| A.G. Syjuco | |
| Birth Name: | Augusto Cesare Amado R. Syjuco |
| Alias: | Black Leather Birds |
| Birth Place: | Manila, Philippines |
| Genre: | Art-rock |
| Occupation: | Music producer, composer, and musician |
| Instrument: | Guitar |
| Associated Acts: | Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco |
A.G. Syjuco (born Augusto Cesare Amado R. Syjuco in August 1980), also known as Black Leather Birds, is a music producer, composer, and musician originally from Manila, Philippines. He is the eldest son of avant-garde artists Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco and is the producer, principal composer, and primary instrumentalist of the experimental rock band Jack of None.[1]
He was the lead guitarist and composer for the art-rock band FAUST! at age 15. The band was discovered by MTV Asia in 1996 and quickly signed to a major label. FAUST! released two albums that included My Secret Identity (MSI) in 1998 — which was arguably the first full-length album in the Philippines to be released for free on the Internet by a group of commercially signed recording artists - and disbanded shortly after. A.G. took a hiatus from the music industry for eight years, and during this period he graduated valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude) with a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from San Beda College Alabang.[2] [3] [4] [5]
In 2006, A.G. co-produced the album "A Sudden Rush of Genius", by his father, Cesare Syjuco.[2] [6] From 2005 to 2010 A.G. was the lead guitarist and composer of the band “Utakan” which he formed with his wife Mica and sister Maxine Syjuco.[7] In 2016, the band re-formed as Jack of None with A.G., Maxine and their brother Julian as the third member. Currently A.G. is the producer, principal composer and primary instrumentalist (on guitars, synthesizer and bass) for Jack of None.[8] [9] [10] [11]
In March 2018, A.G. was awarded the Independent Music Award in New York City, U.S.A., for Best Music Producer in the eclectic category for his work on Jack of None's second album "Who Shot Bukowski?"[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] Jack of None's EP, "The Tattle Tale Heart" (which AG produced) also won Best EP - Eclectic at that year's IMAs.[19]
The following year, A.G. as a previous winner was invited to be a judge at the 17th Annual Independent Music Awards.[20]
A.G. and Jack of None represented the Philippines in the 9th International Video Poetry Festival in Greece in early 2021.[21]
A.G. released his first solo EP “The Color of Memory” under the name “Black Leather Birds” on March 13, 2021.[22] Two music videos produced for this album received recognition and honors from international music video festivals and award-giving bodies.
A.G.’s music video for “Our Angry Science” under his Black Leather Birds project won Best Experimental Music Video at the Munich Music Video Awards in May 2021. [23] It also won Best Experimental Music Video at the International Sound Future Awards 2021 (NYC),[24] Honorable Mention for Best Art Music Video at the International Music Video Awards 2021,[25] and was a Finalist for Best Animated Music Video at the Paris Music Video Underground Festival 2021. The music video for "One More for the Road", a track also from the EP "The Color of Memory", was included as an official selection for the Austin Music Video Festival 2021,[26] and received the Honorable Mention for Best Art Music Video at the International Sound Future Awards 2021 (NYC).[27]
In 2022, A.G. produced the single "Dios Por Santo" for Jack of None. The music video for the track won Best Experimental Music Video at the Music Video Underground Festival 2022 (Paris, France) and Best Rock Music Video at the Ninja Indies Music Awards 2022 (Tokyo, Japan). [28]
| Year | Organization | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Independent Music Awards | Independent Music Award for Best Spoken Word Album[29] | Who's Listening To Van Gogh's Ear? | |
| Independent Music Award for Best Spoken Word Song[30] | Mrs. Stitcher | |||
| 2018 | Independent Music Award for Best Music Producer - Eclectic[31] | Who Shot Bukowski? | ||
| Independent Music Award for Best EP - Eclectic[32] | The Tattle Tale Heart | |||
| Independent Music Award for Best Spoken Word Album[33] | Who Shot Bukowski? | |||
| Independent Music Award for Best Eclectic Song[34] | Polyamorous Serial Monogamist | |||
| Independent Music Award for Best Spoken Word Song[35] | Dear Georges (Vous Petit Monstre) | |||
| Independent Music Award for Best Eclectic Album[36] | Who Shot Bukowski? | |||
| Independent Music Award for Best Lyric Music Video[37] | The Brainwashers | |||
| 2019 | Independent Music Award for Best Eclectic Song[38] | Michigan Ex Machina (She Wasn't Me) | ||
| Independent Music Award for Best Spoken Word Song[39] | Michigan Ex Machina (She Wasn't Me) | |||
| 2021 | Munich Music Video Awards | Best Experimental Music Video[40] | Our Angry Science | |
| International Sound Future Awards (NYC) | Best Experimental Music Video[41] | |||
| International Music Video Awards | Best Art Music Video[42] - Honorable Mention | |||
| Paris Music Video Underground Festival | Best Animated Music Video | |||
| Austin Music Video Festival | Official Selection[43] | One More for the Road | ||
| International Sound Future Awards (NYC) | Best Art Music Video[44] - Honorable Mention | |||
| 9th International Video Poetry Festival (Greece) | Official Selection[45] | Maman (under Jack of None) | ||
| 2022 | Paris Music Video Underground Festival | Best Experimental Music Video | Dios Por Santo (under Jack of None) | |
| Ninja Indies Music Awards | Best Rock Music Video[46] | |||