Keeping the “Truefaith” (Part 1 of 2)
Words: Roldan A. Ancajas
Interview: Annie E. Medina
Truefaith has been a long tough enduring band. You won’t help to imagine the rough times that they’ve been together facing personal as well as music matter ordeals. Nonetheless, things like these would seem to let them going, stronger and wiser. One instance of their true test of faith when is when life taps them at the shoulder, in 1996, the band disbanded. Their musical torch faded away like a dying flicker in the dark. But hope against all hope gives blithe again to a dying flame. Through the instrumentality of Medwin Marfil (lead vocal), the band was reborn to make a rather more huge splash in the industry.
Truefaith now has now 13 sizable albums including 15 collaborations. Those 13 albums sing and triumphantly herald their 18 years of a roller-coaster ride in the industry. They are one of the long enduring best bands our country could ever have. They’re getting better than ever. Now, here they’re getting set for the thirteenth brand new album – Love Parade.
Let’s take a closer look…
On the Record
Medwin and fellow band members got to take the hustle of answering our inquisitions on the next album. “Love Parade is our 9th. studio album (13th. cd) and our first under our new label Viva Records. It has 12 new original songs written by the band and produced by us as well. In this album, we went back to our new wave and 80’s pop roots and the prevailing themes of the songs – aside from of course, romantic love – are hope, faith, and inspiration. It is generally a feel-good record. It is the most lush-sounding of all our albums; we hired the very talented Jack Rufo to mix the tracks. It took us from the middle of 2009 to early January of this year to complete the record.”
Each of them laid down the songs they expect to play the most in the album:
MED: I totally love “Strange Flower” because it’s the first time we’ve done something of that sort – a confluence of genres from indie pop, dance-rock, new wave and soul all in one. In the recorded version, we have as guests on this particular track Luke Mejares, Carlos Magno of Out Of Body Special, and Ryan Armamento of Corporate Lo-fi. I like singing it live ‘coz it’s funky and I love to dance onstage.
JAKE: “Pangako” and “Mountain Wind.”
BIMBO: “Yun Lang”, “Lihim”, and “Run.”
ALLAN: Mostly, I look forward to playing the more upbeat songs from the new album such as “Yun Lang”, “Pamgako”, “Hurray”, and “Tonight.”
EUGENE: “Mountain Wind”
BENEDICT: “Lihim”, “Mountain Wind”, and “Parada”. Nonetheless, everybody’s pouring in part of their heart in every song in the album, no exception.
As long enduring band and band members of course, they were sought for as gurus in the industry who are at their prime and at the heights of their senses.
MED: I feel that I’m more relaxed and more secure with my capabilities as an artist. I have understood that in the past I’ve set up self-restrictions that I didn’t realize were there. I think now I can express myself freely without pretensions. And our fans, the audience have felt it and reciprocated the same vibe.
JAKE: Yes, I became more cautious in making music.
BIMBO: From day to day experiences and being influenced from constantly evolving genres of music, I guess I’m more mature at my playing but still learning because it’s a never ending process.
ALLAN: I am very much more relaxed and constant as an artist. I don’t look forward to prove anything but simply to enjoy creating and performing music.
EUGENE: More relaxed and confident because of the gained experiences.
BENEDICT: I’m more disciplined now. In my timing while playing the drums, I’ve learned to listen to my band mates and incorporate their suggestions into my musical routine.
Inspiration is still the king of the penning. Medwin and Eugene are the main songwriters of the band. Medwin explains, “Songwriting is a very cathartic experience. I’ve known how it could heal me at some level once the words just pour out like water. It is an exercise of tediousness to be honest, but the outcome can be very rewarding. A lot of times though I write about other people’s experiences – that way I don’t feel much of the burden to give out a certain personal mystery away.” Eugene seconded, “The fact that you have created something that people can relate to when you share it with them.”
A happy soul is Medwin’s “push” motto to go on with music, as well as life itself. “I want to enjoy life and to maintain that happy disposition. A happy disposition can make you look and feel young. Being in a band and as an artist can help you achieve that. Music makes you young inside and out. I also have higher goals like philanthropy and social work which I hope to seriously pursue in the future, and again being in Truefaith would be a good way to channel my energies to that point. Making good music, entertaining people and pop dominance are my modest motivations for now…hehe.”
Medwin gets his thrills from an idol Basil Valdez if he has to write a song with, “Local? I want to write a song for Basil Valdez. Idol ko siya since I was young. His voice just brings you back to a much more innocent time like in an old movie. Celluloid dreams. Foreign – I want to write for Sade. I love her and her band. She’s a pure soul deluxe!!”
On the studio during the process for Love Parade, some drops of beer and The Bar – apple flavored does the trick of getting in the heart of the album.
Source: Pinoy: Your OPM Music Authority (May-June 2010)