Here/There: Sounds of a Filipino Diaspora

Come vibe, dance, and sing with Simplé, Harana Kwintet, and gee. on Friday November 7 at the Rec Room Square One as we celebrate beloved songs and unique stories of Filipino-Canadians.

The community of Filipinos in Mississauga share musical stories that tie us together: the art songs, traditions, and pop classics from home, to the karaoke anthems and dances at family parties; even to the songs from early social networking sites that made its way into talent shows, jam sessions, and more…. On November 7, pieces of these moments are shared through original music, covers, and tributes from Simplé, Harana Kwintet, and gee. Through the lens of living and making music as Filipinos in the diaspora, we’ll be bumping some R&B, jazz, hip-hop, pop, at one of Mississauga’s epicentres of nightlife and entertainment: Rec Room Square One.

A Friday night of song, fun, and community, right here in your city. What more could you want? Tara na. Let’s go.

This show has been made possible with the generous grant funding of the City of Mississauga. Thank you for seeing our story, helping us make it heard across the city, and supporting live music.

Doors: 6:30 PM

Show begins at: 7:00PM

Simplé hails from the GTA (with three members who have called Mississauga home!), fusing their experiences living across the city and their roots into a soulful, globalized sound. They have captured audiences across the GTA, notably from Toyota Canada, Amazon Canada, FilipinoTV, Barkada Market, Mimico Village, and with support from the City of Mississauga and the City of Pickering. From their full-band take on R&B and pop anthems, to reimaginings of Filipino art songs, like kundiman and harana, in stylings from samba to neo-soul, they aim to connect to self, across styles, and with their listeners at every performance. 

Harana Kwintet is a Filipino jazz-folk fusion band based in Toronto. Harana (serenade) is an old Filipino tradition, which was to perform and sing for one’s romantic interest. This group aims to seek hidden gems in Philippine music history and transform them into an experience that retains the joy and cultural spirit of the music while using new innovative techniques found in contemporary jazz.

Mississauga’s own gee. is a hip-hop and R&B recording artist, music producer, & DJ. Most notably, he has performed at events headlined by Jeremy Passion, Gabe Bondoc, AJ Rafael, Sam Milby, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Manila Grey, & RUSSELL!, and has DJ-ed for Daniel Caesar and the Toronto Raptors. As an actively involved member of different music communities, gee. is a member of Filcan Music, Music Lead of Folklorico Filipino Canada, and signed under Trifecta Sound Co., a Music Label assisted by The Orchard Music Distribution Company. 
In August, he released “Lovesounds”, an R&B album in which each song incorporates a different subgenre, giving every song its own unique R&B vibe.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Simplé