Name: Sandwich
Location: Manila
Relationship Status: Single
Record Label: EMI
About Me: SANDWICH Raimund Marasigan – Vocals, Guitar (Eraserheads,Cambio, Pedicab) Diego Castillo – Guitars Mike Dizon – Drums (Teeth, Pedicab) Myrene Academia – Bass (Imago) Mong Alcaraz – Guitars (Chicosci) Pinoy rock n’ roll bands aren’t meant to last. Yet Sandwich are now ten years old and enjoying the biggest hits of their lives. It’s been a hell of a ride; the lows threatened to nip their ankles, but the band consistently rocked towards heady highs that have always proved greater than the last. In 1998, personal tension among the Eraserheads drove drummer Raimund Marasigan to found a new group whose main goals would simply be to make music, rock out, and abstain from band politix bullsh*t. After sharing this vision with then BMG A&R man Diego Castillo, the two co-conspirators enlisted NU 107 programming chief Myrene Academia and Teeth drummer Mike Dizon, who both played with Diego in the defunct The Aga Muhlach Experience. Original vocalist Marc Abaya (only an Atenean junior then) officially joined ‘em in 1999 when Raims personally invited him to, after watching him at a college band competition. That same year, their adventuristic debut album GRIP STAND THROW turned Sandwich into overnight sensations in the rock frat community courtesy of its intense, gritty carrier single, “Butterfly Carnival.” Accolades followed the band and their music well into 2001 with the release of their sophomore album, FOUR TRACK MIND. Soon after, Sandwich severed their four-year partnership with BMG Records. While amicably done, it was undeniably a big blow to the band. In 2004, the Filipino rock audience came back to life whilst Sandwich enjoyed their year-old elevation to “indie cool status.” The year before, THANKS TO THE MOON’S GRAVITATIONAL PULL propelled the band into the world of independent music. Instead of floundering into oblivion as was wont to happen to acts bereft of major label funding and support, the band had charged forward with a third album that transformed them from “just a bunch of popular rockers” into a “certifiably cool, working-class band.” But barely two years after this unexpected yet triumphant turnaround of fortune, another blow hit the group: Marc has decided to quit the band to focus on his MTV veejay duties and his new band, Kjwan. “We felt that such a huge void was left when Marc left,” Diego shares. “He was such a great singer, performer, and songwriter that it was a bit daunting task to fill his shoes.” But Sandwich is a band of survivors. They’ve proven in the past that endings need not mean “it’s over.” With the addition of incendiary young guitarist Mong Alcaraz and Raims on frontman duty, Marc’s exit morphed into a launching pad for the most celebrated takeoff in Sandwich’s career. With the band’s improved lineup, radical musical direction, and even a new home (with EMI since December 2005), Raims confidently declared, “2006 will be off the hook.” FILLING the LISTENERS Being composed of genuinely talented members comes in handy as Sandwich continues to experiment on new sounds which can be heard on the remixes they come up with for their singles and on their live performances as well. In between recordings and gigs, Sandwich continues to do small projects here and there. They have done soundtracks for several shows and movies such as: HUMANDA KA OST: NGINIIIG – a horror show by Philippine TV Channel ABSCBN MASILUNGAN Theme for HARIBON’s TV As (Haribon is an Organization who aims to promote advocacy to conserve nature) CLOSE ENCOUNTER Close-Up’s jingle for TV and Radio Ads BUKSAN MO Coke’s jingle for TV and Radio Ads SUPER NOYPI OST: SUPER NOYPI (The Movie) BAKIT ANG BABAE Kami nAPO Muna (A tribute to the APO Hiking Society) ZAIDO Theme for GMA7’s primetime sine-serye: ZAIDO In live performances, Sandwich never fails to rev up the audience with their staple of hits Two Trick Pony, Butterfly Carnival, Sugod, Walang kadala-dala, DVDX, and Sunburn. Last September 2007, Sandwich has been invited to take part and represent Philippines in the first AYAF1 in Shenzhen, China. On the said event, Sandwich was awarded Judge’s Choice Award alongside ten (10) other countries. Note: AYAF1 (Asian Youth Arts Festival) is a gathering, organized by the Chinese Cable TV (CCTV), working with newly developed Eastern Chinese Town (ECT) region in Shenzen, which aims to promote awareness and interaction between the different cultures of Asian countries. “SUGOD, MGA KAPATID!!!” Indeed, Sandwich was the band of 2006. Their fourth studio album, FIVE ON THE FLOOR, challenged the band to step up and explore musical realms out of their comfort zones: songwriting, band instruments, odd measures, harmonies, tempo and groove, song arrangements and recording techniques---everything was messed with and experimented on. And it paid off. “SUGOD,” the album’s electrifying carrier single, quickly set Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on fire. For the first time, Sandwich’s music isn’t exclusive to the rockiterati; finally, the hoi polloi have found a Sandwich hit they can relate with. The song reintroduced the band to the masses not as untouchable rock gods but as one of them, a rock fan. Thanks to “Sugod,” rock n’ roll insurgents could finally pump their fists to their own anthem. More chart toppers like “WALANG KADALA-DALA,” “DVDX,” and “SUNBURN” further cemented Sandwich’s status as one of Pinoy rock’s hottest properties. But it’s the band’s rousing onstage productions---all seemingly designed for attention and spotlight and drama---that turned Sandwich into one of the most wanted and highly-acclaimed live acts here and abroad. Ten years is nothing to sneer at. Especially not if you’re still as vital as the day you first set off a rock-thirsty crowd. To celebrate all the tribulations and successes of their first decade together, Sandwich stamps their tenth anniversary with a new, aptly-titled album, S MARKS THE SPOT. Diego best explains the secret to Sandwich’s longevity. “We didn’t really let [the blows in our careers] affect us since we always knew we could still make music and more importantly, still play live. Also, there are no commercial goals for any of our albums. Raims, Mike, Myrene, Mong, and I just wanted the music to be the best we could create as a band. We let our lives; our experiences come out thru the music.” That, as all music lovers know, is the best gift any artist can give to their listeners---themselves. And with every album, every song, every live performance, Sandwich makes sure to share an essential part of their being to every loyal fan who stands in rapt attention as the band played on. AWARDS at a GLANCE: NU 107 Rock Awards* 1999: Album of the Year- “Grip Stand Throw” Best New Artist – Sandwich Song of the Year – Butterfly Carnival AWIT AWARDS** 2000: Best Performance by a New Artist – Sandwich 99.5RT Music Awards*** Best Alternative Artist – Sandwich NU 107 Rock Awards 2001 Album of the Year – Four Track Mind NU 107 Rock Awards 2004 Album Producer of the Year – Sandwich for “Thanks to the Moon’s Gravitational Pull” NU 107 Rock Awards 2006 Bassist of the Year – Myrene Academia Guitarist of the Year – Mong Alcaraz Best Male – Mong Alcaraz MTV Pilipinas Music Awards**** 2006 Video of the Year: Sandwich for “Sugod” AWIT AWARDS 2007 (nominations) Song of the Year: Sandwich for “Sugod” Best Rock: Sandwich and Buddy Zabala for “Sugod” Best World/Alternative/Bossa Music: Sandwich and Buddy Zabala for “DVDX” *NU 107 ROCK AWARDS is the annual awards-night given by Rock Music FM station NU107.5. Listeners vote on the annual polls to narrow down eligible to nominees who are then narrowed down by judges to winners. **AWIT AWARDS is an expression of the Filipino’s undying passion for music – music etched in every Filipino’s heart. Awit Awards is a prestigious award-giving body, spearheaded by PARI (The Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc.), that gives recognition to Filipino performing artists and people behind the making of Filipino recorded music. ***995.RT Music Awards is the former annual Music Awards by 99.5RT (now Hit FM 99.5) for artists in the local music industry. **** MTV PILIPINAS MUSIC AWARDS is the annual awards night by the Philippine station for MTV. Viewers are given the chance to vote for their favorites, and the vote is among the criteria in the selection of winners.
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