We all know that music is an art that affects the human brain to feel an emotion whether happy or sad, to tell the body to move to the beat of the pulsating drums or just simply groove to the delightful sound. There’s nothing more infectious and addicting than listening and dancing to familiar songs that lived through the decades of changing genres only to stay on earth forever to haunt us in our darkest moments to change our gloom to boom.
Yes, there’s no stopping this group of special talents that I’m so proud of. “Retro diva” Goldie is finally reunited with her brother J. Martin Castro and music brother Ogie Ramos after several years of leaving the popular group REtroSPECT to settle down in Vancouver.
They just performed in three cities in the Philippines (Cebu, Iloilo and Manila) kicking off their RetroWorld REtroSPECT Reunion Concert tour 2016. They are set to do a series of shows in Guam, Saipan, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Italy, UK, and Dubai.
Retrospect in Manila, January 29th at Music Museum, Greenhills, San Juan City.
Since the group started in 1997, their unique concept, flamboyant costumes, and revival hits attracted music enthusiasts at Manila’s crowded venues Strumms, El Pueblo, Hard Rock Cafe and Ratsky. This paved the way to performing all over the Philippines later travelling to other countries and becoming successful artists on the international stage. They have quite a following in North America and in Guam as headliners.
The REtroSPECT won the Aliw Awards most prestigious award, best group in hotels, bars, and music lounges in the Philippines for 3 consecutive years (2007, 2008, and 2009). They also have recorded OPM Original Pilipino Music including my favorite “Getaway” and have a wide variety of 70’s, 80’s, 90’s songs from artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, ABBA, Whitney Houston, to name a few.
I had the privilege to perform with them a few times in Vancouver but I enjoyed just watching and dancing to their music groove. All I can say is it was a blast each time. The REtroSPECT has been time tested and keeps growing and growing. Staying true to their craft, their legendary ability to entertain their audience is downright a class act.
Get ready with your retro outfits, bell bottoms, and platform shoes. REtroSPECT is coming back to Vancouver on March 11th Friday, at the Columbia Theatre in New Westminster. For information, please call 604-813-3181 or 604-720-9882.
MetroVan Independent News had the pleasure of chatting with REtroSpect through Facebook with Goldie, JMart and Ogie.
How do you manage to stay together after all these years? What’s your secret?
Like any other relationship, you need to adjust to everyone’s character and demeanor. I guess, this reunion shows that we have adjusted to each other with flying colors! Hahaha!!! The secret? If I’ll divulge it now, it won’t be a secret anymore! Hahaha!!! Seriously, it’s all about the passion to perform as singers and performers!
In the ever changing music genres all these years, what is the biggest challenge for you guys?
The biggest challenge is how to outdo ourselves. We don’t have a problem coping up with the times, coz we ourselves are chameleons! We just get bored if we do the same stuff. That’s why we make it a point that we do some innovation and improvement every time we perform on stage.
Which era you enjoyed most? Why?
We enjoyed 70’s era for it’s complicated musical arrangements and it’s for fabulous fashion sense!
You stayed true to your craft, Masters of Retro… in your opinion, what keeps an “old hit” refreshing?
You can always keep an old hit refreshing by staying true to your craft as an artist. We, as Retro Pop Artists, love being Retro in music and fashion style. There’s nothing like being REAL all the time, I think that’s what separate us with other groups.
What’s the best part of your job as musicians besides being Retro inspirations?
The best part of being musicians is being able to express our artistic expressions through music and fashion… We love to sing and look good on stage, you know! Hahaha! Plus, like this RetroWorld tour, we’re able to enjoy each other, not only thru music and fashion, but also, being with each other again, after all these years! THAT’S THE BEST PART OF BEING OURSELVES, AS MUSICIANS.
