Open Mic
by Angie V. Garcia
With the likes of Mike’s Apartment, Chicosci, and Spongecola, bands from the Ateneo Musician’s Pool (aMp) have achieved notable mainstream success.
Mango Float, Athome, and Leonecast—the freshest additions to the aMp musician roster—hope to do the same as they offer their own takes on authentic Pinoy music.
Athome
Originally formed by three members—Kevin Arellano, Lester Cruz, and Dino Solaña—back in La Salle Greenhills high school, all Athome needed then was a bassist. Matt, a former high school alumnus, later joined after a few months in college and pursued the band’s direction towards making original songs, rather than playing covers.
Having tendencies to be inconsistent in performing before, Athome auditioned for aMp’s roster last year but didn’t make it. It all changed in this year’s audition process. “We started playing and everything blasted through the amp and the drums. After, we looked at the crowd and everyone was like, ‘Wow, who’s this?’” says Lester, who plays the lead guitar and vocals.
Having various original songs done, Athome’s music is a bit of everything from progressive, metal, alternative, rock and even jazz. With influences ranging from Muse, Jimi Hendrix, to Garbage, they incorporate musical elements to create music that is definitely unique.
One of their songs, entitled “Pay Me Back,” centers around a satirical depiction of a situation where people forget to pay back debts. With a combination of straightforward lyrics like, “Pay me back, 8:55, this Friday I will get to you… I will take what is mine, what is mine,” steady bass beats, and explosive drum smashes, the song captures the distinctive brand of music Athome strives to perform.
Athome doesn’t play to achieve recognition; they simply play for their unified love of music. “There’s this scene where the real talent is and as long as there’s talent in it, we love to be in that and right now, underground is where the talent is,” says Lester.
Group members: Lester Cruz – Lead Guitar/Vocals, Kevin Arellano – Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Matt Santos-Viola – Bass Guitar, and Dino Solaña – Drums
Mango Float
It all started with a group of Southridge high school boys who started jamming together. Their band name came from a long-standing tradition of eating mango float after their sessions. “Whenever we jam, as a tradition, we eat mango float. We were eating it and we were like, ‘Dude, we don’t have a name yet. Mango float na lang’,” says Jarvin Villaflor, guitarist of Mango Float.
All the band members have participated in various band competitions prior to joining aMp. They succeeded in winning first place in 19 East Bar’s 2008 Battle of the Bands, the 2007 ICA Fair, and the 2007 Middle Ground North vs. South Battle of the Bands. They also recently did an acoustic session in the DLSU Green Giant FM as well.
Mango Float’s music can be described as a mix of alternative, grunge and punk rock, but they include some elements of other musical genres like jazz, blues, and even rap. Their original songs, such as “Again” and “Set Me Free,” have contagious guitar riffs worthy of Guitar Hero.
True to their name, Mango Float’s music is a combination of several ingredients with different tastes, resulting to an experience to be savored. This is apparent through their impressive song covers from bands ranging from Dicta License, whose genre is a fusion of grunge and rap, to Queso, one of the first bands that brought screamo to the local scene. They continue to widen their genre through experimenting and finding innovative sounds.
Group members: Jarvin Villaflor – Rhythm Guitar, RJ Jimenez – Vocals, Jami Lava- Drums, Carlo Lava – Guitar, Guill Mante – Bass, and Job De Leon – Guitar
Leonecast
Laidback is one adjective that can describe both the members and the music of Leonecast. With their carefree and optimistic attitude, Leonecast’s members are simply guys who like to have fun together while expressing their passion for playing great music.
Coming from Ateneo High School, they knew each other from being members in the same performing arts group. Deriving their name from vocalist Ace Libre’s favorite pen brand and the movie Cast Away, the members of Leonecast first gained their first taste of aMp experience as soloists last year. A year of interacting and performing with other aMp artists, sparked their confidence to improve as musicians, both individually and as a band.
Their laidback personas reflect their music style, which is mellow. “Somehow” is a fine song to listen to while cruising in the car, with a catchy chorus that is easy to sing along to. With lyrics like, “Every nightmare ends in the morning, wake up to the light of the sun,” it just radiates pure optimism.
PJ says that they derive their musical influences from alternative and synth-rock bands like Coldplay, One Republic, and The Fray. One of their most impressive covers is done acoustically. “Beautiful Love,” originally sung by The Afters, has every guitar strum combined with Ace’s soft crooning voice.
Leonecast is continuing to gain recognition apart from gigs, both from aMp and through contacts. Currently, they are moving away from doing covers and trying to come up with songs of their own.
Band members: Ace Libre – Vocals and Keyboard, PJ La Vina – Drummer and Backup vocals, Luigi Cortez – Lead guitar and Backup vocals, Francis Victa – Bass, and Migi Soriano – Rhythm guitar
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