Scientia Online

Culture Ed's note: This was an interview conducted last school year by our then EIC. While it was, unfortunately, not published as intended in last year's SCIENTIA, we couldn't let the article be left unshared. Enjoy!


JAM SESSION+
Dalandan Soda!
Carlo Timbol

Happy Music.

That is how juniors* Stan Feleo and Troy Gonzales would describe the music of their band Dalandan Soda, a motley ensemble of eight that has lively grooves from reggae, ska and alternative rock for its repertoire.

“We may not really know to what genre we belong, but we always say we play happy music,” they share, “the kind that puts smiles on people’s faces and gets them energized and excited.”

And the media has been taking notice. Dalandan Soda has made appearances on Studio 23’s Breakfast and Y-Vote, and on ETC’s Rated O. On radio, the crew has been featured on 99.5 HitFM with Tracy Abad, and on 97.1 Campus Radio with John Hendrix. To top it all off, they were also featured in Candy Magazine’s June 2007 issue.

“Too bad they didn’t feature us as Candy cuties as well,” they say.

Although Dalandan Soda has yet to record any of their original songs, their live performances can be viewed on YouTube and on their Multiply account. Here, the two tell SCIENTIA about how it all began, their ups and downs through the years, and how expertly they manage their time during band rehearsals.

So how did this all start?
Troy: I was the president of the High School Band Organization when I was in 4th year and I was tasked to create a band to perform at a PAASCU farewell ceremony. I thought that would be the end of it, but Alexis wanted us to join a battle of the bands. He then went on to look for new members to complete the second lineup of Dalandan Soda and we’ve been together since then.
Stan: Tama, tama!

Why Dalandan Soda?
It started as a joke. When we played for the PAASCU, Philippine Association something something — hindi ko na maalala — back in high school, Jollo, who plays rhythm guitar, told us a joke about a girl and the drink “Dalandan Soda,” and bumenta naman ‘yung joke.

Describe your worst gig ever
The worst gig we’ve ever had was during last year’s Banda Blowout at the Mall of Asia. We had two gigs on the same day, but we decided to cancel the other gig in Cubao since the gig in the Mall of Asia was a bigger event that was sponsored by major companies and included the country’s top performers. The gig started out good, even though we were missing two of our bandmates, Jollo and Alexis. Then just before the third song was about to start the string of our guitarist snapped. We felt bad because it was a huge crowd and we sounded less than okay.

I’m surprised you’re still able to rehearse these days, with your timetables crammed to the brim. How do you balance things?
We really don’t know how we do it. It’s like we are all transported to Troy’s house without even knowing how we got there. It’s a conspiracy, I tell you.

So I’d suppose that when you do get to rehearse, you conduct things professionally to maximize your time?
Since we practice at Troy’s crib, we have the luxury of time. It takes around one hour of waiting for the whole band to arrive, one hour to eat, one hour to set up and clean up, one hour to laugh and just talk, and ten minutes for the actual practice. I’d say we’re very professional, very down to business. Am I right?

When did you guys start to play?
Troy: I learned how to play the saxophone when I was a freshman in high school. We were required to choose an instrument for our band class and my best friend forced me to pick the alto saxophone (laughs)
Stan: I learned how to play the bass guitar when I was in Grade 5. My brother got an acoustic guitar for his birthday and I became so jealous. Since my brother was already playing the guitar I chose to learn how to play the bass instead. My dad bought me my very first bass guitar when I was in 2nd year high school, but it was stolen just a few weeks after I received it (laughs). After that I got tips from other bass players and bass forums from the internet.

Do you guys come from a family of musicians?
Troy: My great grandmother’s side of the family, the Velardes, is a family of musicians. My great grandfather was a composer, my great grandmother was an opera singer and a pianist, and my grandaunt was a violinist. My father’s side of the family is also musically inclined. They’re a clan of musicians and I think that some of it rubbed off on me.
Stan: My dad once told me that my great grandfather was Victor Wooten (laughs). Kidding. I think he said my great grandfather looked like Victor Wooten. Actually, aside from my brother I don’t know anyone from my family who is musically inclined.

What virtues, or values, has being a rocker instilled in you?
We’re rockers? That’s new.

Would you like to leave our readers with anything else?
There are three things that you need to have a successful band: practice, practice and practice. It takes a lot more than plain talent. Also, don’t forget to have fun at what you’re doing. It’s all about enjoying the music and creating a harmony between you, the music, your bandmates, and your listeners. Remember to treat your bandmates as family. No one is above anyone else. Lastly, we find prayer to be an important ingredient of Dalandan Soda.

Work hard and play harder! Nga pala, the true secret of a successful band is to visit http://dalandansoda.multiply.com.

Dalandan Soda playing LIPLOCK at Metrobar.