After school special

MANILA, Philippines - With a household immersed in rhythm and beats (their mum would constantly sway along to her favorite tunes), the Hernandez brothers Miguel and Chiko eventually decided to have their own dance of discovery with the drums. In time, Miguel and a couple of his pals formed the psychedelic, conga-and-drum-playing nine-piece the Wilderness — ”It’s a catharsis of primal energy with a touch of acid meltdown,” intimates Chiko. Citing Queso for their ferociously controlled chaos dish-out, Goodleaf for the insanity that is their reggae rhythm, and Radioactive Sago Project for their otherworldly orchestration as local influences, the Wilderness has seemingly concocted an elemental mix that is all theirs.

Determined to make the audience move in ways they wouldn’t normally allow themselves to, the band has gained a steady rise on the local radar. “Our goal this year is to release an album,” says the two. Until then, this brotherly tandem stars in our editorial alongside fresh-faced model newcomer, Cassandra LaForteza, showing that their sartorial sensibilities are equal parts as groovy as their hard-hitting sound. Download their EP online at facebook.com/ohmywilderness.

Branches: ALDO, 1/F Greenbelt 5, Makati City

CLASSIFIED, 2/F Glorietta 1, Makati City

FOREVER 21, 1/F SM Makati, Makati City

OXYGEN, 2/F Glorietta 2, Makati City

PROMOD, 1/F Greenbelt 5, Makati City

TRILOGY, 2/F Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City

Photos by Nicco Santos

Styling by Ria Casco and Meg Manzano

Makeup by Geevee Villagracia of Shu Uemura

Shot on location in Artu Nepomuceno’s house

Models: Cassandra Laforteza; Miguel and Chiko Hernandez

              of the local band, Wilderness