Moonstar 88: Pressed to play music

Last week, my article dwelled on how much it sucks not to get what you want. And I may have sunk to a new low with that crappy picture of my group because even though my friends didn’t say a word, I’m sure they thought I was promoting the group. Ah, but who gives a damn, right? Everyone has to start somewhere. And if that means having to kiss my Uncle Mike’s hairy butt then so be it.

But this week, I got a taste of what success feels like — at least from the views of a different band. Moonstar 88, the foursome that gave us catchy hits like Torete and Sulat, agreed to an interview with me on a Friday afternoon at a café round the Araneta Coliseum. It was rather hot that day and I asked Lawrence (my baby brother) to tag along. We were a bit early and since we had not yet eaten lunch, we ordered a couple of sandwiches at a deli. Between bites, Lawrence expressed sadness over the fact that the local music industry, especially the artists, was on its darkest hour because of piracy and exploitation. What chance have we got then, he asked. I told him to shut-up. I had enough problems on my mind already.

Not only did I lack questions for the band, I also feigned enthusiasm because I’ve talked to "bigger celebrities" before and I felt I was degenerating. It’s still work though, so after downing the meal with a glass of grape soda, we walked back to the café to "get it over with." Except for bassist Paolo Bernardo, the other band members were nowhere to be found (traffic, I guess). I talked to Alpha Records publicist Dearly Sauyo and she suggested that we wait for the others inside the café. Normally, I would have insisted on staying put, but the heat was starting to get on my nerves so I hesitantly consented.

An awkward silence then followed (I’m not that talky during interviews) and before I knew it, I was arguing with my brother to order the cheapest drinks on the menu. Paolo was pokerfaced and polite, offering some juicy tidbits on the music scene and even asked me some questions on newspapers. As it turns out, he does computer graphics and designs web pages as well.

Me: Nice album cover ("Press to Play"), Paolo. Did you help out with this?

Paolo: Actually, we were the ones who designed it.

Me: Hmm. The others are late. Are you always the first to show up?

Paolo: Nah. We’re all usually on time. It’s funny though. We all talked about this yesterday and we swore that we should at least be 10 minutes early today. And look what happened.

Me: That’s okay.

Paolo: Thanks. What paper do you write for again?

Me: Woof!

That was pretty much the nature of my chat with him. Meanwhile Dearly was looking apologetic and fidgety, and told us to "wait patiently" for the others. She need not actually have said a word really, because I am totally used to artists being delayed. Still, she kept saying "pasensya na, ha" and I rolled my eyes in amusement.

It became a cute site as drummer William Pineda arrived. Slinky eyes with a shaved head, he reminded me of a happy-go-lucky Phil Collins. Ah, at least the interview was getting somewhere now. I learned that they had a gig at the Sta. Lucia Mall a bit later on and I felt pretty damn good that I got squeezed into their hectic schedule. Paolo and William seemed like bosom buddies, and they did seem genuinely interested when Lawrence told them that we were in a band too. They offered us some unsolicited advice.

William: Just do what you do and everything will fall into place.

Me: Is that what you guys did?

William: Well, maybe you ought to hear the story first.

Paolo: Let me tell it.

William: Go ahead, Mr. Know-It-All.

To cut it short, Paolo and vocalist Acel Bisa were together in a relatively known band called Orphan Lilly. After cutting an album, the group disbanded and they recruited William and later, Herbert Hernandez on lead guitar.

Moonstar 88 was born, folks. I may have left some inside info on that summary, but it’s pretty much that simple.

As Paolo proudly began handing out his "newly-designed" calling cards to everybody, Herbert shuffled in. Being the youngest member of the band (21 years old), he still had a youthful smile on him. And at that moment, the food began to arrive as Herbert licked his lips and told the waiter that he’ll have the same dish as William’s.

Me: So you’re the writer behind Sulat.

Herbert: That’s right.

Me: Nice tune. How’d it come about?

Herbert: Oh, there was this girl who I like in school and nothing really materialized. I’m sure we just didn’t connect, but to this day I really don’t know whose fault it was.

We then began chatting about their influences and as it turned out, each of them had different inclinations towards playing their respective instruments — jangling out an alternative riff here and adding a funky drum track over there. Dearly, who still looked concerned about the fact that I wasn’t eating (she didn’t believe me when I told her we were full), breathed a sigh of relief when I finally ordered a bottle of mineral water and a cappuccino for Lawrence.

Much later, Acel finally showed up. She didn’t look that striking on TV, but it was a different experience when you saw her in person. Ms. Bisa looked pretty, with an amiable peep when she raised an eyebrow (p’wede, p’wede!). She made her way to our table looking frisky and reserved at the same time. Hands were extended and a little over an hour after the scheduled meeting, Moonstar 88 was complete and talking to me. I couldn’t be more relieved.

Me: Is this music thing your main livelihood?

Acel: Yes. Although Paolo has got another job and Herbert helps in his family’s business. But as for me, this is where I get my money.

Me: Oh.

Acel: I’ve always loved making music since my school days (Acel turned 26 late August) and I’ve listened intently to my idols. I love some grunge, alternative of course, and pop.

Me: Cool (that was all I could mutter).

It was actually quite interesting having to meet the members one by one but unfortunately, we didn’t get to warm up to each other very well. Regardless, Moonstar 88 was delightfully straightforward and answered my ordinary questions with musical wisdom and a down-to-earth manner. And I admire them for that.

None of the band members are rich (at least not through their music careers), despite them already having "made it" in this business. I don’t know if this was supposed to be off the record, but William and Paolo said something about "not getting much money from all this." I don’t know if they were serious or not, but they had to be half-joking at the very least. And suddenly, Lawrence’s talk earlier about music piracy and exploitation crossed my mind. In spite of all this, however, their faces lightened up upon remembering that they would be performing in front of an audience in a few hours.

And that’s love and passion for your work, I believe. This despite the group’s admitting to me that they rarely see each other these days and that they have be practicing their music less and less. It’s probably why during certain moments, I see the four of them yakking away about the latest news on their respective lives. I sometimes pretended to scribble away on my notebook, but I was really eavesdropping. And this would go on for some time until Acel would tell the other members to "be quiet and pay attention to the interviewer." He, he, didn’t she realize that they were actually saving my sorry ass not to ask any more questions?

Towards the end of our talk, I took a good look at the four of them. And I loved their character. None of the four tried to act cool or brash or reminded me of their accomplishments as a group. They’re people who have succeeded in their field yet they remain the same individually. Beautiful.

As I said goodbye, we all hastily exchanged cellphone numbers. And while I don’t expect to receive a forwarded message from any of them real soon, the fact that they were accommodating and made me feel wanted is already soothing enough. I know that this piece lacks information on their personal thoughts, but what really counts is what is inside their heads all the time.

Professional, upright, diplomatic, and friendly. That’s what Moonstar 88 members are all about. And quite fittingly, just like their music.

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E-mail: reuben_matthew@hotmail.com.