Clementine (musician)
Encyclopedia
Clemen Castro also known as Clementine, is a singer-songwriter and music producer from the Philippines
. He gained recognition in early 2000 as the guitarist/songwriter/vocalist of Philippine indie band Orange & Lemons
. After the band's break up in 2007, Clementine formed his new band The Camerawalls
and founded Lilystars Records - his own independent record label.
and later on post punk guitar groups like The Smiths
, artists that he is still inspired by today. Clementine picked up his dad’s guitar at the age of 10 and after several years of obsessive strumming and excessive effort to emulate his influences he discovered the art of song writing and composition and started by ear, through his personal life experiences, writing songs that will provide the foundation of undeniably one of the most successful bands in the country – Orange & Lemons.
, Germany
, UK and US to name a few. Songs that without doubt has a touch of international appeal and sold gold and platinum records in the Philippines plus numerous awards and commercial projects.
Each album showcases his evolution as a guitarist and songwriter and his most groundbreaking and brooding work – Moonlane Gardens (2007) – ironically resulted in a fray between band mates, management and label. A battle between creativity and commercialism ensues and after a few months concluded in the parting of ways. Moonlane Gardens was hailed 2007 Album of The Year during the NU Rock Awards
.
Clementine signed a number of osbcure artists under his label and was the first to release physical CD singles. He also formed an events production called The POP Shoppe! to support notable indie acts and was able to produce his first major concert for the Swedish group Club 8
in Manila just recently.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He gained recognition in early 2000 as the guitarist/songwriter/vocalist of Philippine indie band Orange & Lemons
Orange and Lemons
Orange and Lemons was a Filipino pop rock band formed in 1999. The band name "Oranges and Lemons" was initially recommended by a former member of the group. Apparently the band was not aware at that time that the name was actually derived from a British nursery rhyme and a title of an album by the...
. After the band's break up in 2007, Clementine formed his new band The Camerawalls
The Camerawalls
The Camerawalls is an indie pop band based in Manila, Philippines formed in 2007 by singer and guitarist Clementine who is also the main songwriter of the band and the driving force behind the defunct band Orange and Lemons.-History:...
and founded Lilystars Records - his own independent record label.
Early life & Musical Influences
Clementine was raised surrounded by 60s rock n’ roll and psychedelic music and from an early age fell in love with the likes of The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and later on post punk guitar groups like The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, artists that he is still inspired by today. Clementine picked up his dad’s guitar at the age of 10 and after several years of obsessive strumming and excessive effort to emulate his influences he discovered the art of song writing and composition and started by ear, through his personal life experiences, writing songs that will provide the foundation of undeniably one of the most successful bands in the country – Orange & Lemons.
Orange & Lemons
He formed Orange & Lemons in 1999 and with a collection of juvenile materials paved the way for independent recognition to mainstream success of the band. His role as chief songwriter, lead guitarist and the main creative force behind Orange & Lemons, he has produced solid albums that has reached the ears and fancy of foreign music enthusiasts in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, UK and US to name a few. Songs that without doubt has a touch of international appeal and sold gold and platinum records in the Philippines plus numerous awards and commercial projects.
Each album showcases his evolution as a guitarist and songwriter and his most groundbreaking and brooding work – Moonlane Gardens (2007) – ironically resulted in a fray between band mates, management and label. A battle between creativity and commercialism ensues and after a few months concluded in the parting of ways. Moonlane Gardens was hailed 2007 Album of The Year during the NU Rock Awards
NU Rock Awards
The NU Rock Awards was an annual recognition program sponsored from 1994 to 2010 by the defunct Metro Manila based radio station NU 107.1. 1994 saw the birth of what is to become the biggest annual gathering of the finest rock musicians in the country—the NU 107 Rock Awards! The very first NU 107...
.
The Camerawalls and Lilystars Records
The outfit that is Orange & Lemons officially disbanded on September 2007 after a successful US Tour. Clementine went back to indie status and formed a 3 piece indie pop band The Camerawalls and released the debut album "Pocket Guide To The Otherworld" on July, 2008 under his own indie label -- Lilystars Records earning a nomination and recognition as one of the best new local group to come out with a solid release during the year. The debut album "Pocket Guide To The Otherworld" has become a landmark release that showed people what happens when contemporary indie pop meets good old Filipino sensibilities.Clementine signed a number of osbcure artists under his label and was the first to release physical CD singles. He also formed an events production called The POP Shoppe! to support notable indie acts and was able to produce his first major concert for the Swedish group Club 8
Club 8
Club 8 is a Swedish musical group consisting of Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård .-History:Formed in 1995, Club 8 were signed to the Spanish record label Siesta...
in Manila just recently.
Albums
- Pocket Guide To The Otherworld - The CamerawallsThe CamerawallsThe Camerawalls is an indie pop band based in Manila, Philippines formed in 2007 by singer and guitarist Clementine who is also the main songwriter of the band and the driving force behind the defunct band Orange and Lemons.-History:...
(July 2008 - Lilystars Records) - Moonlane Gardens - Orange & LemonsOrange and LemonsOrange and Lemons was a Filipino pop rock band formed in 1999. The band name "Oranges and Lemons" was initially recommended by a former member of the group. Apparently the band was not aware at that time that the name was actually derived from a British nursery rhyme and a title of an album by the...
(June 2007 - Universal Records) - Strike Whilst The Iron Is Hot - Orange & LemonsOrange and LemonsOrange and Lemons was a Filipino pop rock band formed in 1999. The band name "Oranges and Lemons" was initially recommended by a former member of the group. Apparently the band was not aware at that time that the name was actually derived from a British nursery rhyme and a title of an album by the...
(May 2005 - Universal Records) - Love In The Land Of Rubber Shoes & Dirty Ice Cream - Orange & LemonsOrange and LemonsOrange and Lemons was a Filipino pop rock band formed in 1999. The band name "Oranges and Lemons" was initially recommended by a former member of the group. Apparently the band was not aware at that time that the name was actually derived from a British nursery rhyme and a title of an album by the...
(December 2003 - Terno Recordings)
Singles
- The Sight Of Love - The CamerawallsThe CamerawallsThe Camerawalls is an indie pop band based in Manila, Philippines formed in 2007 by singer and guitarist Clementine who is also the main songwriter of the band and the driving force behind the defunct band Orange and Lemons.-History:...
feat. Sarah Gaugler (February 2010 - Lilystars Records)