You'll never get enough of Air Supply

Curtain-raisers:

• I can smell a big launch by the way a big label company is airing radio teasers on a new song that is apparently from the new album of the record label’s new artist. Even from the short teaser, I could sense the making of a big hit that will make waves on the local music scene. The sound itself seems to stand out on its own, and I bet that a music genius is behind this intriguing song. I have an idea who the artist is but I’m not telling you who just yet. And when will the record label let us on their big secret? Maybe...hmmm...tomorrow? Meanwhile, keep your ears open for more of this refreshingly unique song and keep on guessing.

• More about Arnel Pineda and the Journey: The group has just kicked off their European tour in Madrid. Here’s Arnel’s e-mail to his manager Bert de Leon who forwarded it to Funfare: Hola! The Madrid gig was a blast! It was held at a 3,000-capacity venue and there was more than a handful of our kababayan in the audience to support me, waving with pride a big Philippine flag. We did all the classic Journey hits and some new songs from the new Revelations CD which were very well-received. It was a lot of fun and at the end of the gig, the people were yelling my name so I think that they actually know me very well here. Hehehehe! Well,  60 more shows to go. We are just getting started.

* * *

To paraphrase one of their hit songs (which they will sing again — once more, with more feeling! — at their concert, Air Supply From the Heart Tour 2008, at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, June 14), we will never have enough of Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell, will we? We never get tired of listening to their hit songs — like I Can Wait Forever, Lost in Love, Now and Forever, The One That You Love, All Out Of Love, Making Love Out of Nothing At All, Here I Am, Sweet Dreams, Two Less Lonely People In The World, Even The Nights Are Better, Every Woman In The World, Goodbye and many more —, will we?

Funfare sat for an exclusive interview with Russell and Graham Monday night at a cozy corner of Heat Restaurant in EDSA Shangri-La where they are billeted one hour after they flew in from Macau where they did a series of shows. They were accompanied by Danee Samonte (a.k.a. Steve O’Neal) who’s producing the duo’s Big Dome concert (with more playdates tomorrow, June 12, 8 p.m. at the Subic Convention Center, Subic, Zambales; Friday, June 13, 8 p.m. at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City; Sunday, June 25, 8 p.m. at the CYO Gym in Davao City; Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m. at the Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City; and Wednesday, June 18, 8 p.m. in Bacolod City. From here, they’re going to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan.

Welcome back. I heard that you’re both celebrating your birthdays here.

Graham: We are, indeed. Mine is on Wednesday (That’s today. — RFL) and Russell’s is on Sunday, the 15th.

How do you plan to celebrate...away from home?

Graham: I don’t know yet. It depends on what the day brings, you know. It would be nice to have it in the Philippines, for the first time.

Your fans here are always glad to see you back.

Graham: It feels good, it feels really nice. The last time we were here was five or six years ago.

Russell: It’s different everytime we’re here. The place changes a lot, changes so fast.

What are your fond memories from your previous visits?

Russell: Oh yeah, we’ve been here several times these past 20 years. We have very fond thoughts. I remember one time, we stayed at the Manila Hotel and we performed at the Folk Arts Theater. That was a great time!

Have you ever had spare time to go around?

Graham: That would be a great idea. But everytime we are here, we’re always performing and we hardly have time to go around. We would love to see some of your islands. To do that, we have to plan things six months in advance.

You’ve been together for 33 years. It’s amazing! (Graham is a British vocalist and guitarist while Russell is an Australian vocalist. They met in Sydney in 1975 during the rehearsal for the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar.)

Graham: Forever. Hahaha!

Yeah, forever.

Graham: Since the world began. Hahaha!

What keeps you together?

Russell: That’s very simple. You know, we get to play great music every night. I get to sing Graham’s song. We work with very good people. It’s a lot of fun. We’re still very passionate, very driven to be good every night. And obviously, we have a lot of fans all over the world. Put all things together, it’s the combination. 

Graham: Music keeps us together, very obviously. I mean, we have a great job, we do what we love to do, we travel around the world, and meet great people. We have a great livelihood, a great career. And it is only now when we kind of enjoy a lot more because, I think, we could stop to smell the roses a little more along the way.

Do you always agree on your choice of songs?

Russell: Absolutely!

No disagreeing at all?

Russell: No. I mean, we know what is good for us to perform. Graham knows what works for us, not a problem ever. That’s all.

You work together. What about away from work? Do you have fun together?

Russell: We don’t live in the same state. Graham lives in Utah and I live in California. So we don’t see each other very often when we were not performing.

How has your music evolved these past years? How is it different from what it was 33 years ago?

Graham: Well, I think our sound was just there. It wasn’t something that we really worked on. It just became the Air Supply sound, something that people would remember. And I don’t even know why they remembered. They did, you know. I think it’s a lot of things —  the vocals and the voice, and the way we sing together is very unique. I think over the years we’ve made great records, you know. I really believed that we’ve made very honest and passionate records that apparently have gone through generations... timeless records that the people love.

So the Air Supply sound must be maintained, sustained.

Russell: Well, you know, the core of the Air Supply’s sound is Graham’s songs, so that’s why we sing them. As long as we’re both together that would always be the same.

The last time you performed here was six years ago. What can we expect from your concert this time?

Russell: Well, you know, our old familiar songs and new ones never been heard before in the Philippines. But you know, we always want to draw varied emotions from our audience — you know, if they want to cry, they can; if they want to laugh, they should; whatever they want to do and feel. We’re ready for it.

Of course, the Beatles was one of your biggest influences. Any other artists or musicians who  influenced your style?

Russell: Well, you know, I’ve always enjoyed the works of great songwriters and great vocal bands, like the Bee Gees, Queen, ABBA.

Among your songs, do you have any favorite?

Russell: Lost in Love and All Out Of Love.

Graham: I agree. But all our songs have a meaning. Lost In Love because it was the first international success we had. And All Out Of Love because we get such tremendous response to that when we play it live every night.

(Note: The Air Supply concert is co-produced by Star Records and Steve O’Neal Productions. Tickets are available at the Araneta Coliseum box office or at Ticketnet in all branches of SM malls. Or call 911-5555.)

Tres writes a song for Angel

Did you know that Angel, the carrier single of the album Dayo by the new group Tres, was written by vocalist Mark Ramos and bassist Archie Tolarba specially for Angel Locsin?

“It speaks of a man’s emotional outpouring for the girl of his dreams who can never be his,” said Henry Onglatco of Real Talent Entertainment (RTE) Music which produced Dayo (distributed by Universal Records).

Tres is the first Ilonggo band (from Negros) to release an album in Manila. Besides Mark and Archie, the other members are Jobim Garay (keyboards), Tito Mijares (drums) and Justin Bandolon (lead guitars). They all came from different bands in Bacolod to form Tres.

It all started with friendship. The members used to play in His Life Ministry as a worship team. It was in June 2006 when Mark decided to work on his original composition and named the band Tres (corresponding to the group’s original three members). The band’s influences go back from songs of the ’80s and Motown hits.

Aside from Angel, the album contains 10 other songs (with Ikaw ang Musika as a probably second single) which speak of the different phases of love, about courtship and dating.

“Divine love is also evident in some of their compositions, influenced by their religious affiliations,” added Henry.

Angel Locsin should listen to Angel. I’m sure she’ll be touched.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])