Well-known Filipino rock bands Spongecola, Silent Sanctuary, and The Itchyworms reveal stories before their success in the Song in Focus podcast, one of the top music podcasts in the Philippines, which is hosted by veteran singer-songwriter Acel and Indie artist Denice Lao.
Spongecola’s Success in Campus
Spongecola began with gigs within their campus and eventually gained a sizable following when they released their song Jeepney even when they stayed in the indie scene. What helped them further is the nurturing environment for artists in the campus, giving them opportunities to perform and also interact with other bands to share their passion in music. What made them stand out from other rising bands active at that time is them starting out with playing their original songs. Songwriting was their strength and it appealed to people. Even with a steady rising career, the band chose not to quit school as they value education and think of it as a promise to fulfill to their parents.
Silent Sanctuary’s Hit-Making Formula
Silent Sanctuary started as an independent band and later on signed with a label. The band was efficient with their album process. When submitting for approval to the producer, they would write a verse and a chorus to be assessed first so it can be easily filtered out which songs fit the album the most. They gained approval with the song Sa’yo which became a fan-favorite song.
The Itchyworms’s Completixty of Tracks
When recording in the studio, the band usually explores their creative and fun side. This is showcased in the intro to their song Gusto Ko Lamang sa Buhay where they decided to record the voices of the members of Eraserheads, Yael Yuzon of Spongecola, Ebe Dancel, and other friends of the band. They even used six guitar layers on the introduction and technical easter eggs like abrupt changes on time signatures.
To hear them talk more about their band and musical journey, full episodes of the Song in Focus podcast are available in Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Connect with Song in Focus through linktr.ee/songinfocus. Follow Song In Focus (@songinfocus) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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