July Rain has always been musically gifted. From a young age, she was singing, performing, and playing a variety of instruments. Throughout the course of her musical career, July Rain has won over the hearts of music lovers from all walks of life; performing at a variety of venues, sang over a thousand songs all the while recording new music.

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CHILDHOOD and MUSIC

July Rain, at a young age knows how to perform and sing her heart out to crowds and audiences. She would always be the first to go on stage during family reunions and gatherings. At school, she excelled in her academics, always an honor student by the end of the school year. She first learned how to play the piano at age 5, trying to widow and learn on her won. She moved on to playing the acoustic guitar. At age 10, she started singing and playing the electric guitar at a student canteen near her school. She would perform for an hour and even play back up guitar for the other students who would go and jam with her the same time she was also the front man for a high school rock band, her band mates 4 years older than her. They would join battle of the bands around their city or perform for production gigs when they can.

HER INFLUENCES and INSPIRATIONS

July Rain's father, Roger, was a local folk singer in the mid to late 80s.
Roger would let July Rain and her siblings listen to all the great bands and artists of the 60s and 70s like Beatles, Beegees, America, Eagles, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jim Croce and so much more. She grew up listening to folk, rock, country, blues and pop music.
Her dad was also her first and only vocal teacher. Roger would always request a song for July Rain to sing and he would listen to her note for note and critic her singing every line.
Her dad would always tell her to never try and mimic their musical idols and always sing naturally and from the heart. Always real. Always raw. And most of all, honest. That maybe, is the reason July Rain's voice could not be compared to anyone or be called an imitation or a "copycat" of any singer.

HOW SHE STARTED HER PROFESSIONAL SINGING CAREER
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July Rain, at barely 15 years old, year 2008 started singing with an established local acoustic group in Baguio City, Philippines called "Flights of Fancy"
Ruel Carantes, also known as "OWAT", who was the founder and band leader of a known band called “Ba’giw” back in the 70s to the 90s, was her first guitarist-mentor and her guitarist ever since.
Because of hard work, she was able to improve her vocal ability tremendously and was able to come up with a very unique and distinct singing style. Her one decade of professional singing gave her that opportunity to do so.
With very thorough research and practice, July Rain is honing her vocal prowess.

Blessed with a wide vocal range from low notes to belting high notes with ease while playing the tambourine, shaker, or the standing-cajon, which is an original concept/act of the group since August 2016 launched in Manila.
A versatile singer who loves the blues and rock music, but appreciates all kinds of musical style or genre.

Through the years, she worked on perfecting her craft until such time that she is starting to stand out among singers in Baguio City.

She and Ruel decided to go down to Manila on April 2012, the capital region of the Philippines and where the biggest music happenings are.

They migrated to Manila and started doing gigs around the metro. Two years into their Manila stay, she landed an EP Album deal with Ivory Music and Video. The slef-titled EP Album has 5 original songs, 3 were written by July Rain and 2 songs written by Owat Carantes.

 

 

SELF-TITLED EP ALBUM IN THE PHILIPPINES UNDER IVORY MUSIC

 

July Rain recorded in one of the best recording studios in Manila, Viva Amerasian Studio, and with just 10 hours of recording, her EP Album was officially released in digital form last November 2016.

Her carrier single "Tayong Dalawa" has been picked up by RGMA and on the playlist of Brgy LS nationwide.

 

Some of her radio guestings and interviews include, RGAM Brgy LS Manila, RGA Brgy LS Baguio, MOR Manila, DZRJ Manila and Tee Radio Manila.

 

Because of the release of her EP Album, offers for better live gigs and performances started pouring in, including  the opportunity in playing in most of the Casino and Hotels in Manila.

 

For the next 2 years after the release of July Rain’s EP album, the band focused on performing live gigs in Casino Filipino Branches, 5 star Hotels, exclusive venues and bars, performing nightly and tirelessly, along with concerts and invitations for private and public events.

 

October of 2017, July Rain and Owat carantes were contemplating on taking a few months break from the hectic schedules and commitments in Manils, go home to be with family and take it easy, try to refresh and recharge. After 2 weeks, it was decided that they go home and say goodbye to their current gigs and do their last show for the year.

 

November 2018, July Rain and Owat Carantes arrived in Baguio, home after 6 long years of non-stop gigs and musical adventure planning to take a break and spend Christmas and New Year with their own families before going back to the fast paced Manila scene, not knowing that blessings and opportunity is just waiting in the wind.

 

 

 

 

HOW JULY RAIN’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL SINGLE “BELIEVE” CAME TO BE

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One afternoon in December 2018, July Rain was testing out her recording software she just installed in her Iphone along with her new microphone, she wanted to know how they would sound together because she will use them for youtube cover and recording gigs online.

 

She wrote down the lyrics and the guitar chords of a song she never sang all her life, never on their gigs too. She heard the song a few times but never was a part of her playlist or her favorites, at that moment, it was just a song she wants to jam and practice. It was the song “BELIEVE” by Cher, a massive disco hit during the late 90s.

 

She gave it a go, recorded her first attempt of the song and just sang it the way she felt the song’s message would actually sound. It’s a song full of doubt and loneliness, so she did a stripped down, acoustic version with her own singing style.

 

She decided then to upload a 1-minute clip of the video to her Instagram and Facebook account and just ask her fans/followers if the sound quality is okay, thinking, it was just practice take or just a sound check anyway, so that was the only purpose.

 

Upon hearing the 1-minute video clip of July Rain’s “cover”, Fitzroy Francis asked July Rain that they release that acoustic version as July Rain’s first international single and introduction to the worldwide music scene. Mr Francis has been in July Rain’s circle for a few years already but they never talked about any collaborations in the past because July Rain was very focused on her EP Album in the Philippines.

 

Fitzroy Francis, owner of the record label Mightyful13 in partnership with VPAL Music both based in New York USA. A very well-known Jamaican-American producer recognized multiple times as Producer of the Year in New York for his amazing work with grammy award and chart topping Reggae artists and artists of the Caribbean Music, the likes of the great Bob Marley.

 

With all the talks and contracts done, July Rain and Owat, went to the studio and recorded the acoustic guitar and the lead vocals of the single. This was done at RAB Studio owned by sound engineer, Ricky Balangcod, a longtime friend of the duo. The raw tracks were done in an hour and that same night, they sent all tracks to Fitzroy Francis for the mixing, mastering and all production and promotional works needed for the song.

 

The mixing of the song was done in Jamaica. Mr. Earl Chinna Smith mixed the guitar and the lead vocals, Maria Smith and Ear Smith Jr rendered the vocal harmonies.

After the mixing the tracks were sent to Grammy producer Earle Holder in Florida USA for the mastering.

 

July Rain’s first international single “BELIEVE” was officially released in the market on March 9, 2018.

The single was premiered on air by Stockade Radio, USA.

Other radio stations that are regularly playing the song are, Tony Carr Radio Show Washington DC, Dave West The Godfather Radio Show in the UK, Irie Jam Radio in Jamaica, the biggest radio station in Jamaica, Clinton Lindsay Radio Program New York and Florida USA, Foundation Radio Network and all affiliate radio stations within USA and Jamaica.

 

6 weeks after the official release of “BELIEVE”, the single entered the Foundation Radio Network Chart at number 29.

 

The Foundation Radio Network Chart is a weekly chart broadcasted in New York, Florida and Jamaica  which can be heard worldwide via online streaming,  has been existing for 40 years and the chart is compiled by data received from airplay and listeners’ requests, most played and most requested from all participants and affiliated programs and shows.

 

Participants: WVIP 93.5Fm New York, MIXX102.5fm, and the Foundation Radio Network. Other affiliates include www.clintonlindsay.com, www.linkageradio.com, www.rulabrownnetwork.com, www.1095jamz.com, www.mixx102.com, and KOOL 97 Fm, Jamaica.

 

Week after week, the single consistently moved up the chart,

Week 1 #29, week 2 #24, week 3 #22, week 4 #18, week 5 #16, week 6 #13, week 7 #10, week 8 #8, week 9 #5, week 10 #4,

and as of June 30, 2018 the single topped the chart.

 

Other artists in the chart with July Rain include, Ziggy Marley, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, children of the great Bob Marley, and superstars Sting and Shaggy.

 

A first in the history of the chart that an acoustic pop song sang by a Filipina artist dominated it.

Mr. Lindsay even called it “unusual”.

 

As of July 7, 2018, the single remained at the number one spot for the 2nd week. Thanks to all the fans in the US and Jamaica requesting, voting and supporting the single.

 

Because of this achievement and feat, July Rain built a following  and a demand for an original song grew louder. July Rain and the label are currently working on her 2nd international single which is an original song she wrote. The song, originally in the folk-blues style, was given a new interpretation by Jamaica’s top session musicians giving the song authenticity and it being the welcoming of the Reggae world to JULY RAIN. Lead vocals are to be recorded in the Philippines by July Rain and additional acoustic guitar by Owat Carantes.

 

The next single is to be released very soon; it’s called “WE ARE ONE”.

 

Other highlights and info:

 

JULY RAIN, was invited/casted by FOX TV for a show called “THE FOUR” created by the makers of AMERICAL IDOL after watching her videos on youtube, as a contestant of the competition and appear straight on Television without any audition. Not knowing that July Rain is a Filipina and is actually based in the Philippines. With limited time to prepare, July Rain was not able to fix necessary documents and funding to be able to join the show. The show is now on its second season and is a top rating show.

 

JULY RAIN and her single believe was featured as Single of the Month in the reggeadiscography website with over 3 million followers and fans.

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CURRENT PROJECTS

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JULY RAIN recently formed a new 5 piece classic rock band, still based in Baguio City.

She performs with her acoustic-standing cajon and full band act every THURSDAYS at KIKAN HOUSE OF FOOD MUSIC and ART, and every FRIDAYS at CHOLOS GASTROPARK.