Offshore Music is ready, more than ever, to expand its reach beyond Philippine shores.
The Manila-based independent record label has taken a huge leap as it launched 10 new artists under its roster to stand alongside Apartel, ena mori, Pinkmen, Sulo, Sansette, and Eliza Marie, with a brand-new partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. This month and beyond, you can expect new music from Offshore's latest signees ALYSON, Amateurish, Her Name is Noelle, Ligaya Escueta, Neytan, JDRX, Crisha, Mt. Lewis, Breē, and Elton Clark.
In an exclusive interview with Bandwagon during their press launch at the Astbury in Makati City, Offshore Music CEO Ely Buendia, General Manager Audry Dionisio, and Partner/A&R Director Pat Sarabia shared what fans can expect from their new acts and partnership with Sony Music Entertainment.
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"[Sony] partnered with us because we have that instinct for homegrown-start-up artist discovery," Dionisio tells Bandwagon. "Basically, we do the same thing we do except with their support, their resources, their know-how on things we don't have the capability to do. It's an add-on support. And also, monetary. We're really grateful." To this Buendia adds, "They're the Disney to our Pixar."
Dionisio also revealed that the artists they featured at their launch this month are just half of all the acts that recently joined their roster, teasing that the next 10 artists will be announced sometime next year.
Offshore Music saw some changes since its launch in 2016. With the pandemic and lockdowns bringing a halt to the live music scene in 2020, the label was faced with numerous bumps on the road that nearly led to its disbandment. "I think the pandemic made us check our priorities and lahat naman tayo affected," Buendia says. "We had to let go [of our office] and work from home, which turned out for the best. We had to let go of some people."
"It was really challenging. It was a blessing din," Buendia contemplates. "The fat was trimmed and we got to focus on what we really wanted to do and this gave us more drive and continue what we were doing."
Looking back at their proudest moment as a label, Buendia, Dionisio, and Sarabia all share the same sentiments for the success of their rising synth-pop sensation, ena mori. "Getting her on the SXSW stage was one of our big achievements, seeing her on the global stage, and being recognized by NME also as her album being [one of] the best, was kind like fruits of our labour," Dionisio says.
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"I agree. These guys can take the credit," Buendia shares. "I was just cheering them on. It was their hard work and of course, Ena's work got her to where she is now. We're even more proud because she got to that place without compromising her artistry."
Other than the 'VIVD' singer's success, Sarabia is proud of their team. "It's really growing, ganun yung vibe. From the beginning until now, I see that. This is where we are today. Maybe we didn't envision it this way before, but I'm happy with it," she says.
The heads of Offshore Music have big hopes for the artists on their roster. A part of the label's brand is how they aim to press all of their releases to vinyl as they export Filipino talent across the globe. Now with their partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, things can certainly go into overdrive. But why is pressing music to vinyl so important to Offshore Music? Simple—to complete the overall experience of consuming music.
"Iba yung hawak [mo] eh," Dionisio says. "I think it's not just the music and the quality. Just seeing the artwork, the credits, the lyrics, it's a very tactile medium that adds to the experience of the consumption of the music. Yun yung masarap na feeling. It's not just press play. It's a whole ritual where you put the record on, you open the inlay, you go through it, it's that."
To Buendia, it's all about bringing back the value of music. With the convenience of music streaming, many listeners have become quite spoiled, thinking that music should be free. "It's like there's no work involved in making music. Like there's no electricity bills involved," Buendia says about music streaming. "It makes the musician's life very hard and part of our goal with vinyl is showing people that it's an experience that must not be devalued."
In the end, Offshore Music is truly a label for artists by artists. They have a lot of plans down the pipeline, but fans can definitely look forward to more vinyl releases. From Jun Lupito's album to the Eraserheads' catalogue, it's likely you'll soon have another Offshore Music artist's music physically present in your hands.
Interview by Camille Castillo
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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