Pinoy band enjoys massive US airplay

MANILA, Philippines - A foreign-sounding alternative pop rock band composed of Filipino members has won the attention of American listeners with songs off their digitally-released album now receiving significant airplay from various college radio stations across the United States. 

The music of the quartet called The Morning Episodes is being played to as many as 75 college radio stations and has already hit the Top 30 charts of two stations located in Wisconsin and New Jersey.

The group’s entry access to American radio materialized after it was signed to a multiple-album deal by L.A.-based indie label Sly Doggie Productions. Frontman Miguel Escueta worked his way out and then met foreign producer Christian “Davis” Stalnecker in 2011 upon attending a three-day music conference in L.A. The latter heard and liked his band’s music and immediately signed the group, allowing its debut album Never Felt So Alive to be later mixed and mastered in California.

“We’re very thankful to have broken through US radio. Suntok lang talaga ito sa buwan pero lagi naman akong sumusuntok sa buwan. Besides, no one wants to put your music out there more than you do,” stressed Miguel in an exclusive interview with The STAR.

Last summer, The Morning Episodes had made it to the US National Airplay Top 200 Chart and placed as high as No. 22 among indie artists. One review from a music blog claimed that its album is “interestingly new and unique for the alt-rock market here in the US.”

Miguel, who single-handedly wrote most of the songs, used to be packaged as a solo act which resulted to two full-length albums under giant label MCA Music. The same label is locally distributing the physical CD release of Never Felt So Alive.

Mainstream audiences became more familiar with him after he joined GMA 7’s now-defunct Party Pilipinas as regular rocker-performer. 

Curiously, though he had a relatively successful run in the Manila music scene, he was already entertaining thoughts of giving it all up when the big break came through. By the time he went to L.A. for the said conference, his contract with MCA already expired and he was done with the weekly TV gig.

He recalled, “When I went there it was my last ditch effort at making things happen. Last hurrah ko na ‘yun and if nothing significant happened, bibitaw na ako sa music.” 

Frontman Miguel Escueta: We want to inspire other Filipino bands.

Fate turned out to have something awaiting for him, leading his path to Stalnecker who co-produced El de Barge’s latest album which eventually was nominated at the Grammys for R&B Album of the Year.

The Morning Episodes debuted on US Radio last April as its single, Now It Starts, was featured on US daytime drama, The Young and the Restless. Other intriguing songs in the album are Stranger, Alive, In Your Eyes and The Stars Are Out Tonight.

Months before The Morning Episodes was featured in the US-wide published Music Connection magazine where Miguel’s Do-It-Yourself effort was praised. 

The camaraderie he and his regular back-up musicians, namely; Juni Devecais, Jeng Tria and Roy Secillano eventually led to the formation of The Morning Episodes, a name picked in jest because it sounded good when uttered with a British accent. 

Music-wise, though, the band means serious business and art. Still Manila-based, The Morning Episodes recently collaborated with Solenn Heussaff for a melodic piece Miguel penned called Until The Sunrise which on iTunes is currently the most purchased track from Solenn’s new album SOS.

Miguel related, “I love to collaborate and my experience as a musician has taught me to find a hook melody line before anything else. I’m happy to share the news that we’re doing good things in the US and we want to inspire other Filipino bands.”