Indie folk band Munimuni is set to hold their solo concert ALEGORYA at the UP Theater on July 20.

On the heels of the release of their sophomore album of the same title, Adj Jiao (vocals, guitar), John Owen Castro (flute, vocals), Jolo Ferrer (bass), Josh Tumaliuan (drums), and Ben Ayes (guitar) aim to give their audience an immersive musical experience that will highlight their new music as well as their well-loved tunes. The show will also feature a chamber ensemble and guest performances by Barbie Almalbis, Clara Benin, Keiko Necesario, and Sofia Abrogar.

On June 25, Munimuni met with members of the press, answering and humoring various questions, including the story behind their band and their albums, their musical inspirations and dream collaborations, and their philosophy and plans. Here are the highlights of the event.

How did Munimuni come to be?

Their story began at the University of the Philippines wherein they met in a Christian youth organization around 201. Not all of them were batchmates, but they shared the same passion for music. They started sharing their compositions and from there, they went on to playing gigs around the campus. It was 2016 when they decided to record songs. Munimuni became one of the most prominent local bands in their genre, garnering a supportive crowd that has supported them from their roots until now.

Their ALEGORYA concert is their 3rd solo concert and their biggest one yet in terms of scale and crowd size. As if it’s a homecoming, they’re holding it at a place where it all started.

The Makata-pop Band

Sure, Munimuni falls under the indie folk category, but their fans fondly call their genre “makata-pop”. The term started as a joke within the band in 2014, but the terminology stuck with them since. According to Adj, “It was a joke that made some sense. Music is, in itself, poetry for us.”

True enough, their discography is a treasure trove of poetry, “makata-pop” is actually an accurate way to describe it. Rarely do we ever find lyrics like “Ang pagsibol ng buhay ay paglalakbay hawak ang iyong kamay” (“Pagsibol”), “Ang mundo ay nababalot ng iyong pagbangong muli” (“Marilag”), “Maligaya ang pangalan ng dakong pinagmulan ng kahit minsan/ Kabalintunaan ang mga siglaw na pinagtabi sa’yong isipan” (“Maligaya”).

Their lyrics are poems filled with antiquated Filipino words while their harmonies are an unorthodox fusion of folk and familiar pop-rock tunes. Munimuni’s music gives new life and meaning to what appears to be ancient, forgotten wordings that have gone out of normal circulation.

The journey to Alegorya

Unlike their debut full-length album Kulayan Natin which had a more linear approach, Alegorya is “more messy, more wild” in a creative sense. The five-year gap between the albums was filled with their experiences which they tried to translate into music. They even called Alegorya their pandemic album, recounting their Zoom sessions wherein they brainstormed how to go about particular songs. Overall, Alegorya is a bit heavier than their previous album. Adj said the album isn’t meant for easy listening or road trips. It’s meant for deep introspection, meditation even.

On their musical inspirations

When asked about their specific musical inspiration for the album, the band unanimously said there isn’t any particular artist or band they consciously tried to emulate. Alegorya is a collection of their experience and finding the right sound to go with it.

The members have a wide spectrum of personal favorites, ranging from classical to pop favorites. Here are some artists they have named.

• Owen: Ichiko Aoba, Lucy Rose, Bach, Mozart, AJ Villanueva (AJ will also be arranging the chamber ensemble for their concert)
• Adj: Bon Iver, Lucy Rose, Sigur Ros, Foxes Faux
• Josh: Mcgee, eva,, Earth, Wind and Fire, Lucy Rose, One Click Straight, Ena Mori
• Ben: Porter Robinson, QUEEN, Bullet Dumas
• Jolo: John Mayer, Local Natives, Bullet Dumas, John Mayer (Yes, he did mention John Mayer more than once.)

On Alegorya’s album art

Except for the intricate layers of their music and lyrics, Munimuni also gave their album art a lot of thought. Alegorya’s album cover features what appears to be a rock with rows of blue and gray hues, bespeckled with bright gold. In the middle, there seems to be a shadow of a person facing sideways. Each song’s Spotify visualizer/canvas and YouTube lyric video also has its art.

According to the band, this artwork was created by Manila-based Photographer Johann Guasch using a technique called macro photography which uses close-up shots of objects, making them appear differently than what they are. Guasch took close-up photos of different rocks to create what appears to be a mystical landscape. This was so in tune with Alegorya’s theme that the band personally reached out to him to have his art featured in their album, to which he agreed. They’ll be meeting each other for the first time at the concert.

What can we expect from the concert?

Munimuni guarantees an immersive experience for the audience. In not so many words, ALEGORYA will be a seamless experience that weaves together their music – old and new – into one narrative. They also hope that the show will also be a way for people to delve into a deeper part of themselves.

Shortly after the press conference, the band performed a short set including “Respeto”, “Dito Muna Tayo” and“Marilag” which showcased their dynamic and hypnotic energy on stage. From there alone, we can safely conclude that the upcoming concert, with its yet undisclosed surprises, will be an even more fascinating spectacle.

Special guests

Four powerful female musicians will also be joining the band on stage: Barbie Almalbis, Clara Benin, Keiko Necesario, and Sofia Abrogar from Any Name’s Okay.

Barbie Almalbis, a veteran in the OPM scene, also took part in their current album, particularly in its final song titled “Tupa”. The band said they consider it an honor to work with her. They shared that they admire Barbie’s great love for her craft and her freedom to experiment and explore sounds. Owen, in particular, credited her for teaching him how to use pedals. He ended up buying his first-ever pedal because of her.

Clara, Keiko, and Sofia are friends and collaborators of the band. Clara Benin worked with them on their song “Solomon”. They had also shared the stage with Any Name Okay’s Sofia Abrogar in many instances.

When asked about their dream collaborations, the band thought hard. Some of the names that surfaced were Lucy Rose, Ichiko Aoba, Johnoy Danao, and Bullet Dumas.

Munimuni’s goals

Ten years or so in the indie music scene, Munimuni has found its place and pace. They’re not rushing for anything. “Di kami ‘yung type ng banda to get hit songs or be famous. We just love to make music,” they said. “Our priority is to keep writing and making songs. Bonus na yung makagawa ng hit.” Adj said that the best achievement for him is when their music resonates with their listeners, specifically when fans tell him the impact that their music has on their lives.

Upcoming projects

Munimuni intends to keep exploring art and music. In Alegorya, they pushed the boundaries of their creativity, to go beyond what they had already done before. They want to continue with that energy moving forward. For now, they are focusing on their upcoming concert and they’re planning to do a tour across the Philippines.

Few tickets are available for their ALEGORYA concert. Don’t miss out and get your tickets now at bit.ly/alegorya.

Special thanks to Gabi Na Naman Productions!

by Sandra Mae Laureano