The House That Groove Built

Groove Nation, circa 1998 as seated in front from L-R: Cocoy Puyat, Isabelle Ramos, Toti Dalmacion, Doy Santos, Desiree Campos, Edge Pamute, and in the rear from L-R: Malek Lopez, Felissa Lacuesta, Noel de Brakinghe, Karlo Samson and Agu Paiso (photographed by Dakila Angeles for Preview Magazine at 2C Michel Apartments, 1020 Mabini St, Malate, Manila, Philippines). 

The Scenester began as a sort of hymn book to accompany The Consortium, a broad church that brought together the different tribes making up Manila's fledgling fringe/dance/indie scene under "one groove". Groove Nation did the officiating with its high priest of taste, Toti Dalmacion, assisted by his fellow ministers of cool Cocoy and Edge and a little help from their friends from Rubber Inc, Malek and Noel. Here they are with the rest of the gang, Belle, Felissa, Desiree, Karlo, Agu, and moi. Missing in action were Mario and Gina Serrano, Benjie Lopez and Ces Guerrero.

Many saw it as an affront to the stale "warehouse parties" that were more geared towards schmoozing and hobnobbing with the upper crust by those aspiring to scale the social ladder. It also posed a challenge to those who considered themselves part of the "underground/alternative"scene and wanted to have nothing to do with dance, which they equated to disco, which evidently meant that it was bad. These rigid lines of distinction slowly faded as more and more musicians embraced electronica as a legitimate part of their artistic palette. 

The editors of The Scenester became chroniclers of the times. At the dawn of the internet when DIY publications took the form of print and mass distribution by pounding the pavement was still the norm, they painstakingly put together each issue through literally ripping and pasting. Everything that was in it, from cover to cover was a reflection of their passion, dedication, and perhaps naiveté. Needless to say, many rounds of coffee, liquor and tobacco were consumed in the process.

Within the span of four years, from 1995 to 1998, nine issues saw print. The last two were a collaboration with the boys and girls of Nine, a fanzine after our own hearts with whom we shared a certain affinity in ethos and aesthetics. The year in which this photo was taken was therefore the last one in which The Scenester came out. It has taken us over a dozen years to fulfil our promise to deliver it online (there was a brief web presence in 1999 hosted by Geocities.com).

With this latest incarnation, much of the same features that our readers came to enjoy remain and more were added. In the future, when we have collected enough material (who knows?), a book may be in the offing. But, as of now, we hope you just sit back, relax and enjoy another healthy dose of your favorite bed-time stories.