Pinay drummer makes theater debut in Parokya ni Edgar musical

Karmi Santiago

With all their thrashing and thumping, you would think the drummer in a band is the most extroverted member of the group. Some of them may very well be, but for Karmi Santiago, being a drummer was a way to indulge in her love for music but be shielded somewhat by a wall of drums.

Santiago has long been a sessionist, a musician who pinch-hits for different bands. She also teaches drums to a handful of students, a couple of whom have gone on to play professionally.

“Most of my students are hobbyists and church drummers who want to get better at playing drums or note reading,” she told Entertainment in an email interview. Her top priority at the moment, however, is as part of the ensemble of the Parokya in Edgar musical “Buruguduystunstugudunstuy.” Santiago’s role as Dakilang Tambolista is not that different from her work, but it’s her first time doing theater—and she is here for it.

“Last October, I got a message from Michael Williams, coartistic director of Full House Theater Company. ‘I have a great project for you,’ his message read. I thought it was for the orchestra spot, but I had a funny feeling because it’s usually the musical director in charge of getting musicians to the orchestra,” she narrated.

The following day, Williams asked her to send him a video of herself playing the drums “a la Sheila E”—the American singer and drummer who collaborated with Prince, launched a solo career and is sometimes referred to as the Queen of Percussion.

Santiago sent a clip of what she thought was the best of her solo drum performances—and got the role. “Perfect! Ikaw na! Our production manager will get in touch with you,” Williams replied.

“When I heard the music from musical director and arranger Ejay Yatco, I was excited to be included in the project because his arrangements are so good. I’m like a spectator backstage; I’m fascinated by everything going on, how the actors memorize so many lines and blocking,” Santiago said.

“I always pay attention to director Dexter Santos’ notes to the cast even if they don’t directly concern me. I need to understand the characters of my coactors so I can properly interact with them onstage,” she added.

‘Parokya-verse’

The musical which runs until early June has only been playing for three weekends, but she said she continues to be amazed at the production even after numerous rehearsals.

“Aside from focusing on my role, I also need to be aware of my coactors. It’s different every show so I need to be sensitive to what they are doing. Santiago is thankful for the feedback and instruction she got from Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Williams’ coartistic director. “She taught me to exaggerate certain gestures so that viewers all the way at the back of the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) would see and understand my reactions. Sir Michael (Williams) and I discussed what the Parokya-verse was, so I researched on body language and acting while Sir Dexter (Santos) guided me on timing the actors’ lines when hitting the drums.”

Santiago is a quick study, but she also puts in the work. She formally trained in percussion at UP Diliman, and studied drums at Berklee College of Music in Boston. From 2013 to 2019, she played with the band of singer Ebe Dancel. Prior to that, she played for singer Barbie Almalbis, and previously performed with Moonstar88 and Sandwich as a sessionist. When she’s not onstage at NPAT, Santiago is part of the touring band of singer Yeng Constantino.

Santiago (far left) with Yeng Constantino (third Karmi Santiago fromleft) and band —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Even as a child, Santiago loved listening to music whether cassette tapes or compact discs. She played the tapes until they unspooled and the CDs until they were all scratchy. “I would imitate the guitar sounds as if I knew how to play guitar or sing along to the songs even if the lyrics tripped me up.”

Santiago recalled that growing up, she didn’t feel like she belonged. “I was bullied at school and rejected by the cool kids. I also didn’t do well academically.”

Instead of playing games, she worked on her guitar skills, even practicing how to strum the guitar to the song “Harana,” the song popularized by Parokya in Edgar.

“It’s a good thing there was Song Hits then; I was able to practice even on my own,” she said.

In sixth grade, she became the guitarist in the band formed by a school mate, but experimented with other instruments like the keyboard and bass guitar before finally settling on drums.

Fate

“I liked them because I was a shy kid. I always wanted to be at the back since I felt the drums would hide me when we performed onstage.”

Not anymore given that her role as Dakilang Tambolista is perhaps the first of its kind in an original Filipino musical.

“It’s very rare for a session musician like me to get a role like this. During the pandemic, landing an acting project was one of my ‘what ifs?’ I used to laugh about it then, but if it’s fated, it will happen to you…It happened to me.” INQ