MANILA, Philippines - Few bands dare to go indie, and make something out of the nothing in their pockets. Most of the time, these artists are relegated to small circles within the metro. You've probably never heard of these bands, but you should. So, Supreme put together this mixtape for you. Here, we feature the underdogs of local music: four acts who are pushing boundaries and f**king the system along the way.
Get a taste of these new local flavors and download the mixtape at facebook.com/PhilStarSUPREME. We’d like to thank the artists for giving us the permission for their tracks.
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Tweet the author @JunellHernando.
Slow Hello
Members: Selena Salang on vocals, Erwin Hilao on drums, Russ Davis on guitar, Marc Inting on bass
Genre: Indie-pop
Selena Salang, mostly known for her vocal duties in Ang Bandang Shirley, had a few songs that didn’t necessarily fit the epic, whirlwind sound that Shirley is known for. So, inspired by the subdued nature and starry-eyed lyricism of bands from Sarah Records and the ‘90s feel good vibe of Teenage Fanclub, she sought help from friends to reel in the sound that she wanted: a myriad of warm, gooey feelings encased in three-minute pop songs rife with harmonies and fuzzy guitars.
After a slew of singles released through Number Line Records and the completion of the new Shirley album, the minty-fresh foursome decided to record a full-length album with a little help from their fans. On crowdfunding site ArtisteConnect, the band has already collected 20 percent of their target budget. “It’s especially heartwarming for us when we get unexpected pledges from people we don’t know who believe in our music,” said Salang. “I hope this means that more creative people will get more music out so that listeners can have a diverse range of new work to consume,” she adds.
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Visit http://numberlinerecords.com/artists/slowhello
Earthmover
Members: Daniel Garcia on guitar, Gerald Guerrero on bass, Dru Ubaldo on drums
Genre: Post-rock
With no lyrics in tow, Earthmover relies heavily on the riffs and beats to define a slew of emotions. Post-rock is identified through twinkling guitar parts and the overt feeling of being infinite while listening to its sweeping orchestration. True to their name, Earthmover literally shakes the ground with their massive sound, which is heavy and dark, mostly influenced by metal music and the Deftones.
Earthmover owes it to Dru Ubaldo’s usage of beats and samples aside from his clashing drums, which adds a new layer, thereby making the band sound epic. As they’re working on their next release, you can check out their First Sighting EP, a stunning debut that shows how music doesn’t always need lyrics to express itself.
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Visit http://earthmover-ph.bandcamp.com/
Members: Ivan “El Scum” and Keon “Grandioso” Brosas on everything
Genre: ???
For brothers Ivan and Keon Brosas, it was hard finding their audience in the fickle field of local music. “A friend told us, ‘Wala sa Pinas ang audience ‘nyo,’ Ivan shares.
For a country that appeals to either senti or happy, Dr. StrangeLuv’s weird, genre-defying, LSD-induced music is a hard sell. But certainly the most appealing aspect of Dr. StrangeLuv is that strangeness — mixing stream-of-consciousness tirades, an eclectic barrage of samples from cultural artifacts like Pulp Fiction, and a nihilistic take on art rock. “I’m not trying to please anyone with what I’m doing — only myself,” said Keon. “Dr. StrangeLuv is our sound and it is intended to laugh at the status quo.”
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http://www.facebook.com/dr.strangeluvmusic
K?L?M†††B?R?NG
Member: Anonymous
Genre: Witch House
To get an idea about Witch House, think about those kids at Republiq, except that instead of Forever 21 dresses, they’re donning black robes, lighting candles, and chanting spells “Dark synths. The occult. You know, music for ritual sacrifices,” KB quips. His name uses ASCII symbols to keep the shroud of secrecy intact in this “everything is Google-able world.” KB utilizes Pinoy samples, such as Aleck Bovick’s Gusto Ko Ang Nota to poke fun at the sorry state of novelty songs, taking something so crass and turning it into a haunting track. It might take a while for people to appreciate this sort of artistry, but KB believes in the direction that he and his peers are navigating through. “Quit with that birit bulls**t, horrendous K-Pop, and inane covers of cover songs. There’s a ton of music and bands, good ones, out there.”
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http://soundcloud.com/k-l-m-b-r-ng