Mark your calendars! Indie rock veterans Orange & Lemons will be having their milestone-defining show titled Now & Then: Orange & Lemons 25th Anniversary Concert at the Metrotent Convention Center, Pasig on October 18.

Clem Castro, JM del Mundo, Ace del Mundo, and Jared Nerona will be performing a three-hour set to showcase their splendid discography over the years.

Depending on your age, your introduction to the band Orange & Lemons (shortened as “O&L”) would be from markedly separate eras. If you are in your 30s and above, you would have known them from their NU107 supremacy days – from their entry as an indie band up to their rise to the extreme mainstream with “Pinoy Ako”. If you are younger than that, there is a great chance that you rediscovered their music on TikTok through “Heaven Knows – Angel Has Flown” or heard a few O&L songs from your parents, uncles, aunties, and other elders. Still, one commonality then and now: Orange & Lemon’s music resonates with people regardless of age and timeline.

The History of O&L

Hailing from Bulacan, Orange & Lemons was originally formed in 1999 with Clem, Mcoy, JM and Ace. As a starting indie rock band, they were performing gigs left and right, but it wasn’t until 2003 that they got their big break when their breakthrough single “Just Like A Splendid Love Song” received positive appraisal at the now-defunct radio station NU107. Their first album Love in the Land of Rubber Shoes and Dirty Ice Cream was loved by listeners and music enthusiasts nationwide. Just a year later, they were already hailed the Best New Artist in the 2004 NU Rock Awards.

In 2005, more breakthroughs followed. They struck a record deal with a major label and then, their sophomore album aptly titled Strike Whilst the Iron Is Hot was released. The hit songs “Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby)” and “Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown)” were loved by the general public so much that O&L became one of the most popular bands at that time, filling music charts on TV and radio stations all over the nation. Shortly after, they reached the biggest push in their career when they were contacted when the largest television company in the country, ABS-CBN, asked them to create a soundtrack to the famous reality show Pinoy Big Brother. “Pinoy Ako” literally became a household hit, and with it came an outpour of more projects and gigs for the band.

O&L went on to work on major commercial projects, including making songs for advertisements for Sunsilk, a leading shampoo brand, and participating in tribute albums for Apo Hiking Society and Eraserheads. In 2006, their success reached astronomical levels and they were only allowed a break for two weeks for an entire year.

In 2007, O&L decided to work on a project that would show their true musicality and that was when their third album Moonlane Gardens was released. However, the effects of the burnout from the year before were taking their toll. A few months after the album, they announced their disbandment.

It took a decade for the band to reform with the three members – Clem, MJ, and Ace. Mcoy had left the band after the hiatus. They were later joined by keyboardist Jared Nerona. Eventually, Orange & Lemons got back on their feet, playing gigs across the country and being more steadfast in their current lineup. In 2022, they released another unique album: the all-Tagalog Kundiman-influenced La Bulaqueña.

Orange & Lemons Now

2024 has been treating them well. Early this year, “Heaven Knows – This Angel Has Flown”, a song released 19 years ago, suddenly debuted on Billboard Philippines and Spotify charts. It went viral on TikTok, prompting curious young listeners to dig deeper into O&L’s music.

In another string of coincidence, their song “La Bulaqueña” also found its way into the public consciousness when it was used by the beauty queen Chelsea Manalo (who is also from Bulacan) during her campaign period in Miss Universe Philippines. Amazingly, she also won the pageant and she will be representing the country in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024.

Striking at the perfect timing, Orange & Lemons had just released a music video for “La Bulaqueña” starring none other than Chelsea Manalo with the National Museum of Fine Arts as the backdrop.

On September 19, the four members of O&L met with the members of the media at the Unknown13 Pub and Grill for a press conference. Much to our surprise, we were primarily treated to a splendid mini-concert featuring their memorable tracks, interspersed with lots of personal, unfiltered anecdotes.

Clem, JM, Ace, and Jared sat down with the members of the press, candidly talking about their history – the process of songwriting, the ups, and downs of their rise to fame, the ideals they hold as musicians, and even their regrets from before. Here are the highlights of the event.

Songwriting process

Even though they officially formed in 1999, they were already writing songs as early as 1997. They wrote a lot of songs that their catalog filled not just one, but two albums. As the primary songwriter, Clem drew inspiration from his past lovers, immortalizing his experiences into songs. He spoke about how the line “umuwi ka na, baby” in “Hanggang Kailan” was about a girlfriend who went home to Bacolod for 3 months without contacting him. “Heaven Knows” was written about a woman named Angel who was the ex-wife of the son of a drug lord.

When asked as to which one they create first: the lyrics or the melody, Clem answered, “The lyrics come first because it’s easier to imagine the song. I have no proper music training. If there are lyrics, iniimagine ko lang yung melody niya at hinahanap ko sa gitara.” He elaborated that it’s easier for him that way because the band can be more flexible with the sound afterward.

What can the audience expect from their concert?

“We want to give them a tour from our very beginning to what is happening to Orange & Lemons nowadays,” frontman Clem Castro said. The show is expected to run for 3 hours. It will be divided into four parts, each one highlighting a specific album.

What made them decide to hold a 25th-anniversary concert?

“We want to give out to our true fans throughout the years even without Mcoy,” Clem expressed his gratitude to the fans who stuck with them even after their decade-long hiatus.

While it still isn’t completely clear why Mcoy left the band, the members are a lot more open to talk about it. Clem, in particular, has repeatedly acknowledged Mcoy’s invaluable contributions as the former lead vocalist of the band. “He will always be a part of O&L esp during our early days.”

Reemergence in Billboard PH charts – how did that happen?

Even in 2005, “Heaven Knows” was a very popular song, but 19 years later, it still managed to catch the younger generation’s curiosity. When asked about how they think that happened, the band could only say one thing: perhaps it was a song that was ahead of its time. They are very happy about the development and they encourage people to keep looking out for more of their music.

What has changed in the band now?

“Thanks for giving me another chance kasi alam ko medyo duda kayo sa akin,” Clem jokingly answered, making everyone in the room laugh.

The frontman had admitted to being too controlling of the band before, calling all the shots about what they should do. He admitted he still does to a certain point now, but the decision-making has become more collaborative now. They talk about everything openly now.

Similarly, the band had decided to be professional. “Everything is written on paper. Decision-making is unanimous.” Jared also chalked it up to age, “We are old. Wala nang nagtatampuhan. We talk. We converse. We settle things.”

As veterans in the field, how do they contribute to the music scene?

Brothers and bandmates JM and Ace are the proud owners of Unknown 13 Pub, the venue for the press conference. “This bar was built for new musicians, isang avenue para sa mga bagong banda, parang bahay nila. Ito yung advocacy ng bar na ‘to.” The cozy bar perched on top of a cafe at Katipunan Ave. is a great place for music lovers to get together.

Clem responded that he is open to advising starting musicians and colleagues. He has been doing that through his own independent record company known as Lilystars Records. During their decade-long hiatus, he wanted to figure out why their disbandment happened so easily and what could have been done to prevent it. That was when he studied the technical/legal side of being a musician. He said he is willing to impart his insights and learnings to anyone in the industry who needs them.

What are the future plans of the band?

Looking forward to the challenges ahead, the band sets their eyes on wider sceneries. For the next album, they aim for an international release by finding collaborators within Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Legacy of Orange & Lemons

“All things must pass, but we will try to be here for as long as we can and mag-iwan ng magandang legacy,” Clem declared. “We want to make our mark in the history of Philippine music. Yung mamention kami, ok na yun. It’s something that will last a long time.”

Orange & Lemons pride themselves on going against the flow. In every album they released, they always strived to create music that they would still be proud of 10 years or so in the future. That is also another reason they decided to hold their 25th-anniversary concert. They want their songs to stand the test of time and to reach more people.

For longtime fans and curious spectators alike, here is O&L’s promise: “We will pay it forward with more music.”

Be part of OPM history at “Now & Then: Orange & Lemons 25th Anniversary Concert” at the Metrotent Convention Center, Pasig City on October 18. Tickets are available at https://orangeandlemons.helixpay.ph.

Special thanks to Gabi Na Naman Productions!

by Sandra Mae Laureano