Narda
Encyclopedia
- For the alter-ego of the Filipino superheroine, see DarnaDarnaDarna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...
.
Narda was a successful Pinoy
Pinoy
Pinoy is an informal demonym referring to the Filipino people in the Philippines and overseas Filipinos around the world. Filipinos usually refer to themselves as Pinoy or sometimes the feminine Pinay...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, widely seen as one of the visible acts in the Philippine indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
scene.
History
Ryan Villena (drummer) had already been playing in several bands in his formative years. He started playing with Tungaw, a four-piece band which frequented Club DreddClub DREDD
Club Dredd was a nightclub originally located in a small space on Timog Ave, Quezon City, Philippines. It was opened on 8 December 1990. The Timog venue had been a home for another rock venue called Red Rocks that closed down. It was put up by young rock musician Patrick Reidenbach and rock band...
in the heyday of the Filipino alternative music scene. He was also a founding member of Brownman Revival
Brownman Revival
Brownman Revival is a Filipino reggae band founded in 1994. They count Big Mountain, Aswad and UB40 among their musical influences, as well as Filipino reggae groups Tropical Depression and Cocojam...
(played keyboards), did session percussion work for Tropical Depression, and still pounds the drums for Romeo Lee and the Brown Briefs (with ex-Tungaw mates bassist Jing Gaddi and guitarist Mark Villena ).
Tungaw disbanded in 1998, when Ryan formed Lilian along with college friends from his Tanghalang Ateneo
Tanghalang Ateneo
-Company Profile:Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running theatre company of Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University, weaves into its work the theatrical traditions of the University’s sesquicentennial past: the devotion of the salon de actos at the Escuela Municipal, the eloquence of the Ateneo...
days, (which included Pupil
Pupil (band)
Pupil is a Filipino rock band composed of Ely Buendia on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.-Formation:...
's Yan Yuzon, Xander Angeles on guitar, Patrick Tuason on keyboards and Mimi Chu on vocals) in early 2000. Due to line-up changes, their demo was left unfinished. Through Conrad Javier of Boy Elroy, Ryan was introduced to Katwo Librando (who sang with Bent on Crickets) and asked her to do vocals for Lilian. Katwo jumped at the opportunity and Lilian version-2 launched with guitarist Wincy Ong.
After playing a gig at an Ayala Mountaineers party (playing original songs "Crime-fighting Mama", "Tanga", and "Suwerte"), a misunderstanding with Yan Yuson occurred, which caused Lilian to disband. By this time, Ryan took Jing Gaddi's suggestion that JV Javier play guitar for them because JV's melodic bluesy style would fit into the band's mold. This left Ryan, Katwo, JV and Wincy in limbo, as they had a number of potential pop hits but without a band.
In a chat one afternoon, Ryan invited an Ateneo faculty member, Ed Ibarra, during a break from their graduate studies. With three guitarists, Wincy then took over the bass duties and the group jammed on July 31, 2002. Thus Narda was formed, at that time: Ryan on drums, JV and Ed on guitars, Wincy on bass, and Katwo on vocals.
Narda formed with three main objectives; namely, to write and play their original songs, to have fun, and to help out people. Due to Ryan and Ed’s connection with the Ateneo de Manila High School, a portion of Narda’s EP sales would go to the Tulong Dunong Scholarship Fund, which aimed to assist worthy public school students to study at the Ateneo and other private schools.
By October 2002, Narda had recorded their first EP, "A Postcard From", containing four songs ("Crime-fighting Mama", "Hypochondriac", "Meron Ba" and "Kusina"). Then on December 13, 2002, the band released its second EP titled "Suwerte" (translated: "Good Luck"), also containing four songs ("Tanga", "In The Afternoon", "Leave" and "Suwerte").
Over Christmas vacation of 2002, Narda recorded their stripped-down acoustic EP called "Burador". "Burador" was released early 2003 containing four songs ("Another Day", "Pasensya Na", Santong Paspasan" and "Ang Gabi").
By 2003, Narda was gigging heavily and their songs were earning steady airplay over NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
. Narda started recording their fourth EP "Salaguinto't Salagubang" in the summer of 2003, which carried five songs ("Vanillin", "Daylight Savings Time", "Saan Na?", "Liwanag" and "Jaywalker"). The EP was launched at the now defunct Millenia on September 2003. By the time, original guitarist Ibarra had left the band for a day job. And former Lilian guitarist Nico Africa had rejoined his former bandmates in Narda, who played during the EP launch.
Releasing four EPs in a span of a year would earn the band several guestings on NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
's In the Raw Show with Francis Brew. The single "Jaywalker" also started gaining airplay on NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
. Narda would then go on to win the NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
Rock Awards' In the Raw Award for 2003.
In that time, Narda consisted of Ryan on drums, JV & Nico on guitars, Wincy on bass, and Katwo on vocals. Narda then had intense songwriting sessions late 2003 to early 2004 for their first full-length album. Recording the album "Formika" took exactly one year (from February 2004 to February 2005), and was released (under Ponkan Music) on March 5, 2005 at Gasoline Alley. Containing 12 tracks ("Pantalon", "1800-hey", "Kometa Astrolabe", "Nico", "Biyernes", "Glum", "Detox", "Hudas Not Pay", "Tayo Na", "Disquiet", "Lipad (theme from Darna)" and "Salamin sibuyas/tetrapak)". Formika wound up on critics' best-of-2005 lists.
After several gigs pushing their album, Formika, gigging took its toll on guitarists JV and Nico. The two amicably decided to leave the band due to work concerns right about the time Narda was to celebrate its 3rd birthday.
Narda then recruited Jep Cruz for keyboard duties with Wincy sliding to guitar duties again. The third incarnation brought them a new sound, returning to their late 70s to 80s new wave roots.
In late 2005, Wincy left Narda was replaced by Tani Santos. In 2006, Yaps Estagle joined Narda for additional synth duties.
Narda recruited Mong Alcaraz (of the bands Sandwich
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food item, typically consisting of two or more slices of :bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of lunch food, typically taken to work or school, or...
and Chicosci
Chicosci
ChicoSci is a 5-piece Filipino rock band based in Manila. The band is composed of Miggy Chavez, Mong Alcaraz, Calde Calderon, Macoy Estacio and Ariel Lumanlan.-Formation and early days:...
) as their producer, and released "Discotillion" on September 22, 2006.
Discography
- 2006 - Discotillion
- Molotov
- Buti Nga
- Ang Mitsa
- Gasolina
- Kay Lab
- Halik
- Batang Munti
- Golden Boy
- Alta Presyon
- 100 Taon
- KamikazeeKamikazeeKamikazee is a Filipino rock band formed in 2000. The band is composed of Jay Contreras, Jomal Linao, Led Tuyay, Puto Astete and Bords Burdeos.- History :...
- 2005 - Formika
- pantalon
- 1800-hey
- kometa astrolabe
- nico
- biyernes
- glum
- detox
- hudas not pay
- tayo na
- disquiet
- lipad (theme from darna)
- salamin sibuyas/tetrapak
- 2003 - Salaguinto't Salagubang
- Vanillin
- Daylight Savings Time
- Saan Na?
- Liwanag
- Jaywalker
- 2002 - Burador
- Another Day
- Pasensya Na
- Santong Paspasan
- Ang Gabi
- 2002 - Suwerte
- Tanga
- In The Afternoon
- Leave
- Suwerte
- 2002 - A Postcard From
- Crime-Fighting Mama
- Hypochondriac
- Meron Ba?
- Kusina
Members
- Katwo Librando - vocals (2002–2007)
- Ryan Villena - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, synthsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
(2002–2007)- also keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
- also keyboards
- Tani Santos - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2005–2007)- also xylophoneXylophoneThe xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
- also xylophone
- Yaps Estagle - synthsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
(2006–2007) - Jep Cruz - synthsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
(2005–2006) - Wincy Ong bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2002–2005) - JV Javier guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2002–2005) - Nico Africa guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2002–2005) - Ed Ibarra guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2002–2003)