The Usual Suspects: Criminals of the new sound
November 27, 2001 | 12:00am
SUSPECT NUMBER 1: Rico Blanco of Rivermaya
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
The only bad thing about me is that I am dangerously close to being boring. I don’t drink or smoke or run red lights. I’ve never considered myself a rebel although people have told me that. Out of boredom, I rebel. When there isn’t anything new happening or when everything is getting stagnant, I’ll do something different. It’s a rebellion in terms of ideologies.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
In music, I break forms and formulas. I come up with a song that is a hit and I tear it apart in the next single. The first album, we took a lot of blow with people saying that we didn’t know what we wanted to do because each song sounded different from the rest of the album. But we kept doing it, and by now, I think people have realized that that is what we wanted to do. We wanted to change all the time. Break the parameters. We did it when we were starting out and now that we are in a very nice position (in the industry) we want to keep doing it for the benefit of all the other bands and the intelligent listeners. I just don’t buy the crappy radio and record company formulas for writing songs.
If you ask the "other side" of the industry… some of them will say I am public enemy number one. But if you ask the artist side, I guess I am a guardian or an ordinary policeman because I want to make sure that artist’s interests are protected or that things go well within the music scene. Like when someone does something wrong against someone or against music. Basically, I don’t put up with shit. I won’t back stab or talk badly about people. If I have something to say, I’ll say it to your face. If I think a production number for whatever is crappy, I’ll tell them straight that I think it is crappy, which is probably why they think I am public enemy number one. But that is just for those who don’t know how to work with me. If they understand that I want to come up with something beautiful and I only want the best. I just can’t stand mediocrity.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
I just write pop song after pop song after pop song. It’s like a little piggy bank that I just keep putting coins in. I don’t count. By now, siguro medyo madami na ang laman ng piggy bank. It’s for the kids to open one day in the future and reap the harvest.
SUSPECT NUMBER 2: Reg Rubio of Greyhoundz
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
Huh? Ewan. Hindi naman. Here, they tend to judge the book by its cover. And I have piercings and tattoos so that might be it.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
I don’t know, at least not consciously. As a musician, I don’t set limits because I always want to explore and experiment. I don’t think there are any real laws anyway.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
Siguro lang mas-nagiging open na ang tao sa ganitong klaseng music.
SUSPECT NUMBER 3: Chito Miranda of Parokya Ni Edgar
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
Not anymore. Good boy na ako. I’ve quit smoking and drinking. Lahat ng lumalabas na masama, fake lang ’yan.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
Oo! Lahat! Ever since naman, hindi kami sumunod sa mga formulas. We always end up getting in trouble kahit hindi namin sinasadya. Pero okay lang ’yun, wala naman kaming paki, eh.
Actually, never ko talaga inisip ’yan, eh. Basta sa amin lang, never kami sumusunod sa mga usual na iisipin ng tao. Like kung required na maganda ang set namin, bababuyin naming para lang mag-trip. Siguro hindi lang talaga namin inisip kung ano ’yung mga sinasabi nilang unwritten laws kasi hindi talaga kami aware doon.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
Wala. Absolutely wala. Wala kaming kwenta. Honestly, pag-dating sa music, parati kaming criticized as unintelligent. Pero okay lang ’yun. Contribution sa local scene? Musicality, wala. Wala naman kaming dinagdag na malupit. Wala pa naman kaming ginagawa na sinabi ng tao, "Wow ang galing ng ginawa ng Parokya." In any aspect, wala talaga; pati sa kinabuti ng bansa wala kaming tinulong whatsoever. Gumagawa lang kami ng music na trip naming, ’yun lang.
SUSPECT NUMBER 4: Ian Tayao of Cheese
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
Ako? Hindi! Mahirap maging bad boy. ’Yung iba nami-misinterpret nila ako pero hindi naman lahat ng tao pwede ka talagang makilala. Minsan naka-base na lang sa looks mo.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
Wala na alam ko. Hindi ko alam talaga, eh.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
Na nakapagbigay kami ng saya sa tao. ’Yun lang naman ang nagda-drive namin, eh. And makapag-share ng magandang music sa kanila.
SUSPECT NUMBER 5: Basti Artadi (Wolfgang)
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
No. I drink and smoke, that's about it. In some way or another, everyone has rebel tendencies, ours is with our music. We tend to go the opposite way as the norm.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
I’m a rock singer who had a part in Gary V’s "Radical" concert. I think people might see that as a sort of selling out, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to work with the guy, you know, try something new. I also did "Back to Bacharach," a concert series featuring the songs of Burt Bacharach, another no-no for a rock guy. But again, I wanted to try and do something different. I think it’s always good to try new stuff, it takes your head out of the everyday grime.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
I don’t think we’ve contributed anything substantial enough yet, but when we do, I’ll let you know.
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
The only bad thing about me is that I am dangerously close to being boring. I don’t drink or smoke or run red lights. I’ve never considered myself a rebel although people have told me that. Out of boredom, I rebel. When there isn’t anything new happening or when everything is getting stagnant, I’ll do something different. It’s a rebellion in terms of ideologies.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
In music, I break forms and formulas. I come up with a song that is a hit and I tear it apart in the next single. The first album, we took a lot of blow with people saying that we didn’t know what we wanted to do because each song sounded different from the rest of the album. But we kept doing it, and by now, I think people have realized that that is what we wanted to do. We wanted to change all the time. Break the parameters. We did it when we were starting out and now that we are in a very nice position (in the industry) we want to keep doing it for the benefit of all the other bands and the intelligent listeners. I just don’t buy the crappy radio and record company formulas for writing songs.
If you ask the "other side" of the industry… some of them will say I am public enemy number one. But if you ask the artist side, I guess I am a guardian or an ordinary policeman because I want to make sure that artist’s interests are protected or that things go well within the music scene. Like when someone does something wrong against someone or against music. Basically, I don’t put up with shit. I won’t back stab or talk badly about people. If I have something to say, I’ll say it to your face. If I think a production number for whatever is crappy, I’ll tell them straight that I think it is crappy, which is probably why they think I am public enemy number one. But that is just for those who don’t know how to work with me. If they understand that I want to come up with something beautiful and I only want the best. I just can’t stand mediocrity.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
I just write pop song after pop song after pop song. It’s like a little piggy bank that I just keep putting coins in. I don’t count. By now, siguro medyo madami na ang laman ng piggy bank. It’s for the kids to open one day in the future and reap the harvest.
SUSPECT NUMBER 2: Reg Rubio of Greyhoundz
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
Huh? Ewan. Hindi naman. Here, they tend to judge the book by its cover. And I have piercings and tattoos so that might be it.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
I don’t know, at least not consciously. As a musician, I don’t set limits because I always want to explore and experiment. I don’t think there are any real laws anyway.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
Siguro lang mas-nagiging open na ang tao sa ganitong klaseng music.
SUSPECT NUMBER 3: Chito Miranda of Parokya Ni Edgar
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
Not anymore. Good boy na ako. I’ve quit smoking and drinking. Lahat ng lumalabas na masama, fake lang ’yan.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
Oo! Lahat! Ever since naman, hindi kami sumunod sa mga formulas. We always end up getting in trouble kahit hindi namin sinasadya. Pero okay lang ’yun, wala naman kaming paki, eh.
Actually, never ko talaga inisip ’yan, eh. Basta sa amin lang, never kami sumusunod sa mga usual na iisipin ng tao. Like kung required na maganda ang set namin, bababuyin naming para lang mag-trip. Siguro hindi lang talaga namin inisip kung ano ’yung mga sinasabi nilang unwritten laws kasi hindi talaga kami aware doon.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
Wala. Absolutely wala. Wala kaming kwenta. Honestly, pag-dating sa music, parati kaming criticized as unintelligent. Pero okay lang ’yun. Contribution sa local scene? Musicality, wala. Wala naman kaming dinagdag na malupit. Wala pa naman kaming ginagawa na sinabi ng tao, "Wow ang galing ng ginawa ng Parokya." In any aspect, wala talaga; pati sa kinabuti ng bansa wala kaming tinulong whatsoever. Gumagawa lang kami ng music na trip naming, ’yun lang.
SUSPECT NUMBER 4: Ian Tayao of Cheese
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
Ako? Hindi! Mahirap maging bad boy. ’Yung iba nami-misinterpret nila ako pero hindi naman lahat ng tao pwede ka talagang makilala. Minsan naka-base na lang sa looks mo.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
Wala na alam ko. Hindi ko alam talaga, eh.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
Na nakapagbigay kami ng saya sa tao. ’Yun lang naman ang nagda-drive namin, eh. And makapag-share ng magandang music sa kanila.
SUSPECT NUMBER 5: Basti Artadi (Wolfgang)
Do you think of yourself as a "bad boy?"
No. I drink and smoke, that's about it. In some way or another, everyone has rebel tendencies, ours is with our music. We tend to go the opposite way as the norm.
What unspoken laws in music have you broken?
I’m a rock singer who had a part in Gary V’s "Radical" concert. I think people might see that as a sort of selling out, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to work with the guy, you know, try something new. I also did "Back to Bacharach," a concert series featuring the songs of Burt Bacharach, another no-no for a rock guy. But again, I wanted to try and do something different. I think it’s always good to try new stuff, it takes your head out of the everyday grime.
What do you think is your contribution to the music scene?
I don’t think we’ve contributed anything substantial enough yet, but when we do, I’ll let you know.
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