OPM band Freestyle will perform its new single “Surrender You” in a concert titled It’s About Time on Sept. 19, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
The band, whose career spans more than two decades, rose to prominence in 1998 with soulful ballads and live performances that won audiences across generations. Among its biggest hits are “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?” with Pops Fernandez, “Before I Let You Go,” “This Time,” “Para Sa ’Yo,” “Till I Found You,” “So Slow,” and “Once in a Lifetime.”
These songs, along with four studio albums—Freestyle (self-titled debut), This Time, I Wanna Get Close, and Once in a Lifetime — and three live albums — Freestyle Live at the Araneta Coliseum, Freestyle All Hits Live, and Freestyle Love Concert (The Album)—cemented the group’s reputation as one of the country’s leading acts.
Today, Freestyle is composed of Top Suzara, Ian Tan, Gibson Viduya, IJ Garcia, and Buoy Manalo. The group has also released newer songs such as “Let Love Win,” “Bespren,” “Maybe,” and “Walang Ibang Ikaw.”
“As the title of the show says, it’s about time,” Suzara said. “It’s been a long time coming, and everything is about time and has already been about time.”
Suzara, the band’s original frontman, left Freestyle in 2005 but returned three years ago. He said the group’s longevity is tied to its focus on music.
“If there is one [secret], I really don’t know what it is. I left Freestyle in 2005, and I’m back as their frontman once again for three years now. The universe can be very funny sometimes. But I guess if I did have to answer, whether it applies to Freestyle or not, it’s the commitment to making music, and sharing the music you create together,” he said.
The concert will showcase the band’s new single, written by Suzara, along with original hits and covers.
“Of course, apart from so many originals we’ve selected for the show, we are doing some other songs that are playful time machines into memories that we hope many will have for themselves, too,” he added.
Neocolours, another well-known ’90s band, will appear as special guest.
It’s About Time is produced by Full House Theater Company and NY Entourage Productions. Tickets are available at TicketWorld and the Newport World Resorts Box Office.
