Tag: feature

  • From JS Proms to Dream Stages: The Heartbeat Behind LunarLights

    From JS Proms to Dream Stages: The Heartbeat Behind LunarLights

    When you’re young, playing at your college prom feels like the peak of the dream. You set up, strum a few chords, the crowd yells, and for one brief, glorious moment—you’re somebody. But for LunarLights, that moment didn’t end when the lights dimmed and the decorations came down. It was just the start of a decade-long ride under the neon skies of the Philippine indie music scene.

    The year was 2012. Three college musicians—Eron, Mav, and Rocky—came from completely different genres. Ska. Metal. Alternative. On paper, they shouldn’t have worked. But the first time they jammed, something clicked. “Parang may chemistry, ang dali namin magtugma kahit magkakaibang genre namin,” Eron recalls. It wasn’t long before they started playing outside school, and soon after, they found themselves onstage at the Singkaban Festival, catching the attention of Sir Trix Parco—a pivotal moment that catapulted them into a world beyond university gigs and barkada jams.

    That world would eventually know them as LunarLights, a name born from a stargazing session and a shared love for Angels & Airwaves, UFOs, and anything vaguely cosmic. The band’s original name, The Sky Parade, had to be shelved when they realized it was already taken. “Di ko na maalala paano naging LunarLights yung dating Lunar Flight,” Eron laughs. It’s that kind of organic chaos—accidental, spontaneous, weirdly perfect—that defines the band.

    Medyo Pop-Punk? Medyo Iconic.

    Ask anyone in the scene what genre LunarLights plays and you’ll probably get a shrug followed by a smile. Even the band doesn’t pin themselves down. “May nagtweet dati na tama raw yung term na ‘medyo pop-punk’ para i-describe yung tugtugan namin,” Joms shares. It’s a hybrid sound—half catchy hooks, half teenage angst, all heart—that resists easy labeling. And they like it that way.

    From space rock beginnings (thanks again to their Angels & Airwaves obsession), their sound evolved along with the lineup. Members came and went, and each change left its own sonic footprint. “Mas naging solid, mas naging tight,” Eron says of their current direction. Think Blink-182 with just a dash of Rico Blanco, then run it through the lens of Filipino storytelling, and you’re close—but still not quite there.


    Writing Songs, Building Worlds

    Their writing process is as collaborative as their sound. Joms usually comes in with the skeleton of a song. Then the rest of the band tears it apart and puts it back together again. “Lapag-lapag kami ng ideas hanggang mabuo yung kanta,” says Eron. There’s no formula, no drama—just a lot of music and even more laughter.

    Their producer sometimes steps in with ideas during studio sessions, but the final product is always unmistakably LunarLights. It’s a balance between freedom and structure, creativity and compromise. “May say ang lahat kung may iimprove pa yung kanta,” Joms adds. And no, walang tampuhan. Not even close.

    If you’ve never heard a LunarLights song before, the band suggests a few key tracks. Eron says “Restart” is the one, especially for listeners dealing with life’s many curveballs. “Perfect siya sa mga nag sstruggle ngayon,” he adds. Peter votes for “TYT,” praising its catchy nature and emotional relatability. And Joms? “Kay Dalas.” For him, it defines the band’s signature medyo pop-punk sound, layered and fun, especially when performed live.


    Band Dynamics, On and Off Stage

    Backstage, LunarLights isn’t a band—it’s a barkada. Everyone has a role. Eron calls Migs the silent killer, while Peter proudly claims the title of pabibo—“Pinaka maingay at komedyante sa banda!” It’s clear they’re not just bandmates but people who actually like being around each other. And that’s not always a given in this business.

    How do they keep the spark alive after more than a decade? “Napipilitan na lang kami sa isa’t isa. Char!” Eron jokes. But the real answer comes from Peter: “Respeto at supportahan lang namin sa isa’t isa.” They value input, accept suggestions, and understand that creativity thrives in community, not competition.


    Indie, But Never Invisible

    In a country where musical talent often gets lost in the algorithm, being an indie band means living with uncertainty—and still choosing to create anyway. “Mas madali ngayon sa songwriting kasi malaya ka,” Eron says. But Peter adds nuance: “Mahirap siya in terms na di mo alam kung pano ipaparating sa ibang tao yung mga kanta mo.” It’s a double-edged sword. Yes, they’re free to write whatever they want—but reaching people? That’s a whole different game.

    Still, the milestones matter. Being featured in Spotify’s RADAR, releasing their first album, playing on big stages with crowds in the thousands—each one a badge of honor. “Dun pa lang yata nasabi ko na yung ‘we made it’,” Peter shares.

    For Joms, the dream is even bigger: “Kapag nagkaroon kami ng kahit isang hit song…yung kanta na maririnig mo kahit saan, tapos madadala kami kahit saan.” He imagines telling his future kid: “Anak, dahil sa kanta na ‘yan nabili natin ‘tong bahay!”—a fantasy, sure, but also a future that feels just one song away.


    From Janella Salvador to Alien Collabs

    As for dream collaborations? The answers are as delightfully unpredictable as the band itself. Eron drops Janella Salvador with a straight face. Peter, ever the wildcard, suggests a collab with Skusta Clee or Flow G, injecting rap into their signature sound. And honestly? That might just work. LunarLights has always been about the unexpected.

    At the heart of it all is a simple message: “Life is beautiful. Music is life. Enjoy niyo lang!” Eron says. Peter echoes this sentiment: “Enjoy lang gawin yung mga bagay na magpapasaya sayo.” And Joms? “Enjoy every moment.” No pretensions. No grand philosophies. Just joy—and maybe a guitar solo or two.


    Who They Are Today, and Who They Want to Be

    So, who is LunarLights in 2025?

    The answer is refreshingly consistent: “LunarLights pa rin siguro,” says Eron.

    Peter agrees, adding that the band saved him at a time when he was ready to give up on music. And Joms, ever the dreamer, puts it this way: “A band trying the best—hopefully tomorrow we become one of the best.”

    It’s that blend of humility and ambition that sets them apart. They’re not chasing clout or gimmicks. They’re just six guys who started in a college gymnasium and ended up under actual stage lights. Not bad for a band that once considered calling themselves The Sky Parade.

  • ELEYN: From Studio Tambays to Stage Takeovers

    ELEYN: From Studio Tambays to Stage Takeovers

    “Hoy grabe, baka isulat ni Issa ‘yan!” Elaine blurts out in the middle of laughter, her voice half-laughing, half-hysterical. The rest of the band howls, trying (and failing) to keep a straight face over Zoom.

    You know you’re not just talking to a band—you’re catching up with a barkada na walang filter, walang arte, and definitely walang takas sa asaran. ELEYN isn’t just a music project. It’s a shared wavelength, the kind you build over years of late-night tambays, impromptu sessions, and inside jokes too twisted to explain. And as they tell it, the band began—like most barkadas do—“tambay lang muna.”

    From Elaine to Eleyn

    Back when they were still figuring themselves out musically, the band didn’t even have a name.
    “Mga bagets pa kami noon,” Elaine recalls. “Nagkaayaan lang magkita, may gig na kami the next day tapos wala pa kaming pangalan.”

    They eventually landed on Elaine, but changed the spelling to ELEYN so it wouldn’t sound like a solo act. “E-L-E-Y-N na lang para hindi ako mukhang solo artist,” she laughs.

    It stuck. And thank god it did.

    Gig or Gimmick? Pareho.

    Before any official releases, they juggled originals and covers. “Nagpaparamor lang kami kapag may request yung event,” says Paolo, the band’s guitarist-slash-tropa na laging may pakwela. They performed tracks from Paramore, Versa Emerge, and other scene staples while crafting their own sound behind the scenes.

    But even before that—there was just a studio. And some heartbreak. “Tambay lang kami sa studio, tapos si Elaine may ex pa noon—iyak siya,” Paolo teases.

    “Hoy, grabe!” Elaine blurts, half-laughing and half-begging.

    Too late. (Sorry, Elaine.)

    Behind the kulitan is a deeper chemistry. These are people who know each other’s history, mood swings, and flavor ng paboritong kape. And that’s the reason the creative process flows easily. “Alam na namin gusto namin sound. Mabilis lang makabuo ng kanta kasi naka-visualize na,” says Angelo (aka Tito Wiwi), guitarist and resident brain when it comes to production.

    The Line-Up Saga

    ELEYN officially started in 2010, but the lineup we see today came together around 2021–2022. “Mahaba ‘yung story, ang daming naging bandmates. Iba-iba lineup dati,” the band explains.

    Shad, the band’s drummer, started doing double pedals because of ELEYN. Paolo, meanwhile, was focused on dancing before he took his guitar seriously—something they all joke about during the call. “Next year, baka wala na rin kami,” one of them jokes, and everyone just laughs again.

    But the bond? Rock solid. And it shows.

    Their favorite memories aren’t the practice or the gigs—it’s the tambay.
    “Walang practice, walang plano. Yung tsismisan lang, outing, lutong imbento, tapos sabay kakain. Yun talaga yung masaya,” one of them say, in a rare moment of sentimental clarity before someone inevitably breaks the moment with a joke. (And yes, they did.)

    WKL: Wag Kang Lalayo

    Fast forward to 2025, and ELEYN’s newest single “WKL (Sa Katotohanan)” just dropped on May 30, distributed by Warner Music Philippines. It’s a follow-up to their previous emotional ride “WKL (Sa Panaginip),” and it continues to explore the unspoken, the distance, the longing.

    “Gusto lang namin na wag lang sila lumayo,” says Paolo. That’s the heart of WKL. It’s not just a love song—it’s a plea. A feeling. A little hope tucked inside synths and distortion.

    The track was produced under Whosoever Recording, with Elaine and Tito Wiwi at the helm, and the rest of the band shaping it into what it is now.
    “Mabilis lang nasulat ’yan, kasi gets na namin agad kung saan pupunta yung tunog,” Elaine shares.

    With Warner Music Philippines distributing, ELEYN keeps their creative control while reaching wider audiences—without losing that signature ELEYN touch.

    Genre? Nope, It’s Just ELEYN

    Trying to box them into one genre is a fool’s errand. Rock? Yes. Pop? Kinda. Electronica? Sometimes. Emo? On some days. But none of those fully cover what they do.

    It’s ELEYN. Period.

    Their discography tells the story:

    • Self-titled EP (2014) – A five-track introduction that announced their arrival, featuring “Our Lips Are Sealed”
    • Claws & Blood (2017) – A sharper, darker collection with the standout “EKIS” and its music video
    • “Teresa” and “Playright” (2022) – More layered, more textured, emotionally wider
    • Unplugged + Live Sessions – Where their artistry and chemistry become front and center
    • “Yakap” and “WKL (sa panaginip)” – Released just a year ago, still streaming strong
    • “WKL (sa katotohanan)” – The latest chapter in their ongoing narrative

    Every release sounds like growth—sonically and emotionally.

    WKL Tour 2025

    ELEYN’s not just staying inside studios anymore. They’re out there, face-to-face with fans in their “WKL (Sa Katotohanan)” Tour. And they’re bringing the noise to every corner of Luzon:

    • May 31 – Canto Bogchi Joint, Baguio
    • June 1 – Moon Bar & Resto, Urdaneta, Pangasinan
    • June 7 – Tahanan, Novaliches QC
    • June 14 – Beryo, Sta. Rosa Laguna
    • June 20 – Unknown13Pub, Katipunan QC
    • July 12 – Alpha Bar, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

    The tour isn’t just a setlist—it’s a full experience.

    Dreaming Loud

    When asked about dream collaborations, the band answers almost in chorus:
    “Regine Velasquez.”

    Yes, you read that right.
    And no, they’re not kidding.
    “Kahit ballad, kahit ano, si Regine talaga,” Elaine says, eyes wide with the kind of fan-level admiration you’d expect from people who, deep down, are still that group of bagets jamming without a band name.

    Would Regine say yes? Who knows? But one thing’s for sure: kung sakali, it’s going to be unforgettable.

    The Heart of Eleyn

    What makes ELEYN special isn’t just the music. It’s the way they make you feel like you’re part of the room. Like you’re in the studio with them, slouched on a couch, drinking soda out of a plastic cup, watching them argue about which song should close the set.

    They don’t take themselves too seriously, but they take the music seriously.
    They fight, they laugh, they jam, and they stick around.

    Because sometimes, being in a band isn’t just about the gigs or the streaming numbers.
    Sometimes, it’s about showing up—again and again—until it becomes something more than friendship.

    It becomes ELEYN.


    Follow ELEYN
    📍 Facebook: facebook.com/eleynmusicph
    📍 Instagram: @eleynmusic
    📍 TikTok: @eleynmusic
    📍 YouTube: Eleyn Music
    📩 Email: eleynmusicph@gmail.com

    Catch them on the WKL (Sa Katotohanan) Tour and stream the latest single now on all platforms.
    Wag kang lalayo.