SUGARFREE

PolyEast Records’ power trio Sugarfree has recorded a song against irresponsible drivers.

The song titled “Mamang Driver” is a track in the band’s just-released 4th CD, “Mornings and Airports.”

“There should be a law against ‘stupid’ driving,” said Sugarfree chief songwriter-vocalist Ebe Dancel. “It’s not as if di nila alam yung batas, kundi gusto lang talaga nilang sawayin ito. [A] red [traffic light] means stop, right? Ano ang mahirap intindihan dun?”

Ebe feels strongly about the subject because he had been “traumatized” by a road accident he had while in college.

“Kaya madaming naaaksidente dahil sa kamamadali nila. Ano ba naman ‘yung mag-slow down kahit na ma-late ka ng konti sa pupuntahan mo? Kesa naman may masaktan at ma-ospital o magbayad ka pa…”

However, Ebe emphasized that “Mamang Driver” is more of an advocacy for responsible driving rather than a critique on errant drivers.

“At hindi ko naman lina-lahat [ang mga drivers],” said he.

Asked if Ebe practices what he preaches, Sugarfree bassist and drummer Jal Taguibao and Kaka Quisumbing, respectively, affirm.

“He’s never been issued a ticket,” they said.

“Only ones [tickets] that were unjustly awarded,” Ebe added.

Drivers would have to buy the CD, though, to listen to the song. Nowadays, it’s Sugarfree’s “Hay Buhay” that is being heavily promoted on – and fervently received by -  radio and music channels.

“Hay Buhay” is the band’s first single after more than a year of absence on the airwaves. Their last album was released almost three years ago (2006’s “Tala-Arawan”).

“We’ve been doing shows for a month now kaya ngayon lang kami nakapag-record – at kaya ganun ang title ng album,” said Dancel.

Although Sugarfree said they have only gone to Singapore and around the Philippines, the people there more than made up for the hassle of waiting early “mornings” at “airports.”

“Sometimes we go to airports straight from gigs,” said Jal. “May pagod na din talaga pag tumatagal, pero nawawala lahat ‘yon kapag narinig na namin ang mga tao na sinasabayan ang mga kanta namin at nag-eenjoy sa shows.”

Releasing “Morning and Airports” on their 10th year anniversary, Sugarfree consciously departed from “habits” heard on previous works, “Sa Wakas,” “Dramachine” and “Tala-Arawan.”

Ebe said that they were careful not to repeat instrumental arrangements for the new songs. They also included English tunes that were nil in the last two CDs.

It’s their first album to have a straightforward title, while the recording process was more relaxed compared to past works.

“If before, each of us would lay down his tracks non-stop for days until all are done, here, we recorded songs in batches so that we’d be ‘fresh’ for each one,” said Ebe.

Each track in the album has a recommended time for listening as listed on the CD inlay. “Mornings and Airports” has a "travel" theme with images typical of passports and airlines as motifs.

Collaborating with Sugarfree on some of the tracks either as producer or instrumentalists are members of Silent Sanctuary and Corporate Lo Fi, and Romel “Sancho” Sanchez and Buddy Zabala.

Other songs in “Mornings and Airport” are “Feels Like,” “Mornings and Airport,” “Wala Nang Hihilingin,” “Hangover,” “Patawad,” “Get Over It,” “Pagkatapos Ng Lahat,” “Wala,” “Heto Na Naman Tayo,” “Where Do We Go?” “Form Factor” and “Walang Paalam.”
 
“Mornings and Airports” will be launched on Aug. 19, 9 pm at Saguijo, Makati City.

Sugarfree will be holding their 10th anniversary concert titled “Dekada” at Music Museum on Aug. 28 and 29. The band will be playing alongside the Manila Symphony Orchestra like they did a few years back at the same venue.

“Dekada” is made possible by San Miguel Beer, Alfredo’s Steak, Intermatrix, SNS, JB Music, Converse, Fly Shades, Samuel and Kevin, Hairshaft, TV partners MYX and TV5, radio partners Jam 88.3, NU 107, and Barangay LS 97.1.

For ticket inquiries, call Music Museum at 721-0635, Ticketworld at 891-9999 or log on to www.WeAreSugarfree.com