17:28: It’s not the time but a boy band

The tag "boy band" makes them blush a bit.

The members of 17:28, one of local music world’s hottest male vocal groups, insist that they have more to offer than gorgeous good looks and the prefabricated pop of such bubblegum boy bands as Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync.

17:28 members Jonard Yanzon, Wackie Valdes, Giancarlo Magdangal, and Chino Alfonso assert that they are serious musicmakers, first and foremost.

"Were aware of the bias against boy bands," Wackie owns up. "There’s a stigma. It’s because we’re all boys and we all sing. That’s why people automatically brand us as a boy band. But what makes us different is that we are a vocal group that’s very much concerned with the music that we make."

When they say "concerned." They mean that they are very much involved in the creative process.

"We were associate producers of our debut album under Star Records," Jonard says with pride. "We give our input. We collaborate with our musical director Mons Faustino."

"Giancarlo and I composed two track in our album," Wackie chimes in "I wrote ‘Come Breathe Me’ and Giancarlo did ‘Sabi Nila’."

"It’s not like we are more preoccupied with our look, our clothes, our hairstye," Giancarlo explains.

"Music is what matters to us, not the image," Chino volunteers.

Jonard, the acknowledged leader of the gang, sums it up: "Wacky put it aptly before: We want to focus more on the art of singing. We’re not just going with the flow, with the trend, with what is popular. We are more concerned with the art, with the sound."

And just how would they define the 17:28 sound?

"It’s still evolving," Jonard pipes up. "We are still in the process of discovering it."

To be more specific. Wackie proffers that "it’s a mix of jazz, R&B, pop, soul. It’s like we’ve merged all of our musical influences together."

You could say that the boys of 17:28 are musically compatible. They listen to the same songs, they look up to the same recording artists.

Giancarlo is into Bryan McKnight. Same with Wackie, but he also likes Eric Benet. Chino concurs, but he adds Boys II Men to the list, along with such local greats as Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Jaya, and Kyla. Jonard echoes his bandmates’ musical sentiments, but he says he is also into "pop classics" like "Bluer than Blue".

True to their musical influences, the boys of 17:28 are seriously honing their vocal gifts.

They are now on a whirlwind promotional tour for their self-titled debut album, which was launched recently in the newly opened Tavern on the Square in Greenbelt Makati.

They are also looking into the possibility of having more regular gigs in the metro’s lounge circuit.

Indeed, the boys of 17:28 are going places.

They first made the public sit up and take notice when they joined the Jam Himig contest, with their popular entry Network I. (The same song gave the group Awit and Katha nominations this award season).

Then, they followed it up with the just as memorable ditty Sukob Na, which was adopted by ABS-CBN as its rainy season station ID jingle.

But then again 17:28 has proven that they are here to stay, come rain or shine.

In fact, US boy bands like ‘N Sync and Backstreet Boys are already on their way out (their members are now embarking on solo careers,) but 17:28 members remain true to their calling, to their music.

"When we were just starting, things came easily for us," Jonard recalls. "But just as quickly the trend in the music world changed."

The boys were undaunted. They looked at this as another challenge that can further strengthen their unity as a group.

"Our manager Tito Audie Gemora (of Stages) told us to be patient," Jonard relates. "He always reminds us to take our time. Not to be in a Hurry."

"He constantly reassures us. That we shouldn’t get frustrated. That we will be able to fulfill our dreams in God’s time." Wackie confirms.

Which leads us to band’s name.

"It’s from the Bible." Giancarlo explains.

"Acts 17:28," Chino elaborates.

"It’s a constant reminder for all of us," Jonard expounds. "We have to live up to our name."

It reminds them why they are here and where they are headed.

"We want to prove to everyone that it’s possible to remain in showbiz and still be positive role models," Wackie volunteers.

"Everythings we do is for God," Jonard concludes. "It’s for His greater glory."

And that’s what makes them stand out from the slew of local boy bands invading the airwaves.

They combine style and substance and they sing from the heart.