"The members of Chillitees have attractive musical pedigrees. Besides having most of the members work as sound gurus at Liquid Post sound studio, MC/flutist Ryan Armamento plays for Sun Valley Crew, while guitarist Dan Gil is a seasoned saxophonist who used to play for Grace Nono and Bob Aves, and is the keyboardist for SVC. Keyboardist Gino Cruz came from Kulay's original line-up and spent several years with Pido and Take One. Drummer Tim de Ramos is currently abroad, so the sometime Cambio/Twisted Halo/Sugarfree and If Disco Is A Crime member's duties will be filled by guitarist Jon Padilla," [who also plays drums for indie-alternative rock band Forgetting Luna. UPDATE: Paolo Lim of Sound now also plays drums for Chillitees, and Jon Padilla goes back to guitars.] "Bassist Jon Jon 'Teofilo' Jose was with Murder of Crows before he hooked up with rock band Helen, and crystal-voiced Uela Basco, says Dan, used to join Bulilit Kampeon pageants before being a voice talent for ampalaya pills. 'Actually gusto niya sumali sa American Idol, kaso problema 'di siya American,' Dan wisecracks. Despite the harmless inside jokes, Chillitees agree that Uela's voice is the one thing that makes the band sound so good. . . "

- From The Big Chill by Bernie Sim. [Find the full article in MTV INK Magazine - May 2005, Vol. 5, Issue 04]

PERSONNEL / HISTORY

Uela Basco - vocals / Dan Gil - guitars / Ryan Armamento - flute + vocals / Gino Cruz - vintage keys / Jon Jon Jose - bass / Jon Padilla - guitars / Tim De Ramos - drums [on leave] / Paolo Lim - drums

The group started as a songwriting collaboration between Dan Gil and Ryan Armamento in 2001. Uela Basco joined on vocals in 2002 (she was just 17 then). In 2004 Gino Cruz (Kulay, Take One) and Jon Jose (Murder of Crows, Helen) were recruited to play Vintage Keys and Bass respectively. In 2005 the Chillitees brought in Jon Padilla (Forgetting Luna) on guitar. The group also made the move from beat box to live drums: Paolo Lim (Sound) filled in for Tim de Ramos (who migrated to the USA).

Chillitees' debut album EXTRA RICE was released independently in February 2006. See EXTRA RICE link (above) for more details.