THOUGH THEIR musical genre isn’t purely rock, three Ateneo bands were nominated as best college rock bands in the 15th NU 107 Rock Awards this year.
Every year, radio station NU 107 honors outstanding rock artists in the local music industry. This year, three bands from the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool (Amp) roster were shortlisted during the award nominations from September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008.
Bands Eruen, Fuzz, and Pascalene are nominees for the URock College Band of the Year in the NU Rock Awards. The three bands have enjoyed airplay on the station, despite not playing traditional rock music.
Winning artists will be announced November 27 at the NU 107 Rock Awards 2008 in Silvercity, Frontera Verde, Pasig City.
Band-ed since high school
All three bands began in high school and migrated to college.
Evee Kae Simon (III AB IS), Sofia Grace Lina (III AB Psy), and Issa Perez de Tagle (UST) were schoolmates during high school in Assumption College, Antipolo. During their senior year, they sang together for their school singing group Komusikasyon. Thus, Eruen was born.
Members of Fuzz attended Ateneo High School together. Jesus Fernando Jr. (III BFA ID), Jose Carlos Palma (II BS Mgt), Mon San Sebastian (UPD), Ignacio Francisco Gonzalez (II BS ME), Philippe Marc Carbonell (IV AB MEco), and Niño Venida (UPD) were part of org Dulaang Sibol.
Members of Pascalene said that the band started out with Miggy Regal and Ralph Mendoza, who were originally part of another band called Pleasure Box. AA Enriquez then substituted Pleasure Box’s vocalist. Later Ralph’s brothers Paul and Fritz Mendoza, and RJ Miso, became part of the band.
Folk, jazz, funk
Lina said Eruen “honestly does not know” what kind of genre their music is. She described the band’s sound, however, as something that “involves a guitar and a three-part vocal harmony.”
Gonzalez attributed Fuzz’s sound to its use of a violin and a saxophone, as well as its diverse influences, which include music from the 1940s through the 1970s, and artists like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Up Dharma Down.
Gonzales added Fuzz’s sound is more like a mix of what the band members put together. “Until now…we’re still looking for that sound,” he said.
Pascalene’s drummer Mendoza said the band is trying out different sounds now. He added, however, that their “reflex” is funk, soul, R&B, and rock.
Student musicians
While they enjoy making music, members of Fuzz and Eruen prioritize their studies.
Cruz said he manipulates Fuzz’s schedule in such a way that it will work for everyone, even if the band has to turn down gigs. Fuzz can’t afford to practice often because working around everyone’s schedule is difficult, Cruz added.
Simon, who along with band mate Lina is an Amp officer, identifies academics and other priorities as the challenges Eruen faces. They still make time for their music, however. “It’s all time management,” said de Tagle.
“Just do what you have to do for music and for school,” added Pascalene’s Miso.
Prioritizing studies allow the bands minimal practice time. Palma said that might be the reason Fuzz band members don’t practice often.
The three bands said they occasionally cram practice sessions right before gigs or, in Eruen’s case, sometimes not at all.
Love and hate
Fuzz said that what strengthens the band is its history as a group of friends.
San Sebastian said the band members do not have conflicts, because they compromise with each other. “We’re high school friends and we know how to get along with each other,” said Fuzz’s manager, Pacifico Cruz (UPD), in a mix of English and Filipino.
For Eruen, it’s a different story. “We actually secretly hated each other,” said de Tagle, saying that the group experienced many conflicts between themselves. “What matters is that we’re still here and yes, we’re still friends,” de Tagle said.
Cruz said Fuzz wants to churn out more original songs and change the misconception of being a show band. The band is also talking about working on an AMP CD.
For Eruen, “We want to be able to write more, gig more, just do what we do. Maybe come out with an EP [extended play], or two,” said Simon.
