Hale members: (L-R) Sheldon Gellada, Champ Lui Pio, Paolo Santiago, and Roll Martinez
MANILA, Philippines—2010 was a dreadful year for fans of Filipino rock band Hale as it was in this year when the quartet announced that it will finally go down the “disbandment” lane. The band had four albums then, “Hale,” “Twilight,” “Above, Over, and Beyond,” and “Kundiman.” Four years passed by the local music scene without any traces of the group getting back together.
Mid-2014, rumors of a Hale reunion circulated online; however, nothing was confirmed until the year ended. But by January 2015, the band itself announced that it will be coming back with an album, and the announcement was made in the first ever gig which members Champ Lui Pio (vocalist), Roll Martinez (lead guitarist), Sheldon Gellada (bassist), and Paolo Santiago (drums) played in four years.
Time and Space listening party
Hale during the Time and Space listening party at a music hall and pub in Makati. Image by: Janine Villagracia/INQUIRER.net.
“We’re calling ourselves inhale now. Exhale dati (before), ngayon inhale na (now it’s inhale),” cracked Pio, the voice behind Hale’s “high school feels” igniting songs, and the main man who hosted the “Time and Space” listening party at a music hall and pub in Makati last March 27.
But on a more serious note, when asked what the rationale is behind the title of Hale’s comeback album, Martinez said “Time and Space” is the perfect description for what they needed back then, time and space, and they were glad they had it because it produced positive outcomes for the band.
Compared to their previous albums which had morose tracks, Martinez describes Hale’s music now as positive and more realistic—less romanticized.
On having a reunion and choosing six songs for the album
Asked who was the first to say “let’s get back together,” Gellada said it was the band’s frontman, Pio, who initiated the comeback.
It took them two years to get back on track, but according to Martinez, recordings go better for the band now because it helps a lot that they already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
But despite knowing that fans will probably want more, the band members decided to include only six songs in “Time and Space” as they wanted each song to have a fair share of the limelight when people listen to their tracks.
Expression
Hale also played a gig during the Time and Space listening party. Image by Janine Villagracia/INQUIRER.net.
For Hale, self-expression remains the top priority. Though they took into consideration the changes in people’s listening habits when they produced “Time and Space,” the band’s goal remains to be “to affect other people.” According to Pio, they want to continue creating music that people can connect with.
And for Martinez, it is also by remaining true to their music that they are able to remain intact while inside an ever-changing music industry.
Asked what their personal “Time and Space” favorites are, Santiago picked his self-written song “You or Nothing” because he was surprised by how beautiful the song turned out to be after it was recorded by the band. Gellada chose the same track. Martinez answered “You or Nothing” and “Saint or Sinner” while Pio went for “See You” and “Saint or Sinner.”
Hale’s “Time and Space” album, under Warner Music Philippines, is now available in music stores nationwide and online.