Raymond and his band of music-makers

Multi-awarded drama actor Raymond Bagatsing continues to astound with his knack for reinvention. After easily slipping into his new role as the host of the suspenseful occult show Nginiiig over ABS-CBN 2, he also jump-started a new career in music.

Without a doubt, music is yet another challenge, but is another step in the continuing journey of Raymond the artist, who has dabbled in poetry and writing since way back. A naturally introspective soul, Raymond considers his poetry "cathartic," a healing way to deal with the highs and lows of his sometimes tranquil, sometimes turbulent existence. Because he wants to share his poetry and feelings to more people, he thought of turning his poems into songs and forming his own pop-rock band. Thus, Raymond Bagatsing and the Bandidoz was born. "Exciting," Raymond calls this latest "challenge" in his artistic life. (He also ventured into ballet a few years back.)

Indeed, there is something curiously charming about tough-guy actors who have picked up the guitar to sing their hearts out. (Such Hollywood actors as Keanu Reeves, Russell Crowe, Kevin Bacon, and Dennis Quaid also front their own bands, to let off steam and cope with the stress and drama of tinseltown.)

Raymond reveals that his musical influences cover a wide range of styles and genres, a truly eclectic and electric bunch. "I can go heavy rock," Raymond relates. "I can sing ballads. R&B. I also listen to classical music. Basically, I can appreciate anything. From The Police to John Mayer. From George Benson to Joey Ayala." Now, he’s even listening to standards, courtesy of Michael Bublé, to build up his repertoire.

His own compositions reflect the same kaleidoscopic variety. "I wrote a song called Pagmamahal (Kilala Ba Kita)," he enumerates." Another one is titled Eto Na. It’s about two friends who fall in love. I also wrote an English song, I Really Miss You, Baby. And there’s Kuwento, which tells the story of one part of my life.

It’s his therapy. Raymond ruminates: "Music and writing allow me to deal with the pain positively. Every time I get hurt, I write it down as poetry or I jot it down in my diary. It’s my release." Truth is, a large bulk of his songs is "autobiographical" in origin. "I also get ideas for my songs from other people," he pipes in. "But a lot is based on my personal experiences. My feelings."

One song was even inspired by unseen forces on the set of Nginiiig. Raymond recounts a real-life spine-tingling tale on the set of the top-rating thriller. "It was already three in the morning and we were on our way to our location somewhere in Pangasinan," Raymond recalls. From out of nowhere, the phrase pugot na ulo kept popping up in his overactive brain. "I couldn’t get it out of my mind," he looks back. "Sometimes that happens to me. I’d keep thinking of a certain phrase that would lead me to write a poem or a song." It was as if it was being whispered to his ear by an invisible muse. It kept echoing in his head.

"So I got a pen and paper and started writing the song which I later called Nginiiig. When they finally reached the taping venue, Raymond was flabbergasted to learn from the assistant director that their story for that episode revolved around a pugot na ulo – a mysterious beheaded phantom that haunted a seemingly cursed clan. "And I started writing my song when we passed by the same street where the ghostly sightings occurred," he states. Now, that’s something for the Nginiiig files. Raymond sincerely hopes Star Records will consider including his Nginiiig song in the show’s future soundtrack.

Raymond takes his music seriously. This is no vanity project for a bored star, he asserts. He is determined to shine just as brightly as a musician, in the same manner that he continues to excel as an actor (and now as a TV host).

"In everything I do, I try to be the best that I can be," Raymond reiterates. "I am really thrilled about my new band. It will allow me to show a seldom-seen side of my personality. My reflective, quiet side."

To hone his musicality and polish his repertoire, Raymond and his bandmates have been working double time. "We practice once to twice a week," he confirms.

Raymond is extremely proud of his six-member band. "They are all seasoned players. Our drummer is Myrvin Cortes, who was from Orient Pearl. Our percussionist is my brother-in-law, Minco Fabregas, who used to play with Color It Red and Pinwheel. My cousin JR Oca is our lead guitarist and he used to be with the Third World Project and Alakpa. Our bassist Krist Aki is also from Alakpa. Our keyboardist is Robert Cozma, a full-blooded Syrian who is also a Kapampangan."

Indeed, the Bandidoz are just as colorful and gifted as Raymond himself. "We all have distinct personalities," he concurs. "But when we put together our individual sounds, which are all passionate, the result is really beautiful!" He is also collaborating with MTV diva Viktoria on the song Bagoong at Mangga, which will come out in the latter’s upcoming CD.

But of course, he is not about to give up his original profession and passion, acting. Although he acknowledges he is on a "break" from acting, he continues to be very much in demand both on the small and big screens. He portrayed a pivotal role in Gil Portes’ latest film A Beautiful Life and also guested on the ABS-CBN 2 youth serial Seasons of Love. Also in post-production is Raymond’s international film, What a Wonderful Place, which is from the same Berlin prize-winning team from Israel that produced Broken Wings.

"After working so hard as an actor for the past 15 years, I want to rest my emotions for a while and tackle this new challenge, music," he intones. "I need to devote 100 percent, total focus, to the band."

And Raymond is more than happy to face the musi