A Candid Chat with ONE CLICK STRAIGHT

Join us in a lively episode as we chat with Sam and Tim from the band ONE CLICK STRAIGHT. We promise you'll learn about the unique dynamics that make this sibling-rooted band tick, and how they hilariously juggle vocal roles as self-proclaimed "semi-singers." They even reveal their intriguing music "hiatus" after their January 2023 album release, focusing on gigs and music videos, all while keeping their songwriting hats on.

Get ready for some personal tales and musical influences that have left a mark on Sam and Tim. From the soothing sounds of James Taylor, which once lulled Sarah to sleep at his concert, to the adrenaline-pumping tunes of Sum 41, we explore the beats that shaped our guests. Hear about the unexpected twists at live shows that leave a memorable impression, like playing to an audience of none or getting unintentionally electrified on a rainy beach.

We dive into the band's dynamics, discussing the straightforward communication and familial bonds that come with working alongside siblings. One Click Straight's journey is a testament to perseverance and gratitude, highlighting the influence of family support and their punk rock ethos. From their DIY spirit to their latest music video "SIGA," where they face intense filming challenges, you'll find an inspiring story of authenticity and staying true to one's artistic dreams. Tune in to celebrate their resilience and the joys of their musical adventure.

ONE CLICK STRAIGHT info:
Instagram
X
YouTube 
SIGA video [youtube]
SIGA [Spotify]

Transcript

Speaker 2 0:21

Welcome everybody. So we've got a special show for you today. We are speaking with Sam and Tim from the I semi-sing for the band One Click Street.

Speaker 1 0:32

Yeah and I am Tim and I play drums and I semi-sing also for the band One Click Street. First of all, thank you guys for having us. It's nice, excited to chit chat oh yeah, no, thank you.

Speaker 2 0:59

Thank you, this is great it is.

Speaker 3 1:02

I know you. This is really great that you have reached out, and we, uh, sometimes do reach out to bands and whatnot, um, but this time you guys reached out to us and that was amazing, because I'm like hey, sarah, they're actually getting it. This is awesome. We need to get them on the show. Uh, and the podcast. When I'm in the show, the podcast whatever and uh. So I know it was being a back and forth and whatnot, because I know the time difference is 12 hours and we all of us have different lives.

Speaker 3 1:35

Besides, you know our radio or you know podcast, podcast personality and musician personality. Let's say I'm so happy that we were able to connect and have this.

Speaker 1 1:47

I know this talk first of all, good morning.

Speaker 3 1:50

I know our difference and good evening to you guys, good evening to you guys that's funny actually.

Speaker 2 1:59

how's the weather over there? Oh yeah, it's hot.

Speaker 1 2:02

Always. It's always hot in the Philippines. It's hot in the Philippines, yeah.

Speaker 2 2:13

We're kind of missing that.

Speaker 1 2:14

There's two kinds of weathers here, just like hot or warm, always humid.

Speaker 3 2:23

Yeah, it's cold over here morning is what 39?

Speaker 2 2:28

oh no, it was just above freezing when I left my house. Oh geez we probably had frost out there. Yeah, there was ice on my car so yeah, totalite we are.

Speaker 3 2:44

So I was before we started the podcast. I was starting to talk about how I found out about your band. I want to say it was many, many, many years ago where I found on Spotify your account and unfortunately I forgot which song that I remember listening to that I'm like, wow, this group is really awesome and I played one of your songs. And then I waited for a while and I saw that you didn't post anything on Spotify for quite some time. So, like your last before this, it was on 2023, January of 2023 was your last album before this one. Can you talk about what happened there? Did you take a little bit of a hiatus?

Speaker 1 3:30

Actually, what happened between 2023, when we dropped the album in January 2023,? We went on, we had a tour, we were promoting the album, we were doing shows and we didn't put out new music. But we put out music videos and mostly it's really shows. We were just promoting the album, we were trying, we were trying the whole circuit, you know the whole cycle for that song. But yeah, but the song, but the writing, I think, Never stops for us. So we keep on writing. So I think it was just the perfect time To drop another. We took a little bit of a break, but that's just really like three days or like a week, we have no break.

Speaker 3 4:09

We have no break.

Speaker 1 4:10

No break the burnout is real in the hot country. It's very hot in the Philippines.

Speaker 3 4:15

You know what I mean.

Speaker 1 4:16

It's like, yeah, it's always on fire, I think, on Spotify. It may have seemed like we would take a break. It's been a year and eight months since the album. But yeah, we're happy to finally release new music. We're back and better than ever. That's how we see it, yeah.

Speaker 2 4:42

Well, actually I had a real quick question, because when you introduced yourselves, you were saying semi-singers. Why do you consider yourselves semi-singers?

Speaker 1 4:51

Good question, I think, because I never really considered. In our band we don't really have one singer, we kind of like share. So there are parts that our drummer, tim, does the singing, or my other brother, my older brother, who plays bass, sometimes sings also. So I just always say I'm a semi-singer because we're kind of like we're sharing the load. Okay, that's the design If we weren't really born to be Celine Dion. You know what I mean. So we just share the load together to do vocals.

Speaker 3 5:23

So there's not like a front person. Everybody takes their part on the yeah and the vocals. That's cool, that's awesome. You don't see that much. No, you don't see that much in bands there's always like the front person and it's like yes, you're gonna be carrying the band. Everybody else just supports you, you know kind of thing. That is awesome, I do like that something, yeah different, yeah it's different.

Speaker 2 5:46

So do you, do you then all write together or do you put in individual pieces to present to everybody and you sort of decide whose song's gonna get done?

Speaker 1 6:00

I think currently, or at least most of the time, majority of the songs it's's really me and Tim. Tim and I we do the writing and then we share with our brothers and then yeah, and then sometimes, when we get the time to jam it out, sometimes our live sound is a bit different also from the studio ones, because it's just more free and we kind of always love putting new elements in our sound when we're doing live shows, so that could change a bit of the sound. But when it comes to the nitty-gritty part of really producing and recording and everything, it's really mostly tim and I had that department, but yeah, yeah we all like to know the origin behind a band's name.

Speaker 3 6:46

So why that name? One Click Straight, Give us a little bit of the origin of that.

Speaker 1 6:52

We always get this question because it's pretty strange. I would have to agree. It's like three random words together and if we could be truly honest, we forgot the reason. It's a weird story, but uh, I'll try to. This is how it went down from, from my memory, my point of view.

Speaker 1 7:13

All right, so, for context, it's me, tim, and our brother, tofer. We're three brothers in the band, so we're like the jonas brothers, and then we have an additional spiritual brother with us, named joel, right, so we're all. We all grew up together. We, he's our fetus friend, he's our fetus friend, so in a way, he's also our brother. So our band, as much as we um, what do you say? This officially kind of called seriously and said that we're a band around 20, 2014, yeah, 2013, 2014,. That's when we officially started. But in reality, we started jamming even way back when Tim was still in grade school. I was 10 years old, when we had the young Wow.

Speaker 1 7:55

As kids, you know, we would just randomly come up with words, and I think it was one of those times where tim was like oh, I think I know these. Our band name is this and the theory is it's either he just woke up with it one day and that's the sign from the heavenly beings. Yes, or he found it on the internet. I'm not so sure. But all in all, that's how the name. It's a myth. It kind of reminds me. Also when you're a kid I'm not sure if it happens to everyone, but I'm sure 90% of the human population when they're a kid and they're going to make an email, they'll use an email like, for example, dragon Force 21 or Racer Guy 21.

Speaker 1 8:38

Let's say that's the email. That's basically what happened to us. But imagine keeping that email all the way up until you're working now and you're like 40s and 50s and you've used the same email. That's basically what happened to us? We had the name when we were kids. We didn't change it, and now we're like more than halfway or a long way through our career 10 years and it's still the same name.

Speaker 3 8:59

So yeah, yeah, it's well fitting. Definitely for your word. Wow, since the 20 2013, you said right it's so like what should I call it cyber era, I would say, or like everything that was you know through a computer, through your, you know your phone, through you know electric devices, and then one click straight. That is so also. I was thinking, maybe maybe you all were gamers and were like and that's such a gamer type of like you know word or, but not, I like that is hey, whatever works.

Speaker 2 9:36

Well, it grabs your attention. Yeah, because it does. It makes you go. What exactly is that? So it gets people thinking and it's just, it's unique, it's different, exactly.

Speaker 3 9:47

Exactly Awesome it is.

Speaker 1 9:49

That's nice to hear. Thank you, I think you know it's a bit cringy, but yeah, it's not cringy. It definitely is not cringy, it's not cringy.

Speaker 3 10:05

Okay, thank you. Thank you for that. Now we have confidence.

Speaker 1 10:08

Yeah, that's cool. You know, somewhere along the way around a couple of years back, there were some people that wanted to change, like we got into a label, and then they were like you guys have to change your name. Maybe it's not gonna, maybe this will work better. Let's try and change it to OCS or something. But deep down in our heart you're like, no, this is our name.

Speaker 3 10:31

So, yeah, yeah, so we have it okay, yeah, no, I think it's because there's a long name probably who knows they? Don't know anything. I mean maybe some, but yeah, whatever, okay, no, keep it like I said, it's what makes you unique.

Speaker 2 10:49

That's exactly so you got to keep that.

Speaker 3 10:51

You got to keep that you know a band name is like your baby, you know. I mean it's like you know, if your mom in there, you know, let's say, you know you're sarah, and then all of a sudden somebody comes along and it's like, no, it cannot be Sarah, it could be something else. Are you kidding me? I'll be changing that. No, it's my identity, it's my, yeah, my name is the group's identity. So, sarah, what are you next? Question, cause I already.

Speaker 2 11:19

So you know, sort of a generic question here, but most of our listeners don't know your background. So, uh, was there a particular artist that made you guys really get into music? And you know what would you do or say to them if you got to meet them, like as far as being an inspiration, oh, my good question Wow, how about these guys?

Speaker 1 11:42

Oh my goodness, to pick one, that's impossible.

Speaker 3 11:48

The first one that comes to your head. I mean Tim, can have one person or a group, and you can have one as well, you know.

Speaker 1 11:57

I see, because there's always a season where I get revived musically. I feel like it's uh, because I used to love like 80s music and then I got into like wow, yeah, because rock, and then I'm back something and then I got into industrial metal. It's always different. But I think the artist I want to talk to forever would be Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails yeah, good, good choice. Yeah, I would tell him that you have saved my life through the blender noises of industrial music. Yeah, that's it.

Speaker 3 12:33

You guys are. You're a young guy and you're like into Trent Reznor.

Speaker 1 12:37

Nine Inch Nails.

Speaker 3 12:38

This is like groups that Sarah and I used to just go clubbing, yeah.

Speaker 1 12:46

Yeah, I mean it's like we've been. How do you say in terms of like the band honestly, like we went through a lot of different musical. How do you say influences? Like I remember our first record, midnight Emotion, was really into 80s stuff, like the whole Tears for Fears and the whole like Prince and MJ and that kind of thing. So to make the transition to like I don't know it's always changing. So, yeah, I love Trent, trent Redna.

Speaker 3 13:13

Awesome. How about you, my brother?

Speaker 1 13:15

Oh man, I think all time, all time, what got me into the whole thing? James Taylor, no, I mean now. Now it's James Taylor, but original. The ones that really started it for me Would be some 41. I was a teenager, I got to hear those dudes and now, yeah, that's what Got me to the whole thing. But if there's an artist I really want to meet, it would be Liam Gallagher From Oasis Wow, what would you tell him you want to meet? It will be Liam Gallagher from Oasis Biblical, biblical Wow. What would you tell him? I would go like yo mate, I've been waiting for you for years, man, and now they're back.

Speaker 3 13:58

Yeah, I was going to say they're on their reunion tour.

Speaker 1 14:02

I'm ready to burn through my clothing.

Speaker 3 14:10

Sarah has something to say, because I'm looking at her and I'm like she has a story for you well no, I just no, no, no, no story, no story.

Speaker 2 14:15

Okay, no, I was just gonna say I'm completely floored by the range of artists that you just mentioned, because I would never put James Taylor and Trent Reznor in the same sentence so it's just really cool and and what I love is uh, we know you listened to our our podcast where we talked about your song, and that was one of the things that struck me is I was like this is such an amazing sound, but with a really modern indie air to it. You guys sort of really take everything you do and combine it. It's amazing.

Speaker 3 14:52

So I'm going to put her on the spot. You need to say your James Taylor story, which one See. You need to say it. I'm telling you. I got to hear this Exactly exactly when he said that I like to do this to sarah once in a while when she because she's she goes to a lot of shows and sometimes things happen and I'm like you need to tell them that because he said, james saylor, you gotta tell your story I don't remember which one you're talking which one?

Speaker 3 15:20

so it means you have plenty. You. You better say Come on Sarah.

Speaker 2 15:26

No, I honestly don't remember which one I was telling you about.

Speaker 3 15:29

It doesn't matter. You have a story, you better tell them. I guess.

Speaker 2 15:34

no, no, I don't. I think you're thinking of a different artist. No, she's giving me the one where I fell asleep.

Speaker 3 15:46

See I told you, she has stories, she has stories.

Speaker 2 15:52

It was just because I'd been partying pretty hard with all my friends.

Speaker 3 15:59

Come on say it Say it.

Speaker 2 16:02

We were in a field, everything you know having a good time, and it was just you know, his music's kind of mellow. So yeah I like it. I like it winter, spring, summer and falling asleep, yeah I have a lot of crazy stories about a lot of different bands I've seen oh, I thought you met him.

Speaker 3 16:31

See, he lives kind of near where we live. I mean not really, but he's in the area.

Speaker 2 16:38

He does a lot of music festivals. Here in Massachusetts.

Speaker 3 16:44

We have beautiful outdoor venues, so and he kind of lives in our area, in the uh berkshires, uh western massachusetts, so you know you get to see him maybe once in a while, uh, walking around the some of the towns doing some shopping and whatnot. So that's why I said, sarah may know a story, she can tell you a story that's her favorite artist. Yeah, you fell asleep on the show but yes, his music is Cattle Mellow if.

Speaker 3 17:20

Sarah was partying that day too hardy and it's like okay, now I'm just like fall asleep If Sarah was partying that day too hardy, and it's like okay now. I'm just like. Actually, I do have a Trent Reznor story.

Speaker 1 17:40

Oh, now I want to hear this.

Speaker 3 17:41

Okay, this is like I'm talking like mid nineties. I was living in Fort Lauderdale, florida at the time. I was at the CD release for Marilyn Manson Actually, trent Reznor was helped produce that CD. I remember I was in a band at the time, so that's why we were able to get into the venue or for that CD release party, anyways. So I was just there, do-do-do-do-do, whatever. Whatever Place was packed, it was a small club and whatnot. It was dark, everybody's, you know, drunk and whatever. It's a club. I remember bumping into him and yelling, yelling, move because I needed to go to the bathroom.

Speaker 2 18:27

Oh wow um, oh, she was rude. I was rude to trent the guy is sure.

Speaker 3 18:34

It's almost like this little guy get out of my way. Hey, I mean anyways. So I went and I fell asleep.

Speaker 1 18:46

I was only seeing the back. Okay, it was, it was this guy in, you know kind of on the way to the bathroom and I'm like get out of the way, I need to use the bathroom. I mean.

Speaker 3 18:57

I only saw the back of his head so I didn't know who it was. Until I came out and my bandmates were like dude, you're so rude and I'm like what, I need to go to the bathroom. He's like that was Trent Reznor and I'm like what. I'm like I didn't know. All I saw was the back of his head. I didn't know it was him.

Speaker 1 19:20

I'm like I didn't know it was him. You were like Trent step aside.

Speaker 3 19:26

No, my bandmates were like we need to go. I'm like ugh, it's funny. Anyways, I mean, it's a dark club. I couldn't see I needed to use the bathroom, right right.

Speaker 2 19:40

Come on.

Speaker 3 19:41

It was Fort.

Speaker 2 19:42

Lauderdale.

Speaker 1 19:44

It's a different land. You know what it's come on. It was for lauderdale, it's for lauderdale. You know it's jen's fault. You know he should have just seen you coming. It's on him. Yeah, don't worry.

Speaker 3 19:53

Don't worry so I'm like, okay, let's go, because I mean I already like ruined any. But I mean if I ever met him again, I would be like listen, when somebody needs to go to the bathroom, you need to get out of the way, dude Get out of the way yeah.

Speaker 2 20:08

It was an emergency. I needed to use the bathroom.

Speaker 3 20:11

You were on my way. Anyways, I mean, I'm sure this is probably not the first or last time anybody was rude to him, so there you go, we were just being mean.

Speaker 1 20:22

Sarah fell asleep.

Speaker 3 20:22

I was rude to her, we were just being mean. Sarah fell asleep. I was rude to her. Oh my, now I have a question for you guys. So, from your performances, which one was the most memorable, and why was this special? Oh man, Interesting.

Speaker 1 20:42

There's a lot of shows, man. There's a lot of good stuff. There's a lot of shows, man. There's a lot of good stuff. There's a lot of all right stuff.

Band Challenges and Stage Mishaps

Speaker 1 20:48

But I remember this one. I think this one I will share. I think we were playing in a beach a couple of years back. It was like I'm not sure if it was a summer thing, I'm sure it wasn't summer, but it was during a time that it was a bit rainy.

Speaker 1 21:01

We were playing in a beach and the stage was they set up this stage, kind of it's like they put up it's sand. Basically, the set, the stage, is on sand, and then it rained a bit. So what happened was I remember this the sand got wet. But we didn't know that because, you know, at that time all our focus is that that you know we were just wanting to do music and all that. So we got on stage and you know we're playing our set, all is well, always breezy, and then there's just bits of, from time to time, when my lips would hit the mic or something, there's some electrical currents because the sand was wet. So that was the most. You know, sometimes the time you get that zap and it no, I guess it's part of the electrifying performance. I guess it's part of the music.

Speaker 1 21:47

That's part of the thing, yeah. It's called electronic music for a reason, bro. Yeah, electronic music for a reason you got it.

Speaker 2 21:55

Wow, oh my God, I always feel so bad.

Speaker 1 21:58

I remember doing that. I was playing the drums and I was also getting zapped. And that's the thing. We didn't tell each other. Everybody was getting it. But we talked about it after and we were like, bro, were you getting that zapped? And they were like, yes, maybe. At that time we thought it was the magic of rock and roll, but I guess it was really just all the labels and science. You know science. It's not the magic of rock and roll man man it's just science, oh my god yeah outside venues.

Speaker 3 22:30

It's like you just wanted to have a really good day and no bad weather. Because of situations like that, they've never done that.

Speaker 1 22:38

It's awful. Yeah, I love you. Actually, that might be a thing also. I'm trying to think what's memorable. A lot of shows, how to say. I can't really pick one because whenever I think it's how about that show when the broad, everybody just abandoned us mid-stage and we had nothing? Oh, no way. Wait, what kind of memory is this? Like? A good, it's memorable in a good way, or?

Speaker 2 23:09

memorable.

Speaker 3 23:11

Well, there's certain, you know, you always have a best and a worst yeah, like which one was you had a very special one where, like I don't know, everybody just came to up to the stage. They're like yay, you know, or like, like you said right now, everybody just came up to the stage and they're like yay, you know or like you said right now, everybody just laughed and you guys were just doing your thing.

Speaker 1 23:30

All right, I guess it is both memorable. So yeah, I would remember this time where there was this venue where we really wanted to play there, called Tiendecitas, and then finally we got that opportunity. And then, apparently, when we got that opportunity, and then apparently when we got there.

Speaker 3 23:48

No, you have to Go for it. This is how it went down. I like this. I like this. It's like no, no, dude, you're saying it wrong, you can tell your brothers. Exactly.

Speaker 1 24:01

The context of the whole thing was the production told us Yo guys, would you guys, are you guys down to play here? But unfortunately we guys can't. We can't pay you, but we'll give you guys food. And us, being a young band at that time, we were like Rock and roll food, cancita, let's go. So we head out. You know, we were super excited for that when we got to the venue, alright, so there was a band playing, all is well. So you're backstage and everything is going fine.

Speaker 1 24:30

And when it was our turn, we just noticed that we were the last band to play. And then the janitors started coming in. There was nobody already and they were cleaning up, but we were still playing. We felt like, all right, we're going to do our thing. There was nobody, they were so proud and they were starting to clean the place. And after our set we went back to the holding room in the backstage, the production was gone. Oh, everybody, the whole back end team, they were all gone. And then the whole back end team, they were all gone. And then we were like, where's the food? And then there's nothing but bags of rice, cooked rice, in plastic bags. So there was like, yeah, just a couple of rice there's.

Speaker 1 25:05

No, there's no meat, no, nothing there's no food yeah, yeah, that's right and you're like, oh man, so no, nothing. And then we couldn't reach the fraud anymore and that was that. So I was like, wow, and then we went through that we were a bit younger. Should I say this? Yeah, just say it, man, just say it. So we were younger and there was a bit of rage within our system and we were like, give me those rights. So we started throwing those rights backstage like grenades, bam. So it was just full of rice everywhere.

Speaker 3 25:37

They're not coming back to the club anymore.

Speaker 1 25:40

There's no Filipino anything ever. There's rice greetings everywhere.

Speaker 2 25:45

Oh man, I understand. I don't blame you. I was expecting you to say there was bags of potato chips and some popcorn. Yeah, that's even worse Rice like bags of potato chips and some popcorn, you know?

Speaker 3 25:58

Yeah, that's even worse. Just bags of rice. Yeah, I get. Yeah, I think the only gig that we played in Florida the most that we got paid was like $12. Try to divide that into six people, oh yeah. So we're like hey, we go to the diner.

Speaker 2 26:18

We can get fries and soda for 12 for six people oh, I was gonna say not with your two dollar share, you weren't, no, no yeah, we're like well, hey, at least with we have that.

Speaker 3 26:33

You know pretty much. When you're in a band, you know not well known, you play for free, you play for exposure you play for, play for I wouldn't mind getting the rice, I wouldn't mind, I'd be like okay rice. I'm taking this rice is there any more? I'm telling you, rice is costly if I would have found one of those big 20 pounder bags, I would have taken that I.

Speaker 2 27:02

I would have that you could have eaten there for quite some time no, I think they mean like ziplocs I know, that's not worth much, hey, I know.

Speaker 3 27:14

But I mean, like I said, if I would have found just the brand new bag of rice, I'll be like, oh, this is mine, then you guys, take the old rice, we'll take the new rice. Bye, that will be your pay, yeah it's so unfair for them to say you're playing for exposure.

Speaker 2 27:30

Yeah, thanks, that's really helpful. I mean it is but like getting a little.

Speaker 3 27:37

There's nobody that while you're playing for the janitor, maybe the janitor will be like hey these guys are really good, let's start.

Speaker 2 27:47

You know who? Knows you want to go for next question sure, have you ever forgotten the lyrics to a song? And if you did, how did you recover? Oh man, all the time, all the time, like you're singing a different song from what everybody else is playing.

Speaker 1 28:10

You forget it all the time and it never recovers.

Speaker 3 28:13

And it never recovers.

Speaker 1 28:14

I think you just go through it. There are just techniques that I use nowadays when I forget lyrics, it's either you just tell the crowd or you just reuse the first verse or something. Reuse some words, as long as it's the same melody. You know, sometimes it's good, it's all good. Or you just freestyle. Sometimes I just freestyle or mumble rap. You know we're not a rap band, but that's the way it's doing.

Speaker 1 28:39

That's the way so like jazz, freeform, you just sort of whatever comes to mind, hold on, and the whole room's like oh man, he's freestyling. That's not in the MP3. You know what I mean?

Speaker 3 28:53

It's just like a rap Just say, hey, it's the live remix. So what Exactly? Yeah, so as a band, what has been the biggest challenge for you? I mean, I know you're all brothers, but well, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 29:14

Being brothers in a band? Yeah, is that? What is the biggest challenge there?

Speaker 1 29:18

because that's quite a dynamic I know, I think during the early days that was the tough time. That was the toughest because we were uh, we were a bit younger. It was a bit wwe, you know, when we would fight it was a wrestlemania. But through the years, you know, and God's good greatness, he was like I think we grew up in a way so we kind of we don't do the wrestling moves anymore, but sometimes verbally, kind of like the WWE as well, there's a little bit of like harsh words thrown around. But you know, I think we've recovered and we've kind of learned to love each other more as friends.

Speaker 1 30:00

I think the coolest part being in a band with your brother is that there's no more sugarcoating. Actually, the best and the worst thing is the same thing there's no more sugarcoating, so you can really go straight and you can really. I don't know there's no need to beat around the bush. You know what I mean. And I think sometimes through the music it does get its benefits, like we try to create the best thing we, um, we want to create.

Speaker 1 30:27

So yeah it's like straight to the source. Yeah, we don't have those process of like, ah will, will he understand? Of course he'll understand, because he's my brother. It's basically faster and more efficient, I think, right, tim, yeah. Yeah, he has to agree because he's the youngest and you know he can't sit down.

Speaker 3 30:49

The youngest get away with everything. Yeah, the baby, always the baby.

Speaker 2 30:56

Sarah can testify to that oh my god, that's so funny well, because you know you're saying it's, it's the best and worst, because one of your favorite bands, oasis, that was part of their problem being brothers you know, and that was, yeah, catastrophic for them for a little while, right, but then you also have the jonas brothers who have made it all for popular.

Speaker 3 31:20

I mean they're very together as brothers. Yes, I'm sure there's some you know like joe blah, blah, blah, this and that, but I mean they still still get together and do amazing music and just be amazing on stage also for oasis. Oasis has some major issues there. They can't be together at all, but I'm glad you guys are not like Oasis.

Speaker 2 31:45

Yeah, definitely Sometimes.

Speaker 1 31:48

But we're like Oasis, also without the money.

Speaker 2 31:52

Oh my god.

Speaker 1 32:03

So I'm trying to look at my notes. I'm so bad before, uh, we move on. I just want to say thank you, um, for your comments on the song. I remember we listened to the podcast and we were like exactly like you guys were talking about, like how the sound is just uh, honestly, it's unexpected, or like, uh, we can't pinpoint really the influences. It really meant a lot to us. I just want to say thank you.

Speaker 2 32:23

Oh, you're welcome.

Speaker 1 32:25

Yeah, we're so happy to hear that.

Speaker 2 32:27

When I listened to it it was. It sort of took me back because there were retro sounds sort of I was thinking you know Creed and Foo Fighters and so many different things you know. I'm sure I mentioned other bands too. So that's funny. You say that because it leads me to my next question. We love Siga.

Speaker 3 32:48

We love Siga, I love Siga.

Speaker 2 32:50

Yeah, it's a great song. So what was the inspiration for that song?

Speaker 1 32:57

That's a good question In terms of like the sonics or the meaning All of it All of it Just how it came about.

Speaker 1 33:04

Yeah, I see. Well, yeah, like, since, yeah, it's the first single out from the album since last year and, like we came from I guess it came from energy, like this thing where there's so much more to say. Like, after putting out an album, there's actually more stuff we wanted to do and explore, and Shiga was one of it and I think, yes, you can see, it's like a, it's an upbeat, like it's something that's very in your face and like crazy in some areas, and it's just about if, um, it's in tagalog, so, uh, maybe the only thing maybe you guys understood was that we don't care. Even life is unfair. But throughout the whole track, it's actually it's like a personification of life as a bully and, um, how do I which one's the best line that I can really sum it all up? Ah, okay, okay, so it's just based on it's a combination of those moments where you just have to say it is what it is. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1 34:05

Like life is really like this. We have to accept that life is maybe not our friend, you know. And there's a line in the chorus where it goes like if you want it, you're never gonna get it, and if you what you want, I'm sorry. If you want it, he won't give it to you, and what you'll get is not what something. That's the opposite. It's always the opposite that will be, given to you yeah, there you go sort of like karma yeah, yeah, and a lot of it is also inspired by I don't really, we don't.

Speaker 1 34:35

Yeah, I think it's really inspired by just experiences that we have. I think there's a lot of. We, at least for us, our band and our friends and people. In the philippines we kind of have this thing where we call it not really bayanihan, but we have this term where where sama sama, that's the tagalog word sama sama na lang. It's kind of like we have. That's the spirit of the song. We're talking about daily struggles or the things that hassle you in life. Yet it's all right as long as you're with your friends and as long as you know you're with good company. It doesn't matter. You know, even life isn't fair. We don't care, we're going to keep on moving.

Speaker 3 35:19

So I think that's kind what we were trying to say in the song.

Speaker 1 35:21

So, yeah, all right, there's a saying well known or said here you know when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, you know.

Speaker 3 35:27

So it's it. You go with the flow. Basically, that's how siga is. You know, I know the word siga in sp Spanish means keep going or go ahead. Oh, so that I know. In the Philippines, like you know, like you guys, last name is Marquez.

Speaker 1 35:43

Yeah, but yeah, we don't. We're Filipinos, we don't follow our Spanish Right.

Speaker 3 35:51

I know that you know the whole Spanish water. So I'm thinking, maybe the same meaning Siga is like keep going so. And now you're saying that.

Speaker 1 35:58

So you know the whole spanish water, so I'm not thinking maybe the same meaning. So you guys like keep going, so, and now you're saying that. So I'm like you know, use that, that's faster, I love it. Thank you guys. You got me, uh, a bully, or like okay, yeah, okay, a bad man, a bad man, but for me it was just like the opposite.

Speaker 3 36:19

It was more like we just keep going, and also what Sarah and I like to do when we're doing our music episodes is just we like to listen to the music and not look at videos, because sometimes videos can, you know, change the perspective of the, of, of the divisions can change the perspective of how the music sounds, because we always said that music is a universal language and you can feel it how, the way that it's projected, you can feel the meaning, you can feel the emotion.

Speaker 3 36:54

So for like, see, yeah, you, you all have the like in and out, up and down and whatever. And then, but me, from thinking or translating the siga to like just keep going, and there's, you know, from your songs, we felt like, yes, there's ups and downs, but we just keep going, and that you know some of the english lyrics as well, that we just thinking this is probably how it is. You know there's some ups and downs, which is gonna keep going anyways, and it was just so rocking looking back at how we were listening to the song, you really projected that incredibly well.

Speaker 2 37:31

Like that was exactly how I felt about the song. I was like it's like something's wrong, but you're going to keep going and life is a struggle but you just got to do what you can do and you guys, just that was perfect, that's such a great song.

Speaker 1 37:47

We just want you to know we love that song.

Speaker 2 37:49

Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 37:52

It's just nice to know that music and then send language. I think it's like it doesn't matter if you you know, you may not understand certain words, but there's a feeling that can be felt, I guess, done right. So it's just nice to know that we did our jobs, you know, even if it's in Filipino. I remember there was this UK producer I think he's a I'm not sure if it's a Grammy award nominated thing, but he was able to hear this song as well, siga, and because I've been joined this international competition thing, it's like a radio competition also, where producers I'm not sure if you've heard Steve Lillywhite, he's the producer of U2 and a lot.

Speaker 3 38:36

Everything.

Speaker 1 38:38

Okay, everyone. He's the producer of U2 and a lot, everything, everyone, anyway, a bunch of international producers. Were able to hear Siga and that's what they said. It didn't matter if they didn't understand what we were saying, and it was just a nice feeling.

Speaker 3 38:51

To know that we were saying yeah.

Speaker 1 38:53

But they felt what we were saying, so that's nice also that you guys felt the same way definitely your.

Speaker 3 39:00

Your energy comes through your music, which is just awesome um, in my opinion, a well-rounded artist, a musician, you know, will come through the creation. So if it doesn't matter again, it doesn't matter how, your language, you know the passion that you are giving to the song, your creation, it should just just say it. You know that feeling, it's just we'll say it. So we felt that, we felt that definitely on the whole rocking.

Speaker 1 39:30

Oh my God.

Speaker 3 39:31

I like that. You know the low parts, and then it's just like the rocking parts, like, yeah, we're going to punch it in, we're just going to go and oh, we're in a slump right now. So da-da-da-da-da, and then all of a sudden da-da-da-da-da-da, and I was like, oh my God, this is like it's goosebumps At parts. When you guys got really in there, I always got the goosebumps. I'm like, oh my God, sarah, you got to listen to this.

Speaker 1 39:55

They're like this is just up your alley. What do you call this? Also, it's so inspiring to know here in the Philippines there's this notion, this sort of belief, that if you sing in your language, your own Filipino language, it caters to your own culture only. And that's what we're trying to go against, like we're just a band that's trying to let you know our own people know also that, hey, if it's good music and if it's really, you know, true and honest, it can uh, I know people can, from across the globe can understand it and feel it and it's just nice to you know, have that pat on the back, that our belief in our, you know, stand as a band, that filipino, the filipino language, doesn't have to cater to our own, you know, we just stay in this country if it's, um, it's good, you know it's worth listening to, even across the globe. So, yeah, that's what we're trying to do you guys are doing a great job.

Speaker 3 40:50

Your talent, it's awesome, it's we it, we love it. I know you do understand the whole culture part you know in that I'm born and raised from Puerto Rico. I'm not really. American but not lived in the United States so later on in my teens. But living, being raised in Puerto Rico, it is a lot of kind of like the Philippines. There's a certain culture, there's a way to to. You need to be growing up in a very catholic household. Um, young ladies cannot do certain things, you know and uh.

Speaker 3 41:27

But I was really lucky enough that I live in a family with a, within a family that we were open with the cultures. We, uh, we were open with different music. My mom didn't raise me strict and uh so I'm kind of happy that my mom was like no, you, you're gonna. You're gonna follow a different path than everybody else. So I do, I, uh, I like that you guys are doing the same thing.

Speaker 3 41:51

We're like yeah, we have our own culture and there are some things that we appreciate for my culture and we respect. But you know you are your own person and if you don't, you know, agree with some things, you know you don't agree with something. The same thing with my culture and I'm glad that within your culture and within your generation you're making some positive changes.

Speaker 1 42:17

Yeah, we're trying our best.

Speaker 3 42:18

That's for sure.

Speaker 1 42:20

Yeah.

Speaker 2 42:22

Music is one of the best ways to do that too. Exactly yeah, because you're using your voice in a positive way to bring people together, and that's just awesome.

Speaker 3 42:33

So my next question is what is the best advice you have been given and what advice would you like to pass on to other musicians? Now that I was just talking about culture and your generation, oh my, oh my.

Speaker 1 42:52

How about you start? How about you start, how about you?

Speaker 3 42:55

man Getting deep, now Getting deep.

Speaker 1 42:58

I know, I know, getting deep, getting deep, best advice to your team? I don't know, I'm not really, I don't really have the. We have experiences with somebody telling us really good advice. I think it's really just the right friends, or the right music industry friends that we have that, you know, inspire us or, at the same time, encourage us to keep on keeping on. I guess that's really one of the biggest things.

Band's Journey and Gratitude

Speaker 1 43:24

But at the end of the day, at least in our experiences in our country and everything, I think you really have to just do your own thing and keep on pushing. So if it wasn't for the grit that we have, you know, or the relationship we have as brothers, um, probably there wouldn't be any 168 anymore. I think it's just the that, if I were to give advice to anybody or any other artist or band, is to really just do your best in putting excellence as a priority. Practice your stuff, respect your bandmates and enjoy the best parts, whether it's good or bad, just ride the waves, kind of thing. Right, tim, yes, yes you got it yeah, but yeah, you got it.

Speaker 1 44:11

Honestly, if I'm thinking about it like in terms of mentorship, uh, and like who gave us the best advice? I'm not sure if there was a specific one, but it's just like I don't know. If I think about it, it's just our friends, or I guess my dad maybe like a big inspiration for him to keep on going if he can.

Speaker 1 44:29

If he can do it, then we can do it in our own respective fields. I guess he's not a musician, he's just a business guy, but you know to see him moving forward, and that means you can also move forward with your music. I don't know, there's not really a specific advice, but if I were to give it, though, I would like to tell a young boy in the Philippines to you know, there's always, if you fight for yourself, it's going to be worth it. I think, because you never know, someday you'll be on Music Elixir podcast, that's it. You never know, that's it. You guys are so charming.

Speaker 2 45:14

You guys are so charming. Very sweet Well. So I just heard you talking about your dad being sort of an inspiration. Has your family actually three of you are in the band, but family in general have they supported you? Have they inspired you to keep going?

Speaker 1 45:34

I would like to say that, um, they have tried their very, very, very best. That's that's it to really support us like, uh, I understand every reason not to support a kid in the philippines pursuing music. Yeah, a little bit different. Yeah, right. Yeah, it's a third world country. We were from that generation. I remember late high school when I was about to enter college. That was just the thing. People really say there's no money in the music industry. I'm sure it's not just in the Philippines, but that's the word on the street. I guess Don't do music because there's no money. And I guess 98% of it could be true Because we were full time musicians. Me and Tim are full time musicians. There's a bit of truth to that, but there's also something to rebuttal that. I think money, the real riches, is like the joy you get from the sound waves. Man, yeah, right. Tell yourself that man, man, yeah, yeah, right, right.

Speaker 2 46:39

Tell yourself that man you tell yourself, that yeah. So, actually do you guys surf, Cause you you're using a lot of surfer.

Speaker 3 46:52

You guys are very dude, Like you know, I'm not a surfer.

Speaker 1 46:56

I tried, I surfed the internet. You guys are very dude-like.

Speaker 3 47:00

you know I'm not a surfer, I tried. I surf the internet.

Speaker 1 47:05

I surf the internet. Wow, wow, it's too early for this, guys, we're on your end. It's 9 pm here. It's about to get hot. The party's just getting started.

Speaker 2 47:22

Why don't we wind this up with asking you, each of you, at the end of the day, what is one thing that you are grateful for?

Speaker 1 47:36

Oh, I think Tim will start with it. Gee, oh my, ah, hmm. One thing I'm grateful for at the end of the day, there's a lot. I think there's a lot of things to be grateful for. Rice, rice yeah, that's one. You know, rice is good.

Speaker 1 47:56

But in all seriousness, if I really think about it, pursuing music here in the Philippines is one of the toughest things. So to be able to do it is already something to be grateful for. Yeah, yeah, I think for me, what I'm so, what I'm grateful for, is through the circumstances here that we still keep kept on pushing forward and we kept on making music. I think, and I'm so happy that every step of the way through our records and through our EPs and singles that we put out through the years, I'm happy that all of those tracks was the best that we could do at that time and we never folded. I think that was we always had this punk rock spirit behind inside our hearts. Also that we always did things our way, whether when we got into an indie label, we got into a major label, and then there was a time we were most of the time, majority of our whole career. We were also independent and we did it really. We did it our way.

Speaker 1 48:56

So I think that is one of the biggest things that you know, I'm thankful for, even down to the gritty parts of creating our own gigs, creating our own shows and mixing our own tracks, because there was nobody when we were starting off. There was nobody who was interested in kind of helping us out in that aspect. We didn't come from a family or a background where we're in show business or music business. We just we're just regular dudes. Who was kind of into basketball but didn't have the height for it. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1 49:20

That's basically what started for us, and so we had to learn everything on our own. But then again, going back to what I'm thankful for is I'm glad we did, because you know that's one of the biggest wins for me in our life is you know the tracks and everything, down to the nitty gritty mixing. We did it our way, learned it our way also, so that we could reach a level with our music that it is pure and 110% ours. And yeah, I think that's the best To be able to be heard on Music Lecture Podcast. Yeah, come on All the way, all the way, yeah.

Speaker 3 49:57

Again. You guys are very charming.

Speaker 1 50:01

Now this is going to be a fun, fun question.

Speaker 3 50:04

So if Sarah and I ever go visit the Philippines, like, and if you guys were tour guides, where will you guys were tour?

Speaker 1 50:15

guides. Where will you guys take us? Saguijo, that's where we'll take you. That's where we play most of the time. I guess a memorable venue is Saguijo. It's a very torn down, rugged, edgy place. I think I would bring you guys to Tendahita so you guys can see the remnants of the rice on the wall. Oh, my goodness, oh man.

Speaker 2 50:44

I was trying to say something meaningful here. I was going to say the rice is still on the wall. The rice is still on the wall.

Speaker 1 50:54

You have made a mark on that place. We have made our mark.

Speaker 3 50:56

That's awesome. Okay, this has been much, much fun. I am so glad we were able to get together finally. I know our schedules have been so chaotic.

Speaker 2 51:15

Yeah, definitely Like. Oh yeah, I'm like, no, I can't do.

Speaker 3 51:18

Monday I do have another job. There's a 12 hour difference, so weekends is definitely better to get together and talk. So I'm glad, I want to wish you guys luck and you know much. I want to send you much inspiration your way, you know it's keep doing what you're doing. You're doing amazingly and I'm grateful that you know you're not changing, because you know? Oh, because you know we want to be famous, we gotta do this. You know you're keeping true to yourself.

Speaker 3 51:53

You're very very punk very diy yourself, which we love, that we love that so yeah, no it's definitely it's been so great talking with you guys.

Music Elixir

Speaker 2 52:05

You have your music has a great energy. You have a great energy it's. It's been so much fun just chatting with you. I know we were sort of throwing questions at you too, but I feel like we got a lot of the little sort of back and forth personal stuff going on too, and that was wonderful. You guys Definitely we love talking about positive vibes where you are full of them 're gonna send you more and hopefully our listeners and your listeners will send you more. Right, and we just wish the best for you guys yes, thank you very much.

Speaker 3 52:39

Music is so good you know the uh the episode. I know it could be listened to um across streaming platforms, but we do have a music elixir website which is free because I know a lot of people cannot really afford, like some of these platforms because some of them are not free we have a music elixir website with all our episodes.

Speaker 3 53:01

Though if you have friends that cannot you know, don't have any of those platforms cannot afford it. You know it's free. You can just go online and listen to it, download it from their phone and whatever, so so they can share it.

Speaker 3 53:12

And I we always tell people share with everybody share with your friends share share, share, you know, help them know, let them know, help them out there, you know, and when you hear music, you're like I wonder how they are as a person. This kind of interviews, interactions, will let people, you know, feel your how you are as a person and besides being that, besides the musician, you know, like, oh my god, these guys are like down to earth, they're like me. Oh they, they like race, I like race. Well, plus, you know, they like james taylor. They like james taylor too, you know, it's so. I just, you know, sometimes you as a fan, you look at your artists like you're not a totally different being, but then when you hear them in, then in an interview, you're like, oh my god, they're just like me, which is true, right, you know. And uh, and I hope that through this interview there's more people will be like, oh my God, they're like us, should support them and yes, Right yeah, people get inside.

Speaker 1 54:18

Yeah.

Speaker 2 54:19

Fans tend to get hung up on your specific sound without realizing that there could be influences as far back as Mozart somehow influenced you with one of the sounds you were doing so to hear you talking about the artists will make people go. Oh hey, so I could explore some other things and still have a connection to one click straight.

Speaker 1 54:45

That's awesome so.

Speaker 3 54:46

Oh, and another thing I did saw the video Siga. I wanted to actually dive into that one, but we went through our notes. But who actually recorded and produced this? Your video, Sega?

Speaker 1 55:00

Oh, who shot it? Yes, it's our friends. We worked together with a group of friends Lunchbox is their production name. We worked together a lot.

Speaker 3 55:13

Yeah, we're friends. Lunchbox is their production name. Yeah, we work together a lot. Yeah, was the video you guys um a creation or was it lunchbox?

Speaker 1 55:17

creation, creation. It's a, it's a collaboration. Most of the stuff that we're very involved in, the visuals of the band and um. So people that we work with, yeah, like they're always down with ideas and um, how do you say it's just a collaboration? You know what I? Mean okay yeah, we're a very virtual band as well, so I'm happy that every video is a representation of you know the band and who we are, and the song yeah awesome, awesome, yeah, definitely I know I was like wait a minute.

Speaker 3 55:46

The video came on. Let me just see it now because that was really cool and I like the, also the greediness and the very like punkish style of it. That goes very well with the song, so that was really cool very diy and I'm like see, this is diy definitely.

Speaker 1 56:01

This is like up the alley this is definitely them awesome. It was awesome so much muscle pains after that shoot because it's just crazy, like I don't know. We didn't expect that amount of physical, uh pain because I was upset. No, yeah, there was no air conditioning in the venue, it was just like a warehouse. So, as you can imagine, it's super sweaty, it's super hot. Yeah, there was a scene where my brother, sam, was beating me up. There's a boxing scene there.

Speaker 3 56:34

I saw that and the water.

Speaker 1 56:38

That was a real thing. That's how we let off some steam by punching each other.

Speaker 2 56:43

Oh my goodness, I was going to say so. No stuntman, huh no.

Speaker 3 56:48

Yeah, no stuntman. You guys did your own stunt I know I like also the water part, so it's like everybody dunk their heads in water.

Speaker 1 57:01

Yeah, yeah, yeah I was like I'm sure that was the concept for that. I was like what if we have like a swirly, since life is a bully?

Speaker 3 57:09

right, right, yeah, wow, yeah, it was cool, it was really cool. It like that video as well, so kudos to lunchbox and you guys for making that awesome video too. Thank you, thank you. So any other thing, sarah no I'm good're good.

Speaker 2 57:28

This was just an enjoyable half interview half chit chat. Yeah, because that's what what we do. We have conversations and we want everybody to join in. So thank you, sam and Tim, for joining our conversation.

Speaker 1 57:42

Yes, thank you also DJ Panic and DJ Sarah. Thank you very much. Now you're DJing now.

Speaker 3 57:49

Woohoo.

Speaker 2 57:50

You're DJing now. I've been upgraded Awesome.

Speaker 3 57:56

Thank you guys for coming, thank you guys for like and you know, for reaching out and accepting our invite and just having fun with us. Wishing you the best, A lot of luck. Just keep doing what you're doing Just be true to yourself.

Speaker 2 58:12

Yeah, definitely. A lot of luck. Uh, just keep doing what you're doing, just to be true to yourself. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, the the important part is that you're enjoying what you're doing, you're pursuing your dream, and that's awesome let's go.

Speaker 1 58:20

Thank you guys. Thank you guys. Hope to meet you guys. Yeah, someday when we go to massachusetts or in the end of the. So, yeah, you guys, come by here, let us know, just message us.

Speaker 2 58:33

Okay, all right, awesome.

Speaker 3 58:34

That would be awesome.

Speaker 2 58:35

Well, we'd love to see you. We have great venues here in Massachusetts, so we'd love you to come over and play.

Speaker 3 58:43

Sometimes Boston will have like yeah, Filipino, there's a big Filipino community of cultures. They'll do festivals and whatnot, if I ever hear one, and if they're looking for bands, maybe I'll send you. If I find information, I'll send that over your way and see if you can at least play a festival in the States and it will be like your first one and we'll be there cheering you on and maybe do another interview face-to-face.

Speaker 1 59:09

Let's go. That's the dream. That's the dream, let's do it. Let's do it.

Speaker 3 59:13

Yes, we're putting it out there in the universe. Manifesting Let the divine do something or something you know, Let the divine do something. I love. It All right, so I just want to say thank you guys, and thank you everybody for listening to this episode of Musicalixer with one click straight. And please rate, review and share, share, share, please give this episode five stars because we love our constellations. And come on, these guys are five-star, amazing artists. Come on even that Forget three-star. Michelin.

Speaker 2 59:54

We're doing five stars.

Speaker 3 59:57

Let's go All right. So this is.

Speaker 1 1:00:00

Digi.

Speaker 3 1:00:01

Panic signing out and Miss Sarah yes, sarah signing out. And who else is signing out, sam?

Speaker 1 1:00:07

is signing out. Thank you very much.

Speaker 3 1:00:09

All right. All right, thank you very much All right.

Speaker 2 1:00:13

All right, thank you guys. Have a great night, thank you. Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 1:00:19

All right, bye-bye, see you guys. Bye-bye, bye-bye.