Techy Romantics: A new album, a perfect audience

When indie electronica outfit Techy Romantics launches their new album on December 9 at Saguijo Bar in Makati, they promise a stronger, more assured sound.
 
The album, “Escape,” is their follow-up to their 2009 debut “Touch,” turning them into both clubber and indie crowd favorites, with their danceable-yet-personal approach to the genre. 
 
“For this album, we attacked it on a per-song basis,” says singer Camille Besinga.  “Parang, 'What is each song going to be about?' 'What is the story?'  The thought process is deeper, and I've personally tapped that side of me that wants to be expressed.  Before, with 'Touch' it was more of…we relied on its danceability to reach audiences.
 
“We've now realized that we are song-driven.  Lyrically-driven.”
 
‘We know what we wanted and we got it’

Dondi Virrey, the band's resident beats-and-loops guy elaborates: “It's not that the new album is diverse per se.  In fact it's well-stitched. The songs gel very well.”
 
Whereas the first album's lyrics leaned toward the introspective and melancholic, Virrey says “Escape” is a stronger album. 
 
“We've also matured in the sense that for this album we already know what we wanted, and we got it,” adds guitarist Ryan Villena, a veteran of such bands as Club Dredd favorite Tungaw, Brownman Revival, Narda and currently, College Coed.  “Before we knew what we wanted, but not everyone had the experience to pull it off.”
 
“The sound is stronger; the messages are stronger, mature, and more hopeful,” says Virrey.  “Very empowering and positive.”
 
A hit with the club crowd

In the band's recent “teaser performance” at Resort World's Republiq, the effect cannot be denied.  Whereas before a Techy Romantics song would make you bob your head, the new songs had the crowd dancing non-stop, in seeming abandon.  A tough thing to do in a very picky Filipino audience.
 
“When we write our songs, we don't really think about how people are dancing,” confides Virrey.  “When we record vocal demos, we could see Camille already feeling the vibe, the beats of the music.
 
“I think what we want is for the audience to sing the songs first before they dance.”
 
For Villena, it is also about pleasing themselves first before anything.  “It will naturally rub off on the audience.”
 
Welcome contradiction

“But yes, we notice that it's really hard to make people dance, unless we're sharing a lineup with Taken by Cars or Pedicab,” admits Besinga.  “But if we're part of an odd lineup, it's more challenge.”
 
Understandably, it's the dance clubs that are most welcome to the band's sound.  “For example, when we play in Opus (at Resorts World), these people don't know who we are.  But they dance!  They came there to dance, after all.”
 
A welcome contradiction in the band's three years of existence.  While a lot of independent artists prefer their “underground niche,” the Romantics have found their perfect audience.  The songs seem personal enough that one can listen to “Escape” on his or her own, and at the same time extrovertedly-oriented to get people dancing.
 
Sounds good.


Watch Techy Romantics perform live at Y! Rocks on December 8 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Here's how to get your free tickets.