Local artists exploding onto TV screens

Since it first aired on Aug. 5, Marianas Music Videos has featured several local artists currently pursuing dreams of finding success in the music business.

With do-it-all producer AJ Baldevia heading the production operations, the MMV show has taken the island by storm, airing every Monday and Thursday from 6:30pm to 7pm on KMCV channel 7.

According to Baldevia, the show may be lengthened to about an hour each time it is schedule to air, and is projected to possibly have a channel specifically set for MMV within two years.

“If everything goes well, then that’s what I’m hoping for. We want it to go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, featuring local artists all the time. We may even have some reality shows,” he said.

Baldevia said MMV is intended at providing artists with a venue to pursue their dreams in the music industry, and will hopefully spread throughout Micronesia. He said video footage shot so far have already been shown on Guam, which drew positive reactions.

“Saipan is our testing ground, and so far, it’s going good,” he said. “We’re working on launching this on Guam as well, and we want to make this for everybody in Micronesia and the Pacific. We showed it on Guam, and they are really excited about it and want it.”

While Baldevia handles all production issues, partners Frank Pangelinan, Edward Camacho and his wife Shirl Camacho, and Sen. Marcel Camacho of Guam handle the business aspect of the program.

“I run the show on the production side of it, and they came in as business partners funding the project because they saw the same vision as I did,” he said. “We’ve got plans to make it bigger, where everybody in the Pacific are sharing it.”

Baldevia, which operates out of Da Studio on Garapan, said artists do not necessarily have to cut a video when dealing with his productions, but may also produce CDs.

“If they want to record, they come in and we discuss what is required, like how many songs. We’ll meet on how we’re going to approach it. We also provide financing and if they’re qualified for it, we put a package for them where we basically include the recording with duplication and distribution, music videos. We encourage them to cut at least one or two videos from their albums…for exposure.”

Further, Baldevia said the company under which MMV operates—Marianas Multi Media Inc.—also wants to be the first in the region to produce dual DVDs and CDs, where an artist’s CD would be sold along with a DVD that contains several music videos, an interview with the artists, and several other information.

Baldevia, a musician for over 20 years, said MMV has already worked with or is currently working with several up-and-coming artists, including Walter Manglona, Root 66, Sons of Harmony, the Pala Pala Boys, Pat Cepeda, and Pete Magofna, among others.

Baldevia recognized Split Attitude as the first band that shot a music video with MMV, using the song titled “Pak Pak Paki.”

“What I’m trying to do with MMV is localizing international appeal,” he said. You have international appeal with MTV…MMV is our vehicle to be able to let the world know that we are just as talented, just as creative, just as determined and dedicated to let people know that we are who we are, we are people who also have dreams.”