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Revisiting Monochrome
Opinion Article by Nympha
January 2024
Today, I get to revisit and relisten Bonne's last album from Earheads Records in 2022. He has been absent in the music industry since then, and has focused on literary arts.
Upon replaying the tracks, I noticed one thing -- this album was ahead of its time. The current mood and music type are typically what we hear on the radio nowadays.
The tracklisting was well-thought-out and was surprisingly good. Space, Can't Hardly Wait, and Monochrome are good back-to-back tracks in the album. They're catchy and easy to sing along to. If this album is to have a re-release, Space and Can't Hardly Wait should be singles.
To Be With You Again is a really cheesy song and I honestly thought it doesn't connect well to the album's vibe, but hey, it's his tribute to his father, so respect to that.
And the final track, Outro, man, that was a different Bonne! We hope that's the new sound we get to hear in his new album. But in this project, it's too bad we get to hear one different Bonne, and it's only in this track.
Overall, Monochrome is a decent follow-up to PAUSE, his so-called favorite album. The songs are great, the tracklisting is perfect, and it should've been promoted longer.
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MONO: A Monochromatic End of an Era
This article appeared in StarsWeek August 2022
Wearing a black shirt has been Bonne's signature style since his father died in 2019. He greeted me and escorted me to his recording studio in La Guardia Flats 2, where he recorded his last album under Earheads Records, Monochrome.
I noticed his condenser mic turned on. Could he be recording new materials under his new recording label, Dynamics Records?
He briefly answers, "No."
"I'm taking things incredibly slow with Dynamics Records. I wanted something new, original, and unique this time." Bonne continues.
His transfer to Dynamics Records served as a homecoming as the new recording label is a joint venture of 3 major recording labels back in the day: Sonaiya Records, DYNA Records, and his very own BiTZ Records, which was partly owned by Earheads Records. Dynamics Records bought the majority shares of BiTZ from Earheads Records.
Bonne dived into the possibility of creating new and original beats for his upcoming project, that is why he is taking things slow.
Since Bonne's 5 year hiatus, Earheads Records has fully rushed in releasing his albums in a span of two years. His comeback album, The Theory of Everything was less appreciated, the follow-up PAUSE was a flop (which he considers his best work ever), and the underperformance of his newly released album Monochrome, despite the wide release.
Now, his last project for Earheads Records before he says goodbye is ReImagined: Live, a live album with a collection of his previous hits sung live during his promotional tour, ReImagined.
"It's fun to perform my old hits whenever I'm performing live. Prior to ReImagined, the setlist for my online concert Sessions was more on covers and performing the latest singles from my newer album releases. This time is different as I get to perform my earlier hits." Bonne explained as he lets me listen to a reimagined version of a hit from his fourth album, Latin Touch, during his Sonaiya Records days, Circles Round The Moon, which will be included in his upcoming live album.
Titled ReImagined: Live! will be his first LIVE album in his entire career. His final project under Earheads Records, the album will consist of 7 tracks, spawning hits from his previous albums and a recording of his LIVE performance of "Sweet", one of the newer singles from the album Monochrome.
SW: Were there instances where you doubted the label? Were there chances that things would've done better?
Bonne: I mean, they could've done better in keeping my records safe. The whole Spotlight album was lost in a data breach. None of the tracks were saved. The whole Christmas: Limelight album was also lost. With Limelight, the only tracks that were able to recover are the ones we released. Everything else went down the drain. It was like the effort was gone to waste.
In 2014, there was a data breach in Earheads Records' database. The files were deleted and the data storage that they partnered with already closed. Muziboo, 4Shared, PureVolume and Stereo9 were Earheads Records' partners in storing their database. All of the tracks and albums were gone since their shutdown and they were not able to recover the files.
"It was a good thing that my recording company BiTZ Records, stepped in during ESCAPE era and helped with the data storage. All of my albums since then are stored safely. I don't want that to happen to my future projects under Dynamics Records." Bonne continued.
Bonne recalls when Earheads Records made the boldest move in uploading his tracks on Spotify. For the first time ever, Bonne's music was heard on the biggest music streaming platform.
In 2016, Bonne's singles for his Phases album are available on Spotify. However, the effort to include the whole album was reduced to ashes as Spotify only accepted the released singles and a special edition of his greatest hits album.
Through this, his 2014 single, Closer, which was included in the special edition of The Best In Me on Spotify brought into a new life as it garnered thousands of streams, thanks to Douyin, China's TikTok.
SW: What are you looking forward to?
Bonne: I'm excited for what's ahead. I am happy with my journey with Earheads Records, there were ups and downs but it was a great ride. And I can't wait to see what's next.
Bonne's 17th album, Monochrome is available for streaming on Soundcloud and Audiomack.
His first LIVE album and his final project under Earheads Records, ReImagined: Live! will be available on September 10.
*** END ***
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REIMAGINED: Live!
Bonne's first LIVE album
from Earheads Records
Featuring Bonne's signature hits in a new spin, performed LIVE!
Available on September 10, 2022
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REIMAGINED TOUR DATES, ANNOUNCED!
OFFICIAL TOUR DATES ARE UP!
REIMAGINED
Bonne: Live In Concert
at the Grand Deb: CEBU
Following last year's online concert, Bonne is back with 4 exclusive performances at Grand Deb: Cebu.
Bonne promises a night of nostalgic hits from him as he promises to perform his old hits from his previous albums for the first time in YEARS!
His first LIVE album will be released to cap off his journey with Earheads Records.
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DYNAMICS Records announces their first artist: Bonne
Bonne returns to his recording label roots in DYNAMICS Records, a joint recording label of his former recording labels, BiTZ Records and Sonaiya Records.
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MOVING OUT, MOVING ON
This is to formally announce Bonne's departure from Earheads Records.
It's been a great decades-long partnership with the recording company that transitioned Bonne from traditional to digital recordings. Together, they produced multiple hit albums and tracks.
Today, he returns home to his own recording company, BiTZ Records which is now fully acquired by DYNAMICS RECORDS.
His latest album, Monochrome, serves as Bonne's final album under Earheads Records.
We look forward to hearing new tracks and albums from Bonne under his new label, Dynamics Records.
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May 11, 2022 Today marks another memorable moment.
For the first time in many years, I have released an official remix of one of my tracks.
Earheads Records and Wub machine collaborate in bringing you the Wub Machine Remix of my new track, Sweet, which will be performed in my upcoming virtual concert, ReImagined.
The track is exclusively on Soundcloud.
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I'm excited to announce the online concert to back up my new album.
ReImagined.
Featuring new songs from my new album, Monochrome
and special remixes of my previous songs from previous music labels.
Currently in its preparation phase and will announce the official dates soon.
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youtube
Ok, I must confess: I initially didn't have much confidence in this new project but with the current number of plays on YouTube and Audiomack, that changed a lot.
Now, that it's on YouTube Music, I'm getting more pumped.
Stream my new single, Sweet, from my new album Monochrome.
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Wiki: Monochrome (album)
Monochrome is the seventeenth (17th) album by Bonne, released on May 6, 2022, through Earheads Records.
Background and Development
Song selection and recording began after the release of his album, PAUSE, his shortest album to date. The initial plan was to have a re-release version but was soon scrapped.
bezimeni music serves as the main executive producer for the third time with a new producer on board, Matthew May.
During the recording process, Bonne had an altercation with bezimeni music on how he changed his mood beats drastically and thus had a new producer added to the project.
Like his previous projects, Bonne had recorded and rejected a lot of songs during the selection of the official singles, before he decided on the final 10 tracks.
Music and Lyrics
All of the original tracks are penned by Bonne and are mainly influenced by pop, similar to his previous projects.
The only track that stands out and was deemed different is the carrier single, "Sweet", which features an interpolation of Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop The Feeling.
Release and Artwork
The first single that was released technically was Bonne's second ode to his father, "To Be With You Again", which was released October 21, 2021, during the PAUSE era. It was supposedly for an extended re-release of PAUSE that was rejected. The official lyric video was released on YouTube. The single was then reconsidered to be part of the new project and was originally the closing track for Monochrome before Matthey May jumped on the project and produced Outro.
The carrier single for the album, "Sweet", was released on May 3rd of 2022 on Audiomack and YouTube with its official lyric video. The track was not uploaded on Soundcloud due to unauthorized copyrighting concerns.
Monochrome was officially released on Audiomack and Soundcloud (minus Sweet) on May 6, 2022.
Tracklisting
Monochrome is composed of 10 original songs, with no featured artists.
Tracks
Gemini 2:16
Writer: Bonne
Producer: Matthew May
Space 2:56
Writer: Bonne
Producer: Matthew May
Monochrome 2:46
Writer: Bonne
Producer: bezimeni music
Sweet 2:37
Writer: Bonne
Producer: Matthew May
Can't Hardly Wait 2:12
Writer: Bonne
Producer: bezimeni music
Falling All Behind 2:56
Writer: Bonne
Producer: bezimeni music
Better Days 3:05
Writer: Bonne
Producer: bezimeni music
Flight 2:50
Writer: Bonne
Producer: bezimeni music
To Be With You Again 3:25
Writer: Bonne
Producer: bezimeni music
Outro 2:35
Writer: Bonne
Producer: Matthew May
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5.6.2022
It's no longer a secret!
My new brand new album is OUT NOW!
Monochrome is a collection of my personal journal turned into songs.
Produced by bezimeni music and Matthew May
I started working on this project late last year. I've recorded and rejected a lot of songs on this album and came up with the best 10 tracks.
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SWEET - Out now!
It's out!
The official carrier single for my new album Monochrome, here's SWEET!
A sweet summer-accented song produced by Matthew May, contains an interpolation of Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop The Feeling.
Now Available on AudioMack, and YouTube.
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LAUNCH DATE ANNOUNCED!
Earheads Records has dropped the release date -- so it's no longer a secret!
My new album will drop on May 5, 2022, signaling the start of a new era!
I'll get the surprise further by announcing the carrier single for this new album.
SWEET will be released tomorrow, May 3rd. 2 days before the whole album will be released. Produced by Matthew May, a new beat producer I co-worked in this new project.
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Start of a new era
After my Phases album launched, I have been writing new songs for my next project.
Still with my main producer bezimeni, we recorded multiple tracks for the next album.
Though I'm not closing my phases era just yet, but I'm excited for this one.
Tentatively titled Monochrome, I collaborated this project with another producer, Matthew May, and the songs we've done are incredible.
Just like my previous song selection process, I have recorded and rejected a lot of songs as they don't see fit in this project.
More news about Monochrome soon! xoxo
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