Rivermaya Slumbook

A couple of months ago I was commissioned to do a short piece on Rivermaya for a local Telco's website. Beats the crap outta me whether it was posted or not. The girl in charge of the website's contents resigned. So, in case it never made it online, here it is (again?).

You just released a 5-song EP. What’s the story behind You'll Be Safe Here?
Rico : The song is a promise, a vow. That in our bleakest, most desperate hours, when we are left with nothing, we will still have one another. And that, my friend, will be the only thing that matters

Will you release this song again on a future full-length album?
Rico : Perhaps. But then again, we always find it more fun to fill up a full-length album completely with all-new material.
Mark : You’ll definitely see and hear more of “You’ll Be Safe Here” in the future.

Are you working on your 11th album? When could we expect that to come out?
Rico : I don't know. We'd like to start working on it soon, i mean everyone's just bursting with ideas, but our schedules are just so packed with gigs and stuff.
Mark :It’s in the works! We think we’re gonna take our time on this one though..

I see on tv that you’re Globe Gentext endorsers…. How do you feel about that?
Rico : We’re honored to be Globe endorsers… But the honor should really go to the music - loving pinoy youth. They're the reason why we're here.

If you could have super powers, what would they be and why?
Rico :If everytime I burped, there'd be one less war in the world, yeah, that would be a cool super power.
Mark : Okey na ako sa levitation or teleportation, suko na ako sa traffic ng Pilipinas!
Mike : I want to have all the super powers i can have, para kahit ano kaya kong gawin.
Japs : Telepathy. so i'd know what/how everyone really thinks.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and why?
Rico :I'd give Jason Williams better decision-making. Then maybe he'll be MVP. Or maybe not.
Mike : I'll put the philippines a bit higher than it's current latitude, para mejo lumamig naman dito
Japs : Eliminate violence.

What’s your worst personality trait? Your best?
Rico : One answer for both questions, I'm a bit of an idealist.
Mark : Best: I think I’m really patient nowadays. Worst: I turn in to a monster when my patience runs out.
Mike : Worst - i'm lazy. Best - hmm...
Japs : I guess being too laid back sometimes. Best? hmm... lots of patience and self control.. (Could also be a worst trait.. hehe)

If you could radically change something about your appearance, what would it be?
Rico : I want the whites of my eyes black, and the black of my eyes white. Just kidding.
Mark :Just for kicks I’d like to become a black guy, para bagay na sa akin mag hiphop. Gusto ko kasi hiphop pero di talaga bagay, hehe.
Japs : Radically changing my appearance is something i've been doing since my college years so.....

What’s your pet peeve?
Rico :All-knowing music reviewers who can't sing, can't play an instrument, can't write a song, and have no experience in a recording studio. It’s like getting breakdancing tips from an ostrich.
Mark : People who throw garbage out of moving cars.
Japs : Hmmm... squeaking sounds of the fork and spoon against the plate. Crazy drivers annoy me everyday.

What major gigs can we expect from Rivermaya this summer?
Rico : A lot of major gigs. we just came from a huge gig in Iloilo. You see, only a few Metro Manila people are aware that most out of town gigs for bands are major. Say 10, 20, or even 70 thousand people each time. We played 120,000 one time in Davao.
Japs : We just had a major show at the Araneta Coliseum in April.. actually, we treat all our shows as major shows but the Araneta gig was something else..

After your summer gigs, what would be the ideal vacation or escape for you?
Rico :I was watching tv today and I think I wanna go to Egypt. ok ba dun?
Mike :My house. it's the best place in the world!
Mark : In the Philippines: Boracay (off-season), Baguio (anytime except for holy week and flower fest), Palawan (if you have the means and funds to go around all the different places), Sagada (coz ive never been there). Outside the Philippines: anywhere basta malamig!!! its just too hot here now.
Japs : Anywhere outside the city or outside the country would be perfect.