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Hale reunites 10 years after debut; new single out
There was a time when you could not escape them.
Female fans swooned over Champ Lui Pio’s gentle vocals and Josh Hartnett-esque looks which lent an attractive mien to hits like “The Day You Said Goodnight” and “Kung Wala Ka.”
It was 2005; the self-titled debut reached triple platinum the next year (ahhh, such healthier times), the sophomore album “Twilight” went gold.
The decline of the record industry
Pressured to keep up with the stratospheric sales (and probably much chagrined by being labeled pejoratively as “pogi rock”), they took a 10-month hiatus and returned with “Above, Over, and Beyond” in 2008.
Its sales, unfortunately, suffered from the general decline of the recording industry. Their last album was 2009’s “Kundiman” which featured the single “Kalesa.”
The band broke up in 2010 with Lui Pio trying his hand at a solo career and bassist Sheldon Gellada moving to Canada.
Working on new songs for 6 months
It’s all water under the bridge for Lui Pio, Gellada, guitarist Roll Martinez, and drummer Paolo Santiago: Hale has reunited 10 years after their debut and is set to release six new songs including the comeback single “See You,” now streaming on Spotify.
The band worked on the songs for six months.
“Probably the last time we had that time was the first album. Back from scratch talaga so we had all the time, man. No pressure from anything external like (record) labels,” Martinez says relaxedly (apparently, their Warner deal is for distribution).
Laughing at the ‘pogi rock’ label
And yes, they can now laugh at the “pogi rock” label and take it with a grain of salt. Martinez admits it put a chip on his shoulder at the peak of their career.
Are they ready to face that term again?
“I know my bandmates, we’re way beyond that,” he says in his usual gentle manner. “People that know us know better… we’re just gonna do what we do and if they (detractors) don’t like it…” He raises two fingers and laughs.
‘We owned that term’
Lui Pio adds insight.
“Looking back, to be honest, it’s become a compliment. When you look at that decade, the local scene was flourishing… we owned that term and it’s good ‘cuz it didn’t come from us… when we were younger, it was so offensive but right now I take it as a compliment. We were able to define a generation… I’d rather be called ‘pogi rock’ than ‘pangit rock!’” he concludes laughing.
“Sabi ng nanay ko gwapo na raw ako so okay lang yon!” Martinez offers good naturedly.
The ‘epic’ single ‘See You’
Lui Pio wrote “See You” in 2011.
“For some weird reason I didn’t try and record it. I knew in the back of my head it was meant to be released at this time. I dunno, I guess everything happens for a reason. It didn’t feel right trying to release it as a solo artist or giving it away to another artist… I believe in fate and destiny, man. I couldn’t be happier with how we produced it … Roll exerted a lot of effort trying to make it sound epic.”
The song features Lui Pio’s trademark melancholic lilting tenor but the piano-driven approach and the epic-sounding midsection do showcase a creatively rejuvenated band. The arrangement is dynamic and unhurried, the atmospheric indie vibe up-to-date.
The next chapter
Lui Pio and Martinez are all smiles (Gellada was stuck in traffic and Santiago was preparing for his wedding the next day).
Clearly, the band’s internal batteries have been recharged and any previous tensions internally or externally are absent or resolved.
“We do understand that so much has changed in five years, the landscape of the industry has changed. Right now our mindset is: we’re a new band… this is us creating a beautiful beginning for this next chapter.”
