aireene espiritu
My latest project, The Sampaguitas, sing Filipino folk songs and inspired originals in three-part harmony. Drawing influences from folk, blues, doo-wop girl groups, and the Filipinx-American diaspora, Jenevieve Francisco, Cristina Ibarra, and Aireene Espiritu share music from their roots and explore what it means to be in a “third culture” between worlds. The sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines and only fitting to describe the sweet sounds coming from their melded vocal textures, tones, and tight harmonies.
STOMPIN' SWAYIN' TIMELESS AMERICANA
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Aireene Espiritu Plumbs Deep into the Well of American Music Los Angeles Times, Jonny Whiteside
“Folk singer-songwriter Aireene Espiritu works in the elemental substance of vernacular American music with an uncanny ease. Whether blues, hillbilly, soul, folk or R&B...demonstrates masterly command of each. Her original compositions mix deft lyrical construction and classic form just as impressively...An authentic, authoritative vocalist and with distinctly sensitive manner of phrasing... Bay Area-based Espiritu's arrival as California folk's legitimate forces...” continue reading.
NEWS BITS
Check out my project A COLOR-CODED SYMPHONY
A musical experience that aims to nurture intercultural openness and explore how we are connected to the rest of the world.
IN THE PRESS: https://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/color-coded-symphony-promotes-openness-unity/
All That Jazz James Nadal's Best releases 2016
No Depression (pdf file) Print Issue. Little Village Foundation finds music that needs to be heard.
SF Chronicle Little Village artists on list of Best Moments from Sunday's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
KQED's California Report: Three New Releases
by Boundary Bending Bay Area artists.
SF Chronicle On the road with an Ukulele
KOIN 6 interview, Waterfront Blues Festival (2nd video down)
Huffington Post Aireene Espiritu's Going Back
Where I Belong Exclusive
Released 2019 COWBELLA EP is now available! $10.
Aireene Espiritu’s latest release is a tribute to The Bum Steers (1990s – 2015), a Los Angeles based band whose unique blend of country, blues & rock has gained them a loyal following in the U.S. & worldwide.
Digital download: https://aireeneespiritu.bandcamp.com/
CD format: bit.ly/cowbella-aireene
2016 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
SYLA Presents House Concert, Oakland CA
Going Back Where I Belong (Sugar Pie DeSanto)
Photo by Bob Hakins
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley CA 8/24/14
upcoming shows
Hooded Hoodlum Judged. Inspired by events that led to Trayvon Martin's shooting.
Bremen, Germany July 2015