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Sugarfree

Posted on 20 October 2009

Tags: Ebe Dancel, Jal Taguibao, Kaka Quisumbing, Mitch Singson, Pop Rock, pop-alternative, sugar free, sugarfree

Sugarfree is a trio band composed of Kaka Quisimbing, Jal Taguibao, and Ebe Dancel, influenced by the likes of bands Popsicle, Oasis and Radiohead. The initial line up had Mitch Singson on drums. Singson left the band in August 2006 for personal reasons and Quisumbing immediately took place.

Sugarfree is possibly the greatest of pop-alternative groups that arose in the late nineties. Their fire and brilliance has long outlasted their ten-year history and the four albums they produced are prized possessions of many music lovers. Blessed with the talents of three formidable musicians and songwriters all sharing an unerring knack for crafting infectious melodies, Sugarfree’s music possess a timeless feel and accessibility matched by a precious few. Though heavily influenced by the likes of Popsicle, Oasis, and Radiohead, they sound very different from any of their heroes.

Listeners tended to be more laid-back, prizing song craft and good vibes above visceral energy, and the others – especially the songwriters – created music for thoughtful contemplation and because of this, Sugarfree came up with albums suited for their market together with some of the Philippines’ prime list of producers such as Angee Rozul for Sa Wakas (2003) Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan (Members of the former band Eraserheads) for Dramachine (2004) and Robin Rivera (also an album producer of the Eraserheads) for Tala-Arawan (2006) all under the label EMI Philippines. Their albums produced several hit songs that earned them various awards and citations under their belt.

Sugarfree first became known in 2003. They climbed their way to fame through their songs Telepono, Mariposa, Burnout, PlayHari ng Sablay, PlayProm, PlayKwarto and a lot more of the band’s compositions from their albums Sa Wakas (2003) And Dramachine (2004). Sugarfree has come a long way for their own niche in Pinoy rock music. They have had performances all over the country, with impressive showing in local charts in both radio and music channels; and they have sold more than 20,000 copies of their Dramachine album after its release in July 2004.

History

Ebe and Jal recall their very first gig on August 28, 1999. “Ebe was sick and there were only five people in the audience,” says Jal. This was at Villa Romana in Baguio City.
Ebe went through a succession of bands in college and was ready to call it quits when he met Jal and, eventually, then-drummer Mitch Singson. “Sabi ko sa sarili ko, huling subok ko na. Kung mag-fail ‘to, siguro hindi talaga para sa’kin,” Ebe shares, “then everything just fell into place.” The band played in the underground and earned admirers and supporters by becoming mainstays in production nights such as Admit One in Freedom Bar and Sunday Grabe Sunday in Mayric’s, among others. By 2000, the band landed a record deal with Viva Records.

SUGARFREE managed to lay-in a few songs at Tracks Studio. Rico Blanco, then a member of Rivermaya, co-produced the album. But Rico eventually had to beg off due to the demands of his own band’s career. Tracks Studio’s in-house engineer Angee Rozul carried on. Over a year later, SUGARFREE was able to complete the 12 songs included in what is now known as their debut album Sa Wakas. The release of the record was put on hold. After a two-year tussle between band and record label, their contract was finally rescinded. With the help of Angee, SUGARFREE went on to sign a new recording contract with a different label, EMI.