Pupil (band)
Encyclopedia
Pupil is a Filipino
rock
band composed of Ely Buendia
on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.
and Daydream Cycle joined The Mongols' line-up during the fourth quarter of 2004, making it a five-man band. The Mongols' bassist Yan Yuzon moved to third guitar duties while Dok Sergio handled bass. The transitional five-man line-up was witnessed in The Mongols’ last single and music video entitled “Heroine”. In May 2005, guitarist
, Jerome Velasco, a.k.a J. Astro, left to pursue a career in producing and recording
studio engineering. The group's last gig under the name "The Mongols" was on July 7, 2005.
Velasco’s departure shook things up for the group as they were trapped into the decision of whether to stay as a band or not. As they decided to continue and as they progressed, the band noticed that they were producing a different sound without Velasco on the lead guitar and decided to form a "new" band. “We got a better bass player and dumber guitarist,” jokes guitarist Yan Yuzon, who left bass playing duties to Dok Sergio to take Velasco’s place. Upon the determination of forming a “new” band, the group’s first move was to change their name.
Frontman Ely Buendia chanced upon the name "Pupil" while browsing a medical book. The band wanted a classic name for a rock band. Before using Pupil, they tried several other names, such as Villain, Lords of Nasdaq, The Gets, Trochlean, Traitors, and Tyrel Corp. They chose the name Pupil because Buendia liked the fact that it is the part of the eye where light enters. Guitarist Yan Yuzon likes its double meaning, as well as the “eternal learning” connotations of the name. Pupil's launch gig was on July 13, 2005 at the UP
Bahay ng Alumni. Pupil also joined Livestock Productions. It was an event group with members such us Sponge Cola
, Kiko Machine, Menaya, Tawo, Sleepyheads, and Elytistas.
accepted Buendia again like a "prodigal son" as he himself describes it in their debut album's insert.
The band admits that there is a distinct challenge for them, coming out of their past bands (Eraserheads and The Teeth). The challenge is particularly pronounced on frontman, Ely Buendia, since older fans tend to compare him and his new band with the huge popularity of The Eraserheads before. In an interview by Y. Losorata he says, "I just want my fans and hopefully, my fans to be, to appreciate my music. I’m lucky to still have my career in music as a job and as part of Pupil wala akong (I don't have) delusions to become as big as my previous band was." In fact, the band itself describes their music as actually "one foot in the past, one foot in the present and both eyes dead set at the future." According to Buendia, it's not being there but getting there that's exciting for him, no matter how many times he tries to get there. He later added in a different interview, "Let’s just say that the Eraserheads is about escaping reality and Pupil is about accepting reality."
) due to the band's genre and musical style. While the band's carrier single, "Nasaan Ka?" was played often and achieved quite a popularity among listeners, other singles released from their album encountered more hurdles. The song "Nasaan Ka?" was used as main theme and "story" (based on lyrics) for the first episode of the second season of Your Song. Frontman Ely Buendia says, "Some pop radio stations are still making up their minds on 'Dianetic' which I personally don’t understand since it’s really just one of those straightforward love songs medyo on the noisy side nga lang (just a little bit on the noisy side)." "Then again, minsan talaga hindi mo maintindihan ang ibang radio stations (sometimes you cannot understand some radio stations). It’s not as if they don’t play songs by foreign artists like Nirvana
with music heavier on distorted electric guitar than ours. Pero okay lang (But that's okay), that’s the reality of things." He speculates that xenocentrism has something to do about the double standard these radio stations go by. Consequently, they were forced to release an acoustic
version of their second single, "Dianetic". The acoustic version of "Nasaan Ka?" was then used as a Bonus Track for Sony BMG's CD Sampler 2006 Volume 3.
However, the band had relatively early success as evidenced by advertising projects that they were involved with and local awards that they have won. They were featured as the Rising Star for the month of May, 2006 in MTV Philippines
. In the 19th Awit Awards held in Casino Filipino, they won the Award for Best Performance By A New Group Recording Artist/s category. They received another award for their first single, "Nasaan Ka?" at the MTV Pilipinas VMA 2006, bagging the Best Rock Video Award. Then, Wrigley's Juicy Fruit
chose them as their promotional models for their product along with Barbie Almalbis
, another local artist. They also received endorsement deals from Levi's, Puma
, Ray-Ban and Pony footwear
.
On November 26, 2006 Pupil won the SOP
Music Awards 2006 Breakthrough Recording Artist of The Year Award. "We don't think Pupil should've qualified as 'breakthrough artist' because this actually is our second album after we changed our name from The Mongols", says Ely.
The band also participated in the 2006 MTV
Staying Alive Music Summit for HIV
/AIDS
. Pupil’s fourth single, "Gamu-Gamo", quickly climbed NU 107
’s Stairway to Seven's number one spot within the first week of 2007. The band also performed a special 8-minute medley
(which included a cover of the Eraserheads hit, "Pare Ko") at the 2nd MYX Music Awards which was held on March 15, 2007 at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo.
, replaced Jugo. Garcia played his first gig as the new drummer on July 26, 2007 at the Hard Rock Cafe, Makati. The gig also featured new songs from Pupil's second album. The Mongols' Jerome Velasco played synths with the band. He is also the band's producer for their second album.
Since the release of the band’s second album (Wild Life), the band has enjoyed greater mainstream success and better album sales. The band has also toured and performed in other countries such as Singapore
, Qatar
, Dubai
, Canada
and USA. Their live performance of "Disconnection Notice" for MTV Philippines was featured in Best of MTV Live 2008. The same year, the band won 7 different awards which include a Promax/BDA and NU107 Artist of The Year.
Pupil was personally chosen by Nine Inch Nails
frontman Trent Reznor
as front act in the Manila
part of the "Nine Inch Nails: Wave Goodbye" tour, which was held at the Araneta Coliseum on August 5, 2009. The band Nine Inch Nails toured the globe for one last time before going on hiatus indefinitely, as 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of their first release.
This was followed by a film soundtrack, when the band composed and recorded "Ang Panday" for Ang Panday (2009 film)
. The band released their first book, entitled "Against The Light: A Pupil Tour Diary", it details their recent Summer Tour in the Philippines. It was launched on November 4, 2009 at the Bonifacio High Street
. Aside from the guest band Turbo Goth, Lally Buendia (Ely's sister) also guested and performed three songs from her band, Domino. Dok Sergio played bass, Lally on vocals, Ely played keyboard/synths and Paolo Manuel on drums. They joined The Earth Day
Concert at the SM Mall of Asia on April 16, 2010 and afterwards, opened for Tears for Fears
with Sandwich on May 2, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum. The band also performed with Amanda Ling as guest artist (formerly of Electrico
) on keyboards during the Nine Inch Nails and Tears for Fears events. During the Tears for Fears event, Buendia fronted for Sandwich, with Raimund Marasigan on drums, and performed the classic Eraserheads song "Alapaap".
In 2009, the band announced they will release a compilation of various remixes of the song "Disconnection Notice". It is headed by prominent Filipino DJs, Jerome Velasco, Pat Tirano and Wendell Garcia. The band also contributed to Francis Magalona's posthumous album, In Love and War
. After the release of "Limiters of the Infinity Pool" in 2011, it was followed by a USA tour, which included performances in Wilshire Ebell Theater, Ebell of Los Angeles
and Slim's
, San Francisco.
guitarist and frontman, Yael Yuzon
. The Yuzons are of Filipino and Basque
descent. He also taught theater direction at the Ateneo de Manila University
. His famous works include a pop-culture adaptation of Bertolt Brecht
’s "Three Penny Opera", "Linya", "Santuario" and a few more. Yan is also a band member of Archipelago
which he's also a lead singer of his band.
Being a very busy man, Yan is also a writer for ABS-CBN
’s TV show "Goin' Bulilit
". He also played the short role of Liam in ABS-CBN’s "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay
". His acting performances also include the role of Romeo in the Metropolitan Theater Guild's production of Romeo and Juliet
(which was used in Sponge Cola's "Gemini" music video), alongside Ina Feleo, daughter of Filipino actor, Johnny Delgado, with the role of Juliet. Yan has previously appeared in local renditions of other Shakespearean plays like "Merchant of Venice" and "Macbeth
". He also starred in an indie film titled "Three Boys" for Cinemanila. The film is about a band which is composed of Marc Abaya
(vocals and guitars), Ping Medina (bass) and Yan Yuzon (drums). It was directed by Ming Kai Leung and produced by Marie Jamora.
Yan also used to front for the indie neo-glam band called Cat Siamese. Yan uses an Gibson Robot Guitar
, Carvin classic white guitar, Fender Stratocaster
and Epiphone Les Paul. Yan Yuzon also launched his new band called Archipelago. Its members are Wendell Garcia on drums, Chad Rialp (of Sound and Liquid Jane) on bass, Pat Tirano (of Toi and Monkeyspank, co-produced Beautiful Machines
and also co-produced Sponge Cola's Transit and self-titled third album with Yan Yuzon) on lead guitars and Yan Yuzon himself on frontman duties.
He was also featured in an instrumental compilation called "Mga Gitarista" (The Guitarists), wherein it features various instrumental songs from Filipino guitarists from different OPM bands such as Barbie Almalbis
, Francis Reyes
, Mong Alcaraz
and Mike Elgar
. His song "Mount Ordeals" was inspired by Final Fantasy Series.
As of Pupil's third album, his guitar effects setup includes DOD Electronics
Octoplus, Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde and H20, Boss PS-2
and Vox
VDL-1.
bassist Japs Sergio
. Dok and Japs are also members of Daydream Cycle, doing bass and rhythm respectively.
Dok Sergio wrote the lyrics of "Dulo ng Dila" on the spot during recording. It is also the band's first song to hit no. 1 in NU 107
's Stairway to Seven chart. In addition, Dok wrote the lyrics of "Shooting Star" by The Teeth, which won the "Song of the Year" award at the NU 107
Rock Awards
2000.
He also runs a silkscreen printing business whose clients include some of the most prominent bands in the local Filipino rock scene today. Aside from The Teeth, one of Dok Sergio's former bands was Warehouse Club where he played guitars and lead vocals, his bandmates were from the members of the band The Youth (Robert Javier and Joseph Carrasgo) and Jun Dela Rosa. During his early days as a musician, he played for bands such as Purple Playground, God's Era and Prominence of Cathedrals.
Dok played bass for Imago
and now for indie-band Prank Sinatra. He sometimes jams with Sandwich
and played bass for them during the Myx Mo 2008. He uses a Squier
Jazz Bass and Fender Japan
Jazz Bass
Guitar, and recently, a 6-string Fender Bass. Today, aside from having reunited with The Teeth
, he also sometimes plays bass for Imago, where he also used to play bass with before.
and Triaxis, is Pupil's current drummer, who replaced Bogs Jugo in 2007. He was first featured in Pupil's second album. Garcia also played drums for Sponge Cola
as sessionist and as drummer for 6cyclemind
's Panorama album, he also co-produced the album with Buddy Zabala
, Ebe Dancel, and Francis Magalona
.
Garcia also composed the song "012" with Barbie Almalbis
and Kakoi Legaspi for "Parade" album. He also plays drums for the Jazz group named "Balooze". When Francis M
and Ely Buendia
recorded the song "Superproxy 2k6" for Ultraelectromagneticjam Eraserheads tribute, Wendell was responsible for the drum parts and played drums during the recording phase for Francis M's band, Hardware Syndrome. Garcia was the drummer for Juan Dela Cruz Band during their reunion concert.
Wendell also sings while playing drums, his recent performance was a cover of Lauren Wood's "Fallen" from Pretty Woman OST. He also shared his drumming skills for Rico Blanco
's Your Universe album and he also plays for Archipelago and sessioned for Nikki Gil
during her Myx
Live performance. Garcia started playing drums at the age of ten and has won multiple awards ever since.
/electronica
group Daydream Cycle, where he also recorded, produced and mastered the band's first album. Bogs is into video games, he once worked as an online customer assistance representative for an international videogame console company.
Playing “Hypersober” live was a different set-up for the band. Yan played the drums. Dok gets to play the guitars. Ely did the bass, and of course, Bogs on vocals. Bogs also used "d lite" and "Boga Man" as a nickname during the early days of The Mongols. He was also a member of the band Water No-nos, with Japs Sergio, and has played with other bands as guitarist and drummer.
On July 25, 2007, Yan Yuzon announced in Pupil's mailing list that Bogs Jugo left the band to pursue other things for his career. However, Yuzon said that Jugo had already expressed his desire to quit his duties for both of his bands, Pupil and Daydream Cycle, as early as the summer of 2007. Bogs, a pioneer member of the group since The Mongols, ensured smooth transition for Pupil into its current new lineup. He was replaced by Wendell Garcia, formerly of Barbie's Cradle
.
Contrary to speculations, he did not leave the music industry at all. Jugo is still a musician, but more within the indie and underground scene; perhaps to give way to his other activities and new career. After he left Pupil and DDC, he also sessioned with Nina
’s live band as drummer and also for Tawo band. Currently he is the drummer for Us-2 Evil-0, and he also plays guitars for She Hates Ballet.
, The Mongols and Daydream Cycle. He was known as "J. Astro the boy who fell on earth" while he was the lead guitarist of The Mongols. His other bands were Aspirin and Candyaudioline, and he plays ambient guitars and keyboards for The Slave Drum.
In the 2004 NU Rock Awards, Velasco won Guitarist of the Year award, for the Mongols' Buddha's Pest. Although he left The Mongols in 2005, he later returned as a collaborator, composer, producer and guest artist (during live performances) for the band. His latest works with Pupil include Beautiful Machines
and Wild Life
.
worked with the band as co-producer of Beautiful Machines and he also mastered Wild Life album. Tirano is in charge of helping the band create unique sounds. According to pupil.ph, "aside from being the band's main sound forger, he also takes time and documents Pupil's life on video." He's also a member of Archipelago, TOI
, Monkeyspank and Rugis.
and now co-manages Pupil with Diane Ventura. She first wrote "Sumasabay" as a literary piece which was later translated by Dok Sergio into a song.
, Pupil's debut album, was released on November 10, 2005 under Sony BMG, the same music company that publishes The Eraserheads'
music. The band itself describes their music as "dark, loud, and romantic." Yan Yuzon describes their genre as "everyrock" meaning an amorphous mass of rock and roll
, classic
and stadium rock
, punk
, new wave
, glam rock
, goth rock, heavy metal
, grunge
, and everything in between. It is very guitar-driven, stripped down, and the album has a very distinct sound, considering that it is the band's debut album. The album was recorded digitally at Wombworks in Marikina
, the studio founded by Louie Talan of Razorback
. “We didn’t use amps at all,” Buendia says. The album was mastered at Tweak Merville by Zach Lucero, drummer of the band, Imago
.
animated film Hoodwinked
, from The Weinstein Company
. An instrumental version of the song was played in the background of the Granny Xtreme skiing scene. The film's soundtrack was released under Rykodisc
. Most animations and visuals of Hoodwinked were created and processed at Digital Eye Candy, Makati City
. One of the head animators behind the Hoodwinked team, Gorio Vicuna, is the one who designed and directed the album cover and sleeve layout of "Beautiful Machines
” album. A line in the lyrics of the song says “no one told you I was abroad”, which in turn, the song was actually used in an international movie.
were chosen by Juicy Fruit as their advertising models to reach out to the younger generation in their Rockoustic Mania advertising events. The promotion included Juicy Fruit's Tugtog Mo! band competition, and Style mo! competition by Human and Pony footwear
. The collaboration between the two artists offers a fusion of Rock
and Acoustic
. The AVCD
features two songs, the music videos and some behind the scenes look at the artists' works. It was released on August 24, 2006 under Sony BMG and Warner Music.
The Juicy Fruit
Rockoustic Mania Final Fusion event was held on November 17, at the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (Folk Arts Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines
. The show featured performances from Barbie Almalbis and Pupil, guest bands Sugarfree
and Up Dharma Down
, and of course, from the three finalists, WTC 11, Medea, and 7th Skool. The band 7th Skool won the Tugtog Mo! Band Competition.
Audio:
1. Nakakabaliw (E. Buendia, D. Ventura)
2. Must Have (E. Buendia, B. Almalbis, D. Sergio)
Video:
1. Nakakabaliw (Directed by RA Rivera)
2. Must Have (Directed by Pancho Esguerra)
3. MYX News http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnVmWyB86xg
During the Rockoustic Mania Press Launch at Phi Bar Metrowalk held on June 14, 2006, Barbie Almalbis
and Pupil played their songs separately as they showed the crowd their own music styles and genre. They also jammed together and as a bonus, Barbie sang the Eraserheads classic “Overdrive” and on the other hand, “Alapaap” was performed by Pupil.
. The song also gained no. 1 spot in NU 107's Stairway to Seven chart within just two weeks after the radio launch and the band was a prominent guest in Mad Mad Fun
.
Pupil had been part of Animax
Fashion-Ability event, where they made special appearance at the event, played their music, and talked about their fashion style. The band's first onstage public appearance after Ely’s recovery was also with Animax. It was on Saturday, February 10, 2007 when the band performed at The Music Hall in SM Mall of Asia, in an Animax
speed-dating
and welcome celebration for Valentine’s Day event called “Love Is In The Air”. The band was also featured (along with Sponge Cola
and Urbandub
) in a show called MUSIC STATION
, which also airs on Animax.
The song had its official local launch Tuesday, May 22, 2007 in an exclusive Animax Party at the Hard Rock Cafe Makati, wherein 50 pairs of tickets were given away in a contest. The band had their first overseas gig on the 27th of May at the Bar None bar in Marriott Hotel, Orchard Road
, Singapore
. The Singaporean-act The Great Spy Experiment opened for that night's "Bar None Rock Affair" gig. An interview with the band was aired on Friday, June 1, 2007 and Pupil was interviewed on Animax's "Music Talk" by Francis "Brew" Reyes of The Dawn
. The Asia
-wide launching of the music video of "Set Me Apart" was aired on June 8, 2007 at exactly 7pm on Animax. The music video features the band as "live" anime
-styled characters, like cosplayers.
The production of the music video is a first of its kind for a Filipino band, most scenes and characters were done using traditional hand-drawn 2D
animation subsequently softly blended with 3D
and CGI
. One of the famous anime films that used this technique is Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
, which is also a personal favourite of Ely (as evident with The Mongols' "Case Logic" lyrics and interviews). It was filmed in the Philippines, processed in Malaysia by Hue Visualab, and launched in Animax's ASEAN headquarters in Singapore.
The song won a Promax/BDA award in 2008, making Pupil the first Filipino band to win such award.
, their second album under Sony BMG, features 12 tracks. It featured photography work by Francis Magalona
. All 11 new tracks features Wendell Garcia as the band's new drummer, while the 12th track, "Set Me Apart", featured Bogs Jugo as the drummer, as his last song with Pupil. The album was recorded in Soundsrite studio in Kalayaan Ave., Makati City. Where its owned and operated by Boyet Aquino, the original drummer of Francis Magalona's band called Hardware Syndrome where Wendell Garcia used to play drums with. The special edition was released on July 10, 2009.
Amanda Ling and Francis "Brew" Reyes are also part of the album. It is co-produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Pat Tirano at Wombworks, the band describes their new album "The sound is bigger, more experimental than the first two albums. There's a live string section", with influences from Wall of Sound
, Michael Jackson
and many others. The third album is officially called "Limiters of the Infinity Pool", released on January 11, 2011 at Robot Bar, Makati City. The album features the songs "Let Her Rip", "Distortion", "TNT", "20-20", "Pikit Bukas", "Pusakal", "Pampalakas", "One Two", "Obese", "Deft Mechanic", "Morning Gift" and "The Low End". According to Buendia, aside from being downloadable on iTunes
and Amazon.com
, the band will also be releasing a Vinyl
version of the album.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
rock
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
band composed of Ely Buendia
Ely Buendía
Eleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads...
on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.
Formation
Pupil was formed when Dok Sergio from the bands The TeethThe Teeth (Filipino band)
-History:The Filipino Grunge band Teeth was born during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s and exploded onto the airwaves with laklak, a tale of youthful excess that became an anthem for drinking. The track topped the charts of the Philippines' adventurous alternative rock station LA-105 for 12...
and Daydream Cycle joined The Mongols' line-up during the fourth quarter of 2004, making it a five-man band. The Mongols' bassist Yan Yuzon moved to third guitar duties while Dok Sergio handled bass. The transitional five-man line-up was witnessed in The Mongols’ last single and music video entitled “Heroine”. In May 2005, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, Jerome Velasco, a.k.a J. Astro, left to pursue a career in producing and recording
Recording
Recording is the process of capturing data or translating information to a recording format stored on some storage medium, which is often referred to as a record or, if an auditory medium, a recording....
studio engineering. The group's last gig under the name "The Mongols" was on July 7, 2005.
Velasco’s departure shook things up for the group as they were trapped into the decision of whether to stay as a band or not. As they decided to continue and as they progressed, the band noticed that they were producing a different sound without Velasco on the lead guitar and decided to form a "new" band. “We got a better bass player and dumber guitarist,” jokes guitarist Yan Yuzon, who left bass playing duties to Dok Sergio to take Velasco’s place. Upon the determination of forming a “new” band, the group’s first move was to change their name.
Frontman Ely Buendia chanced upon the name "Pupil" while browsing a medical book. The band wanted a classic name for a rock band. Before using Pupil, they tried several other names, such as Villain, Lords of Nasdaq, The Gets, Trochlean, Traitors, and Tyrel Corp. They chose the name Pupil because Buendia liked the fact that it is the part of the eye where light enters. Guitarist Yan Yuzon likes its double meaning, as well as the “eternal learning” connotations of the name. Pupil's launch gig was on July 13, 2005 at the UP
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
Bahay ng Alumni. Pupil also joined Livestock Productions. It was an event group with members such us Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola is a Filipino rock band formed in 2002 which produced many hit songs including "Lunes" , "KLSP", "Jeepney", "Makapiling Ka" and many others....
, Kiko Machine, Menaya, Tawo, Sleepyheads, and Elytistas.
Resurgence
Pupil had a hard time searching for a record label. They submitted their demo to several labels, but no one was more enthusiastic about the new material than the newly-merged Sony BMG. Incidentally, Ely left BMG Pilipinas in 2002 in the wake of his falling out with the Eraserheads. However, BMGBMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
accepted Buendia again like a "prodigal son" as he himself describes it in their debut album's insert.
The band admits that there is a distinct challenge for them, coming out of their past bands (Eraserheads and The Teeth). The challenge is particularly pronounced on frontman, Ely Buendia, since older fans tend to compare him and his new band with the huge popularity of The Eraserheads before. In an interview by Y. Losorata he says, "I just want my fans and hopefully, my fans to be, to appreciate my music. I’m lucky to still have my career in music as a job and as part of Pupil wala akong (I don't have) delusions to become as big as my previous band was." In fact, the band itself describes their music as actually "one foot in the past, one foot in the present and both eyes dead set at the future." According to Buendia, it's not being there but getting there that's exciting for him, no matter how many times he tries to get there. He later added in a different interview, "Let’s just say that the Eraserheads is about escaping reality and Pupil is about accepting reality."
Reception and success
Local radio stations' initial reception of Pupil's music, though, was relatively limited (with the exception of NU 107NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
) due to the band's genre and musical style. While the band's carrier single, "Nasaan Ka?" was played often and achieved quite a popularity among listeners, other singles released from their album encountered more hurdles. The song "Nasaan Ka?" was used as main theme and "story" (based on lyrics) for the first episode of the second season of Your Song. Frontman Ely Buendia says, "Some pop radio stations are still making up their minds on 'Dianetic' which I personally don’t understand since it’s really just one of those straightforward love songs medyo on the noisy side nga lang (just a little bit on the noisy side)." "Then again, minsan talaga hindi mo maintindihan ang ibang radio stations (sometimes you cannot understand some radio stations). It’s not as if they don’t play songs by foreign artists like Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
with music heavier on distorted electric guitar than ours. Pero okay lang (But that's okay), that’s the reality of things." He speculates that xenocentrism has something to do about the double standard these radio stations go by. Consequently, they were forced to release an acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
version of their second single, "Dianetic". The acoustic version of "Nasaan Ka?" was then used as a Bonus Track for Sony BMG's CD Sampler 2006 Volume 3.
However, the band had relatively early success as evidenced by advertising projects that they were involved with and local awards that they have won. They were featured as the Rising Star for the month of May, 2006 in MTV Philippines
MTV Philippines
MTV Philippines was a 24-hour music/entertainment television network owned by All Youth Channels, Inc., with a partnership with MTV Networks Asia Pacific...
. In the 19th Awit Awards held in Casino Filipino, they won the Award for Best Performance By A New Group Recording Artist/s category. They received another award for their first single, "Nasaan Ka?" at the MTV Pilipinas VMA 2006, bagging the Best Rock Video Award. Then, Wrigley's Juicy Fruit
Juicy Fruit
Juicy Fruit is a brand of chewing gum made by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a U.S. company that since 2008 has been a subsidiary of the privately-held Mars, Incorporated. It was introduced in 1893, and in the 21st century the brand name is recognized by 99 percent of Americans, with total sales in...
chose them as their promotional models for their product along with Barbie Almalbis
Barbie Almalbis
* Dahilan* Give Yourself Away* Overdrive * Damsel* Sorry Song* Parading* Little Miss Spider* High * Summer Day* Pag-alis* For The World...
, another local artist. They also received endorsement deals from Levi's, Puma
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
, Ray-Ban and Pony footwear
Pony International
Pony International, commonly referred to as simply Pony, is an American brand of footwear and other apparel. Founded in 1972 on Madison Avenue in New York, Pony was created by industry veteran Roberto Mueller, along with financing provided by adidas Chairman Horst Dassler . Pony became one of the...
.
On November 26, 2006 Pupil won the SOP
SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare)
SOP was a Philippine noontime music/variety show aired by GMA Network. The show airs from 12pm-3pm on Sundays. The show is broadcast from Studio 4 at the GMA Network Studios. The show title stands for "Sobrang Okey, Pare!" a Filipino expression which connotes enjoyment and appreciation of a...
Music Awards 2006 Breakthrough Recording Artist of The Year Award. "We don't think Pupil should've qualified as 'breakthrough artist' because this actually is our second album after we changed our name from The Mongols", says Ely.
The band also participated in the 2006 MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Staying Alive Music Summit for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. Pupil’s fourth single, "Gamu-Gamo", quickly climbed NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
’s Stairway to Seven's number one spot within the first week of 2007. The band also performed a special 8-minute medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
(which included a cover of the Eraserheads hit, "Pare Ko") at the 2nd MYX Music Awards which was held on March 15, 2007 at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo.
New drummer and mainstream
On July 25, 2007, Yan Yuzon announced in Pupil's mailing list that Bogs Jugo, the band's drummer, left the band to pursue other things for his career. Wendell Garcia, formerly of Barbie's CradleBarbie's Cradle
Barbie's Cradle was a Filipino alternative rock band, formed in 1998 by the remaining members of Barbie Almalbis's previous band, Hungry Young Poets, and disbanded in 2005 when Almalbis took up a solo career...
, replaced Jugo. Garcia played his first gig as the new drummer on July 26, 2007 at the Hard Rock Cafe, Makati. The gig also featured new songs from Pupil's second album. The Mongols' Jerome Velasco played synths with the band. He is also the band's producer for their second album.
Since the release of the band’s second album (Wild Life), the band has enjoyed greater mainstream success and better album sales. The band has also toured and performed in other countries such as Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and USA. Their live performance of "Disconnection Notice" for MTV Philippines was featured in Best of MTV Live 2008. The same year, the band won 7 different awards which include a Promax/BDA and NU107 Artist of The Year.
Pupil was personally chosen by Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
frontman Trent Reznor
Trent Reznor
Michael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
as front act in the Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
part of the "Nine Inch Nails: Wave Goodbye" tour, which was held at the Araneta Coliseum on August 5, 2009. The band Nine Inch Nails toured the globe for one last time before going on hiatus indefinitely, as 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of their first release.
This was followed by a film soundtrack, when the band composed and recorded "Ang Panday" for Ang Panday (2009 film)
Ang Panday (2009 film)
Ang Panday is a 2009 Filipino fantasy film that adapts Carlo J. Caparas' Panday comics. Directed by Rico Gutierrez and Mac Alejandre, the film adaptation stars Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. as the title character...
. The band released their first book, entitled "Against The Light: A Pupil Tour Diary", it details their recent Summer Tour in the Philippines. It was launched on November 4, 2009 at the Bonifacio High Street
Fort Bonifacio
Fort Bonifacio is a highly urbanized district in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The district is named after the main Philippine Army camp in Metro Manila, Fort Andres Bonifacio, which in turn was named after the famous Philippine revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio...
. Aside from the guest band Turbo Goth, Lally Buendia (Ely's sister) also guested and performed three songs from her band, Domino. Dok Sergio played bass, Lally on vocals, Ely played keyboard/synths and Paolo Manuel on drums. They joined The Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
Concert at the SM Mall of Asia on April 16, 2010 and afterwards, opened for Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
with Sandwich on May 2, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum. The band also performed with Amanda Ling as guest artist (formerly of Electrico
Electrico
Electrico is a pop rock and indie Singaporean band originally formed in Singapore in 1996, which went by the name Electric Company in 1996. This band is still active with the present line-up which includes David Tan, Desmond Goh, William Lim Jr.- Electric Company: 1996-1997 :Electric Company was...
) on keyboards during the Nine Inch Nails and Tears for Fears events. During the Tears for Fears event, Buendia fronted for Sandwich, with Raimund Marasigan on drums, and performed the classic Eraserheads song "Alapaap".
In 2009, the band announced they will release a compilation of various remixes of the song "Disconnection Notice". It is headed by prominent Filipino DJs, Jerome Velasco, Pat Tirano and Wendell Garcia. The band also contributed to Francis Magalona's posthumous album, In Love and War
In Love and War (album)
In Love and War, is a studio album collaborated by Rapper Francis Magalona, and Eraserheads and Pupil vocalist Ely Buendia. It has 10 tracks and released under Sony Music Philippines in 2010...
. After the release of "Limiters of the Infinity Pool" in 2011, it was followed by a USA tour, which included performances in Wilshire Ebell Theater, Ebell of Los Angeles
Ebell of Los Angeles
The Ebell of Los Angeles is a women's club housed in a complex in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles that includes a clubhouse building and the renowned 1,270-seat Wilshire Ebell Theatre....
and Slim's
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
, San Francisco.
Yan Yuzon
Born on March 7, 1978, Lead guitarist Yan Yrastorza Yuzon is the older brother of Sponge ColaSponge Cola
Sponge Cola is a Filipino rock band formed in 2002 which produced many hit songs including "Lunes" , "KLSP", "Jeepney", "Makapiling Ka" and many others....
guitarist and frontman, Yael Yuzon
Yael Yuzon
Yael Yuzon is the male singer and vocalist of Sponge Cola.-Early Life:Ysmael Yrastorza Yuzon is the real name of Yael Yuzon. He was born on November 22, 1983 in Manila. He is also the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Filipino band, Sponge Cola....
. The Yuzons are of Filipino and Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent. He also taught theater direction at the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
. His famous works include a pop-culture adaptation of Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
’s "Three Penny Opera", "Linya", "Santuario" and a few more. Yan is also a band member of Archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
which he's also a lead singer of his band.
Being a very busy man, Yan is also a writer for ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
’s TV show "Goin' Bulilit
Goin' Bulilit
Goin' Bulilit is a sketch comedy show broadcasted on and by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. It is a gag show featuring children in various comedic situations. It is the rival of the now defunct GMA show "Bubble Gang Jr."....
". He also played the short role of Liam in ABS-CBN’s "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay
Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay
Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay / Timeless is a Filipino soap opera, produced by ABS-CBN and Star Cinema. It started in the year 2002 and ended in the year 2003...
". His acting performances also include the role of Romeo in the Metropolitan Theater Guild's production of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
(which was used in Sponge Cola's "Gemini" music video), alongside Ina Feleo, daughter of Filipino actor, Johnny Delgado, with the role of Juliet. Yan has previously appeared in local renditions of other Shakespearean plays like "Merchant of Venice" and "Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
". He also starred in an indie film titled "Three Boys" for Cinemanila. The film is about a band which is composed of Marc Abaya
Marc Abaya
Ramon Marcelino "Marc" Diaz-Abaya is a Filipino musician, TV host, VJ, and occasional actor. Abaya appeared in the 2009 Philippine release of Tinker Bell....
(vocals and guitars), Ping Medina (bass) and Yan Yuzon (drums). It was directed by Ming Kai Leung and produced by Marie Jamora.
Yan also used to front for the indie neo-glam band called Cat Siamese. Yan uses an Gibson Robot Guitar
Gibson Robot Guitar
The Gibson Robot Guitar typically refers to a sub-class of Les Paul style guitars from Gibson. This is because the first run of limited edition Robot Guitars was exclusively made up of Les Paul bodies...
, Carvin classic white guitar, Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
and Epiphone Les Paul. Yan Yuzon also launched his new band called Archipelago. Its members are Wendell Garcia on drums, Chad Rialp (of Sound and Liquid Jane) on bass, Pat Tirano (of Toi and Monkeyspank, co-produced Beautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines is the debut album of the Pinoy rock band, Pupil. It was released on November 10, 2005 under Sony BMG, the same music company that publishes the Eraserheads' music. The band itself describes their music as "dark, loud, and romantic." It is very guitar-driven, stripped down, and...
and also co-produced Sponge Cola's Transit and self-titled third album with Yan Yuzon) on lead guitars and Yan Yuzon himself on frontman duties.
He was also featured in an instrumental compilation called "Mga Gitarista" (The Guitarists), wherein it features various instrumental songs from Filipino guitarists from different OPM bands such as Barbie Almalbis
Barbie Almalbis
* Dahilan* Give Yourself Away* Overdrive * Damsel* Sorry Song* Parading* Little Miss Spider* High * Summer Day* Pag-alis* For The World...
, Francis Reyes
The Dawn (band)
The Dawn is a Filipino rock band which first achieved commercial success during the late 1980s in the Philippines. The band broke up in 1995 with lead vocalist Jett Pangan forming another band, the Jett Pangan Group. The Dawn reunited in late 1999...
, Mong Alcaraz
Sandwich (band)
Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon to play drums and Myrene Academia to handle bass...
and Mike Elgar
Rivermaya
Rivermaya is one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and significant Filipino rock band formed in 1993. They are one of the several bands who spearheads the 90s Philippine alternative rock explosion...
. His song "Mount Ordeals" was inspired by Final Fantasy Series.
As of Pupil's third album, his guitar effects setup includes DOD Electronics
DOD Electronics
DOD Electronics or simply DOD is a Harman International company specializing in making guitar effects pedals, most of which are now discontinued. Additionally, the company has made active crossover gear....
Octoplus, Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde and H20, Boss PS-2
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
and Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
VDL-1.
Dok Sergio
Born on February 27, 1976, Bassist Andrew Ryan Steve Ricafranca Sergio is the brother of Rivermaya'sRivermaya
Rivermaya is one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and significant Filipino rock band formed in 1993. They are one of the several bands who spearheads the 90s Philippine alternative rock explosion...
bassist Japs Sergio
Japs Sergio
Japs Sergio is the bassist/vocalist of the Filipino band Rivermaya.-Career:Sergio took over the role of Nathan Azarcon when the latter left the band in March 2001. Known to many as Japs, Japsuki, and JP, he is actually a drummer...
. Dok and Japs are also members of Daydream Cycle, doing bass and rhythm respectively.
Dok Sergio wrote the lyrics of "Dulo ng Dila" on the spot during recording. It is also the band's first song to hit no. 1 in NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
's Stairway to Seven chart. In addition, Dok wrote the lyrics of "Shooting Star" by The Teeth, which won the "Song of the Year" award at the NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
Rock Awards
NU Rock Awards
The NU Rock Awards was an annual recognition program sponsored from 1994 to 2010 by the defunct Metro Manila based radio station NU 107.1. 1994 saw the birth of what is to become the biggest annual gathering of the finest rock musicians in the country—the NU 107 Rock Awards! The very first NU 107...
2000.
He also runs a silkscreen printing business whose clients include some of the most prominent bands in the local Filipino rock scene today. Aside from The Teeth, one of Dok Sergio's former bands was Warehouse Club where he played guitars and lead vocals, his bandmates were from the members of the band The Youth (Robert Javier and Joseph Carrasgo) and Jun Dela Rosa. During his early days as a musician, he played for bands such as Purple Playground, God's Era and Prominence of Cathedrals.
Dok played bass for Imago
Imago (band)
Imago is a Filipino pop rock band composed of Aia De Leon, Myrene "Maps" Academia , Tim Cacho and Zach Lucero known for songs such as Akap, Anino, Ewan, Taralets and Sundo.-History:...
and now for indie-band Prank Sinatra. He sometimes jams with Sandwich
Sandwich (band)
Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon to play drums and Myrene Academia to handle bass...
and played bass for them during the Myx Mo 2008. He uses a Squier
Squier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
Jazz Bass and Fender Japan
Fender Japan
Fender Japan is the Japanese division of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender Japan was officially created in March 1982 and consists of two Japanese Music companies that handle the ordering and distribution. The two companies are Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai...
Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
Guitar, and recently, a 6-string Fender Bass. Today, aside from having reunited with The Teeth
The Teeth (Filipino band)
-History:The Filipino Grunge band Teeth was born during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s and exploded onto the airwaves with laklak, a tale of youthful excess that became an anthem for drinking. The track topped the charts of the Philippines' adventurous alternative rock station LA-105 for 12...
, he also sometimes plays bass for Imago, where he also used to play bass with before.
Ely Buendia
Born on November 2, 1970, Eleandre Basiño Buendía is the band's frontman and guitarist.Wendell Garcia
Born on May 27, 1976, Wendell Ray C. Garcia, formerly of Barbie's CradleBarbie's Cradle
Barbie's Cradle was a Filipino alternative rock band, formed in 1998 by the remaining members of Barbie Almalbis's previous band, Hungry Young Poets, and disbanded in 2005 when Almalbis took up a solo career...
and Triaxis, is Pupil's current drummer, who replaced Bogs Jugo in 2007. He was first featured in Pupil's second album. Garcia also played drums for Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola is a Filipino rock band formed in 2002 which produced many hit songs including "Lunes" , "KLSP", "Jeepney", "Makapiling Ka" and many others....
as sessionist and as drummer for 6cyclemind
6cyclemind
6cyclemind is a Filipino band composed of Tito Fortunato "Tutti" Caringal on vocals, Ryan "Rye" Sarmiento on rhythm guitars and backing vocals, Roberto "Bob" Cañamo on bass guitar and Herbert Hernandez on lead guitar...
's Panorama album, he also co-produced the album with Buddy Zabala
Buddy Zabala
Hector "Buddy" Avanceña Zabala is the bassist of Filipino new wave band The Dawn, indie band Cambio, and widely known as the bassist of the now disbanded alternative rock band, The Eraserheads.-Eraserheads bassist :...
, Ebe Dancel, and Francis Magalona
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
.
Garcia also composed the song "012" with Barbie Almalbis
Barbie Almalbis
* Dahilan* Give Yourself Away* Overdrive * Damsel* Sorry Song* Parading* Little Miss Spider* High * Summer Day* Pag-alis* For The World...
and Kakoi Legaspi for "Parade" album. He also plays drums for the Jazz group named "Balooze". When Francis M
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
and Ely Buendia
Ely Buendía
Eleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads...
recorded the song "Superproxy 2k6" for Ultraelectromagneticjam Eraserheads tribute, Wendell was responsible for the drum parts and played drums during the recording phase for Francis M's band, Hardware Syndrome. Garcia was the drummer for Juan Dela Cruz Band during their reunion concert.
Wendell also sings while playing drums, his recent performance was a cover of Lauren Wood's "Fallen" from Pretty Woman OST. He also shared his drumming skills for Rico Blanco
Rico Blanco
Rico Blanco is a Filipino singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. As a solo artist and with his former band, Rivermaya, Blanco has so far recorded, written and produced more local and regional number one hits than any other musician since 1994 and has sold over a...
's Your Universe album and he also plays for Archipelago and sessioned for Nikki Gil
Nikki Gil
Monica Pauline "Nikki" Gil is a Filipino singer, actress, host, model and myx VJ.-Biography:Monica Pauline Gil was born in Manila to Dino and Julie Gil. She is of Filipino, Spanish and German descent...
during her Myx
Myx
myx or MYX is the music channel of ABS-CBN brand and the #1 music channel in the Philippines. It is also a part of Studio 23's program line-up. In 2007, MYX North America was launched in the United States....
Live performance. Garcia started playing drums at the age of ten and has won multiple awards ever since.
Bogs Jugo
Born on February 17, 1979, Drummer Ricardo Nicholas Bañaga Jugo is also the synth and beat programmer for the dream popDream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
/electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
group Daydream Cycle, where he also recorded, produced and mastered the band's first album. Bogs is into video games, he once worked as an online customer assistance representative for an international videogame console company.
Playing “Hypersober” live was a different set-up for the band. Yan played the drums. Dok gets to play the guitars. Ely did the bass, and of course, Bogs on vocals. Bogs also used "d lite" and "Boga Man" as a nickname during the early days of The Mongols. He was also a member of the band Water No-nos, with Japs Sergio, and has played with other bands as guitarist and drummer.
On July 25, 2007, Yan Yuzon announced in Pupil's mailing list that Bogs Jugo left the band to pursue other things for his career. However, Yuzon said that Jugo had already expressed his desire to quit his duties for both of his bands, Pupil and Daydream Cycle, as early as the summer of 2007. Bogs, a pioneer member of the group since The Mongols, ensured smooth transition for Pupil into its current new lineup. He was replaced by Wendell Garcia, formerly of Barbie's Cradle
Barbie's Cradle
Barbie's Cradle was a Filipino alternative rock band, formed in 1998 by the remaining members of Barbie Almalbis's previous band, Hungry Young Poets, and disbanded in 2005 when Almalbis took up a solo career...
.
Contrary to speculations, he did not leave the music industry at all. Jugo is still a musician, but more within the indie and underground scene; perhaps to give way to his other activities and new career. After he left Pupil and DDC, he also sessioned with Nina
Nina Girado
Marifil Niña Girado , better known by her stage name Nina, is a Filipino pop/R&B singer, occasional songwriter, record producer, TV and radio personality. She made her recording debut in 2002 after signing a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines...
’s live band as drummer and also for Tawo band. Currently he is the drummer for Us-2 Evil-0, and he also plays guitars for She Hates Ballet.
Jerome Velasco
Velasco was a pioneer member of The TeethThe Teeth (Filipino band)
-History:The Filipino Grunge band Teeth was born during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s and exploded onto the airwaves with laklak, a tale of youthful excess that became an anthem for drinking. The track topped the charts of the Philippines' adventurous alternative rock station LA-105 for 12...
, The Mongols and Daydream Cycle. He was known as "J. Astro the boy who fell on earth" while he was the lead guitarist of The Mongols. His other bands were Aspirin and Candyaudioline, and he plays ambient guitars and keyboards for The Slave Drum.
In the 2004 NU Rock Awards, Velasco won Guitarist of the Year award, for the Mongols' Buddha's Pest. Although he left The Mongols in 2005, he later returned as a collaborator, composer, producer and guest artist (during live performances) for the band. His latest works with Pupil include Beautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines is the debut album of the Pinoy rock band, Pupil. It was released on November 10, 2005 under Sony BMG, the same music company that publishes the Eraserheads' music. The band itself describes their music as "dark, loud, and romantic." It is very guitar-driven, stripped down, and...
and Wild Life
Wild Life (Pupil album)
Wild Life is the second album of the Pinoy rock band, Pupil. The album features Wendell Garcia as the band's new drummer. The band's former drummer, Bogs Jugo, still plays drums in the track, "Set Me Apart," the band's last song with him....
.
Patrick Tirano
Patrick TiranoPatrick Tirano
Patrick Darroles Tirano, best known simply as "Pat Tirano", is a Filipino musician, sound engineer and producer. He plays music with numerous acts in the Philippine music scene, including Monkeyspank, Archipelago, Soaked in Scissors, and TOI...
worked with the band as co-producer of Beautiful Machines and he also mastered Wild Life album. Tirano is in charge of helping the band create unique sounds. According to pupil.ph, "aside from being the band's main sound forger, he also takes time and documents Pupil's life on video." He's also a member of Archipelago, TOI
TOI (band)
TOI, pronounced "toy" and sometimes mistakenly referred to by the name of its website "TOI Kingdom", is a Filipino indie musical group whose musical range includes folk rock, blues, jazz, and electronic music, often in some experimental combination...
, Monkeyspank and Rugis.
Dr. Day Cabuhat
Dr. Day Cabuhat once managed The EraserheadsThe Eraserheads
Eraserheads, or E-Heads was a Filipino rock band of the 90s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of OPM...
and now co-manages Pupil with Diane Ventura. She first wrote "Sumasabay" as a literary piece which was later translated by Dok Sergio into a song.
Diane Ventura
Aside from being a manager, she has co-written a number of the band's songs and has shared her singing voice as both lead and backing vocals.Beautiful Machines
Beautiful MachinesBeautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines is the debut album of the Pinoy rock band, Pupil. It was released on November 10, 2005 under Sony BMG, the same music company that publishes the Eraserheads' music. The band itself describes their music as "dark, loud, and romantic." It is very guitar-driven, stripped down, and...
, Pupil's debut album, was released on November 10, 2005 under Sony BMG, the same music company that publishes The Eraserheads'
The Eraserheads
Eraserheads, or E-Heads was a Filipino rock band of the 90s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of OPM...
music. The band itself describes their music as "dark, loud, and romantic." Yan Yuzon describes their genre as "everyrock" meaning an amorphous mass of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, classic
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
and stadium rock
Arena rock
Arena rock is a term used to describe rock music that utilised large arena venues, particularly sports venues, for concerts or series of concerts linked in tours...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
, goth rock, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, and everything in between. It is very guitar-driven, stripped down, and the album has a very distinct sound, considering that it is the band's debut album. The album was recorded digitally at Wombworks in Marikina
Marikina City
Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of...
, the studio founded by Louie Talan of Razorback
Razorback (band)
Razorback is a Filipino hard rock band formed in 1990. Originally known for being regulars at the now-defunct Kalye, a club in Makati, the band had proven their onstage mettle many times over, via their own club gigs to full-scale concerts as well as for having opened for Rage Against the Machine...
. “We didn’t use amps at all,” Buendia says. The album was mastered at Tweak Merville by Zach Lucero, drummer of the band, Imago
Imago (band)
Imago is a Filipino pop rock band composed of Aia De Leon, Myrene "Maps" Academia , Tim Cacho and Zach Lucero known for songs such as Akap, Anino, Ewan, Taralets and Sundo.-History:...
.
Hoodwinked Soundtrack
One of the band's songs entitled "Blow Your House Down" was featured in a Hollywood CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
animated film Hoodwinked
Hoodwinked
Hoodwinked!, also titled Hoodwinked on its theatrical poster and in other sources, is a 2005 American computer-animated family action comedy film, produced by Blue Yonder Films with Kanbar Entertainment, directed by Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards, Tony Leech, and produced by Maurice Kanbar, David K....
, from The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company is an American film studio founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 2005 after the brothers left the then-Disney-owned Miramax Films, which they had co-founded in 1979...
. An instrumental version of the song was played in the background of the Granny Xtreme skiing scene. The film's soundtrack was released under Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
. Most animations and visuals of Hoodwinked were created and processed at Digital Eye Candy, Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
. One of the head animators behind the Hoodwinked team, Gorio Vicuna, is the one who designed and directed the album cover and sleeve layout of "Beautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines
Beautiful Machines is the debut album of the Pinoy rock band, Pupil. It was released on November 10, 2005 under Sony BMG, the same music company that publishes the Eraserheads' music. The band itself describes their music as "dark, loud, and romantic." It is very guitar-driven, stripped down, and...
” album. A line in the lyrics of the song says “no one told you I was abroad”, which in turn, the song was actually used in an international movie.
Rockoustic Mania
Pupil and Barbie AlmalbisBarbie Almalbis
* Dahilan* Give Yourself Away* Overdrive * Damsel* Sorry Song* Parading* Little Miss Spider* High * Summer Day* Pag-alis* For The World...
were chosen by Juicy Fruit as their advertising models to reach out to the younger generation in their Rockoustic Mania advertising events. The promotion included Juicy Fruit's Tugtog Mo! band competition, and Style mo! competition by Human and Pony footwear
Pony International
Pony International, commonly referred to as simply Pony, is an American brand of footwear and other apparel. Founded in 1972 on Madison Avenue in New York, Pony was created by industry veteran Roberto Mueller, along with financing provided by adidas Chairman Horst Dassler . Pony became one of the...
. The collaboration between the two artists offers a fusion of Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and Acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
. The AVCD
Video CD
Before the advent of DVD and Blu-ray, the Video CD became the first format for distributing films on standard 120 mm optical discs. The format is a standard digital format for storing video on a Compact Disc...
features two songs, the music videos and some behind the scenes look at the artists' works. It was released on August 24, 2006 under Sony BMG and Warner Music.
The Juicy Fruit
Juicy Fruit
Juicy Fruit is a brand of chewing gum made by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a U.S. company that since 2008 has been a subsidiary of the privately-held Mars, Incorporated. It was introduced in 1893, and in the 21st century the brand name is recognized by 99 percent of Americans, with total sales in...
Rockoustic Mania Final Fusion event was held on November 17, at the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (Folk Arts Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines
Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos...
. The show featured performances from Barbie Almalbis and Pupil, guest bands Sugarfree
Sugarfree (band)
Sugarfree was a band composed of Ebe Dancel , Jal Taguibao and Kaka Quisimbing who replaced Mitch Singson in 2006...
and Up Dharma Down
Up Dharma Down
Up Dharma Down is an award-winning Filipino rock band. Their discography already contains two LPs, 2006's Fragmented and 2008's Bipolar ....
, and of course, from the three finalists, WTC 11, Medea, and 7th Skool. The band 7th Skool won the Tugtog Mo! Band Competition.
Audio:
1. Nakakabaliw (E. Buendia, D. Ventura)
2. Must Have (E. Buendia, B. Almalbis, D. Sergio)
Video:
1. Nakakabaliw (Directed by RA Rivera)
2. Must Have (Directed by Pancho Esguerra)
3. MYX News http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnVmWyB86xg
During the Rockoustic Mania Press Launch at Phi Bar Metrowalk held on June 14, 2006, Barbie Almalbis
Barbie Almalbis
* Dahilan* Give Yourself Away* Overdrive * Damsel* Sorry Song* Parading* Little Miss Spider* High * Summer Day* Pag-alis* For The World...
and Pupil played their songs separately as they showed the crowd their own music styles and genre. They also jammed together and as a bonus, Barbie sang the Eraserheads classic “Overdrive” and on the other hand, “Alapaap” was performed by Pupil.
Animax
Pupil also made a new theme song for Animax Asia, entitled "Set Me Apart". The song had its exclusive Philippine-radio launch by NU107NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
. The song also gained no. 1 spot in NU 107's Stairway to Seven chart within just two weeks after the radio launch and the band was a prominent guest in Mad Mad Fun
Mad Mad Fun
Mad Mad Fun was a youth lifestyle/music show produced by Animax Asia for Philippines. This weekly half hour show is hosted by Lupin star Rhian Ramos and features interviews and wacky stunts with top Pinoy bands. Bands on the show have include Sandwich, Up Dharma Down, Sugarfree, Imago, Chicosci,...
.
Pupil had been part of Animax
Animax
is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
Fashion-Ability event, where they made special appearance at the event, played their music, and talked about their fashion style. The band's first onstage public appearance after Ely’s recovery was also with Animax. It was on Saturday, February 10, 2007 when the band performed at The Music Hall in SM Mall of Asia, in an Animax
Animax
is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
speed-dating
Speed-Dating
Speed-Dating is a 2010 film written and directed by Joseph A. Elmore Jr.-Plot:Best friends Dog and Beaver have difficulty ever meeting women. No matter what they do, nothing ever goes right for them...
and welcome celebration for Valentine’s Day event called “Love Is In The Air”. The band was also featured (along with Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola is a Filipino rock band formed in 2002 which produced many hit songs including "Lunes" , "KLSP", "Jeepney", "Makapiling Ka" and many others....
and Urbandub
Urbandub
Urbandub is a Filipino rock band from Cebu City, Philippines. Since its inception in 2000, the band's line-up has consisted of Gabby Alipe , John Dinopol , and Lalay Lim . The band's current drummer is Janjan Mendoza, who has been with the band since 2003.Urbandub is the first indie band who has...
) in a show called MUSIC STATION
Music Station
is a Japanese music television program. It began broadcasting on October 24, 1986 and continues to be broadcast weekly in High-definition from 8PM-9PM on tv asahi...
, which also airs on Animax.
The song had its official local launch Tuesday, May 22, 2007 in an exclusive Animax Party at the Hard Rock Cafe Makati, wherein 50 pairs of tickets were given away in a contest. The band had their first overseas gig on the 27th of May at the Bar None bar in Marriott Hotel, Orchard Road
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. The Singaporean-act The Great Spy Experiment opened for that night's "Bar None Rock Affair" gig. An interview with the band was aired on Friday, June 1, 2007 and Pupil was interviewed on Animax's "Music Talk" by Francis "Brew" Reyes of The Dawn
The Dawn (band)
The Dawn is a Filipino rock band which first achieved commercial success during the late 1980s in the Philippines. The band broke up in 1995 with lead vocalist Jett Pangan forming another band, the Jett Pangan Group. The Dawn reunited in late 1999...
. The Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
-wide launching of the music video of "Set Me Apart" was aired on June 8, 2007 at exactly 7pm on Animax. The music video features the band as "live" anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
-styled characters, like cosplayers.
The production of the music video is a first of its kind for a Filipino band, most scenes and characters were done using traditional hand-drawn 2D
2D geometric model
A 2D geometric model is a geometric model of an object as two-dimensional figure, usually on the Euclidean or Cartesian plane.Even though all material objects are three-dimensional, a 2D geometric model is often adequate for certain flat objects, such as paper cut-outs and machine parts made of...
animation subsequently softly blended with 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
and CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
. One of the famous anime films that used this technique is Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, known simply as in japan, is a 2004 science fiction film and sequel to the anime film, Ghost in the Shell. Released in Japan on March 6, 2004, with an U.S. release on September 17, 2004, Innocence had a production budget of approximately $20 million...
, which is also a personal favourite of Ely (as evident with The Mongols' "Case Logic" lyrics and interviews). It was filmed in the Philippines, processed in Malaysia by Hue Visualab, and launched in Animax's ASEAN headquarters in Singapore.
The song won a Promax/BDA award in 2008, making Pupil the first Filipino band to win such award.
Wild Life
Wild LifeWild Life (Pupil album)
Wild Life is the second album of the Pinoy rock band, Pupil. The album features Wendell Garcia as the band's new drummer. The band's former drummer, Bogs Jugo, still plays drums in the track, "Set Me Apart," the band's last song with him....
, their second album under Sony BMG, features 12 tracks. It featured photography work by Francis Magalona
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
. All 11 new tracks features Wendell Garcia as the band's new drummer, while the 12th track, "Set Me Apart", featured Bogs Jugo as the drummer, as his last song with Pupil. The album was recorded in Soundsrite studio in Kalayaan Ave., Makati City. Where its owned and operated by Boyet Aquino, the original drummer of Francis Magalona's band called Hardware Syndrome where Wendell Garcia used to play drums with. The special edition was released on July 10, 2009.
Limiters of the Infinity Pool
In an interview with the Philippine Star Buendia also stated “This time, we were given credit and now we can probably concentrate on making music that matters to us. We just wanna make, if possible, a better album, better than the two — yun yung target ko (that's my target).” The band's third album contains 12 tracks and had the working title "No. 3" as revealed by Buendia.Amanda Ling and Francis "Brew" Reyes are also part of the album. It is co-produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Pat Tirano at Wombworks, the band describes their new album "The sound is bigger, more experimental than the first two albums. There's a live string section", with influences from Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and many others. The third album is officially called "Limiters of the Infinity Pool", released on January 11, 2011 at Robot Bar, Makati City. The album features the songs "Let Her Rip", "Distortion", "TNT", "20-20", "Pikit Bukas", "Pusakal", "Pampalakas", "One Two", "Obese", "Deft Mechanic", "Morning Gift" and "The Low End". According to Buendia, aside from being downloadable on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, the band will also be releasing a Vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
version of the album.
Awards and nominations
- Awit AwardsAwit AwardsThe Awit Awards is the longest-running award-giving body of the Philippines that gives recognition to Filipino musical talents, performing artists and producers it was Philippines equivalent to Grammy Awards, organized by the Philippine Association Of The Record Industry .-Objectives and Winner...
: - Won: Best Performance By A New Group Recording Artist/s Category (2006)
- Nominated: "Superproxy 2k6" by Francis M & Hardware Syndrome Feat. Ely Buendia - Best Rock (2006)
- Nominated: "Dulo Ng Dila" - Music Video of The Year (2007)
- Nominated: "Sala" - Best Performance By A Group Recording Artist/s Category (2008)
- Nominated: "Sala" by Pupil & Jerome Velasco - Best Rock (2008)
- Nominated: "Sala" by Pupil & Jerome Velasco - Best World/Alternative/Bossa Music (2008)
- SOPSOP (Sobrang Okey Pare)SOP was a Philippine noontime music/variety show aired by GMA Network. The show airs from 12pm-3pm on Sundays. The show is broadcast from Studio 4 at the GMA Network Studios. The show title stands for "Sobrang Okey, Pare!" a Filipino expression which connotes enjoyment and appreciation of a...
- Won: Breakthrough Recording Artist of The Year Award - Music Awards (2006)
- Nominated: Ely Buendia - Best Vocalist - Pasiklaband Awards (2006)
- Nominated: Best Rock Band - Pasiklaband Awards(2006)
- Won: Best Rock Band - Pasiklaband Awards (2008)
- NU107 Rock AwardsNU Rock AwardsThe NU Rock Awards was an annual recognition program sponsored from 1994 to 2010 by the defunct Metro Manila based radio station NU 107.1. 1994 saw the birth of what is to become the biggest annual gathering of the finest rock musicians in the country—the NU 107 Rock Awards! The very first NU 107...
: - Nominated: Dok Sergio - Bassist of The Year (2006)
- Nominated: "Nasaan Ka?" - Song of The Year (2006)
- Nominated: Pupil - Band of The Year (2006)
- Nominated: Beautiful Machines - Album of The Year (2006)
- Nominated: Pupil and Patrick Tirano - Producer/s of The Year (2006)
- Nominated: "Sala" - Song of The Year (2007)
- Nominated: Ely Buendia - Vocalist of The Year (2008)
- Nominated: Dok Sergio - Bassist of The Year (2008)
- Won: Wendell Garcia - Drummer of The Year (2008)
- Won: Pupil - Artist of The Year (2008)
- Won: Wild Life - Album of The Year (2008)
- Won: "Monobloc" Directed by King Palisoc - Best Music Video (2008)
- Won: Pupil & Jerome Velasco for Wild Life - Producer of The Year (2008)
- Nominated: "Different Worlds (Live Version)" - Song of The Year (2009)
- Nominated: "Teacher's Pet" - Song of The Year (2009)
- Nominated: "Teacher's Pet" Directed by King Palisoc - Best Music Video (2009)
- MYXMyxmyx or MYX is the music channel of ABS-CBN brand and the #1 music channel in the Philippines. It is also a part of Studio 23's program line-up. In 2007, MYX North America was launched in the United States....
Music Awards - Nominated: "Nakakabaliw" by Barbie Almalbis and Pupil for Juicy Fruit Rockoustic Mania - Favorite Media Soundtrack (2007)
- Nominated: "Superproxy 2k6" by Francis M & Hardware Syndrome Feat. Ely Buendia - Favorite Collaboration (2007)
- Won: Pupil - Favorite MYX Live Performance (2007)
- OPM Songhits Awards:
- Nominated: Pupil - Best Performance by a Group/Band (2007)
- Won: Ely Buendia - Best Male Vocalist (2007)
- Nominated: "Set Me Apart" - Best Song for a Movie/TV/Stage play (2007)
- Won: Rock Icon Award: Ely Buendia (2007)
- MTV Pilipinas VMAMTV Pilipinas Music AwardsMTV Pilipinas Music Awards is the Philippines' biggest annual music video awards event.-Award categories:*Video of the Year*Favorite Male Video*Favorite Female Video*Favorite New Artist in a Video*Favorite Group Video*Favorite Pop Video...
: - Won: "Nasaan Ka?" - Best Rock Video Award (2006)
- Nominated: Quark Henares for "Nasaan Ka?" by Pupil - Best Director (2006)
- Promax/BDA AwardsPromax AwardsPromaxBDA Awards honor design and marketing work in the advertising and promotions business from a company or individual that is broadcast, published or released in their respective markets....
(New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
City): - Won: "Set Me Apart" - Best Music Video (2008)