Yael Yuzon, now domesticated

KARYLLE and Yael photo by jude bautista

MY “DALAGAY” IC Mendoza and I had a blast hanging out with Karylle and Yael Yuzon at our common friend Vas Bismark’s place.

The fun couple talked about what it’s like to be married to your best friend.

Coolness is in everything Yael and his band, Sponge Cola, do. Catch them on Nov. 20, 8:30 p.m. at Yael’s birthday show at the Teatrino in Greenhills, with special guests, Karylle, Jane Oineza, Jhong Hilario, Noel Comia, Cha-Cha Cañete and Chris Cantada (visit www.ticketworld.com.ph for details). With Yael as frontman, Sponge Cola will never lose its fizz.

Please share a cute anecdote about you and K (Karylle) as a married couple.

We picked gray flooring during the construction to match the rest of the place, so yeah, we went with aesthetics. Now that’s biting me in the butt big time because it’s so hard to clean!

How has marriage changed you?

I’m a bit more domesticated these days. Pretty cool though.

What did you learn about K after you got hitched?

That she’s very particular with order and cleanliness. But then again, I’m not really surprised by that. I guess it’s just different when it’s finally there before you, like boom, thought so.

When do you and K plan to have kids?

I’m basing it on Ateneo’s academic calendar!

How do you and your bandmates resolve artistic differences?

We’re all about the big picture. We treat Sponge Cola like a living, breathing entity with its own wants and desires. We do what Sponge Cola needs. Essentially, it’s hitting the perfect balance between saying and implying. There are no artistic differences really. We’re like the San Antonio Spurs! This is from my end though; I’m not sure if they’d agree.

What’s your song for K these days?

It’s actually her song. I just shot the video and played the piano for that song. It’s really nice.

What are your three top rules as husband and wife?

Always support, always clean and always push.

What changes would you like to see in the OPM scene?

We have our own stories to tell—new stories—which is why people should look at the big picture. With that in mind, an OPM scene with less covers would be so great. The whole covers thing is a short-term solution; sing something people know, sing something easy to remember—I get it. It’s easy, it gets instant applause, but we’re left with a crowd that loves the foreign artist more than the extremely talented local artist.

Any rituals/quirks before a concert?

We pray, we huddle up, and we have that one word or phrase that we use as a source of energy. It’s weird, I know.

In what crazy ways have fans expressed themselves?

I have a high tolerance for crazy fans, so everything seems pretty okay. I do appreciate it though when kids bring report cards to gigs to show off their grades. Feels great. And I guess it’s also a bit crazy because who brings a report card to a gig, right? Apparently our younger fans. That’s cool and crazy.

If your life story were made into a song, what would the title be?

“Puso.” That’s actually an existing Sponge Cola song about sports. I feel that it encapsulates my life. It likewise sums up my band’s story as well. We’re all about passion, perseverance and love.

Louie’s songs

My good friend from way back, Louie Heredia, is elated that his first single “Can’t Find No Reason” was revived by Alden Richards and Richard Yap.

“I am so touched that out of all the OPM songs, the label chose mine to be the carrier single of Alden’s hit album,” says Louie. “I am thrilled that many of my friends and fans say that Alden and I have a striking resemblance. Alden also sang my other song, ‘Nag-iisang Ikaw,’ on his first date with Yaya Dub in ‘Eat Bulaga.’ I am speechless with gratitude.”

It only goes to show that Louie and his signature songs are etched in the hearts of Pinoy music lovers.