ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider AUDIOJUNKIE: Pinoy pop at the movies

AUDIOJUNKIE: Pinoy pop at the movies

Published Sep 25, 2023 04:10 am

At A Glance

  • Starting with Sugarcane, a Marikina-based band that includes lead singer Cedric Angeles, bassist Carl Guerzon, guitarist Frain Reyes, Luis Beato on keyboards, drummer Froilan Bautista and Rona Tiñola on flute.  Sugarcane comes across as a band that likes power ballads. Their latest single, titled "Sinehan" definitely sounds like one with its big piano-decked intro and first stanza that eventually builds up to this big emotional swell.
Screenshot 2023-09-25 at 12.08.38 PM.png
Composite photo from left: Rob Deniel, Sugarcane, and Sam Benwick (Official promo photos)

These are exciting times as a wave of new Pinoy music acts puts out music left, right, and center. Rob Deniel, a 19-year-old soulster, a cherub-faced singer-songwriter named Sam Benwick (also 19), and a band in their very early 20’s called Sugarcane, whose new song is tasteful in more ways than one, are among those currently making big moves.

Starting with Sugarcane, a Marikina-based band that includes lead singer Cedric Angeles, bassist Carl Guerzon, guitarist Frain Reyes, Luis Beato on keyboards, drummer Froilan Bautista and Rona Tiñola on flute.  Sugarcane comes across as a band that likes power ballads. Their latest single, titled “Sinehan” definitely sounds like one with its big piano-decked intro and first stanza that eventually builds up to this big emotional swell.

The emo moment comes from the song's theme. “It’s a love story about two people, but just like some movies, the story doesn’t have a happy ending,” vocalist Carl explains.  Carl and featured singer Angelica Gantang’s vocal tag team adds the wallop as they render this song the band said came from  two different songs by Cedric and bassist Carl Guerzon (“it was like a puzzle that came together”). “Sinehan” is hugot for sure, but just the right amount.

The band has got it together, Frain got in some hot lead fills, and Luis’ keyboard work is aces on this one. Drummer Froilan added the song’s middle-eight (bridge) and yeah, it’s so cool to have a flutist (via cool Rona) in the band.  

Sugarcane just dropped their music video for “Sinehan” (directed by Karlo Calingao) set in – you guessed it – in the movie cinema where most of the song’s narrative happened. Sort of ‘500 Days Of Summer,’ the mv’s got legit hugot feels that’s not at all mushy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUxdzinLdLM

And since we're at the sinehan, Rob Deniel latest showing is on the “RomCom” side.

Rob is on roll with “Ulap,” “Sinta” and “Ang Pag-ibig” with his retro pop vibe. And he reaches a sonic high with latest single “RomCom.” “I aimed to recreate that sensation of being in a romantic comedy movie scene, where everything feels magical and shimmering,” said Rob of the song’s theme.

Rob also shared that his inspo for “RomCom” is “La La Land.” But with a bit of twist. Whereas the original ended in heartbreak (like “Sinehan”), “RomCom” leads to a happy ending. 

One can’t deny the ebullient vibe of Rob’s upgraded retro sound when one hears his hook chorus: “labis-labis akong nasasabik/ na makapiling ka na / labis-labis ang mga halik / nang matagpuan na kita.”

It’s a pretty melody for sure. And couple that with his guitar-centric band and what you’ve got is an instant fan-favorite for Rob Deniel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KAjS3jtzqg

Sam Benwick’s isn’t movie-themed, but she lights up a screen.

This cherub-faced singer also has a dulcet voice on the lilting and relaxing side. Her new song “love with u” – how the feeling of falling in love makes giddy youngsters of everyone -- made good use of those qualities.

Benwick also writes her songs and already has a pair of noteworthy accomplishments. One is composing “Sansinukob, Salamat” recorded just last year by Sarah Geronimo. The other is having that duet with Arthur Nery on “Sinag” (for Coke Studio).

So besides being a cherub-faced, dulcet-toned songster, Sam Benwick is also a solid songwriter who’s laid down originals like “Show Yourself To Me,” “Confessions” and her previous indie-stuff with a quality consistency that is admirable.  

Sam Benwick recently premiered the video for “love with u” directed by Kashka Gaddi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcLdfRQaDLo

ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.