ROCK ON - THE INDOMITABLE SPIRITS OF ROCK AND ROLL

(CHAMP, RAIMUND, JETT, GLOC-9 & PEPE UNITE FOR OUR (BAND Magazine) 4TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION)

Champ, Raimund, Jett, Gloc-9 and Pepe jump out of the rope for a moment to give BANDS Song Magazine a 4th Anniversary blow!

All hail to these rock and roll bigwigs who made the OPM World turn around – round and round and round through thick and thin times of the music industry. You’d see them making the OPM stream give its lifeblood a full color – as they would appear on our cover lifelike and unassuming.

This issue of the BANDS magazine will quote you of what’s new with these men who have grown old and wild in the arena of rock and roll enterprise. We’ll be their mouthpiece of the warriors within each and every one of them.

We will be and have been the witness of the inner brainchild of them who maid Champ a charismatic front man of the band Hale, who made Raimund the multi-faceted music genius, who made Jett gain an insuperable soul towards his pilgrimage in the music industry with band The Dawn, who made Gloc-9 a prolific poet and one of the fastest rapping bee in the industry and who made Pepe an iconic figure decades after decades in the scene.

Presenting the full nominal identity of the men who made it on our pictorial and interview sessions with them in one of the finest photography studio here in Makati (Bel-Air), were Pepe Smith of the then Juan Dela Cruz Band, Jett Pangan of The Dawn, Aristotle Pollisco or simply Gloc-9 of his solo career, Raimund Marasigan of the defunct Eraserheads and active Sandwich band and Champ Liu Pio of the then Hale.

Few of them have been in the Philippine music panorama for time which I haven’t been born yet (so to say that I have been tying my shoes for 28 years now in the mantle of this earth), to mention Jett Pangan and Pepe Smith with due respect. Perhaps, they would tell us on how to stay afloat in the more often than not turbulent seas of the entertainment industry at large. The lessons they jot on our record strip and on this write-up finds parallelism in every human experiences we have not necessarily of music alone.

Find the bliss in everything that you do, gratitude – that is to thank your One Creator and the joy of being around your camaraderie seems to orchestrate of each and everyone’s answer to the question of longevity.
“I guess it's all the songs that me and the other bands has produced all through the years and also all the happiness and camaraderie and all the upcoming bands taking our place and all that hopefully in the future. Lahat ng rock and roll,” emphasized Pepe Smith.
As Gloc-9 puts it, “kahit naman siguro kahit saang genre siguro dapat sobrang mahal na mahal mo 'yung craft mo tapos dapat may dasal din.” Plus the welcoming thoughts he mostly grabs whenever they would come knocking his door, “mostly ng mga reasons kung bakit nakatagal ako ng konti is because of the opportunities na nakukuha ko 'yung mga collaborations which I think are blessings din. 'Yun iyong main reason kung bakit medyo nakatagal ako sa pagkanta.”

Jett Pangan makes his point clear that an open minded person takes most of the pie of longevity, “an open mind, patience tsaka love for the music. It's a matter of being mature. We listen to each other not just musically.”

Choice makes matter to them, though each may different concessions when it comes to their decision on facing the one single thing that brought them here.

Pepe Smith believes that being in the music and being with the music is a God-given mission or capability. Gloc-9 throws his view that music is more of a choice than perhaps of a destiny. “choice 'yan kasi batang-bata pa lang ako iyan na ang sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na gusto kong maging isang rapper. Ideal and very blessed na nagawa ko ito kahit marami na ring times na sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ayaw ko na pero nagawa ko pa rin.”

“It's being an artist. My choice is to be an artist not necessarily a rock artist but I rock,” Raimund vaguely gives his point. Jett gives it a shot to his uncle who lit the flame to his burning passion in music up to this very moment, “when I was a kid, I didn't like rock so it was my uncle who inadvertently introduced me to rock music. He was a vice president for a record label during the 70s. Papasok na 'yung new wave noon akala n'ya may alam ako sa rock so sabi n'ya 'Jett, pakinggan mo nga ito' hindi n'ya alam he turned me on this and ever since then you can say that I'm a rocker since then that was early 80s and I was still a kid.”

With the individual choices or belief they have in themselves are the fact that they may have touched or affected every soul, every family, every belief, every nation and every fiber of the universe that reverberates through time and in eternity.

Pepe is sure about his apostolate as a musician – to feed good things to the people’s heart. That every experience he takes is a thing on everyone’s thought. “Yeah some and I'm so glad about it. That's what I'm here for to make good inputs and all that to whatever songs I sing. That's my experience that is what I think should be foremost on everybody's list of everyday living.”

Autonomy is a thing for Champ who believes that a song’s meaning and wellbeing depends upon one’s auditory and emotional faculty. The song raptures the senses of the hearer and from there creates his or her own reality. “of course, there is always two sides in a coin. There is always the good side and the bad side. I want to look at the good comments of people who say that they've been touched by the song and the lyrics and that they can relate because once your music is out there people have a sense of connection to the song and they can actually have a certain level of ownership of the song and they can have their own interpretation, put their own story and connect.” Gloc-9 thinks that it’s priceless to think many lives have been changed for the better because of your songs. No talent fees or any fat check or even any award can subvert the remuneration that his song touches lives. “maraming beses na din. Sobra akong masaya kapag gan'un dahil 'yun ang isang bagay na hindi kayang bayaran ng talent fee o palitan ng kahit anong award kapag alam mong naka-apekto ka sa buhay ng isang tao. Very thankful ako sa mga moments na 'yun dahil 'dun ko nalalaman na p'wede pa akong kumanta.”

It enriches an artist’s soul when his endeavor reaches not only the record bars and outlets but of course the heart of the masses. “Sometimes it’s flattering when they do and they tell me,” says Raimund.

Jett Pangan gets even with them all of how his song have changed a life and future of a distressed and suicidal fan. He verbally retrospect the time, “oh yes. I have a very famous kwento na my wife is giving birth to our first born. Pagpunta ko sa emergency room lumapit 'yung isang nurse na lalaki sabi n'ya 'uy, Jett Pangan, the Dawn. Alam mo sir 'yung kanta n'yong Beyond the Bend which was on our third album in the 80s. You know my friend was going to commit suicide but when he listened to that song he changed his mind. So sabi ko 'sigurado ka ba buhay pa siya?' sabi n'ya 'oo buhay pa siya, okay pa siya.' that song by the way is a tribute to our founding member Teddy Diaz who was murdered in 1988. It's a rock song but the lyrics will really inspire people. And also, a song that we released in 2004 it's called Harapin ang Liwanag may tumawag sa isang radio station n'un at sinabi na 'parang wala na akong pag-asa sa buhay n'un wala kasi akong trabaho at wala akong pera pero n'un narinig ko 'yung Harapin ang Liwanag nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa.”

So does it mean that everything has price as La Coste or a Ralph Laurene clothing tags their products with considerable prices? Does being famous move them to tag themselves with prices on the top glass shelves?

I think as you go on living on Earth, you have to accept everything that comes in your way whether it's good or bad it’s an experience it's something you can share for everybody. Always aim for a better life and grace from God,” Pepe shares his thought. Champ thinks of the price as a downside towards his privacy. Being a celebrity counts your footsteps everywhere you go. “When you've reached a certain level of achievement, you lose certain privacy in your life. Basically that's it usually that's the downside to anything to being a celebrity or being known.”

It’s just a matter of reckoning your past, of where he started that makes Gloc-9 grounded down the street. No reason to bloat yourself with hot air. It’s the thought of the past when he was still finding and completing the puzzles of his dreams that gives him a humble prestige. “Nasa tao lang 'yan. Hindi ako naniniwala na may kapalit ang pagsikat. You need to be prepared for things to come regardless kung pangit o maganda. Ako kasi ang lagi kong iniisip n'ung time na nagsisimula pa lang ako – 'yung time na nangangarap pa lang ako so with that 'dun ako natatauhan na hindi ako p'wedeng mag-isip at gumawa ng mga kabulastugan. Lagi kong iniisip na hindi akin ito na pahiram lang ito.”

As Raimund cannot actually make up his mind now, “next question. Hindi ko alam 'yung sagot d'yan eh.” Jett Pangan’s answer is definitely a yes to the bone. “Well yes definitely. The more professional you become the more requirements increases. Requirements meaning your sound system, your stage and everything and the work you put out. I also believe that artists no matter how much they get paid. They should also give back like the Dawn we're very active Rock-Ed in Gawad Kalinga we're we actually don't get paid but we know we're doing a good thing. We work for a cause. Dapat you're blessed eh dapat ibalik mo naman. Life is short so.”


TAKE IT MORE FROM THEM

BANDS: What is your stand on musicians reviving foreign hits instead of singing their own compositions? Do you think reviving songs hinder the growth of OPM?
Champ: I think all genres are equal. All types of music are equal. Music is an expression. There is no greater form or lesser form of music. Music is music so whatever this person decides to do or wants to do he's free to do that. I have nothing against genre or style in music. Its a free country.

BANDS: Do you find it comfortable being called an icon?
Pepe Smith: I don't mind if that's what they wanna call me it's okay but they can always call me Pepe. Raimund: Hindi naman ako 'yung tumatawag eh. I don't mind they can call me anything.

BANDS: What is your classification of good music and bad music?
Pepe Smith: Good makes you wanna scream and shout. Bad music gets you deaf. So good and bad is all the same.
Jett: A bad music for me is when a band goes up and they played as if they haven't invested or made an effort to make their music good. Kung anuman ang tema ng music mo basta wala kang sinasagasaanang tao okay lang yun.

BANDS: Your reaction with Executive Order 255 by P-Noy ordering FM stations to play at least four OPM songs every hour? Do you think this action would help revive the OPM scene?
Pepe Smith: Not that much. I think 30 minutes or 1 hour would do for the local artists. Hati hati para pantay pantay.
Champ: I think that's a very good order and it's well needed kasi right now obviously the music industry is not doing so well. We really need the radio stations to push local songs and local musicians. Without radio support, it's very hard for musicians to reach out to the audience and share their music so I really applaud P-Noy for doing that.
Gloc-9: Oo naman. Sobrang cool na move 'yan ng Presidente natin para makatugtog ng apat na OPM per hour kahit na isang high end FM station. Sana nasusunod para at least para at least matulungan 'yung mga musikerong Pinoy.
Raimund: They should play eight not just four and only four foreign songs in an hour.
Jett: It's a start. We've been to other places and countries I'm sure you've experienced listening to radio in other countries nakita mo 'yung support ng industriya nila sa sarili nilang gawa. Although malakas talaga ang draw ng western music, I think it should come from a point where the majority is OPM. Minority na lang 'yung western music kasi anyway there is internet na eh so bigay mo na lang 'yung radyo sa atin. Doon na lang tayo nabubuhay bilang musikero so I think it's a good start. Sana mamaintain at mapolish ng maayos para it goes into something better pero ang ganda n'ung nasimulan n'ya.

BANDS: For Jett Pangan, what is the difference between vocalist and a theater actor?
Jett: There is a reason why I love doing theater it’s a world away from what I do as a rock musician. The way you carry yourself iba. The discipline iba rin. I like the contrast because one refreshes the other. I love rock music and I've been doing this eternally but see when you do something outside of it it refreshes what you normally do as your day job. You see the beauty of what you have and you distance yourself and go to another plane. I'm a vocalist first then a theater actor and a music host third.

BANDS: For Gloc9: You were described by the late Francis M. as a “blacksmith of words and letters and a true Filipino poet”. How do you feel about his kind words?
Gloc-9: Baka nagbibiruan lang kami ni Sir Kiko ng mga time na 'yun. Hindi kasi ako towards sir Kiko hindi ko siya kayang tawagin on a first name basis kahit ninong siya ng mga anak ko hindi ko siya matawag na pare laging sir Kiko or sir Francis. I'm very thankful na gan'un 'yung pagtrato sa akin ni sir Kiks and 'yung pagtingin n'ya sa akin so lagi ko lang chine-cherish 'yung time na magkasama kami. Everytime kahit gan'un starstrucked pa rin ako.

BANDS: Do you feel any pressure when people say that you're the next Francis M or that you're Philippines' Rap future?
Gloc-9: Hindi eh lagi kong sinasabi na walang next Francis M. Francis M. is Francis M. so walang kaparehong Francis Magalona siguro as someone who try to continue what he started. 'Yung pagsulat ko ng lyrics si Francis M. talaga ang foundation ko. 'Yung passion n'ya towards music is very inspiring talaga. Napakaraming bagay na hindi ko kakalimutan dahil alam ko na sobrang laki ng naitulong sa akin ni Francis M. so far ngayon nagagamit ko lahat. Mayroon kaming isang show ni sir Francis dati hindi masyadong maraming tao siguro mga 11 people lang ang nanunuod sa kanya pero n'un pinapanuod ko siya hindi pang 11 people performance pang stage 'yung performance n'ya. N'un nakita kong ang konti ng tao nahiya ako sa sarili ko 'na wala akong karapatang mag-inarte'. Sinabi rin n'ya sa akin na ke isang libo o isa lang ang nanunuod sa'yo dapat pareho lang ang performance mo.

BANDS: How has collaborating with bands in particular help you grow as a rapper/musician?
Gloc-9: Sobrang laking tulong sa akin. Unang-una naintroduce ako sa market nila. Pangalawa, nai-immerse ako sa music na ginagawa nila and nakakatulong sa akin 'yun in terms of writing my own music din. Pangatlo, 'yung marketing effort na gagawin sa kantang nag-collaborate kami malaking tulong sa akin s'yempre kasi damay na rin ako 'dun. I'm thankful kasi 'yung mga collaborations ko with other artists and bands isa 'yun sa mga reasons kung bakit okay ako ngayon.

BANDS: Can you tell me/us something about you that is/are not common knowledge?
Pepe Smith: I don't know what to say. I think everybody knows me.
Champ: Aside from being obsessed with Basketball, I somewhat very techie. I am a fire volunteer. Sa tingin ko hindi pa nila alam 'yun.
Gloc-9: Wala eh.
Raimund: Magaling akong magsipa at magping-pong. Ang nakatalo lang sa akin ng ping pong si Lourd De Veyra ng Radioactive Sago Project.
Jett: A lot of our fans don't know that I do theater kasi magkaibang mundo 'yun eh at magkaiba ang audience. I love cars. I love tinkering. I like mechanical things. I'm a Mechanical engineer by profession but I never practice it. These are the few things that probably people don't know about me.

BANDS: U2 said that music can change the world because it can change people. Do you agree? Why and why not?
Raimund: I believe in that. Kasi kapag inisip mo ang buhay mo and 'yung history ng mundo may soundtrack 'yun na kasabay eh. Music and Art will define culture. Hindi nalalayo 'yun eh kapag sinabi mong decade ng 80s maaalala mo ba 'yung politics pero specifically bawat point ng elementary, high school mo may bawat soundtrack 'yun na pinapakinggan mo sa panahon na 'yun alam na alam mo so iyon ang importante.

BANDS: Bono of U2 said in one of his interviews that as a rock star, he has two instincts. He said, “I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. [And] I have a chance to do both.” What’s yours?
Raimund: I have three instincts: (laughs) To have fun. To change the world and destroy the universe.(laughs)

BANDS: At the moment, what do you think of today's music scene? Do you think that bands are on its way out like what some "critics" say? And does it worry you?
Pepe Smith: It's okay. I don't mind cause I don't listen to them. Not at all. Why were you when I am still here. As long as I play music and all that I don't care.
Champ: I think it reached a certain level of saturation and you know its sad people have lost interest and support but I think music is universal. Music is innate in Filipinos so it will never die. I guess what's happening now is the music scene in general is in the state of hibernation and we are just waiting for the next generation to come out. It's waiting for the new generation to spread its wing and fly. The right way to deal with criticisms is to use it positively, constructively and never negatively because it's a fact that you can't please everyone so the right thing to do is use that criticism, that negativity and use it positively to fuel your creativity. Use it as a tool for you to create something. Instead of you letting it affect you, you use it to your advantage to fuel your imagination and creativity for you to produce something.
Raimund: I've never listened to the critics ever. Bands are always there no matter what. Its been there before us and it's there now and will be there after us. As long as people would like to play music with each other, there will be bands no matter what the critics say.

BANDS: Likewise, what’s your personal take on the so-called “K-Pop invasion” (Korean boy/girl bands, etc)? And does it worry you much?
Champ: Like I said earlier, that is the perfect epitome of music as universal. It has no boundaries. It just shows that we, Filipinos can appreciate different music even if its in a different language but the downside of it is its overshadowing the local artists which I think shouldn't happen. I think as Filipinos, we should always be supportive of our own before anything else but I have no ill feelings or violent reaction towards K-Pop I mean it's normal we appreciate naman music from the states it's normal but the thing is alarming me. We should not pull out our support for local musicians. Its okay to support other forms or types of music but at the end of the day we should always be proud and supportive of homegrown talents.

BANDS: OK! Do you download? What is some music that you download or buy?
Pepe Smith: No I'm completely computer illiterate person. I'm very analog. I'm just learning how to get into it. Hopefully, I do learn it before my time comes.
Gloc-9: For study purposes lang. Most of the time kasi binibigay lang sa akin 'yung CD eh. Hindi kasi ako ma-computer na tao. Tamad din ako maghintay ng downloads. Ako rin kasi 'yung tipong taong kapag meron akong album na pinapakinggan eh isang album lang ang pinapakinggan ko. Bibili na lang ako n'ung album na 'yun hanggang sa magsawa ako.

BANDS: Your stand on illegal downloads and piracy? Do you think we can still resolve this issue?
Pepe Smith: Fuck them all who try to pinch anything from us musicians. This is our blood, sweat and tears and they shouldn't stick their nose in any of it.
Jett: Piracy has reached such strength kita mo yung tower records and music one sarado na. All these record bars are shrinking dahil ang lakas na eh. We have to wait for the next medium kung anuman iyon. We don't know what's gonna come after compact disc and yung mga records ngayon dinadownload na. Whatever it is i hope it works for the artist. I think a lot of artist tried to fight piracy pero it became such a monster. Nand'yan na yan di mo na maalis yan. You have to work around it.

BANDS: Life is full of defining moments. Can you talk about your most defining moment?
Pepe Smith: I think when I wake up in the morning that's when I start my day until late in the evening before I go to sleep that's the end of the day. I just pray when I get the next morning and do the same thing and go over it again or something new as long as you see the sunrise and then the sunset, you see the moon and the stars. I think you had a complete day. You should look forward for tomorrow morning.
Champ: I've had a lot of moments before when I was still with Hale but now recently, I think my defining moment is taking that leap of faith like going solo and trying to start over start from scratch. I think its a bold step and unnecessary step for me.
Gloc-9: Marami eh. Nagka-anak anak ako at sariling family. N'ung nakilala ko si Sir Kiko. N'ung maka-graduate ako ng college.
Raimund: Ah fatherhood.

BANDS: Some artists’ crossover into various forms of creative expression. Any plans to dive into other outlets? [And] Where do you see your music and “art” going in the years to come?
Pepe Smith: I really can't say but so far so good and I don't have to worry about it because it's gonna rock and roll into the future.
Champ: Right now I'm at an age where I am very open minded and I am very appreciative the different forms of art. I have friends who are actors and actresses. I have high respect for their craft it's not easy not everyone can do that. Its hard work. If an opportunity comes, I don't mind exploring but right now my focus is to promote my solo album because it's gonna be something I haven't done in my whole music career which is collaborate and have absolute control on the creative process.
Gloc-9: Nakikita ko ang sarili kong bilang isang nurse. Naka-graduate na ako last May and I hope to pass the board exams this December. Hindi ko inaalis 'yung posibility na maging nurse ako dito or sa ibang bansa. Parang plan A and plan B.
Raimund: I have enough bands already. (laughs) Hindi ako magaling umarte. I wish pero hindi eh. Jett: When I was younger I used to have a fall back plan pero now I'm 42 years old, I think it has come to a point that I have to believe that music has been good to me and continue to be good to me for a few more year. Sa back up plan may be I will go into business and to divert into other things maybe more musicals or movies or whatever but this is my first love.

BANDS: What’s your idea of a perfect world?
Pepe Smith: Just like what we have now. This is a perfect world where you should start from the moment you were born and go through it with flying colors if ever until you go to the other side when you pass away. It's just the same. Live your life and let others live their lives. Live and let live. Enjoy and let everybody enjoy.
Champ: We don't live in a perfect but we can try to make it perfect and the important thing about living a perfect life. I don't want to focus on living in a perfect world but I'd rather focus on living a perfect life which means living life to the fullest like balancing everything from a day to day basis that's my idea of perfect life in an unperfect world.
Gloc-9: Perfect world lahat ng bata masaya.
Raimund: Going to UP every Sunday and riding bikes with my kid. It's a perfect world every week. It's my weekly world perfect day. Tama ba 'yun? Wala ng peperfect d'un.
Jett: Sinagot ko na yan kay Jayson. S'yempre walang corruption. Walang nangongotong na pulis.

BANDS: What are some other goals you have for the rest of your life beyond music?
Pepe Smith: I guess just what I'm doing right now enjoying and doing these for my kids especially those people near me and close to my heart and live eternally in mind.
Champ: Since I am starting a new solo career, I wanna explore all the boundaries of being an artist meaning I wanna be open to anything that comes along my way. I also wanna produce different artists, help them out and share my experiences and share knowledge so 'yun ang plans ko this year and early next year.
Gloc-9: Makapagprovide ng magandang buhay sa mga anak ko at pamilya. Jett: As of now wala I love what I do now.

BANDS: Today, is there a point at which your achievements eclipse who you really are? And if you come across with the word “success” in your remarks, how would you measure success then? And what is success in personal terms?
Pepe Smith: Success is what you get from what you've done and what you should enjoy from what they have given you – your fans and all that. I think it's how you present yourself in anything and everybody and how you carry on to the next future.
Gloc-9: Siguro hindi success eh kundi blessed. Ang success sa akin siguro 'yung hindi ko na kailangang kumanta at hindi ko na kailangang mag-abroad para mapaganda ang buhay ng family ko.
Jett: Oo nangyari 'yun when I was young. The Dawn started ing 1986. I was 17. Kapag 17 ka and all of a sudden all these fame and women and money. Feeling mo you're immortal pero marereliaze mo na ginagago mo lang ang sarili mo parang you wake up to it and i guess when you get older you'll realize that as each days go you'll be reminded of mortality. Life is served temporary. You have better things to do than wallow on your glory.

BANDS: Likewise, do you feel accountable to anyone else, especially as your influence has grown? Why?
Champ: definitely not I think partnership is very important in this business. Try to create a good relationship with your co-workers, peers and colleagues but I don't feel the sense of accountability. I do feel the need of respect towards your friends, colleagues and people in the industry that's very important.
Raimund: No I don't think about it. I seriously don't think about those sort of things.
Jett: As long as we don't write songs obviously about drugs or killing your neighbor or something like that. We are not accountable to anything. When you write a song, every listener kasi will take ownership of that based on how or she understands it. May kani-kanya silang interpretation.

BANDS: Does it bother you when people interpret a song [your own composition] in a way you didn’t intend? And[But] that sometimes people may find things in a song that you didn’t intend which they really appreciate. Why so?
Pepe Smith: I really don't mind if people would sing my songs and if they do justice to it. It's like if I did other people's song and just mess around with it like we're just passing through leave it as it is like I'll surely hate people who fuck around with my music. But if it makes them happy then I screen it and all and may be let others who deserve it to do any version of my song but it's a very simple kind music so I don't know why they still have to rearrange for.
Champ: That's very heart warming for me because when people want to use your song and mix it up it shows a level of interest or a certain level of attachment to the song that they pay attention to the song and they have interest in that song.
Gloc-9: Hindi okay nga 'yun eh.
Raimund: Hindi. Everybody is entitled in their own opinion and they can interpret my songs in any which way they feel.

BANDS: What is your biggest fear?
Pepe Smith: Is to lose my cell phone cause this is my connection to the world and also my boots. Gloc-9: Na hindi ko maprovide 'yung nararapat para sa mga anak ko and losing my loved ones.

BANDS: Is there an artist or band whose career you'd like to emulate? Who you look at and say, "They did it right”?
Pepe Smith: Yeah the Beetles and the Rolling Stones.
Champ: I was able attend _________ press conference in Hong Kong. Aside from being a huge fan of theirs. I saw a certain level of humanity. They are very active in social activities, in humanitarian cause so I wanna emulate that. I want as an artist to be not just attached to music but also attached to the world and society. I want to have an effect on people not just as a musician, not just through music but also through philanthropy or through charity works.
Gloc-9: Marami akong mga artists/bands na gusto kong i-emulate s'yempre sila Sir Rayms and Ely Buendia, 'yung passion nila sa work grabe. Parokya ni Edgar, 'yung longevity ng tugtugan nila nakakabilib talaga. Kamikazee, the Dawn sobrang starstrucked talaga ako.
Raimund: U2 and The Cure.

For Champ, how is Treehouse?
This year we started a Day Care. So every Saturday siya. We started with 18 kids now naka-40 kids na kami. We do it every Saturday and surprisingly a lot of volunteers are showing up and helping out so it's a good sign and we want to continue that for a long time because our effect to the kids, we see our influence. Its very rewarding and heart-warming as well.

BANDS: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Pepe Smith: Not to many that's why I forgot. (laughs) Champ: An artist with a big heart. 'yun siguro.
Gloc-9: 'Yung pagkanta ng isang bata ng kanta ko kahit anong kanta ko.
Raimund: I learned to play guitar because of you.

BANDS: What have you learned about yourself and the band lately? Has it been a discovery or a rediscovery process at all?
Pepe Smith: It's just a re-surging of energies between me and the other members and it's too bad it's only coming now which is kinda late in life but I'm very positive that we can still go on with another few years.
Champ: I recently found out that I am bipolar and I discovered that as a person there is a lot of room for improvement. I realized all the mistakes made. I'm determined to correct those mistakes. I'm determined to rise above the challenges and be a better person.
Gloc-9: Kasi ngayon naglive band ako. Ang pangalan ng banda ko PointBlanc. Siguro ang natutunan ko kailangan mo ring makibagay para at least maging okay 'yung working relationship n'yo ng banda mo. Kailangan mong mag-adjust. So far okay naman.
Raimund: It's always a daily challenge and constant rediscovery especially now that we just finished recording for our new album.
Jett: On the way here lang iniisip ko na life is so short. Its funny how a lot of people would get into corruption and to steal from others to enrich themselves then you'll realize what is that for. Kapag namatay ka madadala mo ba yan . My biggest realization at this point in time is to enjoy every minute coz you'll never know when are you going to go no matter how rich you are or who you are. Nothing is permanent.

BANDS: How has your musical and artistic vision changed since you started out as a band? What’s on your musical horizon? And is your music a way for you to develop and grow as a person?
Pepe Smith: Well, everytime music is something like a vitamin for everybody. It lets you go about your daily life and all that. So to me, it has been very pleasant all these years and all that. I never thought I'd be playing all these rock and roll thing and all that and I think it does have a exchange between nature and physical and chemical and whatever.
Champ: I really started of as someone who had no idea about what it is to be in the music industry – music scene because I wasn't really a musician to begin with. I wanted to become a basketball player ever since I was a kid and music just came after college so I really consider myself as a late bloomer but I think things happen for a reason. I was destined to be in this industry. I'd like to think I've grown so much and I've matured as a musician, artist and as a person so I like where I am right now. I'm eager and motivated to grow more as a person.
Gloc-9: Sa mga collaborations ko 'yung mga insights nila eh nakakatulong ng malaki sa akin.
Raimund: Yes. I think hindi ko ma-explain. May mga bago kaming sinusubukan tulad ng bago naming album sa Sandwich sinubukan namin lahat Filipino 'yung songs usually kasi kapag Sandwich hati 'yung songs Filipino and English. Bago magsongwriting kami nainspire ako ng mga albums ni Dong Abay, Joey Ayala, Gary Granada, Yeng Constantino. Lahat Tagalog songs medyo mahirap sa amin 'yun pero sinubukan namin. I consider it as a minor challenge lahat kasi kami nagtaTagalog. October or November siguro lalabas kasi we're mixing it now. It depends on the record company. We finished the first music video. We talked to Rexon Jones to do the covers so it will be out soon.


About champ's album:

How is your set up do you have a back up band or just a solo artist?
I have a regular sessionist band that are friends of mine.

What recording company?
It's still under PolyEast Records. I'm very excited about the album is the collaborations I have in the album. I collaborated with Gloc-9, Chris Padilla of Hilera, Chito of Parokya ni Edgar, Noel Cabangon and Julienne.

How many songs? All original?
10 tracks all original. Most of the songs ako ang nagsulat. I got three songs from a friend.

Your first single? What's the song about?
It's called Hanging Habagat. The song is about empowerment. Empowering the listener. Giving that person to be free to whatever that imprisons him may it be spiritual, financial, physical, personal whatever problem that person has. Hopefully that song will touch the person empowering him or her.

Name of the album.
The album is called Synergy. I wanted people whom I worked with in the album to have their input. There is a significant amount of electronic and a lot of elements that I never used in Hale.

BANDS: What kind of legacy would you and the band like to leave?
Pepe Smith: To live and rock and roll!
Raimund: Ah na kaya din nila 'yun. Gusto ko kapag napanuod ako ng mga bata 'ah p'wede pala ito subukan ko rin kaya.' Parang naenganyo sila sa music kasi music and art ang nagde-define ng kultura natin. Gusto kong magsimula sila sa music dahil sa amin. Wala na kasing ibang legacy eh.
Jett: That here is a guy who tried to enjoy life the best way he can.

BANDS: What are you proudest of so far? What do you actually hope to be remembered for?
Pepe Smith: I think I just want to be remembered as a guy who just passed through, entertained and sang them a few songs and gave them a few good laugh and good songs.
Gloc-9: 'Yung masabi ko lang na may naniniwala sa mga sinabi ko.
Raimund: I am proudest of my daughter and I have to be remembered as a good father.

Message:

Raimund: Go out and form a banda.
Jett: Keep on rocking and enjoy while you have it man.

♫♫♫