Rico Blanco launched his third solo album, Dating Gawi at Bootleg Bistro in Pasig on Thursday night.
Considering he fronted one of the biggest bands of the ‘90s, it was a modest launch: at a bar he co-owns, with his parents in attendance. The setup felt like a bar gig — as though Rico went back to the basics.
This is pretty much the premise of his new album. It’s an eight-song affair that stays within the safe boundaries of rock n’roll. No pushing of the envelopes, no innovating, no choirs or synthesizers; just good ol’ rock n’ roll.
It’s a surprising move from the 42-year-old musician, considering he is one of the most innovative and creative musicians in the industry.
“I give myself these little rules,” Rico begins. “In the last album, it was about not doing anything too conventional. This time, I cannot do anything that’s too innovative. My rule for myself for this record was to make it work. Don’t rely on tricks to cover things up — you have to have the right notes, the tone has to be right. The foundation has to be solid.”
And what a solid foundation Dating Gawi has. For this outing, Rico swiftly assembled a super band: Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Roll Martinez have all volted in to join Rico in his quest for a solid return to rock n’ roll. We spoke with the man:
What made you decide to go back to the basics?
It wasn’t really a decision. It’s usually…you know, I will only come up with an album when I feel like I have something to say, when I feel passionately about something. And it’s not on a whim, ha, because when I feel like I have something to share, an idea I’m ecited about, that’s what pushes me to record an album.
It took you three years.
And I think this is [Dating Gawi] is the opposite of the last album. In Galactik Fiestamatik, my rule for myself is to not do anything conventional. This time, my rule is I cannot do something that’s too innovative. To make it work.
It must be difficult for you to stay put within boundaries because judging from your career, pushing them is most natural for you.
[Yes] doing conventional things and not relying on tricks was hard. It’s serious stuff. You have to have the right notes, the foundations have to be solid. The [guitar] tone has to be right. I caught myself countless times and sometimes, malayo na [ako sa kanta]. When that happens, I would just delete the track. It’s not easy ha.
Like the song “Umuwi ka na”, which is moody. It was so easy for me to have it go somewhere else. So I needed to find the right guitar tone for that — that’s hard.
How did you get Buddy, Raimund, and Roll to come play with you?
I met with Universal Records and I told them, ‘may album ako [because I already had material]. Give me one month.’ They wanted to hear something. Sabi ko, ‘in a month I’ll give you the album.’ Immediately, I called Raimund, Buddy and Roll. Mabuti available sila and mabuti nag-yes. Mabilis lang yung yes. It’s something Raimund and I have talked about before so I’m so happy it finally happened. I had a little secret about the album: when I was writing the songs, I was imagining them playing. Yun yung nag-inspire sa akin.
According to the press release, you only had skeletons of songs when you started jamming. Was it difficult to keep them within the confines of your rule?
It was the opposite of difficult. We walked. The first 20 minutes, we talked. And then the simplicity, the sticking to the conventions of rock n’ roll, parang we all just happened to be in the same place. I didn’t tell them the grand scheme. They just affirmed my gut feel, because up to that point, I wasn’t 100%. I didn’t know if they were going to buy the idea.
So which do you prefer now: sticking to conventions or innovating?
I don’t know. But I enjoy innovation within rules. I read somewhere artists create by limitations. And you work with what you have and that’s how you create art. Only god creates without limitations. We are all recreators. I like the limits. Even when I’m being innovative, the rules are just the inverse. I’m enjoying this now.
How do you intend to play Dating Gawi live?
I don’t know because of all our schedules. But I’m rehearsing also with my team. I have sina Ira Cruz, Paolo Manuel, Poch, those guys. And I’m also rehearsing with the band, so I have two sets of musicians who can play with me. I guess kung sino na lang ang puwede?
Dating Gawi (PHP300) is available in all leading record stores nationwide.
