A DOCUMENTARY motion picture about Filipino band Lola Amour’s recent album concert is currently accessible online, ideal for devotees wishing to relive the moment or casual listeners eager to discover what the excitement is about.
Lola Amour: The Album Concert, which was recorded live at Circuit Makati’s outdoor concert venue in April, serves as a sort of “early Christmas gift,” according to the band.
Directed by Jed Regala of First Light Studios, the concert film showcases the band’s performance and features exclusive behind-the-scenes snippets such as spontaneous rehearsal footage and discussions with fans and music directors leading up to the major event.
“For the concert film, our primary offering is the live presentation. We already have complete sets available online, like the ‘Fallen’ single debut and the PETA Theater live show. Every few years we undertake something like this, and it’s beneficial for us to evaluate our progress and remind ourselves that we are still advancing,” remarked Pio Dumayas, Lola Amour’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, during the press unveiling of the concert film.
“Naturally, we’re also motivated by the fans we can’t connect with. We have numerous fans who wished to see us live but were unable to, so this is dedicated to them,” he continued.
For chief guitarist Zoe Gonzales, the film offered the members a chance to truly observe the audience. “It’s like evidence that it actually took place because when we performed, it felt almost unreal. It was fantastic to witness the audience’s responses, simply very authentic,” he stated.
This was also their final concert with former bassist Raymond King, whose exit from the band became effective after the live performance concluded. Their current bassist, Manu Dumayas, noted that the transition has been seamless.
“Raymond and I possess very different playing techniques. There was a moment of adjustment, not only in terms of the transition of roles within the band but also in actual sound. Seven months have elapsed, and I believe we are in a place where we aspire to be. We’re all aligned on the new sound that we desire,” he conveyed to the press.
The album concert also showcased guests such as the band’s previous keyboardist Martin Kim (who is presently based in South Korea), the Filipino hip-hop collective PLAYERTWO, and internet personality and macho dancer Dante Gulapa.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Having just launched the concert film online, Lola Amour is preparing to release new music in the upcoming months.
“We traveled to Malaysia in late July to take part in a songwriting camp organized by Warner Philippines and Warner Australia,” Mr. Dumayas shared. “We connected well with some of the producers there and returned to Malaysia to finalize an album with them. We composed an album in nine working days.”
Before this is unveiled, fans can anticipate a track set to release on Jan. 31, 2025 — a collaboration with Australian singer-songwriter Oliver Cronin, titled “Maria.”
Lola Amour drummer Raffy Perez stated that the technical facets of their live performances have only just begun to improve. “Tame Impala, an artist whom I really admire, emphasizes extensive light usage in concerts. So in that sense, we’re somewhat influenced to do the same, where synchronized LEDs create a light display that complements each song’s mood and energy. That’s what excites me,” he informed BusinessWorld.
For keyboardist David Yuhico, their songwriting will persist in evolving. “Currently, we’re aiming to keep it straightforward. Let’s utilize our strengths and allow individuals to excel in specific areas. Let’s create a cohesive whole, rather than just everyone striving to fill the sound simply because they can,” he clarified.
Fans can anticipate Lola Amour establishing an international presence, according to frontman Mr. Dumayas.
“To date, we’ve performed in Singapore and Macau. We enjoy performing here, but we aspire to seek out opportunities to expand our reach globally,” he remarked.
The band members also shared with BusinessWorld an array of other aspirations — performing in larger venues like arenas once they accumulate more hit songs, releasing a concert film in cinemas or on platforms like Netflix, and even aiming for a Guinness World Record to shatter during their next live performance.
“Everything we do is for the fans. It’s all dedicated to them,” Mr. Dumayas stated.
Lola Amour: The Album Concert is now accessible on Spotify and YouTube. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
