The secret of Slapshock’s longevity

While other groups have come and gone, alternative metal/rock band Slapshock is still making music for 15 years since its formation in 1997.

In fact, the band—composed of Jamir Garcia (vocals), Lee Nadela (bass), Lean Ansing (guitars), and Chi Evora (drums) — is proud that they still have the “same people around us, the same crew, the same sponsors, and the same label” ever since. So what’s the secret of its longevity?

“We just respect each other. Wala kayong mababalitaan na kahit isa sa amin nag-side band. Lahat kami solid Slapshock. We truly care about the effort that each member gave,” Garcia told members of the press during the launch of their latest album “Kinse Kalibre” recently.

The band, Garcia added, also respects its audience—which is why they have turned down requests to do television performances so as not to compromise its music.

While TV exposure may help the band widen its reach, Garcia said the the group is happy where it is now.

Middle of the radar

“Isa kami sa mga banda na we can proudly say na we’re very happy in what we have achieved. We don’t want naman na lahat ng tao would know us. They would know us, but I want people to like us. Yung talagang gusto sa amin, gusto sa amin. Kasi yung music namin is for those people who will like us because of our music,” Garcia said.
 
He further explained, “So you’d see bands na they’d go really, really high tapos yung down moments nila, talagang (mababa). So, kami, we’re proud in what we have done. We’re in the middle of the radar. Hindi kami umangat ng todong-todo, hindi rin kami bumaba.”

A testament to this is “Cariño Brutal,” the band’s sixth album released in 2009. According to Garcia, the band was surprised that the album became successful despite it being “sobrang metal, puro sigaw.” The band thinks that it only proved how much the fans support its music.

“Talagang mas ine-embrace namin ngayon what we have. Because ten years is good. But 15 years is magical,” Garcia said.

Not slowing down

How is the band’s latest album “Kinse Kalibre” different from its earlier CDs?

“If you compare talaga the first album to the seventh album, sobrang layo. Kasi, nung ginawa namin yun, 17 years old lang kami nun. Ngayon, around nasa 30, 32 kami. So, ibang story talaga,” Garcia said. “Yung maturity, skills-wise, siyempre, for the past 15 years ito lang ang ginagawa namin.”

They also said the success of “Cariño Brutal” has liberated the band to do the kind of music it wants.

“Driven kami siguro to actually write. And feeling namin, after “Cariño Brutal which was a very successful album, yung follow-up kailangan… right and left job sya,” Garcia explained. “We really made a conscious effort to make a new album.”