SPONGE COLA TAKES A BRAVE HEART WITH "PUSO"

We've been with this band for quite some times, near or far, rain or shine, thick or thin. However, at this juncture it's both sides of the stories that they have to tell and we have to be with.

They're grandiose of the fact that they have something again laid on the silver platter for the OPM industry and for the people themselves, no other than their new album. On the other hand, they're melancholic of the fact that one of their members bringing up the beat is about or is leaving them for some viable reasons.

It's a big chap on their musical integrity as well as to their interpersonal chemistry. Chris Cantada is an iconic figure to their band as he has this distinct personality among them, and so with the other members. This brought Sponge Cola a definitive impression rightly called their own. Nevertheless, no matter how securely we hold on to our senses, there are times we need to let go for good or for anything else.

It's once again our pleasure to brush shoulders with Sponge Cola on the set for pictorial and interview sessions with them. They seem to exude casual impressions on us that everything's fine, relying more on the fact that they have more to celebrate than to fall back at their shoulders. Their new album, spearheaded by “Puso” as their hit single, is reason enough for a toss and smiles on every ones face. Basically, we have to know how things are going on with the conceptualization all throughout the release of the album. It takes time, finance, energy and forty-winks to come with digitally packaged song offerings.

Yael kids, “well if you count the writing process, I would have to say 14 years. There is a song in this album that was written 14 years ago, we just updated the lyrics a bit, fixed it up and there, good to go.” Originally, it takes only two or three months for them to come up with it, however there are songs that have long been queuing the line for a record, justifies Armo, “the whole album was recorded in a period of about 2-3 months, but some of the songs that are included have been around since even before our first album, Palabas. I think the oldest song in this album is around 9 years old.” Gosh adds, “basically, the whole summer up to July. Most of the songs were conceived during that period as well.”

Along with their music's evolutions are some technical improvisation that would have spiced up their musicality. Yael intuits that there might have been something to be improved.

Armo on the other hand tries to elaborate, “we always try our best to incorporate new or unusual ideas that would add different dimensions to the songs, or make them more interesting to listen to. The morse code message at the end of Saturn would probably be an example, as well as helicopter at the end of All the Time.” Some were on the drum loops, synths and others, said Gosh, “we dabbled with drum loops, synths, strings and a battalion of drummers.” It's a usual phenomenon when making the best out of everything is a hard won fact.

Yael testifies, “we had a problem with guitar intonation in the beginning. From months of gigging left and right, it’s only natural for the gear to take a beating. We had them fixed, so we lost a week.” He thanked Jun Castro for making something on his guitar that makes it sounds great. For Armo, the hardest part would be the redoing songs that they don’t really fell. “The hardest part of recording was redoing certain songs that didn’t exactly feel right for us. And a lot of time was spent with experimenting and playing around with different set-ups to get different tones and sounds.”

With all these, their's always somebody giving them all the support they deserved. Their recording label takes the other side of the balance for some remote aspects of their ventures. “Universal Records is very supportive. They just asked for updates. There was really no pressure from them,” complements Yael. Armo quips his gratefulness to the label, “thankfully, the record company was very supportive and they trusted us with our own material. I’m very grateful that they gave us that kind of creative freedom.”

These guys might not live and leave the day without enjoying the fruition of the recording they did. Yael did enjoyed the fun with dropping-by friends and colleagues. “I had so much fun! Our friends dropped by, we had a blast! Our producers were great as well. Thanks to my brothers Yanny and Pat Bruthas.” Armo sighs with a smile saying, “this album was by far the most difficult that we had to do in terms of fatigue, physical stress, and sleep deprivation, but it’s also the most convenient, comfortable, and easy to do because we enjoy each other’s company and we’re always inspired to make something good out of it, which gave us the strength to do something refreshing and exciting.” Gosh lives a spit away from the recording studio making it more accessible at a wish to go. “I live the nearest to our recording studio. It was easy for me to go there on a whim and arrive early so somewhat I spent the most time there compared to my band mates.”


TICK TACK TALK

Who's penning or song writing is dominant in this album?
YAEL: Penning Hardaway. Haha! Yanny’s pen, producer’s notes.
ARMO: Yael and Gosh are still the main songwriters in this effort but there has been more collaborations with each other this time around. This album is a product of good teamwork and working with each other’s strengths.
GOSH: Yael. But all of us are very involved in the songwriting process.

What “Puso” has something to do with the album and as your single?
YAEL: Saging lang ang may puso!
ARMO: I believe that it’s a statement of hope, perseverance, and triumph over personal struggles, which is a recurring theme in this album. Plus it’s really fun to play live.

Any of the songs you presume or intuit to hit local charts?
YAEL: I don’t really think of songs in terms of hits. Hopefully they do turn out to be, but I really just want to make people happy with the songs.

Which song did you spent a little more time in recording or in the recording studio? What I mean is a little bit difficult?
YAEL: I had a hard time singing Saturn and Puso because they were very high. But I still had fun singing the difficult songs. Kasama sa k'wento 'yung taas at hirap ng kanta eh.
ARMO: For me it was “’Di Na Mababawi” and “Wala Kang Katulad” because those two songs were done, overdone, and redone so many times just to get the feel of them right. Each note and each part had to say something and mean it. But all in all, we’re very happy with how they turned out.

What language are you comfortable in making songs, English or Tagalog?
YAEL: English.
ARMO: Probably English.
GOSH: I’m comfortable in making songs in Tagalog.

We've listen to the album and it's great. We've noticed a lot of emotion on the tracks, what were some of the inspirations behind the songs lyrically and musically?
YAEL: Hahaha. Went through a lot of things while recording. I’m guessing somehow, they translated. Oh, and basketball gets me all intense.
ARMO: We get the inspiration whenever we experience things that move us—from a short story, driving home early in the morning from recording sessions, to a losing basketball game, to just hanging around the beach with your friends. It just seems to be anywhere you want to find it, hehe.

Who conceptualized the cover or appearance of the album?
YAEL: We conceptualized it along with our friend Mica and our manager and dear friend Raymond.
ARMO: The credit goes to Mica Santos. She’s a friend from college, and a great artist and graphic designer. She knows each of us personally and really made an effort to understand what we wanted to do with the album.
GOSH: Mica Santos and the band

What is the prevailing beat of the songs in the album?
YAEL: Moderato Chocolate.
ARMO: “Two hearts. Two hearts that beat as one. Our lives have just begun”

How did your label remarked your album, this early?
YAEL: I think they’re into it. Haha!

How was the feel of the album or the music itself with one of your members leaving?
YAEL: I think it made the album a bit more emotional and dramatic. Parang “seize the day” talaga yung attitude namin knowing Chris was leaving. May ganun din sa Transit since we knew na aalis na siya at the time, pero nung time na 'yun, we knew there would still be another album. This is THE album, so there.
ARMO: It was hard at first, because we all had to adjust and it was twice as consuming to arrange and record songs. But we managed it well.

Anything in the album that you think you must have improved?
YAEL: Diet. We ate healthier food this time around.
ARMO: I think we improved in the honesty and sincerity department. We didn’t put anything in there that we knew was just for show or to impress anybody. Everything we committed into the album is there for a reason, and because we believed and knew that they ought to be there; nothing more, nothing less.

How do you say that your album has improved when it comes to its maturity?
YAEL: I’m guessing its more mature, but we didn’t try or anything, we just did our thing. Sabi ng mga nakarinig mas mature daw eh.

Were these songs written during one specific time period or over the course of many years?
YAEL: Many years.
ARMO: Some were written on the spot during recording, while some were around since 1999.
GOSH: Two of the album tracks were once part of our EP prior to the first album. But most of the songs were written during the course of recording.

When you went into the studio to record the album how many songs did you have and how did you decide which ones would make it onto the album?
YAEL: We already had a lot from what I remember. We tried to record as many songs as possible. Mukhang sa 14 talaga bumagsak eh.
ARMO: We just wrote and recorded, and allowed the album to take shape on its own; if a song was half-hearted or half-baked, we took it out and worked on it until we were confident with it. There were still some songs that we never finished arranging, but maybe they’ll make it onto the next album.

To whom do want to offer this album?
YAEL: To you.
ARMO: To our friends, families, loved ones, fans, supporters, believers, and anybody who has an open mind.
GOSH: To all those who believed in and supported us from the beginning.

This is gonna be the last album along with Chris as the drummer. What was your initial reaction when he broke the news with you guys?
YAEL: Sad. But that was Transit pa. Mas sad when we were working on his last album na talaga.

How's your relationship with Chris?
YAEL: Ok!
GOSH: We’re still friends.

What's your plan now that Chris is leaving the band?
YAEL: Get Niles of Angulo because they’re long lost twins! Haha!
ARMO: Keep the fire burning.

Any song dedicated to Chris?
YAEL: Chris wrote and sang a song. I dedicate that to him, but I didn’t write it. Haha!

What are the things you gonna miss with Chris?
YAEL: Ang dami, matagal na panahon din yun.

Anything you'd like to add? (or as you are pleased, add questions you wanna answer.)
YAEL: 1+1 Maraming Salamat sa Pinoy Mag! Sorry lagi akong late.

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SPONGE COLA - BETTER THAN EVER

Time's still young for the sunset to eclipse Sponge Cola who's getting better than ever. Awards and recognitions that went after and even before their musical inventiveness teases them to a level-up.

Their objective performances are assertive enough that these warm-blooded rock act has something more to prove. This bold thought was just redeemed by the recently concluded Music Video Premiere of their single “Movie.” A music video done with practical and intuitive vision to further spice up the group's searing musical career, with ordinate intent for self-expression and maturation through music. Common artists' sentiments tell us that doing music video is not as easy we think, rather, each scene is worth forty-winks with shared indulgence of time, money, energy and supportive staff.

These guys isn't just geared for any gig schedules and respectable complements, they're also apt for a generous amount of time shared on us despite the tiring schedules. So grateful that we've been favored once more to have them for a photo shot and interview sessions speaking-out their thoughts.

Like any other humble beginnings, Sponge Cola started picking up pieces from their previous experiences, more in particular musical and theatrical. These guys all came from the same academic asylum of Ateneo. This league of young gentlemen was convened during their high school days.

Yael speaks, “Gosh and I were classmates. Si Chris kasama namin sa Theatro Baguntao. Armo was a theater goer. So, ganon kami nagsimula, and actually magkaka-batch kami noong high school.”

And how was Sponge Cola doing better than ever could be partly accounted to their early exposure. Teatro Baguntao and White Chapel were phenomenal in the formation of this group. “To a certain extent my naturo s'ya sa amin na sense of decipline na naincorporate namin sa performance and sa songwriting and in life in general, in work ethic.

In a nutshell it helps shape us hindi lang sa music kundi pati sa aming everyday life, kaya irerecommend namin yan (theater, Theatro Baguntao) sa mga bata kasi ibang klase ng disiplina yan eh,” explains Yael, the bands front man and spokesperson. Well enough that speaks of their 5 years of their musical existence.


Yael speaks wiser now, “well a little bit older, a little bit wiser. We’re just having fun really. Masaya, we enjoy each other’s company.” And it's even wiser with their auspicious rapport with their respective recording label providers. “Ok naman. Maganda. We say hi, hello,” the group chorused.

After such retrospect, the present stream of thought will tell us better than ever. Just after they graduated college, they recorded their second album “Transit.” The album was released on September with a launch party in Metrowalk, Ortigas, under Universal Records. “The material was written naman at the time na parang ang song is written for the album hindi parang a collaboration or compilation of songs. Parang mayroon syang awareness sa amin as writers and as musicians. Meron kaming awareness na it's part of an album. Hindi s'ya mere compilation because compilation is just stringing together songs and putting them on one album. And all songs in transit are all-original songs,” Yael elaborated.

The album was spearheaded by the single Bitiw, which enjoyed a massive airplay and a bonus package when it became a theme song of the ABS-CBN's weekly movie series Pedro Penduko. While the album itself is being figured-out by its containing tracks, revival or original, just happened to ask them if there is any song in the album which became a hit, unexpectedly by them.

Yael with reassuring thought elucidated, “we can't really tell sa totoo lang. We just play them. People will just listen, sometimes they don't. Kaya you can't really tell. Saka minsan parang tsambahan s'ya. Parang kung mabait ka, hindi mo naman masasabing mabait ka eh. Ang nakakasabi lang nyan ay yung mga taong nakakasama nyo. Para kasing mayabang ka na pag kusa mong sinabing mabait ka na, parang ganon. So we can't really tell. To our standpoint we are biased if we say we made it.”

“Music is used to enrich your life and it makes life worth living. Good health is good, but it could be much better with music.”

As expectant fanatics and supporters, we are at the receiving end waiting for more after the foretaste of the recent work of art. Yael reassures, “well, as of now, we just in fact released our new single (music video of “Movie”), kaninang umaga lang yun (that's August 1) . Once again the plan is to come up with songs, it is where the album will come out. Hindi sya parang, oy gawa tayo ng album kailangan eh sige labas lahat (laughs). But as of now we are just focusing on the now of the things. Patuloy pa rin kaming gagawa ng mga kanta na kagigiliwan nating lahat, hopefully kagigiliwan nating lahat.”



BIRD'S EYE VIEW

What is your impression about your fellow rock artists?
Well, lahat naman kasi ng bands nasa isang scene lang. The more the merrier. Saka kanya-kanyang gawa, kanya-kanyang trip. Hindi naman kami nag-aaway-away, kumbaga, kanya-kanya eh, iba yung trip namin, iba yung trip nila.

What are your opinions about some bands splitting away at this moment?
Di naman actually s'ya trend ngayon or anything. Personal decisions yan of an individuals who work in a group and nagkataon lang siguro na nagkasabay. Wala naman sigurong trend doon. Saka meron silang magandang rason kung bakit nila ginagawa yon na pueding alam natin, pueding hindi.

Do you believe in the possibility that same thing will happen soon to your group?
Oo naman! Totoo naman, di ba! Saka di naman tayo peuding mag-ilusyon na ah, friends tayo lahat forever. Meron talagang possibility, but with us as much as possible, ayaw namin mangyari yan sa grupo.

“Ginagawa lang namin kung ano yung ginagawa ng maraming banda, then in our uniqueness we are all the same.”

How would you explain to your fans if things such as that will happen?
Siguro poproblemahin na lang namin yan pag-umabot na kami doon. Saka di naman namin muna kailangang mag-practice (laughs).

How do you see music? Do you see it as business, career or a sort of hanap buhay?
Circus! (laughs). Marami, music is a many splendored things. Music talaga is pangangailan s'ya ng tao na ma-express ang kanyang sarili. O, pangangailangan ng tao na makarinig ng bagay na hindi pag pokpok ng martilyo or pagbusina ng mga jeep. Kaya kailangan may marinig kang something na puede mong iuwi na ipapaalala sa'yo yung experience na masaya na puede mong ulit-ulitin na maalala mo. Music is used to enrich your life and it makes life worth living. Good health is good, but it could be much better with music. At ang pinakamagandang nagagawa nya is una-una, di rin naman ganon kamahal ang music. Kasi sabihin mo lang sa kapatid mo tsong kanta ka naman dyan (laughs). Para syang asin, mahirap kainin ang pagkaing walang asin.

Given the chance to rate your live performances from 1-10, how would you rate it?
Minsan 10, minsan 2 (laughs). Minsan 11, minsan negative 5 (laughs). My moments din kasi ang pagtugtug ng music eh. Saka minsan maganda rin lumalampas ng ten, kunyari nagiging twelve, ganon, kasi parang pinagpractisan mo pati yung mga sinasabi. Saka possible lang siguro yung 11 saka 12 kung nakaka-experience ka ng mga negative side.


Do you believe music helps in the development of the our society? How?
Of course, maraming ways. Of course music, kapag sinabi nating music na may lyrics and language involved na, nafa-further n'ya ang sense of nationalism ng isang grupo ng mga tao. Nagkakaroon din yan epikto kapag sama-samang kumakanta ang mga tao at may iisang kantang kinagigiliwan, nagkakaroon sila ng feeling of unity and togetherness. Say for example, wala namang bansang walang national anthem. Kasi puede rin namang mag panatang makabayan na lang tayong lahat eh (laughs). Pero maganda talaga yung Lupang Hinirang kasi may tuno s'ya eh. Mas maganda talaga pag may tuno kasi mas naisasapuso mo sya eh. It's also the way na yung pattern ng buhay napa-pass down. Kunyari di natin alam kung ano yung buhay ng seventies, makinig tayo sa music nila then malalaman natin ah ganon pala sila. Kong 'di man eksakto, mayroon kang idea.

What is your opinion about music piracy?
Kanser ng lipunan yun eh! (laughs). Basta...umm(thinking), basta masama yun eh, yun lang(laughs). Parang wala kang magagawa eh, some people just do that. At least matutuwa ka na lang na may iba pa rin namang taong bumibili ng album. Nererespeto pa rin yung mga pinaghirapan namin.

There is a controversy with the song “Crazy For You” that you were identified as the original instead of Madonna, can you clarify?
Dati mayroon, pero ngayon wala na yon. May na skip kasing generation ang music eh. Sometimes 'di naman s'ya umabot to a certain batch of listeners kaya nagka-come up s'ya na parang yung remake naging first time experience s'ya. Kaya, we can't blame people naman for not being born to relieve at that point. Kahit naman yung version namin luma na rin. Ginawa na lang namin live recordings. Tuloy lang ang ligaya.

Yael, how is your career as a vocalist?
Ok pa naman, di pa naman sya past tense (laughs). Ano pa naman sya, 'is' pa naman. Ok, masaya at minsan nakakapagud.

Erwin, as a lead guitarist, how was that?
May igagaling pa (laughs). Patuloy pa rin na magpapagaling. Ayaw ko namang tumigil sa point na, ah ito na lang ang kaya kung gawin, o kaya puede na to, ito lang mga alam ko. Gusto ko matuto ng mga bago.

Gosh, how about being a bassist?
Actually we have the same point. Copy paste na lang (laughs)!

Chris, yours as a drummer?
Ganon din, copy paste (laughs)!

Aside from music, what are those values you've learned as a band?
Well, teamwork, camaraderie, nationalism (laughs), pasensya, being thrifty. Kasi it doesn't matter naman kasi kung nagbanda ka o basketball player ka o dancer ka. Parang bottom line na nasa sa'yo eh kung paano ka matututo. Hindi nagma-matter kung ano yang ginagawa mo, basta gawin mo sya'ng tama. Saka, it is not the spoon that bends, it is you.

What are your claim to fame, what do you have that others don't?
Parang wala eh. Lahat naman kasi ng ginagawa namin nakikita rin namin sa ibang banda eh. (Singing) pantay-pantay lang walang lamangan (laughs). Tumatrabaho naman kami para sa music namin, ginagawa rin naman ng ibang banda yon. Ginagawa lang namin kung ano yung ginagawa ng maraming banda, then in our uniqueness we are all the same.

Do you feel you have something more to prove?
Meron, pero hindi namin sya ginagawang parang driving force. Hindi kami doon naka-fucos na parang lahat ng gagawin namin may kailangang patunayan. Pero ginagawa lang namin kung ano sa tingin namin kung ano yung nararapat.

Despite complements and regards you received from fans, do experience rejection on the other hand?
Kasama naman ata eh. Kung may mga taong pumupuri sayo, di hamak naman na may mga taong aayaw sa yo. Isipin mo na lang si Cobe Bryant, maraming gusto sa kanya, marami din namang ayaw sa kanya. Hindi mo naman maiiwasan 'yon. Kami ginagawa lang namin ang nararapat. 'Di rin masasabi na nakikita yan sa paramihan ng binta ng album. Kunyari nakabinta ka ng isang milyong album pero isang tao lang pala bumili noon. O 'di kaya bumili ang isang tao ng maraming album, wala namang nakinig noon. O 'di kaya'y sinunug naman nila lahat.

If you were to ask me to attend your show, how would you tell me why I should be there?
Pumunta ka, kung ayaw mong pumunta, pumunta ka (laughs). Kung gusto nyo marinig kanta namin, punta kayo (smiles). Saka kung mapipilitan rin lang naman silang pumunta, hindi rin nila mai-enjoy.

What do you think is most important, the image of the group or the image of the music?
Music. Kasi di naman kami 'sikatans' eh, musicians kami. Mas priority palagi ang music kasi, ang kasikatan kasi by-product naman sya ng kung ano yung music nyo. Dapat una talaga palagi yung music.

If ask to sing or perform for the last time what would be that song that you will be singing?
(laughs) Siguro, Jeepney. Every gig naman kasi 'yun yung last song namin eh. Parang live your life like your living it the last day.

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