Why Up Dharma Down’s music is a wedding favorite
Up Dharma Down vocalist and keyboardist Armi Millare acknowledges that a lot of couples are getting married to their songs.
But while weddings are supposed to be a happy event, the Pinoy band admits their music is rather — sad.
The irony makes their soft-spoken vocalist gush.
“A lot of people are getting married to that song. Finally, I like wedding gigs after nine years," she told Yahoo Music at their recent Project Pie gig in Bluebay, Pasay City. "For the whole set of songs — nine heart-breaking songs — there's one wedding song."
Our first proof: the viral wedding proposal video of running coach Rio Dela Cruz to then-girlfriend Nicole Wuthrich on December 22, 2011. (Jump to 02:35 for UDD's special participation.)
Video courtesy of Ian Celis Productions
Youth vibe
Up Dharma Down’s popularity among college students may explain why their songs become a wedding hit.
A lot of these students (mostly from universities where UDD holds gigs) have attached great memories to songs like “Tadhana,” “Oo” and “The World Is Our Playground” over the past nine years.
This was particularly evident when a big crowd of youngsters sang as if they were singing youth anthems when Armi and the rest of the band started performing at the pizza chain event.
Armi tries to make sense of how they continue attracting a younger audience as [the band] gets older. She admits it’s about “getting younger” as a band as well.
“We just like to listen to new music. Well, at least the rest of the band [because] I’m kind of stuck in the ‘80s rock,” she told Yahoo. “We always just update ourselves on what new things we have, the new songs from artists we like.”
As simple as OPM
Despite being a staple at wedding videos and a regular at university gigs, UDD refuses to be stereotyped.
In fact, when asked to identify their genre, Armi said they exist not knowing what it is.
“It’ll be a kiss of death once we find out. It’s good not to know because we can change whenever we like and not have to deal with boundaries,” she said. “We’re OPM (Original Pinoy Music).”
Quite grounded for a band which BBC lauded as an “Asian band most likely to cross over the North American market.”
What about their song in time for their 10th anniversary in March?
Armi said they usually take their sweet time making records. This could take up to four years.
For more wedding video treats, here are two couples who chose to get married to Up Dharma Down songs:
