Washington D.C.-based rock band The Speaks is currently in the Philippines to promote their new album, This is the Time, under MCA Music.
Three members of this five-man
band are of Filipino heritage. Vocalist Rafael Toledo, bassist Jerry
Delino, and guitarist Archie Dela Cruz have Filipino parents. Other
members of the band include drummer Derek Lee and guitarist Cal Stamp.
Now, armed with new hits such as "Regret" and "Tomorrow," The
Speaks will perform at SM Supermalls until April 4.
The Speaks shot to fame in
the Philippines with their song "High." The song has a catchy beat and lyrics that go: "Time won't flow, everyone knows / When the pain fades away / And dreams won't die, with tears in our eyes /
You've got to hold your head up high..."
Why do they think the song
captured the interest of the Filipino people?
"When we first came here
back in '05, the single that really took off was a song by the name
of 'High,' I think, because the message of it is so universal," says Toledo. "It's
about overcoming struggle, overcoming adversity, overcoming anything
bad. We, as Filipinos, can relate to that, because we go through that
everyday."
"The funny thing is, that song is originally
a love song. But when it was presented to be by Jerry, who wrote it,
I saw it as more than that. I saw it as an opportunity to spread a message
of [being positive]."
Although mainly based in America,
the band admits being Filipino plays a huge part in their music.
"When I do the song writing,
I think being Filipino in America does kinda show through because often
times it comes out angry, because being in America as a Filipino is
kinda hard because you're a minority. When I'm in America, I feel
like a stranger. But on the other hand, when I come here I feel like
a stranger because I live there. It kinda comes out it my song writing,"
Delino points out.
Toledo adds that having to
overcome the adversity of being different in America—especially in
an industry where race and appearance are given premium—gave much
of their songs depth.
"It's all life lessons
in all of the songs... A lot of the songs, they come from the heart.
They are who we are. They are who we live as people," he says.
True to form, two of their
new songs, "Regret" and "Tomorrow" convey the same positive
message as "High."
Toledo says fans should expect
their performance to be different from the last time they toured the
country back in 2005. He also promises to bust out a couple of Filipino
songs for the tour.
Catch The Speaks at SM City Cebu in April 3 at 6 pm,
SM City Davao in April 4 at 6 pm, and SM Mall of Asia in April 5 at 5 pm.
