Esremborak’s brand of ukulele rock is out in Basura Songs EP

Esremborak’s brand of ukulele rock is out in Basura Songs EP

by rick olivares

Get ready for Esremborak.

This five-piece ukulele rock band will charm your way into your heart and tickle your fancy the way Yano and Parokya Ni Edgar did with their funny, biting, and witty songs. 

However, they aren’t copycats. For one, they have a two ukulele lineup. An instrument that they do not think is a novelty musical instrument. And two, their songs are the sort that will put a smile on one’s face or make one even laugh.

Esremborak just launched their extended play compact disc last Monday, February 11 at the College of Communication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa.

The entire band – singer Mc Mislan, bassist Mike Tamayo, Leo Requejo and Nathaniel Panganiban on ukulele, and Mary Paredes on drums – are all PUP alums. And get this – are teachers. Mislan and Requejo teach Filipino at their alma mater. Paredes teaches Filipino and the Performing Arts at FEU while Panganiban is a Filipino professor at STI. Tamayo is finishing his academic requirements before he too gets into teaching.

The band was named after barangay East Rembo in Makati where Tamayo hails from and the band frequently hangs out. Together as Esremborak, they sing about the plights of the broken-hearted, ugly people, going unnoticed by their crush on social media, their friends, and well, life in general. 

The band released their five-song debut EP, Basura Songs (from independent label Sevas Tra Records) to a crowd of nearly 300 people who packed the Tanghalang PUP and clapped and sang their way through the songs. School-based poets and performers Rian Cabatingan, Toni Panagu, Arlan Camba, Federico Rivera, Christo Rey Albason, and Marvin Lobos opened for Esremborak. 

“Malaking bagay na rito sa aming alma mater kami nakapag-launch,” said Requejo who says the band is fully supported by the school’s faculty and administration. 

“Dito rin sa Tanghalang PUP kami nag-start,” added Paredes who also related that all the members came from different bands before uniting to form Esremborak. 

Even this early, the band is like a local hero for the faculty and students. PUP isn’t known as a hotbed for bands. The other band to have come out and somewhat make a name for itself is Bandido. Esremborak got somewhat of a break when they took part in that ill-fated Pepe Smith Rockfest last year where they were spotted by someone from indie label Sevas Tra Records. 

“Pangarap lang namin gumawa ng kanta and tumugtog,” bared Mislan who is the chief songwriter. “Hindi namin akalain na may makakagusto sa mga kanta namin.” 

Mislan admits that he is always writing songs. Even something as mundane as walking to school or even in Cubao, his mind is ablaze with ideas and phrases that eventually end up as songs. “Siyempre, ang pinakamadali ay real life – yung mga kilala mo.”

Marielle Gonzales, a senior high school student at PUP shared that the launch was her first time to watch a band and Esremborak. “First time ko sila nakita mag-perform at manood ng banda,” she said. “Sobrang ganda ng mga kanta nila kaya bumili ako ng CD nila.”

The band has started to make the gig, mall, and festival circuit playing in Laguna, Maginhawa Street in Teacher’s Village in Quezon City, Ali Mall in Cubao, and many others. They are scheduled for an EP launch in Panganiban’s school at STI in Sta. Maria, Bulacan this coming February 22. There are also plans to perform in the near future at FEU just to complete the three schools where all the band members teach. Their Spotify account and first music video will be launched very soon as well. 

Esremborak’s Basura Songs is available on the band’s Facebook page as well as Happy Music store in Ali X of Ali Mall (second level). The EP sells for P200.