This Band, Kean Cipriano, Jom of ALLMO$T headline week of solid new releases
When it comes to ‘hugot’ themed songs, there are only a few who come close to This Band! With close to 230 million streams on Spotify alone, This Band is definitely one of the biggest of their generation. That’s 230 million streams spread over just ten songs that the band has released since their song “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na” (92 million-plus streams) became a massive breakout hit back in 2018. Couple that with a handful of equally massive hits such as “Hindi Na Nga” (67 million) and “’Di Na Babalik” (38 million) and you get the picture.
This Band is a big deal!
That’s why when they put out a new song, listeners take notice. Last week, This Band premiered their new song entitled “Sinungaling Ka.” The new track finds the six-piece band rocking a bit more than their usual. Distorted guitars open the track and remain upfront all throughout. Likewise the drums propel the song forward as lead singer Andrea Manzano lays down the dysfunction: ‘Nakita ka may kasama na iba / napaluha sa nakita ng aking mga mata.’ It’s all downhill from there, thematically at least, as the relationship in question naturally dissolves into a messy puddle. But as far as the tune goes, it’s a tasty but frenzied pop rocker imbued with all the melodic-but-throaty urgency that Manzano can muster as she croons “Nahuli na’t lahat, gagawin ka pang tanga.” That’s “hugot” This Band style. The group– guitarist – songwriter Euwie Von Loria, lead axe Raymart Gubat, keyboardist Melvin Carson, drummer Kenneth Macaranas and bassist Miccael Galvan, and Manzano, promised that this track is just a prelude to a full album that’s coming soon. If This Band’s previous hits are any indication, that album’s going to be thumpin’ good one.
Besides fronting his long-standing band Callalily and managing his own record label with wife Chynna Ortaleza at OC Records, Kean Cipriano still manages to put out the occasional solo single. His latest entitled “Make Me Fly” differs from Callalily’s brand of alt-rock “hugot” in that the former sounds smoother. Kean’s new song-about keeping “the one” who can inspire him to greater heights — is neon nightlife hip and synth and bluesy guitar solo cool compared to the “tugtugan pwesto” grit of Callalily. This is a welcome change of pace for Cipriano, who’s already logged in his fair amount of time in his music career to be called a veteran. His fans certainly won’t begrudge him this side trip. And if it sounds this cool, might even win a set new listeners.
R&B singer Jom Casem, one-fourth member of the hit rap Group ALLMO$T, also went out on a side project and released the ultra-catchy Pinoy pop-rap tune “Sulyap.” There’s a reason why singers like Jom are called hook singers when featured on a rap tune. Because theirs are the type of voices that lure you in. And Jom has got a sweet set of pipes going for him as he reels us in as he sings the first few bars of the song: ‘Nakuha sa isang sulyap mo na ‘di malimutan ng aking mata / ikaw ba’y anghel na biglang dumating / nanghinayang Nawala sa paningin.’ Much like the thematic stylings of his main group ALLMO$T, this song is just pure girl adoration. And just like that he’s got us listening, hook, line and sinker.