TOP SUZARA PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF WITH FREESTYLE

When Top Suzara left Freestyle in 2005, many thought it was for good.

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

After 17 years as a solo act, Top finds his way back to his original band.

For nearly two decades, the singer-songwriter focused on a solo career, stepping away from the shadow of the popular '90s band for which he wrote OPM staples like Before I Let You Go and So Slow.

Now, almost 30 years since Freestyle's beginnings, he is back where it all started.

"I left Freestyle in 2005. I didn't know what I was going to do, bahala na. Later that year, I started writing songs at home. I started recording for myself lang. Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari, all of a sudden I had an album that was going to be officially released and then launched on 'ASAP.' I was also part of 'ASAP.' That became my Top Suzara chapter," he recalled during an intimate press interview.

What he didn't expect was regaining ownership of the band's name and once again leading Freestyle some three years ago. “Hindi ko naisip. Gulat na gulat nga ako noong napunta sa akin,” he said.

"That's why the thought process, since it's now with me and in my hands again, there has to be a reason why. I want to do good... to do right by it.

“Hindi naman ito parang wala lang for me, it’s not a simple thing. It’s a meaningful thing. Because it has a meaning, sabi ko, kailangan ko mahanap yung justice kung bakit biglang napasakin after 17 years. So sabi ko sige, I'll continue this. Maybe, it means picking up where I left off.”