Why Vincent Eco wants help in bringing his band to Japan

CEBU, Philippines — Music has always been part of Vincent Eco’s life. With a dad who was in a show band, Eco grew up listening to The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, and Damien Rice. It wasn’t until his teenage years that he decided to pursue music seriously.

“I wasn’t interested in getting into music that much until high school when I joined a band as a drummer and realized I enjoyed it,” he told The FREEMAN.

When his school band broke up during college, Eco decided to go solo. One of his most memorable gigs was performing at a Cebu City music bar called The Outpost, which has since closed down.

It was an open mic event, though, that became his make-or-break moment. “It was hard to please people,” he recalled. “I told myself, if two people clap for my performance, I’ll pursue this seriously.”

Applause from his supportive classmates who showed up that night didn’t count. Fortunately, three strangers did clap, and that was all he needed to commit.

Since the release of his debut single, “I Know You Do,” in 2017, Eco has become a familiar presence in Cebu’s indie music scene.

“There’s no secret trick,” Eco said. “It’s just the love of music. I love listening, playing, writing, making music, and being around it. I think when you’re inspired and driven by music, you can do so much.”

Despite his solo success, Eco sometimes prefers to stay in the background. As the guitarist for the Cebu-based indie pop-rock band The Sundown, he’s happy to let vocalist and leader Aaron Domingo take the spotlight.

“I don’t want to be the frontman; I just want to hide,” he said about his role in the band that also includes Gino Rosales, Alden Panes, and Luigi Balazao.

 A ‘wavy’ new era

Eco looks back at his 2018 debut record “Kiss and Disappear” with pride. “I didn’t know much about music back then, and the album was basically a bunch of songs I wrote over the years,” he said. “It took me around four or five years to make. If I get the chance, I’d love to re-record it in the next ten years, like what Taylor Swift did.”

He plans to sharpen his storytelling skills in his upcoming project “Baybayon”, a six-track mini-album that uses ocean imagery to explore a romance that has faded into a distant memory.

“You spend so much time and energy loving someone, and then suddenly, you’re strangers,” he said. “I wanted to relate it to water because the waves of the ocean flow, and each flow feels like a story. It just goes on and on.”

In the album’s visuals, Eco is seen against a backdrop of a deep blue early morning.

“Cebu is known for its sunny beaches that attract tourists, but I wanted to do the opposite,” he explained. “I wanted the vibe to be like four in the morning, or at nighttime when it’s not sunny and lovely. The album is like a collection of memories stored in the ocean. People fall in love by the shore, and when they return, those moments are just memories.”

While the EP’s release date has yet to be announced, its titular track, “Baby,” are already available on music platforms.

Asked if six songs were enough to tell a strong story, Eco replied, “That’s why I’m being ambitious about it. Usually, you need 12 songs or an hour-long record to tell a story, but I feel like not many people have done short stories through songs. You have short films, short essays, and poems. Why not short snippets of songs to tell a full story?”

 Bringing ‘Baybayon’  to Japan

Eco's gig “Take Me to Okinawa!” at Unity Coffee and Vinyl in Cebu City last month had two purposes: to preview his musical direction in the “Baybayon” era and to raise funds for his upcoming trip to Japan, where he is one of the performers at the Music Lane Festival Okinawa 2025 on January 17 to 19.

Music Lane marks his first time performing outside the Philippines, making it a milestone in his career as he is representing Cebu’s music scene internationally.

“Music Lane is a showcase festival, different from commercial ones like Coachella and Glastonbury,” he explained. “The audience consists of music professionals, labels, booking agents, and musicians. John Mayer and Arctic Monkeys got signed because of showcase festivals, so I’m trying my luck.”

He submitted his music to the festival organizers and was thrilled to be selected. He’s especially excited to share the stage with Barbie Almalbis, who is also part of the Philippine delegation.

To introduce himself to international audiences, Eco plans to highlight his Cebuano roots. “I’ll say I’m a small artist from a small island with big dreams. I have stories to share through my music, and I think it’s going to be different from what they usually hear.”

Although he could perform in Japan alone, Eco is determined to bring his band. “I want to tell a whole story, which is why I am bringing my band so I can represent my story the way I want it. This fundraising gig is not just for me, it’s also for my bandmates so we can go together,” he said.

Eco and his band are seeking sponsors to help fund their trip to Japan, where they will represent Cebu. Fans can also support by purchasing Eco's merchandise, with details available on his social media accounts.

 No to gatekeeping

Eco’s fundraising gig showcased the overwhelming support from Cebu’s indie music scene.

His Sundown bandmate Balazao performed solo as Wiji Kun and also joined Elisa Ang for their first performance in nearly a year as the pop duo "Sepia Times." Singer-songwriter Ferdinand Aragon also joined the lineup.

Balazao praised Eco’s artistry, saying, “He has a way with words and making you feel things — that’s what music is all about. I think it’ll be amazing for people in Okinawa to hear him.”

Sepia Times’ Ang, pursuing solo music under the name IIICCCYYY, shared similar sentiments. “Vincent Eco is one of the best in the scene. His artistry and talent are on a global scale. Every show of his is perfect and it deserves to be experienced in Okinawa,” she said.

Eco felt moved by the support of his colleagues, stating, “There are so many great artists in Cebu and I am just one of them. When you look at the stars, I am only one of them, and there are so many others who also deserve the spotlight, respect, and success. I feel like we all have the same goal: we want to make music and keep doing it as a full-time job.”

While he’s happy to see the Cebuano music scene thriving in recent years, Eco urged some supporters not to gatekeep the community.

“Some artists have day jobs and can’t pursue music full-time,” he explained. “You don’t get to see the local bands you want to see because they’ve had to seek better opportunities aboard, and some end up disbanding. This is why we need a thriving community that supports its artists. If we get that support, we can go far and achieve success. That’s what every artist here dreams of — making a living out of music.”