Pedro Gil 

 IT is a daunting task to even think about the Filipino-American music scene without thinking about Pedro Gil.  The band has become synonymous with the scene itself and has continously inspired new artists to come out and represent.

They are uncompromising when it comes to their music and focused when it comes to their goals.

Poptimes Magazine finally caught up with Pedro Gil and managed to pick their brains for everyone in the scene to share.

While the band had lineup changes in the past, it is important to note that this interview may perhaps be the final interview the band will ever give with their bandmate Mike still in the band. As of presstime, we have been informed that he left the band. No official statement has come from the Pedro Gil camp yet, but we all wish them the best and we hope that they will continue to make music for all of us to enjoy.

Here's the full interview:

Czara Dela Llana- Lead vocalist 

Give us a brief genesis of the band.

Czara: Pedro Gil is the lovechild of two bands formed in the late 90s: Six Years Into and Two-Headed Chang. After 6yi and 2hc disbanded, the remaining members from both bands merged and continued to make music.

Andrew: What Czara said.

Mike: What's a genesis?

Charles: A genesis of the band? Andrew is Phil Collins, and Czara is Peter Gabriel. Mike likes the stu-stu-studio, Heath is a sledgehammer, and I can feel it coming in the air tonight.

What's new with the band?

Czara: We have a new drummer, Heath. He kicks ass. Also, our original bass player, Janina, has returned; she is now on keyboard/noise duty.

Andrew: Just a kickass drummer.

Czara: Oh and plus our live shows are so bloody awesome now. Literally. Bloody. Awesome.

Mike: A badass drummer.

Charles: I have a new bass. His name is Joey FAT-TONE. R.I.P. my old bass, Lance Bass. We had a many intimate nights together. Now I'm dancing with the Fat-tone!

What can Pedro Gil offer the young Fil-Am music scene?

Czara: Good music. It's extremely difficult to find kickass bands with real music these days; I think Pedro Gil has always written great stuff. Also, we can be really fun drinking buddies.

Andrew: Hopefully, good indie pop music.

Mike: Hang out with us you will see why you can never call us Fil-Ams, with emphasis on the Ams.

Charles: Candy in the form of rockin' pop songs. Then when their sweet tooth can't take it anymore, we have slow love songs that act like Novocaine at the dentist's office.

How would you describe your music?

Czara: Quite frankly, I am always stumped whenever this question arises, and my illiteracy shows up, front and center; I can't find better adjectives than "cool" or "awesome". It's a problem for me. Maybe the guys can describe it better.

Andrew: I don't know.. and I'm in the band. Go figure.

Mike: There's really no description. It's always been a collaboration of people merging sounds that have influenced them through the years.

Czara: One of our good friends, Le-Van de Guzman, made up a genre for Pedro Gil music. But I forgot what it is. There's no point in me pointing this out huh? 

Heath: I agree that the music is indescribable.  It's a mixed bag of various influences infused into the music.
Influences?

Czara: Julie Plug, Alcoholiday, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Ride, Dashboard Confessional, Eraserheads, Barbie's Cradle, New Kids on the Block, Menudo, The Care Bears

Andrew: New Wave, Indie, Punk (old & new school), Reggae, Hardcore, Jazz

Mike: U2, Oasis, Identity Crisis, Ricky Martin, and Robby Rosa

Charles: Pedz Narvaja from Teeth, who taught me some bass tricks when I was just starting out. Alex James from blur, who taught me to utilize the bass in a technical happy pop way, Paul McCartney for his precision and style, Jaco Pastorious and Flea and Nathan from Bamboo equally for their mindblowing basslines.

Heath: The Police, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Poison, Skid Row, Warrant, Superchunk, Descendents, The Get Up Kids, Braid/Hey Mercedes, Sunny Day Real Estate, Led Zeppelin, The Appleseed Cast, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, DJ Shadow, Madlib, The Rza, Alkaline Trio, The Suicide Machines, Less Than Jake, Mineral, Texas is the Reason, Face To Face, The Aquabats, Blink-182, Weezer, Thursday, TBS, The Promise Ring, The Cure, The Flaming Lips, Jimmy Eat World, Smoking Popes

How do you approach songwriting?

Czara: Lyrically, I write what I feel, when I feel it. Recently, I've been writing songs during my commute home from work. Musically, it's piano-driven, bare-bones and unstructured. We then arrange the songs during rehearsal; by the time it's done, the song has mutated into something else. Everyone in the band has input and is encouraged to contribute to the songwriting process.  

Andrew: It all depends. Sometimes I come to rehearsal with the music done and all Czara has to do is add the words and melody and the rest of the guys add their parts. Sometimes I have music that's not quite done yet and the guys help out and finish the music. And the other is we just jam and come up with something new and hopefully we don't forget till the next rehearsal. Note: always bring a recorder.

Czara: And a "white blackboard".. Hahaha.
Mike: It's the magic of a group of people creating an orchestra of what they feel at a given moment.
Charles: With a handshake and a "bro" hug, ask if he wants to have a beer with me, then offer to pay for his dinner. And hopefully get his number by the end of the night.

Heath: Usually just jam with a band for hours.. make a rough cut of a track from that.. geit on tape.. then chop and arrange it from there. Sometimes it's magic where you start with nothing then 15 minutes later you have a great song done.

Are your songs geared towards a specific market and thus work on a set formula?

Czara: We write music we love to play. I'm a firm believer that if you write music because you love music, it extends to the audience, because they can see right through all the crap. Formulas and market specifications are something we never consider when writing.

Andrew: Not really. We write nice melodic music, so we want everybody to enjoy our music.

Mike: I'm not sure if Music can ever be sold or enclosed. Once you approach Music with a target in mind or a set formula, then you're enclosing the capacity for the Music to grow. You become boxed into a definition, rather than music it becomes a style, a label. I don't really know what I'm talking about, really..

Charles: I want to make the Thrifty Swap Meet crowd jump up and down and smile all day.

(Follow up to no. 4) if not, how far can your songwriting go? Will there be a time when Pedro Gil's songs would reach a self-indulgent peak?

Czara: Pedro Gil's always evolving. Not only because we've had band members come and go, but also because we pull from all aspects of music and make it our own. It also helps that our musical influences vary. Reaching a self-indulgent peak? Never. We'll always be self-indulgent. It's all about ME. Don't get it twisted. Haha.

Andrew: I hope not.

Mike: Music has no ending, and beginning for that matter. It's just music. An ever-evolving entity.

Charles: I'd like to reach Twin Peaks. Because the fire walks with me.

What music do you hate?

Czara: I refuse to be genre-specific because I'll listen to anything. If it sounds good, bring it on. I get sucked in by a good melody, but I stay loyal because of the words. I love Whole Foods.

Andrew: Music is music man and I'm not telling, hehe.

Mike: I used to say I hate country music, I hate this and that, but I believe I've outgrown that mentality.

Charles: To be honest, the only time I hate music is when I find the room spinning after too many drinks and this non-stop house music just pounds into my brain when all I can think about is my bed and my stuffed penguin. Other than that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Heath: Trance.

Tell us about your albums

Czara: Our first full-length is still in the future. I would like to meet it someday. We've released two DIY demos (Blurry All the Time, 2002 and New Love Songs in Broken English, 2004). There will be a six-song EP released soon; stay tuned for that.

Andrew: What Czara said.

Mike: I heyv a lot of albums, lots of fitchures in it.

Charles: They fill my room, ever since I was 12. theres nothing more to it than that. See Czara's answer for PEDRO GIL albums.

Tell us about your most important song or album.

Czara: The most important song/album for me is Love Spreads from Second Coming, by The Stone Roses. I vividly remember hearing it for the first time and man, that was the end of me. Other notables are albums by Oasis, Julie Plug, Ride, Eraserheads, Barbie's Cradle. With Pedro Gil songs, I think the most important for me is Two-Second Stranger. It's pretty.

Andrew: Thieves Like Us by New Order and Pride by U2. Unforgettable Fire album.

Mike: Identity Crisis started it all.

Charles: I love Daydreaming on Mars. Just because I imagine being on stage at Reading Festival in England and picture the masses jumping up and down to it.

Heath: I'd say Don't Stand So Close To Me by The Police would be one of my most important songs.  When I was younger I wanted to play guitar like Eddie Van Halen.  But, one day I was watching MTV and I saw that Police video and right away wanted to pick up the drums instead. Stewart Copeland's drumming grabbed me instantly.

Czara: I must confess, I loved Explosion by Menudo when I was young. Good thing there's no video evidence of anything. And oh man, I was in love with Jordan Knight from NKOTB.

Mike: I just had a traumatic flashback: I remember being caught dancing to Explosion when I was like 10 yrs. old I think..dammit..

Czara: Mike, we should compare choreographies.. Hahaha.

What are Pedro Gil's plans?

Czara: Take over the world? Yeah, that sounds just about right. Kidding aside, we want the songs recorded and released. I believe that's the biggest request from everyone. The audience needs to be able to bring something home and distribute to their friends. Also, I want to give my grandkids some proof that gramma was cool when she was younger. So, yeah.

Andrew: Write more songs. Finish the EP/Album. Play more shows. Hopefully get signed by an indie label (wishful thinking).

Mike: Take over the world then take over Pedro Gil.

Charles: Burst through the scene like the Hulkster rips his yellow sando open!

Any plans to play in New York?

Czara: Yes, please. Summer 2008, hopefully.

Andrew: Heck yeah! That's if we get invited to play.

Mike: Sure.

Charles: If you buy my ticket… YES!

Heath: I'm down.

How about a Manila Tour?

Czara: Sure, why not? Our songs have had radio airplay in Manila, so it'd be nice to be able to play shows there. Plus I heard they party til 7am and beer is cheap.

Andrew: Why not?

Mike: Sure.

Charles: If you buy my ticket.. YES!

Heath: I'm down.

Are you shopping your works to major labels are you staying indie?

Czara: Wherever our music takes us, that's where we will be.

Mike: Ditto.

Andrew: I'm staying indie.. fo' life!

Charles: Damn, you're an inquisitive fellow. I like you.

Heath: I shop at Target.

Czara: I've never been to Wal-Mart.

What are the pros and cons of being in a major label and being an indie?

Czara: Man, I could go on and on all day with this question. I'll answer it with..  the amount of microscopic attention given to you. All I'm concerned with is maintaining creative integrity. This could potentially be a problem if a band goes major.

Mike: Being known is not at all important as hitting every note with all integrity. I never considered myself as a good musician but if I could hit that note with full passion then that's all that matters, whether we're known or not.

Charles: Pros in major: jets and free swag. Cons in major: stalkers and enquirer shots of me and Rachel Bilson spending quality time in Bora-Bora. Indie pros: Coachella! Indie cons: still dreaming of Rachel Bilson spending quality time in Bora-Bora.

Czara: Yeah, stalkers are scary. You know what sucks? My Bloody Valentine won't be at Coachella.

Heath: The freedom of creativity with being under an indie label definitely outweighs the perks of being under a major but you really can't get mad at these artists that move from an indie to a major just cause they need to eat.  A close friend of mine with whom I'm in another band with got screwed over by a small indie label by not allowing him to ever use any of the songs he's written while under them so I think either way you can get f'd.

Andrew: What they said.

What can you say about the prevalence of novelty songs in Manila?

Czara: If it sounds good and people can connect with it, go forth and multiply.

Andrew: To each his own.

Charles: I love novelty songs. Because I love pop music. Call me a sell-out but I like to jump around in my room with just my boxers on. And sometimes only the novelty songs can make me do that.

What's your take on file sharing on the internet (peer to peer networks)

Czara: For unknown bands trying to get their music out there, I'm all for it.

Andrew: If it's peer to peer, I'm all for it, but other than that I'm undecided.  There's pros and cons in file sharing, so..

Mike: It's amazing how Radiohead was able to adapt to that… most of the time a little rigor and unselfishness can result in the simplest most effective solution.. how's that for an advertising slogan.. :)

Charles: Yes please.

Heath: I'm all for file sharing as it's definitely a great way to promote.  It's just sad how it played a big role in killing many local record shops.  I miss going to the Tower Records down the street to pick up a record or cd then go home and listen to it while reading the liner notes and looking at the cool album art.

How would you react if you see a Fil-Am website offering your albums as free downloads.

Czara: It gives us exposure to so many people, heck yeah.

Andrew: Oh well, what can you do?

Mike: Communication is the key.. Whatta mean I say iz..

Czara: Siskoot.

Charles: Go for it.

Heath: The more people the music gets to the better.

What can you say about the state of Fil-Am music today? (East Coast and West Coast)

Czara: I don't mean to be a hater, but there's a lot of crap out there. I'll leave it at that.

Andrew:  Amen Czara, Amen.

Mike: There are "rockstars" out there and there are Rockstars out there; it's up to them which one they would rather be.

Charles: More original songs! And if you do covers, make it your own! Nathan from Bamboo told me that at a buffet in Vegas while he was having Jack and Coke for Breakfast. He is genius!

Mike: Yep, I remember that breakfast with Nathan. I agree, one-of-a-kind. He was the one who told me that even if you hit the wrong note, hit it like you mean it. That really helped me a lot, you know what I mean.

Do you think there will come a time when Fil Am music is as big as Latin music or hip hop? How do you think can we achieve this?

Czara: Quite possibly, but it will be difficult. There are so many barriers to overcome. I think sometimes, we have this my-band-is-better-than-your-band kind of attitude, and we don't support each other. Unless we let go of our egos and start becoming one solid force, we will always feed into stereotypes and we will never break through.

Andrew:  Doubt it. Most Filipinos are not supportive of Fil-Am bands. Especially local rock bands. There's a big turn out if the bands are the likes of Parokya Ni Edgar, Bamboo, E-heads, or Rvermaya, but then again, they're not Fil-Am.

Mike: I've always wondered what Fil Am Music means?

Charles: That will be the day! And if we stop covering so much and make original music that means something true to our hearts, and not just recycling old styles.

Heath: When we all start wearing gold teef...

Comments

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IvanBee   |2008-02-05 13:29:09 Great interview!!!

pedrong apoy  - pedro gil!   |2008-02-05 15:54:53 great candid interview! they sound like an awesome band to hang out and have a few laughs with.

voltes5  - cool stuff   |2008-02-05 18:30:22 hope to see them play here soon!

Astrid Kirchherr   |2008-02-05 23:57:27 come to new york please!

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