| Lolita Carbon | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Lolita Carbon |
| Alias: | Nene Carbon |
| Birth Date: | 13 November 1957 |
| Origin: | Manila, Philippines |
| Instruments: | Guitar, vocals |
| Genre: | Pinoy rock, folk |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter |
| Years Active: | 1970–present |
| Label: | Vicor Music Ivory Music Philippines |
| Associated Acts: | Asin Lokal Brown Nene Tres Marias |
Lolita Carbon is a Filipina singer and songwriter best known for her work with the band Asin and her influence in the Pinoy rock movement. She has been active as a composer and performer from 1970 to the present day who performs in Philippines[1] as well as internationally.[2] She is known for her songs "Masdan ang Kapaligiran", "Ang Buhay ko", "Pagbabalik", "Himig ng Pagibig" and "Usok".[3]
Carbon showed promise as a singer early in life. At age 10, she won a singing contest on the radio program Tina Betty's Children's Show with a performance of "The Impossible Dream". At age 13, she held a 6 month position as a singer with the Philippine Navy Band N2 Division and sang music by Shirley Bassey. Despite her father's wishes, Carbon decided to drop out of high school and pursue a career in music.[4]
By 1976, Carbon had become an active musician who was booked to a full-time singing slot at a club called the Kola House. At that time, the Filipino popular music scene was undergoing a folk music revival associated with the Pinoy Rock movement. Filipino pop musicians were heavily influenced by Western performers[5] such as Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. While working at the Kola House, Carbon met fellow musicians Cesar Bañares Jr. and Mike Pillora Jr. and together with them, she would eventually form the ensemble known as Asin. One of the band's early successes came when they were signed by a record company and Carbon was tasked with singing a Japanese overdub of the hit song Anak, written by fellow filipino musician Freddie Aguilar.
While the band saw great success and popularity, Carbon and the other band members had extremely turbulent relationships. After alternating periods of collaboration and hiatus, Asin officially disbanded in 1990. In the time since, Carbon has contributed many musical collaborations. She was a part of the 'supergroup' Lokal Brown (best known for their hit "This Is Not Amerika") in 1990 and in 1991 formed her own band by the name of Nene. In 2012, she formed the band Tres Marias with fellow female musicians Cooky Chua and Bayang Barrios.
Carbon was married twice and has four children.
Through her work with Asin, Carbon has contributed to the representation of indigenous Filipino instruments in popular music.[6] She is also notable as a female band leader who has been consistently performing with various outfits since the 1970s.