Delusion of Terror: That hardworking punk and hardcore distro in Manila.

Some of the releases of Delusion of Terror. I have more but I am too lazy to pull them out. These are the stuff not in my box or shelf.

Delusion of Terror: That hardworking punk and hardcore distro in Manila.

by rick olivares

There’s this common thing that I hear when I look for some Filipino underground release. “Tanong natin si Emman. Meron siya nun.”

I hear it from Fishbone. From Dangie Regala. From Francis Jordann David. I hear it from the grapevine.

In fact, I believe that Emman Jasmin of that Delusion of Terror distro is equal parts amazon.com and Google. And if he doesn’t have it, he’ll find you one. Since I re-discovered the underground scene in January of this year, I’d say that 90% of all the underground releases I have purchased have come from Emman if not his resources.

Delusion of Terror (DoT from here on) is like your gateway to not only cool underground Filipino punk and hardcore but also from the region and even beyond. He has releases from bands from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Europe, North America, and from Southeast Asia.

The label has had three phases – distributor of releases, record label with its own original releases, and events group where it organizers shows for local and foreign touring bands. It’s all the more incredible when you consider that DoT is essentially a one-man operation.

We sat down with Emman to talk about his distro’s origins and where it’s going.

Rick: How did DoT start out?

Emman: It started out in 2003 nung nagpunta ako ng Singapore. At that time, gumagawa ako ng fanzine ang title ay “Resist to Exist”. Nag-feature ako ng mga local na banda at mga nasa Southeast Asia. Dahil sa fanzine, marami ako naging contact sa region. And nagka-idea ako mag-distribute ng mga albums ng mga banda sa region at marami ako na-acquire na title. Diyan nag-start yung distro.

Dati mga titles ko hindi naman well-known. Puro underground. In terms of sales, marami pa rin siya. Mga tao sabik pa rin sa music at sa mag-discover ng ibang bands outside yung local. 

When I started out mostly cassettes ang release. Of course, CD. Naging karamihan mga CDs. Kainitan nung format na yun. At that time, not many were into vinyl.

Rick: What was your first ever original release?

Emman: It was Dutch straight edge hardcore band called Vitamin X. The CD compilation was a co-release with the TakeFour Collective – sila Dangie Regala (now of Veils).

My first local production was a three-way split CD titled, “It’s All in Our Hands” featuring Half the Battle, Feud, at Play. Kasama ko ulit yung Take Four Collective. Yung compilation na yun mga 23 tracks and it came out mga 2006.

Since that time, siguro naka 40-plus na releases na ang DoT on cassette, CD, and vinyl.

Rick: Talk about a wide array of releases. So can we say that DoT is leading the way in terms of underground releases at least locally?

Emman: Hindi naman siguro. Marami rin ibang distros doing their own thing. Baka meron din na marami. I cannot be sure. Pero ang DoT mas kilala outside Pilipinas.

Rick: For real?

Emman: Yes. I cater to the Southeast Asian market.

Rick: So what makes you decide that you want to release a local outfit?

Emman: Marami lumalapit. But it is not that simple. First of all, I should believe and like the band. Not every band na lumapit sa akin gagawan ko ng release. Music-wise, lyric-wise it should be appealing. If they put out an album, it is something I myself will buy.

Rick: have you met people who have all your releases?

Emman: Yes! Meron mga yan dito sa Pilipinas at sa Southeast Asia. Nakakahiya kasi yung iba kong releases wala na akong kopya.

Rick: Ha? Paano yan? No personal copy left for you?

Emman: Meron kasi ibang buyers na talagang naghahanap. You want to keep your customers happy too.

Rick: Let’s talk about the Seeker’s “Malaya” album. How did DoT come about in helping that release?

Emman: I got in touch with the Seeker’s Mike (Dee) through a mutual friend. I was fortunate to get a copy of the first LP (An Open Letter). Nagpalit kami ng views. Marami kaming similar views and nag-click kami. Nag-invite si Mike sa next project ng the Seeker. Being a fan, I said yes. Ako lang nag-join sa Pinas.

Rick: I understand that as part of your support for the release, you have your own share of about 50-60 copies of the record for sale locally. How long do you think before that number sells out?

Emman: I’d say within the month from its availability locally, ubos na yung 50 copies ko. Hindi ko pa hawak meron na bumili ng stock ko through yung pinagbagsakan ng mga plaka. Okay lang yun. Benta ay benta. (laughs)

Rick: Ano masasabi mo sa eksena local? Buhay na buhay ba?

Emman: Buhay na buhay ang eksena. Hotbed ng punk and hardcore music ang Southeast Asia. Sales-wise and music-wise alive-na-alive dito.

Rick: I saw the documentary where New Zealand band Rogernomix came over. How did DoT work with them?

Emman: When bands want to play here, they get in touch with me and others. It is a great experience to be able to mount events and bring them over. Ako main contact pero marami tumulong. Nag-evolve na ang DoT. Naging organizer na rin ng touring bands. Yung unang banda na kasama ako sa pagdala dito ay yung Demisor from Singapore. Legendary grindcore band ng Singapore yan. Na-meet ko doon and naging kaibigan ko. Isa sa mga unang tumugtog na Southeast Asian band dito.

If my memory serves me right, mga 500 nanood ng show nila. Yung mga ibang tao hindi na nga makapasok. Masaya yun. It shows that the underground scene is alive and appreciative of music, good music.

Last band na mismo ako nagayos? Yung Japanese bands na Vivisick and Cheerio. May following na mga yan dito.

Rick: What is DoT’s best-selling record whether original release or distribution?

Emman: Best-selling CD – Choke Cocoi. Sa vinyl in terms of nag-move ng units sa local yung re-press ng TRC releases then sa foreign ang malakas sa akin yung Rogernomix (cassette) at Vivisick and Demisor na split (vinyl). Proletar din sold out.

Rick: Any upcoming projects we should look out for?

Emman: Next project – IOV, greatest hits ng Istukas Over Disneyland that will be in cassette form. Within the year yun. May cover na yung Istukas Over Disneyland. Inaayos na lang namin yung tracks. Most of these galing sa mga sold out splits nila. Running time nila around 90 minutes.

May project din ako with Still Ill records. Meron din project abroad – US and Canadian bands. Kasama ko rito American labels. Ako lang from Asia.

Rick: Nice. Busy is good.

Emman: It’s good for the scene and punk and hardcore music fans too. Iba pag-passion mo. I am enjoying doing all of these. Dream come true for a fan like me.

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Delusion of Terror has no physical shop. They consign their items in shops like Middle Finger in Cartimar, Recto Avenue, Manila or they do meet-ups or ship their products. Check Delusion of Terror out on Facebook.