosci.
CALDE: They’re very open-minded and intelligent listeners.
Q: Tell us one thing that Singaporeans should know about your band.
MONG: We are your new favorite band.
MIGGY: We will, we will, ROCK YOU!
CALDE: Chicosci is your new favorite band.
Check out the other bands performing in the Nike+ Human Race 2009 Singapore leg: Taken by Cars, Agrikulture, Composition B and Estranged.
Previous post
