RASP continues its distinct genre in the local band scene

By Remedios V. Lucio

12 midnight, droplets of rain started falling silently from the cloudy night sky.  We arrived at the Bonifacio High Streets, rushing to get inside MAG:NET to take shelter under their building and, of course, to watch Radioactive Sago Project (RASP) rock the house.  It was the first time I held an interview in the wee hours of the morning.

As we entered the small, crowded four-walled white structured room of MAG:NET, my eardrums started to get magnetized and my body got drawn in by the wafting music coming from inside.  Taken by Cars was already playing.

According to Lourd De Veyra, they were the last act that night and so with our energy level wavering from high to low, we anxiously waited on our toes for them to finish rocking the house—or the four-walled white structure room of MAG:NET rather.  

So we enjoyed the music of the other bands while we drink our San Mig Lights—yes the other perk of having to pay P150 to watch them play.  At last, 30 minutes after 12am, Lourd was found downstairs talking to several girls outside MAG:NET.  So bravely, I suck more air into my lungs and approached him.

He exudes this confidence within.  I must say he is a people person.  Probably because of the witty jokes he cracks here and there and no fear of saying what he wants to say.  Thus another one of those real people in our society that is lacking these days. 

With three albums under its belt—self-titled Radioactive Sago Project (2002), Urban Gulaman (2004), TIMANSMFKP* Tanginamo Andaming Nagugutom sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin (2007)—RASP continues releasing great music since they began their band in 1998.

They started with only a few members—people from the UP College of Music.  Lourd de Veyra (vocalist) said it all began when he was promoting his first book collection of poems in 1998.

From a few members, the group expanded and now composes of  Lourd de Veyra (vocalist), Francis de Veyra (bass), Arwin Nava (percussions), Pards Tupas (trombone), Wowie Anzano (trumpet), Rastem Eugenio (saxophone), Ryan Zapanta (saxophone) Junji Lerma (guitars), and Jay Gapasin (drums)

“We hit the art circle, [mga] gallery, Indie film fests, poetry recitation with jazz. [Doon] [nagsimula],” says Lourd, “From there it went all downhill” (of course, he was kidding us).

Their style expanded and from there it became an eclectic mix of different musical genres.  Their musical genre is described as “spoken words [na] may Jazz, [na] may punk, [kaunting] emo, [na] may punk rock, old school jazz, beat poets, Tito, Vic and Joey (i.e. pertaining perhaps to its witty lyrics).”  He further explained, "We’re still in that process of going beyond our [musical] influences."

So how do they compose their songs? Lourd said “it goes both ways”.  Sometimes the lyrics goes first or the music goes first.  “[Minsan] [binabago] [mo] [yung] sound or [yung] lyrics,” said Lourd.  Impromptu performances—that they also do.

They have done lots of collaboration with other bands such as Keso and Junior Kilat.  RASP also collaborated with Raymond Marasigan.  When asked how do they choose who to collaborate with, Lourd’s answer was simple—“feel good about the person.”

The band is hoping to have an EP this year wherein “experimental [talaga] [mga] [kanta].”

Having different gigs internationally—Hong Kong, Switzerland, etc.—they don’t have any concrete plans yet to go internationally as a band.  “[Mga] political events, not musical festivals,” said Lourd.  “Maybe because [mga] [pangit] [kami],” he added jokingly.

“We don’t exactly appeal to the more mainstream side of the audience,” says Lourd.  Their main audience is primarily “nerdy high school boys, nerdy people who don’t have sex life, nerdy people who don’t have anywhere else to put their money.  We are a tragic band.”  Lourd added again jokingly that they don’t get chicks because the chicks prefer emos.

So what is up with their album titled TIMANSMFKP* - Tanginamo Andaming Nagugutom sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin?  It is just a “cheap strategy of selling albums.”

And so, RASP continues to boggle the minds of the citizens and stir some excitement in the society with its spoken lyrics mixed with different musical genres.