HomeBad Ass AsiansFil Am Singer-Songwriter Alfa Refuses to Fit into a Mold

Fil Am Singer-Songwriter Alfa Refuses to Fit into a Mold

Alfa GarciaThe national finals of Kollaboration Star 2014 will take place this Saturday night in Los Angeles. The top regional winners from the Asian American Idol-like competition will compete for national honors.

In addition to the finalists, also  performing that night will be singer-songwriter Alfa along with headliner Run River North, dance crew Kaba Modern, alternative hip-hop artist Dan AKA Dan,  and comedian Nancy Lee.

Alfa hails from the Philippines, but grew up in New Jersey. She took the time to answer a few questions from AsAmNews.

Where did your musical journey begin and where has it taken you?

Most of my story can be found in the “About” section on my website , so feel free to check that out !  I started playing music at 5, as a classical pianist, eventually switching to violin, before I taught myself guitar and began writing songs at 13.  I’ve released many albums on my own since then, and feel very lucky to have been able to tour the US and the Philippines, put out music that I love and believe in, and pursue my passion.  Fun fact: I won Kollaboration Acoustic in 2009 at the Ford Amphitheater.  Back then I was still living in the East Coast, where I grew up, but flew out here to compete.  I’ve also guested at Kollaboration in NYC and Tulsa.

Which musician/performer most inspires you and why?
As a music lover, I have too many “inspirations” – but at the moment, Joni Mitchell really moves me.  Besides her songwriting and poetry, which are so in-depth and moving, she is a big proponent of originality; of bucking trends and not being afraid to take creative risks.  I think that’s something that resonates with me during a time when there is a juxtaposition between the “molds” that most music consumers want their artists to fit into, and the existence of powerful media outlets that create avenues for greater creativity and originality.

 

Tell us about your new release. 
I released my duo project, The Idle Hours, in August this year.  The Idle Hours is a country-pop duo I have been 1/2 of alongside another Filipino-American songwriter in Nashville named Marc Lacuesta.  Marc also produced by solo record “World Go Blue,” which was released in 2013.  (More on both are on my website as well).

 

Where do you see your career taking you in three years?
That’s a very loaded question 🙂 But I just hope to continue doing what I love to do, and I’m open to the many ways that goal can take shape.

(Editor Note: Kollaboration Star 2014 takes place at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets are available here.))

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1 COMMENT

  1. RE: Filipino American song writer refuses to fit into a mold: Freaking amazing! loved the Alfa – WAR song so much on its own and it’s even more awesome with some pillow fight action. Keep em coming and if you stage another pillow fight i’m there =P

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