Apl.de.ap Launching His Own Solo Album

by Lynn on April 6th, 2008

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, apl.de.ap, also known as Allan Pineda Lindo had a very tough childhood in the Philippines with his mother and now tries to give back to his homeland as much as possible. To help his mother in their poor area, he grew up planting rice and other crops. And when he was 11 he was brought to the US, sponsored by the Pearl S. Buck Foundation to get medical treatment he couldn’t get in the Philippines. He wanted to stay in the US and began to teach himself English by studying the English-Filipino dictionary.

Now, he is one of the Black Eyed Peas and has started his own foundation to benefit Filipino children. The Los Angeles-based Apl Foundation organizes an annual event called the Apl Benefit, a charity show featuring him and other musician friends. Some of the money raised has helped apl’s community in his hometown.

“We built a stage for graduation rites in my old elementary school,” he said. “We also bought computers and installed electric fans in the classrooms.”

This year, the foundation wants to raise more money to build music schools for children. “I want to launch it very soon,” he added.

Apl eventually moved to live in LA, where he met will.i.am, founder and frontman of BEP. Together they had to struggle to get started too.

“We had to work hard to achieve our dreams. For three years we played wherever we could for free. We played in schools during lunchtime. We played a lot of benefit shows,” he said.

“But we believed in ourselves and soon we started having a following. The audience got bigger after every show. And then record companies took notice of us,” apl recalled.

Apl is currently working on his debut solo.

He said his debut would contain “new songs about the country and some that can make you dance. It has modern sounds like house music, but I also put in some folk guitar and tinikling beats.”

One of the new songs, “Island ,” was heard for the first time at the Myx Music Awards. Apl performed with another Filipino-American, a female DJ named Mia Guzman.

Apl added that the album would feature collaborations with other Filipino artists such as the Apo Hiking Society, Billy Crawford and Lolita Carbon of Asin. “It’s kinda like a Black Eyed Peas album but this time, it will show my individuality, who I am, where I came from, the struggle I’ve been through.”

One of the things I admire the most about all the member of the Black Eyed Peas is their interest in giving back to their communities. Apl is no exception.

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