At A Glance
- Richard Reynoso, Rannie Raymundo and Chad Borja talk about their new partnership with EchoJham Entertainment Productions and why live performance still matters in today's digital music scene.
Is live music still viable when almost everything can now be watched online?
Anyone who has been to a good concert or spent a night in a club listening to a band probably knows the answer.
Watching a performance on a screen is convenient, but being there is different. You hear the music differently. You feel the crowd. You see the artists up close. There is also that element of surprise because anything can happen once the show starts.
The OPM Hitmen know this well.
Richard Reynoso, Rannie Raymundo and Chad Borja have spent years performing in front of audiences. They know how to work a crowd, adjust when something goes wrong and keep the show going.
That is also what drew EchoJham Entertainment Productions to the veteran trio.
The production house, headed by Juan Angelo Arenas, formally signed the OPM Hitmen on Aug. 8 in Quezon City. The partnership is expected to bring them more concerts and live projects.
Borja sees the partnership as a good match.
“They know that our strength is in doing live shows, they’re experts so, I think it’s a win-win partnership for us. They've got the means, we got the talent,” he said.
For Reynoso, the partnership also means having people who are willing to support them at this point in their careers.
“I feel like with EchoJham we found a home that would really help us and nurture us,” he said. “It's hard to find partners in this day and age that's willing to go out on a limb for you, lalo na nga at medyo we're not that young na. And I'm grateful for that.”
The OPM Hitmen started in 2012 when Reynoso and Raymundo were invited to do a production number for a show. They enjoyed working together and eventually thought of bringing Borja into the act. There was an interesting detail. Borja and Raymundo had been rivals before.
The combination worked.
The group became known for its production numbers, with around 90 percent of their shows devoted to singing. They eventually received awards for Best Group and Best Concert.
More than a decade later, the three singers continue to believe in the power of a live audience.
And that could only be a good thing.
The music business has changed. Younger artists now have streaming platforms and social media to reach listeners. Many can perform online and connect with audiences without leaving home.
But these veterans are out to prove there is more to life beyond your computer or mobile screens.
Raymundo for one maintained there is still nothing quite like being in the room.
“Iba pa rin talaga ang experience for the audience kapag live,” he said. “Iba rin ang experience for us kasi the reaction is immediate. Alam mo kaagad if something is working or if it isn't.”
That instant reaction is something performers learn to deal with over time. Sometimes a crowd loves a song. Sometimes it does not. Sometimes something goes wrong onstage and the artist has to figure out what to do next.
The OPM Hitmen have been through enough shows to know how to handle those moments.
That is what EchoJham is banking on.
The company does not have to reinvent the group. It has to find the right venues, bring in the audiences and give the three singers the stage.
Then they can take it from there.