Cebuano band The Line Divides brings back the ‘90s

CEBU, Philippines — As people online yearn for the good old days of 2016, Louie George Tabaña has a different kind of nostalgia: the ’90s, when radio was the main platform for listening to music, and P50 pesos was enough to see a Cebuano band like The Ambassadors at a bar gig.

This is the concept behind The Line Divides’ new single “No Benta,” a mix of English and Cebuano lyrics that references grooving to the jams of Wham! and popular Top 40 hits, laced with familiar synths to evoke the warm sentimentality of the era.

“I want to share how beautiful the ’90s were during my youth. I want to go back to the days when there was not much anxiety, just pure, carefree fun,” lead vocalist Tabaña told The FREEMAN. “This is my way of immortalizing the ’90s for the future kids in 2030 or 2040 to see what the ’90s were all about, and how we rolled.”

Written during the pandemic but only recorded last year, the song was not created solely for the sake of fondly looking back at the music of the past. It also pays tribute to his father, known as Brod O Jay, who was a DJ at Smash FM. His voice can be heard at the beginning of the song, introducing his son’s band.

“I would go with him all the time and listen to the songs he queued in the DJ booth. This is my way of honoring his memory,” he said.

Released last January 23, the single received a music video, which debuted Jan. 29 on YouTube. It was directed by fellow artist Keith Human, who suggested a one-take concept shot at Plaza Independencia, with backup dancers joining the band and splashes of animation by Jan Pizon and Abby Pacanan. The shoot took eight hours and five takes to complete.

“It’s been a dream of mine to make a one-shot video, like ‘La La Land,’ and Louie was willing to gamble on this idea,” Human said.

Human said it was an honor to collaborate with a fellow Melt Records labelmate, as he grew up listening to the band’s songs on the radio.

“They are quite influential in the Cebuano music scene, and I personally connected with their songs on Y101 and Monster 105.9. I was very curious about them because they sounded so foreign. The way Louie sings is not very Cebuano,” he said.

The Line Divides was formed in 2006, when all of the original members were based in Lapu-Lapu City. Tabaña and Edric Jimenez remain as founding members, while keyboardist Nestor Abellana, guitarists Podz Mangubat and Dino Querubin, and bassist Marcu Querubin complete the current lineup — all still based in Lapu-Lapu City.

Originally playing metal in a previous band, the members shifted to a softer sound influenced by new wave, soft rock, and nu metal, as bars at the time did not allow metal bands to play in their venues.

The band released its first album, “Signals and Sounds,” in 2009. The 10-track record included “In Between” and “Don’t Let It Go.”

Looking back on the album’s production, Tabaña recalled how the band had to memorize melodies before recording the songs in the studio. Today, they can simply record and even mix their tracks on their phones.

One track from the album that Tabaña is particularly proud of is “Day Dream Dance,” which has become a staple in their setlist and is often used as their closing song.

Since joining Melt Records’ artist roster in 2021, the band has released “Hello Sunshine,” “Destiny,” and “No Benta.” Tabaña said the band plans to release more singles in the future and is not ruling out the possibility of a sophomore album.