COVER STORY: The cult of Shirley

There’s nothing like Ang Bandang Shirley at the moment. Despite local indie being in much better shape now in terms of sustainability and commercial viability, the veteran alt-rock outfit doesn’t stop at headlining shows in the metro and clinching the top spot of Spotify Philippines’ Viral Charts, thanks to recently released online hits Umaapaw and Siberia. In retrospect, they make songs that are by definition, an anthem’s anthem: big, bold and beaming in its attempt to document the trajectory of love and loss, but reluctant in diluting its vision of balancing pure pop goodness with indelible cult appeal. Their lyrics are relatable and endearing at best, offering refuge to those swept away by the feeling of lingering grief and romantic hopelessness. It doesn’t take a music genius to know their value in a sea of sound-alikes and one-trick ponies. They are the real deal. Period.

But there’s more to Shirley than being this generation’s soundtrack to coming-of-age drama and unrequited love. Wide Eyed Records’ pioneering talent has outdone their contemporaries in the longevity department, currently wrapping up the final touches of their upcoming third album to be released this year. “It’s been fun,” tells founding band member and chief songwriter Owel Alvero. “Marami kaming natutunan through the years. Matagal na kami kaya kita mo yung trajectory whereas before, we’re trying to just figure out where we’re going.” Selena Salang-Davis, the Feist to their Broken Social Scene, shares the same sentiment: “We’re also less craving for external approval. Basically now, we want to come out with good music and that’s the priority.”

Minus the testimonials that serve as showcase of their creative growth, previous Ang Bandang Shirley albums have been met with positive reception from both fans and critics. Themesongs, their debut record released under Terno Recordings, easily found a prominent spot in several year-end lists for bearing the torch of indie-rock’s undiminished potential and keeping things catchy, lo-fi and charismatic. But it’s their sophomore gem, Tama Na Ang Drama, that delivers all that you can hope for in an indie crossover: a great collection of sing-along anthems in the tradition of Sugarfree’s Sa Wakas and The Itchyworms’ Noontime Show, and the one that solidified their bid as one of the heirs to The Eraserheads’ brand of melodic pop songcraft.

Coming on the heels of widely received albums that managed to have staying power, it’s quite expected of the band to empty out every trick in the bag and dive headfirst into breakthrough trends fostered by Internet underground. But that’s not how things work in the Shirley universe. “Yung two albums would be like the band coming to terms with their sound,” explains guitarist Joe Fontanilla. “Kasi parang with the first two LPs, everyone is trying to do stuff on their own, finding out their strengths on songwriting and what they really want. Pero on this third one, nag-coalesce na ang lahat. Everyone knows what they want. There’s rotation for artistic output. So in this sense, our influences kind of mesh in a great way.”

Widening Horizons

Favorite, their upcoming third full-length record, dares to widen the band’s horizon with off-kilter experiments and a more polished production. It’s not exactly a bold departure from the familiar sonic blueprint that we’ve come to love from the band, but rather an upgrade that resulted from their cumulative growth as songwriters, producers and musicians. “Personally, marami akong frustrations sa previous album in terms of details,” reveals chief songwriter and guitarist Ean Aguila. “This time, I really wanted na tutukan siya. So, nag-record kami sa bahay ko and we assembled all the tracks. But of course, mahirap mag-produce ng sariling album especially sa schedule namin. We asked help from our other musician-friends: Migi De Belen of Nights of Rizal produced two tracks. Francis Lorenzo helped us in mixing some of the songs. Mario Consunji of Big Hat Gang, Joon Guillen of Modulogeek and Mikey Amistoso of Ciudad also contributed some stuff in the record.”

As with any Ang Bandang Shirley album, the songwriting duties are spread out in a way that highlights the distinct lyrical style of its band members: Owel Alvero wrote seven songs in the album, including a collaboration with The Strangeness’ Paolo Arciga. His work has always offered an insight into the leftfield methods of his music influences, but he makes sure to inject shrewdly memorable verses and hooks that music fans would keep close to their chest and sing out loud in infinite glee. Ean Aguila, the prolific genius behind modern classics Nakauwi Na, Di Na Babalik and Umaapaw penned a total of six songs, speaking volumes of his credentials as Shirley’s resident pop tunesmith. Kathy Gener and Selena Davis-Salang penned a track each, with the former co-writing the crowd-favorite Siberia with Ean. “Mostly it’s all about following the vision of whoever wrote the song,” affirms Owel, clarifying the songwriting dynamics of the band. “Being in the band for so long, we were able to trust the instincts of everybody at least when it comes to delivering the part that they’re playing. Autopilot na lang siya eh.”

Sonic Structure

The rest of the band members (Joe, Enzo, Zig and Owel) maintains a separate thread where they discuss the technical aspects and sonic structure of each song. Bassist Enzo Zulueta, in particular, provided some of the highlights on Favorite, taking pride on his skillset and quirks as a budding producer. “Si Enzo iba yung vocabulary niya when it comes to music; very technical siya,” shares Owel. “So it really helps especially when talking about mixing and engineering. Kasi dati, sasabihin ko ‘gusto ko parang ngumanganga yung sound” tapos re-replyan niya: ‘It’s just a filter.’ Ibang klase!”

It’s convenient to anoint Favorite as the album that provides meaningful perspectives on love and living life, a bracing statement that comes from a place of knowing confidence and wisdom beyond years. Or perhaps, it has something to do with the title being the perfect descriptor of the band’s irresistible appeal, the very reason why they’re still in the game for more than a decade even in an era that puts premium on youth culture and renders everything outside of it as support players or worse, irrelevant. Whatever it is, Ang Bandang Shirley will continue to make genuinely affecting albums that transcend generational divide regardless of which band is hot at the moment, and Favorite serves as astounding addition to their growing discography.

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Ang Bandang Shirley is set to release their latest album “Favorite” on March 25 at Blue Bay Walk Garden, The Metro Park on Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City. “Favorite”  is the band’s third album, and is the follow-up to 2012’s critically acclaimed “Tama Na Ang Drama.” 

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Photo by Chealsy Dale

Co-produced and styled

by Milley Habito

Special thanks to the

Lake District Tagaytay