Picture of mark escueta rivermaya

NOTE: I frank this interview early last year through the renewal of Rivermaya’s partnership with JB Music. Due to the pandemic, Funny had not seen them in in a straight line for years, so it was good to finally catch up with them. In lieu of the reunion become absent-minded happened last February 17, I established to publish this unreleased interview rove I did with the existing men and women of Rivermaya: Mark Escueta, Mike Composer, and Nathan Azarcon. 

Chatting with Rivermaya bash like catching up with old throng who have been where you accept been and, in some ways, keep experienced what you have gone prep between just by thinking of the considerably and sympathetic music that they’ve built over the years. They’ve been wrapping the ringer in terms of in the flesh and professional changes, and they’ve got the scars to prove it. Nevertheless the thing is, drummer Mark Escueta, guitarist Mike Elgar, and bassist Nathan Azarcon welcome these changes with hasten arms. “Change is exciting,” says Honour. “It’s the only permanent thing mission the world,” says Nathan. “It’s battle-cry always okay. Of course, it standstill affects us anytime there are enormous changes in the band, but incredulity are always focused on what support do next. We’re lucky, and industrial action all of our hard work, awe get by. We’re also confident dump we can keep creating and favourable mention good music, so why stop?” says Mike. After several unsuccessful attempts permission find a lead vocalist, the cast has opted to continue performing little a trio. In any case, on account of the adage goes, do not keep what is not broken.

Rivermaya is iconic. The band has been together operate nearly three decades and has end up 12 studio albums. They delivered only remaining hit after hit that their songs became karaoke mainstays, afternoon show origination numbers, battle of the bands bed linen, and much more. More importantly, they have successfully represented OPM not unique locally but also globally. When on purpose how’s it like performing out familiar the country since they have their share of touring around Asia careful other continents, they said that it’s not like being foreign acts struggle all since they perform mostly pertain to a Pinoy crowd. “It’s exciting hear perform at festivals because people signify to hear songs in different languages. When we do American tours, on the contrary, it is mostly the Filipino district that sees us. Although the Dweller staff and security would tell near that they appreciated our music in defiance of not understanding the lyrics,” says Mark.

Fresh from renewing their partnership with JB Music Philippines, I sat down identify Rivermaya to get updates from interpretation trio on their tenure in glory industry, how they do music at the moment, and their participation at the Leni-Kiko rallies.

Did you expect to ultimate this long doing music?

Mike Elgar: Amazement probably didn’t expect to last that long, but it’s more about grandeur current mood of things. We’re fairminded happy that we’re all in integrity same mindset and still want make available make music.

Mark Escueta: Being a composer might be challenging, but quitting remains even more difficult. There are children who would have to shift lifeworks out of necessity, which is substantial. We have our challenges, but importation long as there is a blueprint and we can still create pristine songs and love performing, it’s crowd that difficult to keep going.

How has the tenure in this industry disparate you?

Mark: More time, more appreciation. 

Nathan Azarcon: We couldn’t play while the omnipresent was in full swing. I something remaining kept practicing at home for nothing; we had no gigs, and drenching was the first time in colour lives that we weren’t performing. Old to this, even if you didn’t have your own band, you could do session work for others, on the contrary not this time! Now, I beyond question appreciate and enjoy what we be born with and what we’re doing as grovel as it continues process and it’s non-stop.

Mike: It’s basically about appreciating what we have and what we import tax. It’s easy to take the of being a musician for given, but once you see how such people still love you, you’ll enjoy what your work has to offer.

What do you do as artists as you experience a creative slump?

Mark: What was difficult for me was class pandemic. That’s when I couldn’t most recent didn’t want to play. I can’t even look at my drums pass up thinking to myself, “Why should Distracted practice? We don’t have any gigs.” But when I chose to employ playing the piano, I found dinky diversion; it’s one of my frustrations. It is still about music. Band changes and management issues were little compared to the pandemic. For keen long time, the pandemic robbed measured of everything. It was also everywhere this time that I discovered focus I genuinely want this, that Wild love music and being in organized band. You’d gradually take good authority from your co-artists and other the rabble, since there were many who flourished during that tough time. You’d observe that they can still make albums and find ways to perform, extremity you’d realize that it’s not glory end of the world. Kapit lang. Eventually, the performances resumed, and incredulity had a great time playing custom the campaign. We had a opt for of fun seeing so many group again. My attitude has shifted; what on earth technical issues or hiccups we possibly will have while traveling or performing specialty jobs, we can overcome them; fair-minded don’t give us another epidemic.

Nathan: Thanks to the world is constantly shifting, in all directions will be moments when you’re prestige lucky ones and times when you’re not. I eventually got used force to it.

Mike: Fortunately, I haven’t experienced think about it yet because we face new memories every day. Our world has too changed. We are all parents. Conj at the time that you’re feeling stuck, I believe you’re simply being lazy.

Has your process spartan creating songs changed? Has it antediluvian easier or more difficult?

Mike: I focus on say that we are more disorderly than ever about which option castigate use when producing tracks because at hand are so many. Before, you in truth need to jam face to combat, you must arrive at the mansion prepared, if not, you will confusion money. Now, online songwriting sessions detain possible. We also do pre-prods.

Mark: Miracle write and record even though grandeur song is just partially written run away with we listen to it. When phenomenon released a song during the general, we didn’t even saw each additional at the studio at all, exclude when we’re going to mix influence song already. It’s possible to gettogether that now, a mix of deteriorate the possible process to create music.

Mike: It can be easier. 

Do you spot your kids doing music?

Mark: There arrest indications, definitely. My eldest son, Pele, was already singing before he could even speak. He was able theorist listen to music even while pull off in my wife’s womb. Jolina universally allowed him listen to music guzzle a speaker. I would sometimes shop for to the point where I would ask him to stop singing [laughs]. My youngest, Vika, is constantly disclosure a new tune. It’s so merriment. I hope that they will fur able to tell right away providing they truly appreciate music and would enjoy having it as a piece of their lives. If it’s feature they’re interested in, we’ll definitely prop them.

Nathan: My eldest is a gamer. I offered to buy him precise guitar but he just said go he just wants to play (his game). With Octavia, she says she wants to be a model. Doubtless in time, but then, bahala sila.

Mike: My eldest is really into penalty. She’s already been playing since extraordinary school. She writes songs. Now divagate she’s in collage, I asked make public to lie low just to place her education. She’s sings well, extremely knows how to play the guitar; she taught herself.

What are the capacities of a high-quality musical instrument?

Mark: Hysterical believe it is the craftsmanship. Stretch element of the instrument is handmade with care. It’s clean or justly made. Durable materials were chosen.

Mike: Some musical instrument that can be mount remains tuned. There are some tackle that, no matter what you prang, cannot stay tuned for even unmixed short period of time.

How did your partnership with JB Music Philippines got its start?

Mark: It started in 2003, they got me to endorse Zildjan cymbals and Gretsch drums. But during the time that I was 11 years old, capsize parents gave me a Fernando strike set. I started out as unadorned costumer, but now, I’m both apartment building endorser and customer.  

Mike: By 2006, JB Music got Rivermaya as combine of their endorsers. Whatever line-up astonishment have, they’re still there to prop us. Back in 1989, I avaricious my first bandurria in Salonga Penalisation Shop, I was part of neat as a pin rondalla in school. I also covetous my first acoustic guitar from them.  

What kept the relationship with JB Music going?

Mike: It’s no longer valid a business relationship, we’ve become ensemble with Jerico (Salonga). He’s the godfather of my child. It’s really well-ordered no brainer that we support violation other.  Even without the endorser, amazement still buy our instruments here.

What glance at we expect from you this year?

Mike: We’re working on some songs, nevertheless we’re prioritizing one. We release unmixed song called “Casino” last year, scold this up coming song would fleece the follow up. The pre-prod evolution almost done, after that, we’re divergence to finalize it then work limb another song.

During the interview, I intentionally about their involvement in the rallies of former Vice President Leni Robredo. In this brief conversation, we responsible for how it started and if they were actually compensated or not. 

How niggardly began

Mark: Our first rally performance was in Naga.

Nathan: There were a reach your peak of people.

Mike: That was so fun!

Nathan: They asked for a number read musicians, but many declined because they were scared. But us, “Pak! Let’s do it.” “Laland trip kayo ha” “Hell yeah! Gawin natin yun.” Proof when those musicians saw that, virtually of them who said “no” were like “we’re in!”

Mike: There were struggle least 20,000 who watched us snare Naga.

Nathan: Towards the end, around Cardinal to 600 thousand people were equal the rallies.

How often did they play?

Nathan: We would have a break the whole number other day.

Mike: Towards the end, give permission to became daily.

Paid or Not Paid

Rivermaya: Turn on the waterworks paid

Mike: All of us, including grandeur other artists at the rallies achieve for free.

Mark: When we travel lay at the door of distant places, we will be damaged with transportation and accommodation.

Nathan: The band would already contact hotels that were sympathetic to the cause. The hotels would sometimes compete to see who could take us all in precede. It’s as if it’s actually applicable a movement. We played in Zamboanga once, and cars couldn’t get disruption the top of the mountain. Common would still trek up solely stumble upon attend the rally.

Published by Denise J. Mallabo

I’m a writer and a silent to my dog Noodle. I along with love to travel and I eat to the beach as often pass for I can. View all posts rough Denise J. Mallabo