SANDWICH GOES 'KASWAL' IN NEW ALL-TAGALOG EP

Drawing from a stockpile of songs created before and after the pandemic, the long-standing alt-rock band—lead vocalist Raimund Marasigan, guitarists and backing vocalists Diego Castillo and Mong Alcaraz, bassist Myrene Academia and drummer Mike Dizon—bundled these tracks into a six-song EP that reflects their "more relaxed" songwriting process for this release.

- By NATHALIE M. TOMADA

SANDWICH HAS ALWAYS MARCHED TO THEIR OWN BEAT—THIS TIME, IT'S A KASWAL RHYTHM.

"Because it's not a formal album," explained frontman Raimund on the choice of title during an interview prior to the EP's debut. "We've been releasing singles and we've just decided casually (laughs) to release them as an EP."

The music-making was so casual and not over-thought that it was only during the official launch that they realized it was their second all-Tagalog collection of songs. They hadn't "consciously" planned it that way.

"After this, we're recording for a full-length album. We haven't done a full album for the longest time...pre-pandemic pa. We were supposed to do one and then the pandemic happened. When bumalik lahat, we started releasing singles every few months and (then decided) let's make a collection out of the songs before doing a complete album," Raimund added.

According to Mong, Kaswal is the result of years spent accumulating songs and ideas.

"Sobrang dami naming materials because basically, naka-studio mode kami for the last five years. And lahat—parang wala kaming choice but to work from home. We each had our own version of a workstation.

"So kanya-kanya magsulat, tapos etong nagkikita na kami ulit...we're able to edit them together. That's why there's an EP and then an album (soon), ang bilis because there's so much material."

When it came to collaborating remotely, the band recalled, "Best friend namin ang Google Drive...because we would just upload there."

The music-making, much like the EP's spirit, was no-frills and easygoing. "I guess, yes, more relaxed because we're more relaxed as people these days. The kids are grown-up. Diego has a new kid," Raimund shared.