Friday, 8:00PM. 2nd floor, Akrotiri Greek Restobar, Makati City. Skarlet aka Myra Ruaro set aside her half-eaten dinner, stood up and walked to a performance space to the left of the bar. Noli Aurillo looking like a brown version of Slash took up a bar stool beside Skarlet and strummed his acoustic guitar in flamenco-ish flourish.
With nary a nod between the duo, Skarlet started humming the opening bars of “Cry Me A River” then moved to a bluesy croon and by the final quarter of the song, she was shifting from jazz diva to power metal dominatrix. Noli Aurillo kept up with Skarlet’s pace coaxing soft, brash and aggressive sounds from his acoustic instrument as the situation demanded.
In the duo’s two sets for the evening, they took liberties in their interpretation of standards as well as classic pop and rock songs especially Radiohead’s “Creep” that challenged preconceptions and expectations. Saxophonist Daryll Ladioray and Tessie Tomas’ husband, Roger Pullin on harmonica provided added jazzy and bluesy colors to a couple of songs.
In the break between sets, I asked Noli how he and Skarlet found chemistry. He replied, “It just happens, Sabi ko kay Skarlet, kumawala ka lang, ako nang bahala.”
“May nag-comment, I bring out the best in whoever I work with. Akin naman, you just have to be yourself. Let go of all your inhibitions. Tumodo ka. Yun na yun!”
Skarlet added, “For example, yung mellow na mellow na ‘Cry Me A River,’ pansinin mo, umaarangkada ang version namin. Kasi naman, ang message is about ‘rampaging river of tears.’ We may be jamming, but we also pay attention to the context of the song.”
Performing live, Skarlet appears to be taking the bull by the horn, so to speak, but as a mother and wife, she usually escapes from what she calls the “chaos of urban living” to the peace and quiet of the family’s Avayu beachfront property in Zambales.
The initial idea for her favorite corner of the sky was to have something of value as endowment to her kids. In the search for the ideal legacy, she and her partner would also consider a small property so long as it’s near the sea.
It took them three years to find such an affordable place that meets their budget. As it turned out, their very own Avayu is a 600 sq, m. beach front property, typical ‘small’ real estate in the provinces.
She said it’s a far better and livable space than the more expensive yet cramped units in condos that now dot Metro Manila. The Manila girl would rather have her fresh air and room to roam.
Avayu now has six cabins. It’s home to Skarlet and her family where they stay most of the time. When they are away in Manila or on vacation, it’s an Airbnb-like place available for rent, with her brother taking care of accommodations for local and foreign guests.
In recent months, Skarlet has been raising her indie profile in acclaimed shows with Put3ska and The Urban Bandits. She’s also a producer and host at Boysen Beats, an online music platform that promotes independent OPM. It’s an advocacy financed by the music-loving owners of Boysen Paints.
Purely Filipino independent artists take center at Boysen Beats. Its latest episode featured Bulacan’s Skabeche playing a mix of ska, punk and blues. A reggae party and Tago jazz night have also been presented in what’s looking like the next alternative hang-out in cyberspace.
A recent post at the Boysen Beats page is calling for support to a fund raiser for the ailing journalist/poet/screen and songwriter Jose “Pete” Lacaba, happening on March 7, Saturday at Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City. Noel Cabangon, Cookie Chua, Hazel Faith & Skarlet Brown and poets Gemino Abad and Butch Dalisay are some of the musical and literary luminaries who will be taking part in the event.