The sound of Rounin

Now that ABS-CBN’s Rounin is airing on weeknights, televiewers following the saga are also getting an added treat.

The show, with an all-star cast, high-tech visual effects and production values, also has all-original songs playing in the background.

Star Records has come up with a soundtrack that adds more spice in every scene of the tele-epiko while treating music lovers to songs that appeal to Gen X, Y and Z.

  "Rounin is a show intended for the youth," label manager and record producer Jonathan Manalo says. "Songs that appeal to them are mostly pop-rock. So we came up with an idea of compiling songs written and performed by hottest bands, solo artists and bands carving a niche in the music scene."

It’s Star Records’ first time to gather today’s hottest bands in an album.

Among the bands commissioned by the recording company for the soundtrack are Sandwich, Shamrock and Bamboo performing the tele-epiko’s title track Argos. It was the first time for Bamboo to work with Star Records and to write a song for a TV series.

But gathering bands from different labels is not easy. Star Records struck a deal with the bands’ respective recording companies to allow the artists to sing for the soundtrack.

"It was also an opportunity for Star to get into the band arena as we get to introduce new bands with new songs that would create an impact on the listener," says Jonathan.

Bands like Bliss, Side Crash and North Groove are under contract with Star Records for one year. A full-length album is in the drawing board for the band that will appeal to most music lovers.

Songs in the album like I Think of You, One Last Time and Nasaan Ka Na are performed by Bliss, Side Crash and North Groove, respectively.

Sandwich sings Humanda Ka, composed by its member Raymund Marasigan, while Shamrock performs Tanging Ikaw with lyrics by Marlon Silva and Jonathan Manalo.

Solo artists like Kitchie Nadal, Acel Bisa, Kevin Roy and last year’s Colt 45’s MTV Rockista grand winner Bojo de Dios also render a song for the rock compilation album.

Kitchie, who sang a theme for a telefantasya before, has written and interpreted Iniibig Kita. It will be the first time music aficionados will hear Kitchie sing in a style different from her previous songs.

"It’s a good timing for Kitchie, who’s completing her sophomore album with a new style and sound. She gets to introduce her more mature sound in the soundtrack," Jonathan says.

Former Moonstar vocalist Acel, on the other hand, gives a heart-rending interpretation of  Sa Ngalan ng Pag-Ibig, while Kevin Roy croons Kailanpaman.

Rocker Bojo was not in the original soundtrack line-up. But when Star Records executives saw his impressive performances in the MTV Rockista video tapes, they wanted the rocker from Olongapo to be introduced to a wider market.

Bojo’s rockista factor — a hoarse voice coupled with his distinct moves — and his songwriting talent landed him a Star Records contract. The rocker who used to write songs for a band interprets Walang Hangganan in the album.

With the Rounin original soundtrack now out in record stores, Erik Matti’s tele-epiko has invaded not just primetime TV but the airlanes as well.