Why Coloura believes their songs hit harder live

CEBU, Philippines — The members of Coloura draw from different musical inspirations. Frontman and lead vocalist Jake Relacion leans toward pop, while bassist Robert Lim, guitarist Emil Baleva, and drummer Ziv Zoleta take a wide range of cues from hip-hop to heavy rock.

Despite their varied influences, what keeps the four-piece Cebuano band cohesive is their commitment to a “shared vibe” that gives the band its distinct identity.

“Concept albums are quite common in hip-hop, but not in a band because it’s not just one person, but four people. Because of that, you have to adjust your expectations. It should be all-in-one harmony among ourselves,” Lim told interviewers before August 30 show.

Their unity in sound is heard in their self-titled debut studio album, released on Aug. 22 across streaming platforms, with a planned CD release soon through Melt Records.

A treat for their longtime supporters from their Dox days in 2016 and their newer fans alike, Coloura celebrated the album with a two-weekend launch: a listening party at Atua Midtown on release day, followed by a headlining concert at From Here in Crossroads Mall the following weekend. They were joined by singer Siatro, bands Monopolice and Sansettte, and hip-hop duo ELEMINO & DOEZA as front acts.

The 13-track album quickly found favorites among fans: “Mango,” a love letter Relacion wrote for a special someone, and “Too Nice,” a playful track noted for its layered production that the members enjoyed creating.

“I really enjoy the whole songwriting and producing process of this album,” Relacion said. “It’s not just a much-needed escapism, it’s something I truly enjoy doing.”

The fact that fans already have their favorites is exactly why the band made the record in the first place: to share their stories, just as the members did when they found their “vibe” together.

“I am so happy that our songs are somehow integrated into their lives and they listen to them now and then,” Baleva shared.

“It’s important for us to leave a piece of us in them in a way that we can connect with our fans. They would add our songs to their playlists and share them with other people,” Lim added.

The band also takes pride in their live shows, believing that the energy on stage enhances their material in ways that studio recordings cannot.

“We play very differently because in recordings, it’s controlled. When playing live, it gets more dramatic, and it actually adds more to the song,” Lim said, noting how certain cues hit harder in person.

Now that they’ve released a full body of work, Coloura is eager to revisit the experimental streak from their Dox days – much of which was lost when Relacion’s hard drive containing the original stems broke a few years ago.

“It almost feels like death,” Relacion recalled. “That was supposed to be our original album. So we had to go back to the drawing board. But it was actually a blessing in disguise because we got to find our organic sound over the years.”

Even with their day jobs keeping them busy, the members see themselves continuing to write songs that resonate with their fans and play gigs in Cebu for at least the next five years.

“If you compare the songs we did before to now, it feels so teenager-y. We are quite life-focused on our songwriting, which reflects our maturity. Who knows if we would write songs about filing taxes,” he joked.

“We have been playing for so long to the point that we are so comfortable with each other,” Lim said.

Baleva added, “If you asked us five years ago, we wouldn’t have figured out that we’d release an album. But most likely, it’s our cohesive vibe that will take us wherever we’re headed next.”

Wherever that may be, the band hopes their fans will stay with them. “Come to our shows,” Relacion said. “That’s the best way for us to interact with them. Of course, don’t come just for us, but for other bands playing with us as well.”