Assistant Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology
About
James Gabrillo’s work examines contemporary music, sound, and cultural life, with particular interests in the Philippines and Asian diasporas. He is the author of Pop Convergence: Musical Multimedia in Manila (Oxford University Press, 2024), and his current research extends across sound art, recording, and notation. At The University of Texas at Austin, he teaches courses in popular music, Asian American music, experimental media, and ethnographic methods. Before joining UT, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University and taught at The New School. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and previously worked as a journalist and editor.
Courses
UGS 303
Global Pop
MUS 381J
Analytical & Ethnographic Methods
MUS 334 / 380
Music of Asian Americans
MUS 379K / 385J / 387L
Experimental Media & Performance Art
Recent Publications
“Navigating Ecosystems in the Contemporary Philippine Music Industry.” In Music Ecosystems: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, 2026.
“Ghost in the Machine: AI’s Sonic Disruption in Manila.” Ethnomusicology Forum 34/2 (2025): 251–257.
Pop Convergence: Musical Multimedia in Manila, Oxford University Press, 2024.
‘Turn to Kitsch: Eat Bulaga! and the Arrangement of Musical Humor in Philippine Television,’ chapter for Oxford Handbook of Arrangement Studies, ed. Ryan Bañagale, Oxford University Press, 2024.
James Gabrillo’s work examines contemporary music, sound, and cultural life, with particular interests in the Philippines and Asian diasporas. He is the author of Pop Convergence: Musical Multimedia in Manila (Oxford University Press, 2024), and his current research extends across sound art, recording, and notation. At The University of Texas at Austin, he teaches courses in popular music, Asian American music, experimental media, and ethnographic methods. Before joining UT, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University and taught at The New School. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and previously worked as a journalist and editor.
UGS 303
Global Pop
MUS 381J
Analytical & Ethnographic Methods
MUS 334 / 380
Music of Asian Americans
MUS 379K / 385J / 387L
Experimental Media & Performance Art
“Navigating Ecosystems in the Contemporary Philippine Music Industry.” In Music Ecosystems: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, 2026.
“Ghost in the Machine: AI’s Sonic Disruption in Manila.” Ethnomusicology Forum 34/2 (2025): 251–257.
Pop Convergence: Musical Multimedia in Manila, Oxford University Press, 2024.
‘Turn to Kitsch: Eat Bulaga! and the Arrangement of Musical Humor in Philippine Television,’ chapter for Oxford Handbook of Arrangement Studies, ed. Ryan Bañagale, Oxford University Press, 2024.
Contact Information
Email address
james.
Website
jamesgabrillo.com
MRH 3.746
Teaching Areas
Musicology & Ethnomusicology
Research Areas
Popular Music
Digital Cultures
Multimedia Technologies
Sound Studies
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Cambridge
Master of Philosophy
University of Cambridge
Bachelor of Arts
University of the Philippines Diliman