QUEST - BACK TO LOVE

TODAY’S MOST TALKED ABOUT ARTIST WHO GAVE R&B, HIP-HOP AND SOUL A NEW THRILL, VIBE AND FLAVOR…

Quest (Jose Villanueva III) as the name suggest is perhaps a search for new beginning, search for love, peace and harmony. His Debut album Revolution with its single Back To Love is a dire quest for a “final solution” to all corruption, crime, obscenity and obscurity of the life of humanity – and the solution boils down to one and the same thing – love.

Jose Villanueva III or Quest is a Christian charismatic music ministry director at the Victory Christian Church. He has never been into formal singing career but since then been encouraged by peers (no pressure) to take his feat into music singing, more in particular rapping. So in 2008, he resigned from the church and entered the door into more secular music.

His firs leap is to spend his money, perhaps his (only) savings to hone his first album with Jumbo De Belen of Flip Music. No so far oriented of what to do next, Sam Milby, a fellow attendee of the Victory Christian Fellowship, lend him a hand in reproducing and even producing his album.

He has a pop-jazz, R&B whip into his singing style in Back To Love, besides it's message of going back to the basic and most instruction of peace – no other than – love.

His carrier single was starred by several protagonist in music such as Sam Milby, Yeng Constantino, Markki Stroem (Pilipinas Got Talent Finalist), Abby Cruz (Binibining Pilipinas Second Runner-up) and John Prats.

Party Live will be his sophomore single launched at Magic 89.9 and will mark it's spot on the airwaves sooner or later.

Meanwhile, we've got few thoughts from him this early. Here's more of him.

How long were you in the studio for this record?
Ang tagal, it's like 2 years ko siya binuo. Kasi nun ginawa ko yung album there's no record label to back up and support me so I used my own money. I spent my own savings. I recorded 18 songs pero pinili ko lang and maybe I can give it to someone else or in my next album. I recorded the album in 2008. Then nung natapos ko yung album there's some really fortunate event occurred, KC Montero, a good friend of mine called and said 'I need a singer for a Show Time' and I asks, 'ano ang kakantahin natin,' then he said 'Bruno Mars' Billionaire'. So the next day, I went there and sang “Billionaire.” Erickson Raymundo is watching and I've known him in church and asks G Canlas (host of Music Uplate and Pilipinas Win na Win) 'may nagma-manage na ba kay Jose? (my real name)' then G told him 'wala pa.Bakit hindi mo i-manage?.' Then G told about it and set up a meeting with Erickson. I present the finished album to him. I told him 'here's the album. Listen to it and tell me what do you think about it.' And I'm really fortunate that I liked his vision to me, we met in the middle. Then the next person who heard the album is Sam Milby, his all praises and called me up and told me, 'dude, I like your album and I wanna support you.' That's the co-production came in from replication of the CD to the music video.

Where did you get your inspiration when writing a song?
It's all original, it has 13 cuts. I got my inspirations from my experiences and friends experiences, from people, from situations. There's a song here in the album that I used in the campaign jingle for Dick Gordon, it's called “Bagong Bayan.” And I like it so much and Dick Gordon told me ' you know what, win or lose why don't you release it?' And so I did, make it a radio friendly version. Iba't-iba mga experiences ko at mga tao sa paligid ko, that's where I get my inspiration.

How did you came up with your monicker “Quest'?
My real name is Jose Villanueva III and I want a name that will represent who I am. But in my case, I want a nickname who will not just represent me but what I believe in me, not just the person but my vision also. So Quest is a journey. Quest means journey and adventure. And I want my music to take you to the adventure. When you've heard my music I want you to have an adventure and revelation, something you've never heard before.

How did you come across with the album title, “Revolution”?
Every song speak about change and revolution. I think it's very timely that it's time for us to change. And revolution sounds more powerful. You know, we have a new president now, we got Ondoy and we've got so many things happened in the past. And I think it's really time to each and everyone of us, every individual to take part in making this country a better place to live in. And I think and hope I did well in at least inspiring people to make a difference through my music. Let my music help and inspire you to be a better person.

Do you have conflict influences do you ever say like, 'I'm going to write song for say like, sounds like for particular artists or bands?'
I have moments like that because I do other projects like I write jingles so mga gan'un.I listen to other artists and say 'uy ang ganda ng chords progression nito.' So I copied some of it, maybe the chords or the melody but not mimicked it. Like I did Magic 89.9's station ID, I just finished it and they gonna release it soon. Kinopya ko yung tempo ng “Club Can't Handle Me” ni Flo-rida para masaya.

How would you categorize your music?
I don't want to put in any genre. My basis is hiphop, that's my major influence but I'm really flexible. I can go rock, pop, techno and you know if the music calls for it , I'm okay with it. Hindi naman ako stuck sa isang genre lang.

Tell us something about the songs in the album.
The album basically has one theme which is changing and be able to empower you to have that internal revolution. I have songs there about celebrating life in every circumstances. I have “Back To Love” which talks about that love is the answer to all pains. I have songs like “Do You See” which is empowers women to understand that you're beautiful you kept what you are. I have a song there called “You And Me” which celebrates friendship. Basically when you sum up all the songs, it speaks about making that change in your life and causing change in other people's life as well.

Do you have a certain image that you want to portray with your music and lyrics?
Wala. Ayoko ng yabang ng hip-hop 'cause you know hip-hop is always cocky. I always love hip-hop. But at certain point I want to redeem the industry of hip-hop kasi malaking foundation ng album ko is hip-hop.

Why should people check out your music?
Basically my music is different. It's not you're typical hip-hop and it's not you're typical OPM. It's all original, it's very intense yet it's very passionate. It's really a celebration, you celebrate learning, you celebrate failure because through failure you learned. It's something that it's not just you will feel good but it will empower you to live in and that's my goal.

Is there a particular song that you wished you've written?
Naku ang dami. Puro foreign. Sa tagalog siguro sana ako ang nagsulat ng “Liwanag” ni Julianne. Most of the songs probably of Stevie Wonder like “My Cherrie Amor”. Ang dami, believe me that everytime I go to the record bars, makikinig ako tapos sasabihin ko 'bakit hindi ko naisip itong kantang eto.' I think I really like Rey Valera, ang lalim ng tagalog n'ya. Meron pa akong isa, Ogie Alcasid. I wished I wrote “Mahal Kita Walang Iba.”

Can you share a particular track in your album that's so challenging for you to record?
Track #6 is “Rise and Shine.” That is the song that speaks about the summary of my life for the past 28 years of my existence. I tried my best to put it all in one song. When you listen to that song, that's my life.

What's the coolest think making this record?
A lot. Recognition. Si Sam Milby kasi sobrang bentang-benta sa kanya y'ung album tapos nag-libot sa A.S.A.P. Pinamigay y'ung CD. And a few nights ago I was with Gary V. and his like 'you're songs are so good talaga.' Kinikilig talaga ako dahil of course that's Gary V. So ang sarap ng feeling that these people, pillars of the industry talaga and they gonna praise my album. Sobrang blessings talaga.

Given a chance, is there a particular say artist that you want to write a song for?
Of course, sobrang dami. I wanna write songs or collaborate with Yeng Constantino. Actually we have a secret project together. Tapos, I wanna write for Charice s'yempre. International marami din sina Mary J Blige, India Arie, U2. But I wanna help the OPM industry if I can give a free songs for Billy Crawford and other awesome artists. I am just sick and tired of the labels relentlessly singing them covers. Jay R is awesome performer naaawa lang ako sa kanya kasi puro covers na siya eh marunong mag-compose si Jay R.

What are your plans for the rest of the year? What can we expect for Quest?
This year? For sure I’m not gonna do any bar gigs ‘coz I’m very spontaneous so feeling ko on the second day, sawa na ako (laughs). You know, doing same time over and over again. But we’re planning to do campus tours. I wanna tour the Philippines and shares my music, bring other artists with me. By the way, I’m giving away songs for free, free downloads. Every month there will be one song I’m gonna out so I’ll keep writing ‘coz I write everyday. I love writing. Minsan I write one song a day minsan naman verse lang. I just wanted to make it a point that before a day ends I was able to write something para mahasa. I just talked with Gary V, we might do a song together then we will give it away for free.

What do you want to accomplish as a singer?
Wow! I don’t want my legacy based on number of sales. I want my legacy to number of people touched by my music. Of course I want my album to sell also but that’s secondary. I don’t want that to disregard. I appreciate if I can get an award pero mas gugustuhin ko pang lumapit sa akin na isang tao then sasabihin na sobra siyang nabago dahil sa music ko rather than maraming tao na tatalon-talon tapos uuwi na wala namang nabago sa kanya. Mas gugustuhin ko pa na isang tao na nabago dahil sa kanta ko kesa sa maraming tao na walang nangyari.

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Especial thanks to: Pinoy Song Magazine