Having your own record label, even if you’re a musician yourself, is not a walk in the park. Once you are there it’s no longer about your music, your style, your image, and reputation. And it also involves a lot of decision making. So, would it be worth it to go out of your way and create your own music label?
For Callalily frontman Kean Cipriano, who just launched O/C Records, along with Viva Entertainment’s Vic del Rosario, and his wife, actress, Chynna Ortaleza, venturing into this kind of business is not just about being his own boss, it’s a gamble underscored by his effort to live with a commitment to manage an artist-friendly organization.
In this newly launched business, Kean is the label’s chairman and chief executive officer, while Chynna is the vice president for production and talent development.
“It’s a gamble, that’s what business is all about and I want to take the risk on giving the artists full creative control,” Kian said. “Music is art, and when art becomes successful it avoidably becomes a business.”
The rock musician wanted to give his stable the full creative control because he said he’s just putting himself in their shoes. And as a “music as an art” advocate, giving the artists the full creative control, he believes it will allow the artists to express their art.
“ I want them to experience that once in their careers as professional musicians they got to do what they want and showcase their art. I grew up in an era where you get to know the artists based on their album. And that’s what I would like to do…introduce these great and talented artists,” Kean explained.
Echoing what her husband said, Chynna expounds their choice to give their signed artists the full creative control.
“We’re artists as well and we know how that feels. So when you’re asked to do things that you’re not necessarily into, especially when it comes to music, ‘di ba parang sayang naman,” Chynna told reporters during the label’s recent launch.
The character actress also likened their venture to having another child.
“When we got into this recording label thing, after like 3 months in, I was like, oh my God, I just had another kid. That’s how it felt for me. It’s another baby, it’s just not human. It’s the same effort,” Chynna said adding that she’s been holding back her tears since the artists took the stage to perform.
“It’s been a journey,” she added.
O/C Records, whose name stands for Chynna and Kean’s surnames, spans various genres including acoustic funk, pop, rock, and folk. Six acts are currently signed to O/C and that include Earl Generao, Rice Lucido, Frizzle Anne, Bita and the Botflies, Unique, and Kean himself.
“O/C is an initial but we wanted it to be open for interpretation – own choice, over confidence, original content – because we are open-minded creatures. Again that’s OC,” Kean said.
Although he has his own record label now, Kean shared that he won’t necessarily be compromising his own career in favor of the label. While being the chairman of O/C records, his band and his career as an actor and solo artist are being managed by two different managements.
“This is just part of my personality. I’m the type of artist who chooses what I want to do. Like what happened to me and Unique, we were recording his album for two months so my focus was there, but I would still go to taping and gigs. That’s me as a person. I always want to be doing a lot of things. It’s sometimes disturbing, but this is who I am,” he explained.
One of O/C records big projects is Unique’s his first major solo concert at Kia Theatre on Sept. 29.