There is an unspoken belief that music belongs to the young.
It is easy to picture a band made up of college students with endless weekends, flexible schedules, and nothing more pressing than rehearsals, songwriting, and finding the next gig. The reality is that many musicians eventually step away from that life. Careers begin. Families grow. Priorities shift. Instruments are packed away, and rehearsal spaces become distant memories.
For many, that is where the story ends.
For GLITCHTRAP, it became the beginning of a new chapter.
The five-piece Cavite indie metal band inspired by 90s nu metal is made up of working professionals, husbands, fathers, gamers, artists, and longtime friends who chose not to leave music behind. Instead, they found a way to build it into the lives they had already created. Their rehearsals happen between remote work schedules. Their gigs are planned around family calendars. Every song they write is shaped by experiences that only adulthood can bring.
Their story is one that many musicians in the Philippine underground scene quietly understand. Life changes, but the desire to create never really disappears.
GLITCHTRAP is proof that passion does not have an expiration date.
Music Never Left. Life Simply Took the Lead.
Every member of GLITCHTRAP had already experienced being part of a band long before the name existed.
They played during their younger years, when gigs were easier to accept and rehearsals could happen on a whim. Back then, making music came with limitations. Equipment upgrades had to wait. Recording depended on whatever budget was available. Like many young musicians, they relied on allowances from their parents and made the most of what they had.
Today, the circumstances are different.
“Di na bago sa’min yung pagtugtog,” Zeke shares.
Playing live, writing songs, and rehearsing no longer feel unfamiliar. What has changed is the commitment behind it.
“I would say mas malalim ngayon kasi may means and ways.”
It is a simple statement, but it carries the weight of experience.
Growing older did not make them less passionate. It gave them opportunities they never had before.
They can now invest in their instruments, recording sessions, and original material because they have spent years building careers outside of music. They understand the value of every rehearsal because free time has become one of the rarest things they own.
For many Filipino metal bands balancing family and full-time jobs, this is the reality that rarely gets talked about. The music continues, but it has to coexist with meetings, deadlines, responsibilities, and raising children.
GLITCHTRAP embraces that reality instead of fighting it.
One Conversation That Changed Everything
Ironically, GLITCHTRAP was never supposed to exist.
The idea began in February 2025 when Zeke invited guitarist Roel to watch a small production event at a local bar in Dasmariñas, Cavite. They spent the evening doing what old friends often do, sharing drinks while talking about the bands they used to play with, the gigs they once experienced, and the memories that never really fade.
Around them were local bands performing cover songs alongside their own original compositions. Watching other musicians take the stage reminded them of a part of themselves that had quietly been waiting in the background.
During the event, one of the organizers approached them. He happened to be a close friend of Zeke’s, and during their conversation he mentioned that another production was already being planned for October.
Curious, Zeke asked whether they accepted outside bands.
The answer was yes.
Without having an actual band, Zeke confidently replied, “I-lineup mo kami.”
The organizer agreed.
Only after the conversation ended did reality settle in.
“Bigla kaming napressure ni Roel dahil sa kapirasong yabang namin,” Zeke recalls.
That single moment transformed a casual night out into a commitment.
There was now a performance waiting for a band that did not yet exist.
Instead of backing out, they accepted the challenge.
They began reaching out to people they trusted, musicians from different circles who either continued playing or had once shared the same dream years ago. Piece by piece, GLITCHTRAP started to take shape.
Looking back, the story feels almost accidental.
Yet it also reflects something deeper.
Sometimes the opportunities we spend years waiting for arrive when we least expect them. The only difference is whether we are willing to say yes before we feel completely ready.
Friendship Built the Foundation Before Music Did
Many bands spend months searching for chemistry.
GLITCHTRAP never had to.
Their relationships had already been built long before they stood on the same stage.
Zeke first met Roel during their years working in the BPO industry. Their friendship naturally continued beyond work, eventually becoming one of the foundations of the band.
Jerome entered the picture through another friend who owned a recording studio in Imus, Cavite. The studio became more than just a rehearsal space. It became a place where musicians gathered, exchanged ideas, shared stories, and enjoyed a few drinks while making music.
Roel and bassist Gino had known each other since childhood.
Jerome and Mike had already played together years before GLITCHTRAP was formed. Their history even stretched back to sharing stages with respected names in the local rock community.
“Mga antique people na kasi sila,” Zeke jokes.
Because those relationships already existed, building trust inside the band happened naturally.
“The chemistry was easy.”
Their first rehearsal reflected exactly who they were.
Instead of a formal audition or a structured session, they gathered inside the same recording studio, surrounded by instruments, conversations, and drinks.
“So usually gano’n ang setup,” Zeke says. “Inom sa studio while practicing songs.”
It is a detail they repeatedly laugh about throughout their story.
While alcohol may have become an ongoing joke within the band’s history, what truly stands out is the comfort they have with one another.
There is no pressure to impress.
No need to pretend.
No carefully manufactured image designed for social media.
Just five friends making music because they genuinely enjoy being in the same room together.
For independent artists trying to keep an indie band alive while working full-time, that kind of friendship may be just as important as musical talent.
A Name Inspired by Gaming, Not Image
The same honesty that defines GLITCHTRAP’s music also explains how they chose their name.
There was no branding agency.
No elaborate symbolism.
No hidden meaning waiting to be decoded.
The answer is much simpler.
During another drinking session, the conversation shifted toward horror games, eventually landing on Five Nights at Freddy’s. One character immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Glitchtrap.
The name sounded memorable. It rolled naturally off the tongue and felt different enough to stand out.
Originally, the band even stylized it as Glitchtr4p, referencing the fact that only four members were part of the original lineup. When Mike officially joined, they simplified it into GLITCHTRAP.
When asked whether the name represents something deeper, Zeke immediately laughs.
“Wala talaga.”
Instead, he offers a description that feels far more genuine than any branding statement could ever be.
“We’re just a bunch of titos na mga isip bata na may passion lang sa music, gaming and art.”
That sentence captures GLITCHTRAP better than any carefully written bio.
They are not trying to create mystery around themselves.
They are not chasing trends or building fictional personas.
They simply embraced the things they already loved.
Gaming.
Art.
Friendship.
Music.
And perhaps that honesty is exactly what makes them relatable.
For countless musicians who stepped away from the stage because adulthood demanded something different, GLITCHTRAP represents a reminder that passion can still exist alongside responsibility.
Sometimes it simply waits until after the night shift ends.
Music Written by Experience, Not Just Influence
Every band eventually reaches a point where it has to answer one question.
What do we want to sound like?
For GLITCHTRAP, the answer was never about fitting into a particular subgenre of metal or chasing whatever sound happened to be popular. Instead, they focused on writing songs that reflected who they are today.
When they describe their music, they use three words that immediately set the tone for everything they create.
Raw. Honest. Groovy.
Those aren’t marketing slogans. They are principles that guide every rehearsal, every arrangement, and every original song.
“Raw” means refusing to polish away every imperfection.
“Our music isn’t polished to hide imperfections,” the band explains. “We embrace emotion and authenticity in both our sound and performances.”
For GLITCHTRAP, imperfections are part of the performance. They would rather capture the emotion behind a song than chase technical perfection that feels disconnected from the message.
Their second principle is honesty.
Every original song begins with something real. Whether it is anxiety, hope, loss, or personal struggles, the band draws inspiration from experiences they have lived rather than stories they invent.
“Every song comes from real experiences.”
That approach makes their music feel personal without becoming overly complicated. Listeners are invited to connect with emotions that many people carry but rarely talk about openly.
The third word is perhaps the one that best separates them from many bands in the local heavy music scene.
Groovy.
In the Philippines, heavy music is often associated with relentless screams, growls, and breakdowns. GLITCHTRAP appreciates those influences, but they intentionally leave room for melody.
“Dito sa Pilipinas, most of the metal bands are heavily influenced by grits, screams and growls. We tend to shy away from that, but not totally.”
Instead of choosing one style over another, they combine clean vocals with heavier passages, creating songs that feel familiar to listeners who grew up with late-’90s and early-2000s nu metal, alternative metal, and post-hardcore.
Most of the members are children of the ’80s. Those records became part of their musical upbringing, and today those influences naturally appear in the songs they write together.
Rather than trying to sound modern for the sake of trends, GLITCHTRAP creates the music they themselves would enjoy listening to.
That authenticity is difficult to manufacture, and perhaps that is why it resonates.
Five Personalities, One Sound
Although GLITCHTRAP shares the same vision, every member contributes something different to the band’s identity.
Roel serves as guitarist and vocalist, but his role stretches far beyond that. According to Zeke, many of the band’s original riffs and even the drum arrangements begin with Roel’s ideas, a skill shaped by his early years as a drummer.
“He started as a drummer,” Zeke jokes. “Eh tumanda na, napapagod.”
Bassist Gino brings an instinctive understanding of music. He jokingly describes his process as “tenga, tenga lang,” but the band recognizes how naturally he adapts to arrangements. Around the group, he is also known as their unofficial dancer, adding another layer of energy to rehearsals.
Jerome, the youngest member, is described as “the heartbeat of the band.” His drumming provides the pulse that keeps every performance moving forward.
Mike adds another dimension through his guitar work, introducing heavier textures inspired by nu metal that give GLITCHTRAP’s sound its weight without overpowering its melodic side.
When asked about his own role, Zeke answers with the same humor that runs throughout the band’s story.
“Ako di ko sure kung ano ambag ko. Pero siguro masaya naman sila sa pinaggagagawa ko.”
The response earns another laugh, but it also says something about the group’s dynamic.
No one is trying to become the main character.
Every member openly celebrates what the others contribute, creating an environment where collaboration matters more than individual recognition.
Keeping an Indie Band Alive Means Learning to Manage Time
If there is one challenge that every independent musician understands, it is time.
Finding inspiration is difficult.
Finding five people with matching schedules can be even harder.
Every member of GLITCHTRAP works the night shift. Fortunately, they all work remotely, giving them slightly more flexibility than traditional office jobs. Even then, careers and family responsibilities always come first.
Rehearsals are no longer spontaneous.
Every practice requires checking calendars.
Every gig invitation involves conversations with spouses, family commitments, work deadlines, and personal schedules before anyone says yes.
For working professionals trying to keep an indie band alive, this is often the unseen part of making music.
The audience sees the performance.
They rarely see the weeks of planning that made it possible.
Creative differences also happen, but GLITCHTRAP approaches them with a simple philosophy that has helped preserve both the band and their friendships.
“Pag ayaw ng isa, ayaw na ng lahat.”
If one member is uncomfortable with an idea, they move on.
No arguments.
No unnecessary debates.
No bruised egos.
“Masyado na kaming matanda para mamroblema sa petty things.”
It is a rule built on mutual respect rather than compromise.
The older they have become, the more they understand that protecting friendships is more important than winning creative disagreements.
For a band built on years of trust, that mindset may be one of their greatest strengths.
The Stories That Make Them Laugh the Most
Like every band, GLITCHTRAP has memories that have become part of its identity.
Their favorite stories are rarely about performing on stage.
Instead, they happen during rehearsals.
One memory takes them back to their very first jam session as a band, before Jerome officially joined as drummer. Their friend King filled in behind the kit while everyone gathered to rehearse.
Or at least, that was the plan.
They began the evening the same way many of their stories begin.
With drinks.
Within less than two hours, the group had already finished two bottles of Alfonso.
By the time they were supposed to start practicing their second song, everyone had already admitted defeat.
The rehearsal ended.
The conversations continued.
The night became less about perfecting arrangements and more about building friendships.
Another favorite memory revolves around Mike’s first jam session with the band.
Everyone was immediately impressed by both his musical ideas and the heaviness of his guitar tone. Before the session was over, they had already started convincing him to become a permanent member.
They kept asking.
And asking.
Eventually, Mike said yes.
It was another reminder that some of the strongest bands are not formed through auditions or advertisements.
Sometimes they simply grow from friendships that already exist.
More Than a Band, A Reminder for Every Indie Musician
GLITCHTRAP’s story is not extraordinary because they formed a band.
Thousands of bands have done that.
Their story matters because of when they chose to do it.
They formed a band after careers had already been established.
After families became part of everyday life.
After adulthood introduced responsibilities that often convince people to give up creative pursuits altogether.
For many artists in the Philippine independent music scene, that reality feels familiar.
Dreams are often postponed.
Sometimes they quietly disappear.
GLITCHTRAP offers a different perspective.
Growing older does not mean leaving creativity behind.
It simply changes the way you make space for it.
When asked how they hope people will remember them, the band’s answer reflects the same honesty found throughout their music.
“We’d like to be remembered as a band that made honest music that connects with people and somehow helps them find inspiration and comfort through our songs.”
There is no mention of fame.
No talk of chart rankings or viral success.
Only the hope that someone listening to their songs might find comfort, understanding, or even the motivation to keep creating.
Perhaps that is the most meaningful legacy an independent band can leave behind.
GLITCHTRAP is not trying to relive the past.
They are proving that passion can grow alongside careers, marriage, parenthood, and responsibility.
Their rehearsals happen after work.
Their performances fit between family commitments.
Their songs are written from real experiences instead of imagined ones.
In many ways, they represent a chapter that countless musicians hope to reach but rarely believe is possible.
The dream did not end when adulthood arrived.
It simply learned how to coexist with it.
And somewhere after another remote work shift, another family dinner, another scheduled rehearsal, and another evening spent with friends, GLITCHTRAP continues to write the next chapter of their story, one honest song at a time.
