Tacloban & Leyte Music

Ask anyone from Manila about the music scene in Tacloban and chances are, all you’d get is a puzzled expression. Ask Playphonics and a different sound will make its way to your ears—chill rock is what Playphonics calls it, an OPM rock band that saw its beginnings in Tacloban Leyte. With Rica Camacho on vocals and rhythm guitar, Hector Cruz on lead guitar, Reuvelle Clemcio on bass guitar and Sedfrey Clemencio pounding on the skins, Playphonics feeds a longing for calming, ambient sounds. Relaxing rock, if you will. For Rica, Hector, Reuvelle and Sedfrey, it’s exactly that kind of music that distinguishes them from other bands. It’s that unique sound that’s boosting their climb up Manila’s music ladder.


From being high school students performing in Tacloban Bands, Playphonics has made the big leap to the city. But it wasn’t always a walk in the park. Coming to Manila meant leaving the familiar surroundings of high school gyms or the intimacy of small recording studios. It was playing in front of live audiences, far away from home. It was leaving their homes, families and former lives behind. It was also solving the band’s severe birthing pains: scheduling conflicts, low morale, lack of financing, and a highly unstable lineup.


Still, Playphonics persevered in answering Manila’s call. With the help of their manager, local bar owners and music gurus like Louie Talan, the band achieved what they could not do in Tacloban Places. They found airtime for their music, got gigs more easily and they found audiences who appreciated their songs. They also found chances to get their music out where the public could hear it. One such opportunity is being part of the Nokia IAC’s Free Artist Recording Program. In a world where not all people take to their music, chances like that are key. Fortunately for Playphonics, they didn’t stop pushing themselves. For inspiration, they’d look up to the likes of Imago, Sandwich Sugarfree, Razorback and Cynthia Alexander. Like these guys who have made it, Playphonics wants to continue making great music and remain being down to earth despite their growing popularity.


It wasn’t only luck, connections or inspiration that jumpstarted Playphonics’ dive into Manila. For the band members’ part, belief kept them from dropping their mics and guitars. Belief in music, in their songs and in themselves. Says one member, “our songs may not be the best, but I love our music because it’s ours.” That type of conviction brings the members the belief that the band would eventually produce an album. For Rica, it was believing that one day, their album would become the soundtrack to some people’s lives. That dream isn’t probably as far as the band may think. Early this year, Playphonics finally found itself complete. Some band members in Tacloban City expressed newfound dedication and decided to relocate to Manila. Now, they work the bars and clubs regularly just like Manila-born musicians would. Their advice on starting a band? “Play your music and believe in it.”

You could hear Tacloban Music in the month of october where October Feast is being held and August where the Feast of Tacloban is being celebrated. For some people who hasn't heard if taclobanon music you are free to Travel Tacloban.

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