These Local Acts Share Their Own #FêteStories And The Legacy They'd Like To Leave As Musicians

It was another successful run as we witnessed the local music scene fire up throughout the weekends of June thanks to the world-celebrated Fête de la Musique! It was pure musical bliss—from the medley showcase of different artists all on one stage, to the mix of up-and-comers and icons together in a lineup scattered in their respective venues across the metro. The experience is one for the books, whether you’re new to the crowd or has been lining up since two or seven years ago.

 

READ: Here's Everything You Need To Know About Fête De La Musique 2019

 

All of us have their own #FêteStory to share. This year is no different. It’s moments along the streets, cruising the bustling city to get from one stage to another, getting there and jumping and singing our hearts out to the songs, that make us feel alive – for some, for most, and as with every Fête-goer.

But as memorable as it is for stage-hoppers, our performers also have a tale to tell. There are the big and small moments; the firsts and the nth times. Artists are present for a common goal – to bring their music out there and bind the community that continues to grow.  Or they’re on stage simply because it makes them happy.

This year, Metro.Style went around and gathered the stories of some of this year’s Fête de la Musique performers. What is their legacy as musicians? What are their fondest memories of Fête? We asked; they answered. Read on!

 

“It’s really the license to speak; the freedom of expression. We wanna reflect on the times, reflect on what’s happening with the society through our songs. We just want that reputation, I guess – legacy, if you wanna call it. When it’s time to say something, we do not cower in silence and say our piece.” – Pochoy Labog (Dicta License)

 

 

“Now that I’m really advocating live looping in the Philippines, I can see that we tend to underestimate how multi-talented we are. We’re a small community here but we’re trying to go worldwide with it. Kasi ang musicality ng Pilipino, masyadong malayo sa ibang kultura. With live looping that I’m doing right now, we’re helping the community get out there.” – Zsaris Mendioro

 

“My favorite Fête memory is probably this one [#GlobeFête production]. It’s my first time to do a production number with all the musicians that I grew up listening to and it’s such an amazing experience to do. I’m not gonna forget it for the rest of my life.” – Jensen Gomez (Memphiis)

 

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“Sana tigilan na ‘yung OPM is dead. Wala namang dead as long as buhay ‘yung creativity ng mga artist at musikero. ‘Yun lang naman ‘yung legacy namin, ‘cause we continue to emulate Filipino music and try to always do original songs.” – Cooky Chua

 

“That year I played with LUSTBASS, first time kong tumutog na DJ lang ang kasama, dalawa lang kami sa stage. Tapos last year, memorable din ‘yung Fête na kasama ko ‘yung millennial version ng Sinosikat? sa Blues Soul Funk Stage. Ang sarap no’n kasi people are really there to watch you and listen to your music.” – Kat Agarrado (Sinosikat?)

 

 

“Gusto ko lang mag-leave ng legacy na hindi mo kailangang maging henyo para mag-make ng music. Ako, alam ko namang hindi ako kasing talented ng iba, pero I’m as hardworking as the next guy. And I think ‘yung hardwork, ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong ipakita sa kabataan – na dapat magsumikap ka. Gusto kong ipakita na kayang idaan lahat sa sipag.” – Sud Ballecer (SUD)

 

 

“The very first one always is a big thing for me. I think it was early 2000s pa, it’s the El Pueblo Fête when it was just six stages. I was with my first hip-hop group called Miscellaneous. It was our very first Fête and we’re able to play with Gloc 9 and Sun Valley Crew – all these people we look up to. It was very, very wild for me. Like for us, parang, we’ve made it guys!” – Paolo Toledo (Assembly Generals)

 

“Favorite Fête memory? Sa ngayon, ito [#GlobeFête production]. Kasi fresh friends, ‘yung jamming, iba rin ‘yung konsepto. May challenge.” – Joey Ayala

 

“I think I’ll let the audience decide what to make of what I’ve been doing. Because what I do is for myself lang, e. How they take it all in, it’s up to them. But the legacy – keep trying. I’d like to be remembered as the guy who’s kept trying. When I write music, it’s always in the moment, and people are always looking for something sincere to hold on to, I guess. It’s a crazy world out there and they need something real. They need something tangible that they can sit beside with and listen to.” – Ebe Dancel

 

 

“I want the legacy of my music to inspire others to write music as well.” – Roberto Seña (She’s Only Sixteen)

“I would say, if anything's gonna last, hopefully it’s good music. I feel like our records could last. Hopefully, our kids’ kids will be like, ‘okay ‘to, ah.’ I wouldn't mind actually being, let’s say lang ha, hindi na kami active in 20 years. And then, kapag mga 60 years old kami, people would say, your record is cool. I’d be happy, like – nice, we lived it.” – Andrew Panopio (She’s Only Sixteen)

“Mine [favorite memory] would be just watching people lineup and be here for it. Kasi I would never imagine who would lineup to hear us. Some people in the scene, we kinda grew up with. To see na from then to now, people lineup, medyo absurd ‘yun for me. And it’s very heartwarming.” – Anjo Silvoza (She’s Only Sixteen)

 

“Always, the goal is to make music that’s as timeless as possible, make sure it reaches from generation to generation.” – King Puentespina (crwn)

 

 

“I guess the legacy is just to make music that makes you happy, something that satisfies you and you're proud of. And to not be afraid to share that with the world.” – Lily Gonzales (The Ransom Collective)

“Siguro, even beyond our gig, it’s the whole experience of just walking around Makati, going to different bars and experiencing the variety of the scene – the different genres that they throw at you. It’s such a good experience.” – Redd Claudio (The Ransom Collective)

“A memorable Fête for me was the one in Intramuros in 2017, because the venue is really nice. It’s so open and there’s a field so we were able to walk around. It was memorable ‘cause my parents got married there. So when they told me, it was surprising.” – Leah Halili (The Ransom Collective)

 

“‘Yung legacy, gusto ko, kahit hindi nila alam ‘yung mukha ko. Basta alam ng tao yung music ko.” – Miles Bondoc (MilesExperience)

 

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“Last year, Billie [Dela Paz, Bassist] tripped on the stage at the solo moment of our song Reflections. Sakto, dati gumugulong-gulong talaga ako sa floor every time. So nu’ng moment na ‘yun, nag-sync na lang kami, saving each other.” – Howard Luistro (Oh, Flamingo!)

“Ako, every Fête memory is a great memory. We’ve been doing this for quite a while na, and nakita ko ‘yung road, from just having a few stages, ngayon, meron nang stages na hindi nag-e-exist a few years ago. It’s very nice to see na the bands na makikita mo dati sa indie stage, tumutugtog na rin sa iba’t ibang stage. Ang saya.” – Pappu de Leon (Oh, Flamingo!)

 

“Just as long as I’m able to inspire other people to create music, and to be able to be a good example to the younger generation who want to become singers-songwriters, I guess that’s a good enough legacy for me.” – Josh Buizon (Over October)

 

"Favorite Fête memory? Siguro that one Fête in saGuijo. I was playing for Reese [Lansangan] at that time. And sobrang daming tao so they had to make a small pathway for us to get in and sobrang sauna. As in 'yun 'yung pinaka-sauna ever sa saGuijo that I have ever experienced. And of course, it was fun playing with friends." – April Hernandez (TheSunManager)

 

Photos by Yna Patriarca (Pochoy Labog, Kat Agarrado, Sud Ballecer, Ebe Dancel) and James Elijah Chu (She's Only Sixteen)