K24/7 - New Era: A Dream Come True

December 18, 2009...  This is a date that I will remember.  It was a Friday night, and my band K24/7 is scheduled for our usual weekend gig at Off The Grill.  It was pretty much routine... Until our manager Alona David gave us the most pleasant surprise.  My bandmates and I were each handed a couple of CDs, with Ate Alona greeting us a sweet Merry Christmas...

It was our new album.  K24/7: New Era.

Earlier this week, Ate Alona, road manager Jason Reyes, and I met up to check the final CD design and listen to the final audio mix, before the production of the first batch of CDs.  It was all good, and it's a go.  We were expecting the manufacturing to be finished sometime next week.  It went ahead of schedule.   And so, management gave us the surprise last night. 

For me, it's a dream come true.  It's definitely a long time coming.  I am now on my 12th year as a professional musician, and I've been with K24/7 since early 2004.  One of my career dreams is to become a recording artist and to make albums.  Finally, this dream came true.  This is my first album/recording credit as a professional artist, and this wasn't handed to us in a silver platter.  New Era is approximately 5 years in the making; a product created from blood, sweat, and tears.

When I held my copy of New Era for the first time, I took a moment, holding the album with both hands, and I just stared at it.  I had this mini flashback of the last 5 years I had with the band, and that moment when my bandmates began making the first demos.  In those 5 years, K24/7 has faced adversities along the way.  We went through the tough times, from studio and gig mishaps to bandmember changes, from songwriting hardships to production concerns... We went through various challenges, whether musical, personal, financial, or whatever imaginable obstacle.  And just as we thought that things seem to be on track, something would come up.  Wow, those 5 tough years...  What a journey it has been!  Unbelievable.

It was a huge sigh of relief.  I felt like all the stress in my mind and body was took off of me.  Suddenly, I broke a smile and there was peace of mind, like a big monkey was mightily taken off my back.  And it felt really good.  While writing this blog, I have our album playing in the background.  I may have listened to our songs thousands of times.  This time, it sounds and feels way much sweeter.

At times, we were on the verge of losing hope, going through depressive stages, and the like.  But we just hung on to our dreams, and we never gave up and called it quits.  I like what our dear friend Jean Ramiro told us one time...  She described K24/7 as a very resilient group.  Now, I see New Era as a testimony to K24/7's strength, persistence, and determination.

I always believe that God has His reasons, and in life, there are reasons why things happen.  Looking back at what happened in the last 5 years...  Yeah, we know the album is waaaaay overdue.  But the wait seems well worth it.  I am grateful to the Lord for all the blessings, and as well as for the adversities and the lessons learned.

Our acknowledgements are well-documented in our album sleeve, and I would like to thank all the wonderful people who love, support, and believe in K24/7.  Personally, I sincerely thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you so much for hanging on with us; for the patience in waiting for our album to come out.  I would also like to offer my deepest gratitude to the unsung heroes...  To our management - Alona David, producer Alvin Llanderal, and Jason Reyes; and to everybody involved with the production of New Era...  Thank you very much for helping make my dream & K24/7's dream come true.

Now that our album is finally out, this is just the beginning of a new chapter in K24/7's history.

Let me know what you think or feel about New Era.  I'll most likely write more blogs about our album in the near future.

*****

K24/7: NEW ERA is currently available at our gigs.  Drop by at any of our gigs, and go grab your copy!  Php250 only.  For info, sked, and updates, just visit K24/7's Facebook Page.

Comments

[Maris]

kewl.. at last here it goes!
great xmas gift for everyone ;)
well deserved..

[Anthony Dio]

Maris... Thank you. :)

[Jonessa Galo]

Congrats to you Anthony and to the whole K24/7 family for New Era! I was actually surprised that most of you didn't know it was going to be given to you that evening. I loved seeing your reactions. I saw how happy you were that night. Neil and I even agreed that you were so in the mood to play that night. You had a bright aura. Congrats again and again. =)

[Anthony Dio]

Jonessa... Thank you very much! I really appreciate your all-out support. Like I said, it was a surprise, and it really lifted my spirits. What a great year-ender for the band, and a promising start for 2010 and the coming new decade. :)

[MIRK]

PWEDI NA MA BILI YAN SA mall?

[Anthony Dio]

MIRK... Right now, it's direct selling, so our CDs are only available during our shows. Maybe in the future, when demand increases, we can expand our album distribution.

[neil]

Congratulations!!naluha na naman ako this time while reading ur blog,yesterday sa K24/7 page while reading all the post....1st time ako naluha nung sat while reading the sleeve of the album..Sobrang Proud ako sa inyo,di man namen nasaksihan ng ganun katagal ang paghihirap at pag aantay sa album pero ramdam ko kung gaano kayo kasayang lahat pagkabigay ng ate alona ng album...Stay Humbled and More Blessings to come...Congrats and God Bless!!!!I LOVE K24/7 FAMILY SO MUCH!!!

[Anthony Dio]

Neil... Aww thanks Neil! Grabe, if only you can go back in time and see the things we've been through, as a group and as individuals. For me, this is definitely the biggest highlight of 2009, and what a way to end the year. Thank you very much Neil sa iyong todong suporta at pagmamahal. May God bless you always. :)

[jeannie]

aaawww... you know, more than just an eating/drinking place, i have grown up a lot in Kambi. one thing i've learned there is that each person has his own story to tell. I have been a witness to many stories there. I have seen many bands form and wither right before kambi's very eyes. i remember 5 years ago how pao, qt and i sat in the bangketa ... See Moreone quiet Kambi night and he was on the brink of joining K24/7..we dreamed many dreams for this band together and eventually we started dreaming the same dreams with all of you. Every time a dream comes true in Kambi, i feel as if one of my dreams came true too. I said it once and I will say it again.. you are a very resilient group because the heart and soul of K24/7 are resilient people yourselves. this is the true gift of Kambi to me..witnessing your "and they live happily ever afters" Merry Christmas D!

[Anthony Dio]

Jean... Aww thank you very much! Thank you for your beautiful message, and for being there (you & Pie) for K24/7. We may have achieved a big dream/goal, but for me this is just the beginning of may opportunities and better things to come. Let's keep on dreaming. Merry Christmas! :)

[Irene A.]

Congratulations Anthony! I'm really proud of all of you! This long-awaited album is, most definitely, a product of the band's patience and passion. With well-meaning friends, fans and family around you, K24/7 will reach greater heights...mark my word! Prayers lang yan. And yes, I was touched to see my name on the album sleeve =D Count on my support...always! See you again very, very soon!

[Jobit Arguelles]

congrats dude... yeah, same here when we released our album last year :) happy new year!

[NeekoBoi]

Congrats Kapatid!!!

[Anthony Dio]

Irene... Thank you very much! You deserve to be there on our acknowledgement notes because of your yours of continuous support and for believing in us. We are hoping for the best. Thanks again and see you soon! :)

Jobit... Thanks bro! Happy New Year!

Neeko... Thank you kapatid!

[Rex Buen]

Hi... Just saw your show last Jan 1 and I must say I was really impressed. The next day I ran to the nearest record bar to check your cd.. only to find out that it's not yet available. Hope that this will be available soon coz i think you deserved to be heard by more people. Congrats and hopefully i can get a copy of your album real soon. Is this available in Off the grill?

[Anthony Dio]

Rex Buen... Thanks! Like what I mentioned on one reply above, for now, our cds are available only directly through us during our gigs. Maybe in the future, when demand increases, we can consider distribution through popular record bars.