Blaster Silonga Was Inspired by The Itchyworms and Manila Sound on New Single 'Nararararamdaman'

When you’re in the loop about the local music scene, you likely know who Blaster Silonga is: solo artist, de facto leader of The Celestial Klownz, and co-manager of a new music venue hotspot right in his Marikina neighborhood. The year has so far been busy for Silonga, especially concerning his ventures as a solo artist. He’s taken his time to release new material that will come in the form of a debut full length album, which is slated to release later in the year. 

At the heart of Imajin: Arts and Music–the music venue that the artist hopes will foster a community–is a training ground for homegrown musicians. This is where Silonga and his band are launching his upcoming pursuits, including new music that he’s kept in the backburner since before the pandemic. 

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The 22-year old musician recently launched his new single under Island Records titled “Nararararamdaman,” a three-minute ditty that bounces off 7/4 odd-time signatures like a lullaby. 

But this isn’t a Broken Social Scene reference. This is entirely new territory for Silonga, who has admitted to becoming a music nerd about such complex songwriting. For the new single, Silonga doesn’t seem to play behind a mask, unlike his first single “Disko Forever.” Instead, he is wearing the persona of his past and future self in the music video for the latest single.

I chatted with Silonga during a Grab ride from Imajin, where a different gig was taking place, a week after he had launched “Nararararamdaman.” It wasn’t his party, but Silonga insisted on gig-hopping, trying something else that he hasn’t done in a while. We were on our way to a show dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community at Mow’s Bar in Quezon City. The Grab ride was quiet, save for the loud patter of rain landing on the roof of the car. Silonga was at his most comfortable and was immediately down to be interviewed. I asked about “Narararamdaman” and its influences. 

“This particular song started…around 2019,” he explained. “It was early morning during that time; yung house ko, nakatira kami sa likod ng school and ng church, so yung mga panahon na yun, maaga ako magising. Early morning, may kampana. Alam mo yung random mornings na di ka pa gutom at wala kang magawa.” 

Silonga’s knack for pop melodies was informed by going through the Itchyworms discography and Manila sound rabbit hole. Discovering memorable melodies over the decades taught him to become more flexible songwriting-wise. He cited the works of The Itchyworms, specifically Jazz Nicolas’ nearly flawless form of melody-making and hook-writing, as one of the main inspirations that pushed Silonga to become a better songwriter. 

Itchyworms phase

“Sobrang nagka-Itchyworms phase ako,” he said. “Hindi lang Itchyworms yung napakinggan ko non; pati yung side project ni Jazz with Mariah Reodica, yung Ilang Ylang-Ylang, yung “Let Me Know When It’s Real,” pati yung mga Manila Sound, mga Cinderella, Hotdogs. I’ve always been a fan of that side of OPM na maganda yung mga melodies.”

Silonga also realized that making melodies was a complex job. While writing “Nararararamdaman,” he discovered how much time and effort was required to craft a theme in every song of every album. Noontime Show, the Itchyworms’ seminal sophomore release, was a prime inspiration for Silonga as to how stories and narratives that stretch across the three-hour runtime of an afternoon variety show could be compressed into a 50 to 60-minute epic.

“Sobrang natutuwa ako kung paano nila ini-execute ang themes nila in a pop song format,” he says about the Itchyworms and other groups like Tanya Markova. “Nung bata ako, usually pag maririnig mo sila sa radio na ‘Ah OPM, OPM yan,’ ganon. Tapos, nung tumanda ako, I realized may theme yung Noontime Show, galing ng pagka-execute.”

As our Grab ride passed a brightly lit 70’s Bistro along Anonas, Silonga said that writing such ‘exclusive’ melodies challenged him a bit more as he listened to the bands that were at the peak of their creativity.

“Super catchy ng mga songs nila pero marami silang songs na exclusive,” he said. “Usually kasi, maraming pop songs, lalo na in the current situation of OPM; parang ‘copy of a copy of a copy’ na. Kaya siya catchy kasi narinig mo na a million times. 

“Pero in the case of Itchyworms and Tanya Markova, yung pagka-catchy nila parang, ‘Oh my, di ko pa narinig yan ah!’,” he added. “Napaka-exclusive, parang kapag naririnig ko yung melodies nila, sila agad ang naalala ko. Yung pagka-pop songs nila, may pagka-ambitious pa rin eh. Na-inspire ako na gusto ko gumawa ng pop songs where I try to push the boundaries.” 

Simple and complex

In this regard, the possibilities for “Nararararamdaman” were endless. Drafted after waking up early in the morning, the song is the product of Silonga wanting to expand his ideas even further, shying away from the formulaic template of “usual” OPM songwriting. There was a time when Silonga wanted to combine both simple and complex all at once. 

“What if gumawa ako ng pop song na may nursery rhyme sounding,” he remembers thinking. “Tapos chinallenge ng sarili ko na, what if gumawa ako ng odd-time na pop song?”

Silonga also noted that The Beatles were cheeky in hiding odd-time signatures in songs that hardly anyone would notice, but it was an intention that wouldn’t necessarily become some sort of technical wankery that would put-off their audience. The artist had to put the 7/4 time signature with care and wit as long as the catchiness remained. Silonga then proceeded to mouth the words to The Strokes’ “You Can Only Live Once” and David Bowie’s “Changes” while demonstrating the inspirations behind the chorus, specifically the scat style of singing, where repetition of syllables was key in making a song extra memorable. 

“Pinakana-inspire ako sa line na yun,” he said. “Fan ako ng mga lyrics sa mga kanta. Yung mga hindi tama kapag inaral mo, like sa Filipino, wala namang word na “Nararararamdaman,” pero fan ako sa mga songs na ganon yung paggagamit. Ang naalala ko dyan ay yung The Strokes and David Bowie. Biggest examples yung mga words na parang nila-lag ka na parang sirang radio, parang sirang plaka.”

Silonga mentioned the casting of Earl Paglinawan, the rhythm guitarist of pop-rock band Hey June! for the music video of “Nararararamdaman,” which was produced by music video production outfit Lunchbox. For one, Paglinawan once went viral due to his resemblance to a younger Silonga, but Silonga himself said that was only one of the reasons he was chosen for the music video. 

“Marami akong nakikitang memes at comments, that’s one reason,” he explained. “And one more reason, fan ako ng band niya eh. Ang funny doon si Earl, nakikita ko yan sa mga gigs namin as IV of Spades. Ayun talaga, fan namin. Regular sa mga gigs. Nasa video namin noon pa, Parang isa sa mga last songs before mag-pandemic. 

“Natutuwa ako sa kanya kasi, lalo na nagkaroon siya ng banda din, parang ‘Uy, pinursue mo talaga ang music.’ Kaya pasok na pasok siya sa naisip kong story dun sa music video. Tsaka nakikita ko sarili ko sa kanya. Hindi lang by face, pati yung situation niya. Yung time na nakausap ko siya parang kinakausap sarili ko nung 17 ako.” 

Realities of being a musician

As for the single itself, Silonga said the message is that being a musician isn’t all glitz and glamor nor does it answer everyone’s needs, especially when it comes to one’s financial situation. 

“Gusto ko talaga makatulong ng tao na nakaka-relate sa song na yun,” he said. “Kung gaano kahirap yung maging musician tapos dami mong kailangan na bayaran ng bills. Pag bata ka, ang dali lang sabihin na, ‘Passion ko to eh,’ pero pagdating sa certain age na di nagwu-work, marami ka nang responsibilities. Kailangan mo nang pumili ng career talaga. Minsan may illusion of choice sa pagiging musician, na hindi mo siya gawin na passion lang. 

“Para maging musician, para matuloy mo yan, kailangan successful ka,” he added. “Yan yung mahirap na part. Kaya humihirap ang musician at artists in general, they have to consider the situation na kailangan mong kumita gamit ng art mo. Minsan nasa-sacrifice na rin yung quality of art na na-release mo na. Imbes na makakagawa ka ng something that you really love, kailangan ka gumawa ng something the people would love. Hanggang sa nagsisilabasan na yung mga mediocre songs, uninspired melodies, uninspired lyrics. Doon ko na-realize na, minsan yung situation natin bilang artists yung nagpu-push sa atin sa mediocrity.” 

During a sudden turn to Kalayaan Avenue, the artist further explained that “Nararararamdaman” is also a song about quitting, and about the struggles of being a musician in the country from someone who is, by now, an experienced professional in the industry. 

Silonga then brought up the music venue that he hopes will become a place for and by artists in the industry. 

“Sobrang saya makikita at nakakagulat na maraming banda sa Pilipinas. Daming magaling at daming may potential.” he said. “Naalala ko lang rin yung mga support na nakuha namin sa bars na, yung iba na sarado na, like yung Route196. Naalala ko yung effect, and to be on the other side now na hindi ako yung banda, bar owner or bar manager side din. Ang saya talaga makikita na may nabubuong community na susuportahan lang. 

“Ang nakakatawa dyan, lagi akong nakakakita ng gig kasi lapit lang talaga ako sa venue,” he added. “Parang nagiging scout na rin ako. Naririnig ko yung tugtugan. Kung may naririnig ako na magagandang intro o song na narinig ko from afar.