You can tell when someone is sincerely proud of their Filipino roots and their integrity as a musical artist. I felt such an atmosphere while visiting the home of Honore (pronounced honor-ray), a full-time musician who performs, writes songs, and records using state-of-the-art equipment, all while maintaining a proper mindset.
He quickly mentioned that his grandmother was from the province of Pangasinan and that he performed in Metro Manila several years ago, touring with the girl group Pussycat Dolls, which featured Nicole Scherzinger, whose father is also of Filipino descent.
Honore, which is his stage name (his first name is Anthony), grew up in California and developed his gift on the way to releasing his own records as a singer-songwriter. He is primarily into R&B. So, it’s no surprise that his latest release, a five-song EP that came out in May, is titled R&B Magic.
The lead track, “Cloud 9,” is a song he is particularly proud of. Simply put, many people have enjoyed it, and I couldn’t agree more after hearing it. It’s full-bodied, sexy, confidently sung, and even mentions—yes—the Philippines.
“I am proud to be part-Filipino, and I want to learn more about Filipino culture,” said the Los Angeles-born Honore as we sat in front of his recording console and Maschine, a portable digital audio workstation that produces magnificent sounds when used by skilled hands.
Collaborating with a number of artists, including a couple of ladies on Christmas songs (Siena Bella on “In The Snow” and Czarina on “Christmas List”), Honore is busy as a bee, performing as a solo act and in three tribute bands. One of these tribute acts honors the late, great Prince, whom he considers his “fave artist of all time,” declaring that he “learned everything from Prince.”
In the Philippine music scene, Gary Valenciano is a major influence for Honore, who has long been an “advocate for mixed kids,” as he is one, and always wants to give back to the community and help other artists. He feels that Mr. Pure Energy speaks to him every time he hears Valenciano’s version of “The Warrior Is A Child.”
While he has these big names as key musical influences, Honore has carved out his best version by staying true to who he is. He said, “I love artists who are authentic to themselves. In this business, the more original you are, the more respect you’ll earn.”
The man who believes that it’s not about the equipment, but how you use it, demonstrated to me how he works out a song and records it. Boy, he made it look so easy and fun! His good work ethic—being responsible, or as he puts it, “kickin’ it, just crushing it, giving a great performance, and then chill”—was evident.
Sound-wise, Honore’s music is intricate yet catchy. His 12-track album Purple is a great representation of that, especially in songs like “Thrive,” “The First Time” (which features Soultree), and the obviously personal “My Name is Honore.” As for his lyrics, he’s the type of artist who would rhyme “purple” with “emotional,” and “reaction” with “Toni Braxton.” He is working on a more modern R&B album for next year.
He noted, “I wish I could go back to the Philippines right now, reach out to kids there, and do some fundraising events for the community.”
I met Honore at the recent Asian Fashion Week in L.A., where he performed.
You readers probably don’t often read a music column where the writer mentions working on a track with the subject. But I feel the need to mention it because it’s a song about being Filipino. Who knows, when it comes out, it may be another good reason why our guy must be on Philippine soil soon, doing what he’s most happy with: touring and performing.
Honore added, “I want to work smarter by doing things efficiently, being with the right people, and knowing how to market myself. Just because you can sing doesn’t mean you’re going to be a successful artist. Having a good team and being diligent in getting your work out there can open up possibilities.”
When I pointed out that there’s the word “honor” in his name, he appropriately reacted, “Bingo!” He’s aware of this, and giving honor to his roots comes naturally. As a shoutout, he wants to remind everyone in the Philippines that “they have a brother in America who’s part-Filipino and doing positive things.”
