An emerging local band in Palawan is aiming high to bring its music, carrying the heart of Palawan, nationwide.
Pyeza is a newly-organized band of five that kicked off in the second quarter of 2019.
Rey Abrea, the band’s lead vocalist told Palawan News, that he personally recruited the four other members, which he admitted was not an easy task.
Edgar Allan Ocampo and Joey Buñag are in the guitars for Pyeza, Earl Calma on bass and Verdandi “Verds” Tagapulot on drums.
“Naghahanap talaga ako ng makakasama for a band, not necessarily as a singer but someone na may access na mag-interpret ng mga kanta ko,” Rey said.
Rey added that he pitched the idea to Edgar during their testimonial dinner in law school, Verds had just returned to the country after a musician stint in a cruise ship while Joey, Edgar and Earl were on the same band.
Verds said there are different factors that influenced each of them to harmonize into a group. He gave credit to the experiences he had on a cruise ship playing wide range of music which could be the edge of Pyeza.
He said their common bond is their love for music.
He believed that as each members are influenced by different factors, they can help to become the musician they are now, every part of the band has also a task to let those influences make them produce good piece of music.
“Each member of the band has a task sa isang piece ng music, kung yong bawat isa ay gagawin yong task na naka-assign, lalabas na maganda yong music,” he said.
Even if Pyeza was recently organized, all five members are not new to the industry as they already came from their different bands, part of different performances in the local stage and even in overseas.
“Makakalimutan mo kasi yong problema mo kapag tumutugtog ka. Gamot siya,” Earl said when asked what music is to him.
“Para sa akin, it’s a drug. Kapag may sakit ako and I sit behind the drums, start playing, I feel better, wala akong nararamdaman yong mga bodily necessities, naiihi or anything, kapag nagsimula ka tumugtog, hindi mo mararamdaman,” Verds said.
The five of them are musicians themselves that share the most enjoyable part about being in the profession they have nowadays.
Joey said the music also saved him to some points of his life.
“Feeling ko pumupunta ako sa ibang mundo, may time kasi dati na nadi-depress ako, may gitara ako, doon ko na-i-express yong feelings ko by melody. Nagki-create ako ng melody na akin lang, after that, okay na ako, binato ko don sa gitara,” he said.
While Rey added that music for him as a songwriter is his way of showing two ways of dealing problems in life, it could be how you escape and how you confront it.
He said that on his own perspective, music is a reflection of reality and an escape from it.
Sharing about the thing they enjoy the most about being musician, Pyeza also shared things they somehow “hate” about being in the music profession.
Verdandi also said that for him it could be the moment when the audience assumed that the band on session knows all the songs they would like to be requested.
“Iniisip ng audience na lahat ng kanta alam niyo, kami gusto naman namin sabihin na ‘sir hindi po kami videoke machine, when you type the number, lalabas yong kantang gusto niyo, hindi po’. Isa lang ‘yon, I’m sure may iba pero kapag tumutugtog ako hindi ko na iniisip yon,” he said.
Rey added that there are stereotypes of people about musicians which profession like them should overcome.
“Isa rin siguro, the stereotype ng tao on us being musician. I am not saying na hindi sila tama (laughs), I am just saying na mababaw na pagkakaintindi about musicians. One of the hardest, kapag magri-resign ka sa trabaho, sasabihin mo na magtatayo ka ng restaurant, they would understand. Try mo na magku-quit po ako ng trabaho, magbabanda ako, you will be a laughing stock, ganon yong impression,” he said.
Verds added that some people also think that being in a band particularly is not a living.
“I do get it, nakikita rin naman nila sa paligid but they don’t understand the emotions that person has to go through even if may stereotype na nakabangga sa magiging desisyon niya. I have to this because this is what I love. People can understand na if you are going to cook, magtatayo ka ng karinderya, maiintindihan nila yon pero being a musician, no, that’s stupid,” Rey also added.
Problems they have encountered or might encounter in the band
First thing they mentioned is the matching of their schedules as all of them have to prioritize their each jobs and have different convenient times for other things.
“Decision making, inevitable na may kaniya-kaniyang interest individually and ina-anticipate din namin yon at nangyari na rin yon sa mga sikat na banda,” Edgar said.
Bringing Pyeza to national stage
Rey said their goal to make Pyeza known in national stage and Verds mentioned that they all agreed on that.
He admitted that there are musicians better than them, however, the band is committed to its own uniqueness that will be a way for them to be recognized and heard.
“I am not looking at it as a local thing, it’s a national thing. Ano ba ang ma-i-offer ni Pyeza, kasi ang market naman ay hindi Palawan though we are starting here, hindi ako naging seryoso na ganito, hindi ko ipi-pitch sa kanila kung dito lang kami sa Palawan. I am not going to hide it na yon ang gusto namin,” Rey said.
Rey pointed out that even being different yet still relevant to the audience is a hard thing to do but this is what Pyeza is trying to achieve.
As an emerging band, Pyeza was asked if what would be the things they want to be changed only if they could.
Edgar wants to have a collective effort.
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na pangit yong buong industry, may mga magaganda rin sya epekto sa mga musician meron din hindi. For me personally, mas naaapektuhan ako ng hindi maganda,” he further explained as what he noticed in OPM industry.
Pyeza have recently produced its first music video on Facebook entitled ‘Hindi Padadala’ which was written by Rey and inspired by a real life story.
Members of the band meet during Mondays for their performances.
Fans of Pyeza should expect new songs in the following months.
“Ang message ko sa mga hindi pa nakakarinig sa amin, i-like nila yong Facebook page namin. Una para maging updated sila sa mga upcoming gigs namin, maging updated sila kung anong direksyon ng banda. Tapos may YouTube account din kami and may Instagram account din tayo, soon magkakaroon din tayo ng Twitter,” Edgar said.
He added that they will use all social media platforms that they could be noticed including Spotify.
“Watch out for marami pa na kanta, magpapapansin talaga kami,” Abrea said.
