Perfecto "Perf" de Castro (born August 15, 1974) is a Filipino musician currently based in
Los Angeles, California[2] best known for having been a celebrated fixture in the
Philippine alternative rock scene during the 1990s. During the course of that decade, he was one of the original members of the alternative rock band
Rivermaya,[3] founded the band Triaxis, and also collaborated with the seminal Filipino rapper
Francis Magalona[4] and Filipino hard rock band
Wolfgang, all of which received critical and commercial acclaim. Hailed as one of the best guitarists in the Philippines by fans and critics alike, de Castro is also known for being adept at
classical and
flamenco music played on the
ten-string guitar.[5]
Life and career
De Castro was born in
Cabadbaran City,
Agusan del Norte, to a Batangueño father and a mother from Agusan.[6] He started learning classical guitar at 13 but switched to electric guitar after less than a year and spent the next decade learning, playing, and teaching electric guitar. He was introduced to the ten-string classical guitar by musician Jose Valdez in 1998 and has since then concentrated on this instrument. He uses a unique tuning adapted from the Valdez tuning.[7]
His most notable awards as a musician include the 1998 Katha Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and Composition and the 1998
NU Rock Award for Guitarist of the Year. He is also widely recognized as an acclaimed album producer and sound engineer, with his works including the multi-platinum albums of
Wolfgang(
Semenelin), Francis M (FreeMan and FreeMan II), and Marc Velasco (eponymous). From these, he received numerous accolades, including the Producer of the Year Award in the 1998 NU 107 Rock Awards and the 2001
Awit Award for Best Rap Recording for a song done in collaboration with Magalona.
In 2004, de Castro relocated to
Los Angeles, CA, where he continues to record, perform and teach the guitar through his website and social media.[8] He also formed a band name RockStallion, with members David Aguirre, Wolf Gemora, Mark Yap, and Raffy Mendoza.[9]
On September 7, 2018, de Castro performed in the launching of the Hollywood Wish Bus at
Universal CityWalk with 90s OPM band
Introvoys and
Robin Nievera, the DJ for The Roadshow program of
Wish 107.5.
In February 2021 he collaborated with
Gloc-9 in his latest album on the song "Payong".[12]
Awards
1998 NU 107 Rock Awards Guitarist of the Year (won)[13]
1998 NU 107 Rock Awards Producer of the Year (nominated)[14]
1998 Katha Award for Best Instrumental Performance and Arrangement for “Perf’s Boogie”, Triaxis
January 1999 Artist of the Month, VirtualTunes.com
3rd place 1999 NAMCYA Classical Guitar Category C[15]
January 2000 Artist of the Month, Musiko.com
2001 Awit Award for Best Rap Recording, “Luv 4 Lyf”, Francis M artist and co-producer.[16]