The Sampaguitas
Folk Songs from the Philippines & Beyond
Release date: October 5, 2023 Label: Little Village
Genre: World, Folk, Kundiman

The Sampaguita is the national flower of The Philippines and only fitting to describe the sweet sounds coming from the melded vocal textures and tight harmonies of Aireene Espiritu, Jenevieve Francisco, and Cristina Ibarra. In this mesmerizing debut, The Sampaguitas take listeners on a soul-stirring journey through a mosaic of emotions and cultures. 

Espiritu, Francisco, and Ibarra met in San Francisco and immediately connected over their shared ancestry and love of music. Their collaboration evolved organically, each bringing musical strengths into the fold. Using Filipino folk songs as a way for them to explore their cultural roots, they soon found that singing together unlocked a deep connection, not only to each other, but to audiences as well.

“We each come from different experiences and familiarity with the language. But getting to sing and learn Tagalog, it feels like stepping into a river that flows back to our ancestors. Singing these songs with my Sampaguita sisters is like creating our own connection to the country of our roots, and standing proudly in our Pinay heritage.”

Their voices take center stage throughout the album’s ten tracks. Playful renditions of traditional folk songs mix seamlessly alongside inventive arrangements of protest anthems, songs of love and home, and new originals. Their unique vocal chemistry is complemented by tasteful instrumentation from Espiritu that recalls her blues and folk pedigree, and guest solos from renowned jazz flutist John Calloway.

This exciting debut offering is a testament to the power of culture and connection and sets the stage for the captivating musical journey that lies ahead.

PUT BACK CHARLIE
1. This Song (3:40)
2. Put Back Charlie (3:48)
3. Stagger Lee (I Killed Billy To Save Us All) (3:13)
4. Boom and Bust (3:12)
5. Bag Woman (3:57)
6. Falling for You (1:54)
7. Tell Me Why* (3:23)
8. Only Rock and Roll (4:02)
9. Truth (3:02)
10. There Is Something On Your Mind (4:10)
11. Hooded Hoodlum Judged (3:33)
12. All Souls’ Day (4:18)
13. Hard Times Come Again No More** (4:22)
14. Wide Open (featuring Tom Corbett) (3:13)

Bring On the Supernatural, Volume 1
Music & Lyrics by Aireene Espiritu from the OurSong+Your10Words Song Series

This project is made possible by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Seed Commissions 2022. https://ybgfestival.org/seed-commissions-2022
When the shelter-in-place occurred in March of 2020 and artists turned to streaming shows, I started Our Song + Your 10 Words Song Series, where I took 10 words from 10 individuals and would write a new song based on those words. From March until September, 16 songs were born and posted on YouTube in its raw form (view them here: https://bit.ly/your10words) Some were reflective of the times: the first week of shelter-in-place, feelings of gratitude when I moved into my apartment after being homefree for nine years, the political climate, Black Lives Matter, justice for George Floyd and the wildfires. With the commission funds I was able to record 5 of the 16 songs, plus simulated radio announcements (thanks to Maurice Tani’s natural radio voice) introducing those that were historical markers from that year.

The title track, Bring On the Supernatural, was written in September, the last song of the song series for 2020. Waking up to the surreal orange skies prompted me to request for words inspired by the supernatural. Within the first hour of posting the request in social media, I received 20 words and decided to include all instead of limiting to the usual 10. What’s it gonna take to save this world? Bring on the supernatural. Come together skeptics and believers, "Bring On the Supernatural."

A big thanks to the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Seed Commissions for allowing me to bring these songs to life from their raw form as they deserve to be heard. Thanks to all the word contributors and those who tuned in to the streaming shows in 2020. And thank you for listening!

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. Their first video, Why, Nona, was aired frequently on TNN and CMT and their debut album received great response from stations around the country. They made numerous appearances on Prime Time Country, WSM Radio & TV in Nashville, and they were personally invited to play The Grand Ole Opry by Porter Wagoner after their music caught his ear. Their first CD is included in the book, MusicHound Country-The Essential Album Guide. The band members were Mark Fosson on vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin and harmonica, Edward Tree on electric & slide guitars, Taras Prodaniuk on bass and Billy Block on drums.

The Cowbella project came about in early 2019 while Aireene was working on her next album of original music with Edward Tree producing. She had recorded a duet with Mark Fosson in 2017 and have been wanting to do more Steers tunes. Edward had the brilliant idea of using Billy’s drum tracks from the Capitol Records sessions that have never been released. With Taras on bass and Edward on guitars, what resulted is a collection of songs backed by the original members of The Bum Steers. This album is dedicated to the late band members, Mark Fosson and Billy Block. Listen to more music by The Bum Steers at https://thebumsteers.bandcamp.com.

This album is a prequel. The missing link between the songs she never sang and everything she has done to date. On this album, Aireene Espiritu explores the roots that made her the unique voice she is in folk music and simultaneously reveals to us both a powerful persona and a touching glimpse into her background.

We had hints. The clues have been there all along in her phrasing -the personal touch that every singer applies to the basic melody and rhythm of a song. Old-school folkies tend to either minimize this coloration or stick to traditional affectations of Appalachia and the European roots that music came from. Aireene, on the other hand, tends to pull her seasoning from the gospel and R&B end of the spice rack. Where does she get her flavor profiles?

50 years ago another diminutive, Filipino-American singer was carving out a name for herself as an R&B singer and songwriter. Sugar Pie DeSanto’s biggest hit was her 1960 single, “I Want To Know”, which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Chart. She was signed as a singer and songwriter to Chess Records in Chicago in their heyday of the ‘60s and built a reputation as a dynamic performer whose live shows far surpassed her studio recordings. At 80, Sugar Pie is still with us, performing in 2016.

LVF’s Jim Pugh met Aireene at a folk music conference in 2014. She was playing solo with just a ukulele among hundreds of other performers, but Jim came away with a bug in his ear. Over the next year he developed an idea that seemed out of left field -Sugar Pie’s R&B music with folk singer Aireene singing.

No one familiar with Aireene could have seen this coming or predicted the outcome, but having heard the result, one wonders how there could have ever been any doubt. What you hold in your hand is the perfect sum of pieces no one considered might fit. A gorgeous answer to a question unasked. In spite of the fact that Aireene has never been here, this is where she comes from. This is the look back at the songs she never sang. Aireene Espiritu, back where she belongs…