All feelings rise to the surface in SOS’ new album ‘It Was a Moment’
A great man once said, “He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.” That’s the Jose Rizal quote SOS lead singer Roberto Seña meant to say. Instead, Seña blurts out, “Ang hindi marunong tumingin sa past ay doomed in the future. Actually, sobrang binutcher ko ‘yung quote na ‘yun. Jose Rizal ba ‘yun?”
“Hindi ba Ninoy Aquino?” chimes in guitarist Andrew Panopio.
Anjo Silvoza, the bassist, quickly corrects them. “Hindi. Si Jose Rizal ‘yun.”
Who can blame them for the hilarious misquote, though? At the time of this exclusive online interview with Young STAR, the alternative rock band was in the thick of touring their long-awaited sophomore album, It Was a Moment, released last March 28. Drummer King Puentespina couldn’t make the call, but the other four members were present to discuss their newest record. “We’re all happy. Tired, I think, from all the shows. The volume hasn’t been this high in a while,” Seña shares.
“The last time we were this active was probably pre-pandemic pa,” Andrew adds. They may be slightly fatigued, but the band is still in disbelief from the positive feedback, especially because the album was tucked away in their computers for years. “It’s crazy to say na, ‘Oh, we have a second album out.’”
Growing up since 'Whatever That Was'
SOS has come a long way in the eight years since their debut album Whatever That Was, but they haven’t forgotten their roots. In fact, decade-old songs like Love Kept Us Warm have crossed over to IWAM. Ram Alonzo, the keyboardist and synth player, reminisces about working on the penultimate track in the studio after hearing it for the first time 11 years ago. “This is such a nice song. Astig na kasama na siya sa album.”
On the other hand, the members refined and sat with the IWAM opener—and 12-year-long fan favorite—Amore to reach its full potential. “I think it’s half, ‘Let’s get it out of the way,’ at least for me,” Seña admits. “But also, ‘Let’s see if we can still breathe life into things we thought we let go of.’”
“I feel like it’s better na (that Amore) came years later. It’s easier to perform than before,” Andrew explains. “It may have a different vibe, but I think it’s something we can stand by.” Longevity also ran through Andrew’s mind while forming the track list this time around. “What are things we wanna keep with us or have in our catalog years down the line? Is it an album you can look back on and be proud of?”
“It’s nice that we get to bring something originally from (WTW) to where we are now,” says Anjo. “It grew up with us, too.”
Seña follows up, “The moments that shape who you are from the past really reflect on what you have now or what you plan to do in the future.”
Indeed, that evolution took shape through the memories they’ve carried, one example being splicing cartoon samples into their new sound. “I felt like it’s so rock or cool if we kept it as an inside joke to keep things light. We’re into inside jokes as a band and as friends,” Andrew reveals. “I feel like it’s our personality whether we choose it or not. They’re like little gems. It humanizes it.”
I hope this album makes you remember who you are now years into the future. This may be one of the best memories you’ll remember.
Maturity comes with confronting hard truths, and IWAM doesn’t shy away from life’s trials and tribulations. When asked why the band chose to dig deeper and explore the various facets of mental health in the album, Seña makes an immediate, cheeky remark, “‘Cause therapy’s expensive,” causing everyone to laugh.
Anjo then brings up a conversation with his 65-year-old dad, who had trouble understanding the album. “I told him, ‘Our music is us through the years. WTW was us in our early 20s going through life—being all lovey dovey, having fun, being careless, being reckless.’”
To Anjo, IWAM captures the transition from youthful abandon to the complexities of adulthood. “It was a moment, at dito na kami ngayon. That’s how I described it to my dad: this album is ‘The Great Ano Na?’ We’re feeling everything. It’s love. It’s not love. It’s mental. It’s burnout. It’s life.”
“I honestly get surprised when people say we’re relatable ‘cause I feel like ako lang ang nakakaintindi ng writing ko,” Seña wonders. “But I guess it resonates either way.”
Building on Seña’s sentiment, Andrew weighs in with thoughts on letting go of perfection in the production. “I always say, ‘Done is better than perfect.’ As artists, it’s never perfect. We listen to it now and it’s hard not to feel like, ‘Ugh, we should’ve done this. We should’ve done that.’ But you’ll only be objective once it’s out.”
The soundtrack for years to come
After years of honing in on IWAM’s sound, the album now belongs to more than just the band. Anjo hopes it serves as a shoulder to cry on. “If there’s a song that resonates with you or you relate to, at least alam mo na may kasama ka feeling it or going through it.” He also sees IWAM as a time capsule of the present. “I hope this album makes you remember who you are now years into the future. This may be one of the best memories you’ll remember.”
Life may not be linear, but Ram trusts that clarity comes with time. “Sana ‘yung takeaway (ay) while it’s inevitable, it’s okay and it’s gonna be okay. Sana ma-associate nila with good times ‘cause I have a lot of songs associated with good memories.”
In this great, big world, Seña believes it’s both the big and tiny moments that are worth noticing. Even the corned beef he ate throughout the call is something he’s grateful for. “There (have been) recent events that solidified that thought to me further. Things like death or departure. That’s so important—time. All the small bits that make you human.”
As the band lets go of IWAM, Andrew wants listeners to realize that life is fleeting, which is why the present should be cherished. “I hope people use this record as a companion when they’re driving, sad, or happy. When you hear the title, it makes you reflect on the past. All the good times you had na at the time, you didn’t think it was the best of times, but it was. And it is. You can’t describe it or illustrate it. All you could say is, ‘It was a moment.’”
Juxtaposing all that sentimentality, Andrew’s initial reply is simply, “Good vibes,” which he rescinds right after. “No, no. Don’t put that.”
Seña can’t help but cackle. “You know what? Keep that in.”
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Listen to SOS’ new album It Was a Moment on all major music streaming platforms nationwide via Careless Music. Follow the band at @sosbandforever.
