Photo by Sarah N. Aquino

The small, dimly lit rehearsal studio in Cubao shook gently as Never The Strangers played the opening notes to their new song “Bago Mahuli ang Lahat” (Before It’s Too Late). Guitarist JP del Mundo quietly sat on a large amplifier, waiting for the song to build into his heavy guitar hook as Ace Libre’s hands flowed over his keyboard. At first, the scene seemed like any other young band rehearsing. But Never The Strangers is not your usual, dime-a-dozen college band.

Unlike most bands that begin and end in school, the members of Never The Strangers never lost interest in their craft. Now, mere months before graduation, their dedication has led them to a deal with Warner Music Philippines after being discovered by Rico Blanco, the frontman of Rivermaya-turned-solo artist, for whom they are set to open for in an upcoming gig.

Turning strange

The band began in 2006 as a bunch of Ateneo High School students in the theater org Dulaang Sibol. “We just decided to because jamming was the fad at the time,” says drummer PJ La Vina in a mix of Filipino and English.

Under the name Leonecast, the band progressed like most high school bands did: jamming, practicing and finally performing. “That’s how we started—just playing around, jamming for get-togethers, stuff like that,” PJ adds.

College was the turning point in their lives as well as the identity of the band. From a band comprised of the staple guitar, drums and vocals, they moved to a more alternative rock sound, citing Coldplay and The Fray as influences. The later addition of Ace’s keyboards and synthesizers further changed their music, giving the band an 80’s feel.

Along with their sound, their lineup also changed. During their initial years in college, the band recruited several members. “We were constantly getting sessionists, and that’s how we got JP–ah well, Vic first, who replaced our bassist,” says PJ. “There was a time we had three active circulating guitarists,” Ace shares.

Leonecast’s lineup changed so regularly that it became a source of confusion for many of the band’s fans. “There were just too many of us,” says Ace. Thus, the band decided to cut its extra members and finalize its lineup: Ace Libre on vocals, PJ La Viña on drums, JP del Mundo on guitar and Francis Victa on bass.

Unfortunately, the seeds of confusion had been sown. This prompted the band to finally change their name from Leonecast to Never The Strangers. “We needed a new start,” says bassist Francis Victa in Filipino. “We like to think of it as the final version of Leonecast—the one we’re going to build on,” says PJ.

The band’s name change not only gave them a new identity, but also spoke of their new goals. “It’s something like a hidden connection with some other, some stranger,” states Francis. “And you use music to see that.”

Social networks

Like many amateur bands, Never The Strangers posted demos on the social networking site MySpace hoping to get their big break—or at the very least, a few new listeners. Instead of fellow students, though, the band reeled in a big fish: Rico Blanco.

Apparently, Blanco had stumbled upon Never The Strangers while looking for fresh talent on MySpace. One night, the band received a text from Veronica Feleo, the Tie-up Coordinator of the Ateneo Musician’s Pool saying the musician-producer wanted to see them perform along with two other young bands from the social networking site.

To say that the band flew into a panicked frenzy isn’t far from the truth; JP narrates: “We rushed because it was only a few more hours before the audition. We had to find a sessionist and we were texting each other, saying ‘Shit! Shit, what are we going to do? We haven’t practiced!’”

Ultimately, it was their music that got them signed. However, the band still considers itself lucky. Though several musicians have gotten discovered through  the Internet, the rest remain faceless, with nothing but rough demos and a few followers to their name. “The chance of [being discovered] is like winning the Lotto. Think about it: there’s this one person who’s looking for a band [online] and he ends up liking your music,” says PJ.

Old dance, new steps

Their newly minted status as a signed band means that they are facing a new set of challenges and the biggest of them all is recording. “We end as late as 2.30 am,” PJ shares. It is all for their album. Since they started recording they’ve released a single that is receiving air-time on some local FM stations like 99.5 RT.

Regardless of having Rico Blanco for a mentor or a single out on the radio, they maintain the casual, laid-back attitude of regular college students, cracking jokes or referring to their mentor as “Rico Mambo.”

It is their attitude and collective love for music that has kept them together through the rough years, including the year they were rejected from AMP. They were accepted when they auditioned the second time, after Francis joined.

“That’s the time I told myself ‘hey, I think I can play bass here.  This band’s ready,’” jokes Francis, to which Ace promptly fires back: “Ulul! (Idiot!)” The band breaks into boyish laughter once more and it becomes clear why they have lasted this long: a connection that has been made by music yet goes beyond the time they make it.

The Opening Act

Two days later, we catch up with the band at 19 East, a bar overlooking Laguna de Bay. The bar has been witness to the rise of some of Philippine music’s influential names such as Franco and Up Dharma Down. Tonight is the night Never The Strangers has been preparing for: the night they open for Rico Blanco.

After years of struggling with lineup changes, defining themselves to their fans and refining their talent, Never The Strangers takes the stage. Blanco stands at the back of the crowded music hall as he watches his protégés finish their set with their single “Alive.”  The song builds to its dramatic finish as Ace sings the line “I’ll find you, you’ll find me” in the final chorus.

Blanco doesn’t speak, but when the song ends, he joins the crowd as they erupt into wild applause.