2011 aMp Band Catalogue

by Kevin R. Calderon on October 14, 2011

Every year, aMp (Ateneo Musician’s Pool) welcomes a new addition of musical talents. Surpassing auditions and careful deliberations, the bands that compose the org’s latest roster offer an eclectic mix of genres — rock, metal, acoustic, hip-hop, jazz and blues.

If you’re amped to update your music library with the latest Ateneo bands, g flips you through the 2011 aMp Band Catalogue.

Photo by Tim Arafiles

The Kids Are All Right

Members: Mare Collantes, Trixie Ramo and David Lina

If you like: SCC, DCtalk, Switchfoot, Out of Eden, Jars of Clay, Jeff Buckley, Lifehouse and similar artists of last.fm

Loud amplifiers and guitars often dominate the sound landscape, but the music of The Kids Are All Right stand out through a single acoustic guitar and syrupy sweet vocals. Their passion for music, coupled with a long history of childhood friendship, is how they came up with the band name. “At the end of it all, we know everything will be just fine,” says vocalist Mare Collantes, who is also this year’s aMp president.

What is your music about?

“Basically, we write about life – everyday human experience. We hope that when people listen to our songs, they’ll be able to relate to it.”

What kind of impact do you expect to make in Ateneo?

“We’re not really thinking about that right now. We just want to share good music.”

Do you have a message to the Ateneo community?

“Music or any other particular art mirrors life. We hope that by listening to music, you are made aware of your own lives and that you are able appreciate even the bad things that happen.”

Photo by Kitkat S. Lastimosa

Dressed Up Days

Members: Reese Lansangan (Vocals), Guada Tagalog (Guitar), Kyle Terrenal (Guitar), Bert Santos (Bass) and Gab Bustos (Drums)

If you like: The Ting Tings, Two Door Cinema Club, Minus the Bear, Phoenix, and Tokyo Police Club

Named after vocalist Reese Lansangan’s blog, Dressed Up Days has stylistic influences from several indie pop groups. Known to dress up and wear costumes, the band has a knack for creating energetic, stand-up-and-dance shows. “We want people to have fun with our songs, just as we have fun playing them,” says bass player Bert Santos.

What is your music about?

“Our music is about the different things in life that just happen. Sometimes they’re also about the little things like how we used to feel like when we were kids. Other times, they’re about the phases we go through as we grow up.”

What kind of impact do you expect to make in Ateneo?

“We want to be different from the other bands. We want to have a distinct sound that many people can relate to, in terms of the little things that people often neglect and forget.”

Shoutout to the Ateneo community:

“Don’t stress about Philosophy, or else you’ll develop Philosophobia! Watch our gigs or like us in Facebook!”

Photo by Tim Arafiles

Downdraft

Members: Matt Velasco (Guitars), Kiko Baraquel (Bass), Joc Tenefranci (Drums) and Josh De Leon (Guitars)

If you like: Saosin, Coheed & Cambria, Sum 41, Periphery, and Story of the Year

The birth of Downdraft comes from a series of weekly jams and occasional gigs in high school. Aside from covers, their discography is composed of original singles such as “Paranoia” and “Everybody Here Is a Sexy Beast”. Their vivacious energy is derived from their guitar riffs and steady drum beats. “Our shows feature these four dudes banging their heads, jumping around, and making all sorts of loud noises,” says guitarist Matt Velasco.

What is your music about?

“Our music comes from spontaneous inspiration, so it could be about anything we feel like playing or writing about. We get the natural mood or feel of the song and develop it based on that.”

What kind of impact do you expect to make?

“We hope to make a name for ourselves and be remembered. Even it’s just “one of those good bands.” We wouldn’t mind playing well into the rest of our lives, and we’re happy knowing that people enjoyed the music we made. Joining aMp will have played a major role by then.”

Shoutout to the Ateneo community:

“Support the aMp roster and fresh acts!”

Photo by Tim Arafiles

DancePlayCreate

Members: Eric Trono (Vocals), Bryan Moya (Vocals/Guitar), Matthew Azada (Guitar), Richard del Rosario (Bass), Tim Odulio (Drums)

If you like: Urbandub, 30 Seconds to Mars, Bamboo and Envy on the Coast

Formed in 2005, Dance Play Create has joined this year’s roster with an edge of incorporating elements of electronic and post-hardcore music. After undergoing major changes with their band line-up and musical direction, they are confident with the progression they made so far. “The start of the year for us was rough, but now we’re back with new people and a brand new sound,” says vocalist Eric Trono.

What is your music about? Can you describe it?

“There’s no definite genre for our sound. The main elements from post-hardcore that we incorporated to our sound are the heavy drums, rhythms and bass. We don’t want to completely incorporate post-hardcore style because it’s generally associated to fast-tempo punk songs; our sound also has an ambient side to it. DancePlayCreate blends all of these elements plus the electronic beats and synths that we create at home.”

What kind of impact do you expect to make in Ateneo?

“We want to spread our music. There are a lot of great bands in the Ateneo, [but] hopefully we can be one of those bands that people know about as well. ”

Shoutout to the Ateneo community:

“Ad astra per Aspera,” meaning to the stars through difficulties. We’re just regular guys with a strong message for love and life; our songs are about our experiences, love, of music among other things. Don’t let anything stop you from doing what you love.”

Photo by Kitkat S. Lastimosa

Beauty and the Beats

Members: Chris Graham (Vocals), Carl Graham (Vocal/Beatbox), JB Lava (Guitar/Vocals), Ian Somosa (Beatbox), Kim Dompor (Vocals), EJ Trinidad (Beatbox) and Gab Pangilinan (Vocals)

With rock music dominating the local scene, Beauty and the Beats offer something fresh to that abundance. Beauty and the Beats combine hip-hop, funk, rap and pop band with a steady beat-boxing twist. “We thought that it would be different to integrate some musical elements that no one thought could be part of the genre and that what we do,” adds Chris Graham.

How do you describe your shows?

“We always hope that the audience has fun as we goof around on stage. We like to keep things light; it’s more fun for both us and the crowd that way. We just have a whole lot of fun on stage and try to get the crowd to be a part of that.”

What is your music about?

“It’s very hard to describe. We just have a whole lot of fun putting things together and creating something that we hope others will enjoy. We love it when the crowd has fun with us when we’re on stage because then we know that we brought joy to them.”

Photo by Tim Arafiles

Imelda

Members: Diego Manzano (Bassist), King Puentespina (Drummer), Vincci Santiago(Guitarist), Miguel Feria (Guitarist), Jam Pascual (Vocalist)

If you like: Jimi Hendrix, Incubus, John Mayer, Rage Against the Machine, and Blink 182

What’s notable in Imelda is their transition from post-hardcore to a mix of rock and blues from their previous band. With the addition of guitarist Miguel Feria, the band aims to add a funkier and grittier touch to their music. Despite a change in their musical direction, they still want to sustain the same sense of dynamism in their performances. “Our shows were very energetic and explosive and a lot of people told us that it was a good thing,” says Jam Pascual.

What is your music about?

“Our music covers a wide range of topics, but we’re trying to write songs that have relevant messages and that are still catchy to the public ear without having to sell out.”

What kind of impact do you expect to make in Ateneo?

“We don’t really expect much. We’ll just do what we love and that’s to play music. If the Ateneo community likes us, then all is well and good and we’ll welcome everyone with open arms. If you’re not a fan, then you’re missing out on something.”

Shoutout to the Ateneo community:

“We want to tell the Ateneo community that we had a great time playing at aMp’s Rites of Passage and that we hope to be able to share our music to not only Ateneans, but to everyone. Peace!”

Photo by Tim Arafiles

YAMI

Members: Bert Ong (Guitar/Vocals), J.A. Lim (Guitar), Lloyd Dy (Drums), Jake Dy (Bass)

If you like: Mr. Big, Electrico, Guthrie Govan and Dream Theatre

Formerly known as Yummy Instant Mami, the band has gone through a series of musical changes before shortening its name to YAMI. The word, which means dark in Japanese, is a reflection to their musical shift. They incorporate a combination of progressive music and chord-voicing often found in jazz or rock. In the shows, they want their listeners to relate to their music through their past and present experiences. “Basically it boils down to [the question]: Did the song hit you like it did to us?” he adds.

What is your music about?

“Think of it as a collective of topics you’d have over coffee; love, politics, discovery etc. Through the melodies and words we use, we would like to project these thoughts in a way that everyone can understand. We constantly involve what we learn from our inspirations (bands and artists) to assist us in portraying the message we want.”

What kind of impact do you expect to make?

“We would like them to recognize alternative local music (bands and artist who are not necessarily part of main stream and pop culture), to give chance to all the other bands who aren’t known. We would like our voice to be heard. We encourage the Ateneo community not necessarily to love our music, but at least give it a go and feel our emotions.”

Shoutout to the Ateneo community: