RICO BLANCO - FROM THE ASHES!

He owns the third hit single blazing the entire OPM chart, “Antukin” which literally means “sleepy” yet his career did never sleeps, just for once though. After he was detached from his former band, he came back to reattach with himself like the rising of the phoenix from the ashes, burning, flaming and soaring with his first single “Yugto” - triumphantly heralding it “...lumiyab ka!”

In a nutshell at this momentum Rico has tripartite hit domination claiming considerable airwaves supremacy, namely: “Yugto,” “Your Universe” and “Antukin.”

His third single “Antukin” which is rolling on films as a music video under the directorial baton of Treb Montreras, is as expected, hits every silver screen there is.

While Antukin is rolling vivid on screen, Warner Music Philippines’ are embarking for a bigger expanse of Rico Blanco's musical tentacles. Come sooner the Southeast Asian release of Your Universe (Rico's first solo album) with additional packages, and, of course, an international dream is almost done.

Rico is busy humming in his universe with consecutive tours, promotions, guesting and concerts. Would he dared missed some award giving bodies and concerts events such as NU107 Rock Awards 2008, MYX MO 2008, and MTV Music Summit 2008. Here he would be the first one to set foot on the rock and roll arena and the last one to step out of it. He would rule out to commence the event and take the last whip as a finale.

Somewhere out there he has set foot on Singaporean soil to wow audiences of different respects, such as one he has done at the prestigious mall, Esplanade Mall last April 25, 2009 at the same country.

Nonetheless, on our record and pictorial sessions he is a little less than a celebrity and a musical demigod, he's downright fitting himself on every reflex of our lens and on every job we do he called 'art.' While wiping himself dry after he uncoils the coat against that artificial rain we ourselves made for a big part on the cover of your OPM Authority, he himself realized just like anybody thinks – earning a leaving is a hard-won reality.

We eased out few questions for him. This time it's all about 'up there' – his religious well-being. He opens the door for it, “I suppose the normal Filipino the way it would play in a normal Filipino family. We pray before going to bed tabi-tabi kami ng siblings ko. Tapos once a week you hear mass. 'Pag 6 o'clock we pray the Angelus with our lola tapos s'yempre sa school.” That was then, but now he checked hi spiritual regimen saying, “I try to pray as often as I can before going to sleep. As much as I can but sometimes I forget.”

So what if we know that he reads the Bible on irregular bases, I presume everybody does, save those who really made it to as expected. He notes when asked about the Bible, “Not anymore not regularly. There are times that I read regularly, every day before matulog pero that was a long time ago. But then again I think a few years back. So on and off ang relationship ko.” The natural reflex of our expectation is that, if religion plays a rule in musical career? Oh, yeah at least there is, he tell us, “Ah may times na may influence but mas general 'yung influence n'ya sa akin as a person.” Being a rock artist it's not that consuming really, “not at all. It's way bigger than my music.”

I slithered one question amidst few of my mates throwing him questions after questions. Positing a seemingly polarized inquisition on his faith's realm, did it ever come to him that he doubted God's existence? He hits back, “No, siguro 'yung ano lang religious doubt. I think you theoretically question it sometimes pero sa tingin ko deep in my heart I never doubted it.”


TICK TACK TALK

What makes you happy?
Peace of mind.

What's your favorite Blanco song?
I still don't have an answer to that question after all these years. It's hard to choose. Every song is special so I love all of them.

Do you find it comfortable being called an icon?
I don't even know what people mean when they call me that.

When you write songs, do you try to consciously guide the meaning or do you try to follow subconscious directions?
I think both.

What kind of music is trying to influence you these days?
Other people's music hasn't influenced me that much anymore these days because matagal nang tapos 'yung formative years ko ng music. So I learn little things but the influence of those songs would hardly make a dent compared to the influence of everything that I've listened to in my whole life. You know, if I hear a new song now it might inspire me for a while to write a new song or it might make me sing a long or dance but it doesn't gonna affect the way I write my own music. No new music has been able to do that.

Is being a rock artist a choice?
Well at this point yes everyday is a choice to do what you want to do or not do something. In the beginning it's a choice but some things happen by accident too so it's a combination.

Do you listen to the radio these days?
Sometimes I do when I drive it's on the background but I listen more to my old CDs. I still like the sound of the recordings on CDs. I can hear the difference if it's in MP3.

How do you feel about pop music?
It's hard to find a music that is different from my music because I play pop music. My music is pop so it's hard to find something that is totally different. I'm not an expert when it comes to genres or labels. To me there is only good and bad music.

What is your classification of good music and bad music?
Hopefully I called them groove music, subjective siya eh. Music that I like and music that I don't like.

What's your take on songs that's been tagalized?
I actually enjoyed that. Before it's even been release I ask them to burn a copy for me because it really made me laugh. Me and my nieces made me laugh. I played it for them we are just having a great time in the car. I played it to then for the first time, I ask for a burn copy from a record label and I was just laughing. And my nieces when in the car with me one time and I told them 'hey, listen to this'. They were laughing so hard. I haven't heard them laugh that hard. I was saying is that music is subjective. You might not like something but it brings happiness to other people, so respeto lang.

As a songwriter, do you ever sit down with the intention of writing a song, or do you wait for songs to come to you?
Both. There is no definite time when I write songs.

What's the next important challenge ahead that you are embarking for?
Well, there is the regional release of the album. I added two new songs. I'm excited for that and the label is excited for that as well. They've asking for that album since last year and I think I'm a little late submitting the songs but then hinihintay na raw ng fans outside the Philippines.

How much preparations in the regional release of your “Your Universe”?
Like I said, I wrote a couple of new songs pinalitan natin 'yung mga Tagalog songs sa album para mas accessible sa kanila. All English except for Yugto because they want that song to retain as is. I'm not sure if Your Universe pa rin 'yung title.

What do you want to accomplish musically as you go solo?
To have a great time.

What made you decide to go solo after leaving your former band?
I think it's already covered on your previous interviews. But yeah, things just happened and to a certain degree events just took place and we reacted to them but to a certain degree and decisions were also made. I want to take responsibility for all my decisions. I decided to go on a vacation not knowing what I would do next, not knowing if I will come back and do music again and also I decided after about a year that I would come back and do music again.

Since you just have sessionist musician right now, any plans to put up your own band?
No I think being in a band is already half of my life for 15 years. It's time to do other things. I tried that already and it was fun. I had a great time being in a band. So it's time to have fun in a different way naman.

As a songwriter, is there a particular artist or band that you want to write a song for his/her album?
I would like to write songs for new artists. Fresh artists that we haven't heard of, that maybe they could sing really well. I'm more interested in discovering new talents. I think those who are famous don't need my help anymore.

What if we want to photo shoot the Rivermaya frontmen will you go? If no, why not?
No, I am done working under the Rivermaya banner. I've worked with them half of my life already I think that's enough. But if they wanna put my picture there, go ahead but to go for a photo shoot, I don't think so plus I think it's unfair for the band now. Nakakahiya sa kanila makikisawsaw pa ako sa Rivermaya name.

What else do you want to say to those people who still disappointed and mad at you when you left the band?
I'm sorry. I'm very sorry and I'm really sorry. This is a sincere apology. I'm still hope that they would understand but if not, I'm really sorry.

Anything that you'd like to share about your upcoming album?
Well, I have new songs there that I'm really excited to share to all the fans. Wala pang new album sa mga nasasabik na with new materials kesa maghintay ng matagal para sa new album nag-share ako ng new songs. I think baka may kasamang music videos pero hindi pa ako sure. I think a lot of people wants to have a copy of the music videos, so there.

With all the accolades and accomplishments that Rico Blanco has already achieved, what else do you want to achieve?
Ako, I'm very thankful na sobra-sobra y'ung blessings na dumarating. Talagang I owe all those awards to all the people who supported and featured me on the magazines and the radio stations who played my songs. Hindi naman ninyo ako ilalagay sa magazines n'yo kung wala sila. Lahat y'un ibinigay sa akin. I'm really thankful to Lord God, sobra-sobra na y'un. Sa akin gusto ko lang gumawa ng music 'coz I wanna share my songs, I enjoy performing, singing and makes people happy.

Any music that you're listening to lately that somehow influenced you as a musician?
Iyan nga ang problema ko eh. Wala ng bago na major y'ung influence sa akin. Siguro, ma-i-inspired lang or mapapasayaw, mapapakanta ako or mapapa-awit ako, pero y'ung bang ma-influence ako kung paano ako as a musician medyo marami nang nag-contribute d'un over the years eh. Kung may bago pa, parang 'drop in the ocean' eh, oceans na y'ung influence ko 'di na mababago halos.

Who is Rico Blanco now?
Ayun, siya pa rin. The same guy you met way back in January 2007. If anything that I'm more appreciative of life now, like everyone I still have problems but I like my outlook now. S'yempre nalulungkot at nagagalit pa rin minsan. S'yempre tao lang pero mas siguro napagsasabihan ko na ang sarili ko ngayon na h'wag masyado pumunta doon sa dilim.

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Special Thanks to: Pinoy Song Magazine