1xbet Behind the sound of rites of passage: Lakwatsa
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The music room at the Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) Student Activity Center is unassuming. Up three flights of stairs and at the very end of the hall, most would not chance upon it on a normal day. But a week out from Rites of Passage 2024, the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool’s (AMP) newbie performances, the room and its occupants are filled with an energy of anticipation.
The newbie bands voiced out their nervousness about the upcoming gig. Some shared their intimidation, aware of the scale of this event, especially for their individual growth, and the fact that this may be their first big performance. “Rites is one of those flagship events where you are introduced to the world of this organization, how everything works,” Joel, the mentor of RB&J said.
Others were nervous from a feeling of lacking in preparation. Some shared their difficulties in coordinating schedules with everyone, while others admitted to starting preparations a bit later than wanted. But amidst their fears, these newbies vibrated with excitement for performing and celebrating the growth that they experience in collaborating with like-minded talents.
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As the bands were in the thick of their rehearsals, their minds were focused on their determination to find the right sound with the right feel. Genres do tend to take on a form based on the artists waving their flag. When asked about what their genre means to them, Indie Rock chapter members Ruthie and Nathan spoke about the grassroots nature of indie rock music. “Imagine your favorite rock band but before they blew up.”
“[Indie rock] is down to earth. You have to make sure everybody else is vibing and feeling what you’re also trying to convey. You’re not on a pedestal. You’re in your garage with your friends,” said Ruthie of Banda Rito.
The newbies and their mentors were running on the energy of anticipation that had been building the past few weeks. In preparing for a performance in an iconic venue like 123Block, most newbies understandably felt intimidated over facing a crowd of hundreds. “But I trust in the [crowd’s] vibes,” remarked Funk You drummer Basti. The premise of Rites pushes newbies to expand their musical horizons as Roster Heads assign them to play genres that differ from what is familiar to them and allow them to take the stage in what may be their first-ever musical gig. Riley, from RB&J had this to say about being put in a genre distant from his rocker roots. “It’s nice being surrounded by people and mentors who are skilled in that area.” “Music is music,” said fellow bandmate Joshua. “You can acquire certain techniques from other genres and play it in your genre.”
“I feel like everyone here likes music too much na hindi ka magiging unpliable,” said Allana of Hanky Punky.
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Despite the air of nervousness, their reassurance rests on the company of their bandmates. It’s as if they were speaking a secret language by exchanging nods of approval and glances at each other before hitting the drums or strumming a perfectly timed chord. Conversations between bandmates freely flow within the four walls of the music room. Elijah from Blue Bricked Road expressed how working with like-minded musicians has been a meaningful experience: “It’s fun meeting new people and working together on music.” Magic was being made as the newbies built their newfound confidence in playing music alongside strengthening bonds with bandmates.
It’s no surprise that their musical prowess helped build trust among bandmates—everyone knew their stuff enough to navigate their genres freely. Some took this opportunity to hone their skills to better find themselves in the feel and groove of their genre. Others were challenged as they were not as familiar with their assigned genre as their peers, but nonetheless, they have shown prowess in their musical adaptability and versatility. To many, their chapter genres are a point of inspiration, as they honor the continuous creative process of picking up different techniques and paying attention to distinct sounds. In crafting their setlist, it was a matter of curation. Some formed their setlist to include songs already within their genre. RB&J in particular added a lot of classic RnB music. Other chapters emphasized more on what they are capable of. The Prod performers expressed that they crafted their setlist such that each individual style is emphasized while weaving in their influences of hip-hop. The Blues and Ballads newbies shared that they intended to have at least one song that each member feels most comfortable performing.
But among their many emotions, the newbies expressed their excitement the most. “Looking at the mosh pit would make me feel like I’m on the top of the world,” Aujay from Analogous exclaimed. Meanwhile, Raph, also from Analogous, shared that he wanted to do this performance for his parents. “This is going to be my send-off performance to my parents who will be celebrating their 25th anniversary by going on vacay,” he said. Newbies from Blues & Ballads were also excited about their peers’ performances, especially as performers themselves, and are eager to learn from them and enhance their musical journey.
“I want to influence the local scene in the sense that musicians shouldn’t mind as much what other ppl think. Music is about sharing yourself. It’s not your identification to the music scene, it’s your identification to who you are and what you feel. So don’t be apologetic,” said Aujay and Raph from Analogous.
The mixture of nervousness and excitement, reassurance and tiredness filled the air of the music room in MVP. But as each AMP newbie navigated through their respective challenges together with their mentors, not only did they learn what it meant to be bigger than the sound—to be bigger than themselves—within it was an anticipation to showing their beloved audience the fruits of their growth and a performance worth waiting for.
Story originally from AMP Radar1xbet
