Words by Cathlyn Mae Botor
Photos by Josh Trinidad
It’s 2019 and I’m pretty sure you’ll all agree with me when I say that music has been a vital part of our day-to-day lives. From reggae, pop, rock, hip-hop up to ballad, we’ve seen how OPM or Original Pinoy Music and the indie music scene in the Philippines are continuously getting more and more love and support from the millenials of the now. One way or another, we all have that particular song or a certain go-to playlist depending on what we feel or what particular hugot we have in a certain circumstance in our lives.
A lot of homegrown artists are now making waves in the music scene here in the Philippines.
It’s great that Filipino artists get to continue their passion for music while also inspiring the younger generation to dream big and follow their hearts in whatever path they would like to explore or discover along the way.
Just recently, Filipino indie folk/pop band The Ransom Collective was able to continue opening a wide range of possibilities in their music career. Last February 22, the group signed a contract under Mustard Music and Universal Records.
Back in 2013, the then indie solo artist Kian Ransom went back to the Philippines after finishing his education in Los Angeles. Later on, the band was formed and named after Ransom himself. The six-piece indie folk/pop band is comprised of college buddies from UP Diliman including Redd Claudio (drums), Jermaine Choa Peck (percussions, vocals), Leah Halili (bass, vocals), Lily Gonzales (keyboards, vocals), and Muriel Gonzales (violin, vocals).
The indie folk/pop band showcases a unique and distinct sound combined with melodic and percussive patterns.
In 2014, they released their self-titled EP which was then followed by their full-length album “Traces” released in May 2017.
The secret behind their success is reflected in their uplifting and youthful songs that capture the importance of self-discovery despite the struggle of looking for their unique identity in the industry.
The Ransom Collective’s music journey truly serves as an inspiration especially to those who are struggling to figure out what works for them and their passion. Since then, they already appeared in various major music festivals in the country, including the Wanderland Music Festival. After winning the “Wanderband” title in 2014, they were able to perform with many of the country’s emerging and well-known bands. The six-piece indie folk/pop band also did a lot of collaborations with other artists like Yuna (Malaysia), GAC (Indonesia), and Gabby Alipe of Urbandub (Philippines). Now, after signing the contract under Mustard Music and Universal Records, they are excited to embrace more opportunities to grow as individuals and as a group.
The Ransom Collective is now set to conquer what lies ahead for them in the local music scene. They are looking forward to upcoming projects and collaborations, developing new music, going to more out of town and out of the country gigs, and bringing more of their sophisticated look and distinct sound.
The Ransom Collective
Website: https://theransomcollective.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theransomcollective/
https://www.instagram.com/ransomcollective/
https://twitter.com/theransomcmusic?lang=en
