Members
Maxine Syjuco
Poet-Songwriter & Vocalist
MAXINE SYJUCO is a poet and visual artist from Manila, Philippines. She is the youngest daughter of artists Cesare Syjuco [read more] and Jean Marie Syjuco.
Working mainly with photography, digital collage, painting and installation art, her work "possesses an intimate, philosophical, and often twisted voice in storytelling. Manipulating faces, unveiling poignant surrealities, and probing into abandoned rooms of the subconscious, Maxine authors dark, thought-provoking introspections of the human condition and its fragility -- conjuring a netherworld where ghostly images exist neither here nor there."
Her first book of poetry, "A Secret Life," was published in 2008 and received critical acclaim. Her poems have been translated into Polish and French, and have seen print in several international anthologies including the Asia Literary Review, The Poet's Guild Quarterly, Chopin with Cherries, and the 2011 Rhino International Poetry Anthology.
Maxine's exhibits and poetry-performances have taken place in venues as varied as the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Tokiwa Museum of Japan, the Hangaram Museum of Korea, the Art Takes Miami Exhibition in the U.S.A., and others.
A.G. Syjuco
Principal Composer & Producer
AG SYJUCO is the eldest son of artists Cesare Syjuco [read more] and Jean Marie Syjuco.
At age 15, he was the lead guitarist, composer and arranger for FAUST!, an art-rock band of prodigious siblings that was discovered by MTV Asia in 1996, quickly signed to a major label, and disbanded 2 years later after releasing 2 controversial albums that included the historic "My Secret Identity" (MSI) in 1998 -- probably the first full-length album in the Philippines to be released for free on the Internet by a group of commercially signed recording artists. Abandoning his professional interest in music for the next eight years, he graduated valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude) with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology from San Beda Alabang, and presently holds an executive position in a multinational tech conglomerate.
In 2006, A.G. co-produced the album "A Sudden Rush of Genius", by his Father -- legendary Philippine multimedia artist Cesare Syjuco.
Currently, A.G. is the principal composer and instrumentalist for the experimental rock band Jack of None (www.jackofnone.net). To date, the band has released 3 full-length albums -- 2016's "Who's Listening to Van Gogh's Ear?", 2017's "Who Shot Bukowski?", and 2020's "The Purpose of the Moon". The band also released a 4 track EP entitled "The Tattle Tale Heart", and the single "Michigan ex Machina (She Wasn't Me)".
In March of 2018, A.G. was honored with the award for Best Music Producer in the eclectic category at the Independent Music Awards in New York City. Jack of None received 8 nominations, and was awarded Best EP (eclectic) for "The Tattle Tale Heart".
In March of 2021, A.G. released his first solo EP, "The Color of Memory", under the name Black Leather Birds. The project explored the use of his experimental rock compositions as instrumental tracks in short, conceptual releases. A music video he directed for the track "Our Angry Science" won the Best Experimental Music Video award at the 2021 Munich Music Video Awards in Munich, Germany.
A.G. currently resides in Chicago IL with his wife, Mica, and their daughter, Muli.
Julian Syjuco
Guitarist
JULIAN SYJUCO is the youngest of five children of Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco. He is both an accomplished painter and electric guitarist of note.
He was recently singled out as one of the bright up-and-coming new generation abstractionists, and was featured in the National Artist Jose Joya Retrospective in 2012.
