IV of Spades have just released their long-awaited sophomore album, Andalucia. Guitarist Blaster Silonga says that putting out the comeback LP is like giving birth.
“Hindi ko alam ang feeling kasi ‘di pa ako nanganganak, pero para kang nagkaanak,” Silonga tells Rolling Stone Philippines.
There was a time in the late 2010s when you couldn’t attend a college fair in Metro Manila without seeing IV of Spades. Local indieheads knew them through their first single, “Ilaw Sa Daan,” but the four-piece rock band, styled in flashy 1970s cuts, saw their meteoric rise in 2017 with the insanely catchy disco-inspired single “Hey Barbara.”
From there, the only way was up. In 2018, IV of Spades released “Mundo,” which was an even bigger hit that launched the band into mainstream success. But in May that year, lead vocalist Unique Salonga departed from the group to pursue a solo project, and the band went on as a trio.
In January 2019, the band released their debut album CLAPCLAPCLAP!, which included hits such as “Come Inside of My Heart” and “In My Prison.” Then, only a year later, they also announced their indefinite hiatus.
In conversation, the band members suggest that their break-up was marked by drama. But five years after the hiatus — and 11 years after they were formed — the four look as if they have never been more at ease with each other. It also shows in Andalucia, which was led with singles “Aura,” “Nanaman,” “Konsensya,” and “Suliranin.”
This time around, IV of Spades trades pastiche for a musical identity that feels more lived in, the result of the members finding their own sound through solo careers. In this interview, Silonga, Salonga, drummer Badjao de Castro, and bassist Zild Benitez talk about finding themselves apart from and in the band, and the making of Andalucia.
How do you guys feel about the album coming out?
Silonga: Excited, and at the same time, let go na [kami]. Kasi the moment na lumabas ‘yan sa mundo, hindi na namin ‘yan possession. So kahit ano, pwedeng nang gawin ng mga tao diyan: either i-hate nila o i-love nila, either maka-relate sila o hindi, gamitin nilang soundtrack sa buhay nila, o kung anuman. Hindi ko alam ang feeling kasi ‘di pa ako nanganganak, pero para kang nagkaanak.
Benitez: Nakaka-kaba.
How did your time apart change the way you see IV of Spades musically and personally?
Benitez: ‘Yong time apart, nakatulong siya na makita [ko] ‘yong IV of Spades beyond the drama. Nabalik ako kung ano ang tingin ko sa IV of Spades noong 2014, noong nag-start kami. Just four guys doing what they’re doing.
Silonga: Noong nangyari lahat ng ‘yon, parang ang hirap maintindihan during [the break-up], gaya ng lahat ng problema. Pero ngayong bumalik kami, wala akong babaguhin sa mga nangyari, kahit maraming mga heartbreaks. Napunta kaming lahat dito sa point na ‘to dahil sa combination ng good and bad things.
Masasabi niyo bang na-influence ng mga solo work niyo ang album na ‘to?
All: Konti.
Silonga: Mahirap siyang i-deny kasi doon kami galing.
“Kahit kalimutan na kami. Siguro sana mas makilala niyo sarili niyo through this album.”
What was the moment you realized that you’re ready to make music again as IV of Spades?
Salonga: Pinag-try kami ng maraming songs. Tapos parang, “Okay pa.”
Benitez: “Masaya pala.” Ako, personally, nakikita kong mas exciting siya kesa gumawa ng isa pang album na ako lang. Nakikita kong mas special ‘yong ginagawa namin.
Beyond making music together, what were you guys most excited to come back to as a group?
Silonga: Gigs.
Salonga: Ready na kaming ma-picturan.
De Castro: ‘Di na kami magtatago sa CR ‘pag may event.
Silonga: Unpredictability.
Salonga: ‘Yong hindi tutunog ‘yong amp.
How would you describe the mood of this album, especially compared to CLAPCLAPCLAP!?
Benitez: Ngayon ko lang naisip e. Para siyang lost episode. ‘Pag pinakinggan mo siya, mas bago siya, pero para siyang lost childhood. Tunog high school, parang ‘yong mga experiences mo noong bata ka. Pero parang ngayon mo lang na-re-relive together.
Salonga: Alam mo ‘yong feeling ‘pag may gusto kang laruan pero hindi mo mabili noong bata ka. Tapos ngayon, nagka-work ka na.
Bukod diyan, may mga ibang inspiration ba kayo from specific places, eras, sounds, or even other musicians?
Benitez: Marami. Mga iba’t ibang klaseng genre sa Pinas na naging malapit sa masa. ‘70s Manila sound, ‘90 at ‘00s Pinoy rock. Parang kung ano ‘yong interpretation namin sa mga favorite naming music noong bata. O kaya ‘yong masarap tugtugin.
Kumusta naman ‘yong process for recording this album? How is it different from your earlier work?
Silonga: Mas smooth na siya. Dahil sa experiences namin, nagamay na namin ang what to do and what not to do. This time, bago kami nag-start [mag-record], nag-gather kami ng team. ‘Di lang kami ang bumuo dito sa Andalucia. Si Brian Lotho, co-producer namin, at si Emil dela Rosa, siya ‘yong sound engineer namin. Noong sinimulan namin ‘yong album, meron kaming parang driver ng bus tsaka konduktor. Sila ang Avatar, kami ‘yong apat na elemento.
“‘Yong time apart, nakatulong siya na makita [ko] ‘yong IV of Spades beyond the drama. Nabalik ako kung ano ang tingin ko sa IV of Spades noong 2014, noong nag-start kami. Just four guys doing what they’re doing.”
Was there a specific song or idea that unlocked the sound or direction for Andalucia?
All: “Aura.”
‘Yon talaga ‘yong nauna?
Benitez: Super. Parang 2024 pa siya.
Silonga: Actually, 2022 pa kami nagta-try mag-jam. Marami nang demos. Pero pagdating sa “Aura,” doon kami nagkaroon ng idea ng… “May nangyayari na!”
Benitez: Siya ‘yong nagbigay ng “the look.” Parang kaming lahat, napasabing “Teka ha, may naluluto dito.” After nun, tuloy-tuloy na kaming nagkita-kita, nag-try mag-jam ng mga songs hanggang sa nabuo ‘yong album.
Sa album na ‘to, what do you guys hope listeners understand about who IV of Spades is now? Sino na ba kayo ngayon?
Silonga: Kahit kalimutan na kami. Siguro sana mas makilala niyo sarili niyo through this album.
De Castro: Bars, bro.
