Hale’s comeback single is a blast from the past for fans

Alternative rock band Hale seems to be unfazed by the new trends in the music scene today.

Case in point is their newly dropped single Klaro, which takes listeners back to the band’s alternative rock roots, particularly, during their The Day You Said Goodnight and Broken Sonnet days.

Consisting of Chino David, Sheldon Gellada, Roll Martinez, Champ Lui Pio, and Paolo Santiago, the group announced during a contract signing with Universal Music Group Philippines (which recently relaunched EMI Records Philippines) that they are working on a new album and are set to release more songs this year.

The nostalgia-evoking tune Klaro, now available on various music streaming platforms, is a track that Champ wrote for his wife, Claire Nery, whom he married in 2022.

“It was such a nice songwriting process because this year, it’s just a lot of parallels, you know, and a lot of nostalgia so just for context, when we wrote the song, Roll and I were transported all the way back to 2004 when we would write music in his room,” recalled Champ.

“We haven’t done that in more than a decade and it was just so spontaneous like I messaged him one day (asking) if he was home, and just go there, no expectations. And then it was just magic. (It was a) very, very nice experience for both of us and for the whole band to be recording again.”

The band hasn’t released new tracks in more than five years and Klaro is their sort of comeback single.

Roll chimed in, “(It was) nostalgic. Nag-flashback yung college days like before it was just me and Champ. As in, I just met him. Maybe it was less than a year and then, ‘Bro, I have a song here.’ Nagbu-burn siya ng mga CDs. I appreciated the feeling na nandun pa rin ever since we started doing music together.”

Now that they inked a deal with a record label, Chino said that they don’t really pressure themselves on how their music would sound like.

“We really don’t think about it,” maintained Chino. “Kung ano yung lumabas, yun talaga. So we’re not conscious with how we need or how we’re supposed to sound, if that makes sense. We never let the pressure get to us na parang we have to sound like this, do this kind of song. It’s very natural, organic so kung ano yung nasulat.”

On how they stay relevant in the music scene, Paolo shared, “Tugtog lang. We just want to play our music because we love our music. Again, Hale, one sound, yun talaga yung (style) namin. So we just continue playing. Because naisip namin na either relevant pa ba or hindi, as long as you’re playing, I think and I believe you are still relevant because that’s what we do — make music.”

Roll added, “We really don’t think about those kind of things. I think the bottom line with us is we stay as happy and as real as possible. And we are just hoping to share everything that we can with everyone who’s willing to listen, to see us.”

Champ concurred, “Especially in this era of content like everyone is so content is king. People are in synch, in demand for content is insatiable. So I came across this nice quote that says from a creator somewhere I forget, but he says quality content will find its audience.”

“So it’s same with our music. Like we just stick with our selves, make it as real as possible. And it will resonate to someone and that really is the mission of music, to connect people,” he said.

Formed in 2004, Hale members are elated to celebrate their 20th anniversary as a group this year. The original members were Champ, Sheldon, Roll and drummer Omnie Saroca. The latter left the band and was replaced by Paolo. Chino joined them in 2017.

In 2010, Champ went on to pursue a solo music career and embarked on an acting career. In 2015, the group reunited to release their comeback single See You.

Champ explained that they have always been actively playing in gigs. “It’s just that we haven’t come out with new music. We’ve been actively gigging since the last album back in 2017. But we have our own thing going on. Pao is an incumbent councilor in Pasig, Chino is a musical director, Roll is a producer, Sheldon and I, we’re entrepreneurs. So we have a lot on the side and then music is our glue together.”

When The STAR asked them what message would they tell their younger selves, they said the question hit home.

Deeply pondering on the question, Champ tried to answer first: “I love the question. It’s just that I can’t answer… You know.. I have a.. But… Just… I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Probably just add more to the good memories that I’ve done. The mistakes, those are OK. Just be more, do more. Whatever I did before, you know, looking back it was a smile, on the good and the bad, so just yeah, more, do more.”

Roll added, “I probably say a lot of stuff na hindi pwedeng sabihin. Haha! But I think the most simple answer I can say is… You have to take care of yourself.”

Sheldon quipped, “Ako siguro winning lotto numbers.”

Chino offered, “I’ll just tell myself to enjoy the ride because I never expected to be with them.”

Paolo said that the question made him reflect on some things. “Hindi naman ganun kahaba yung reflection ko but maybe I will tell my younger self, when I was just new to the band, around late 2007, early 2008, ‘Ba’t mo kasi iniwan dati?’ (laughs).

“I mean hindi ko gusto yung nangyari na yun but kung hindi ko kasi na-experience yun, hindi ko rin gaano ma-appreciate and see the value of each member kung hindi ko pinagdaanan yun. So what I would tell myself in the past, tuloy mo lang ‘yan and do not overthink.”

He emphasized in modulated tone, “Tugtog ka lang. When you are sad and when in doubt, tumugtog ka lang. Because they will never leave you.”

Champ teased him, “Modulation, pare. Grabe. Haha!”

Paolo responded, “Sorry, it came from here (pointing at his heart). Thank you for asking that question.”