Initially, Bajula was supposed to be a duo composed of just Frazier and Vertigo. Despite being in the middle of the pandemic last year, the two worked together in terms of making music by just communicating virtually—a process in which some artists find hard to do. It was an exchange of ideas between the two, and as a result, they ended up making 12 demo tracks.
“Initially, duo kaming dalawa,” Frazier shared. “Last year, nung mga kalagitnaan ng pandemic nagkaroon kami ng momentum in terms of creating, producing songs na parang nakagawa kami ng 10 to 12 na demo tracks.”
Since live performances are making a comeback to the stage, they decided they needed to transform the duo into a whole band. They added that they wanted a more “urban” style.
“Doon pumasok sila Jed, Si Vick, and si Gideon. So parang kung tutuusin 1 year old na kami as a duo but parang at least a few months pa lang as a band,” Frazier said, explaining how long they have been as a duo and as a band.
All of the band members have one thing in common, and that is where they all came from—Polytechnic University of the Philippines. They all know each other initially for quite some time now, not only based on their common love for music, but also based on their university.
Most of them came from the Taguig branch, Frazier clarified. Vick, on the other hand, was from Sta. Mesa.
Vertigo said, “Basically kami ni Frazier, ahead kami ng few years don sa current bandmates namin. Pero dahil we’re all doing the same passion, they’re also doing music, parang ayon nakakabalita kami na may ibang banda din sa school, so doon namin sila nakilala sa mga ganon, sa mga musical activity.”
So when Vertigo and Frazier decided to go full-band, the names Jes, Vick, and Gideon immediately came to their minds with no second thoughts.
Frazier tells about their first band practice, saying, “Unang practice namin, ayon nag-click na agad lahat, maganda yung kumbaga natuwa kami kaya sabi namin okay ito na buuin as a band.”
“In terms of skills is ‘yung sobrang pleased ako don sa skills nung mga ka-banda namin and walang problem in terms of creativity, ano yung parts ko, alam na nila yung gusto nilang gawin,” Frazier describes the band’s chemistry all together.
As a new band, one of their struggles is finding a space for their rehearsals.
“‘Yung struggles siguro na masasabi ko eh ‘yung time na nag uumpisa kami lalo is nahirapan kami sa schedule tsaka don sa space ng rehearsal,” Frazier shares.
Eventually, they were able to find a solid spot to rehearse together as a band. Vertigo specifies that it is somewhere in Bicutan, Parañaque.
Why “Bajula”?
“Noong time na nag iisip kami ni Frazier ng band name, actually yung akin nagli-linger na ‘yung name na ‘yon for the longest time,” Frazier explains, thinking of “Bajula.”
They said that it came from the anime “Zenki.”
“Si ‘Bajula’ ‘yung tinatawag nila na parang power source ni Zenki, and saken parang meron siyang, medyo catchy the fact na nagli-linger siya sa isip ko for that very long time may impact ‘yung name sa’kin,” Frazier explains.
They added that their band name Bajula is also unique, in a way that no other band has the name “Bajula.” They really wanted something unique and at the same time, catchy.
“I think may mga reactions kami na sometimes hindi siya pleasing pakinggan pero para sa amin, okay lang I mean medyo controversial ‘yung name, medyo sa tingin ko may spark or something,” Frazier adds.
As a full-band, they were able to release “One and Done,” a song about “pain and hurting,” according to Frazier.
“Nag imagine ako ng moment na parang pain and struggle as a man, ‘yung hindi ko naman agad ine-express na ita-translate ko siya as a song but di ko siguro specifically masasabi,” Frazier explains.
“One and Done” was released last October 14.
So far, as a band Vertigo said they are doing great. He said, “So far, so good, masasabi ko kasi at the very short span I would say na nakuha na namin yung synergy or synchronicity na gusto namin sa banda.”
Bajula’s One and Done is available on major music-streaming platforms.