InnerVoices back in the musical limelight

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Rey Bergado remains the only pioneering member of the all-male group, InnerVoices, that started in 1991 as a mere quartet.

It was Rey, still in college then, as well as his classmate at Letran College, Porong de Torres (father of The Voice Kids runner-up Esang), who formed the band.

The following year, the group became organized when drummer Ruben Tecson, joined them. “We started playing at the Art’s Venue in 1993,” Rey recalled.

The members disbanded in the late ‘90s and pursued their respective professional careers. They went on hiatus and then released an album, Find a Way, under Universal Records. The following year, InnerVoices bagged the Awit Awards in 1996.

Rey still joins the nightly performances of InnerVoices, although occasionally. When his schedule permits, he plays the keyboards and joins the group onstage.

Joseph Cruz, keyboardist, the newest in the group. “Two years ago, Atty. Rey chanced upon me playing as a duo at Molito in Alabang, where I was the keyboardist,” he shared. “I also previously played piano in a cruise ship.” He is uncle to the Cruz artists such as Rayver and Rodjun Cruz, Geneva, Sunshine and Donna Cruz.

Jojo Esparago plays drums and percussions. He also does back-up vocals. He was with InnerVoices in 2000, but the band decided to go on hiatus in 2022. So, he joined Mulatto and then rejoined InnerVoices.

Rene Tecson, who attends to his construction company, is the lead guitarist who joined InnerVoices in 1995. Drummer Ruben has remained with the band.

Angelo Miguel is the new vocalist and lead singer of InnerVoices, who joined the band in 2016, before the pandemic. Keyboardist Jeffrey Vertudazo recruited Angelo from the retro-band, Real Groove, that has since disbanded. Jeffrey introduced Angelo to attorney Rey.

“We carried on with the projects of InnerVoices,” said Angelo. “Their events and scheduled upcoming gigs. After that, the band decided to rest. We realized it was hard to balance performing with a band and our professional jobs.”

“A lot of things didn’t come into shape at that time,” added Angelo. “After the pandemic, we decided to revive InnerVoices in 2022. Attorney Rey got in touch with all of us and simply asked, ‘What are we waiting for?’ That put us back on track. He told us, ‘Let’s do it.’ We’re here now.”

Thirty-three years later, attorney Rey still got the passion to push the band into the music limelight.

“The music industry became alive again after pandemic struck,” Rey said. “I kept in touch with all of the members of InnerVoices. We have our group chat and we never really lost touch. We really decided to have our reunion once the economy becomes active again.”

“In 2022, we made a comeback at 19 East (in Sucat, Parañaque City) and the ball started rolling again. Hard Rock Café offered us a slot. Bar IX also opened and got us. 19 East got us, too. Bar 360 at Newport World Resorts gave us a slot and Aromata Restaurant in Q.C.”

Last year, InnerVoices also released three, new songs — Angelo-penned single, Isasayaw Kita (for his unborn daughter, Hope, who died in 2020, with already more than one million views on Facebook), Hari and Anghel — under Vehnee Saturno Music.

“We are not just a band now,” insisted Rey. “We’re friends. We are ninong of each other’s children. We see each other even if we don’t play. We are all riding buddies. We all ride together.”

InnerVoices plays popular ‘80s music in their nightly gigs — Mondays at Bar 360 at Newport World Resorts, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Hard Rock Café at S Maison Conrad Manila, Bar IX (Nine) in Alabang, Wednesdays monthly schedule at Aromata in Quezon City and 19 East along East Service Road in Sucat, Parañaque.

At 19 East, where they perform once a month, InnerVoices delivers an ideal selection of popular ‘80s and ‘90s music.

“I grew up in ‘80s music because of my father and mother, although I was born in the ‘90s,” shared Angelo. “Every morning, I could hear music on the cassette tape repeatedly — from A-ha’s Take On Me, Just Got Lucky, Buttercup, Always Something There To Remind Me.”

“So, I was already familiar with many New Wave music. I didn’t find it different even if my bandmates are older than me. They do ’80s music, which is their roots. So, I easily know how to sing the ‘80s tunes,” he added.