Pupil attacks! New single is muscular, harder-edged
“October!”
Vocalist/guitarist Ely Buendia, in good spirits and in the pink of health, responds confidently when asked when the fourth Pupil album will be finished.
“END of October!” drummer Wendell Garcia adds quickly, half-smiling, half-grimacing, and scratches his ears, ever so slightly stressed at the idea (he will leave for the States for a month and he knows he may have to finish his parts ASAP).
Bassist Dok Sergio turns to them, and mock-berates his bandmates, “O, yan ha, in-announce na natin ha! So October na yan!”
Steady vibe
On a comfy couch outside 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub in Makati, Pupil are relaxed and lightly sipping pre-show drinks. Dressed sharply in black coats and jeans, they gamely face cameras, posing with Team Manila-designed Pupil shirts, and generally just hanging out.
There is a bit of time to meet the press, but it is too noisy; the vibe is steady and the Saturday night rain (and consequent traffic) has eased.
The band is visibly in good spirits and excited: they just released their new single ‘Out of Control’ and launching its slick music video in a few minutes. Inside the packed music hall, the band Cheats (featuring Saab Magalona) is finishing its catchy indie-pop set.
Tireless
Ely nods… this is, of course, the guy who is tirelessly dividing his time between his solo projects and two bands (The Oktaves being the other, and three if you include the occasional E-heads out-of-the-country gigs) and reassures, “Kayang kaya yan.”
“Wala pang title, at wala pang year… October 2015,” Sergio jokes and the band laughs.
Perpetually quiet (verbally and offstage anyway) guitarist Jerome Velasco smiles.
More comfortable with sound
“I think we’re more comfortable now with our sound, we know what we want to sound like, and just going down that path.” says Buendia.
“Out of Control” showcases a more muscular yet dynamic band, alternating between meaty riffing and clean echoey chords, giant tones and extreme silences, tied together by Buendia’s signature wail.
It was released July 21 simultaneously on Jam 88.3 and RX 93.1 and available on Spinnr.ph, iTunes, Deezer and Spotify.
Apocalyptic Manila
Its cinematic sci-fi-toned video was produced by Chelo Bacarro and directed by Erin Pascual who does high-profile TV ads for giant brands and is a known master of CG and 3D animation. The band gave Pascual full carte blanche.
According to Buendia, “We had a lot of fun with Erin and he definitely knows his shit. It’s refreshing to see an industry veteran get all passionate about a music video.”
Pascual offers, “I just kept repeating the track over and over again, and the visual imagery started to come: an apocalyptic future Manila.”
It’s in the eyes
He worked with upcoming production house Red Door and the result is a cross between Neil Blomkamp’s and Ridley Scott’s dystopic visions (both were ad directors as well) and Spielberg’s “Minority Report.”
Ornussa Cadness is cast as a fugitive heroine of sorts wearing an “Elysium”-inspired exoskeleton… and a two-piece bathing suit (which won’t look good on Matt Damon).
It is her close-up performances though that imply narrative and humanize the video’s stunning effects: Cadness’s ability to effortlessly express emotion through her eyes becomes the topic of casual discussion between Buendia and Pupil manager Day Cabuhat after the band’s set. Acting… it’s all in the pupils isn’t it?
Velasco represent
Dystopia may be the theme of the video but the band’s future remains, well, not out of control.
Their renewed enthusiasm can probably be credited to Velasco’s participation: his acclaimed guitar work and production skills are highly admired by fellow musicians.
As a member of The Mongols (essentially proto-Pupil) in 2004, working with the band is a homecoming of sorts; he spent the last decade honing his production chops. As Teeth alumni, Velasco and Sergio shared guitar duties in the recent successful reunion gigs; Dok even reminded people that “Pupil is alive and working on a new album” during Teeth presscons.
Buendia says, “This time, talagang ‘more in’ siya e. Siya rin yung nagre-record at nagmi-mix.”
1D
“All in,” adds Garcia and rubs Jerome’s shoulders; the latter smiles brightly and says with typical modesty, “Just another day.”
Will this signify the rest of the album’s tone? “The direction?” Buendia raises his forefinger and could not resist the predictable pun that Garcia immediately verbalizes, “It’s one direction!”
This Pupil remains dilated.
