Nagbabalik sa concert scene ang '90s OPM band na Freestyle.
Nakilala ang Freestyle sa hit songs nila na "Before I Let You Go," "So Slow," "This Time," at "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?"
Pinamagatang It's About Time, gaganapin ang concert ng Freestyle sa Newport Performing Arts Theater ngayong Biyernes, September 19, 2025.
Ang current members ng grupo ay sina Top Suzara, IJ Garcia, Buoy Manalo, Gibson Viduya, at Ian Tan.
Read: Rufa Mae Quinto denies foul play in husband Trevor's death
TOP SUZARA ON FREESTYLE
Si Top ang frontman at main songwriter ng Freestyle mula nang mabuo ang banda noong 1996.
Pero may labing-pitong taon din siyang nawala sa grupo at nagpatuloy sa OPM scene bilang solo singer.
Hanggang sa nagbalik si Top sa grupo nang makuha niya ang karapatang gamitin ang trademark o pangalang Freestyle noong 2022.
"I left Freestyle in 2005, and I’m back as their frontman once again for three years now," lahad ng singer-songwriter.
Naakapanayam siya ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at ilang entertainment reporters kamakailan.
Kuwento ni Top, hindi niya inasahang magbabalik pa siya sa Freestyle.
"Hindi ko naisip. Gulat na gulat nga ako noong napunta sa akin [yung copyright ng Freestyle].
"Kaya nga the thought process, since it’s now with me, in my hands again, there must be a reason.
"Kaya sabi ko, 'Sige, I’ll pick up where I left off, like writing original songs."
Read: Gerald Anderson-Julia Barretto breakup confirmed
freestyle's NEW SONGS
Ayon pa kay Top, may fresh take sila sa brand of music ng Freestyle ngayong tatlong dekada na sila sa music scene.
"Ako na yung sasagot, kasi ako yung nandun sa luma," natawang sabi ni Top nang tanungin sa kaibahan ng concert nila ngayon sa concert nila noon.
"I think, ang concert namin before, we had our songs from that time; but this time, we have these new songs to share."
Maglalabas daw sila ng anim na original songs, kasama na ang bago nilang single na "Surrender You."
Pagpapatuloy niya: "I will say, our sound is different. So yung solid presence sa stage, it feels different. Yung energy and vibe sa stage, it’s different from the vibe and energy before.
"It’s just different kasi siyempre, different people. Ako lang ang mas familiar.
"And a lot of people will be catching us for the first time, and it’s also nice to see them."
Ang It’s About Time ay iprinodyus ng Full House Theater Company at NY Entourage Productions. Isa sa kumpirmadong guest ay ang '90s OPM band na Neocolours.
Read: Digital copies of birth, marriage, death certificates
why freestyle is still relevant
Nagsimula ang Freestyle noong 1996 sa Davao.
Wala pa noong social media, pero nagawa nilang mag-crossover at makilala nang husto sa mainstream OPM scene.
Balik-tanaw ni Top: "When we started, I think si IJ, he’s still in school. He was a fan.
"In fact, I met IJ during a mall show. Ipinakita niya sa akin kung tama ang pagkasulat niya ng 'So Slow,' tama naman.
"He was still in school, nag-cutting classes pa yata," natawang balik-tanaw ni Top.
Ano ang sikreto ng grupo para manatiling relevant sa music scene?
“If there is one, I really don’t know what it is," sagot ni Top.
"The universe can be very funny sometimes.
"But I guess if I did have to answer, whether it applies to to Freestyle or not, it’s the commitment to making music, and sharing the music you create together."
NOT PRESSURED BY OTHER BANDS
Sa dami ng mga banda ngayon, may pressure pa ba sa kanilang makipagsabayan?
Sagot ni Top: "I think the pressure is relative, it’s perspective base. From my vantage point, hindi ko masyadong iniisip kung ano ang nangyari sa kapaligiran namin, sa industriya.
"We also observed because we’re also fan of all these new bands. Nakaka-inspire nga, nakakatuwa."
Diin ni Top, mas nakapokus daw ang Freestyle sa performance nila bilang banda.
"Pero yung pressure, kasi we don’t do it to compete. We do what we do and that’s all we know how to do this. And we can never please everybody.
"We like other bands, but some people don’t. It’s a matter of taste and preference and everybody is entitled to their own preference.
"Basta we do what we can and the best we can do. And we hope that when we share it, it resonates with, at least, one person.
"If it does, with at least one person, it’s all worthwhile."