In an industry clogged by songs that wallow in self-pity, or by tunes laced with ironic or absurd humor, there are three words that Angulo believes should be taken to heart when making music: Passion, integrity, and perseverance.
When asked, the members of Angulo will not tell you they’re icons. They won’t tell you they’re in their own elite category either. Instead, what they will tell you is what motivates them. Not girls. Not the lifestyle. Not sales. But making unique music that they love, for no other reason than sharing the music itself to those who would listen.
Comprised of individuals with more differences than similarities in personalities, the band was formed in 2004 as a method of conveying thought-provoking yet disarmingly appealing and charming rock music. Niles provides vocals, while Kelvin and Lio man guitar duties with Johncy (bass) and Niko (drums) handling the rhythm section. All five members hail from all walks of life, with backgrounds as diverse as any five people you’d handpick from a large crowd. Hence the name, Angulo, literally translated as “angle”, as in coming from a wide range of angles and perspectives.
Angulo goes by the edict that as long as they are not satisfied with a particular song that they’re creating, then the door remains shut when it comes to laying down the foundations for the next song. “We’re our own worst critics,” Kelvin says. “That’s why we’re very happy with how everything came together in the end”.
And this mentality is evident in their debut album, Blur the White Lines. Produced by Kerplunk! Studios’ Pat Jalbuena (Kjwan, Faspitch, Up Dharma Down, etc.) and one of the country’s foremost vocalist/guitarists, Urbandub’s Gabby Alipe, the album has been described as haunting yet familiar, and defying classification by peers, critics, and fans alike. Fast-paced with larger-than-life vocal and guitar melodies that traverse a journey of emotions, the album treks through a path of love and solitude, towards salvation and redemption.
Touted as one of the most hardworking and intense-performing independent artists in the rock scene today, Angulo’s goal is to build an ongoing, evolving friendship with its audience and community, making genuine connections and building a genuine following. Thus, if success follows, it will not be a contrived one, but one that has been earned.
This earned respect is slowly becoming evident as the band, despite being independent, has been invited to perform regularly both by the indie/rock scene’s most prominent production outfits (Sonic Boom, Kerplunk!, Admit One, Mary Moon, Treehouse, Revolver, etc.), and by bigger productions such as the Pulp Summer Slam, Fete de la Musique, Myx Mo!, Myx! Slam Jam, and MTV Summit, among others. They were also handpicked to open for one of their favorite icons, New Jersey-based post-hardcore pioneers Thursday during said band’s Asian Tour.
Angulo is also a popular pick in high school and college campuses around the Metro, having played multiple times in PAREF Southridge School, College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, St. Scholastica’s College, San Beda College, Assumption High School, etc., with their sound obviously gaining respect while geared towards youths with discerning ears.
The band’s first single, “The Best Mistake”, reigned at the no.1 position of NU107’s daily listener-vote-driven Stairway to Seven countdown for a full month (29 days) during the summer of 2008, and resiliently staying in the charts for 13 weeks, becoming the longest-charting song in the countdown during 2008. “The Best Mistake” also ended up at No.7 on NU107’s Top 107 Songs of the Year Countdown.
“F.L.S.”, an acronym for “Free the Lost Souls”, was the second single released and resided in the NU107 daily countdown for another mammoth 11 weeks, holding on to the No.1 spot for 3 consecutive weeks (20 days). It landed at the No.16 on their Yearend Coundown. The music video for “F.L.S.”, despite being an independently-produced effort, enjoyed heavy rotation in the country’s top music television channels.
“Lost in Translation” was chosen as the third single and stayed in the NU107 Stairway to Seven countdown for 8 weeks, peaking at the No.3 position.
Their 4th and final single, the haunting, downtempo, and electronic-infused “Salita” also entered the NU107 charts and stayed there for 8 weeks, also hitting the No. 3 spot. “Salita” is currently getting major airplay on Myx and MTV, and is enjoying it’s 8th week at Myx’s Pinoy Top 20 OPM Countdown, where it’s peak position (so far) has been at No.11.
Angulo, on October 2008, was nominated for the following categories at the very prestigious NU107 Rock Awards:
Artist of the Year
Best New Artist of the Year
Vocalist of the Year
Guitarist of the Year
and
Song of the Year (“The Best Mistake”).
The band, coming from its immense success from their Cebu performance during Sonic Boom’s Sinulog Blast Off last February, is also currently being played in Cebu’s top radio stations Killer Bee 92.3, Smash 93.1, Y101, and NU107 Cebu.
Angulo is at present back in the studio, in the process of writing new material for their forthcoming second album, and is getting ready for a Southeast Asian mini-tour.
