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HORROR STORIES and aesthetics had always been a major influence for Filipino alternative band Fitterkarma, who have showcased the dark flair that love songs can have with their hits “Pag-ibig ay Kanibalismo II” and “Kalapastangan.” Now, their noise-driven, shoegaze-influenced music is set to manifest in a big way — through their debut album and their first major concert.
The album, kung tayo’y nasa isang horror na pelikula, tiyak ako ang una mong papatayin, will be hitting streaming platforms worldwide on Sept. 9. As the title suggests, it will be brooding, hazy, and tense, injected with macabre folkloric references and melodic pop sensibilities.
The four-piece band, composed of Joao de Leon (vocals/guitar), Sophia Miranda (bass), Sanders Bayas (drums), and LORY (guitar), will bring the album to life at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Sept. 19, elevated by a collaboration with The Manila String Machine.
They were driven by the desire to craft an album with different sounds, said Mr. De Leon. True to how Filipinos grow up hearing horror stories from relatives, especially in the province, the album’s 13 tracks combine “personal experiences and tastes in art.” Confirmed tracks include “Purgatoryo,” “666,” and “Kung Bampira Lang Tayo.”
“We’d like people to hear the versatility of the band and, aside from the lyricism, the emotion that each track brings to the album,” he explained. “My perspective when it comes to albums is, it’s like a movie. It has its own flow. There are ups and downs.”
Meanwhile, the decision to have The Manila String Machine join them onstage to stemmed from their desire to “give the songs more life.”
“That’s the power of the orchestra. It’s so dynamic and expressive. That’s the reason we included them in the record and in the concert,” Mr. De Leon said. “It’s like putting the music on IMAX.”
Since their inception in 2023, Fitterkarma has been open about one of their major influences, Radiohead, their band name a combination of two of the English rock band’s songs, “Fitter Happier” and “Karma Police.” But they pointed to one Radiohead track that they hail as the song: “Paranoid Android.”
“Lahat ng tunog nandoon. May choir, may rakrakan, may malungkot na part (All the sounds are there. There’s a choir, there’s rocking out, there’s a sad part),” explained Mr. De Leon.
They hope to display the same versatility in their album. Guitarist LORY (real name: Mikee Mendoza) said that the album will have sonic variety.
“I feel like we worked hard to make each track special,” he said. “At sana makilala kami (And I hope we’ll be known) not just as an indie rock band but for other genres also.”
Bassist Sophia Miranda said their sound was a result of their growing relationship as a band. “Our sound evolves as we bond together. Parang pamilya na rin ang turing namin sa isa’t isa. Dikit na. May chemistry (We treat each other like family. We click. There’s chemistry),” she said.
The concert, produced and organized by Fitterkarma and Gabi Na Naman Productions, will feature an expanded stage design to fit the orchestral backing provided by The Manila String Machine, with the goal being to “add new dimension to the band’s already cinematic sound.”
The four band members agreed that, while it will be a milestone in their career, they still have more goals to work for — like possibly touring abroad. They floated destinations they’d love to perform at, like the US, UK, and Japan.
For now, they hope fans will enjoy both the album and the concert.
“Sana gawin nilang personal ang experience nila sa album (I hope they make their experience of the album very personal),” Mr. De Leon said. “It should be special to each person listening to it.”
Tickets to kung tayo’y nasa isang horror na pelikula, tiyak ako ang una mong papatayin: The Album Concert are now available online via Ticketmelon, with prices ranging from P999 (general admission balcony seats) to P2,999 (orchestra seats with soundcheck access, meet and greet, and signed poster). — Brontë H. Lacsamana
