"I would say that my first and biggest musical influence is my extended family. Singing together was always something we did at family reunions, ever since I was a kid. All my aunts, uncles & cousins would play instruments and sing the different harmonies for whatever song was at hand. We were very much like a choir. Other than that, I am a huge Beatles fan for their songwriting, Otis Redding fan for his passionate vocals, and I love, love, LOVE 70's Reggae for it's essence of positivity."

Well, I was born in Nyack, New York a small town about 20 miles north of New York City. I'm a total mutt. My mother is a brooklyn native of Russian, German and Polish descent. My Father was born in the Philippines and is a mix of Spanish, Portuguese & Chinese. When people meet me, they think I'm Native American. Go figure...I think it's the hair.

I went to college to study drawing and sculpture and traveled like crazy when I finished. Now I live in NYC and am pursuing all things artisitic, particularly music.

I'd have to say playing at CBGB's was a one of them. About seven years ago, I was asked to drum for artist friend, John Landino, in a performance piece he was doing. I'm really not a drummer, but I can do a little something. I showed up but didn't even bring sticks. I wound up playing the drum set with my hands and still had a blast!

Well, I can't say that these low points don't pop up every now and again. I suppose it's like anything you do. My most important weapon in battling low points in my life is to stay positive, always believe in myself and just keep putting love into my music. No matter what! I It can be hard at times, but it gets easier the more you do it.

God, I'd rather not even think about that. I find it too frustrating to entertain those thoughts when I cannot change them.

The last show that I did was with Teru Fujita, the bass player from my band SNUG. Being that we were minus our drummer and were performing at an art gallery in dowtown Manhattan, I thought it would be good to depart from our usual set list and just jam. It wound up that we played for like 8 hours straight with various people stepping up and jamming with us throughout the whole experience. It was one of the best times I've ever had musically.

I'd have to say that my favorite track from Avocado Pilgrims would have to be Derby Rd. I just think that I really arranged it the way I heard it in my head. It is one of a very few songs that I actually had the lyrics for first. I remember writing them the day after I got hit by a car on Derby Rd., the experience which was the inspiration for the song. Plus, I just love
singing it and playing it live.

I try to use all sorts of musical instruments. Though when I come home I usually pick up my acoustic guitar. Within the last year or so, I've become very fond of my ukulele and have been writing songs almost exclusively on it.

I have a home studio where I do most of my recording. I'm using a G4 Mac which I've equipped with Pro Tools. For sequencing drums and getting those vintage piano sounds, I use the program Reason.

I think that my favorite instrument as a player is that ukulele I told you about. There is just something so nice and warm about its tone. Its like instantly being immersed in tropical sunshine.

As an appreciator, I'd have to say my favorite instrument is the piano. When I hear someone, a master, playing the piano, I can't leave the area. It's like I'm glued to the one spot until they stop playing.

My very first stage memory happened when I was four years old. My family & I were attending my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary which was being held in this giant ballroom. It felt like hundreds of people were there, all
dressed up in suits and traditionall filipino get-ups. I sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in my little white tuxedo with a brown bowtie and flapped my arms like a bird as I did so. I've never stopped being teased about that one.

Thats' a tough one. But here I go, in no particular order: "Abbey Rd". (Beatles), "Bold as Love" (Hendrix), "Natty Dread" (Bob Marley), "Ole Man Trouble" (Otis Redding) and a classical music album, just to switch it up a bit.

And if I could have one musical instrument, It would be a drum set to scare away any wild animals that may want to eat me or steal my fantastic audio system.

I' d have to say that Santana's "Abraxas" album cover is my favorite. It was painted by this guy Mati Klarwein and my friends and I used to pour over all the fine details of it in college. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out.

Lets see. Five most recent albums...does anyone even listen to full albums anymore? I can give you the last few: "Clandestino" by Manu Chau...honestly, I know that's only one, but I can't even think beyond that. I listen to a lot of
mixed CD's and the radio and things.

The five most recent movies. That's a little easier: Lady in the Water, Little Miss Sunshine (which was excellent), Bridget Jones Diary, the Constant Gardener and American Beauty.

That's a huge question!! Well, I can give you three and it would be a total toss-up as to which one would come first on the list. Otis Redding, John Lennon or Michelangelo. All of them have been huge inspirations to me and getting any nugget of guidance from them would be absolutely invaluable. Too bad they're all dead.

I wish I could have written "Imagine" by John Lennon. It's one of the songs that, in a lyrical sense, reflects so much of what I believe in. If we could look past all our perceived differences, imagine what a great place this world could be. It's the kind of song that doesn't try to be more that it is. A simple, sincere message with a beautiful and memorable melody.

My first wish would be to be able to see both of my parents have their dream homes somwhere peaceful. My second wish would be to able to open a school for music, dance, fine art and film and have all my friends and family to be a part of it. My last wish would be to have a home on the ocean.

I don't often remember the "plot" of my dreams because they don't often have one. Last night's dream was kinda like a big abstract painting where all the details seemed blurred into one another. I can vaguely recall a childhood friend of my eldest brother making a cameo, playing some kind of game in a park...

Aside from see me doing a lot of daydreaming, you'd most likely see me working with my hands. And you would also find me tapping out rhythms on my legs and chest as if they were drums. Sometimes it gets on people's nerves.

I recorded music for a new album I'm working on. I had some new ideas that I wanted to try out.

I would take the essentials, I guess: my ukulele, acoustic guitar, my favorite pair of bellbottoms, some white tank tops, an assortment of bandanas, multi-effects pedal, sketch/lyric book, ATM card and if I was going to a cold place, I would bring my artic weather parka with the big furry hood. Oh yeah. Toiletries. It sucks when you forget toiletries.

When I see people being kind to one another. I know that sounds like some cheesy shit, but I live in New York City and people can been insensitive and downright malicious to each other. Nothing makes me happier than to have conversations with the people around me, at work, in a deli or where ever. I just like having positive interactions in this city and that's enough to make me happy.

You know, if I could really sum it up, I'd have to say my main goal for 2007 is to create as much as possible and get plenty of gallery and music shows here in New York City. I intend to finish my new solo album as well as finish the
album with my band SNUG. I'm also really anxious to make sculptures and continue to make paintings. I sincerely expect next year to be a very important year for me. I'll keep you posted...