Urbandub : Band
Cebu-based independent act Urbandub, authors of such tracks as Come and Soul Searching, have been around the Cebu music scene since mid-2000 and have released its first full-length album the following year. Titled Birth, the album features 10 tracks of what can only be described as Urbandub Music. Always trying to be unique and ultimately, original, the band is known for its constant experimentation, layered and textured guitars, and the soaring vocals of its vocalist and main songwriter, Gabby Alipe.The group has steadily been gaining nationwide attention, due partly to the growing popularity of their single Soul Searching (which won Song Of The Year in the recent NU107 Rock Awards X), and partly to the group's recent foray to the burgeoning Manila scene.
Source: Urbandub Yahoo!Group
If you think that Metro Manila holds the monopoly of musical talent in the Philippines, you are underestimating the talent in the other areas of our country. Outside our little metropolitan world are little musical hotspots scattered throughout the various cities and provinces. From hardcore to hip-hop to indiepop - if we have them over here, they have them outside of Manila, too. Some of the scenes in the provinces might not even exist here. All of these little musical scenes are as - if not more - developed than their counterparts in Manila.
One of the foremost examples is the burgeoning Cebu independent music scene and one of it's main proponents, Urbandub. The members are Gabby Alipe on vocals/rhythm guitars, John Dinopol on back-up vocals / lead guitars, Lalay Lim on bass and Jerros Dolino on drums. I first saw them one night on UNTV. The video for the uplifting song, Come, was instantly likeable featuring strong hooks and an even stronger chorus that just kills you. The simple, yet effective video is the band's first. Conceptualized by Alex Lim, the video was done for free and took a whole day to shoot. It also won a local award for the director Kris Villarino.
Urbandub's songs on their first album, Birth are melodic, feel-good songs that capture the band's youth and enthusiasm. It's like asking members of the Deftones and 311 to form a less aggressive and more emotional side project with more quirky rhythms and guitars that don't bludgeon while still staying heavy. Angst is washed away in favor of melancholy melodies, and pop song structures. The resulting blend is difficult to pigeonhole. Their uplifting harmonies don't sacrifice the band's edginess. The personal lyrics perfectly complement the heady mix. John explains,
On the anthemic Come:Gabby wrote the lyrics. The first album was mainly about relationships. Love lost, love gained. Basically "mushy" stuff.
Right now, the band is working on the follow up to Birth (the new single, Soul Searching is now being played on NU107, with the next single Gone coming out soon). The approach is slightly different this time around. Gabby explains:Gabby wrote it. It's about a girl - 'nuff said. Hehehe...
The band is busy writing and recording material for the second album, which should be released near the end of summer.Themes for the second album revolve around battling personal demons, coming face to face with life's hardships and finding oneself amidst all of these.
The band has unfortunately parted ways with original drummer Jed Hornado who recorded most of the tracks for the first album. He left for the States, and was replaced by Jerros Dolino who recorded the songs Give and Apart. Jerros has since become the permanent drummer of the band. A 5th member, DJ ScienTfik fills in some sonic frequencies on Apart.
Since the band members have joined the workforce, they consider being in a band an "unusual hobby" of sorts. Spearheading the Urbandub process is vocalist/guitarist Gabby who writes the lyrics and rough arrangement. Then, the band gets together, gives additional input, and decides the final arrangement. The band doesn't need to jam them out too often, meeting only once or twice a week. Practices have been more frequent however with the recording of the album.
The band has yet to play the Metro Manila area where the band seems to be gaining more popularity. We would like to go there but we are still studying our options Gabby says. They'd be happy if some producers would book them for a gig however. The band looks forward to sharing a bill with some bands they look up to, We will be very happy to share the stage with Cheese, Sandwich, Chicosci, Sugarfree, Dicta License, A Murder of Crowes, etc...
Among upcoming projects would be a new site for the band. For now, the idea for a website is still in the air. Hopefully, we'll have one in the near future. as for putting their music online, Urbandub has a positive outlook for this new medium,
Cebu has recently become a hotspot of great indie music. Urbandub toiled and worked hard playing gigs till they moved on to bigger shows. They all started in a local venue called Ronnie's Tattoo bar, (and then) Kahayag Café and during San Miguel Beer sponsored events. What can they say about the local audiences that they get?Regarding MP3s, our band is all for it! Since we're an indie band, any medium that can help our music reach a wider audience is good for us.
And due to the Southern scene being a new wellspring of great indie music, it's about time the bands get the attention that they deserve. We think all the bands here should be heard. There's a lot of talent in Cebu. Even our neighbors in Bohol, Davao and especially the scene in Cagayan de Oro deserve some nationwide attention.Cebuanos are slowly being introduced to the Indie Music Culture. The scene has grown leaps and bounds for the past few years. The presence of Indie labels like our label, Tiki Sound, as well as other labels like Independent Culture Records and Lighter Press, to name a few, have contributed significantly to the so called boom of the Cebuano Indie Scene. Hopefully, given a few more years, it will reach its full potential.
The band is under their own label, Tiki Records, Tiki Sound is an avid supporter of Cebuano music for about 3 to 4 years. After much deliberation, we found it best to remain Indie. This year could be the year that Urbandub booms bigger in the local scene, so keep an eye out for these guys.
Source: IndieFilipino.com