Lola Amour on 'finding their sound' in debut album, 'Namimiss Ko Na' origins
MANILA, Philippines — Local band Lola Amour is set to release its eponymous debut album after nearly a decade in the Filipino music scene, and it is still navigating its way to a realized identity.
Members of the band sat down with members of the media, including Philstar.com, to discuss their process of creating the album and their newly-released single "Namimiss Ko Na."
According to vocalist Pio Dumayas, the band was supposed to fully begin work on the album in 2019, with some song ideas written as early as 2014.
The pandemic, a change in the line-up and the unexpected success of "Raining In Manila" postponed the album until they managed to come together and set it for an April 10 release this year.
The album will carry nine songs, including both "Raining In Manila" and "Namimiss Ko Na." They admitted that it took a while to settle on an album title with many drafts in mind.
"In the end, we decided it just makes sense to have it self-titled right now because we're currently in the process of finding our sound even though that's never going to end," Pio said. "It felt right because there are so many sounds that we produced for this album."
Pio revealed that Lola Amour would be somewhat deviating from the band's usual love songs, "Mayroon pa rin, pero mayroong two or three songs about mental health and then love in other forms."
Related: Lola Amour joins Coldplay's Chris Martin for 'Raining in Manila'
Keyboardist David Yuhico added in terms of the sound, the album production involved a lot of experimentation and discovery of where Lola Amour can be if it all works out.
"It's very diverse, the sounds of this album. It's exciting and everyone who listens will like it as well as we did because we enjoyed [making it]," David said.
Philstar.com asked about the decision to release "Namimiss Ko Na" as the single nearest to the album's launch, and bassist Raymond explained the initial plan was to make the track a direct response to "Raining In Manila."
"'Yung friend naming videographer nagustuhan niya 'yung kanta and sabi niya gawan naming reply. I made a little draft of something that was supposed to be the answer — same key, similar notes," Raymond said, comparing it to the popular pointing Spider-man meme.
The idea, however, did not pan out and was envisioned in a different song on the album. It led Raymond to write a different set of lyrics inspired by his late grandmother's bout with Alzheimer's.
Coincidentally, Lola Amour takes its name from Pio's own grandmother after two bands from De La Salle Santiago Zobel decided to merge.
Raymond reiterated that "Namimiss Ko Na" speaks of a different form of love and somewhat touches on mental health before expounding further on the song's origins.
"Kung baga yung namimiss ko is when she could still talk [and] when I look into her eyes may nakikita pa akong tao — kapag latter stages na, when you look into their eyes, wala nang laman," Raymond shared.
The bassist added Lola Amour will be releasing a video soon, which would show the concept more in depth.
Over a month after sharing the stage with Coldplay's Chris Martin, Lola Amour performed at Wanderland, which was the same music festival they made their grand debut at in 2017.
Pio told Philstar.com the experience of being back at Wanderland was great, but not an entirely full circle moment because only four original members remain, which include him, Raymond, guitarist Zoe Gonzales and trumpet player Angelo Mesina.
Raymond was not even with his bandmates at Wanderland because he was at a different concert — watching Taylor Swift in Singapore
"You have to set your priorities!" Raymond exclaimed, much to the band's laughter. "Like what Pio said may pinag-usapan na kami. Naintindihan nila. There are some things [na] worth it."
Even with just three original members returning to Wanderland, Pio said there was still that feeling of "Oh you've come so far, ang dami nang nangyari."
"Dati nung first Wanderland namin, wala kaming alam. 'Yung soundcheck namin kami-kami lang, ngayon may full crew na kami," Pio ended.
Lola Amour's self-titled debut album comes out on April 10, with an album launch set on April 13.
RELATED: Lola Amour reflects on performing with Coldplay's Chris Martin
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