Two groups that released their latest digital songs on the same date, Feb. 19, also had parallel paths leading to it. Both Unit 406 and The Sundown forged partnerships bound to change their fortunes forever.
Unit 406 had a good reason to feel upbeat about “Kung Ang Puso,” which is their first under their new label MCA Music. For one, MCA is an acronym synonymous with what an established record label is. The fact that management service is part of the deal ensured them that more is at stake, and therefore, extra efforts to push their cause can be expected.
How they will be managed should not be their main concern, though. Besides, they have strong material to bank on. A properly executed label support is always a good friend of a fine song. In the case of “Kung Ang Puso,” its strength as a sentimental rock definitely fits into the unceasing crave of Pinoy listeners for something called hugot – that overused term yet never outdated.
“Signing with MCA was a natural choice for us because it complements our direction and vision as a group,” said the band’s drummer Tim Sison.
Keyboardist TJ Hollon seconded, “MCA will open new doors for Unit 406 when it comes to our music, while, on the technical side, it will allow for more consistency and efficiency when it comes to our projects.”
The group has been active for five years and enjoyed a decent amount of success, acknowledged by various award-giving bodies, and with some of their singles used in movies and TV shows. That includes “Kahit Na Anong Sabihin Ng Iba” – the theme song of the series Hello Stranger.
Other singles that won listeners’ acclaim are “Tanghaling Tapat,” “Mandirigma,” and "Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay.”
Gab Tagadtad, the band’s chief songwriter, stated, “When I write for Unit 406, I imagine us playing on stage and I start from there hangang mabuo 'yung song.”
Completing the band’s lineup are vocalist-guitarist Chen Pangan and bassist Ash Vanguardia.
Interestingly, the Cebu-based act The Sundown got their biggest break yet by way of a partnership with a major rock figure in Raimund Marasigan. The guy needs no introduction, having been associated with as many bands as you can recall.
Don’t Forget Tonight, released under Island Records Philippines, is described as “a hard-edged, hooky and guitar-driven song.” I couldn’t agree less. It excites me further to hear some melodic 80s feel.
The band is composed of vocalist Aaron Domingo, guitarists Gino Rosales and Vincent James Eco, drummer Alden Panes, and bassist Luigi Balazo.
“Raimund is someone we look up to and respect. It was quite a privilege to have him produce the song,” Gino noted.
The pandemic forced the collaboration to be pulled off via the power of the Internet. But listening closely to the song, one may think the Eraserheads drummer was in the same room with the band.
Raimund recalled, “The band felt something was missing in the song so together we tried to figure it out.”