nce upon a time, in music industry far different from the one we know now, musicians were allowed to build followings, to have regular tour, to release a few albums; and then on about disc number 4 or 5, they could become stars. But those days are long gone. Bands must nail it on their debut album or they might not get a second chance.
This is the world Champ Lui-Pio knows well. Luckily for Champ, his band became one of this year's biggest with the release of its debut album. That band is Hale. Their self-titled album has old more than 15,000 units already after barely two months of its release, producing hits like Broken Sonnet and The Day You Said Goodnight, which only prove that Hale is the band of the moment.
Hale signed in last November 2004 with EMI Philippines and at the first quarter of 2005, their first single Broken Sonnet was launched in EMI's Full Volume, a collection of Pinoy rock music, where the pioneers meet protégé. Hale grace the album with local rock titans like Bamboo, Sugarfree, Sandwich and Stonefree. And for the record, Broken Sonnet is still dominating the local charts and wows a crowd up to this time.
The quartet is composed of Champ Lui-Pio (lead vocalist and guitars, Omnie Saroca (drums and percussion), Sheldon Gellada (bass and vocals) and Roll Martinez (guitars and vocals). Armed with some standard questions, and our typical list of off-the-wall type questions, it was the time for me t find out about one of my new favorite bands, Hale.
You've been very busy with demanding schedules left and right. You second single is getting major airplay in all music countdowns and has reached number one spot in some local charts. So I figure it's got be pretty exciting.
ROLL: It's sarcastically good.
What's your usual day and how do you handle bad days?
CHAMP: Iba-Iba, ‘yung gising naming, eh. Typical day? Siguro, looking forward for the gig every night.
SHELDON: Ako, ayos!
CHAMP: Bad days? Kasi kami collectively, kunwari may isang wala sa mood, ang ginagawa namin, adjust-adjust na lang, ‘tapos, at the same time tulungan na lang, hatakan na lang kumbaga.
How did you guys start?
CHAMP: It basically started last July 2004. Roll and Sheldon were classmates. Then, si Sheldon, friend na niya si Omnie. ‘Tapos si Roll, friends na kami. ‘Yun na ‘yung bridge for us four to connect.
What do you miss about having a private life?
ROLL: Ako, actually, wala namang nagbabago sa buhay ko. Wala talaga. Sumasakay pa rin ng jeep, commute pa rin.
How did you celebrate after Broken Sonnet and The Day You Said Goodnight became certified hits? 
CHAMP: ‘Yung sa Broken Sonnet, sobrang happy talaga kami.. kasi when Broken Sonnet was being played in radio stations, hindi nila alam kung sino kami, eh. ‘Tapos, when we were hearing feedbacks about the song, nakakatuwa kasi doon naming nakita na na-attract naming sila, because of the song and not because of anything else. Naging solid ‘yung band. Mas lalo kami nakilala at mas lalo kaming na-expose. Ang basically, dahan-dahan ‘yung pag-angat naming.
OMNIE: Did we celebrate? Oo naman, especially now that one year na kami as a band. And it has been a good year for us. Para sa akin ha, dumami ‘yung kilala, ‘yung iba naging kaibigan.
CHAMP: Although nakakapagod, pero alam mo ‘yun pagdating sa stage, wala na ‘yun lahat, sobra! Medyo, ‘yun nga, like with the busy schedule, may point na minsan parang nakakapagod na rin pero not too many bands are given this kind of opportunity. And since we love playing and performing naman talaga, talagang naku-compensate naman ‘yung pagod, kaya okay na rin.
How do you feel about your gold record award?
OMNIE: Siyempre, masaya. Sobrang saya kasi hindi namin inisip na ganoon agad.
CHAMP: Sobrang proud din kami of what we have achieved in such a short time. Ang pinakamasaya doon is, so many have embraced our music, and then at the same time, ‘yung band na rin. So nakakatuwa kasi when people embrace you, ang sarap noong feeling eh, na naa-affect mo sila in a way with your music.
What's your biggest achievement to date?
HALE: (In unison) Gold record award! Pero dati ‘yung album.
CHAMP: Sa akin, next stop is platinum. (laughs)
Can you ask for anything more?
HALE: We're very satisfied.
CHAMP: And nakakatuwa kasi very supportive talaga sila (the fans).
How do you deal with detractors and critics?
CHAMP: When it comes to critics, hindi na lang naming pinapansin kais we know we are a new band and alam mo ‘yun, we're learning. And were trying to enjoy what's there for us. At the same time, parang challenge na rin ‘yun for us. Pero generally, want to pressure ourselves too much. Bago pa lang talaga kami! And accepted na naming ‘yun. We're not perfect but we're learning.
OMNIE: Natural talaga ‘yun. Pero okey lang din. And we know naman how to deal with criticisms.
Do you guys have any hobbies?
ROLL: Marami, eh. Miss ko na ‘yung manood ng TV ng six hours, video games at saka pagsusulat.”
Did you write all the songs in your album?
CHAMP: May mga songs na nasulat, pero lahat kami talaga. ‘Yung band talaga ‘yung bumuo ng album.
Most memorable gig?
CHAMP: Marami talaga. Pero ‘yung pinaka-latest na talagang nag-boom was in Fete. We never expected kasi ng ganu'n ‘yung reception ng crowd, at the same time, medyo pagod na kami. And pagdating du'n, ang dami ring hassle. ‘Tapos, na-surprise kami lalo na sa reception award. Lupit nu'ng gabi na ‘yun.
SHELDON: Sa akin, sobrang tagal ko ng gusting tumugtog du'n. Kasi 2002 pa lang, nanonood na ako sa Fete, eh. So sobrang bonus na ‘yun, kumbaga, alam mo ‘yung feeling na okey na akong makatugtog lang du'n. ‘Tapos, bonus na lang ‘yung ma-aapreciate kami.
OMNIE : ‘Tsaka lahat kami, first time ‘yung sa Fete as a band.
Who's your favorite band?
OMNIE: As a band? Siguro, ang pinaka-steady sa aming lahat, Coldplay siguro.
What's your ultimate goal?
ROLL: Siyempre that's to leave a mark in the music industry. Pero first of all, longevity talaga.
CHAMP: We would like to be remembered as one of the bests. A band that reached out and touched our lives.
Why do you think your music connects so much with so many people?
CHAMP: Kasi talagang alam mo ‘yun, wala talagang process or kailangang dapat ganito para sumikat ‘yung kanta. Sincerity lang talaga. ‘Tsaka parang ‘yung fact lang na maka-affect lang sa tao through our music, okey na sa amin ‘yun.
How's your relationship with each other?
SHELDON: Okey na okey. We are brothers! Iba-iba, eh. May certain times na makulit si Champ, may times na makulit si Omnie at si Roll.
OMNIE: Pero lahat natuto.
ROLL: ‘Tsaka looking up for each other kaming apat.
What do you think is the best quality of Hale?
ROLL: Alarmingly normal lang talaga kami. (smiles)
OMNIE: Best quality? Siguro, isa na rin ‘yung pagtugtog naming. Para sa akin ha, ‘yun ‘yung quality. ‘Yung pag nasa stage ka, parang napo-possess ka na, parang ganu'n kasi ‘yung nangyayari sa akin at saka ‘yun ‘yung nararamdaman ko ‘pag nandoon na ako (sa stage) while performing.
Now that you are enjoying a newfound success, what advice can you give to other aspiring bands.
ROLL: Basta gawin nila ‘yung gusto nila. Huwag silang sasabay (or makikinig) sa dahil ganito ‘yung sikat, kailangang magiging ganito na sila. Basta kung ano ‘yung gusto nila, ‘yun ang gawin nila.
Message to your fans…
OMNIE: Siguro ang pinaka-best na puwede nilang gawin sa amin is ‘yung huwag muna nilang tingnan ‘yung Hale na big band o tingnan muna nila ang Hale na dahil sa lyrics at sa mga songs namin, at kung bakit sila nandiyan para sa amin.
SHELDON: At saka, sana malaman talaga nila kung bakit. Don't look, listen.
How would you describe Hale in one word?
OMNIE: Home.
CHAMP: Destiny.
ROLL: Heart.
SHELDON: Life
For me, Hale means music. (Articles lifted from S Magazine)
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