Electronic act Nyko Maca and her band Playground sought to find a common ground between artistry and universal appeal in their debut CD, “Nyko Maca + Playground.”

Nyko made waves as one of the few “Star in a Million” finalists who rearranged the songs they performed in the show. From this experience, she realized the difference between pleasing one’s self as an artist and meeting the requirements of her backers.

“Instead of just taking it all in from an artistic level, nakita ko siya from the other side of the fence. Kasi in TV, you do something purely for the people who cater to the medium. However, yung musikero, gusto lang nila yung gusto nilang i-express. Pero there really are times when kailangan maghanap ng compromise,” she said in a recent interview.

The 14-track “Nyko Maca + Playground” will be launched on July 31 at the Archaeology Section of the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati. Also performing then are Jonan Aguilar & Anak, Nimbus 9, Milagros Dancehall Collective, Brigada, and Funkroots.

“We took our time in releasing this album because we had to make sure we’re happy about it,” said guitarist Alvin Cornista.

Nyko Maca + Playground is known in the Filipino music underground scene for their fusion of Filipino pop and Brazilian rhythms. The band is composed of Madz Abubakar, Rick Sanchez and Alvin Cornista.

Their first-ever music video (for the song “Turn My Head”) is a testament to how their peers respect them in that acts like Raimund Marasigan of Sandwich, Zach Lucero and Aia de Leon of Imago, Marc Abaya of Kjwan, Richard Merck, Geoff and Timmy Eigenmann, Karl Roy of Kapatid, Borgy Manotoc, Ornusa Cadness, Pochoy Labog (formerly of Dicta License), Ping Medina, Mark Gil, and Zsa Zsa Padilla all agreed to be part of it.

“Nyko Maca + Playground” is released under independent label Infectious Music.