Lola Amour recounts their most memorable fan encounter
Known for their hits “Pwede Ba,” “Fallen,” and “Raining in Manila,” Lola Amour has emerged as one of this generation’s most popular and established bands in the Philippines.
From their initial celebration of a million streams to amassing 4,444,329 monthly listeners on Spotify, the Filipino ensemble candidly admits that their journey began with a simple desire for fun.
Composed of Pio Dumayas, Angelo Mesina, Zoe Gonzales, Raymond King, David Yuhico, Manu Dumayas, Jeff Abueg, and Raffy Perez, six current members alongside a former Lola Amour bandmate recently engaged in a quick chat with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
This exclusive interview was conducted during the Wanderland Music & Arts Festival at Filinvest City Events Grounds in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on March 9, 2024.
how it started and how it's going
Kicking off the conversation, Pio Dumayas, the vocalist, reminisced, “Actually, sumali kami ng Wanderband in 2016 but we initially wanted to join back in 2015, pero… when we, parang, we talked about it.
“And then when we revisited the idea, ‘Ay, tapos na yung deadline!’ So we missed it, we missed it.
“So we prepared, I think, we prepared a little earlier the following year.”
He continued, “During the contest, we performed our first original ‘No Tomorrow’ and along with a cover of a song called ‘No Diggity,’ and then we mashed it up pa with… ‘Get Up and Drag Your Funky Soul,’ so yeah, those were the songs that we performed.
“And then, yung mga opportunities na lumabas after nun... we were put on the radar.”
Reflecting on their humble beginnings, Pio added with a chuckle, “Initially, we just wanted to do it for fun kasi ano, e... Garage band lang kami dati, so like in a legit garage.
“So, after that, when we won, we didn’t really think far after—wala kaming foresight, so wala kaming plans after that, so nagulat na lang kami, ‘Hala we’re a real band.’”
Interrupting proudly, Zoe declared, “We’re a band now.”
Picking up, Pio shared, “‘May inquiries na tayo, anong gagawin natin? Mag-a-accept ba tayo?’
“Pero ever since then, we just kept accepting and seeing where we could go as a band, musically, and, you know, like on the internet also—mga ganun.
“And we never… stop, until dumating kami sa point ng, I guess, ng ‘Raining in Manila’ or ‘Fallen’ or this.”
Discussing their creations after Wanderband in 2016 and Wanderland in 2017, Pio elaborated, “After we won Wanderband, we wrote ‘Maybe Maybe’ and ‘Fools.’
“And then after Wanderland na namin sinulat yung ‘Pwede Ba,’ so we didn’t get to play it in Wanderland before.”
Fortunately, Lola Amour finally debuted “Pwede Ba” during their recent performance at the Wanderland Music & Arts Festival.
They also delighted fans with a mix of their tracks, including “dahan-dahan,” “Maybe Maybe,” an unreleased song titled “Umiinit,” a newly-released song called “Namimiss Ko Na,” “Fallen,” and “Raining in Manila,” providing a lively evening for attendees.
When asked about declining offers, the group unanimously cited scheduling constraints.
Pio explained, “As much as we want to be able to perform for every gig that we can, kasi di ba we wanna reach everyone, it’s just not possible.
“You know, some of us have day jobs, some of us, you know, parang we have to work, yeah we have to write, we have to shoot stuff rin di ba, our music video, mga ganun.”
David expounded, “It’s really just schedule, and then may poll sa group chat, and you just say, 'Am I, are you free? Yes, yes, no, yes?”
LOLA AMOUR: THE STORY BEHIND “NAMIMISS KO NA”
The release of Lola Amour’s latest song “Namimiss Ko Na” on March 13, 2024, has only heightened anticipation surrounding the band.
Inquiring about the song’s impactful line, PEP.ph received a prompt reply from Pio, remarking, “For me, just because it’s catchy and, I think, it has the most impact also… yung ano, yung line na, ‘Pwede pa bang magtanong, hindi mo ba ‘ko kilala?’
“I think, that just sums up the whole experience, like the whole struggle also, di ba, yun lang naman, imagine saying that to someone who raised… your dad, raised you also to some extent, mga ganun.”
Explaining the song’s inspiration, Pio disclosed, “The song isn’t about missing like, an ex-lover or anything like that.
“It’s actually about Raymond’s struggle with his lola’s dementia before she passed away two years ago, so yun yung ano niya, dun… nanggagaling yung sinabi ko.”
On March 17, 2024, Lola Amour announced their album launch, scheduled for April 13, 2024 at Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City, and on April 27, 2024 at Draft Punk in Cebu City.
Early Bird VIP Tickets for the Makati City leg are already sold out as of March 19, 2024
LOLA AMOUR: MEMORABLE FAN ENCOUNTER
Given their growing popularity, Lola Amour shared a heartwarming encounter with a dedicated fan.
Recollecting the incident, Zoe narrated, “We had a fan before, now, sorry.
“She was supposed to fly to her province, like prior the day, but she found out we had a gig in BGC, I think so.
“So she had to… she didn’t have to, but she rebooked her flight, so that she can catch our set.”
Pio chimed in, “That wasn’t her first time watching.”
David revealed, “She’s watching today.”
Pio boasted, “She also watched Coldplay.”
Zoe then continued, “That was pretty heartwarming cause, I don’t know, like it’s pretty wild.”
The connection between Lola Amour and their fans remain strong, exemplified by supporters like Issa, who consistently make special efforts to attend their gigs.
David expressed his enthusiasm to PEP.ph, stating, “She seems to find us in the ano, like not find us, like in our gigs like wherever we are, Issa’s always there.
“I don’t know how but like, ‘nice.’”
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