NGAYON na tatlo na lamang sila, inumpisahan ng pop funk band na IV of Spades ang taon on a high note.

Binubuo ng lead vocalist at bassist na si Zild Benitez, lead guitarist na si Blaster Silonga, at drummer na si Badjao de Castro, at hindi sila nagpapahinay-hinay. Kare-release lang nila ng album na ClapClapClap!

“This is our story as a band. This is the most honest version of ourselves. This is not just about us, but the fans who support us,” sabi ni Zild sa Bulletin Entertainment.

'Sarap sa pakiramdam!' Kiray mahal na mahal, never niloko ng jowa

Ang ClapClapClap! ay inspired sa kanilang mga personal na karanasan at isa rin itong tribute para sa kanilang fans. Kahit na tunog masaya at upbeat ang album, ipinaliwanag ni Zild na nilalaman pa rin ng mga kanta rito ang kanilang signature deep lyrics.

“What people experience, we experience too. Clap, clap, clap for them because they survived it. We have many songs in the album that is easy-listening but the lyrics aren’t actually that light,” dagdag pa niya.

Nang tanungin kung anong kanta mula sa kanilang bagong album ang kakaiba mula sa kanilang mga naunang releases, sinabi ni Badjao: “It has more colors and not just upbeat songs. Our album tells about our experiences. Just like our life, it has its ups and downs.”

Kalalabas lamang ng IV of Spades ng music video para sa Bawat Kaluluwa, na inilarawan ng banda na “about going back to one’s original purpose”. As of this writing, ay mayroon na itong 484,954 views.

“What I was thinking then is what was going inside me and the three of us as a band. It was as if we are talking to ourselves, like the band has two personas. The other one is guiding the other not to fall apart, like he wants to bring the other back to his main purpose and where he originally came from. That’s the main intention, to preserve the original purpose of that person,” lahad ni Zild.

Mayroon nang bagong dynamics ang banda ngayon dahil tatlo nalang sila sa grupo. Linisan ni Unique Salonga, na dati nilang lead vocalist, ang grupo noong 2018.

“There are lots of changes. Of course, that’s one member. Whoever leaves among the four, there’s going to be a change because one is missing,” aniya.

Ibinahagi naman ni Blaster na may mga pagbabago sa kanilang workflow at musika. Sumikat ang banda dahil sa mga kanta nilang Hey Barbara at Mundo.

“The intention was not to repeat what we’ve done before. We’ll just stay natural in doing music,” ani Zild.

Panay din ang pagtatrabaho ng band ngayon. Kahit na bago pa lang sila sa industriya ay nakatanggap na agad sila ng awards at recognitions, kabilang ang New Artist of the Year at MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year at naging nominado rin sila bilang Group the Year sa taunang Myx Music Awards. Nasungkit din ang karangalang Favorite New Group sa 30th Awit Awards.

“Everyone’s involved. We stepped up,” pagmamalaki ni Badjao.

Sabi naman ni Zild: “Whoever has an idea in songwriting, in the music arrangement, we give ideas. We’re stronger now.”

Kilala ang IV of Spades sa kanilang unique look at vintage fashion. Babaguhin ba nila ang kanilang style habang nagpo-promote ng kanilang new album?

“It’s still the same but it also evolves naturally,” sabi ni Badjao.