Guji Lorenzana
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| Guji Lorenzana | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Gregory Mangindin Lorenzana, Jr. |
| Also known as | GuJi, Goo-G |
| Born | May 11, 1982 Long Beach, California, United States |
| Origin | United States of America |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Alternative Rock, Pop Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 2005 - present |
| Label(s) | LuKas Music Philippines |
| Website | http://www.gujimusic.com |
Gregory Mangindin Lorenzana, Jr., who is better known as Guji (pronounced "Goo-G") Lorenzana (born May 11, 1982 in Long Beach, California, U.S.), is the newest Filipino alternative rock, pop rock solo artist, to hit Philippine shores - his music is the only OPM to be dubbed as Edgy Pop.
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[edit] Biography
Guji knew that entertainment would be his fate. During his childhood, he participated in children's musical theater groups, and singing ensembles. During college, he majored in Communications and Theater Arts at the University of California (Davis), he performed with HIPE - a "boy-band" once under the same management as the San Francisco-based Fil-Am group, Kai. Guji moved to New York City immediately after graduation to hone his theater skills.
In 2003, Guji tested his luck on American Idol Season 3. As "Gregory Lorenzana," he signed-up with US-based indie label Immij Records and released "Five Days More" in 2005. The CD Single gave him the opportunity to tour with his new band, Sunday Groove, as opening act for Philippine-based artists like Kuh Ledesma and Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rica Peralejo, Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales (to name a few) in venues such as The Cow Palace, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Palace of Fine Arts, San Jose Arena, Harrahs Casino Lake Tahoe, Stardust Hotel and Casino, and a lot more.
By January of 2006, Guji bid farewell to his band, his friends, family, and the foreign land he called "home" and came to Manila headstrong to succeed on Philippine shores. In only a matter of months a self-titled CD Lite/EP was released (distributed by Ivory Records) with "I'll Be Yours Forever" composed by Ogie Alcasid as the carrier single. The music video features Lougee of MOJOFLY as his leading lady.
[edit] Current
Guji's first full-length album entitled "Without Your Love" was released (2nd Quarter, 2007), this time under AniraK Records (a subsidiary of LuKas Music Philippines, distributed by Synergy Music Corp). The music video for "Tagumpay" (directed by Paul Soriano)was shot in scenic Ilocos and features Veronica Scott of the Kitty Girls (Philippine Girl Pop Group). The next music video for the follow-up single, "Kasalanan Ba?" can be seen on MYX and MTV Philippines, and features Philippines TV personality Patty Laurel as Guji's leading lady. The video is directed by Enzo Valdez.
Guji's first TV commercial for Hershey's Kisses is now being aired. Other commercials Guji Lorenzana appears in include: Selecta Ice Cream, Globe Telecom, Citibank Philippines, and Greenwich Pizza. He also participated in the Colgate Fresh Confidence Borakada Challenge which was featured on ABS-CBN's ASAP for six consecutive weeks in spring of 2007. Apart from these, Guji is currently sponsored by Penshoppe Clothing Co. and is part of this summer's nationwide Penshoppe tour, along with music acts including Chris Cayzer, Bamboo, Stonefree, Mojofly.
During gigs, Guji is usually backed up by a full-band. Apart from performing original songs, Guji also treats the audience to renditions of many of today's pop-rock alternative artists.
In addition to music, Guji is a contributor writer for popular Philippine magazine publications including Chalk Magazine (ABS-CBN Publications) and Myx Magazine (ABS-CBN).
[edit] Guji Lorenzana releases
Without Your Love - LP (Enhanced Compact Disc / AVCD) : December 2007 Release
Released under Anirak Records (LuKas Music Philippines)
Distributed by Synergy Music Corp
- Tagumpay (Video)
- I'll Be Yours Forever*
- Tagumpay*
- Kasalanan Ba?*
- Drastic Changes
- Without Your Love
- Kabaliktaran
- Thru (Re-cut)
- Mister Mister
- Pagkakataon
- Incredible
- Tagumpay (Acoustic)
Guji Lorenzana - EP : October 2006 Release
Distributed by Ivory Records
- I'll Be Yours Forever*
- Thru
- Five Days More
- Fairytale
- Dahil Sa Iyo (Because of You)
- I'll Be Yours Forever - Minus One
Not Another Christmas Album 3 : December 2006 Release
Jam 88.3 Promotion
- Christmas Island
Five Days More - CD Single: November 2005 Release
Released under Immij Records USA, as Gregory Lorenzana
- Five Days More*
- Five Days More (Radio Edit)
*music video available
[edit] Miscellanea
- During the San Francisco audition footage of American Idol Season 3, you can actually see Guji sitting next to the now world famous William Hung.
- Guji's aunt is Joanne Lorenzana, popular pop recording artist of the late 1980s and early 1990s - releasing albums under Vicor Records, and later EMI/OctoArts.
- Guji Lorenzana is the first artist to film a music video featuring the giant power generating windmill turbines of Bangui, Ilocos Norte Philippines.
- Ogie Alcasid first wrote and released "I'll Be Yours Forever" on his "Better Man" album, yet never became a single.
- Keith Martin's popular hit song, Because of You, which was re-made several times by other Filipino artist, was re-made into Tagalog for the first time by Guji (entitled - Dahil Sa Iyo).
[edit] References
All information written are taken from Guji Lorenzana's Official Websites and Mailing List (see external links).
Guji Lorenzana's Official Websites and Mailing List are moderated by Karin Araneta (Guji Lorenzana's manager).
[edit] External links
The following are Guji Lorenzana's official websites:
