After a long hiatus, Kat Agarrado, lead vocalist of the Filipino soul band SinosiKat, returns to the music scene.
To kickstart her long-awaited comeback, the singer-songwriter drops a new single “Heart Calling,” which is now available on Spotify.
Released via Warner Music Philippines and Pinoy Soul Records, SinosiKat’s new jazzy English track, with a strong horn section and a little bit of hip-hop, was officially launched 27 February at a presscon and mini concert at 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub in Estancia Mall in Pasig.
SINOSIKAT?
SinosiKat made waves in the mid-2000s playing Pinoy funk music to a country transitioning to the digital age. The band that time—with Agarrado’s signature sultry voice—became the embodiment of the Pinoy soul movement.
They created a Memphis, Tennessee vibe in the OPM scene, producing an eclectic range of jazz, RnB, blues and classic rock, fronted by a beautiful vocalist with her equally beautiful, velvety voice.
But after several years, SinosiKat disappeared from the music scene, but not without leaving behind two hit records— the eponymous first album in 2007, which earned Kat Agarrado Vocalist of the Year at the NU107 Rock Awards and their second album titled 2nd Album. The band also received a nomination for the People’s Choice Award at the 2008 Awit Awards.
THE SECOND COMING
Clearly, SinosiKat had made an impact in the local scene. When they played for the first time in almost two decades last Tuesday at the 12 Monkeys, the packed crowd cheered and danced after lining up for hours outside.
Agarrado is more than just a pretty face— her vocal range is impressive, gifted with a luminous voice. She shared at the presscon that she neither plays instruments nor could she read musical notes. She just sings from her heart and soul.
The small, intimate stage came alive with fantastic music— timeless, refreshing and so cool. Agarrado, who did not seem to have aged since SinosiKat’s pre-Instagram days, strutted onstage with her long eyelashes and her soulful rhythm and blues.
She clarified that the band members of SinosiKat are ever-changing. That Tuesday night at the 12 Monkeys, behind Agarrado were Francis De Veyra on bass, Chuck Menor on drums, Rich Griner on guitars and Jesper Mercado on the keyboard. On the horn and woodwind section were Jeck Cenidoza on the trombone, Wowie Ansano on the trumpet and Ian Lagrimas on the saxophone, with Faye Yupano as back-up vocals.
THE BREAK
At the presscon, Agarrado admitted that during the Covid-19 pandemic, she was already thinking of quitting her music career for good and focus on taking care of her son and just be there for her family. But she never stopped making music while on lockdown.
“I couldn’t stop. So I continued writing songs. But since I was alone, medyo mababagal mga nagawa ko (what I made were kinda slow), pero (but) they were still songs about love, I also wrote a song for my son called ‘Beautiful Kind,’” she said.
“Beautiful Kind” had made its way into the digital airwaves in 2022, under Warner Music Philippines, along with another single “Sa Iyong mga Mata,” proving that Agarrado’s passion for singing and song-writing was still burning bright as ever (she began singing when she was 16).
But it didn’t seem enough; her “heart was calling” to reform the band SinosiKat.
So choosing between having a second child and grow her family, Agarrado decided to restart her music career as a frontwoman, producer and songwriter. Apart from being inspired by her immersion in ‘60s and ‘’70s OPM artists and Pinoy funk music during the lockdown period, she said it was “divine intervention” that truly solidified the decision to make a comeback as SinosiKat.
“Nanahamik lang ako sa bahay. Wala naman akong ganap. Wala naman akong tinatawagan, pero maraming lumalapit, at maraming opportunities that were too big to say no to,” she shared. (I kept quiet at home. No events. I wasn’t calling anybody, but many were approaching and plenty of opportunities.)
She said that it truly felt that God was guiding her, opening doors for her— a clear sign to tread a new musical path in this social-media age. Her goals are clear; one, is to collaborate with artists such as the Lola Amour band, indie artist Isla, as well as young, emerging talents, for future singles, as “a way of giving back”; and secondly, to help make Filipino music global.
“My goal is to make people listen to timeless pieces…My dream is to give SinosiKat a wider audience, a younger audience, and to put our music in other countries. Our music is world class— just like Filipinos.”