Your Imaginary Friends, Real Music
Ahmad Tanji, vocalist of Your Imaginary Friends
Ahmad Tanji visited the Ateneo last Tuesday, December 6, and graced Rick Olivares' journalism class with a sampling of Your Imaginary Friends' (YFI) music. By now, if you're thinking "Indie music, bleah.", then you'd be wrong. You see, YFI isn't your stereotypical Pinoy indie band. No rap, rock, nor hip-hop here; YFI is a breath of fresh air to tired ears.
YFI's music is reminiscent of avant-garde bands of yesteryear. Their sound is highly influenced by 80's British pop and also by some 90's rock bands such as the Wannadies. After watching Ahmad perform for the class, one can say say that their music is very melodic and silky smooth-as-velvet.
Ahmad performed four songs for the audience. "Oh, Liza", their carrier single is a very catchy tune which remind's me of that song, "You and Me, Always and Forever" from Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes' movie, Romeo+Juliet. Another quality of their music is it being from experience. "Baby, You're Going To Hell" is a funny example of this. These and their other songs are truly top notch.
Truly, Your Imaginary Friends is welcome soothing music for a sunday drive through a bustling city.
(Photo courtesy of Mawhi Ballen)
Mike's Apartment: Lovers/Quarrel
Mike's Apartment is another up and coming local indie band, playing soul-funk with new-age hip-hop and hints of rock for music loving Manilans. Their first album Lovers/Quarrel, can only be described as love-making music. Yes, this is music that will make you wanna go jiggy.
Their sound is highly akin to 70's jazzfunk, with vocals of timeless soul. As the album name suggests, the songs are about lovers and quarrels; these are highly reflected in their songs' lyrics. Their songs can be described as a journey through an entire relationship.
"Nagdedeliryo" is a slow, soulful track which talks about a man's desire for his muse. The vocals have a very sincere feel to it. The Wurlitzer notes combined with the heavy grunge bass creates a very nice fusion of old and new styles.
Another single, "Lambing" is an easy listening track. This is the quintessential soul-funk song in the album, akin to songs by Incognito but with more of that OPM flair. If you want to find out how to woo an angry girlfriend back, listen to this.
My personal favorite is "Bad Mouth", their carrier single on Lovers/Quarrel. "Bad Mouth" is hard-bop funk which will make you dance your socks off. The funky guitar and Rhodes piano carry this song aaaaaall the way to earvana. The lyrics is of a man scorned by his woman's mouthing off; nevertheless, I'd still very much groove to this.
Mike's Apartment, like Your Imaginary Friends, is not your everyday Pinoy indie band. This band carries the new-age of young Filipino musicians, and their album, Lovers/Quarrel is definitely worth a listen.
-Jiggy
Their sound is highly akin to 70's jazzfunk, with vocals of timeless soul. As the album name suggests, the songs are about lovers and quarrels; these are highly reflected in their songs' lyrics. Their songs can be described as a journey through an entire relationship.
"Nagdedeliryo" is a slow, soulful track which talks about a man's desire for his muse. The vocals have a very sincere feel to it. The Wurlitzer notes combined with the heavy grunge bass creates a very nice fusion of old and new styles.
Another single, "Lambing" is an easy listening track. This is the quintessential soul-funk song in the album, akin to songs by Incognito but with more of that OPM flair. If you want to find out how to woo an angry girlfriend back, listen to this.
My personal favorite is "Bad Mouth", their carrier single on Lovers/Quarrel. "Bad Mouth" is hard-bop funk which will make you dance your socks off. The funky guitar and Rhodes piano carry this song aaaaaall the way to earvana. The lyrics is of a man scorned by his woman's mouthing off; nevertheless, I'd still very much groove to this.
Mike's Apartment, like Your Imaginary Friends, is not your everyday Pinoy indie band. This band carries the new-age of young Filipino musicians, and their album, Lovers/Quarrel is definitely worth a listen.
-Jiggy
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