Pinoy indie band The Morning Episodes gets US radio airplay
Miguel Escueta is understandably excited.
His band, The Morning Episodes, can now be heard in as many as 75 college radio stations across the United States.
The Los Angeles, California-based indie label Sly Doggie Productions has released the Pinoy band’s album “Never Felt So Alive.” The group worked on it in the Philippines for a year before having it mixed and mastered in the States.
‘Laging sumusumtok sa buwan’
"We're very thankful to have penetrated college US radio,” Escueta told Yahoo OMG in Pablo’s, a bar in The Fort which he co-owns. “Suntok lang talaga ito sa buwan pero lagi naman akong sumusuntok sa buwan."
Miguel, who was a regular with GMA Network’s defunct Sunday variety show "Party Pilipinas," has previously released two full-length solo albums and a couple of EPs under MCA Music's local arm.
Two years ago, Miguel attended a music conference in Los Angeles, where he met producer Christian "Davis" Stalnecker who liked the band's music. Stalnacker, who owns Sly Doggie, co-produced El DeBarge's latest album which was nominated for R&B Album of the Year at the Grammies.
Also featured in US soap
Miguel smiles when he recalls how he’d drive around LA on his way to the studio.
"No one wants to put your music out there more than you do," he said in expressing his determination to gain international exposure.
The Morning Episodes debuted on US Radio last April. Their single, "Now It Starts" was also featured on the long-running US soap, "The Young and the Restless."
The band’s new single “Alive” was part of a promotional giveaway by the shoe manufacturer Vans in some of their stories in the States.
Encouraging reviews
The reviews have been as encouraging. One called it “quirky pop rock played by Phillipinos (sic),” adding that “some of these songs are on the radio because they sound really familiar yet none of these are radio singles here in the USA.”
Last summer, The Morning Episodes made it to the US National Airplay Top 200 Chart and ranked 22 among indie artists.
“We're doing good things in the US,” Miguel said, “and we want to inspire other Filipino bands," Miguel added.
Long-time bandmates Juni Devecais, Jeng Tria and Roy Secillano would have to agree.
Visit The Morning Episodes' Facebook and buy their album "Never Felt So Alive" on iTunes.
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