How to make sweet soul music

The weather’s been really erratic lately. They say it’s due in large part to global warming. But for Manila soul proprietors Bing Austria of Flippin Soul Stompers and Mike Constantino of Mike’s Apartment, things are just beginning to heat up.

The menagerie is set at Bugsy’s Sports Bar & Bistro in Burgos Circle. Amidst the torrential downpour that followed after the almost provincial heat, our subjects arrive clad in staggeringly opposing yet similar apparel — if that at all makes sense. One is in a custom plaid shirt, loose jeans and sneaks. The other is offbeat — decked out in disturbed stripes, red jeans, moccasins and a fisherman’s hat on which rests the signature mod insignia: the centripetal blue, red and white stripe long associated with the Mod movement of the ‘60s.

From garb alone, you can almost tell where each artist is coming from — like old soul meets new. Wait ‘til you hear what they have to say.

YOUNG STAR: Tell us a lil’ something about yourselves.

Mike Constantino: I’m Mike Constantino. I sing for a soul band called Mike’s Apartment and I’m also a DJ for a funk soul outfit called BBC Soul.

Bing Austria: My name is Bing Austria and I’m nobody. (Laughs) I love soul. I sing for Flippin Soul Stompers and I also DJ under the name Papa Mod.

Bing, you grew up in the Mod Era.

BING: Nakapost sa Facebook ko. Two years old palang ako, naka-suit na ako. Sinasabi sa akin, Bing, bata ka palang Mod ka na!

Who would you consider to be your biggest influence?

‘What role do you think soul music plays in Manila’s cultural conversation?’ ‘Sex!’

BING: Paul Weller. He used to sing with The Jam and Style Council. Right now, he’s called the Modfather — and he’s currently the endorser of Fred Perry and Ben Sherman.

Mike, how’d you get into the genre being that you are of the younger generation?

MIKE: I never knew that I was actually listening to soul music growing up because my dad had all these records and cassette tapes that he’d always play. I used to be into punk. Eventually, I just kind of found myself in the genre.

How would you describe your style of soul?

BING: Obviously, luma! (Laughs) ‘60s, late ‘50s, hanggang ‘70s. Pero ‘di na rin talaga luma. In Pu3ska, I had a horn section. Mula nung nakatikim ako ng horn section, ayoko nang pakawalan.

I love your horns.

I always want to be horn-y. (Laughs) Iba yung horns eh, iba yung intensity na binibigay niya sa live shows.

I take pleasure in…

MIKE: Expressing myself through music.

BING: Ay magpakatotoo ka Mike. (Laughs)

MIKE: Iba yung nagpe-perform ka. At iba yung nagpe-perform ka ng soul kasi may pinaghuhugutan. It took me awhile to actually figure it out.

How’d the name Mike’s Apartment come about?

MIKE: Originally my friends wanted to call it the Mike Constantino Band. Definitely a no-no! We were listening to our music, tapos medyo pang-romansa kasi so we were thinking Romansa Espesyal. Then our bassist at that time found a porn site called Mike’s Apartment.

‘Photos by BIA CATBAGAN. Shot at Bugsy’s Sports Bar & Bistro in Burgos Circle Special thanks to MARTIN WARREN

Is it still around?

MIKE: Yes, which is why we tell our fans not to Google Mike’s Apartment. They’ll find something else. (Laughs)

Bing, I came to know you through Juan Pablo Dream. How was that?

BING: Groovy. (Laughs) It’s always a nice place, and yeah, yeah, yeah. And being cool.

Now you’re in Flippin Soul Stompers.

BING: Flippin stands for Pinoy. And then Soul Stompers ‘coz our kind of soul makes you stomp. And stomping is moving forward. It’s marching.

Comment on each other’s music, each other’s soul.

BING: Sexy.

Laglag panty?

BING: Laglag brief.

MIKE: Sincere.

BING: Ay nahiya ako dun. (Laughs).

MIKE: Understood na ‘yan that most indie artists like us play for beer. Sina Bing, they just wanna share their music and make a party out of it.

BING: Thank you Mike. Sex pa rin ang music mo. (Laughs) Well, it’s not about sex. It’s about making love.

Is soul more of a vocal style, or a sound style?

MIKE: It’s a sound eh. Like hip-hop, it’s a culture.

Name three components of good soul music.

MIKE: Groove, trueness, and matagal na naming pinag-iisipan ito but there’s no English word for it, lagkit.

What role do you think does soul music play in Manila’s cultural conversation?

BING: Sex. (Laughs) Having a good time.

If “soul food” was a dish served hot (or cold), what would it be?

MIKE: It has to be spicy and malagkit. Bicol Express.

Soul music yesterday, today, and tomorrow?

MIKE: Compared to seven years ago na talagang Tunganga Brigade yung mga tao sa amin when we play, now we have the avenues.

BING: All Souls Night (in reference to an idea for a gig we conjured up during the interview). Let’s make it happen.?