Sandwich

Sandwich are: singer Raymond, bassist Myrene, guitarists Diego and Mong and drummer Mike.  Signed to EMI Philippines, the group already have four albums to their name, with a fifth being penned as we speak.  As the heat starts to belt down on us all over Asia, the group's new single Sunburn looks to be the sure fire feel-good hit of the summer.  We donned our swimming trunks, and got to know the members of the band that much better...

Hi folks, please give our readers a brief history of Sandwich:
Myrene: Back in 1998, Raymond's previous band, The Eraserheads was signed to BMG, where Diego happened to be working.  They decided to form a band.  Diego asked Mike and I to join.
Raymond: Our first singer Marc left a couple of years ago.  I took over vocal duties and we got Mong Alcaraz to play guitar.  We've released 4 albums, made songs for a couple of movies, tv and videogame soundtracks, and a tribute album for the (great filipino group) the apo.

How’d you choose the name Sandwich?
Myrene: It was something that looked good on a t-shirt and kick drum.
Raimond: The <s> logo came first so obviously Diego and I wanted a band that started with the letter s that would also look good on a t shirt and band merch haha. He’s a marketing grad.  The name came before the band.

What’s the battle plan?
Myrene: To keep making music and play eveywhere.
Raimond: To go to the beach!

What/whom are your influences (musical or otherwise)?
Diego: Superchunk, Pavement, Clash, New Order, Dischord records, Merge records, NYC underground.
Myrene: Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Pavement, Bikini Kill, Gaiman, William Gibson, Sassy, my parent’s records (Neil Young, Elton John, Donovan), Nylon, The Cure, New Order, Soundgarden, Douglas Coupland, Subpop.
Raimond: The Foo Fighters, the Beastie Boys, Pinoy rock, the Violent Femmes, The Cure, Sonic Youth, Beck, Prince, NIN.

How would you describe your sound?
Mong: Honest, fun and fulfilling.

Is there a message you want to get across through your music?
Myrene: Anyone who wants to, should play.  Music is democratic.
Mong: Less is more. Groove is in the heart. Dreaming works well with planning.
Raimond: We just like to rock out.

Are you guys a booze, drugs, or abstinence band?
If none of the above, what are your vices?
Myrene: We like our beer.  Apart from that I’d say our other vices are shoes, and listening to music, and watching other bands.

What’s the best kind of sandwich?
Diego: a delicious filling one
Myrene: At 3am after coming home from a gig - four rashers of bacon between white bread.  yum.  with chocolate milk.  yeah!
Mong: Toss up between a Sango Burger(it’s a Japanese fusion type of burger) and the Sausage McMuffin w/ Egg
Raimond: Regular cheeseburger at Burger King at 3am after the shows.

What, in your view, is success?  Is there anything specific you would like to achieve with your music?
Diego: Just to be able to have fun and reach as many people and places who’d like to listen to our music.
Myrene: Getting to make more music the way we like it, and playing to a wide audience is great in my book.  It would be also be cool to be able to play shows in more places.
Mong: Success is coming to terms with yourself. Honestly checking yourself  on a really nice day is the first sign of success. Once that’s pretty much figured out, I don’t think you need to look anywhere else. I would like to see the world with our music, both figuratively and literally.
Raimond: success to me is getting paid for something that i'd basically do for free everyday.

Favourite gig so far, and why?
Myrene: When we released our fourth album FIVE ON THE FLOOR, we asked our record company if we could launch it in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao (the Philippines is divided into these three regions, it involves travel by plane).  They were stoked to do it having never done it before, and we were thrilled of course.  We did it over one weekend.  Also playing in hongkong was great too because it was our first band vacation and our first gig outside the country.  I didn’t know what it was going to be like.
Raimond: Our impromptu Hong Kong set feb 2007.

Worst ever gig and why?
Myrene: We were playing a bikini open that was running late.  The promoters put in like ten opening bands, then it was us, then FINALLY the girls in bikinis.  The crowd was drunk and impatient.  By the time we got onstage all they really wanted to see were half-naked girls.
Raimond: That bikini open gig was hell.

The perfect crowd is…
Myrene: Smart, open-minded, and generous. 
Raimond: The ones that listen, sing, scream, dance, applaud and have fun

What’s your policy on groupies?
Myrene: I’ve not been fortunate enough to encounter any.
Ha ha ha!  As for kids who want a chat and to have something signed after a show 
it’s cool with me. 
Mong: Why not? To groupie or not the groupie, ‘tis the question.
Raimond: Don’t tell our girlfriends.

 Weirdest thing a fan has ever given you?
Mong: A Snoopy badge.  Cute…..but why?  To whoever gave that to me, thank you, I now have an answer for this question.

Do you have any special preparations or rituals you go through before playing a show?
Myrene: Sit and have my quiet time blasting my ipod.
Mong: Stretch a bit. I always have the geeky guitar “1,2,3,4” exercise…that’s about it. Maybe choosing which pants to wear. That’s about as special as it gets. Haha.
Raimond: I say a little prayer.

Describe your perfect day:
Myrene: Big cup of coffee…an hour online… … kill off a few bosses on the PS2… read a good book…have a swim while the sun’s still out…dinner, a few drinks, catch a good band...all with my buddies.

Tell us something not many people know about you:
Myrene: I like to cook - I make a mean vongole.  I also read showbiz blogs on the net with my morning coffee.
Mong: I listen to Air Supply. And I can’t grow a moustache.
Raimond: I can swim very well and am actually pretty good in table tennis.  I was the varsity sub in high school. but I suck at basketball.

You guys now have achieved that coveted status of being full time, paid musicians.  What jobs did you have before that?
Myrene: I was a radio announcer and music director on the local rock station.  Then Sandwich went indie a couple of years ago and I thought I’d go full time with the band for a change.
Mong: I used to do events and marketing for a “Snack” company.
Raimond: I used to make music for commercials for radio and tv.

What do your families think about your music?
Myrene: My parent’s are thrilled when they see me on television.
Mong: They love it!  Took some time and a lot of convincing…but yeah they love it now.
Raimond: They're very supportive.

Tell us about the music scene in the Philippines at the moment:
Myrene: Lot’s of different kinds of music, albums coming out every month, clubs to play in.  Emo, disco, punk, disco-punk, electronica, reggae, bossa, hardcore…you name it, there’s a band that’s playing it.
Mong: A lot of things are going on, and a lot of people are being brought together because of the music. Everyone’s excited, and a lot of ideas are actually being realized in a third world setting.  Pretty fun.  Come over!
 
Best thing about your home town?
Myrene: Cheap food, cheap beer, and you can catch a show almost everyday.
Mong: Quezon City-----Mister Kebab and the girls.

Worst thing about your home town?
Myrene: Traffic, pollution and pathetic social services.

Your favourite local bands are:
Myrene: Urban Dub, Sugarfree, Taken by Cars, the Dawn, Radioactive Sago Project, Sheila and the Insects, Narda, Hilera, Chicosci, Cambio
Mong: Chicosci, Sandwich, El Mercurio, Taken by Cars, The Vince Noir Project, April Morning Skies, The Bitter Pill, Pedicab, Katipunan Suicides, Cog, Radioactive
Sago Project….hmmm…I got lots more.
Raimond: Right now I really like Taken by Cars, El Mercurio, Rivermaya, Urban Dub, The Ichyworms, Chilitees, Duster, Drip, Nyco Maca
Diego: Cambio, Imago, Chicosci, Sugarfree, Narda, Urban Dub

What’s the plan for the new album?  Got the songs written?  Anything you can let us in on?
Myrene: We're currently writing songs, and it should be out early next year!

What are you going to do right now?
Raimond: It's 7 pm in manila. take a bath and get ready for the gigs. tonight im subbing for Imago’s guitar player, play a Sandwich set, and try to catch SVC at saguijo bar.
Myrene: I’m heading out for a swim.

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Check out Sandwich in all their sunburnt glory, in their snazzy new video.

Responses[5]

Posted by AMP Ed on April 17, 2007 12:29:00 PM HKT #

Distressed   ( 19 months ago ) # saya naman.......... Tour Tayo.......

Plaster of Paris   ( 18 months ago ) # i wish we could be like you someday. hope you could listen to our repertoire. Godspeed!

Placid   ( 17 months ago ) # galing sana maging ganyan din kami sana maksabay namin kyo ulitÜ

syd420   ( 15 months ago ) # This band rocks!!I only own their latest album(Five on the Floor)and I could say it's 1 of the best...And I also like Raimond because I'm quite similar to him and Mr. Dave Grohl of Nirvana.We're multi-instrumentalists and proficient songwriters as well, hehe!!...I'm pretty sure Sandwich will stay in the Philippine musioc scene for a very looooong time!!!...Rakenrol lang!!!

cheenemanika   ( 14 months ago ) # waa. <b>sandwich</b> es da best! waa mis ku n kau. 2g2g let kau d2 s dasma. . .   <s>ZAIDO!</s> parating n ang mga zaido!.