Randolf Arriola (embryo) profile picture

Randolf Arriola (embryo)

The quality of art is that it makes people who are otherwise always looking outward, turn inward. (T

About Me

Randolf Arriola aka The Embryo is a professional singer, songwriter, guitarist, arranger, producer, sonic tweaker, live looper from Singapore. The Embryo is Randolf's creative vehicle for his personal original musical works. An admirer and follower of great works of cultural and social relevant human expression that transcend trends and eras. His creative motivation is to communicate and move the audience whoever and however many they may be.Best heard than described the music is a unique fabric of the familiar and obscure from around the world weaved with his own creative intentions. Born and raised in Singapore and musically self taught, he continues to create music that stirs the mind, heart and soul.The band "The Embryo" is currently a trio includes Wendy Phua (Bass and Vox) & Mervyn Asher (Drums).A regular performer with Singapore's reknown Harry's chain of pubs Randolf is currently performing solo 4 nights a week at the new Harry's at Dempsey Hill Weds to Sat nights. As a live performer Randolf is a local one of kind simply described as "One Voice/One Guitar/Live Looping". Earlier in Oct 2007 Randolf was a featured performer at the Y2K7 International Live Looping Festival at Santa Cruz North California USA. His performance was greeted with a standing ovation by the fellow artists and attendees and was awarded the key to the city of Santa Cruz by Mayor Emily Reily. His trip was supported by the National Arts Council of Singapore. He sings and performs with a Godin Multiac Steel Duet acoustic/electric guitar with his one of kind live looping setup which he refers to fondly as the "Ooopa Loopa Band". Randolf's current favourite Live Looping tool of choice is the Boss RC50 Loopstation. His repertoire of unique reinterpretations of classics from genres of Pop, Rock, Jazz and Blues, Bossa Nova Folk, Chill out grooves and Ambient mixed with original songs and Instrumentals. All performed over 3 sets with live improvisations and breathtaking sonic treatments to the songs leaving a smile and a sigh on any listener new or familiar. Go check it out while you can. :)The Embryo is currently recording it's long overdue and much anticipated collection of songs and sounds. Stay tuned and correspond for updates alng the way. Do check out the uploaded songs and vids for a preview that I'll be posting up here along the way.For the moment do check the link to a collection of sounds of the embryo here at;http://myspace.com/theembryoYou can hear more samples of songs at; http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/theembryo.htmLatest!!! Performed and conducted a Live Looping workshop at WOMAD 2007 representing Gibson Guitars in Singapore in Sept.Performed and conducted the Guitar Gear101 event TONEQUEST with "Music for Good" and Gibson Guitars at Arts House in early Oct.Y2K7 Live Looping festival Videos on youtube by M Trucco at http://youtube.com/watch?v=xKh5LqveVCA More along the way...Take care you.

My Interests

In most things Sensual, Cereabral and spiritual from Music, Movies, Photography (Infrared), Philosophy, Science, Art, Literature, Fact, Fiction, 4th Way, Religion, History and...Vinyls, CDs, DVDs. I'm into PC technology but not into computer gaming...yet! Mods for Guitars and Stomp Pedals and Tube Amps. Did I miss anything else?

I'd like to meet:

Much to discover, experience and exchange within this lifetime, Look closer to see glory in the ordinary. Yes I do enjoy meeting and connecting with people of all walks of life.

Music:

My deep almost spiritual love for music spans genres, cultures and eras. I do seem to gravitate more towards sounds and songs that evoke a certain mood and state of mind that is more moved than impressed. Most if not all of my favs have that distinctive timeless quality in the essence and execution of their musical art and song craft. Prepared or Freely Improvised, Acoustic, Electric, Sung or Instrumental, Synthesized or Virtual, Melodic or Atonal my musical favs include; Beatles, The Sundays, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, Son House, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, Cocteau Twins, Mannuel Gottsching, Craig Armstrong, Scott Walker, King Crimson, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Terje Rypdal, Jan Garbarek, Kenny Wheeler, Prince, Neil Young, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Charlie Hunter, Jaco Pastorius, Queen, Deep Purple and Scorpions, Police, Sting, Tuck Andress, Lenny Breau, Andy Summers, Phil Keaggy, Mark Isham, David Torn, Michael Brook, Nels Cline, Derek Bailey, David Lindley, Henry Kaiser, Tuck n Patti, Keith Jarret, Jane's Addiction, Cure, U2, David Sylvian, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Kate Bush, Meredith Monk, Bjork, Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerard, Beth Orton, Natalie Merchant, Massive Attack, Jimi Hendrix, ELO, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Jean Luc Ponty, Frank Zappa, Neil Young, CSNY, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, David Gray, Modern Lovers, Allan Holdsworth, Michael Hedges, Ozric Tentacles, Radiohead, Yes, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Kraftwerk, Ashra Temple, Ryuichi Sakamto, Vengelis, Philip Glass, Erik Satie, 4AD, DGM, ECM...

Movies:

I have great admiration for the film medium. Some of my memorable favs include though not necessarily exclusively; Hiroshima Mon Amor, Blade Runner, Interview with th Vampire, Dancer in the Dark, Bird, Piano, Mo Better Blues, 21 Grams, Sound of Music, Seven, Dogville, Lost in Translation, Shop Girl, Cache, Matchpoint, City of God, Evolution of a Filipino Family, Trainspotting, Almost Famous, Walk the Line, Mail Order Wife, My Little Eye, The Machinist, Memento, Artificial Intelligence, The Fountain, The Man who wasn't there, Lars and the Real Girl...

Television:

Not much of TV fan but I do enjoy the LOSt and the recent Battlestar Galactica series. My fav characters in Lost are John Locke, Ben and Kate.

Books:

I'm an incredibly slow reader but the books I've chosen to read and complete remain in vivid memory. Such books have had tremendous impact and influence on my outlook towards life and the meaning of it all before and after. Some of these include; In Search of the Miraculous, The Fourth Way, Siddartha, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Memnoch the Devil, Zen and the Guitar.

Heroes:

Ever since the birth of my beautiful boy Ramon, Jen my wife, parents Antonio Liborio Arriola(Late) and Rosalind Arriola have become real life heroes for me. Jacq my sis in the UK who's a braveheart more so than myself. Jen Eveland my lovely wife who's everything a lucky guy like myself could have as a lifelong companion and soulmate. Everybody else that I admire and aspire to are all outstanding in the wide open field of love, life, soul and art.