MANILA, Philippines — Ely Buendia admitted there was a stage in his life where he didn’t care about what other people say about his musical work, especially after the Eraserheads broke up.
“I would be lying if I say I didn’t care about what people think because I think music builds empathy for one another. I mean, I admire artists who did not just do it for the art or for their own satisfaction but I find more satisfaction in communicating and being able to somehow touch audiences until now,” the former Eraserheads frontman replied at a presscon when queried if he’s concerns himself with what other people say about his craft at this point in his career.
Ely recently held an intimate presscon with select media ahead of the release of his forthcoming album Method Adaptor.
“And that’s the reason I do it. I mean, I can write songs for myself but what would be the point of that, right? If it’s just me who’s enjoying it. So this album is sort of again, reaching out to that community that I was sort of in. And parang just saying, ‘I’m still here,’” he continued.
He, nevertheless, said that there was a point after the Eraserheads disbanded where he “didn’t care what people think.”
“Parang ganun ‘cause I achieved what I set out to do and now, ‘What’s next?’ So parang I’ll just make more bands and write more songs that appeal to me. And that was when there was a disconnect with my core audience. So you’re right, there was a time that I didn’t care but I guess with age comes like, I don’t know if it’s wisdom but I think you appreciate what you had and you just be appreciative of everything, including the haters.”
Ely celebrated his birthday last Nov. 2, days ahead of Method Adaptor’s official launch on Nov. 8 at 123 Block in Mandaluyong City. Method Adaptor includes previously released tracks, Bulaklak sa Buwan and Tagpi-Tagping Piraso.
He worked on the album and its songwriting for almost a year. “Some of the songs have been in the baul for a long time and haven’t been finished. I decided to make a solo album this year mainly because I wanted to do something new and I haven’t. The only thing that I haven’t done was a solo album,” he recalled.
He doesn’t consider his debut solo album Wanted: Bedspacer (2000) as sort of an official release. “Dahil parang kumbaga laro-laro lang yun. Nag-experiment lang ako sa kwarto ko and decided to release it. But now, this is what I consider the official Ely Buendia album.”
There are a lot of songs that he likes in the record but he “surprised” himself with the first single, Bulaklak sa Buwan. “I really sort of pushed myself to write the songs. I make it more meaningful than what I’m used to writing,” he told The STAR.
Ely’s upcoming gig is going to be a “straightforward show,” he further told this paper. He wants the audience to “have like a sort of multi-dimensional experience.”
He will also be sharing the stage with artists under his own label Offshore Music, such as Ligaya Escueta, ALYSON, Carousel Casualties, and Aviators.
Ely Buendia: Method Adaptor album launch is presented by Gabi Na Naman Productions. Pre-sale tickets are available via bit.ly/elybuendia123block.