Kjwan

{{lead too short|date=September 2015}}

{{Short description|Filipino rock band}}

{{infobox musical artist

|image=

|caption= Kjwan in 2018.

|image_size=

|background=group_or_band

|alias=

|origin=Metro Manila, Philippines

|genre={{hlist|Alternative metal|hard rock|nu metal|alternative rock|pop rock|post-grunge}}

|years_active=2003–present

|label={{hlist|MCA|PolyEast/Barnyard|Sony Music}}

|associated_acts={{hlist|Shirley Beans|Sandwich|Kapatid|Dicta License}}

|website=

|current_members=Marc Abaya
Kelley Mangahas
EO Marcos
Louis Isok

|past_members=Boogie Romero
J-Hoon Balbuena
Jorel Corpus
Inky de Dios
Pao Santiago

}}

Kjwan is a Filipino hard rock band formed in 2003 by former Sandwich guitarist and lead vocalist Marc Abaya and Dicta License bassist Kelley Mangahas.

History

Long-time friends and former high school bandmates Marc Abaya (vocals) and Federico Kelley Mangahas (bass) got together with fellow Ateneans Jorel Corpus (guitar) and J-hoon Balbuena (drums) to form the band's initial lineup. In 2004, Roberto Miguel "Boogie" Romero (guitar), another high school friend and former bandmate of Marc and Kelley, joined the lineup. They released their self-titled debut album in 2004 with their carrier hit single “Daliri” which gained constant airplay on radio stations and television.

Kjwan released their second album, 2StepMarv three years later under Barnyard Music.

The band won Favorite Indie Artist in the local music channel MYX’s music awards night. Their video “Pintura” nabbed “Favorite Guest Appearance” with the help of a seasoned actress, Chin-Chin Gutierrez. They were also featured for a month on MTV Pilipinas in December 2006. They enjoyed a month-long feature as Yahoo Southeast Asia's band of the month and another month-long feature as “Celebrity VJs” in MYX for the whole month of April 2006. They also got nominated in 6 categories in the 2007 NU Rock Awards for Artist of the Year, Best Live Act, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (with Angee Rozul), Vocalist of the Year (Marc Abaya) and Guitarist of the Year (Boogie Romero). 2Step Marv was a massive success for the band as they cemented themselves with releases that included: Pintura, Sa Ilalim, Shai, Invitation and One Look.

At this time, the band also had the chance to show what Philippine rock is made of to various countries abroad. They headlined HK-Live, in Central, HK back in October 2007 in front of a packed Fringe Club with fans from many different nationalities. HK-Live is a monthly showcase of the Hottest Acts around Asia in HK's Fringe Club. They were also part of the Annual Baybeats Music Festival in Singapore and the HUSH Music Festival in Macau, China.

One of their biggest breakthroughs was winning the grand prize in the Asian and Philippine leg in IKON ASEAN Competition.{{cite web |title=Vina Morales, Pinoy band win IKON Asean |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2007/08/14/12804/vina-morales-pinoy-band-win-ikon-asean |website=philstar.com |publisher=Philstar |access-date=August 14, 2007}} Held in Putrajaya, Malaysia and watched by hundreds of thousands all over the region, their performance made an impact to the Asian Music Community. Kjwan beat thirty other bands from both the Philippines and in South East Asia.

Kjwan released their third album entitled 13 Seconds to Love. Inspired by the fact that a great song can be determined in just thirteen seconds, the band brought this along in their song writing with love as the common theme. The album was also the first one that was released first on a purely digital format when it was preloaded in official releases of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic in the Philippines, six months before the actual physical release of the album.

Band members

=Current members=

  • Marc Abaya – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar (2003–present)
  • Kelley Mangahas – bass guitar (2003–present)
  • Eo Marcos – drums (2012–present)
  • Louis Isok – lead guitar, backing vocals (2022–present)

=Former members=

  • Boogie Romero – lead guitar, co-lead & backing vocals (2004–2023)
  • Marinito "J-Hoon" Balbuena – drums, backing vocals (2003–2009)
  • Jorel Corpus – guitars, percussion, backing vocals (2003–2010)
  • Enrique "Inky" de Dios – keyboards, keytar, synthesizers, percussion, backing vocals (2011–2023)
  • Pao Santiago – drums (2010–2012)

=Session musicians=

  • Bryan Makasiar – drums
  • Wendell Garcia – drums
  • Paolo Manuel - drums
  • Kurt Floresca - drums
  • Bea Lao - drums

Discography

Studio Albums

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Label

2004

|Kjwan

|Sony Music Philippines

2006

|2StepMarv

|EMI Philippines/Barnyard Music Philippines

2009

|13 Seconds to Love

|MCA Music Philippines

2012

|Kjwan IV Volume One

|MCA Music Philippines

2014

|Kjwan IV Volume Two

|MCA Music Philippines

Singles

class="wikitable

!Year

!Song

!Album

2004

|Daliri

|Kjwan

2004

|Boomerang

|Kjwan

2005

|Surface

|Kjwan

2005

|Twilight

|Kjwan

2006

|Pintura

|2StepMarv

2006

|Sa Ilalim

2StepMarv
2006

|One Look

|2StepMarv

2006

|Invitation

2StepMarv
2006

|Shai

2StepMarv
2009

|Pause

|13 Seconds to Love

2009

|Meron Ba

|13 Seconds to Love

2009

|Lifeline

13 Seconds to Love
2012

|Walang Kaso

Kjwan IV Volume One
2014

|My Axis

Kjwan IV Volume Two
2014

|Fall From The Sun

Kjwan IV Volume Two
2014

|Aking Pangako

Kjwan IV Volume Two
2016

|HyperConnected

|Kjwan IV Volume Three

(Unreleased album)

2024

|Dahas

|TBA

2024

|Sa Huli

|TBA

2025

|Mula Sa Katahimikan

|TBA

2025

|Ipagpatawad

|TBA

2025

|Kaibigan

|TBA

Unreleased songs

class="wikitable

!Year

!Song

!Album

2005

|Get With Me (Demo)

|2StepMarv

2010

|Picture Lady (Demo)

|Dagim (Original Soundtrack)

2016

|Red Bleeds To Blue (Demo)

|Kjwan IV Volume Three (Unreleased album)

Other Appearances

class="wikitable

!Year

!Song

!Album

2003

|Drizzle (Helltop Remix)

|Rx Band Breakout Finalists CD

2005

|A Different Kind

|ROK ON! Music Inspired by the Ragnarok Online Game

2007

|Daliri

|LIVE AND RAW (6UG Live CD)

2009

|Pause

|Kerplunk! DEFIANT

2009

|13 Seconds to Love

|Nokia 5800 Express Music Phone

MCA Music

2012

|Kjwan IV volume 1

|Independent

2014

|Kjwan IV volume 2

|Independent

Awards and achievements

Miscellaneous and Other Awards:

  • Ani ng Dangal Award from The Office of the President and The National Commission for Culture and the Arts(NCCA)

class="wikitable"

! Year !! Award Giving Body !! Category !! Nominated Work !! Results

rowspan=4|2004rowspan=4|NU Rock AwardsBest New Artist{{N/A}}{{nominated}}
Best Videoalign=center|"Daliri"{{nominated}}
Best Album Packagingalign=center|Kjwan{{nominated}}
Best Drummeralign=center|(for J-Hoon Balbuena){{nominated}}
rowspan=2|2005rowspan=2|MTV Pilipinas Video Music AwardsFavorite New Artist{{N/A}}{{nominated}}{{cite web |title=Finalists in the MTV Video Awards 2005 |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2005/07/22/287613/finalists-mtv-video-awards-2005 |website=philstar.com |publisher=Baby A. Gil |access-date=July 22, 2005}}
Best Videoalign=center|"Daliri"{{nominated}}
rowspan=9|2007Ikon AseanIKON ASEAN Champion (Group Category){{N/A}}{{won}}
rowspan=2|MYX Music AwardsFavorite Indie Artist{{N/A}}{{won}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/music/412/sponge-cola-wins-four-trophies-in-the-2nd-myx-music-awards/|title=Sponge Cola wins four trophies in the 2nd MYX Music Awards|publisher=Pep.ph|author=Jocelyn Dimaculangan|date=March 20, 2007|access-date=September 16, 2020}}
Favorite MYX Live Performance{{N/A}}{{nominated}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2007/02/05/383502/myx-magna-award-apo/|title=A MYX Magna for Apo nominees|publisher=PhilStar|author=Baby A. Gil|date=February 5, 2007 |access-date=September 16, 2020}}
rowspan=6|NU Rock AwardsArtist of the Year{{N/A}}{{nominated}}{{cite news |title=And the nominees are ... |url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/vidvibe/view_article.php?article_id=103183 |work=Inquirer.net |date=2007-11-26 |access-date=2008-06-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202204312/http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/vidvibe/view_article.php?article_id=103183 |archive-date=2008-02-02 }}
Best Live Act{{N/A}}{{nominated}}
Album of the Yearalign=center|2StepMarv{{nominated}}
Producer of the Yearalign=center|(with Angee Rozul){{nominated}}
Vocalist of the Yearalign=center|(for Marc Abaya){{nominated}}
Guitarist of the Yearalign=center|(for Boogie Romero){{nominated}}
rowspan=2|2008Awit AwardsInternational Achievement Awardalign=center|(Winner of the group category in the 1st Ikon ASEAN competition){{won}}
MYX Music AwardsFavorite Indie Artist{{N/A}}{{nominated}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/music/1612/third-myx-music-awards-to-be-held-on-march-26/|title=Third MYX Music Awards to be held on March 26|publisher=PEP.ph|author=Jocelyn Dimaculangan|date=February 18, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020}}
rowspan=10|2009rowspan=10|NU Rock AwardsArtist of the Year{{N/A}}{{nominated}}
Album of the Yearalign=center|13 Seconds to Love{{nominated}}
Vocalist of the Yearalign=center|(for Marc Abaya){{nominated}}
Guitarist of the Yearalign=center|(for Boogie Romero){{nominated}}
Bassist of the Yearalign=center|(for Kelley Mangahas){{nominated}}
Drummer of the Yearalign=center|(for Jhoon Balbuena){{nominated}}
Song of the Yearalign=center|"Lifeline and 13 Seconds to Love"{{nominated}}
Best Album Packagingalign=center|13 Seconds to Love{{nominated}}
Best Music Videoalign=center|"Lifeline"{{nominated}}
Producer of the Yearalign=center|(with Pat Jalbuena){{nominated}}
2018Wish Music AwardsWishclusive Urban Performance of the Yearalign=center|"One Look"{{nominated}}{{Cite web|title=Full List: 3rd Wish 107.5 Music Awards Winners|url=https://www.wish1075.com/full-list-3rd-wish-107-5-music-awards-winners/|access-date=2018-01-15|website=wish1075.com|date=15 January 2018 |language=en}}

References

{{Reflist}}