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Darwin Karl Valerio (Karl Doe) - guitars

 Gwen Joseph de Guia (Gwen) – bass

Selene Kerstin D. Jadloc (Twee) – drums

Robby Jane O. Robledo (Ohbie)– vox/guitars

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The birth of your group?

October 31 in Sqweed City

 

When did you know you are inclined to music?

Gwen: I wanted to be a vocalist when I was in grade school. I was 8 or 9. Figured that I was better off not singing lol.

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Karl: When I was really young. My father always ask me to sing on the table top.

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Twee: I came from a huge family of musicians. Ang kinaibahan lang is, majority sa kanila hindi

nagpperform sa public. Bahay lang.. or family gatherings.

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Ohbie: Grade school? I' I’m from a family of musicians.

 

When did you start playing?  Which instruments do you play? What was the first tune(s) you learned?

Karl: When I was in 6th grade, my classmate brought a guitar in school. I didn’t attend my classes all day to learn 3 chords(for the song “tag-ulan”). In the end of the day, I was able to play the whole song and that’s when I knew that I have to be in a band.

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Twee: I was a part of the Ukulele Club nung elementary. It was my first instrument then I started

playing drums when I was in Middle School.

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Gwen: Started playing the guitar when I was 10, nothing serious, Strum strum lang puro intro lang alam. Una kong nabuo was Magasin ng Eheads tapos Black ng Pearl Jam

 

Ohbie:  Last year, I started playing guitar. First song I played was our composition.

 

Describe your first instrument. Other instruments.
Karl: It was an old classical guitar that my uncle gave me. It has really high action that made it hard to play. But hardship can always be trumped by passion. If you really like what you’re doing, there’s no such thing as “hard”.

 

Gwen: Forgot to mention that I played Lyre tapos sabi ko too girly nag switch ako sa snare drum ng Lyre and Drum band. Played for a year then nag gitara na ko, 1st gitara ko na sarili ko eh nung 1st year high school na ko, lumanog na acoustic. After nun nahiligan ko mag bass and fell in love with it.

 

Twee: I studied Piano after I left the club. Yes, I can still read notes.. yey.

Ohbie: It's so great that I think I'll just ruin it. Lol. I've always wanted to play the piano; it's majestic. I can only play basics, though.

 

Who helped you achieve learning your instrument of interest or who is your vocal coach? Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?

Karl: I’m self-taught at first. “Pick it up and figure out how” is my motto.  When I was in college, I went to musical theory classes, just to have a deeper understanding how music works.

 

Twee: Tita Salud Laraga, my Mom’s Godmother. She was one of the best pianists in Town.

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Gwen: Wala ako formal education sa music. Songhits lang saka mga kaibigan, palitan ng ideas, nung medyo umabante teknolohiya nag download ako ng mga tutorials para dagdag kaalaman.

 

Ohbie: My band mates taught me how to play a guitar. I currently don't have a vocal coach. My first teacher was my father. He sings but not publicly.

 

Is your family musical?

Karl: They like to sing mostly, but none of them are music majors.

 

Twee: Uu

 

Gwen: Lahat ng kapatid ko may tutor ng music tuwing summer. Ako lang wala, baka ampon lang ako?

 

Ohbie: Yes.

 

Describe your family member's musical interests and abilities.

Karl: My father knows a few chords and he sings too. Other than him, all of my relatives just like to sing in videoke machines.

 

Gwen: Lahat sila tinamad ako lang nag tuloy tuloy hanggang ngayon.

 

Twee: Diverse. We all listen to a lot of genre. Everyone in the family plays the piano and can sing.

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Ohbie: Almost everyone is blessed with a good voice. My father and his siblings play guitar– all of them. His younger brother, kuya Ron, plays the keyboard as well. My grandfather also play different kinds of instruments e.g. guitars, drums, piano, etc. He was also in a band and performed in other countries.

 

Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

Karl: Dave Grohl(Nirvana/Foo Fighters) – It’s how he makes and perform his songs. There’s no one like him.

 

Twee: Eyal Amir – brain switch please, thanks

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Gwen: Ang dami eh, mga unang pumasok na lang sa isip ko na talagang importante para sa akin, Pearl Jam, Skychurch, Mxpx, At the drive in, Less than jake,NOFX, Tool, Blink 182, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Flea.

 

Ohbie: First ever is Karen Carpenters ‘cause I really really love her voice. Her voice takes me somewhere peaceful and calm. My dad has a cassette tape of her songs.

 

Which famous musicians have you learned from?
Karl: Dave Grohl(For his song arrangements) , Billy Corgan(learned a lot for how he writes his songs), Joe Satriani(from his guitar videos)

 

Gwen: Ginoogle ko yung exact quote pero di nawawala sa isip ko yung thought ng sinabi ni Flea na ito.

 "Music gave me something that was not only good for me - it gave me something to work on, something to  be proud of and something that I really loved and have a love for - but also music was good for other  people because you put joy into the world."

 

Twee: There’s just too many of them 

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Ohbie: A lot and from different genres, too. Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, M2M, P!nk, Christina Aguillera, Regine Velasquez, Jaya, and rock bands as well.

 

What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?

Karl: In my previous bandmate’s house, When we made our first composition.

 

Twee: With family.. during brownouts (in province) coz this is where the magic of music happens.

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Gwen: Tumugtog kami sa Bulacan State University nag balibagan ng Cali in can yung mga tao, ang saya nun, ang daming tao, meron pa isa, sa Laguna sobrang lasing ko kasi, yun na yata pinaka lasing na inabot ko sa buhay ko. Naibagsak ko bass ko nun sa kalasingan. Natatandaan din ng mga kabanda ko yun haha!

 

Ohbie: Back when I was doing mall shows in Laguna. I love the rollercoaster feeling.

 

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Karl: Yes, I grew up with The Beatles, John Denver, Cat Stevens and Kenny Rogers. My Dad used to play them all the time.

 

Gwen: At the drive in yung Relationship of Command na album- Pearl Jam yun Ten na album- Primus - Suicide  Machines: Destruction by Definition album - Nirvana yung In Utero. Ang hirap mag isip pag tinatype   pero madami talaga  akong paborito.

 

Twee: I have tons of them until Typhoon Haiyan destroyed every piece.. booo!

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Ohbie: Bon Jovi tapes! And Selena. My mom loves her.

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Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD's?

Karl: Joe Satriani, Guthrie Govan, Muse, Deftones, Greenday, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Paul Gilbert, Michael Jackson, Jeff Buckley, Nirvana and Pearl Jam to mention a few.

 

Twee: I grew up listening to Take 6, Basia, Michael Jackson, Sergio Mendes and lot.. and yes my dad

has their cds/cassette tapes.

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Gwen: Sobrang dami talaga nila. Karamihan mga Grunge musicians saka punk rockers.

 

Ohbie: Lydia, Breaking Benjamin, The Script, Dishwalla, Three Days Grace, Linkin Park, (Pierce The Veil, no judgements lol), and there's actually a whole lot more.

 

 

What was you first original composition? What was it all about, lyrical message/content?

Karl: I was in a metal band back then. It was about how angry we are at the time.

 

Twee: Love letter lang kaya kong isulat ♥

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Gwen: Meron akong sinulat na kanta ang title ay "Sulusot" Tungkol to sa mga tropa kong marurupok na gustong  mag sulutan.

 

Ohbie: When I was in Grade 6, I made the song “I’ll Be There”. It's actually about me, comforting myself since I don't want to seem weak. My dad died and I have this bad habit of suppressing my feelings. My mom got into depression and she kind of neglected us; however, I don't blame her for everything. We're humans. We come to a point where everything seems falling apart, it's shaky, it's rough, and all you want to do is end it.

 

Have you been in competitions? Himig handog? Philpop? Or any other?  Any prizes?

Karl: In Sqweed? No.

 

Twee: Battle of the Bands sa probinsya haha. Muziklaban 2006 Regional Finalist and Nescafe

Soundskool 2008 Finalist.  

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Gwen: Wala pa ko nasalihan kahit anong competition na pang musika.

 

Ohbie: I only joined twice. One's mandatory (school competition) and the other one's impromptu (barangay singing contest). I won 6th and 1st, chronologically.

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Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV guestings?

Karl: Bar Gigs mostly

 

Twee: Yes, yung banda ko na Sqweed active almost every weekend my gig, mostly sa south mga ibat ibang prod.

 

Gwen: Masaya lahat. Memorable.

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Ohbie: Well, yes. We have a production back then, it's VNE, and we do mall shows. I also did a guesting in RJ TV with the productions, of course. Now, in a band, playing our hearts out in different bars and different productions.

 

How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

Twee: “The show must go on!” sabay ngiti ng wagas

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Karl: I’m used to it.

 

Gwen: I always smile twing nag kakamali ako. Di ko alam kung bakit.

 

Ohbie: On my earlier days, usually, I stood frozen and all I wanna do is to run away so I turn my back instead or I cringe. As I get the hang of it, I ignore it during performance and still try to give my best, then I contemplate after, evaluating my life's decisions. Lol. Honestly, I scold myself then I try to comfort me, then all of my mistakes will haunt me. Forever.

               

Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?

Karl: No

 

Gwen: Dati oo, pero di ko na matandaan huling beses na kinabahan ako tumugtog.

 

Twee: Pag wala akong kilala sa crowd.. parang LBM ung feeling.

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Ohbie: I always do!

 

What’s your other job or music job you are offering?

Karl: I work at a Call Center

 

Twee: Callgirl ako sa gabi.. sa Telus #happyhere

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Gwen: Freelance work na homebased.

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What advice would you give to beginners or to those who wish to follow you music goals? To fellow indie artists?

Karl: Don’t give up on your dreams. Practice! Practice! Practice!

 

Twee: Eto lagi ko sinasabi “whether it’s just you and your dog who likes it, do not stop. Do not stop creating music!”

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Gwen: Mahalin nyo ginagawa nyo. Mahalin nyo mga kasama nyo sa scene. Maging humble kahit saan ka makarating.

 

Ohbie: Keep following your dreams and never give up. Sometimes, you'll get to a point where it will suck big time and you feel like quitting– No. If you really love music, you'll do it over and over and will keep doing it, with or without anyone watching.

 

How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends, children, job?
Karl: Family first, Music comes second and the others are treated all the same.

 

Gwen: Time management. Meron naman kaming group sa facebook tapos dinidiscuss namin dun kung kelan di pwede yung mga  miyembro sa gig or practice kaya di naman ganun kahirap.

 

Twee: Di ko nga mabalanse minsan e. Mahirap pero kinakaya naman. Di ko alam.. may magic e. Siguro, give and take na din kase yung iba samin may anak at pamilya (ay isa lang pala ung meron), so

pag may family gathering sila, wag muna gig. Pag may date ung single, pass muna. Pag yung isa may pasok, login muna sa ofis tapos habol tas balik ofis after tugtog. Pag kunyari mag tanan ung isa, wait muna makabalik tapos gig ulet. Ang point ko lang, walang tatagal na grupo talaga pag walang pasensya. Pasensya sa lahat ng aspeto. Pak ganern!

 

Ohbie: Hmm. I suck at time management but for the love of music, I try to blend other things with music. We could spend family time on a gig, or influence my friends. A job is lot tougher, though. But think of it as o e thing that comes hand in hand. Without a job, you won't get paid. How can I go to a studio or buy instruments if I got no money? And how can I get through my job without music who always got my back when shit happens? See?