The “You Should Listen To This Artist” series showcases up-and-coming music artists who have piqued the interest of the POP! team, with the goal of providing these talented individuals a promotional platform so more people could know and hear about them. If you’re a bedroom/indie/amateur/budding music artist, send your materials to pop[at]inquirer.net for consideration.
In the ever-evolving Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene, a plethora of new artists and bands continue to emerge. New breeds of musicians are carving out a niche for themselves by crafting music that not only echoes their distinct sounds but can resonate with Filipino listeners and music enthusiasts alike.
For up-and-coming band Satellite Daydream, that was the goal–and more–as they aspire to transport their listeners to different realms, away from the humdrum of their lives.
Based in Metro Manila, Satellite Daydream is an alternative/indie rock band composed of BJ Sarmiento (vocals and guitar), Harvey De Vera (drums), William “Yam” Cruz (guitar), and Zuriel “Zuri” Ocampo (vocals and bass).
Their music emits a unique sound that can transcend time and space, creating a distraction for their listeners and taking them away from the mundane reality. And because of this, Satellite Daydream has left quite an impression in the alternative/indie rock genre.
The Genesis of Satellite Daydream
Satellite Daydream started as a cover band with their first performance at a high school reunion in 2018. After a few changes in the band’s lineup, the four members started to get together, practice music, and perform at different events.
It was only in late 2022 that they officially became the band that people came to know right now: the Satellite Daydream.
In an exclusive interview with POP!, the four-piece band shared that the name Satellite Daydream was inspired by the demo extended play (EP) that BJ had recorded during the pandemic. The name aspired to capture the feeling of the EP’s songs, including their now-released tracks “Minamahal Kita” and “Iyong Mundo,” which was recently dropped last October 2024.
“‘Satellite’ refers to something that exists on the periphery of something else but remains dependent on or influenced by it, while ‘daydream’ is a pleasant, often wistful creation of the imagination,” BJ (vocals and guitar) explained.
“To me, it’s a fitting way to describe how music can take us away from the mundane reality into a world where we shape what we hear, feel, and experience,” he added.
The band also revealed that while it wasn’t in their initial plan to pursue a music career, the interest in doing so was ignited upon watching live concerts and festivals online.
“Growing up, we all dreamed of being part of a band and sharing the stage with the artists we admired, but we never really thought we’d get the chance to make that happen,” said Harvey (drums).
William (guitar), also known as Yam, added, “It’s the simple things in music that really get all of us excited: the never-ending learning process, the people we meet, and the places we get to play. We feel like these are the things that truly reflect who we are, and they’re what motivated us to pursue music in the first place. We also drew a lot of inspiration for our own music by listening to a wide range of artists.”
Speaking of, the Satellite Daydream members shared that each of them has been heavily influenced by different artists and musical genres, highlighting the depth and diversity of their inspirations.
For BJ, among those who have had a huge influence on him as a musician are The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys, and Boy Pablo. And of course, some bands in the OPM scene also became an important part of his musical journey, including Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Sugarfree, Orange and Lemons, and SOS.
Zuri (vocals and bass) also shared the same sentiment, revealing that he’s been exploring different musical genres—from soul and R&B, acoustic and country music, to ambient sounds with lo-fi beats and math rock.
Like his fellow bandmates, Harvey admitted that most of his musical inspiration is heavily influenced by the music that people around him had been listening to. But as time passed by, he began to dip his toes and explore different genres and artists on his own, including Beabadoobee, Clairo, XG, Red Velvet, Wallows, Zild, bird., and One Click Straight, among others.
Lastly, listening to different artists has helped Yam fine-tune his guitar skills. Drawing inspiration from some of the century’s guitar virtuosi, such as David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Johnson, and Carlos Santana, among others, Yam shared that he had picked up some of their styles. In addition, Yam is also into neo-soul music, hip-hop, and electronic music.
But despite the individual differences and preferences, there’s one band that has influenced them to refine their already potent songwriting and musical skills, and that’s no other than The Beatles.
“I believe that [The Beatles] have influenced our whole band as well. This is reflected in our dynamics where we don’t have a main vocalist or a frontman. Instead, whoever wrote the song sings it,” BJ explained.
With their innate ability to draw inspiration from the people around them and the artists and bands they admire, Satellite Daydream has carved out a unique sound that vividly captures their authenticity and brand.
Describing their music, Yam explained, “Our music is just your typical feel-good music that’s easy to listen to, but it’s also a mix of all the different musical influences we each bring to the table. The songs we created reflect both our personal tastes and the music we were all into at the time—whether it was a genre or an artist we were really vibing with.”
Behind Satellite Daydream’s music and creative process
Like any other artist and band, Satellite Daydream has a quite meticulous yet flexible process when creating music. With the goal of having their own distinct sound and staying true to their identity and brand, the band’s approach is fluid.
First, they will gather around to polish the songs BJ and Zuri have already written. Starting from the chords and melodies down to the vocals and lyrics of each song, they tend to improvise during rehearsals and explore variations until they “find something that clicks,” giving a new meaning and interpretation to the songs they created.
“Typically, BJ and Yam handle the chords and solos once the lyrics are set, whether written by BJ or Zuri. While Zuri and I focus on our own sections before we come together as a group to shape the final version,” Harvey shared.
“We always rehearse the songs before recording to ensure we’re comfortable with our parts, and we’ve often come up with better arrangements just a few rehearsals before recording, so we keep the process flexible,” he continued, adding that they intended to be more intentional with their songwriting process, as well as find better ways to collaborate with others.
The band also revealed that their producer, Nick Lazaro, has also played an important role in establishing their sound and identity, setting them apart in the OPM scene.
“Our producer, Nick Lazaro, plays a key role in helping us identify what gives our music its distinct sound, allowing us to stay true to our identity,” Harvey added. “BJ also serves as the band’s unofficial producer, producing the initial demos for both released and unreleased songs and encouraging each of us to add our individual parts—whether it’s new patterns or instrumental additions.”
True enough, their unique identity is evident in the five tracks they have released: “Denisse,” “Till We’re Older,” “Minamahal Kita,” “Too Old Too Young,” and their most recent track, “Iyong Mundo.”
Inspired by BJ’s partner, “Denisse” is the band’s debut track. It initially reflects the narrator’s appreciation of the person who stood by their side amidst the challenges and complications in life. BJ also shared that this track is his personal favorite, along with “MInamahal Kita.”
And if you’re one of Satellite Daydream’s new listeners, “Dennise” is the top song that best represents the band.
“[“Denisse”] is our foundation and [it reflects] where we started. It’s the track that gives you the best sense of our sound and where we’re coming from as a band,” Zuri shared.
Their second track, “Till We’re Older,” which is Harvey’s personal favorite, revolves around the “nostalgic kind of love” that people hope to experience. The song also describes the complexity of love while capturing everyone’s desire to grow old together with the love of their life.
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“Minamahal Kita,” on the other hand, is BJ, Zuri, and Harvey’s favorite among the five tracks. The song weaves a story of pure innocence of wanting to confess their love for someone, guaranteed to tug at their listeners’ heartstrings as the heartfelt nature and lyrics of the song inspire the audience to take the first step.
Yam’s favorite track, “Too Old Too Young,” is quite different from the tracks they have released. Veering away from the theme of love, this fourth song encapsulates the narrator’s struggles and frustrations in life, alongside the pressure of adulting and the uncertainty about the future.
“Iyong Mundo,” the fifth and most recent track, is a reflection of the narrator’s desire to be a part of someone’s world, connect with them, and experience a life with them. The catchy tune and the simple yet heartwarming lyrics of the song had made its way to the POP! team’s ears, which led to the team’s discovery of Satellite Daydream.
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(Fun fact: BJ revealed that if you start to listen with “Iyong Mundo” first, followed by “Minamahal Kita” and then “Denisse,” they tell a story as these three songs are connected and inspired by his partner, Denisse.)
Each song weaves a story of the band members’ personal experiences yet the goal is to allow their listeners to daydream and think that each song is written specifically for them. And it does. Satellite Daydream is able to transport its audience and picture themselves in a different dimension all the while experiencing the stories the band tells.
Satellite Daydream’s musical journey so far
It has been two years since Satellite Daydream burst into the OPM scene, but a lot of opportunities and new experiences have already knocked on the band’s doors.
Among the things the band experienced that they never imagined to be possible were playing their music in their own gigs and having a packed crowd, listening to their songs on the radio, and sharing the stage with fellow Filipino artists and bands that they admire.
Perhaps the highlight for the four-piece band was getting signed by Polyeast Records, which is home to some of the notable and influential Filipino acts, including the likes of Bamboo, the late Francis Magalona, Hale, Sandwich, Sugarfree, and Side A, among others.
“Honestly, I didn’t think we’d ever get the chance with a record label, especially since we were just making music for the love of it,” Yam said, reflecting on the opportunity of getting signed by one of the biggest labels in the Philippine music scene.
“We didn’t expect much but with all the positive feedback and ongoing support, we never imagined we’d be in this position or [to] receive such an honor,” he added.
To say that the past years have been eventful, prosperous, and exciting is simply an understatement because no words can describe the band’s gratitude to those who have supported them and shown them love since the beginning.
But, of course, their journey into the Philippine music scene hasn’t been that easy.
For Zuri and Harvey, the lack of experience before joining the band proved to be quite a challenge for them when making music.
“Frankly, I didn’t have any prior experience playing bass when I joined Satellite Daydream. It was just the role that was available at the time and because of that, every new song we work on is also a learning experience for me,” Zuri admitted, adding that most of the songs he wrote initially started with him and his acoustic guitar.
Harvey revealed that drumming is a new experience for him as he only picked the skill in college when his friends needed a drummer for an event.
“Practicing can be tough because I don’t have my own drum set. At home, I mostly practice by looping our demos through my earphones and trying to make the most of our band rehearsals. It’s definitely a challenge, but I’m committed to getting better,” said the band’s drummer.
Yam, on the other hand, cited finances as one of the challenges the band faces.
“We don’t really have issues with scheduling practice since we’re good at working around each other’s availability. But things like studio fees, equipment, and transportation can add up [to the challenges], so it’s something we just have to manage,” Yam explained.
Despite these challenges, the band is committed to getting past them in order to create an alternative realm that their listeners can escape to through their music.
What’s next for Satellite Daydream
Moving forward, Satellite Daydream has a lot of surprises in their sleeves for their listeners, and that, of course, includes new music.
“We’re still polishing a few songs for future recordings, and we’re really looking forward to playing more live events, whether those are school shows, music festivals, or even fundraisers,” BJ shared. “We also hope to collaborate with other artists as well.”
The four-piece band also acknowledged that their success wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of their listeners, who all played a vital role in where they are right now.
“We are truly grateful when [our listeners] attend our shows, share our music on social media, and help us gain new listeners. And so, we thank you for being a vital part of our journey,” said Zuri. “We wouldn’t have come this far without your support.”
“I never imagined we’d make it into popular magazines and news articles. I’m forever grateful to everyone who has supported us and those who continue to do so,” Yam added. “We’re still learning and growing, and I hope you’ll all still be by our side as we apply everything we learn along the way to our music.”
The future of Satellite Daydream is bright, and there’s no denying that through their authenticity, unique sound, and heartwarming music, more people will be whisked away to the universe Satellite Daydream has created.
Dive into the dreamy and magical world of Satellite Daydream and listen to their discography here.
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