Behind the Song

Mariposa and Other Stories: Ebe DancelBehind the Song host Joey D. does his very best not to be a total fanboy when catching up with fellow-musician and friend Ebe Dancel, who has written some of the most memorable OPM anthems with his former band Sugarfree, and even more as a solo artist. Listen-in on how Dancel wrote the hugely successful hit "Mariposa" (plus other stories behind some of the favorites off the Sugarfree debut "Sa Wakas...") and how he's been doing and navigating his way around the pandemic like all of us.Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

Most of the time, when music fans hear the word "band," they tend to automatically think of loud guitars, a throbbing bass groove, pummeling drums and screeching vocals. And though they are right most of the time, there are times - especially in the Philippines - when the word can mean a totally different thing, especially considering the fact they Pinoys generally love music in ALL shapes and forms.Which is exactly why one of Christoper "Top" Suzara's biggest songwriting hits "Before I Let You Go" (a song he wrote and performed with his former band Freestyle...) remains to be one of THE most timeless tunes ever credited to the band explosion of the late 90s despite it's seemingly being a cherished, bittersweet anthem for fans of heart-wrenching ballads. Oh - and the rock fans LOVE it, too!#BehindTheSongPH was very lucky to get the chance to interview Suzara - and ask him about his formative years as a musician, the beginnings (and end of his personal tenure...) of Freestyle and the impact that one song on his continuing journey in music, which continues to cross - and ultimately - break musical boundaries and satisfy a wide spectrum of musical taste and sophistication. BTSph is recorded, produced and released by Peavey Nicolas and Antonette Mendez of Big Baby Studios, and hosted by Joey D.Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS. Often times, success comes pretty unexpectedly - for sure you put-in the hard work, the practice and the all-out love for the craft, but many hitmakers seem to have one thing in common, when asked to tell their story: their biggest pieces of work seem to be the ones that come most-naturally.Such is the case for siblings Jeazell and Jasper Grutas, the main driving force behind Zelle, the band whose smash mainstream hit "Sabihin," when asked to look-back on the genesis behind the song, and the events it sparked after it became a HUGE success, both on mainstream radio and within the hearts of the music-loving masses. #BehindTheSongPH gets the deets and chats a bit with both musicians, who are still actively pursuing their love for music in foreign shores as we speak.Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

For the latest episode of #BehindTheSongPH, podcast host Joey Dizon reunites and shoots the breeze with his former INTOLERANT bandmates, bassist Mic Gallegos and drummer (and incidentally, album sound engineer) Pepo Gohu to talk about the track “Blunt Force Trauma,” the call-to-arms single off the band’s debut disc Reasons For Unrest.It’s a fun, mini-reunion-of-sorts for fans of local metal as the members talk about the concept and in-studio beginnings and ultimately the arrangement of their single, and how some of the parts of the song were almost voted-out. Behind The Song is recorded, produced and released by Peavey Nicolas and Antonette Mendez of Big Baby Studios. #BehindTheSongPH #Intolerant #BluntForceTrauma #podcastBehind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

In 2005, The Itchyworms released one of their most musically ambitious albums, Noontime Show – an impressive full-length body of work whose concept revolved around both the amusement-with and (most of the time…) dismay the culture phenomena brought about. Acclaimed by both critics and fans, it would be their very own Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness – and arguably catapult the band to the status of being a household name.And the track “Beer” was one of the main songs that would appeal to so many music fans, and win-over even those who were previously tuned-out to the local band scene. Songwriter and drummer Jazz Nicolas tells us the story behind the hit song, how his father offered precious songwriting advice, and takes us through the creative process of the entire album – from how the concept came about, to the band’s decision to write songs in Tagalog and how kundiman and other proudly local sounds and styles contributed to the crafting of what could be the band’s finest album. Oh… and Jazz doesn’t drink beer. Go figure.Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

To the average listener, very few songs in the thrash metal/hardcore genre can ever be considered - nor even put in the same sentence with the words - “timeless” or “classic.” But Skychurch - since its inception - has always been a metal band that defied the odds and traditions set by mainstream music, and has managed to gain the respect of its non-metal peers and listeners.For the latest episode of #BehindTheSongPH, host Joey D (who just happens to have a 12-year recording, management and touring history with Skychurch...) interviews his former bandmate, bassist/chief songwriter Russell Dela Cruz and talks about the single EUTHANASIA, the epic six-minute-plus track that was uniquely an old song that ushered-in a new era of The band, that found itself with new personnel and a new ethic in coming up with ground n’ pound anthems.Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

It’s the simple songs that usually turn into great, timeless ones, and Stonefree’s ‘Listen’ is probably one of the best examples to prove that: what started off literally as thoughts and feelings scribbled on paper by songwriter/guitarist Benson Taroja, became a radio-friendly rock anthem during the start of the millenium - despite the nu-metal explosion that was taking over the airwaves and the live circuit. #BehindTheSongPH host Joey D. talks to both Tanoja and Stonefree frontman/guitarist Miro Valera to revisit the memories and candidly discuss the classic staying-power of the song, and talk shop about navigating their career after the song took them to various heights and places.Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

More than just a typical rock group, True Faith was one of the outfits from the 90s who came from left-field and offered a sophisticated, smooth-jazz-inspired approach to "being in a band." As timeless as the song is, so are the stories that come with it: from recording the tune without permission at the studio where songwriter/vocalist Medwin Marfil worked-at, to the song's defying the odds against Mariah Carey and the entire MTV Unplugged craze. Joey D makes the catch-up call to Marfil, who graciously answered and listened-in on the comments about this legendary tune. Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom. 

We might not know much of the band (since they are yet to have their own wikipedia entry...) but it's impossible to NOT know the song: "Daisy" is undoubtedly one of those early millennium singles that now belong in the OPM songbook. Wonderfully jangly and armed with a stadium-sized chorus and released during a time when those elements were NOT part of the current musical landscape, founding members Allan and Macky take us through history and recall the formation of the band and how they - at the time - unknowingly were among the first to spearhead the whole DIY ethic on a mainstream scale, by literally doing everything themselves. Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.

Departing from his former band at a time when it was still peaking might have seemed to be an odd decision in hindsight, but Marc Abaya has no regrets because soon after, he was making waves with his return-to-roots outfit Kjwan, making music that brought back the wonderfully downright nasty elements that are sex, drugs n rock n' roll. Joey D catches up with Abaya, and goes on a stroll down amnesia lane with Abaya who minces no words and delivers the upfront truth... most of what he can remember, anyway. Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom. 

The year is 2005, and newly formed rock trio Hilera just won one of the biggest band competitions in the land, and with it came the ultimate dream prize: a full-length major label release. Not exactly a new concept, but the results were arguably way better... in fact, it was downright amazing, and that debut album gave us Rhyme Without Reason, a song that is still anticipated in Hilera's sets to this day. Songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Chris Padilla reveals the deets behind this monumental track, and how it's actually tied to a Metallica song. Behind the Song was produced, recorded, and distributed under quarantine by Big Baby Studios. Do excuse the not so great audio, this episode was recorded over Zoom.