A band who's no stranger
An up-and-coming indie-pop band discovered by OPM icon Rico Blanco comes up with their second album Screenburn. Famously known for their song Moving Closer, Never The Strangers’ latest album explores different genres as it exhibits the band’s evolving sound.
Original members Ace Libre (vocals, guitars and synths) and JP del Mundo (lead guitar) introduced their new bassist Gab Palanca and drummer Nash Ignacio through the album. Composed of 12 songs,
Screenburn touches on young love, the city, strangers and goodbyes.
Luck plays its part
Ace, who wrote the songs, shared that creating the final cut of their tracks is a collaborative effort. When he brings the songs to the recording studio, as the band starts composing music, the songs almost always come out differently; better than expected. He said luck plays a big part in their work.
“I guess you can hear our influences there [in the album]. If there was an orientation to point out, it’s really pop songwriting, sometimes alternative. Really, it’s that region of it. I really try to come up with songs that slide off the tongue and easy to recall
na may substance din,” Ace opened.
“I draw from different things like okay I like the sound of this band, I’ll incorporate this and that. My imagination will cook up some kind of story tapos
naisip ko okay maybe we can try to connect all the elements in to one coherent song,” he went on.
Eclectic and collaborative
Never The Stranger sounds different in this album, compared to their popalternative origin. Hinting a bit of the 80s sound, with a lot of synths but also straightforward instrumentals, the band said they’ve grown accustomed playing different genres.
The layers of that compose the songs came from different musical influences and orientations. Though emerging from different musical backgrounds, the band’s chemistry in the studio and the stage is undeniable.
JP said he plays almost any type of genre from pop rock, contemporary, indie and synthdriven music. Some of his influences are Coldplay, The Killers and Muse. “Basically anything but country,” he joked.
“Marami akong influences because I also have other bands.
Pero mas OPMoriented ako and a bit of instrumentals. The good thing about that, nadadala ko yun
lahat sa Never The Strangers. ‘ Di ako bitin, creativity wise; eclectic, very diverse influence,” Gab said.
“Wala akong specific, kung magustohan ko, edi magustuhan ko siya. Pinaka- genre na ginagawa ko nung nag- start ako, more on funk, hip-hop and church. Kahit ano, kung ano ‘ yung kailangan,” Nash mentioned.
Gushingly, when asked who they were currently listening to, the members admitted they listen to Carly Rae Jepsen and The 1975 because those are the only two albums that Ace plays in his car.
“Kahit na kotse ko gagamitin, dadalhin ni Ace yung CDs niya na ‘yun,” Nash teased.
Evolving, learning
Comp a re d to their first album, Ace said that storytelling in Screenburn is more “concrete”.
“In a form of fiction. That’s sort of the main difference between the first and the second album; mas concrete
yung storytelling sa second album. I was really heavy on
poetic language in the first one. Pero this one’s different, it’s palpable, there’s a plot,” Ace said. “I sort of draw from experiences from past relationships. Kahit hindi ‘ yun ‘ yung kinekwneto ko, kahit hindi ‘yun ‘yung subject ng songs, the emotions that affected and moved me, those really are the driving forces. Medyo nacha- channel ko siya when I write,” he continued. “Yung album na to, compared to the first one, mas may kwento na siya. Even ‘ yung elements
na dinagdag nila JP nung nag-rerecord kami, if you play it seamlessly, the last chords fit each other,” Gab shared.
When asked who was their mentor in the OPM industry, they say it’s obviously the big man who discovered them, Rico Blanco. He would still give them advice and touch a bit on their songs. He even sang backing vocals on Tiwala and Meant To Be.
“At the start, Rico Blanco was the one guiding us. He would brief us on how things work with management, labels, etc. To this day, especially on my end, since he produces our albums, dumadaan din sa kanya
yung songs. He gives me advice, not really creative input; he guides me in a certain direction that would be beneficial for the band, artistically speaking,” Ace disclosed.
Urge to create
The top three songs the members liked most in their latest album are Sabay, The Light and Meant To Be. “I like them kasi they kinda represent yung bagong direction namin, sound-wise. Second is, yung mga problema ko sa buhay. Kasi The Light, when I wrote that, the aim was to write about my ‘ existential boredom’. Parang naka- upo lang ako sa
computer buong araw tapos wala
akong ginagawa, I wanna get out there,” Ace shared.
“Sabay and Meant To Be are somewhat kinda loosely-based on past relationships. I was able to draw from that and write something that people can relate to. And parang na achieve din ng NTS in terms of sound, instrumentation and arrangement,” he added.
Added joy
“When we were just starting, whenever we heard Moving
Closer almost everyday at the same time on the radio, it was overwhelming,” Ace began.
“It feels good when people pick it up for a show. I feel happy because we sacrificed a lot for our music, we passed off opportunities to pursue this band. Nash quit his day job for this. Marami na rin kaming
pinagdaanan,” he continued. From a college band to a breakthrough act and two albums later, four people and their passion for music keeps the band going. More people are no longer strangers to their music.
“F rom a listener ’s perspective, feeling ko NTS is seen as a band for mainstream
pero friendly rin sa indie scene. Very serious yung look pero accessible. You see them in big gigs pero kaya rin mag-underground,” Gab said, who was the latest member to join the band.
Never The Strangers often plays at gig bars Route 196 in Katipunan, Saguio and 12 Monkeys in Makati, and 70s Bistro in Anonas. They also perform in various mall shows, campus tours and as front acts in concerts. “Without music, parang less than people na kami nun,” Ace concluded.
Screenburn is available in leading record stores, iTunes, Spinner and also in vinyl. Follow Never The Strangers on Facebook www.facebook.com/ never the strangers and Twitter and Instagram @ntstrangers for their latest gig schedule.