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By Cris O. Ramos Jr., Contributor
The band was in the middle of their set with the
whole crowd on their feet and dancing. All of a sudden a hot looking
couple decided they couldn’t take it anymore and rushed off to the
women’s washroom and lock themselves up for a while. Just another
day in the office for Techy Romantics.
What do you get when you combine the musical
sensibilities that make adventurous indie rock so irresistible to
mosh to and club music and electronica so irresistible to dance to?
The music of the Techy Romantics.
First, a little band history. Techy Romantics is
Ryan Villena on guitars, Dondi Virrey on sampling and Camyl Besinga
on lead vocals. Ryan is the most seasoned player in the group,
having played for various bands such as Tungaw and Narda since his
teens. Camyl has been wanting to sing for a band for the longest
time and is a regular fixture in gigs that her favorite local bands
play at. Camyl and Ryan first met when the former got a reference
from a common friend to audition as Narda’s lead singer. She was
seriously considered for the position but in then end was edged out
by eventual lead vocalist Katwo Librando-Puertollano because the
latter was considered to be more experienced.
“I’ve always wanted to be in a band,” says
Camyl. “But I never got the chance to find people I can gel with
until the opportunity to do Techy Romantics came.”
And that opportunity came when Dondi approached
Ryan for the possibility to jam on some previously written
compositions and song ideas that he conceptualized in his bedroom
with his electronic gizmos. Ryan brought Camyl along and the three
hit it off like they’ve been doing it for years.
“The chemistry was there from the get-go,”
says Ryan. “We came and jammed in Dondi’s room not knowing what
to expect. Dondi started doing his clubby, electronic stuff then I
tried complimenting it with what I know on guitars, which is heavily
influenced by 1980s new wave, The Cure, New Order, stuff like that.
Then Camyl added her lyrics and singing, which came out right in
alley with her professed admiration for CSS. From there came a deep
well where ideas and compositions flow. “Now, we can even do long
sets.”
“I guess it helps that we’ve known each
other as friends for some time already, we’re on the same
wavelength, and we can effortlessly adapt to each other’s
idiosyncrasies and quirks,” says Camyl.
From there, the band has amassed a cult fan base
that positively dances to their music and is steadily growing
through constant gigging. The band is reportedly set to release
their debut album under independent record label Lilystars (same
label as The Camerawalls).
“The reception we’re getting these days in
our gigs is so surprising,” relates Dondi. “We perform not just
in our favorite rock bars like Saguijo, Route 196, and Magnet High
Street, but also in places such as Il Ponticello and Manila Polo
Club. It’s gratifying to always have people reacting strongly to
what we do, like, when they dance or show their appreciation.”
Techy Romantics is such an apt name for this
band as the band fuses the drama of the best new wave and indie
bands with the bounce and oooomph! of the most engaging club music
so seamlessly that it’s difficult to find where one musical
sensibility starts and where the other ends. The pop sensibilities
of the band’s music is so strong that it can only be coined in
three words: Techy Romantics music.
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