Halina: A new sound of indie
FROM its fusion of the free spirit of indie pop mixed with atmospheric electro music, a genre-defying band has carved a name for itself in the local music scene.
(Halina emerged as champion in the UST College of Fine Arts and Design’s battle of the bands competition last February 23, 2016. Photo by Ayo Rin Mangoroban.)
Halina's psychedelic sound reached mystique after being nominated as semi-finalists in last year’s Wanderband Competition, an event where homegrown indie bands get a chance to showcase their talents in the Wanderland Music and Arts Festival.
“I try to give a ‘Filipiniana’ or ‘Old Tagalog’ element to my music, which, I may say, [is] not always seen in the scene [since] most local bands opt for a sound more akin to foreign bands,” vocalist and founder Divino Dayacap told The Dapitan Post in an online interview.
Formed in 2014, with all the members coming from Conservatory of Music of University of Santo Tomas, Halina attempts to deviate from the norms of popular music by embracing various genres such as baroque pop, psychedelic rock, and dream pop.
The four-piece band is composed of Max Cinco on drums, Jonathan Acosta on guitar, Travis Barce on bass and Divino Dayacap on vocals, guitar and keyboard.
They have performed in numerous events such as the Betamax Music and Arts Festival and Bangon Marawi, a benefit concert dedicated for the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
Dayacap bared that the band draws inspiration from their avant-garde sound exploration and from overly sentimental music.
“When you’re writing pop songs, it’s a hit and miss kind of affair. It’s like you’ll only get that cheesy, catchy and melancholic melody out of pure and magical inspiration,” he expressed.
He also said that their music-making process usually begin with a random musical impression or idea that they interpret using musical instruments.
Ever since Halina’s unique sound hit Philippine airwaves back in 2014, Dayacap shared that their work gave him a sense of purpose.
“I believe capturing your humanity and vulnerability by crafting songs with emotional content and sharing it to the world for them to relate to, gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment,” he said.
The band’s musical masterpieces show influence from French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and Filipino pop bands namely Cinderella and The Rainmakers.
Halina will once again caress the deep timbres of romantic melancholia as they launch their first extended play titled “ASUL” on December 23.
