Let's hear it from the Boyce

MANILA, Philippines – Their love affair with Filipinos began, quite rightly, during the season of hearts, when passions run high and romance is in the air. Brothers Alejandro, Fabian and Daniel Manzano of Boyce Avenue didn’t have the slightest idea of what to expect in Manila, site of their first show outside their native America. It was supposed to be their baptism of fire.

They were asked to perform at the SM Malls in time for the Valentine season. So they did, despite first-time jitters and all.

Boyce Avenue never looked back since. Their acoustic love songs and to-die-for looks turned shoppers into one huge starry-eyed audience throughout those red-letter days in February.

The feeling was mutual.

Alejandro, 22, summed it up: “Our Philippine experience was amazing! It was our first international show outside the US and it exceeded all our expectations. The audience was very receptive and sang along with us.”

The experience was so memorable Alejandro promises to “come back there someday.”

“Someday” is another way of saying the band does not know exactly when they will repeat their Philippine performance. That’s why Boyce Avenue has come up with a way to keep in touch despite the distance between the band and its Filipino fans. Yes, the love affair between the boy band and its Filipino audience must go on.

So, the trio is dedicating its album, Best of Acoustic Sessions, solely to Filipino music lovers. Why single out the Filipinos out of the millions of fans that made the band an Internet phenomenon via YouTube (72 million total views)?

“It’s our way of saying thank you to our fans out there,” explains Alejandro. So enamored is the band with its Pinoy audience it has put the release of the album on hold pending its distribution in the Philippines.

The band’s gift to Pinoys compiles 18 songs featuring the best of their YouTube hits, including Bleeding Love, Apologize, With You, Umbrella, Realize, No Air and others. The album also has two new songs and acoustic versions of Change Your Mind and Tonight, plus a signed guitar pick from the band.

Alejandro promises to take listeners on a musical journey that will “blend the beauty of melody and lyrics all at the same time.”

His favorite track is What Goes Around/Rehab (medley) because he and his brothers made sure it “sounds different from the original version.”

Daniel, Alejandro and Fabian’s older brother, however, has a different taste when it comes to his favorite track. Daniel picked Tonight for sentimental reasons. 

“It’s the first song I wrote with Alejandro. I enjoy working with him,” Daniel explains.

The ties that bind the brothers are not just for how. They’re also each other’s best friends.

All those live shows, the endless touring and recording sessions have made them so close to each other, one can tell what the other is thinking about without even saying a word.

“We know each other too well,” says Alejandro.

Thus, he is sure Daniel and Fabian share his sentiments when he says their next move is to produce other artists’ albums. It’s their way of giving back to an industry that has been extra kind to them.

“We would like to help other artists,” says Alejandro. The band will also literally sing a different tune for its next album. Boyce Avenue wants its next CD to be made up of all original songs.

Wherever fate takes them though, the band will never forget its roots. Alejandro, Daniel and Fabian will always remember how they sat in rapt attention as the music of Michael Jackson played and replayed on the radio.

 “He had a strong sense of rhythm and melody,” Alejandro observes. “This, more than his performing skills, is what I admire most in Michael Jackson. It should be something all artists should strive for.”

In other words, focus less on the showmanship. Go back to the basics. Listen to the music and rhythm instead.

"Our responsibility," states Alejandro, "is to come up with good music."

For Boyce Avenue, this -- more than the screaming fans and aurograph seekers — is what matters most. True-blue artists out there will surely agree.