No one would have ever thought that an unlikely group of four friends would be touted as a “rising star” in Manila’s indie music scene. Composed of Isabelle Romualdez on vocals and bass, Miguel Querubin on vocals and guitar, Ralph Gonzalez on guitar and Gabba Santiago on drums, the four started their Fools & Foes band out of friendship and a common love for music.
Not that they all started out playing together. “Gabba and I have been friends since my first year in college; (while) he and Migs were friends since the first year, too,” says Isa, adding that she, Gabba and Migs are from De La Salle University while Ralph is from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.
The friendship between Gabba and Ralph however goes far longer because the two have been friends since high school since they were together in another band. It was only on her third year in college that Isa was introduced to Ralph and Migs because they shared a common circle of music friends down south (read Alabang). Though the four belonged to different bands with varying genres like punk rock and metal, they supported each other, bound by one common thread: their love for music.
Asked how and why they thought of Fools & Foes for their band name, Isa shares, “We all collectively thought of the name. Aside from it sounding catchy to us, all of us members of the band have made fools of ourselves already, and we continue to every now and then. Our songs are usually about our foes – not necessarily people but more of our inner foes or foes of life."
Fans and music critics alike define their genre to be “math folk,” but the band does not feel confined to one definition as their varied influences definitely affect their sound and style.
“Our intention was purely to be an indie folk band at first, our sound pegs being The Staves and Angus & Julia Stone. But our personal musical tastes and preferences fashioned our music into how it is now, and we feel that it is a sound that we can be proud of because it just reflects who we are,” Miguel says.
Playing gigs left and right in some of Manila’s underground watering holes, Fools & Foes is definitely a name that’s always on a set list, and their following is steadily growing.
Starting out however was no easy feat for these young musicians. Busy with their jobs during the day – Isa is an account executive for a PR and communications company, Ralph is a kindergarten teacher and is a graduate student, Migs works for a Japanese company and produces music on the side while Gabba just finished college as a Dean’s lister – the four would get together after work to practice their songs till the wee hours of the morning.
But having been friends first, their flow of work is more relaxed and laid back. Each member contributes to every lyric, rhythm and beat in all of their songs, with Isabelle and Miguel taking the helm. Even through small arguments and petty disagreements here and there, they still manage to keep everything chill, like the way they would when they simply go hang out and talk over a few drinks.
After a year of working on their sound, Fools & Foes has finally come out with their first EP, cited by Status magazine as “one of the best local music releases for 2015.” Titled Underneath the Roots, the 5-track release is a mix of upbeat folk tracks and low, sentimental instrumentals. From being alone and becoming your full and true self with “Withering,” to remembering childhood memories and accepting the imperfections of growing up with “Lullaby,” the album focuses on one’s battle with inner demons.
“We are often our own worst enemies whenever we face rough patches; it’s easier to blame ourselves, and hide from our mistakes. We want our music to be able to express that having your own little insecurities is perfectly okay; we are all only human, after all,” Isabelle reflects.
With radio features of their singles to a packed crowd at SaGuijo during their recent EP launch, it looks like things aren’t slowing down for Fools & Foes soon. But even through their slowly growing fan base, they’re still grounded and focused on the very thing that brought them together.
“We don’t really plan anything. We want to stay true to our music and let it speak for itself. People might like it or they may not, but we think it’s our sincerity and heart in our music that draws people in. We’re just doing what we love to do, and it’s amazing that people just happen to love it too,” they share.
The group is definitely digging in its roots in the local music scene, with more gigs and events in the pipeline all over the metro starting January. Catch the latest dates on their Facebook page (Fools and Foes). Underneath the Roots is available for digital download on Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp.