Ipinagkaloob kay Ely Buendia ang Dangal Ng Musikang Pilipino Award sa nakaraang 38th Awit Awards powered by Vibe dahil sa kontribusyon niya sa industriya ng Musikang Pilipino.
Nagpasikat ng kantang "Pare Ko," "Toyang," "With A Smile," at "Ligaya," binuo ang bandang Eraserheads ng UP students na sina Ely, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, at Raymund Marasigan nung 1989.
Lumabas ang kanilang debut commercial album na Ultraelectromagneticpop! nung 1993 na nagpasimula ng kanilang kasikatan.
March 2002 naman opisyal na nag-break up ang Eraserheads, na nagkaroon ng maikling reunion nung 2008.
December 22, 2022, nang huli silang nag-reunion para sa concert na Huling El Bimbo na ginanap sa SMDC Festival Grounds.
Dapat sana'y muli silang magkakasama para sa Eraserheads Electric Fun Music Festival nung October 2025, ngunit ipinagpaliban muna ito para sa first quarter ng 2026, "to make the experiece even more memorable" ayon sa ini-release na statement ng concert organizer nilang WEU.
helping out newbies
Sa presscon proper ng 38th Awit Awards na ginanap sa Meralco Theater nung nakaraang November 16, 2025, tinanong si Ely tungkol sa natamong karangalan at kung ano ang pakiramdam na hanggang ngayon ay relevant at nakakatatak pa rin ang naiambag niya at ng Eraserheads sa local music industry.
"First, very, very happy, very proud. Well, relevance is subjective, but I try to stay relevant by supporting the younger artists; that's why I formed a music label, Offshore Music.
"We try to give yung mga other artists na medyo hindi vibe na hindi nakakapasok sa industriya natin through the usual means. I just try to give back what I got from the music industry," tugon ni Ely.
Naisip ba niyang aabot sila sa estado nila ngayon sa local music industry?
"Well, probably not winning awards, but I did visualize, I've been dreaming of being a composer, being a performer, and reaching as many people as I can by my music," sagot ni Ely.
Ano ba sa tingin niya ang kanta ng Eraserheads na nagpabago ng buhay niya?
"I think it was 'Pare Ko' or 'Ligaya,' I'm not sure. The one that became a hit from the first album. That song definitely changed my whole life."
Ano naman ang aabangan pa mula sa kanya?
"Kalalabas pa lang ng solo album ko last year, actually first year anniversary ngayon lang, Method Adaptor."
Sa rami ng mga gustong makapasok at magtagumpay sa music industry, ano ba ang maibabahagi niyang payo sa mga ito?
"I guess number one would be to not take it too seriously, do not take your career so seriously. You tend to forget the big picture, and I'm saying this because I went through this whole stage, taking things for granted, what the universe has given to me, the fans have given to me.
"Just enjoy doing music, and try not to step on anyone's toes."