IV of Spades is stronger as a trio

MANILA, Philippines — Given what happened to IV of Spades last year, particularly the exit of the original lead singer just when the boys were having successive hits and being hailed “Artist of the Year,” little wonder if people thought that the band that was exploding in the music scene was imploding.

Sorry naysayers, it didn’t happen and isn’t happening.

Lead vocalist-bassist Zild Benitez, 21, drummer Badjao de Castro, 23, and guitarist Blaster Silonga, 19, have become stronger as a trio. They have opened 2019 on a high note by independently producing their first physical album. And it’s a rare if not fearless thing to do in this day and age with music labels (and audiences) sticking to streaming and digital downloads.

Titled CLAPCLAPCLAP!, the 15-track albumv was launched recently with a fan meet and unveiling of a mural at Eton Centris. The band is also set to tour the country to promote the record.

In a past STAR interview, the band members shared how they started some four years ago (no, they were not an overnight sensation). They were exposed early on to the music scene, thanks to parents who were musicians. Zild’s father Franklin was the drummer of ‘90s bands Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle; Badjao’s dad Chuck used to play for showbands; and Blaster’s father Allan, who also manages IV of Spades, placed third with his R&B group Daddy’s Home in the 2012 X Factor Philippines. Since the industry is “small” and almost everyone knew each other, the parents decided to form a band. “And kami yun,” Zild said.

When they entered the music biz, there was “a lot of hard work, discouragement and full of directions,” Zild (who like Blaster once competed and won in Eat, Bulaga’s Music Hero contest) previously told The STAR. “Even if people or even if our parents say that the Pinoy music scene is dead di kami naniniwala dun. ”

According to Badjao, IV of Spades music is an “accumulation of everything we experienced through our parents, listening to (sounds from the) ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.”

Their look — from the mop-top hairstyles to the eclectic, vintage outfits — may be a visual presentation of their music, but they had said that it’s “not a character, this is how we are.”

“We just tone it down a little when we go to the malls,” Badjao said. 

So, how does the brand-new music differ from their past hits (Ilaw sa Daan, Hey Barbara, Where Have You Been My Disco? and Mundo)? The trio answers the question and more in this exclusive interview.

Why did you come up with a physical album, considered a big deal nowadays?

Zild: With the physical album, it’s like having a sense of ownership, na akin ito.

Badjao: It gives you sentimental value because music you can hear but (an album is) something you can touch, tangible and that’s yours only.

‘When we’re on stage, nawawala lahat. Everything disappears, the doubts, the fans, the management, the people. What remains is the three of us. That’s the purest moment for us — that we know that the three of us can do it.’

Blaster: We didn’t want to settle na nag-ste-stream na lang kami. Since we were kids, it was our dream to have our own album. Yun yung image sa utak namin na once you have an album, you are legit (as a musician).

What makes your new music different from your previous songs?

Badjao: Nag-iba ang dynamics. Our roles became different. Nadagdagan at nag-adjust (we had more roles and made adjustments). And then recording-wise, we felt more pressured. We put more pressure on ourselves to finish this album on a specific date.

Zild: It’s like a thesis. OK, baby thesis. Sorry, baka kasi may mga nagma-masteral (laughs). Maybe in sound, nag-iba ng slight. It’s also because our experiences in life have become different. But we’re the same as before. It wasn’t lost, erased, it just has other colors, like in a painting.

What’s your favorite song/songs from the album?

Zild: Me, Bawat Kaluluwa kasi inisip ko yun as an individual or the three of us na parang kinakausap namin sarili namin na ayaw naming mawala kami sa landas. Bata, Dahan-Dahan!, In My Prison, I’m A Butterfly (are songs that touch on) mental health... They’re like stories of the things going on in our minds. We don’t know how to explain it scientifically so we just wrote what we were feeling. If other people can relate to (the songs), we hope they will feel they’re not alone.

Badjao: Come Inside of My Heart, very relatable. So, it’s about not being sweet, not being affectionate. Blaster made this song. It’s the answer to why you’re not affectionate and most of the time, that’s what they say about me, masyadong straight. This is not just (addressed) to a girl, it’s for everyone, the family, people around me. They like to correlate kasi that if you love someone you have to be sweet to that person.

Blaster: Me, too, Come Inside of My Heart. Basically, it’s about... if you really want to know me, dig deeper. If we’re just acquaintances, you will have assumptions and misconceptions about my attitude.

IV of Spades produces and launches its first physical album titled CLAPCLAPCLAP!. Digitally distributed by Warner Music Philippines, the record is also the trio’s way of ‘applauding’ fans (left) for their support. Photos from the band’s official Facebook page.

How do you find the fame and attention?

Blaster: We would be lying if we say, ‘Oh, I don’t like fame (laughs).’ Why would you release a song if you hate fame? Might as well release your song at home. (Consequence is) alam ng lahat ang ginagawa mo.

Badjao: We’re still the same but now that people put us in a microscope, what you do now, they will say, ‘Ganun pala siya, parang mali.’ People are having misconceptions (of things). That’s just the difficult part of being in the spotlight.

Zild: If you’re a band or musician writing songs and then you want people to notice your songs, if there’s fame, you’re happy because people listen to your work. The bad effect of fame is pressure. But that spotlight, we also don’t want to take it for granted. Because of it, we’re having a sense of responsibility (towards) people listening to us. That’s why we’re also careful of what we say in our songs.

How did the events of 2018 change the band?

Blaster: Maybe we became stronger, our relationship. Kasi parang ang nangyari we were surrounded by discouragement so kami-kami nalang yung?nag-encourage sa mga sarili namin (we had to encourage ourselves).

Zild: Mas kumapit kami sa isa’t-isa kaysa mga sinasabi ng iba.

Badjao: Especially on stage. When we’re on stage, nawawala lahat. Everything disappears, the doubts, the fans, the management, the people. What remains is the three of us. That’s the purest moment for us, na alam namin na kaya naming tatlo.

(For details on the new album, visit www.ivofspades.com.)