Urbandub has already become a household name in Pinoy rock. Fans crave their nostalgic songs and melodies that resonate deeply, cutting through one’s skin and penetrating the soul.
Hailing from the Queen City of the South, Urbandub shares with Yehey the real reason they’re returning to their hometown of Cebu, despite their soaring career in Manila, as well as the reason why fans shouldn’t expect them to perform Tagalog songs in the future.
Q: Can you tell us the reason why you’re going back to Cebu?
Gab: We’re planning to go home for like a month and a half to write new songs for the album. We’re planning to rent a house sa bukid (mountain in Cebu).Set up kami small studio just to do pre-prod and record songs. First time namin [iyon] gagawin. Before kase I write the songs in my house. Ngayon we want to try to do like a collective thing na. Dati kasi nag rerecord kami sa karaoke machine lang ngayon at least we have equipment na.
Q: Do you think it would be more effective if all of you collaborated on writing songs together, rather than working on them individually and then collaborating afterward?
Lalay: Mabilis naman kami, we just sit down and write. Actually mas madali.
John: It would be an experience na rin for the band.
Gab: We decide to leave din talaga kase hindi kami makakapagsulat here in Manila because we always have gigs. So we decide na sige break muna tayo. Mas laid back kasi doon (Cebu) eh, at the same time our families are all there and we haven’t seen our families for so long na.
Q: Who mainly writes the songs in your past albums?
Gab: Lyrics wise and simple melody, I start with the writing and then we all collaborate na in the studio to arrange the song.
Q: Do you have any musical inspirations, whether local or international?
Gab: Marami eh. We listen to different kinds of musics, like house, chill out music.
Q: Who do you dream of performing with?
Gab: Mga band siguro from different genres. Like Chilitees, Noel Cabangon.
John: Cynthia Alexander.
Q: Noel Cabangon’s songs are mostly OPM. Do you have any plans to release Tagalog songs in the future?
Gab: No. It’s wanting to speak in Tagalog or in Bisaya. Kasi we’ve always been asked why we don’t write in Bisaya or Tagalog. It’s wanting to speak Tagalog, Bisaya, it’s another thing to write songs na maganda. Puwede naman eh pero pangit eh. Kapag ako magsulat ang pangit talaga. Not everybody can be Ely, Ebe or Rico na sobrang prolific magsulat ng English at Tagalog. Ako I stick with what I know, kumbaga comfort zone ko na iyon.
Q: But don’t you want to try going out of your comfort zone?
Gab: No. Iba nga eh, kung kaya, kung hindi pilit. I tried before eh pero hindi bagay eh, hindi bagay sa feel na gusto namin gawin.
Q: Any favorite gig so far?
Gab: Marami eh. But we really enjoy playing gigs in smaller venue. Kase parang intimate session pag malapit iyong fans, makikita mo talaga reaction, nila. Mas trip namin kapag nakaupo lang kesa magulo, iyong alam mong nakikinig.
Q: Do your Cebu-based fans have more edge, or let’s say, are they more special in your heart than your fans here in Manila?
Gab: Same sa lahat. Kumbaga kung may makikinig okay sila sakin, doesn’t matter kung saan ka galing.
Q:What made you decide to transfer to MCA?
Gab: Tapos na iyong contract namin with [our previous label] then MCA came along tapos sobrang ganda ng offer nila. The bosses are really magaling din so we decided to try.
Q: Can you tell us more about your new merchandise? I heard there’s a shirt? Any plans to offer other Urbandub products other than shirts?
Lalay: We want to.
Gab: We want to but we’re starting with the shirts muna.
* Ralf Gonzales of Sonic Boom said that MCA and Bravado USA handles the merchandising. Bravado USA, an international company, also distributes Fall Out Boy products.
Q: Is it already available in the market? Where can people purchase it?
Gab: Yes. Mostly music stores, Odyssey, Astro Plus.
Q: Will it be available only here in Manila?
Lalay: Sa ngayon Manila area pa kasi kaka release lang. Hindi na kami nag sesell sa gigs.
Q: When do you plan to release your new album under MCA?
Gab: Siguro by end of the year, November, October. Subukan naming habulin.
Q: Do you have any gigs lined up before heading back to Cebu?
Gab: We have three or four remaining. [17 on Taguig], Enchanted Kingdom on 18, 19 in Alabang and Olongapo.
Written by: Maritoni Alvarez
Written for: Yehey.com
