The Freestyle, 8 years later

Freestyle wasn’t free to do its own style when it was a fledgling band. Members of the band (Jinky Vidal on vocals, Top Suzara on vocals and rhythm guitars, Tat Suzara on lead guitars, Carlo Tapia on bass, Nikki Cabardo on keyboards and Gerald Banzon on drums) revealed that their parents weren’t hot on the idea of making music as their main source of livelihood.

Carlo related that, "our parents were very apprehensive. We were all students and they thought that we should concentrate on our studies. They didn’t understand what we were doing but when they joined us in one of our gigs in Davao and saw na kahit papapano, may mga tao naman who appreciated what we did, they started to appreciate us and our music."

That was eight years ago. In between doing the rounds of different watering holes in Davao, the band recorded a demo and submitted it to Viva Records. It was also during this time that members decided to pack their bags and move to Manila, regardless of what Viva Records would say.

Fortunately, their gamble paid off. Viva Records called their agent, Bolix Suzara and offered them a record deal. The band recorded a number of songs for their debut album. It was 1997, when revivals were lording it over the airwaves.

"Everyone was telling us to record a cover song," recalled Nikki. "But we were adamant about our decision to record original songs. Viva Records got our point and we had it our way."

Fortunately for Freestyle and Viva Records, their debut single Before I Let You Go became a hit. This was followed by the monstrous success of So Slow whose video eventually won for the band the Best New Artist trophy in the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards – Philippines.

This sophomore outing proved to be a success too, spawning the singles This Time and Missing You. The band was then ready for a major concert at the Araneta Coliseum no less where they had Pops Fernandez as one of their guests. The band and Pops performed their own version of Ogie Alcasid’s Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang Dumating. Their live version was released as a single and it became one of the top-selling songs of the year. Besides occupying the No. 1 spot in the charts for a number of weeks, proof that the song was a huge hit was when it became the ring tone of a lot of people’s cellular phones!

Jinky remembered that it was not always easy for the band. She related the unfortunate story that when they were booked for a guesting in a Sunday afternoon variety show, she overheard the executive producer of the show blurt, "Freestyle!?!?! Sino ba yan!?! Pakakantahin ba natin sila?!?! Looking back, Jinky quipped, "Hay, naku, Deadma na lang kami sa ganyan! Pag nakikita ko nga siya ngayon e, gusto ko sabihin sa kanya na kami ’yun banda na ayaw niya pakantahin! Ha ha!"

Despite its success, Freestyle isn’t ready to rest on its laurels. Fresh from a three-week tour in the United States and occasional special shows in different bars in the country, members of the band are now composing new songs for their third studio album that they plan to record in January of next year. They are also slated to perform at the Araneta Coliseum in an exciting concert on Nov. 24, 8 p.m. Billed as Symphony in Freestyle, the concert features the band with an 85-piece ensemble of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of maestro Rodel F. Colmenar. Also featuring Bituin Escalante and Ana Fegi as guests, Symphony in Freestyle is presented by Mossimo in cooperation with Outback Steakhouse Libis.

"Excited na kami dito. It’s a dream come true for us to perform with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra," exclaimed Top. When asked which other artists they would like to perform with, Jinky enthused, "Side A and South Border. Bukod sa mga kaibigan namin sila, they are also very talented. Mga idol naming talaga sila."

(Tickets to Symphony in Freestyle are available at all SM Ticketnet outlets and the Araneta Coliseum box-office or call 911-5555. Ticket prices are P1,400, P950, P600, P400 and P150).

Fabulous showcase

Check out the first anniversary of Club Bomboleo in Robinsons Galleria on Nov. 27, 7 p.m.

There will be a fabulous showcase of the country’s premiere ballroom dancers and of the in-house dance instructors of Club Bamboleo, and free cocktails for the invited guests.

Club Bamboleo is owned by Francis Iclan and Jean Ty with Rose Kuan as the operations manager.