Lucena-based Tim Awa releases a gem of a debut album.

Lucena-based Tim Awa releases a gem of a debut album.

by rick olivares

Tim Awa is full of surprises. For starters, “Tim Awa” is a nom de guerre – with umlauts atop the two letter “As” on the second word -- by the no less exotically named Zephra Theodosha Lagos, an indie musician from Lucena.

Lagos admits that she chose the disarming and left-of-center name of “Tim Awa” to eliminate prejudice. “To see if people would listen to an unknown artist with a strange name,” she says.

She has released an extended play album – with Lagos performing almost all the instruments -- on compact disc and two variants on cassette (a solo release under United Cassettes Philippines and a split release with Naga City-based Anethesia from the independent label, Struggle Records).

And Lagos/Tim Awa’s self-titled debut is surprise gem that will go down as one of the year’s best. Which is why you should give it a listen.

Tim Awa shows there is a lot of room in the sonic palette of post-rock/math rock music with local stars like Tom’s Story, Tide/Edit, and others like the Insektlife Cycle and Yomi No Kuni to name but a few.

The difference is Tim Awa’s ethereal and siren-like vocals add a feathery and haunting touch to the stirring music. As much as I love the genre, it can get tiring after a while because of the lack of vocals that add more depth to the songs. Tim Awa’s songs don’t have the usual prose to them. Think of Clare Torry on Pink Floyd’s classic, “The Great Gig in the Sky.” Except it isn’t the wailing sort but more ethereal; a toned down Elisabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins if you will.

As such, the five instrumental pieces take you away to grassy and majestic hill sides with blue skies behind you. They sparkle in the rain. They evoke homey and intimate performances in candle-lit bars on a quiet night.

The song titles are also unusual; interpretations or sounds. “LBRT” is actually “liberty.”

“Tad-Am” and “Enin” are the sounds Lagos thinks she makes when she picks and strums her guitar. “Lio” used to be “Leo” while the closing track, “To Is” used to be “To East.”

Now, imagine then when the lovely and raven-haired Zephra takes the stage with her guitar and sings. Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

Lagos was inspired to create such music when she heard Japanese math rock bands Toe and Tricot as well as now-defunct Irish band, Enemies. The result is also due to her frustration to score films. I believe, if filmmakers hear this, they should give her a chance.

If her local peers’ expositions can be entries to Guitar Hero with an adherence to dexterity and an infusion of a punkish energy, Tim Awa’s music is tighter. That doesn’t mean Tim Awa’s music lacks deftness. Far from it, the music is emotive. A woman’s touch I should point out. Oh, and it does soar.

The beauty about indie music is the discovery of diamonds in the rough. The beauty about discovering Tim Awa’s music is it is a pleasant surprise. It affirms that the independent scene is alive and well.

Now brew some coffee and sit back. Your mind is about to wander.

Author’s Note: To purchase Tim Awa’s cd or cassette, you might want to check out the Facebook pages or Bandcamp pages of the Genjitsu Stargazing Society, Tim Awa, or Struggle Records.