Emphatzu, play-up of "impatso" - a local term for indigestion, jumped from being members of a show band in search for comfort from what seemed to be a "dyspeptic life" performing mostly covers. The decision to shift gears was also triggered in their search for growth, music-wise, under the immense skies of Bisaya rock.
"Palandong mi's Bisrock because we also would want to share in this penchant for creating own songs, making original music, and performing before a very supportive Bisrock community," 19-year-old guitarist John Hansel Apares said during the interview early this week.
Hansel narrated he once played for a show band that covered songs of Manila-based Cebuano pogi rock band Cueshé. Performances were carried out in collaboration with fellow guitarist Peter Paul Arbol, 19. Both hail from barangay Lahug.
Niño Seno of Talamban on drums, 23; Nolan James Gako of Guadalupe on bass, 19; and 21-year-old songwriter Welgie Borjal, who also acts as vocalist, make up Emphatzu.
Welgie and Nolan are both fans of System of a Down aka S.O.A.D. They love the System for their being outspoken. Composed of four members of Armenian ethnicity, System members are grandsons of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. System is widely known for their "outspoken social and political views in many of their songs," it was learned.
If only they are that braveheart enough, Emphatzu could have "mutated into musician-activists able to bring together musicians, music fans and grassroots/peoples organizations to fight for social justice," they said.
Meanwhile, it was learned that Niño had a short stint as drummer with fellow Bisrock band Agipo (Sikwati, Batang Nangka fame).
Emphatzu came up with "Binugok" and is now played over at 93.1 Smash FM. Great "Gege" Englis of another Bisrock band Glass of Dirt provided the drumplay that moment the band was into the recording of said song.
They mentioned that their first gig under the Bisrock genre and as Smashers was the "Banda Kontra Droga" awareness campaign in barangay Talamban with Missing Filemon (Sine-Sine, Prinsipal), Flirt (Nailad) and Agipo (Pag-sure Oi!, Kabataan Para sa Bisrock).
Aside from socio-political consciousness and the bass works of System of a Down, Emphatzu would also want to take on the image and musicality espoused by Creed and the attitude of guitarist Mark Tremonti as he plays Creed's "mix of hard rock and spirituality with lyrics that question values, morals and life's meaning".
Emphatzu's other influences include a dash of ska, and a bit of every sound of Alter Bridge, 311, fellow Bisrock band Gangrene and Glass of Dirt.
SHOUTOUTS. Emphatzu acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Vann2x Aznar of Gangrene, Great "Gege" Englis of Glass of Dirt and members, to all members of Bagnos Bisrock Clan-Smart, Ting's Studio, everybody from University of Cebu-Banilad campus, Honelyn, and Ador, Asumah, Smash FM, Marit Remonde, DJ Ram and Bré Ambungan, Victoria "Vicky" Apares, Aileen Abella of Republic (guitars), and Mirrorrie Lorraine Largo of University of Southern Philippines - College of Nursing, as well as Fritz Darrel Daria - the distributor of their CDs.