‘IN RETROSPECT’: PIDO AND PAOLO AS A MUSICAL DUO
Paolo Santos: ‘We’ll play most of the songs we’ve written individually in the last few years. The pandemic has made us look back at what we have written and we want to revisit them’
About 17 years ago, top guitarist and singer-songwriter Pido Lalimarmo was fronting his band Take One when he met the then rising solo artist Paolo Santos.
They both idolized James Taylor and eventually performed together, guesting in each other’s gigs. A few years before the pandemic, Pido and Paolo joined the same management and had been teaming up in shows around the metro.
This year, they thought of doing a special, documentary-style performance, dubbed In Retrospect: Music in the Time of Pandemic, featuring mostly their respective original compositions spliced with intimate interviews.
The show will stream online on 1 May in the Philippines, as well as in the United States (New York, Los Angeles), England (London) and Australia.
Daily Tribune had an email chat with the two artists.
Daily Tribune (DT): The local live music scene was thriving before Covid-19. How did the pandemic affect your regular income, and what adjustments did you make in your lifestyle to cope with the crisis?
Paolo Santos (PS): Eighty percent of my income was lost. Had to use my emergency savings. I had to be conscious about unnecessary spending.
Pido Lalimarmo (PL): It affected me a great deal since music has been my main source of income. It was scary at first, but somehow I’ve been able to cope. When the need arises, a project comes up. God is good, indeed!
DT: Is this the most serious threat to your livelihood as musicians? If not, please recall previous challenges and how you survived them.
PS: This is probably the worst, ever. Felt so helpless and anxious.
PL: Oh, yes, definitely the worst!
DT: Let’s go back in time. What made you want to become a musician, can you recall the moment?
PS: The first time I heard the
Beatles and James Taylor, I was hooked. I have always loved listening to music, so I picked up the guitar and taught myself to play. It didn’t feel like a job. It was more like playing around.
PL: I never really planned to become a musician, but for some reason I just knew I’d end up being one. It was the only thing I wanted to do since I wasn’t doing good in school. I guess you could say, it chose me.
DT: What was it like in your early days as a performing artist? Where did you start out and how much did you used to earn?
PS: I played at a hole-in-the wall in Ortigas. I earned P800 pesos playing at least 35 songs a night. It was the best feeling. I would do it again even if I didn’t get paid.
PL: It was great! I started playing at age 17 or 18. I was earning P150 a night but it didn’t matter ’cause I was just into the music and having a blast.
Pido Lalimarmo: ‘For me, it’s like a reunion ’cause we used to do this a lot before, and it would be a whole lot of fun doing it all over again.’
DT: And when you became successful, what was the most expensive or most valuable thing you bought for yourself, and do you still have it now?
PS: Bought a condo unit. Sold it when I got married since it was too small. It was only a studio flat.
PL: My first guitar was valuable to me. I still have it now.
DT: You’ve performed in other countries. Which country, aside from the Philippines, has given you wonderful memories, and why?
PS: Singapore was the most fun because I was with my band. Playing in the United States and Australia was memorable, too.
PL: I’ve got good memories of all of them, but the one that stands out is Hong Kong. I was able to play with a pioneering Motown artist named Bobby Taylor, the guy who discovered, trained and helped sign up the Jackson 5 to Motown Records. Also, I was able to jam with other international artists. That was cool!
DT: What was the worst thing you’ve done during a live performance?
PS: I invented lyrics when I forgot the actual words of a song.
PL: Performing not knowing my fly was open, lol! Also, I was supposed to acknowledge the name of a shampoo as the show’s sponsor, but I mentioned another brand!
DT: Who’s your greatest influence as an artist, and why?
PS: James Taylor because of his simplicity and brilliance. He can perform all by himself but it doesn’t feel like the audience is being shortchanged.
PL: James Taylor! To describe him in one word: Genius!
DT: Tell us about your coming show In Retrospect. Give us an idea of the songs we’ll be hearing.
PS: We’ll play most of the songs we’ve written individually in the last few years. The pandemic has made us look back at what we have written and we want to revisit them.
PL: For me, it’s like a reunion ’cause we used to do this a lot before, and it would be a whole lot of fun doing it all over again.
DT: How many times have you collaborated in one show?
PS: This is the nth time, hahaha. Pido was my first guest at my very first concert.
PL: Like I said, we’ve done this before, and we look forward to doing it again in the future.
In Retrospect: Music in the Time of Pandemic featuring Paolo Santos and Pido on 01 May 2021. Log on to ticket2me.net for tickets.