Vladimir "Jamir" Salenga Garcia[2] (5 September 1978 – 26 November 2020) was a Filipino musician best known as the main vocalist of the nu metal band, Slapshock.

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2020) This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (November 2020) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (November 2020)

Jamir Garcia
Garcia performing with Slapshock at the University of the Philippines in 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Vladimir Salenga Garcia[1]
Born	(1978-09-05)September 5, 1978 Pampanga, Philippines
Died	November 26, 2020(2020-11-26) (aged 42) Quezon City, Philippines
Genres	Alternative metal nu metal rap metal
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1997–2020

Career

Slapshock

This band was formed during the University of the Philippines Fair on February 14, 1997, which marked their first-ever gig. By early 1998, original singer Reynold Munsayac left, and Garcia was soon afterwards brought in to replace him. The band's name came from funky guitar plucking and chord slapping techniques that characterized much of the nu-metal sound. Rap-funk-punk-metal fusion band Red Hot Chili Peppers were a major influence. Guitarist Jerry Basco looked back at their debut album, 4th Degree Burn: "Our music that time were raw; we have little experience and knowledge about the equipment." Nonetheless, it was good enough for the fans. The album's sales reached platinum status. "We started at a young age and now we’ve matured. We evolved on our own. We don’t confine ourselves to what is the mode today," Garcia proudly claimed. But though Slapshock continued to evolve, they remained true to their metal roots. In the recent wave of emo (emotive punk) bands, Nadela said: "We don’t see it as a competition; we have our own kind of music. We are more particular to rockers. It’s in the commitment. We stay long because we honor our commitment to the band. Other bands switch and change members maybe because their commitment is questionable." Ever since their formation, the members have so far refused to take any side projects or consider leaving the group. Kinse Kalibre, the title of their latest album under PolyEast Records, was released in 2011. The group produced the album themselves, perfecting musicality and peculiar arrangements. They received nominations such as Best Artist from MTV Asia, and were awarded Band of the Year by the NU107 in 2001, 2002 and 2003. They also received the Best in Album Packaging award for Novena in 2002. Their first-ever hit is "Agent Orange". Additionally, some of their songs are considered to be hardcore in style or genre.

Other works

On 2012, He and Apl de ap collaborated on the theme song for the movie El Presidente. which is an official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival[3] and won the Best Theme Song in the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival.[4]

On 2018, he collaborated with the hip hop group "Chinese Mafia". with the song Labann. which is the official soundtrack of the film We Will Not Die Tonight, an official entry to this year’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.[5]

Social issues

Amid social struggles, Slapshock was very vocal and profound with its stance on issues facing Filipinos. Rampant piracy in the country is one problem most artists are concerned with. "We get affected because we pay taxes to the government, then they can’t even protect us," Garcia complained.^{[citation needed]}

Slapshock in Dubai

Slapshock performed at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival on March 7, 2008, together with internationally acclaimed bands such as Korn, Machine Head, Velvet Revolver, Muse and Marky Ramone (of the seminal punk band The Ramones) and many others. Desert Rock was one of the largest rock events of its kind and the only one in the Middle East between 2004 and 2009, doubling its attendances yearly. "It was very fulfilling; we saw the bands that we idolize. We were inspired to write new materials. We became a band because of them," exclaimed vocalist Jamir Garcia. Though they sang a Tagalog song, overwhelming audience acceptance of their music was very visible. "The audience was mostly whites; it’s another inspiration that we can let foreigners jam with us. It’s a manifestation that music really transcends," bassist Lee Nadela attested. Slapshock had been invited not only to perform but also to record their first-ever international album. They saw this as another challenge and an opportunity to bring their distinctive Filipino sound to foreign airwaves.

Death

On November 26, 2020, Garcia died after committing suicide by hanging in Quezon City. He was brought to Metro North Medical Center and Hospital, where he was declared dead.[6][7][8]

Discography

• 4th Degree Burn (PolyEast Records, 1999)
• Headtrip (PolyEast Records, 2001)
• Project 11-41 (PolyEast Records, 2002)
• Novena (PolyEast Records, 2004)
• Silence (PolyEast Records, 2006)
• Cariño Brutal (PolyEast Records, 2009)
• Kinse Kalibre (PolyEast Records, 2011)
• Night Owls (BMBX, 2014)
• Atake (BMBX, 2017)

References

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20180317110940/https://www.slapshock.com/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20080905074625/http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/13/yehey/life/20080513lif1.html
• http://www.opm.org.ph/registry/artist_profile.php?artist_id=299
• https://web.archive.org/web/20091219031318/http://burgerjam.deviantart.com/art/Jamir-Garcia-99448085

На других языках

[es] Jamir García