No Goodbyes for Sandwich: Rock band marks 25 years with new EP

Heralding its latest EP titled, No Goodbyes, was what Sandwich did when the collective recently met virtually select members of the press. The STAR had the chance to listen to the Pinoy alternative rock band that generously shared bits and pieces about the music project — and the unique experience it entailed — to all.

Although it can now be accessed through digital music streaming platforms under PolyEast Records, its official launch is set on June 17 at Mandala Park, 123 Block, Mandaluyong City. Sandwich, composed of vocalist Raymund Marasigan, guitarists Diego Castillo and Mong Alcaraz, drummer Mike Dizon and bassist Myrene Academia, will treat fans and music lovers to a live performance.

“The process was (to) write songs and we wrote about 20 to 30 songs,” said Raymund on how the EP came into being in a group interview. “We rehearsed them and then, we played them live and then, this set, this group of songs are our favorites. Ito yung masarap tugtugin live.”

Buhol Buhol, Curtains, No Goodbyes, Negatives and You Don’t Know What You Have are the tunes that have made the final cut.

“All the other songs, we liked them, we demoed them,” added Raymund. “We obviously enjoy playing live as a band, so these songs (in the EP) are the ones that we enjoyed the most that we decided to record.”

Yes, they recorded the tracks in December of 2019. But the pandemic entered the picture in March of 2020. “The promotion was not full-blown, pero naglabas naman kami ng mga kanta. Hindi namin na tour, obviously, walang tugtugan,” said Diego. “Humaba yung life span ng each single versus di ba dati mabilisan, mas lalo na in the Spotify and streaming age, parang every three weeks, maglalabas ka ng kanta,” shared Mong, “na-stretch out to two years yung dapat na one year lang na pag release.”

As to the album’s title, Myrene shared, “We decided to use the title from one of the songs on the EP. No Goodbyes seemed the most apt so we went with that.”

The No Goodbyes EP was supposed to be part of “one giant album, dalawang EP dapat siya,” recalled Diego. They went to Batangas, put up an ad hoc studio by the beach, based on the information provided to the press, and churned out song after song. “So, we wanted to (record) one in Baguio, yun ang plano namin na may (another) set of songs din.” But the lockdowns, brought about by the pandemic, prevented them from accomplishing it. What matters is Sandwich has continued to release songs and share its music to followers and the listening public.

“I think creatively everybody found something new and we are better artists and musicians because of the pandemic. I mean, if we don’t talk about the bad things the pandemic brought,” reflected Raymund. “But I think everybody started playing better, (to) listen to more music, watch more films and read more books, so para kang huminto at nag-college uli, at hindi naman natanggal yung creative side mo. In fact, our creative impulses are what like got us through for most of the days that never seemed to end.”

As artists, their existence revolves around such endeavors, as Mong put it, “to create, to commit, to record and (to) publish our art and music,” but many might fail to realize that part of their bread and butter is playing live, aside from recording and releasing songs. “With that mix, nawala yung kalahati, yun ang pinaka-mahirap for us in the past two years,” added he.

“Ang tagal din naming hindi naka-tugtog ng out of town,” said Diego. “Recently, nakatugtog kami, parang hindi pa rin na-e-extinguish naman yung love, yung drive, yung fire namin para tumugtog for an audience.” Any signs that the live music scene is back excite artists, either individual or group, to be a part of. Raymund shared that the band has been playing every week since November. Sandwich is cooking up something for everyone to look forward to in the band’s upcoming live performances.

“We are currently in the process of adjusting our live gigs,” said Mike. “Meron gustong subukan si Rayms na bago, na hindi pa namin nagagawa. We can’t just tell you the details.” This is part of how the band responds to the need to continuously grow and evolve, which also excites its members and inspires them to “try to think of something new. So meron kaming iniisip sa live gig context,” added he.

For the past 25 years that Sandwich members have been together, Raymund said, “I think we’ve established that we’re more than just a band, but a family. Parang every new thing that we discover, new music, new fans, new bands are going to be part of our family. We are just grateful to be Sandwich still at this point.”

Music-wise, Mong shared a common belief that binds them all, “The best music is something that’s honest and written from the heart… naniniwala kami na kapag honest yung music, may makakaintindi dun sa song na yun, maybe not a lot, pero meron (We believe that if the music is honest, there’s someone who will understand the song). That’s where we always jump off from.”

(For updates on Sandwich and other PolyEast Records artists, follow PolyEast Records’ social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok.)