Lola Amour writes an ode to their growth
One of my favorite fun facts about Lola Amour is that on their Wikipedia page, there is a very comprehensive, complex timeline of the duration of each member, past and present. This includes sessionists, sessionists-turned-band members, and former members briefly popping up for a couple of gigs.
Any band with the skill and luck of longevity is prone to change, but this is all the more true for the Raining in Manila hitmakers. What could easily be misinterpreted as a symptom of instability is actually a testament to Lola Amour’s resilience: it will always be about the music and doing what they love, regardless of who ends up onstage with them.
When I met the members — Pio Dumayas (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Zoe Gonzales (lead guitar), Angelo Mesina (trumpet), David Yuhico (keyboards), Jeff Abueg (saxophone and clarinet), Raffy Perez (drums), and Manu Dumayas (bass) — they exchange inside jokes and laugh almost as much as they speak. They have, as the online joke goes, one brain cell, finishing each other’s sentences and effortlessly matching the other’s banter.
The band is, after all, made up of friends of friends. Some met through school. Pio invited his brother Manu to join a few years in. When Mesina was still in med school (he’s now a licensed doctor), the band gave him all the time he needed.
With this history in mind, The Philippine STAR pose a question to each member: How do you think your bandmate has grown since joining the band?
Ahead of the release of the band’s new album “Love on Loop” later this year, we also speak with their band manager Mika Ordoñez, who fans have come to love, about what she wants listeners to remember about the band.
Zoe, on how Pio has changed
“Throughout the years (he has changed) significantly — performance-wise, stage presence, everything. I’ve seen the start. The spiels? They were so bad.
But now, even without the guitar, he’s so confident. The way he moves just feels so natural.”
David, on how Raffy has changed
“I remember when Raffy started, he would not even speak. He'd just be like, “Yes, sir.” Then, slowly, he'd give more of his opinions, more of his time.
I remember there was a turning point: when he started writing, or maybe when he became a member. Once he started giving his input, it became so much better.
We're so many, and the drums lead the band most of the time. Usually, when we say, ‘Raffy, just cook!’ That's when it works out, because he's a very good writer of sections.
Raffy got out of his shell a bit, got a bit more assertive, and stood up for himself. And now, he's assisting me with tech stuff. There's been a big change. All downhill. (laughs) It's a big change, and it's very welcome. I always trust his input.”
Raffy, on how Zoe has changed
“Like what David said a while ago, since I was in my shell, I didn't really care about what they were doing. I trusted them and what they did; I was just listening on my own.
It's the fact that they haven't changed despite everything — despite the line-up changes, despite the success. They're still themselves. I think one thing that I've observed is they're here for the music.
When it came to Zoe, at first, I felt that he was a bit quiet back then, songwriting-wise. It was always (former member) Raymond who would tell him what to do. But then ever since, especially after (Raymond) left, when he started inputting his own thing, that was when I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, you're really good. This works very nice.’”
Mesina, on how Jeff changed
“Where do we begin? Nagka-girlfriend na siya. And he’s had a second girlfriend! I’ve known him since high school. He was single then; looking for women. (laughs)
Like Raffy, (it was) similar when Jeff first sessioned for us. Then he started taking more roles. He started contributing a lot more, like parts of Raining In Manila and Namimis Ko Na. He really put a lot of his influences.
Not just music-wise — he also put effort into merch, and everything else he does. He’s a changed man, with a heavy foot. Wait, I mean he put his foot down. (laughs) You guys got it, though.”
Manu, on how Mesina changed
“I've been playing with the band for a while now, but I only started (relatively recently). When I started, Mesina was in his peak med mode. He was in his shell. Everyone was very understanding of his position, but we missed him, man. We didn’t have enough Mesina in the band.
When he passed the boards, he came out of that shell. He came back and we were all so happy, like, ‘Congrats man, now it’s time to work straight out of med!’ (laughs) I think everyone noticed how he stepped up so much after he came back. He’s dressing up; every gig may bago na siyang hairstyle. He’s passionate towards the band.”
Pio, on how Manu changed
“I met him when he was born. (laughs) At the start of his musical journey, I think he was 13 or 12, ang alam ko from the stories of my parents, Manu was a musical prodigy.
I was like, ‘Ah prodigy pala, he play anything pala ah.’ So noong umalis si (former member) Martin, I told him, ‘Manu, we have a gig. Can you session keys?’ He's like, ‘Ah I don't know how to play it.’ I was like, ‘Kaya mo ‘yan! Here are the chords,’ and then I left him alone.
Pagdating niya sa rehearsals, he was trying his best, but he didn’t really (know how to) play keyboard. Prodigy siya, so na-disappoint ako n’on. (laughs)
Bassist talaga si Manu. That time, he would just always say yes to things. When he became a member, d’on na talaga nakita ‘yung transition ng sessionist to member; may stake ka na sa band.
Marami siyang initiative. He volunteers to do things. Right now, kakaalis niya lang sa day job niya, (so) lahat ng trabaho na makuha niya, hinahanap niya. Siya ‘yung pinakamabilis magreply. I guess the change is from being a Sims character to becoming an actual human.”
Jeff, on how David changed
“Since before, David hated me. (laughs) He's got a lot of musical knowledge. I (have) high respect for him, for being so knowledgeable and being able to apply it.
I always ask him for musical advice, especially when I make the horn parts, since that’s when he’s at his peak. He’s always been musically talented, and everyone has high respect for him.”
Mika, on how she wants people to remember Lola Amour
“It's the fact that they haven't changed despite everything — despite the line-up changes, despite the success. They're still themselves. I think one thing that I've observed is they're here for the music.
They don't really chase hits. Of course, there's pressure to follow; actually, I think ako pa ‘yung mas napepressure to follow the hits, but for them, it’s like, ‘We just want to do music that we like.’ It doesn't matter if mag-hit siya o hindi.
I want people to remember that they really stick to what they want in terms of music. Their creativity comes first. The success never got to their heads, and I hope it never gets to their heads. I’m glad na sila ‘yung nakaka-work ko, and I’ve been here for seven years.”
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Lola Amour’s second album “Love on Loop” comes out on August 15. Follow the band at @lolaamourph.
