Kjwan


Kjwan is a Filipino hard rock band formed in 2003 by former Sandwich guitarist and lead vocalist Marc Abaya and Dicta License bassist Kelley Mangahas.
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History

Long-time friends and former high school bandmates Marc Abaya and Federico Kelley Mangahas got together with fellow Ateneans Jorel Corpus and J-hoon Balbuena to form the band's initial lineup. In 2004, Roberto Miguel "Boogie" Romero, another high school friend and former bandmate of Marc and Kelley, joined the lineup. They released their self-titled debut album in 2004 with their carrier hit single “Daliri” which gained constant airplay on radio stations and television.
Kjwan released their second album, 2StepMarv three years later under Barnyard Music.
The band won Favorite Indie Artist in the local music channel MYX’s music awards night. Their video “Pintura” nabbed “Favorite Guest Appearance” with the help of a seasoned actress, Chin-Chin Gutierrez. They were also featured for a month on MTV Pilipinas in December 2006. They enjoyed a month-long feature as Yahoo Southeast Asia's band of the month and another month-long feature as “Celebrity VJs” in MYX for the whole month of April 2006. They also got nominated in 6 categories in the 2007 NU Rock Awards for Artist of the Year, Best Live Act, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, Vocalist of the Year and Guitarist of the Year. 2Step Marv was a massive success for the band as they cemented themselves with releases that included: Pintura, Sa Ilalim, Shai, Invitation and One Look.
At this time, the band also had the chance to show what Philippine rock is made of to various countries abroad. They headlined HK-Live, in Central, HK back in October 2007 in front of a packed Fringe Club with fans from many nationalities. HK-Live is a monthly showcase of the Hottest Acts around Asia in HK's Fringe Club. They were also part of the Annual Baybeats Music Festival in Singapore and the HUSH Music Festival in Macau, China.
One of their biggest breakthroughs was winning the grand prize in the Asian and Philippine leg in IKON ASEAN Competition. Held in Putrajaya, Malaysia and watched by hundreds of thousands all over the region, their performance made an impact to the Asian Music Community. Kjwan beat thirty other bands from both the Philippines and in South East Asia.
Kjwan released their third album entitled 13 Seconds to Love. Inspired by the fact that a great song can be determined in just thirteen seconds, the band brought this along in their song writing with love as the common theme. The album was also the first one that was released first on a purely digital format when it was preloaded in official releases of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic in the Philippines, six months before the actual physical release of the album.

Band members

Current members

Former members

  • Boogie Romero – lead guitar, co-lead & backing vocals
  • Marinito "J-Hoon" Balbuena – drums, backing vocals
  • Jorel Corpus – guitars, percussion, backing vocals
  • Enrique "Inky" de Dios – keyboards, keytar, synthesizers, percussion, backing vocals
  • Pao Santiago – drums

Session musicians

  • Bryan Makasiar – drums
  • Wendell Garcia – drums
  • Paolo Manuel – drums
  • Kurt Floresca – drums
  • Bea Lao – drums

Discography

Studio Albums
YearTitleLabel
2004KjwanSony Music Philippines
20062StepMarvEMI Philippines/Barnyard Music Philippines
200913 Seconds to LoveMCA Music Philippines
2012Kjwan IV Volume OneMCA Music Philippines
2014Kjwan IV Volume TwoMCA Music Philippines

Singles
YearSongAlbum
2004DaliriKjwan
2004BoomerangKjwan
2005SurfaceKjwan
2005TwilightKjwan
2006Pintura2StepMarv
2006Sa Ilalim2StepMarv
2006One Look2StepMarv
2006Invitation2StepMarv
2006Shai2StepMarv
2009Pause13 Seconds to Love
2009Meron Ba13 Seconds to Love
2009Lifeline13 Seconds to Love
2012Walang KasoKjwan IV Volume One
2014My AxisKjwan IV Volume Two
2014Fall From The SunKjwan IV Volume Two
2014Aking PangakoKjwan IV Volume Two
2016HyperConnectedKjwan IV Volume Three
2024DahasTBA
2024Sa HuliTBA
2025Mula Sa KatahimikanTBA
2025IpagpatawadTBA
2025KaibiganTBA

Unreleased songs
YearSongAlbum
2005Get With Me 2StepMarv
2010Picture Lady Dagim
2016Red Bleeds To Blue Kjwan IV Volume Three

Other Appearances
YearSongAlbum
2003Drizzle Rx Band Breakout Finalists CD
2005A Different KindROK ON! Music Inspired by the Ragnarok Online Game
2007DaliriLIVE AND RAW
2009PauseKerplunk! DEFIANT
200913 Seconds to LoveNokia 5800 Express Music Phone
MCA Music
2012Kjwan IV volume 1Independent
2014Kjwan IV volume 2Independent

Awards and achievements

Miscellaneous and Other Awards:
YearAward giving bodyCategoryNominated workResults
2004NU Rock AwardsBest New Artist
2004NU Rock AwardsBest Video"Daliri"
2004NU Rock AwardsBest Album PackagingKjwan
2004NU Rock AwardsBest Drummer
2005MTV Pilipinas Video Music AwardsFavorite New Artist
2005MTV Pilipinas Video Music AwardsBest Video"Daliri"
2007Ikon AseanIKON ASEAN Champion Won
2007MYX Music AwardsFavorite Indie ArtistWon
2007MYX Music AwardsFavorite MYX Live Performance
2007NU Rock AwardsArtist of the Year
2007NU Rock AwardsBest Live Act
2007NU Rock AwardsAlbum of the Year2StepMarv
2007NU Rock AwardsProducer of the Year
2007NU Rock AwardsVocalist of the Year
2007NU Rock AwardsGuitarist of the Year
2008Awit AwardsInternational Achievement AwardWon
2008MYX Music AwardsFavorite Indie Artist
2009NU Rock AwardsArtist of the Year
2009NU Rock AwardsAlbum of the Year13 Seconds to Love
2009NU Rock AwardsVocalist of the Year
2009NU Rock AwardsGuitarist of the Year
2009NU Rock AwardsBassist of the Year
2009NU Rock AwardsDrummer of the Year
2009NU Rock AwardsSong of the Year"Lifeline and 13 Seconds to Love"
2009NU Rock AwardsBest Album Packaging13 Seconds to Love
2009NU Rock AwardsBest Music Video"Lifeline"
2009NU Rock AwardsProducer of the Year
2018Wish Music AwardsWishclusive Urban Performance of the Year"One Look"