Ten years after and Sugarfree is showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, life as a rock n' roll band has turned out to be more gruelingly hectic for the trio of Ebe Dancel, Jal Taguibao and Kaka Quisumbing as mainstream success and expectations grew exponentially over time.
Band members are often branded as reckless, interested only in living a cliché lifestyle full of excess and hard partying. The truth is, like other working musicians trying to make ends meet, bands work themselves to the ground in order to survive.
The widow of the late rapper Francis Magalona once told this writer that musicians, regardless of one's stature in the industry, don't earn their keep through record sales and even through song royalties.
MORNINGS AND AIRPORTS. Since the release of the band's three previous studio albums Sa Wakas (2003), Dramachine (2004), and Tala-Arawan (2006), the three-piece unit known for writing melodic pop-rock tunes has grown accustomed (and occasionally disillusioned) with life as a touring band.
Despite the platinum status of the band's albums as boosted by numerous hit singles ("Mariposa," "Telepono," "Burnout," "Sinta" "Hari ng Sablay," "Prom," "Tulog Na," "Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin") doing live gigs in and outside Metro Manila have always been Sugarfree's bread and butter.
Manager Karin Araneta painted the band's working routine vividly, saying, "The band has found itself performing as far as Aparri in Northern Luzon and Saranggani in Southern Mindanao, stealing catnaps in nearly every airport around the country en route to their next destination. It has become almost customary for Ebe Dancel, Jal Taguibao, and Kaka Quisumbing to spend weekends, holidays, and special occasions away from home."
Reflecting on the band's decade long lifestyle as a travelling act, chief songwriter and vocalist Ebe—during the time Sugarfree was toiling at the studio to record a new album—suddenly saw it fit to highlight this side of the band's existence.
The result is Mornings and Airports, Sugarfree's
fourth full-length album under PolyEast Records (formerly EMI Music).
HAY BUHAY. The album's title turned out to be indicative as well of Sugarfree's departure from old tradition. It also represents the band's new direction, signaling a new phase and a new chapter in the band's history.
For one, Mornings and Airports consists of songs penned both in English and Filipino. For a band known for writing great songs dominantly in the native language, the move was both brave and risky.
The record was a total team effort as bassist Jal and drummer Kaka took part in the songwriting process, with the materials arranged and recorded the same way these songs will be performed live.
Incorporating slight changes here and there, however, doesn't mean ditching Sugarfree's distinct signature melodic pop hooks, as assured by Ebe in a recent interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
Ex-Eraserheads bassist Buddy Zabala teamed up with Romel "Sancho" Sanchez in producing the album. Buddy, incidentally, co-produced the band's second and best-selling album to date Dramachine along with former E-heads comrade Raimund Marasigan.
Sugarfree also invited guest musicians Chino David and Anjo Inacay of Silent Sanctuary (strings) and Richie Gonzaga of Corporate Lo Fi (trumpet) to complement some of the numbers.
The first single is "Hay Buhay," a song which "represents the joys and pains of this band for the past ten years," said Ebe.
Mornings and Airports is now available at record bars nationwide courtesy of PolyEast Records. The album launch will be held on August 19 at SaGuijo in Makati City.
Sugarfree will also celebrate
its tenth year in the business with a special two-day concert (August 28 and 29)
titled Dekada at the Music Museum in
Greenhills, San Juan.
Ticket prices are at P900
(Orchestra Center), P700 (Orchestra Side), and P500 (Balcony) and are available
at the Music Museum (721-6726) and all TicketWorld (891-9999) outlets.
