Ely Buendia — the man behind “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “With A Smile,” “Ligaya” and other Eraserheads hits — released his highly-anticipated solo album, “Method Adaptor.” It contains 10 self-written tracks, showcasing his poignant lyricism and overall musical expertise.
Ahead of the album’s release, Buendia — the frontman of Eraserheads, The Mongols, Pupil, The Oktaves, and Apartel — and his team from Sony Music Philippines and Offshore Music organized an exclusive listening party with the press and fans. Attendees watched lyric videos for the first time, reacting in real-time and immersing themselves in the corresponding vibes of each song.
The album opens with “Faithful Song,” a nostalgic piece that alludes to Buendia’s mother. “Kandarapa,” originally an English song, blends reverberating guitars and rhythmic drums, creating spellbinding sounds. Afterward, “Bulaklak Sa Buwan,” the first track revealed from the album, introduces his novel approach to music with its rich composition. Further diving into the album, “Tamang Hinala” is a rock-driven number with dynamic guitars and drums, showcasing the singer’s vocal prowess.
OPM icon Ely Buendia hopes his music will bring joy to his listeners. PHOTO COURTESY OF OFFSHORE MUSIC, SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
“Deadbeat Creeper,” a darker piece with a gritty vibe, features a piano outro by Ena Mori, while “Sige” offers an upbeat energy with deep bass lines. Following this, “Tagpi-Tagping Piraso” is a warm, catchy track with layered elements, whereas “Kontrabando” features powerful rhythmic beats. “Chance Passenger” slows down with a mellow mood and harmonies from Buendia’s son, Eon Buendia. Lastly, “Esprit de Corpse” closes the album with edgy guitars and groovy basslines.
The soloist expressed his excitement about creating music for himself after decades of writing for other bands.
“I’ve been working for 30 years writing songs for other bands and establishing other bands, and I haven’t established myself as a songwriter,” he shared.
With Method Adaptor, he aims to reconnect with fans as an individual and showcase his abilities as a songwriter, singer and musician.
Moreover, the singer disclosed he took time to conceptualize the album’s sound, reflecting on personal issues and emotions he could speak meaningfully about, explaining the overall self-introspective theme of the album.
“I want to be the best that I can be, and I do hope that that translates to the album.”
Above all, his interest in method acting inspired the album’s title, which involved digging deep into emotions to create a performance.
Buendia mentioned that his songwriting process often begins with melodies, some of which have been stored in his mind for over five years, including the melody for “Bulaklak Sa Buwan.” Although the album took five years to develop, Buendia only spent about a month to finalize the songs.
Reflecting on his recording sessions, he revealed that some sections were recorded at the iconic Abbey Road, an experience he described as electrifying and one every musician should have at least once. He admitted that returning to his home studio posed a challenge, hoping the sonic difference would not be too noticeable compared to the Abbey Road recordings.
The musician also revealed that “Kontrabando” or “Tamang Hinala” were likely the last tracks he wrote for the album. On the other hand, he considers “Esprit de Corpse” and “Deadbeat Creeper” the most relatable songs for his listeners.
When asked about younger generations listening to his music, he expressed his hope that they find something relatable in his songs.
“If we think about it, our experiences are not far away. We’re all just trying to survive and make it from day to day, and I hope they can see that and not see who’s singing the songs, like my age or what generation I’m part of,” he shared.
With the rise of streaming in the music industry, the OPM icon expressed that he’s not expecting massive commercial success for Method Adaptor.
“Times are different now — streaming is a whole new ballgame,” he said, though he hoped his music would bring joy to his listeners.
Ultimately, Ely Buendia extended his gratitude to his collaborators, including producers Jerome Velasco and Audry Dionisio, Erwin Romulo, the Offshore team, and Sony Music. He also thanked Gabi Nanaman Productions for organizing the album launch at 123 Block, Mandaluyong, where Offshore artists Alyson, Carousel Casualties, Aviators, and Ligaya Escueta performed.
The singer announced that fans can anticipate the vinyl and spatial audio release, with a possible album tour in the coming year.
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