Charmie Joy Pagulong - The Philippine Star
February 3, 2025 | 12:00am
The newly formed ‘supergroup’ Tanaw Collective — composed of female rock idols Aia de Leon, Hannah Romawac, Acel Bisa, Lougee Basabas and Barbie Almalbis, will hold ‘Tanaw: The Repeat’ concert on Feb. 9 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
MANILA, Philippines — Ahead of their upcoming concert, Filipina alt-rock icons Acel Bisa, Aia de Leon, Barbie Almalbis, Hannah Romawac, Kitchie Nadal and Lougee Basabas have formed the supergroup, Tanaw Collective, to pay homage to the “power of women-led collaborations.”
As part of the newly formed group’s lineup of music collaborations, they recently dropped their official single Landslide, which is a stripped-down version of the Fleetwood Mac classic. The track will be part of their setlist at the “Tanaw: The Repeat” concert happening on Feb. 9 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
Lougee, former Mojofly vocalist, teased that there will be a lot of surprises in store for everyone at their forthcoming gig and a special team-up with The Manila String Machine. “And of course, we have a new song to perform, songs that we have produced and composed together as a collective. So that’s something to look forward to,” she told The STAR.
Kitchie, who was in Spain during the media event held at the Newport World Resorts, shared via a video that she is beyond thrilled to hit the stage again with her music contemporaries who also happened to be her closest friends.
“Be part of the night filled with sisterhood, friendship, faith, nostalgia and music legacy. Thank you for the love and support. I can’t wait to see you all there,” declared the Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin hitmaker and ex-Mojofly vocalist who came before Lougee.
Solid friendship
Most active in the late ‘90s to the early 2000s in the local music scene, the female rock queens have maintained their solid bond through the years.
“We are not high-maintenance so we understand the silence and the gaps in between,” asserted Aia, former vocalist of Imago. “Because we’re just you know mom, friends, also we’re people who go to church. We have different circles. We have different responsibilities.”
The key to their strong friendship is mutual respect, added former Session Road vocalist Hannah. “Because that’s the idea of the collective, you know, just come in when we’re all inspired by something. Gather, ganun, volt in, and then if not, it’s OK because life is happening.”
For her part, Acel (once the voice of Moonstar88) cited how the group members have supported each other’s respective music projects through the years.
Faith and music
The ladies, who have been vocal about their faith, also reflected on how their faith has impacted their music and songwriting process.
Aia recalled that during and shortly after the pandemic, she laid down her life to Christ and it made a tremendous impact in her life.
“I’ve been clearer with many things. I have had a sense of clear purpose ahead of me. Also, a sense of who I am, so much respect that I have now for myself,” she mused.
“With music, that’s where the excitement is coming from. Because it’s been so long that I’ve nurtured a lie in my head. I’ve been carrying this spirit of fear,” she continued.
Aia added that these past years, she was able to overcome it through her faith in God. “I think I’m ready to venture and brave it up with my musical plans.”
Acel, on the other hand, asserted, “My faith changed who I am in a way.”
She “came to know the Lord” in 2001 when she was at the peak of her career as frontwoman of Moonstar88. “And it really helped (me to) be free… There was a pressure of pleasing, as a performer, of course, there’s always something that you want to please the audience, everyone around you. It steals the joy of why I wanted to do this in the first place.
“But when I got to know (God), I had to step out of that (pressure) so I left Moonstar88 in 2004. That was the time that I think I needed that 000 to release from the lies that once I believed who I am.
“My value is not defined by how people see me with my success, or how they even define success in this world. And when I was taken out of that, then, that’s when I got to write more songs that really (came) from the place of freedom and joy and peace. Kaya nag-iba ng theme ang songwriting ko. So it really impacted how I write songs and even how I performed. I became more free and secure of my identity (that’s) not based on what I do.”
Acel earlier announced that she is relocating to the Netherlands with her family. She also just dropped her album called “Being and Becoming.”
‘Spotlight is a lie’
On their thoughts about the “spotlight” in the music scene, Aia reacted, “The things that matter don’t fall under the spotlight. Sometimes, it does but hindi porket wala na sayo yung spotlight, tapos na ang kwento.”
“The spotlight is a lie,” she further stated. “Spotlight is a moving thing. It highlights — parang it’s a very itchy thing. It travels from one place to another at breakneck speed. Wala siyang sinasamba.”
She also stressed that one cannot “love the limelight or the spotlight because it was never ours in the first place.”
“But what is ours are the things that are intangible, the things that are immeasurable, things that can’t be bought at all, which is love, companionship, community, respect, honesty, vulnerability and music.”
Acel also pondered on the topic, saying, “I see it like a big sky and then there are a lot of stars there. I mean everyone has a space and lots of light, and it continues to shine. Bring your own spotlight.”
Echoing the sentiments of Aia and Acel, Barbie expressed the joy that music has brought to their lives.
“When we all started with music, we all started writing songs when we were in teens, it wasn’t a means to an end. It wasn’t the thing like, ‘Oh this is gonna make me famous, oh this is gonna make you whatever.’ It was because music was such a gift that we enjoyed it. We enjoyed playing guitar and writing songs in the room when there was nobody watching.”
Now that they are gearing up for their repeat concert, can the fans also expect a reunion album from them?
“One at a time. Coming soon,” Barbie told this paper.
“Tanaw: The Repeat” is co-presented by Newport World Resorts, GNN and Wow Fiesta, with official hotel partner Holiday Inn Express. Major sponsors include JB Music, Ming’s Pei Pa Koa Candy, David’s Salon, Apartment8, and Globatronics, while minor sponsors include Greenwich, Palladium, UGEC, Payaba, and Meiji Chocolates.
