That indie feeling...

That Indie Feeling
by Maui V. Reyes
2bu Correspondent
Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 27, 2001 Wednesday

“There are so many definitions of indie music,” says Quark Henares, one of the DJs of NU107’s “Not Radio.” “See, there are those artists that release their albums independently, and people call that indie music. But then there are those artists who play indiepop, and pop isn’t corny to these people, pop is like, cool for them.”
And so goes the world of indie music. Far from your Blink 182 records and Celine Dion ballad collection, there’s a certain kind of genre that’s lurking around somewhere, dying to be heard, but not yearning to go “mainstream.” For one, these artists aren’t “sellouts.” Well, maybe not in their own genre. They talk about bands and musicians you would never hear on the radio: Rainer Maria, Fugazi, Juliana Hatfield and Pavement. They are the ones who fill the hole-in-the-wall bar Mayric’s during the “Buzz Night.” They cut demos from time to time, and flex their love for music by branching out to different bands, exploring different kinds of music and fusing them into one song. They need an output for their influences, and end up playing in different bands to satisfy their hunger. As one of the bands puts it, “it’s a way of life.”
Indie music is more than just a small rack beside the new releases at Tower Records. It’s also more then the one-hour “Not Radio” sessions on NU107.5. Local independent label Definition Records and pinoycentral.com put together a compilation of indiepop and indierock called “Mutual Admiration Society,” which is the first album to be released under Definition. The album boasts 15 tracks from nine different bands, all fresh faces who would rather have the music be heard than their faces plastered on magazine covers.
“[The term] ‘indiepop’ was coined by Mike Alway, the founder of a record company that released these bands that had this distinct guitar sound. Kind of like New Wave. Guitar pop. When [these bands] sign on major records labels, they become New Wave… but indiepop pa rin sila. Until now ganoon pa rin naman, eh”, says Dale Marquez of Apple Orchard and Soft Pillow Kisses.
Curious to find out just what indiepop is all about, we got three bands off the album, went to Freedom Bar in Anonas, and interviewed them about their music and advice for indiepop wannabes.

APPLE ORCHARD
Who they are: Ryan (guitars, vocals) and Dale (bass, keyboards) Marquez.
What’s with the name: “Apple Orchard” is a song by one of Ryan’s favorite bands. “It’s also the name of the concert of ‘Field Mice’ (that’s a band),” Dale points out.
Beginnings: Apple Orchard is actually a side project - the brothers made a demo that was picked for the “Mutual Admiration Society” compilation. “We started doing demos, with guitar and some cheesy drumbeats. It wasn’t really that serious,” says Dale. “When we heard we were going to be on the album. We decided that [the demo] didn’t sound so good, so we added some bass.”
What indie music is: “There are a lot of misconceptions. If you’re really into indie music - like us, we’ve been into this kind of music since, I know, 10 years ago? Grade school? We started listening to New Wave bands back then, and that was, like, the ‘80s, right? And even before there was the term ‘indie’. Ngayon lang sya lumabas… so now if you play folk rock and you release it independently, you’re called indie. Kasi, there’s this certain sound to indie. It’s really hard to categorize indiepop kasi. It’s like a big umbrella, eh… there are so many different sounds. To really understand the music, you have to be really into it, you have to try to understand it.”
Fusion of talents: Ryan may write the lyrics, but as he puts it, “When it comes to recording, marami nang ideas from both of us.” He also writes mostly about love and relationships. “Mushy kind of stuff,” he says, laughing.
Don’t expect an album too soon: As Dale point out, it’s hard to release an indie album in this country since the industry isn’t too open. “There’s no market here. We’re aware of that… we’ll just make more demos, submit them to Definition Records. It’s hard to take risks here… maybe we’ll send them to different countries, kasi it’s really not that big a market here.” Ryan agrees. “You have more chances overseas.”
What, no chicks and money? If you’re looking for babes and moolah, this isn’t the kind of music for you - get signed with a major record label instead. “If you’re going to release independent stuff, don’t expect profit,” Ryan says. “Don’t quit your day job.”
“It’s the passion for music, that’s what keeps us going,” Dale admits, “If you’re really into music, you’ll keep going even if no one’s going to buy your stuff.”
Look at the bright side: Being in an indie band has its pros, too. “You can write songs about whatever you like, without having someone tell you what to do,” Ryan says. “There’s artistic freedom”

COLOUR CONTEST
The players: Ulysses John Roque (drums), Jefrey Jacob(keyboards and horns), AJ Domingo (ball, backing vocals), Monsano “Panch” Dominguez (guitars, and sitars) and Richard Olaguera (vocals and guitars).
How they were formed: Back in 1996 they already had a band, and went through different band names, even trying Japanese names. “We decided to come up with a ‘60s-sounding band, which is Colour Contest,” says Panch. “Our former bassist came up with the name. It doesn’t really have any significant meaning,” says Richard. “Although we love colors.”
Quirky indiepop: “Indie music is not an abbreviation of independent music. It’s a totally different thing. It’s wide. Bossa nova, you can call that indie. Indie is a genre. The sound is an eclectic music of Bossa Nova, the 80’s sound, New Wave. Quirky pop.”
On the lowdown: Richard says one of the things that separate indie music from mainstream tunes is that, aside from the arrangements, indie doesn’t get airplay. “You can’t hear indie music on NU107,” he says. But they do plan to release an album. Richard writes lyrics and music, and confesses that most of the songs are fictional. “They’re mostly about love, fascination, love lost, collapsing relationships… romatic stuff.” They’re also not scared of “finding our songs in jukeboxes, or on Vid-ok,” since they’re all praises for Definition Records and believe they wouldn’t be distributed that way.
Best gig: At the Philippine Trade Center, where Pinoycentral hosted different bands in the concert, “Mutual Admiration Society.”
Move with the music: Their advice to wannabe indie bands? “Just move on, play music,” AJ advises. “Send demos abroard. Indie here in this country is really struggling.”

SOFT PILLOW KISSES
Composed of: Allan (guitars, backing vocals), Carl (vocals), AJ (guitars, backing vocals), Lara (bass), Dale (keyboards and provider of moral support), and Gilbert (drums).
How the band got together: After going through lots of band names and lineups, Allan and Carl formed Soft Pillow Kisses, Dale, from Sonnet 58 (and Apple Orchard), is a recent addition on keyboards.
Name, please: “We wanted to have this really mushy, cheesy name,” AJ explains. “We didn’t like to conform.”
“It’s not a gay thing,” Allan stresses. “But we like gay,” he laughs.
Indie what? “Indie is a universal state of conviction of your own principles, when it comes to your musical preference, consistent with your lifestyle and attitude,” says Lara, who wrote a paper in school about indie. Allan injects that indie music “is in the blood.”
Cebu rocks: Soft Pillow Kisses released a five-song EP in Cebu since they believed only Cebuanos deserved to hear the music. “Cebuanos are up-to-date with music. It’s not like here in Manila, what was released two years ago is what’s cool,” says Allan. “In Cebu they’re catching up. We sold all the albums,” he looks at this bandmates and laughs. “Like, five copies?” AJ shakes his head. “Ten copies!” he says with conviction.
Heartbreak stories: Allan writes most of the songs, although he’s quick to say everyone contributes to the effort. Carl writes mostly about heartbreak and similar experiences. Always the joker, Allan shares that what inspires him to write is “the ambiance of Manila. When you listen to the music, you’ll hear na napakamahal ko ang Manila. Independent na talagang mabuhay! Parang sa Recto… napaka-safe!” He’s joking, we think.
Dancing with the music: In order to appreciate indie, you need an ear for the music. “For example, we can dance to this slow song, [as opposed to others who can’t],” reasons Allan. “People think napa-mushy and lousy. It depends on the person, really.” What separates indie from mainstream, according to them, is the “feel” of the music. “There’s a rawness to indie music. It appeals to a select few,” continues Allan. Dale agrees. “Indie music doesn’t get airplay anywhere - radio, MTV, wala talaga, eh. It’s up to the listener to search, investigate, explore. So that’s why it’s really hard to understand the music.” What about “Not Radio”? “Iba sa ‘Not Radio,” eh, iba and preference nila ng indie, as in independent music interpretation nila. Like the term ‘alternative’… indie used to be called alternative music, but now they call alternative the stuff they play on the radio. Sa tingin nila, corny na ang word na ‘alternative’, so ‘indie’ na lang sila,” says Allan. “It’s too angsty. It should be about intelligence… love for the same sex.” Again, he’s joking.
To understand what these bands are talking about, check out “Mutual Admiration Society” under Definition Records and available at Tower Records. Want to get a close view on indie music? Head over to Mayric’s every third Sunday of the month (mark down July 15 on your calendars - these bands are playing that night) to witness “Buzz Night,” where indie bands get together and share their music. Who knows, you just might be one on the very few who can truly appreciate great music.
NU 107.5’s indie rock show “Not Radio” airs every Saturday at 9pm.
Special thanks to lawyer Ferdinand Casis and Charlene of Freedom Bar, 2/F Anonas Commercial Complex, No.3 Anonas St., Project 3, QC


(this article has been sitting in one of our documents for quite a while. Good thing my brother had found it and now I decided to post this in this blog. This is not the original format of the article, I have modified it to fit into this blog.)