Letter Day Story tops Nescafé Soundskool

Letter Day Story of Southeast Asian College bested 12 of the best college bands in the Philippines to emerge as the grand champion of the biggest and most exciting college band competition in the country, the Nescafé Soundskool 2008.

This year’s competition saw an overflow of talents, which made it doubly difficult for the judges to pick out just one winner. The judges included Nescafe marketing and promotions manager Eileen Rose Bangcoro, Sony BMG Music Entertainment A&R director Vic Valenciano, Sony BMG’s Jerrick John Mina, DJ John Hendrix, and Soupstar Entertainment’s Darwin Hernandez.

For Bangcoro, all the 13 finalists were all winners already. “Imagine out of 1,000 entries from 400 schools from all over the country, your band has been chosen as one of the top 13,” she told the finalists.

With their win, Letter Day Story has earned itself the bragging rights as the top college band in the land. They have also won P250,000 in cash and the highly coveted record label deal from Sony BMG Music Entertainment and they have also won for their school P150,000-worth of band setup.

But while they may have brought home the title, that doesn’t mean that the other 12 finalists didn’t deserve their turn in the spotlight.

The 13 finalists, in fact, were really all winners that night as they got the chance to perform with the country’s most respected and popular bands, which likewise acted as their mentors — a unique happening that only Nescafé Soundskool can do.

The 7th Skool from Wesleyan University Philippines was the first to bring the house down as they jammed with Sugarfree. Keyk then had the crowd up on their feet as they performed with Sandwich, while Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan’s Teacher Stand Together rocked it out with Chicosci. Jose Rizal University’s Project, who was quite popular with the crowd that night, continued the rocking performance going as they jammed with Itchyworms.

Lyceum Institute of Technology’s Maracore then slowed things down a bit with Moonstar 88, as did C-Shifter from AMA Davao Campus who performed with Up Dharma Down.

University of Cebu’s Baronets then brought the rockin’ vibe back on stage as they jammed with fellow Cebuano band, Cueshe, while STI Tacloban’s Sounvile rocked it out with Callalily, one of the youngest and most successful bands in the country who served fit to open the Nescafé Soundskool 2008 finals night. 

The night then turned all reggae as Eastern Visayas State University’s Skalivur performed with the country’s reggae masters, JR Kilat. Eventual winners Letter Day Story then took the stage with Spongecola and showcased a performance that is all worth their win. University of Santo Tomas’ Hooligans shared the stage with Pupil, while Calayan Education Foundation’s Flaurah performed with Urbandub. St. Scholastica’s College’s Grace Note capped the competition as they performed with 6Cyclemind.

All the 13 finalists received P25,000 in cash when they were declared winners during their respective elimination legs. They likewise underwent a once-in-a-lifetime workshop program in Boracay under the country’s biggest bands like Sugarfree, Sandwich, 6Cyclemind and Callalily and star makeovers from L’Oreal Paris Studio Line, Maybelline and Penshoppe.

Aside from the 13 college bands’ explosive performances with their mentor bands, the grand finals was made even more exciting with the extreme performances from the country’s most popular acts.

Nescafé Soundskool 2005 winner Hilera performed their hit track, Define. Kamikazee had the audience up on their feet with their exciting performance, as did Parokya ni Edgar who had the crowd singing along with them.

Bamboo’s performance then served as the fitting ending to the night as the band is one that young musicians can look up to and aspire to be.

Nescafé Soundskool 2008 is endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and presented by Penshoppe, Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Tommy Hilfiger Eyewear, L’Oreal Paris Studio Line, Maybelline, Boracay Scuba and Bounce Magazine.