On November 22, Luxembourg Hall was filled with melodious performances by Grade 11 students for their term-end Music elective concert, surpassing expectations set by their teacher, Sir Dominador Jimbo “DJ” Caraan.
These students showcased their musical talents under the theme “Timeless: Remixing Nostalgia,” which, according to Sir DJ, drew inspiration from our exploration of Western music. He then added that Remixing Nostalgia embodies the idea of extracting inspiration from the past to craft something innovative and pertinent for the contemporary moment. The primary objective was to provide these talented musicians to shine. However, the journey to their performances involved much more than what meets the eye.
To gain insights into a successful performance, we interviewed three performers: Don Enrique “King” Padilla, the vocalist/guitarist of the Tonedefs, as well as Gabriela B. Manuntag (vocalist) and Matthew Reuel Santos (drummer) from Marahuyo. These interviews shed light on their emotions and thoughts leading up to and during the event, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes aspects of their performances.
How did you know what song to choose and what it has that would suit you?
For his band’s performance, King chose Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box”, simply because it was a personal favorite. He described it as a song that offered a mix of melancholy atmosphere and a booming chorus, making it enjoyable to learn and perform.
On the other hand, Marahuyo’s Gabriela shared that the band had diverse music tastes ranging from OPM to rock, metal jazz, and bossa nova.
The band initially settled on Vira Talisa’s “Walking Back Home”, but due to its short duration, they had to reconsider. As the vocalist, Gabriela took the initiative to choose a song that would suit everyone and be feasible to perform.
Matthew explained, “We had to consider the playability of the song with our capabilities, with our own instruments, and the vocal range—if our vocalists can well adapt to the song with little to no difficulty. All of these factors mattered a lot since if we couldn’t pull any of these off, we wouldn’t be able to play properly or even practice it.” After deliberation, Gabriela settled on “With A Smile” by Eraserheads, which became the song Marahuyoperformed.
Was there a specific style or artist you wanted to emulate while performing?
In response, King candidly shares: “As much as possible, we strived to emulate the chaotic energy that is synonymous with the grunge movement during the performance—at the cost of a few voice cracks from me.”
As for Marahuyo’s song selection, they drew inspiration from a diverse range of sources. However, a common interest in pop/hype love songs and 1990s to early 2000s OPM prevailed, aligning well with their artistic influences, including Filipino bands such as IV Of Spades, Eraserheads, and Lola Amour.
According to their drummer Matthew, these artists were chosen not only because their fashion sense matched Marahuyo’s desired stage appearance but also because their songs resonated with the band and were something they collectively connected with.
Gabriela, the vocalist, shared her thoughts, saying, “For me, as a singer, I wanted to be as cool as Laufey. I wanted to be like her but in my own unique way. I genuinely admire her voice, which is why I like doing my deep voice.”
What did it take for you to achieve a performance you were satisfied with for the event?
To achieve a satisfactory performance, King had to master the art of simultaneously singing and playing the guitar, making the guitar-playing feel like second nature while keeping track of the rhythm.. He concluded by acknowledging that although there was room for improvement, the band was content with their performance.
Matthew humorously summed it up as “blood, sweat, and tears.” He then added, “but we did have to put in a lot of commitment since it was a song that we haven’t really played together, considering it was our first time playing together and that it was also near finals.”
The band had to carefully manage their time, often sacrificing meals to rehearse for hours on Saturdays. They even conducted impromptu rehearsals at school with their music teacher to gather feedback for further refinement.
In addition to Matthew’s insights, Gabriela highlighted the challenges of staying in sync, especially with the guitarist, whose role was prominent in the performance. Their solution was simple yet effective: open communication and coordination to ensure their musical abilities aligned seamlessly.
What were the common things you often felt or thought about leading up to the concert and on the day itself?
King often experiences a mix of nerves and excitement, primarily driven by the fear of failure. He continues, “Until we remembered that, as performers, the only bad performance is a timid one.” With this mindset, the band gave their best effort, overcoming their doubts and thoroughly enjoying the entire process.
Nervousness was a shared sentiment, and Marahuyo was no exception. They faced the added pressure of final exams coinciding with the concert week. Gabriela said, “We all wanted to do well with our academics while also performing well on stage. It was a crammed week since our requirements were also due on those days. Nevertheless, we were able to pass our finals and deliver an eye-catching, memorable performance for the audience.”
What were the biggest obstacles you encountered?
During the performance, King admits there was a lot of shakiness at the beginning. He explained, “Leading up to the second verse, my mic stand randomly collapsed, and we were without backup vocals for a few bars until our buddy Shaun stepped in to fix it. Nonetheless, we managed to come through and conclude a performance we had been excited about for quite some time.”
All in all, the concert was a blast for The Tonedefs, and they expressed their gratitude to Sir DJ for the opportunity, saying, “Both this opportunity and those that are to come soon are greatly appreciated.”
In Gabriela’s case, she faced challenges in delivering her best vocal performance. It took some time to adapt to singing alongside the band’s instrumental, as she was more accustomed to singing while playing the guitar or with a karaoke track. She shared, “I wanted to give my best even though a lot of times were so overwhelming for me, and I felt bad for not being able to memorize the lyrics well. But I'm glad we did it, and I gave my full best . . . even though I was so stressed and tired from exams and requirements.”
She continued, “I have no regrets with how I performed, and all I can say is I'm just so happy so [many] people appreciate what I did.”
Matthew mentioned that the band had to manage their time wisely—extremely wisely. Another challenge they faced was enhancing their musical abilities and finding ways to make the song sound more unique and enjoyable for the audience. He stated, “Yes, a lot of challenges were presented, but our competent hearts drove us to be persistent yet innovative with our performance, [making] it more unique from the original.”
He added, “We were able to give the crowd a performance of a lifetime. We may not be Eraserheads, Lola Amour, or any hit band to stay in the audience’s minds for a while, but we sure are enchanting on stage; we are Marahuyo.”
Reflecting on the event, Sir DJ acknowledged that the performances truly showcased the tremendous efforts of Grade 11 in putting on a good show with limited preparation time. He expressed eagerness to create more platforms for showcasing their talents, envisioning numerous concerts and collaborations in the future.
In line with these aspirations, the music department is currently in the early stages of arranging a benefit concert directly affiliated with the SISC’s PoUCh program, aiming to encourage student contributions to a meaningful cause. Sir DJ added, “I am excited about the potential impact our collective efforts can have on both the artistic development of our students and the broader community through such initiatives.”
He concluded, “We sincerely hope for your continued support in our upcoming plans and would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the support you extended during our last concert. Your encouragement and backing play a crucial role in the success and growth of our musical initiatives, and we look forward to having your continued support as we move forward with our plans.”
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