TSOG ups ante with EP launch
Words of advice on how to go on with life through positive, uplifting and energetic music – this perhaps may be the reason why Davao City-based pop punk band The Sound of Go ( TSOG) brought the house down during its EP launch at Sales Tekanplor last October 11.
Launching nching its second second EP entitled Traffic Lights annd and Fist Fights, TSOG put ut up an awesome show leaving the crowd banging their heads and singing along with them. Theyhey opened the night up with Honeymoon Phases followed by Close to Perfection, I Hate to Say I Told Me So, Attempt, Chances Are and Fall a Little More. They were supposed to cap off their performance with their second EP’s first single You Should Get Over It yet the crowd begged for more thus, they made an encore performance with Sycore Sonnet.
TSOG frontman IJ Arcena told Sun.star Davao in an interview that at it has beenn been a fulfilling experience to have launched their second EP. He said it has been fun n working with long-time buddy and TSOG bassist and backup vocalist Paolo Bondoc in the songwriting while coordinating with guitarists Paul James Butal and Doms Contrata and drummer Ikuy de Leon in the song arrangement.
“Nasulat na namo ang mga kanta peroero it took us around six months para ma-produce ang among EP. Katong first EP namo, wala namomo na-launch ug tarong pero karonron tungod kay daghan ug sponsorssors ug friends nga nitabang parara ma-process ang among bagong album bantog pasalamat pud mi sa ila,” Arcena said.
But Arcena admitted that it has been quite a tedious adjustment recently for him saying that he has to travel back and forth from Cagayan de Oro to Davao City for the gigs and recording sessions. He said he had to reside in Cagayan de Oro City for his job and girlfriend thus, at times, he may miss some gigs. This, however, did not hinder him from completing the EP and he said that TSOG still has a lot more work to do as they are driven to improve their music.
Bondoc, in a separate interview, broke down the flavor of music that TSOG has to bring saying that their music would fall under pop-punk’s subgenre easycore. He also said that their sound, while not delving too much on the technicalities, invokes a happy and uplifting mood through upbeat rhythms and positive notes.
Discussing on the themes and topics of their songs, Bondoc said: “Our lyrics usually talk about personal experiences, particularly love, difficulties, regrets and goals. But we incorporate lyrics
Our lyrics usually talk about personal experiences, particularly love, difficulties, regrets and goals. But we incorporate lyrics that would suggest how people could go on with their lives.
that would suggest how people could go on with their lives.”
Contrata, on the other hand, said it has been a surreal experience to be part of TSOG claiming that he started as a fan boy back when he was in college yet he didn’t imagine himself replacing one of the former members of the band. He also said that with the opportunity given to him, he is giving his full commitment to TSOG as he strives to contribute to the improvement of the band.
Butal and de Leon, meanwhile, reechoed the same commitment as they too would like to i mprove th e mselves personally which in turn could help in the maturity of TSOG’s music.
Band manager GP Paqueo, in an interview, said: “I would honestly say that The Sound of Go has actually produced one of the best music in Davao. People relate to The Sound of Go’s music and it is really rare for the people in the local music scene to be able to sing along to an underground band. It’s an achievement for the band to have such level of support when people come to see them play while they sing along.”
TSOG is just one of the many bands in the emerging local pop-punk scene and they too are encouraging other bands to showcase their skills and talents, or better yet, simply find an outlet for creativity. Want to really know what TSOG has to bring? You can check their EP on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thesoundofgo.