Of Maturity and Change: The Music of Farewell Fair Weather, Plethora and LunarLights

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April was a busy month for the Roadshow’s DJ Robin and DJ Faye. Apart from welcoming solo acts as huge as Keith Martin, Jaya and Ian Veneracion to the Wish 107.5 Bus, the dynamic tandem also did the task of embracing new music from up-and-coming bands like Farewell Fair Weather, Plethora and LunarLights.

Though different-sounding, the three acts share something in common -- the deftness in adapting well to the inevitable thing that is change.

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From ‘Rough Skies’ to ‘Blank Pages’

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If Farewell Fair Weather were to describe their new sound since the 2013 launch of their debut single “Rough Skies,” “matured” would be the most suitable word to use.

Six years since their formation -- and a couple of band line-up changes in between, the soul-fusion troupe recently launched their first full-length album called “Blank Pages.”  Co-produced with The Dawn’s Francis Reyes, the record boasts 14 tracks that intend to narrate the musical “roller coaster ride” they have experienced.

“Our experiences have something to do with our growth. As we encountered more pain or happiness, we’ve become more expressive through music,” vocalist Mic Manalo shared during their Wish Bus appearance last April 17.

“We actually released an EP in 2013. Compared to it, our sound is more mature now,” she further said.

Meanwhile, sharing the concept behind their album, Manalo added: “Blank Pages because it’s a fresh start. We always want something new. In every song, you can hear that sort of feeling. We’ve had struggles as a band, but rarely do we speak about them online -- what we do is we transform them into something nice, which is our music.”

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During their Roadshow gig, the band showcased a more cultivated, well-crafted musicality in their live performances of their album’s titular track “Blank Pages,” the Gabby Alipe-produced “Sakali,” and “Rough Skies.”

Farewell Fair Weather is Manalo (vocals/guitars), Gani Palabyab (keys), Kim Hue Jin (guitars), Ethan Muriel (Bass), Mark Villena (drums) and Leng Guerrero (sound engineer).

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Diving Into a New Sound

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The name Plethora would ring a bell to hardcore Filipino metal music fans. But deviating from the genre’s loud and aggressive sound, the four-piece OPM band has dropped a rock ballad single titled “Hangad” in 2017 to their listeners’ surprise.

“It was a big adjustment for us. We used to perform in the underground music scene, and now we’ve gone mainstream playing songs that have a more alternative appeal. Our music is now more relatable to the general listening public,” frontman LJ Herrera stated.

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On April 11, Plethora , whose main mission is to set good example to the youth through music, hopped on the Wish Bus to dish out their newest offering, “The Dive.”

The catchy tune serves as the theme song of the reality TV show of the same name aired every Saturday on UNTV. Conceptualized by BMPI CEO and President Kuya Daniel Razon, the man behind the innovations sustained by Wish 107.5, the program aims to “promote the wealth of Philippine Sea” and impart ways on how to protect and preserve it.

The alt-rock quartet -- made up of Herrera (vocals, bass), Andrew Isaguire (guitars), Aldrin Isaguire (keyboard), and Jesser Pello (drums) -- also displayed their brand-new sound with their performances of another original, “Sarap Ng Pinagsamahan,” and their covers of Moira Dela Torre’s “Malaya” and Sublime’s “Santeria.”

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‘A Little More Complicated Than the Usual’

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A year after their last Roadshow stint, LunarLights finally made their comeback Wish Bus gig last April 9. But instead of bringing back their former space rock musical style, the band returned with a new single that shows off a “more intricate sound.”

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Also touting a new line-up, the alt-rockers hailing from Malolos, Bulacan treated Wishers and their loyal following with a live performance of their latest jam, the intoxicating and emotionally-charged “Long Drive.”

“The song is about wanting to escape from your problems for a while,” Jose Gaspar, the band’s guitarist-turned-vocalist who wrote the song, explained.

Asked about their new style, he explained, “Musically, we’ve changed a little in terms of dynamics. The songs we have now have a different arrangement. Our music has become a little more complicated than the usual LunarLights sound.”

Apart from “Long Drive,” the OPM outfit also delivered two more originals called “Restart” and “Kay Dalas.”

LunarLights are currently composed of Gaspar (vocals, guitars), Eron Dela Cruz (vocals, bass), Mark Aquino (keyboard, synth), Maverick Meneses (vocals, drums), and Kit De Gala (vocals, guitars).

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