On March 1, indie pop quartet Orange & Lemons made a surprising announcement for a new app in collaboration with iPerform, a platform that promises to “revolutionize the music scene” by allowing musicians to upload exclusive content for their fans.
This move comes after their 25th anniversary concert last October, which is a celebration that felt like a victory lap not just for the band, but for the sound of indie pop itself. For years, Orange & Lemons, alongside vocalist Clem Castro’s label Lilystars Records, have been champions of the indie pop scene. But their journey hasn’t been without its challenges — from the departure of their original frontman Mcoy Fundales, to their triumphant return to the limelight in 2017.
In the video announcement on Facebook, Castro announced that fans who subscribe via the Orange and Lemons app (P300 per month) can stream the full 25th anniversary concert and watch exclusive content such as their upcoming singles, and jokingly, “taking a bath.”
“A lot of our fans are asking — [especially] OFWs — if there’s a streaming option,” he says, “It’s funny because this is fate.”
Through the app, Orange & Lemons implied that fans will get the chance to become closer with the band, something that has never happened prior to their return in the music scene. A fan on the r/OPM subreddit commented on the announcement saying, “Back in 2017, I was one of the people who subscribed to their Pledgemusic page for the making of 2018 love in the land of rubber shoes and dirty ice cream re-record,” they said. “Sadly it was a mix of good and bad result [sic] for the artist and fans due to what happened to pledgemusic.” Founded in 2019, Pledgemusic was a crowdfunding platform for audiences who wish to financially support the artists, making Orange & Lemons the most notable local examples. However, the site filed for bankruptcy in May 2019 due to the business being unsustainable. The user then went on to tell their story that the band had only sparingly posted exclusive content to which they think it isn’t worth the money.
In the same thread, another fan said they never received their shirt that the band promised as part of the paid pledge. Other commentators mentioned that this is a ballsy move for a band who has been at it in the industry, while others mentioned that it’s a waste of time and money.
But with this new app and exclusive content, the band is taking a bold step into uncharted territory. Is it a natural evolution for a group that’s always pushed boundaries, or is it a gamble that risks alienating their core audience?
