December Avenue is one of the local artists that different generations in the Philippines have tuned in to.
The five-piece band has consistently crafted hit songs for 15 remarkable years, including “Candles,” “Eroplanong Papel,” "Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-Ibig," “Bulong,” "Huling Sandali," and "Ilang Beses Kita Mamahalin."
Aside from its immediate ear candy appeal, their music has also garnered prestigious accolades—such as the Best Song Written for Movie/TV/Stage Play for “Huling Sandali” at The 33rd Awit Awards; the Most Popular Recording/Performing Group at the 51st Box Office Entertainment Awards; and the 2019 Most-Streamed Artist of the Philippines on Spotify.
Composed of Zel Bautista, Jet Danao, Jem Manuel, Don Gregorio, and Gelo Cruz, the group shared stories with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) from its journey of a decade and a half.
This exclusive interview took place at the G Music Fest 2023 held at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City on September 16, 2023.
Zel, the vocalist, shared this: “Yung struggles namin as an artist for over 15 years, madami, as in sobrang dami.
"And one thing, ako personally... the one thing that keeps us going is, I think, of course, yung passion namin for music — yung love namin for creating music and expressing ourselves—and also the people who believe in us throughout the years."
He jested, "When we started, we were able to build our fanbase, starting from the bottom—wala pa rin kami sa top.
"As in, di namin iniisip yun, heto pa rin kami… Meron pa rin kaming goal na tuluy-tuloy lang.”
PAST AND FUTURE: DECEMBER AVENUE’S SONGS
With the popularity of the band and their songs amassing over 3,464,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, surely they must've stumbled upon the right musical hooks to lure their listeners?
Yes, true.
Reflecting on their songs, December Avenue revealed the key to connecting with people.
Zel said: "When it comes to the lyrics of the songs, actually hindi iba-iba yung theme namin.
"Kasi our songs just mostly talk about love, life, moving on and, I think, kaya maraming naka-relate dun kasi yung song writing namin, it comes from the heart...
“Kumbaga, it resonates with a lot of people in a very, I would say, generic sense, kasi di ba lahat naman tayo... nakaka-feel tayo ng sadness, ng happiness? Yung all of the, you know, common emotions natin...
“That's one of the [keys] of our success— because our songs are easy to digest and people can easily relate dun sa songs na yun."
Even with the ever-growing extensive catalog of the group, Zel believes they have more to share with the public.
"I believe, yes, we still have some in our repertoire. But the thing is, when we're talking about love kasi, it's not just about the relationship between a boy and girl.
"Kasi if you've seen our music videos from the past how many years, lahat ng kuwento na yun is about love but it doesn't really tackle boy-and-girl relationship...
“For example, the music video of 'Huling Sandali,' it's about the love of the nurse to the patient, and our most recent music video ["Saksi Ang Langit"], it's about a father's love.
“So, I think, sobrang lalim... nung love... I don't think matatapos siya sa... love lang.”
Playfully, he enumerated: “Siguro, tungkol sa kape, ganyan, about sa sabon…”
He said with earnest: “Masarap kasi pakinggan ang love songs, di ba? It makes you, you know, sabi nga nila... 'music speaks... for the soul' and it says whatever you cannot express...
“Kaya nakaka-relate din yung mga tao sa songs namin, it's because that's how they feel talaga."
On December 15, the group fulfilled a promise by releasing a new single, "In My Arms Is Where I’ll Keep You," which garnered over 50,000 hits on Spotify alone in just five days.
In addition to treating fans with a new song, the quintet is also gearing up for its concert in 2024, to celebrate 15 years—no mean feat—in the music industry.
BEHIND THE FAME
Navigating the uncertainties of the music industry, December Avenue chose to persevere in it without losing attention to their daily lives.
Zel narrated: “For example, kami... we were able to pursue our career, pero, of course, adulting counts, and we have to be real, you know, na we need a day job.
“So, for the longest time we all had a day job, kumbaga parang second...priority lang yung banda...
“Being an artist here in the Philippines, you know, if you're not really blessed with a family na mayaman, you can't really do art.
"Kasi it's hard, kasi you gonna pay for your bills, your transpo, tapos when you play sa gigs... you're not getting paid, di ba? Usually it's just exposure, just x-deal, di ba?"
That's why, in this exclusive interview, the band offered advice to aspiring and emerging artists: have patience and kindness.
Zel said, “One thing that I would tell the younger ones who [want] to make it in this career: you just have to persevere... you just have to be patient.”
Continuing, he said: “Meron akong nabasa kanina sa Facebook, ang sabi, 'The doors of opportunities will not open unless God knows that you're ready for it...'
“Ganun lang din yung nangyari sa'min, we just hold on doon sa... pangarap namin... na mag-perform on big stages, you know, for people to sing along with our music.
“And, siguro, hindi na rin namin napansin kung gaano katagal yung journey na yun. Basta we kept on going, hindi kami tumigil, you know. We found ways to sustain our lifestyle.
“Just be nice to people kasi the people you see here, like the production [people], all of these are the people you will see when you get big din, so you just have to be nice...
“And familiarize yourself with the business para hindi ka, you know...nate-take advantage."
UNFILTERED JOURNEY OF DECEMBER AVENUE
What sets the band apart from other artists?
To this, the members pointed to their strong relationship and good communication with each other.
Jet, the drummer, said: "Sa tingin ko yung... relasyon sa isa't isa. Importante kasi yung pagkakaibigan at kung pa'no niyo itrato yung isa't isa.
“Sa amin, masasabi ko, ang [turingan] kasi namin talaga, pamilya sa isang team. Hindi lang kaming lima, lahat ng buong Dec Ave team."
Agreeing, Zel added: “Tama yung sinasabi ni Jet—we treat everyone as important as the band, so walang mas above sa amin. And, I think, that's the culture that we're able to build within the group.
“Pero, we're not saying na hindi ganun yung ibang group, we just don't know if... ganun din yung culture."
Jet said: "Saka normal naman lahat nagkakaroon ng problema internally... lahat nangyari yan at lahat yan napagdaanan na namin.
“Kaya lang, yun nga, kailangan...yung relasyon niyo open at dapat kung mali yung isa, kayang kausapin nung isa.
“Minsan kasi yan ang nagiging main source kung bakit hindi nagtatagal ang isang banda...kasi nga nag-iipon sila ng sama ng loob. Galit ka na sa isa, hindi mo pa rin masabi, hanggang sa naipon na nang naipon.
“Kaya importante yung komunikasyon."
Zel said, jesting: "Yeah, kaya sobrang laking tulong ng Globe kasi...kung wala kaming phones, hindi kami makakapag-usap... 'Uy, anong problema mo?' Wala!
“So, Globe talaga."
Picking up, Jet said: "So, Globe ang dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon, nandito pa kami. Komunikasyon talaga, as in, iyan ang pinaka-importante...
“Ang problema talagang nandiyan lang iyan, tulad nung kanina, hindi ko lang nasabi, yung about sa... journey... hindi mawawala iyan, may tatamarin sa inyo. Pero kailangan lang kasi naniniwala kayo sa isa't isa, yun ang pinaka-importante kahit saang sangay...kahit na anong ginagawa mo sa buhay…
“Limang indibidwal... limang ugali...
“Meron kaming manager [Koi Busalla], so mahirap din sa part niya na paano... kontrolin 'to...
"Pero siyempre yung responsibilidad, dapat alam yun ng bawat isang miyembro."
Wrapping up the interview, the vocalist underlined a significant point the members uphold: "Kasi kami, hindi namin dala yung sarili naming mga pangalan...
“We're all representing one brand, which is December Avenue, and we're very careful [not] to... ruin kung anuman yung legacy na...na-build ni December Avenue...
“Everyone's a part of it, and we all share lahat iyan."
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