PERHAPS, nothing is more uncertain than the career of a musician. The comings and goings of trends, the fans, and the industry have always commanded a go-big-or-go-home situation.
Despite this, indie band Black Wolf Gypsies continues to love the craft no matter how hard it hits back.
Formed in 2010, the trio of Mike Twain (guitars and vocals), Bryan Pernis (bass and backing vocals) and Jun Divinagracia (drums and also backing vocals) were brought together by the harshness of music making.
“We came from two separate bands,” Twain narrated. “Jun and Bryan used to play for a band called Timog, and they [they were] with Hey Moonshine’s current singer Gian Sison.”
He continued, “I used to [be with] a band called House of Ravens. During those days I would substitute for their guitar player whenever he was in Canada. Eventually, both bands disintegrated due to personal and professional differences, and we simply ended teaming up to form Black Wolf Gypsies.”
In the band’s name, “Black” references to The Black Crowes whom they take influence from. “Wolf” is inspired by a character from George R.R. Martin’s novel A Song of Ice and Fire (a.k.a. Game of Thrones), while “Gypsies” serves as a tribute to rock and roll Hall of Famer Jimi Hendrix.
Like their name, the band is also influenced by a mix of new school and classic groups like Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, Sound Garden, Foo Fighters, and the Eraserheads, resulting in a unique combination of blues and hard rock that is fresh, yet at the same time, feels like a blast from the past.
Death of art
OPM has always been compared to foreign artists. With Filipino musicians going overseas as well as various genres reaching the country in many different forms and styles, the band can’t help but question the current mindset of the music industry.
“The younger generation is not exposed to the wider spectrum of music that the Philippines has to offer,” Twain described. “I think the reason for this is the cultural implications or mindsets of the corporate music industry, and what it is supposed to be, and what it should represent. I believe that the current arbitrary lacks openness and risk-taking.”
“A tradition of over-conservativeness is the death of art,” Twain emphasized. “That is why, maybe, majority [of songs] is about heartbreak, because heartbreak songs have always been easy to sell, and relatively ‘safe.’”
Though radio stations are required to play local artists, only musicians with the backing of a record label can take advantage of the current practice.
“The situation is that, the mainstream is really exposed to just a fraction of what is out there,” Twain said. “And it is really limiting the growth of musical tastes locally.”
“OPM is always there,” Pernis opined. “Millennials just need to notice it. I think underground artists like us should be given a chance to be played on radio for them (millennials) to realize that there are a lot of local talents to get around.”
“OPM is alive,” Divinagracia assured. “I think the younger audience still loves Pinoy artists. If you look in social media, a lot of them still go to watch them live.”
Honest but bankable
“I’D rather be hated for who I am, than be loved for who I am not…”
So goes a quote by Kurt Cobain which may have been the words that stand true for the band and its music.
A lot of indie bands may relate to Twain when he said that they won’t stop playing music even if they don’t become part of the “lucky ones” that made it mainstream. But until they stop, that dream does not fade.
“The ultimate form of self-expression,” Twain stated, “is to be an honest but bankable artist. Honesty and money placed together in a sentence seem to be a ‘taboo’ in the music world. But imagine the happiness of doing what you love and earning from it—so why not?”
“We want to be recognized,” Pernis declared. “As a band that composes originals, we hope to be a part of the OPM rock scene.”
‘Agos’ launch
THE band continues to profess their dedication to music as they unveil the video for their single “Agos.” First would be on November 29 at The Quarry in Las Piñas City, then on December 1 at Cafe Huh in Ortigas, and on December 7 at the Motorista Bar in Quezon City.
In the unveiling, they hope to show the product of being long-time performers, as well as the kind of music they make and offer to OPM rock fans.
“We don’t limit ourselves in terms of themes,” Twain explained. “But if there is a message we want to deliver, it is peace, love and tolerance, and [their] relationship to critical thinking. Our songs are for anyone who would be willing to listen.”
Life as indie
IN the eight years they have been together, the Black Wolf Gypsies carries the dream of many other independent artists. And like them, they continue to find the lessons in the struggle, and improve along the way.
“For us, it’s [all about] continuous learning,” Divinagracia described the journey as a group. “That’s the adventure we face as a band.”
“Erratic, volatile, crazy, exciting, fulfilling, but also disappointing,” Twain seconded. “It is [about] survival, and growth.”
He further elaborated how “music affects the musicians” themselves, as the process of making and performing music transforms from just mystery and romance, to general-life philosophy.
“The longer and deeper we got immersed, we learned more, and became more self-aware. And learning takes away a certain [level of] naivety. It becomes who you are. Your behavior and attitude change, and [they] transcend to your every day, from family to work. From a sense of accomplishment to a deeper sense of conscientiousness, in dealing with people, family and work, I think that having a craft does that to you.”
On a general note, when asked what its like to be a band, especially one without advertisements and PR teams, Pernis simply proclaimed, “Rock and roll lang.”
(For more on independent OPM rock, follow Black Wolf Gypsies through their Facebook page and YouTube channel under the band’s name.)
Image credits: Jun Divinagracia