O/C Records
Independent label founded by Kean Cipriano and Chynna Ortaleza as part of Viva Entertainment.
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O/C Records is a Philippine independent record label launched on August 14, 2018. It was founded by Kean Cipriano, formerly the lead vocalist of the band Callalily (which later renamed to Lily after his departure), together with his wife Chynna Ortaleza. The label operates under Viva Entertainment.
Cipriano first moved into artist management by working with the indie alternative rock band IV of Spades. The group gained rapid popularity due to their musical style, fashion, and artistic image, especially after releasing their hit song "Mundo." Three months later, however, lead vocalist Unique Salonga left the band to pursue a solo career. Cipriano said that after "Mundo" came out, he felt his management role was finished and decided to step away. He expressed gratitude for the experience but cited the music industry’s toxicity as a reason for starting his own label.
Partnering with Vic del Rosario of Viva Records, Cipriano and Ortaleza founded O/C Records. The name is an acronym of their surnames—Ortaleza and Cipriano—representing their joint effort.
Notable artists signed to the label include 12th Street, Adie Garcia, Alyssa, Ángelito, Arthur Nery, Bita and the Botflies, bird., Bobet Butter Bo Nya, Callalily (until 2021), Calein, Cean Jr., Drive of Daydreams, Earl Generao, Ell, Frizzle Anne, Gian Magdangal, Glaiza De Castro, Halina, Healy After Dark, Jade Ivy, Jay Kent, Jem Cubil, Johnoy Danao, Kean Cipriano, Kenaniah, King Ina ño, Lochnezz, Lolomo O Pao, Martin Riggs, Max Importunate, Mimiyuuuh, Mrld, Pappel, Patty Tiu, Project Moonman, Pooky Koma Lagkit, Rhythm & Drip, Rice Lucido, Rockalyt, Ryannah J, Sabrina Manansalas, Telay, Totoy Mola, The Wallblossoms, Thursday Honey, Una Unani, and Zsaris.
Founding & the Couple Behind the Name
O/C Records emerged on August 14, 2018, as an independent record label based in the Philippines. The venture was spearheaded by Kean Cipriano, best known for his years as the lead voice of the alternative rock group Callalily, together with his wife Chynna Ortaleza. The label operates within the broader Viva Entertainment umbrella, a partnership forged with Vic del Rosario of Viva Records. The name itself is a straightforward nod to the two founders—Ortaleza and Cipriano—signaling that this was a joint creative enterprise rather than a corporate spin-off.
Cipriano's path to label ownership was not a sudden leap. He had already cut his teeth in artist management, guiding the indie alternative rock band IV of Spades through a period of rapid growth. That experience, combined with his years performing on stage with Callalily, gave him a dual perspective on the music world: the artist's hunger and the manager's logistics. O/C Records was, in many ways, the natural convergence of those two vantage points, born from a desire to build a space where artists could thrive without the pressures Cipriano had witnessed firsthand.
The IV of Spades Chapter That Shaped the Label
The story of O/C Records is inseparable from a brief but electric chapter involving the indie alternative rock band IV of Spades. Kean Cipriano stepped into the role of their manager, and under his guidance the group—recognized for their musicality, distinctive fashion sense, and artistic style—experienced a swift ascent. The turning point came with the release of their track "Mundo," which catapulted the band into wider recognition. Yet the very momentum that brought them visibility also set in motion a parting.
Three months after "Mundo" landed, lead vocalist Unique Salonga announced he was leaving the group to pursue a solo path. Cipriano, for his part, felt that once "Mundo" was out in the world, his managerial mission had been fulfilled. He spoke openly about gratitude for the opportunity while also pointing to what he described as the toxicity of the music industry as a driving factor in his decision to walk away. Rather than simply returning to his previous life, he channeled that frustration into building something new—a label where the pressures he had seen up close would not define the artist experience.
A Roster That Defies a Single Genre
O/C Records has cultivated a roster that spans a wide spectrum of Philippine independent music, reflecting the label's commitment to diverse voices within the alternative and rock landscape. Among the names associated with the imprint are established acts like Callalily (through 2021), 12th Street, and Jay Kent, alongside newer or more niche artists such as Bita and the Botflies, bird., Frizzle Anne, and Pooky Koma Lagkit. The list also includes solo performers like Adie Garcia, Earl Generao, and Patty Tiu, as well as project-based groups like Project Moonman, Healy After Dark, and Thursday Honey.
Notably, some artists carry a Viva affiliation—Arthur Nery is listed with that tag—underscoring the label's integration within the Viva Entertainment family. The roster's breadth, from Pinoy Rock to more experimental and indie-leaning acts, suggests a philosophy of curation over genre restriction. Kean Cipriano himself appears on the artist list, reinforcing the hands-on, personal nature of the operation. The collective identity of these acts, united under the Ortaleza-Cipriano banner, paints a picture of a label that values artistic individuality while providing a shared institutional home.
Independent in Spirit, Supported in Structure
Founded in 2018, O/C Records occupies a distinctive niche in the Philippine music scene: an independent imprint that nonetheless benefits from the structural support of Viva Entertainment. This hybrid positioning—rooted in the personal, founder-driven ethos of an indie label while drawing on the resources of a larger entertainment company—sets it apart from both purely grassroots collectives and fully corporate operations. The label's origins in the alternative rock world, through Cipriano's years with Callalily and his management work with IV of Spades, give it a clear musical DNA.
Yet its roster stretches well beyond a single genre, encompassing Pinoy Rock, solo singer-songwriters, and experimental projects. The fact that Callalily remained on the label until 2021, even after Cipriano's departure from the band (which subsequently rebranded as Lily), highlights the personal threads that bind the roster together. In an industry Cipriano has publicly described as toxic, O/C Records stands as a deliberate counter-narrative: a space built by a husband-and-wife team, named after both their surnames, where the goal is to let artists grow on their own terms rather than being funneled through a one-size-fits-all machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kean Cipriano decide to create his own label?
After managing the indie alternative rock band IV of Spades and witnessing the toxic dynamics of the industry—culminating in lead singer Unique Salonga's exit in late 2018—Cipriano chose to build a more supportive home for artists under his own banner.
What scene does O/C Records belong to in the Philippines?
The label is rooted in the Filipino indie and alternative rock community, having grown out of Cipriano's direct involvement with underground bands like IV of Spades.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: O/C Records (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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