Sandwich celebrates 15th year via Fat, Salt & Flame album

Ni Len Armea

Sandwich album launch

Marami ang nagsusulputang banda sa Philippine music scene ngunit hindi lahat ay nananatiling buo pagkalipas ng ilang taon. Dahil sa paglikha ng mga kanta na talagang patok na patok sa publiko at sa magandang samahan ng grupo, hindi pa rin natitinag ang Sandwich na isa sa mga hinahangaang banda ngayon.

Naglabas ang Sandwich, na binubuo nila Raymund Marasigan (vocals, guitar), Myrene Academia (bass, backing vocals), Diego Castillo (guitar, backing vocals), Mong Alcaraz (guitar, backing vocals) at Mike Dizon (drums), ng kanilang ikapitong album na pinamagatang “Fat, Salt & Flame.”

Wala nang maisip pa ang banda na mas magandang paraan na ipakita ang kanilang lubos na pasasalamat sa kanilang music fans sa pagtangkilik ng mga ito sa loob ng 15 taon kundi ang maglabas ng bagong album.

Kakaiba at espesyal ang Fat, Salt & Flame album, na ni-release ng Polyeast Records, dahil pangarap nila ang magkaroon ng live album at masaya ang grupo na natupad nila ito ngayon. Bukod sa live recording, mayroon din duet sina Myrene at Mong, ang New Romancer, at mayroon din guitar solo si Tirso Ripol ng Razorback.

“We always wanted to record live because I think we are a pretty good live band, but we usually record multi-track.

“We made and rehearsed [about] 25 to 30 songs, play them all live and selected the songs that we liked which are not necessarily the best songs and then we recorded the main tracks, all five of us, live in the same studio.

“It’s very technical but we keep on recording  it until it [felt] right, and for us we know that it felt right kapag kumulot na 'yung aming toes,” pahayag ni Raimund na dating bahagi ng legendary rock band na Eraserheads.

Naglalaman ng siyam na kanta ang album na kinabibilangan ng “Fat, Salt and Flame,” “Back For More,” “Sleepwalker,” “Pray For Today,” “The Week After,” “Mayday,” “Kidlat,” “New Romancer,” at “Manhid.”

“Iyong recording process namin mayroon iyong naka-shades kami kasi parang ganoon iyong  feel ng kanta kahit gabi iyon ha. Or parang gusto ko mag-jacket kahit tanghaling tapat, mayroong times na kailangang patayin iyong aircon, iyong ilaw, para tama iyong vibes,” ani Mong.

Dagdag pa ni Mike, “Ang mindset namin for this album  is that we have to do something that we will be proud of 10 years from now or more; that when we look back we wouldn’t say na ang baduy naman ng kantang ginawa namin.”

Sa loob ng 15 taon ay marami nang napagdaanan ang limang miyembro ng banda ngunit magkagayunman ay mas nanaig sa kanila ang patuloy na paggawa ng musika. At kung mayroon man silang natutuhan sa mga nagdaang taon, ito ay ang pagmamahal sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila.

“You have to take care of your group. In all our band that’s the major thing dapat, that you have to take care of the people also and you would have to have enough love to take a bullet for them no matter what, parang pamilya mo na ito eh, kasama mo on the road, same van, same hotel, same airport. If you hate them it won’t work,” pahayag ni Raymund.

“You also have to follow your guts, you must have passion for what you do and you work hard. Kailangan nandoon iyon pareho,” sagot naman ni Myrene.

“And part of working hard is knowing priorities,” pagtatapos ni Raymund.