MANILA — Finally, Hale is back!

The alternative Pinoy rock band is making new music with their latest single "Klaro." 

They are more excited than ever to be back in the mainstream scene under Universal Music Group Philippines. 

Lead vocalist Champ Lui Pio clarified that they did not disband. While it has been years since they came up with new music, they have been performing in lowkey gigs and different events. 

“We’ve always been active in playing. It’s just that we haven’t come out with new music. So we’ve been actively gigging, since the last album in 2017,” Pio said. 

“We haven’t written a song together since 2009, so I guess everything happened organically, and maybe it was due for us to work on a song and a track together,” he added. 

Lead guitarist Roll Martinez said the process was "nostalgic." 

“Kasi nag-flashback 'yung college days before na kaming dalawa lang ni Champ, kakakilala ko lang sa kanya nun eh, siguro mga less than a year and then out of the blue, bro may kanta ako dito,” said Martinez.

The pandemic also kept them from creating new music and extended their hiatus. Violinist Chino David said: “Nagkaroon kami ng chance to technically do our own things at home, or hiwa-hiwalay.” 

Drummer Pao Santiago got elected as a councilor in the first district of Pasig City. David became a musical director/producer. Pio and Sheldon Gellarda got busy with their businesses. 

But while it took years for the band to produce new music, they said it was worth the wait. 

“We took our time, yun siguro yung isang difference ngayon. Weeks, months, in between our sessions. Talagang hindi minadali, tapos extra pa na maybe also the musical maturity where we’re at now,” said David. 

“We are happy. Happy sa tunog na lumabas. Nung narinig ko ito, iba yung dating sa akin. I hope marinig n’yo yung energy sa kantang ito,” said Pao.

During the exclusive listening party of "Klaro," they also signed their contracts with UMGPH. 

When asked if there are plans right now for a comeback concert, Pio said: “So we really haven’t planned anything with that kind of scale, we just want to focus on the songs first and it’s just January, very long January, but with our partnership with UMG, anything is possible and very much open with them leading us with what’s new and happening in the industry.” 

In the age of streaming and collaborations, Hale wants to work with the new artists of today. Specifically, they are curious how it would sound if they collaborate with Moira Dela Torre. 

—from a report by MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News

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