Pieces of the people they love
If you let your unconcious carry you somewhere else as you listened to Ang Bandang Shirley, you would probably find yourself in the middle of a dazzlingly upbeat daydream, one that involves cartoon birds braiding your nonexistent hair or crackling logs in a fireplace you don’t really have. Yes, their sound is sunshine, like Sugarfree’s heart inside the baby of Radiohead and Feist. And it’s as good streaming from your laptop speakers as it does piping out of a car stereo.
“Themesongs,” the band’s debut album, sees the eight members — Owel Alvero, Selena Salang, Ean Aguila, Joe Fontanilla, Jing Gaddi, Heidi Pascual, Zig Rabara, and Kathy Gener — turning romance into 11 catchy and clever anthems. “Sa Madaling Salita” was in the soundtrack of this year’s indie movie hit Endo, but this project apparently started way before that.
“Most of ‘Themesongs’ was already recorded when Jade Castro, the director of Endo, approached me to work on the music for the movie,” says Owel, ABS’ guitarist and vocalist. “Some of the songs are pretty old; the earliest ones date back to 2002. ‘Themesongs’ is something I had been visualizing since I realized I wanted to be in a band. Other than Jing, formerly of Tungaw, and Zig, also of the Purplechickens, this is our first album out, something Ean and I used to dream about in high school.”
L-O, L-O, L-O-V-E
With a combined age of 207, the group drew from a mixed bag of influences while creating the record. However, one recognizable thing that links all of these motifs is love of the sweeping — and sometimes coming-of-age — variety. “Several members were going through heartbreak at the time, which probably explains a lot of our themes,” shares Selena, Shirley’s other vocalist. “Like Ean, I was also into Veronica Mars. Perhaps the wit and ‘epic love story’ feel of ‘Themesongs’ relates to that.”
Meanwhile, Jing, on bass, was inspired by something not involving the fictional teen detective from Neptune High School. “When the recording sessions kicked off in early 2007, I had just gotten married to my longtime girlfriend of 11 years,” he laughs.
Poignant moments, etc.
Whether subtly or overtly, these personal footnotes — pieces of things and people they love — shaped the overall vibe of the album, large in scale but rooted in more poignant moments. The opener, the lengthily-titled “Kagabi Nanaginip Si Morissey Na May Nagmamahal Sa Kanya,” kicks off with the sound of an alarm clock. Together with the line “Sinong niloloko ng pangarap?” that little jolt ties in with what the song is about: waking up to reality as it sort of slaps you in the face.
The second track, the toe-tapping “Masamang Damo,” is a sneak-attack burn. The perky veneer conceals somewhat dark lyrics (“Akala mong kaibigan, Mong hindi pala, Ninakawan ka pa, At iniwang patay”) about a frenemy you wish would go away.
“The first song we recorded was ‘Xmas Lights’ in December 2006 for a Jam 88.3 Christmas compilation,” continues Selena. “It was only when the band reformed two years ago with the rest of the members that we began adding songs and toying with the idea of an album.”
Career Highs
“Themesongs” gets away with the mush — without sounding phony or creepy — because each of the bandmates genuinely likes each other and bounces off each other’s creative energy. “Well, I actually enjoy everything that we do as a band,” goes Heidi, who plays the keyboards. “Not just the music-making process, but also things we do together outside that’s got nothing to do with our instruments. Like eating, which we do most of the time. And just hanging out.”
As Ang Bandang Shirley turns five later this year, the Terno Recordings collective is one in saying that making their two music videos and getting hold of the actual CD have been career highs. “Another one would be the launch next week, on Oct. 25,” adds Zig, on drums. “’Launch’ is actually a misnomer because the CD is available in stores now!”
As is the standard these days, Ang Bandang Shirley is also open to commisioning remixes for their modern Pinoy ballads. In fact, the band’s good friend, Spazzkid, has already a cool remix of the Rizal Day Sessions version of “Themesong,” which they all love, of course. (“We love Spazzkid, too,” declares Selena.) You can hear it on their MySpace (myspace.com/angbandangshirley).
With a couple more months to go before the close of the year, “Themesongs” has already topped a lot of individual best-of-2008 lists. Then again, it’s no surprise. A reminder that the world will continue to spin on its axis, this light-hearted soundtrack is perfect because hey, these songs could just be about you.
Ang Bandang Shirley for Supreme
Major influences outside of music?
Owel: People - Nice Buenaventura (Yikee), Pepper Roxas, Takashi Murakami, Michel Gondry, Chris Paul (cp3!), MZA (http://lostcosmonaut.livejournal.com)
Ean: Chuck Bass (portrayed by Ed Westwick) from Gossip Girl. He is the man!
Joe: My family and bandmates. And all the TV chefs. Hahaha!
Jing: I immensely enjoy experimenting when cooking – coming up with concoctions based on what’s there in the fridge or cupboard. I also love ketchup and Monty Python.
Heidi: I do photography and I handle several businesses when I’m not using my Shirley hat. I also enjoy reading books and looking at great photos. Currently I’m reading Murakami’s South of the Border, West of the Sun.
Selena: The life/love stories of our friends. Haha! Colorful artwork. European films. Will Ferrell movies. Jack Black movies.
Zig: I love comedy films. The dumber, the better. Stupid films remind me to not take things too seriously. That’s important because I have a job like everyone else – I’m all corporate during the week – and if I got stuck up I’d probably go crazy.
Kathy: Wong Kar Wai and Cameron Crowe films, John Lloyd Cruz (hi!) and Tony Leung, PBA games on C/S9 (haha!), The Office (American edition) and Virtual Tennis 3.
Shout-outs?
Owel: Hi to my mom + dad, Wawa + Ate Ayong, and the rest of the Yabut & Alvero titos and titas. And to the Buenaventura family.
Ean: Hi, Anne Curtis. I love you. I know you love me, too.
Joe: Mama, Dad, Geno, Kareena, Danette, and Carl. The Mabuhay housemates: Engg. Toto, Joanne, and Soleil. I love you guys!
Jing: To my lovely wife Ava, family, friends, co-workers, and to all listeners who’ve lent their ears: RAKENROL!!!!
Heidi: Thanks to my family and friends for the support. And major thanks to everyone who bought the album. For those who want a copy, Themesongs is available at Fully Booked, Odyssey, and Astro Vision stores.
Selena: Hi, Mom, I love you!
Zig: Hi to my family and to Rom. I love you all. Hehehe.
Kathy: Please make our dreams of music video supremacy come true! Vote for the music video of our song “Themesong!” Text MYX (space) VOTE (space) THEMESONG and send to 2366. And our album is available on all Astrovision/Astroplus, Odyssey branches, SM record bars, and at Fully Booked.
Anything else?
Please save the date: Oct. 25, 2008. Ang Bandang Shirley’s album launch at Cubao X, 7pm. Open bar sa may costume. See you there!
For bookings and inquiries, contact Kathy Gener at 0928 –294 4151 or e-mail no1fan@gmail.com.
