For UAE-based Pinoy band 3hirdParty, it’s all orig songs sans ‘hugot moments’

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates – To promote Filipino music here, all-Pinoy band 3hirdParty decided to make a bold step: eschew cover songs in favor of original compositions.

"Original songs ang tinugtog ng 3hirdParty since the start kasi 'yung concept is to promote original songs and to support OPM here in UAE," shared Miguel Perez, the band's 36-year-old guitarist and lyricist, via email. 

"The song ideas came from me but are arranged by the whole band to make the sound unique to 3hirdParty," he added.

These song ideas, Miguel said, do not necessarily come from personal experiences. Or, as he put it, there are no "hugot moments" in his songs.

"Walang hugot moments'; they are not necessarily from my experiences. Some are from friends as well. Some are just plain words which I thought were a good idea for song lyrics," said Miguel, who works at TechnoHub Trading LLC.

Completing the band are vocalist/rhythm guitarist Dominique “Nick” Enojosa, 37, sales in Shift Trading LLC; bassist Floriano “Kitz” Formoso, 32, marketing in Redeem LLC; and drummer Cris Bemida, 36, decoration artist in Carrefour Hypermarket.

Among of the band's original songs are "Lunor," which is about how a couple should stick together no matter what; "LQ," which is about what the acronym implies; "In na in," about hope; "Subukan mo," about trust; "Ikaw pa naman," about someone regretting losing someone; “Wakali," about long-distance relationships; "Homer," about coming back to where you really want to be; and "Pag-nagkataon," is about things that might happen "if you choose to play around," Miguel said.

Once upon a drinking spree

The idea to form a band hit Miguel in 2010 while drinking with a friend at his home in Al Rigga, Deira, Dubai.

"Sabi ko nun, ‘Nick, since marunong ka naman kumanta, at nag-gigitara naman ako, bakit hindi tayo mag-artista?'" he recounted.

At the time, Miguel had already written original songs. When Nick expressed his agreement to the plan, it was all a matter of looking for the right people to complete the lineup — a process that, Miguel said, didn't come easy.

"It took us a while para mabuo yung band," Miguel said. "From common friends, work mates, nakilala namin si Kitz and Cris who had their own bands back in Pinas and had the same passion and love for music."

It took three years, or until 2013, before 3hirdParty was officially formed. 

"Full-hearted" artists

As a band, 3hirdParty's music leans toward alternative pop-rock or indie pop, "although wala kaming sinusunod na pattern when it comes to music arrangements," Miguel said.

In composing their songs, every member is encouraged to contribute their ideas, he added.

"When it comes to arranging songs, everyone in the band has their own ideas to share based on individual influences kaya nagiging unique 3hirdParty music siya," Miguel said. "Malaking factor din siguro na mostly mga songs from the 90s ang trip naming music."

Although their day jobs hinder them from becoming full-fledged artists, Miguel said he would rather describe themselves as "full-hearted artists."

"There's still a lot to learn and improve in our music making capabilities. [But] all of us in the band are definitely ‘full-hearted artists.’ We create and express music from the heart. We enjoy and love what we do. I think that is about enough to be considered as an artist," he said. —KBK, GMA News