Seven years since their debut, Ben&Ben have come a long way – releasing albums, topping streaming charts, collaborating with the biggest artists here and abroad, touring the world, holding a sold-out 65,000-strong headlining concert in Manila, opening for Ed Sheeran, and more – and somehow, it feels like they're still only getting started.
In this interview, Bandwagon sits down with the beloved Filipino nine-piece, comprising Paolo Benjamin, Miguel Benjamin, Andrew De Pano, Toni Muñoz, Pat Lasaten, Agnes Reoma, Keifer Cabugao, Jam Villanueva, and Poch Barretto, to talk about their ever-expanding musical direction, working with new people, playing to unfamiliar crowds, connecting with fellow musicians, and the legacy they want to leave behind.
COSMIC COINCIDENCE
Four years in the making, 'Comets' is a result of the changes in their lives, as well as exploring new musical soundscapes and working with new people. For the final iteration of the song, the band collaborated with Indonesian artist and producer, Petra Sihombing. According to the band, the track was 90% done when Petra came in. When asked why they tapped a new producer to work on the song, vocalist and guitarist Miguel Benjamin quips "Because we got stuck with the 10%."
“Comets” is a song about the people in our lives who aren’t meant to stay. Out now everywhere. https://t.co/YmOUqYyM76 #BenAndBenComets pic.twitter.com/QM0Gh9XYzB
— Ben&Ben (@BenAndBenMusic) May 10, 2024
The band got to know Petra by chance, and after two "screenings": an in-person vibe check by vocalist and guitarist Paolo Benjamin by visiting Petra in Bali, plus an online vibe check with the band on Zoom, he flew into Manila. Spending less than a week working together on the song, Miguel shares that it was quite a refreshing experience having a fresh ear and a new perspective from someone new. While meeting Petra was a coincidence, having him behind the boards was a deliberate decision by the band who were looking for something new. "His musicality, tastes, and experiences are from a totally different place."
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"We kept most of it," the band admits talking about how much of the original version they kept after Petra worked on the track. Serving as their seemingly cosmic guide and in percussionist Andrew De Pano's words, pointing out what was "right under our noses," Petra made "small, but very important changes" to the song. Miguel reveals that in the five days they spent working with the Indonesian artist, they learned how to be more "open-minded". Guitarist Poch Baretto adds that in the past, the band tended to "have quite a grip on the songs that we have". This time, they learned to "trust the process and him with it. It was a rewarding experience to put our trust in him. It turned out great."
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Another thing the band gained from this working relationship was realising "just how universal music really is". Andrew gushes about "being able to converse in the language of music" and having no walls and barriers. "It was just straight to the sound. It was such a nice experience to speak to someone on that level and get all of these inputs that are so familiar, but from a totally different context."
GROUNDED IN FOLK
With their latest string of releases, Ben&Ben are slowly exploring new territory, looping in new producers to expand their sound. When asked about how they seem to be veering away from their folk-pop roots, violinist Keifer Cabugao shares how they've been growing together both as friends and as creatives. "Everyone has their own taste and perspective in music and it's only natural how when we evolve as we go older, nag-eevolve din the way we influence each other, and also when we create music."
Keifer adds that while it might be uncomfortable and unfamiliar, delving into areas outside of their comfort zone is a "natural flow of change," as well as a fun and welcome experience. "We were also surprised, but happy that we got to produce different sounds. And I think we can say that we're actually just beginning. If people are excited to hear a different side of our music, we're thankful for that. We're so excited to see what else we can do with our music together as a band."
Percussionists Toni Muñoz and Andrew De Pano second this sentiment. Toni admits: "We are lucky enough that the songs that come out always give us a chance to experiment and explore what else we can do... or maybe just ideate." Meanwhile, Andrew shares that these days, he's not really looking for specific genres to listen to. "Playlists are clusters of everything, there's a little bit of everything." Citing K-pop group LE SSERAFIM as an example, Andrew adds that "artists nowadays have a little bit of alternative, R&B, soul, rap, etc. Everyone's just trying out so many different things."
Living and creating together for 2 years during the pandemic not only gave them the time to get to know each other as people, but also helped the band learn and grow with each other through music. "Our growth is solid individually, and as a band, and that inevitably reflects in our music," Toni claims. "Starting with folk, and now, we're kind of veering very close to the world and then, whatever world branches out to which is – everything else," Andrew explains. "We have no idea what's going on anymore."
Paolo sums it all up by saying that while sonically, Ben&Ben's music has gone to all sorts of places, ultimately, their songwriting is still grounded in folk. "It's about the stories of the songs and I think that's one of the core elements of what folk music is. The difference with us is the sound palette that surrounds the song."
MAKING NEW FANS AND MEETING NEW MUSICIAN FRIENDS
Ben&Ben are more than used to being onstage. The 'Araw-Araw' hitmakers have performed to thousands of fans at a time, in sold-out shows and venues here and across the globe, but last May, the band was faced with a new and somewhat nerve-wracking experience. Billed as one of the headlining acts for a music festival in Malaysia, the nine-piece was set to play alongside regional acts like fellow Filipino musician Zack Tabudlo, T-pop groups LYKN and 4EVE, BL star NANON, and more.
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"We were very nervous. There were probably around 5 to 10 Filipinos," Miguel shares. Andrew adds that it was "the first time we performed for that big a concentration of non-Filipinos." They were worried for nothing as the sizeable crowd that waited for them to perform gave them a warm reception, creating new fans from Malaysia and beyond. "We were nervous because we didn't know how they would receive our music," Miguel explains. "But then we just did it. We just performed and then we had fun. We really connected with them. There was a strong connection and we felt it. Now, we want to go back because the audience was overwhelmingly appreciative."
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Aside from making new fans in the audience, the band also made new friends with other musicians on the lineup, particularly Thai alternative pop-rock act Tilly Birds. "As a bonus and a very important part of that trip, we didn't expect to have really good new music friends with Tilly Birds from Thailand," Miguel shares with excitement. "Tropa talaga (We're friends now)," bassist Agnes Reoma chimes in.
"Sparks," Miguel laughs saying that they had a great time chatting with them about music and life in general. Agnes adds that the two bands were grouped together in the same holding room, teasing Poch that he was Tilly Birds' newest member at their joint meet-and-greet.
The feeling was mutual. In a message to Bandwagon, guitarist Billy Chuchat reveals how he and the rest of the band stayed to watch Ben&Ben's performance, leaving them impressed with the Filipino act's skill and showmanship. The members of Ben&Ben also went to the venue way before their call time to make sure they were in the audience to witness the 'White Pills' act's set.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
"I think about this all the time," Andrew muses as he answers the question, "What do you hope to leave behind as part of your Ben&Ben legacy?" As he ponders this, Paolo shares how they want to be one of the Filipino bands to "tell the story of our collective experiences as Filipinos through music" and share it with the rest of the world.
For Andrew, making a difference in the little things is what comes to mind when he thinks of what they would like to be remembered for – creating an impact and making a positive change, "even just within our own circles." More than anything, doing their best in "whatever we were called to do on this earth" is something he'd like to be a part of their legacy. "I want to be able to look back at this decades from now and see that I spent the best years of my life doing what I know I was meant to do in this world with like-minded and like-hearted people."
With their songs of love, healing, struggle, and more, Ben&Ben have undoubtedly made an impact on listeners' lives, making their memories more meaningful – from life's milestones and challenges.
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