Breaking band

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino talent is something we are legitimately proud of, and we definitely have some of the best people in terms of music. Greenwich acknowledges this and believes the best musical groups are those that perfectly create mash-up tunes in different genres — just as the combination of different toppings creates the best pizza flavors. With this in mind, Greenwich launched a search for the #UltimateBandkada to encourage young Filipino musicians to showcase their talents.

Plethora, one of the eight finalists, has been making music for 15 years since they formed in high school. The band — with LJ Herrera (vocals), Aldrin Isaguire (keyboard), Jesser Pello (drums) and Andrew Isaguire (lead guitarist) — started as schoolmates and cousins growing up together, sharing an interest in making good music. The group does neoclassical metal and rock but also flourishes in other genres like reggae and alternative rock, proving their flexibility. When asked about their reasons for joining, LJ says: “We joined because we really want to inspire people, especially the youth. We want to break the stereotype — that musicians are irresponsible and do drugs. We want everyone to know that through music, you can be better; that you, too, can inspire.”

Just like Plethora, Relentless is also fueled by their music convictions. Since 2013, Kevin Miraflores (drums), Lance Miraflores (keyboard), Nigel Delgado (bass), Mark Del Puerto (vocals) and David Briones (guitar) have been playing music during their church service. Joined by their faith and belief in music, they wanted to gain more experience and exposure through the Ultimate Bandkada competition. “We believe in ourselves, because we learned that if you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to do the same?” said David.

All of the top eight bands will perform their original Greenwich theme song — a mash-up of two different genres — on Sept. 10 at the Valkyrie Nightclub, Palace Manila in Bonifacio Global City.

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Learn more about season two of Greenwich Ultimate Bandkada competition through the official website, www.ultimatebandkada.com.