Biography
Emerging from the Philippines' alternative rock scene, Girl in Park produced music whose melancholic atmosphere stood in sharp contrast to the tropical climate of their origins. Their sound frequently evoked the dream pop pioneered by the Cranberries alongside the raw, inward-directed intensity associated with Sinéad O'Connor. Fronted by Jaja Manuel on vocals and guitar, the group issued an album in the United States prior to achieving recognition in their home country. Shaped by the 1990s modern rock era, Girl in Park fused the direct lyrical anger and heavy guitar textures of grunge with the punk-funk approach of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the airy melodic style of the Sundays, all unified through Manuel's candid, frequently somber songwriting that resembled personal diary entries.
During the late 1990s Manuel participated in an all-female college ensemble first known as Dazed and Confused and subsequently shortened to Dazed, which specialized in covering alternative tracks by Madder Rose, Belly, and the Darling Buds. Personal conflicts eventually dissolved Dazed, prompting Manuel to join the brief project Forgotten 7th String, which collapsed after disputes between its bassist and guitarist resulted in both members failing to appear for a scheduled performance. Around this period Manuel learned that her neighbor Boyeth Conde played drums; the two began rehearsing together. She then assembled Girl in Park with Conde, high-school acquaintance Aji Nomoto on guitar, and Jason Tres Reyes on bass. The band performed locally throughout Manila and completed a demo recording, yet attracted little attention.
In 2002 Manuel stepped in as substitute guitarist for the Pin-Up Girls after Pamela Aquino moved to the United States. The following year she appeared on the Pin-Up Girls' Taste Test EP, supplying guitar parts for the track "Love X Ten," before departing the lineup. An American label's subsequent interest in Girl in Park led her to revive the inactive project. In 2004 the band issued its debut album Sequoia, which drew immediate acclaim for the hauntingly beautiful yet emotionally scarred, tortured, and heartbroken quality of Manuel's lyrics.
During the late 1990s Manuel participated in an all-female college ensemble first known as Dazed and Confused and subsequently shortened to Dazed, which specialized in covering alternative tracks by Madder Rose, Belly, and the Darling Buds. Personal conflicts eventually dissolved Dazed, prompting Manuel to join the brief project Forgotten 7th String, which collapsed after disputes between its bassist and guitarist resulted in both members failing to appear for a scheduled performance. Around this period Manuel learned that her neighbor Boyeth Conde played drums; the two began rehearsing together. She then assembled Girl in Park with Conde, high-school acquaintance Aji Nomoto on guitar, and Jason Tres Reyes on bass. The band performed locally throughout Manila and completed a demo recording, yet attracted little attention.
In 2002 Manuel stepped in as substitute guitarist for the Pin-Up Girls after Pamela Aquino moved to the United States. The following year she appeared on the Pin-Up Girls' Taste Test EP, supplying guitar parts for the track "Love X Ten," before departing the lineup. An American label's subsequent interest in Girl in Park led her to revive the inactive project. In 2004 the band issued its debut album Sequoia, which drew immediate acclaim for the hauntingly beautiful yet emotionally scarred, tortured, and heartbroken quality of Manuel's lyrics.
Albums
