Ebe Dancel and Autotelic mash up for Pinoy collaboration at Coke Studio
Nothing defines OPM more than the sweet melodic flow of the Filipino language to evoke a multitude of emotions. Artists like Ebe Dancel and Autotelic use the local language in most of their compositions, though in different genres. But at Coke Studio, this collaboration breathes fresh life into the local music industry by fusing the soulful song writing of Ebe with the upbeat storytelling of Autotelic.
“There can never be enough Tagalog songs,” Ebe Dancel shares. He spoke of the innate rhythmic quality to the Filipino language and continued by saying that it was a plus that Autotelic used the same medium in their music.
Band members of Autotelic admitted that they were initially pressured about the pairing because of their admiration for their collaborator and his mastery of the mother tongue. “He could be like the Balagtas for millennials,” adds Josh Villena, vocalist and guitarist of Autotelic.
Finding inspiration is as easy as sitting calmly on a field and reflecting according to Ebe. “I wouldn’t say that I am consciously or deliberately doing anything other than observing life,” Dancel adds. In the case of Autotelic, the process is anything but calm and just as effective. “It’s an explosion of ideas, a good mess,” said Kai Honasan, the band’s vocalist and keyboardist.
Despite these differences in song writing approach, the pairing complemented each other. “When we first got to the studio, they were going, ‘Let’s do this! Let’s do this!’ Sometimes, when you’ve been at it for a long time, you let things like worrying about getting away from traffic and all that fill your mind. It’s good to get new energy,” quips Ebe.
“I like that when we ask them for one idea, they’ll give you back three,” says Raymund Marasigan, Coke Studio host.
The result of the collaborative effort is the song Bahagi, which both Ebe and Josh describe as a song of hope. Bahagi plays with the word’s dual meanings as “a fragment” as well as “something to be shared.” The blending of the pairing’s unique sounds and styles is bound to give listeners a treat. To hear Ebe Dancel and Autotelic’s
Bahagi and other fresh and exciting collaborations, tune in to Coke Studio every Saturday at 7 p.m. on TV5 or on www.youtube.com/CokeStudio.