User:SAPIERA/sandbox

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Paul Sapiera
''' is a guitarist/singer/songwriter from Olongapo City, Philippines. He was the lead singer of his band in Philippines that made #1 the hits "Parting Time"(written by Paul Sapiera) and Mahal Pa Rin Kita "(written by Vehnee Saturno) in the Philippine pop charts in the 90's when he was signed up with Viva Records (Philippines) with the album "Mahal Pa Rin Kita" which was produced by Paul Sapiera and Vehnee Saturno. His bands album reached the Gold Record sales award in early 1993 and went on to become Double Platinum record by late 1993 and then to multi platinum.

His second album under Viva Records with his band Arkasia with the self titled album Arkasia made #1 the hit "Huwag Na Sana"(written by Christian De Walden and Allan Sanmillan) in 1995. His band Arkasia also did the soundtrack "Himig"(written by Paul Sapiera & Hassel Sulit) for the movie "Darna" by Viva Films featuring Anjanette Abayari. Paul was also the voice behind the TV soap opera song "Villa Quitana"(written by Vehnee Saturno) which became a noon time favourite show aired daily on GMA Network Philippines. After his contract with Viva Records has expired, he later on got signed up with MCA Universal Records (Philippines) and released his solo album entitled "I Remember The Day" produced by Kazu Watanabe with his first single being "Bakit Sinta" which made #1 in the Philippine pop charts in the late 90s. The album went on to reach the Gold Record. Paul also did the soundtrack for the 1999 movie "Pepeng Agimat" entitled "Agimat"(written by Vehnee Saturno) starring Bong Revilla Jr.

Paul also produced 3 of the soundtrack songs for the 1997 movie "Goodbye America" which was produced by Michael Sellers https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0783365/ through ABS-CBN. Two of the soundtracks were later included in Paul's year 2020 album release of his new bands debut. The songs were namely "Mata'y Lumuluha"(written by Paul Sapiera) and "Puro Kalokohan"(written by Paul Sapiera).

Pauls effect on Filipino musicians
Pauls guitar playing and recordings has been very influential among many young musicians in Philippines. Many Filipino kids to this day work to learn his guitar solos specially of the songs Parting Time and Mahal Pa Rin Kita. Even after almost 3 decades, his melodic guitar compositions continue to inspire many beginners to become full on musicians especially the guitarists and also pianists. Even his piano arrangements are very popular among Filipino musicians especially the intros of Parting Time and Mahal Pa Rin Kita. His piano intros are so popular among Filipino musicians and fans alike that a few notes executed already causes the fans to react in cheer and adoration.

History
Paul was born November 27, 1970 in Olongapo City of father Vicente Sapiera from Calasiao Pangasinan and mother Remedios Molina from Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Philippines. He went to grade school in Olongapo Anglo Cultural School and to high school in Christ The King Catholic School, Olongapo City, Philippines. He later on he went to college at New Era University in Quezon City, Philippines. He lived with his parents til age 19 at Santa Rita Street, in Olongapo City before he left for Japan for his first contract as a professional overseas worker as musician.

Paul started learning guitar at age 10 when his aunt bought him his first acoustic guitar. He was greatly influenced by The Beatles records at a young age. He later developed his talent by joining bands in Magsaysay Drive, in his city of Olongapo where Subic Bay American Naval base was just a few blocks away. During the 80's when the American troops were still in Subic, the main customers of the bars and pubs that Paul played at were American service men. That was how he was influenced by American Rock music.

Religion
Paul was born catholic according his birth certificate. He grew up around the catholic community in Santa Rita Olongapo City and participated as the Parish of Santa Rita guitarist and choir member during his high school days. When he was in college, because his University was a school by the 2nd largest religion in Philippines, Iglesia Ni Kristo, he was fully indoctrinated within the religion for 6 months but did not get officially baptised because he left Philippines for Japan in 1989. On his return to Philippines, he studied the Bible through a free Protestant Bible school in his hometown Olongapo but did not complete the course to become a full on certified preacher because he pursued his musical endeavours and left Philippines again for Dubai in 2000. Paul is well versed in the Bible and as Paul puts it " I am neither Catholic, INC nor Protestant but I am definitely a Christian in my heart and soul". All members of Pauls first band that got signed with Viva, Rodel Agsalud, Allan Sanmillan, Hassel Sulit and Norman Quimson are well versed with the Bible and was one of the primary reasons Paul chose them. They all have the same belief.

Musical Journey
Paul started out playing proffesionaly around the bars n pubs of Magsaysay Drive and Subic Naval Base. His first important teacher according to him was a Rock guitarist in Olongapo named Kayetano Menorca whom he calls "Keo". Keo was the one who opened up his eyes to the world of Rock guitar playing and introduced to Paul the knowledge about Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen which he never heard before when he was in high school. Keo taught him about amps and pedals and how to be a band leader.

In 1989 when he went to Japan, he further developed his knowledge of recording equipment and began making demos of his originals. When he got back to Philippines in 1990, he began submitting his demos to many record labels in Manila. Eventually, he met Vehnee Saturno and teaming up with Vehnee got him signed with Viva records in late 1992.

A few months before getting signed up with Viva, he joined a band with Norman Quimson(keyboard player of Arkasia) called "Jukebox: which was signed up with Star Records ABS-CBN. He joined the band on their 2nd album. That was Pauls first experience being in a professional recording studio. Though he was with Jukebox, Paul still wanted to do his own originals and continued presenting demos to various labels.

After meeting Vehnee and getting the attention of Viva, that was when he formed his first recording band featuring Allan Sanmillan on bass, Rodel Agsalud on drums, Hassel Sulit on keyboard and Norman Quimson on guitar. Norman was the keyboard player songwriter of the band Jukebox and Paul really liked his talent in arrangements and songwriting so Norman eventually joined Paul.

They released their first album "Mahal Pa Rin Kita" under Viva records and it became a success. The sales went on to reach multi platinum with 2 big hits namely Parting Time and Mahal Pa Rin Kita.

Thie 2nd album they released under Viva was the self titled album Arkasia. Arkasia had made a number 1 hit, their single "Huwag Na Sana". The album was more Rock oriented in comparison to the first album. Norman Quimson played keyboard on the album.

Pauls 3rd album was his first solo album "Wishing Heart". According to Paul, "I wasn't happy with that album. The producer that was assigned by the label was not the right guy for the job. I could've done better without the record label assigning a producer. The tracking and mixing was terrible" Viva promoted the single "Ang Puso" from the album. The album did not make a hit and was a flop.

After the 3rd album with Viva, Paul lost interest in renewing his contract and got signed with MCA Universal. With Universal, he released the album "I Remember The Day". The label chose "Bakit Sinta" as the single to be promoted. The song became number 1 and the album reached Gold record. Paul was not happy with what the producers wanted to do with his image. According to Paul, "They wanted me to appear on TV without a band. I don't want that reputation and image. I wanted to be seen on TV performing with a drummer, bassist and pianist but the producers wanted me to appear just with a microphone". Paul lost interest in the Philippine music industry all together after that last album and left for the country when he got offered a Hotel contract as a live band in Dubai in 2000. He later included Allan Sanmillan in his band in Dubai.

He never went back to the Philippine music industry ever since and went silent for 10 years til he moved to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong was where he met Steve Fuller and so began his come back in music production but as an independent. Paul is recently to this day not signed up with any major record label. His music is all online.

Birth of the band SAPIERA
In 2020, Paul formed his band self named as SAPIERA featuring himself on guitars and vocals, with Steve Fuller from Tamworth Australia on drums and co-songwriter for the band and the 3rd member is Charles Orinza Tidal II from Zamboanga Philippines as their bass player. The band was formed and is is based in Hong Kong and has released their first album on the digital platform Distrokid as a single song at a time from early 2020 til mid year til they've completed 8 tracks.

SAPIERA 2020 album

 * 1) Play For The Star - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera (released on Distrokid January 2020)
 * 2) Satisfaction Tonight - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera & Steve Fuller (released on Distrokid February 2020)
 * 3) Matay Lumuluha - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera + Dana Rico (released on Distrokid March 2020)
 * 4) Doctor - Words & Musics by Paul Sapiera (released on Distrokid early April 2020)
 * 5) Home Now - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera - (released on Distrokid mid April 2020)
 * 6) Puro Kalokohan - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera (released on Distrokid late April 2020)
 * 7) Critical - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera (released under Distrokid late April 2020)
 * 8) Like An eagle - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera + lyrics additions by Mathew Humphreys (released on Distrokid July 2020)

SAPIERA 2023 Album


 * 1) Falling Again - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera
 * 2) Dirty Games - Words & Music by Conrad Singson
 * 3) Phone Rings - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera
 * 4) Parting Time - Words & Music by Paul Sapiera

Paul was based in Hong Kong from 2005 to 2020. He is currently operating his YouTube channel Sapiera and his Facebook artist page Sapiera from Las Vegas. The Sapiera music is available on Spotify and all streaming platforms.