Ebe Dancel 15 years since the release of 'Sa Wakas': I think I’m nearing the finish line now

Fifteen years ago this month, Sugarfree released their debut album called Sa Wakas. Containing songs like “Mariposa,” “Telepono,” and “Unang Araw,” — which would become modern classics — the album would go on to win Album of the Year at the 2003 NU Rock Awards, and establish the trio of Ebe Dancel, Jal Taguibao and Mitch Singson (later replaced by Kaka Quisumbing) as a major new voice in OPM.

Sugarfree disbanded in 2011 with four studio albums and one live album to its name. While some may argue it was their later albums like "Dramachine" and "Tala-Arawan" that catapulted the band to wide, mainstream success, "Sa Wakas" is arguably their purest and most honest work and the one that introduced them to a whole legion of fans, many of whom still regard it with great admiration and fondness.

Dancel himself values "Sa Wakas" so much — what it did not just to his career but to his entire life — he announced a big show to mark the 15th anniversary of the album.

In this exclusive interview, Dancel digs deep and reveals the story behind the album, the challenges he and his bandmates faced to put it out, and why this anniversary show might just be the beginning of the end of his musical career:

How long had you been a band before you started writing and recording Sa Wakas?
We formed in 1999, but I had already written “Telepono,” “The Allan Song,” and “Hintay” back in college. All the others I wrote within a year of being in the band. We started recording in 2001.

If I remember right, you called the album "Sa Wakas" because of the unusually long time it took for it to come out. Is this accurate? Did it have anything to do with the issues related to Viva Records?
In 2001, we were in the studio for a few weeks and then we were told that recording was on hold indefinitely. It crushed me. I quit my job to concentrate on studio work and I suddenly found myself in limbo.

After a year, I went to Viva and had a meeting with them. They believed the songs were good, but the album would not have done well if we released it that time. I didn’t know much about business back then, but I knew I had to keep going. I was eventually allowed to leave the company, so I walked — really fast. The songs were submitted to a few labels, but only EMI (now Polyeast) wanted us.

In between, Angee Rozul called me in during studio downtime at Tracks and we'd work on whatever we could — extra guitars, vocals. He told me my songs were something he wanted his kids to listen to, so he was just as determined as I was. Sometimes I went in there with no money, and I remember being hungry all the time. Somehow, I just kept going.

Please tell us about how you wrote the songs on "Sa Wakas". Was it a collaborative effort among you, Jal and Mitch? What sort of headspace were you in at the time? Any artists that became big inspirations?
I wrote all the songs but “Tummyache” and “Taguan.” I remember spending a lot of time in Mitch's attic with the band. We weren't very good friends, but arranging the songs was so easy back then. We all wanted the same thing. We also had no mic in the attic, and that forced us to tune into what each instrument was doing. There were only three of us in the band so we were well aware that we had a lot of ground to cover. At the same time, we also believed that less was always more.

When it comes to mindset, I was young and kept falling in and out of love, never being able to stay put. I was sad all the time and music was my only friend. I just kept writing and writing, as if I were talking to my guitar.

I listened to a lot of Popsicle back then. Some say I was trying to sound like them. Of course I was, haha.

What were the easiest songs to write on the album? The hardest? What made it/them so hard?
Wow. It was such a long time ago. I wrote “Hintay” in college with the feeling that there was something out there waiting for me. I was a horrible student. I knew I was destined for something, I just couldn't figure it out then.

“Unang Araw” was the easiest to write. Every word in that song is based on days spent in my room, moping and pining for a love forever lost.

“Los Baños” is obviously about the place I call home now. I feel I’ve gone full circle. I spent 23 years in the city, but somehow I felt I never truly belonged. The bright lights and the big stages still intimidate me to this day.

I recall not having a hard time writing any of my songs. I didn’t have previous songs to compare them with. I had no fans, no money, no people to please and no future in sight. Just me and my guitar and I was perfectly okay with that. The point was getting my message across, almost to myself most of the time. I’m not the most articulate person I know. I’m much more confident when I have a guitar.

What was it like to work with Jal and Mitch on the album? Who else were the key personnel outside of the band that were involved in making Sa Wakas?
As I’ve mentioned, Jal, Mitch and I had this chemistry we probably still wouldn’t be able to explain to this day. Our personalities are so different but once we had our instruments, we moved as one.

Angee Rozul, our sound engineer, saved my career. When I had no money to pay for recording, he offered to keep a tab until a record company picked it up. He kept me going when I’ve completely lost faith in what i was doing.

Rico Blanco produced all the instruments and even played guitars in one song. For someone like him to invest time in a little band like us meant the world to me. We remain fans of each other to this day.

I know you were playing gigs in small bars before "Sa Wakas" came out. Based on the crowd response to your songs then, did you have an idea that the album would be as successful as it eventually became?
The funny thing is, I recall having no expectations whatsoever other than just having the record out. I had one goal and I can be a tunnel vision guy like that. People were losing faith in us. Someone from the industry even said “Sayang kayo.” I was young and brash then so I said “I don’t take no for an answer."

I’m so glad that back then, I was so full of myself. I used it as fuel, so I kept working. I kept bugging record labels. I kept showing up at the studio at a moment's notice. My bandmates had dayjobs and I completely get that. The responsibility fell on me and I didn’t mind at all. I’m glad I went through it.

But on the level of success, we just wanted the album out so we can play more bar gigs. For them to have reached homes around the world is beyond amazing. We have been truly blessed.

Please tell us about the cover art for the album. Whose concept was it and who created it? Besides the obvious (waiting for the turtle to make it to the finish line), did that image have any other meaning or significance?
I came up with the cover one day while I was sitting at our home's basement. Back then, I had a turtle and I was sitting around (same position as the cover art) waiting forever for it to come back to me. I told myself “parang album namin.” I called Nix Puno for the artwork and the rest is all him.

Do you remember ever having an "oh-my-god-they're-playing-our-song-on-the-radio" moment?
Our demo was already playing on NU107 even before the release of the album. But once “Mariposa” made it to 97.1 (LSFM), and hearing the Triggerman announce it on air, wow. What a moment. That guy has been a favorite since my high school days in Los Baños.

There are 12 songs on the album. Can you give one-word or short descriptions for each one?
I actually had to open Spotify for this haha

• “Burnout” - Resignation
• “Hintay” - Something is out there
• “Mundong Malungkot” - I wrote for two friends, EJ and Hazel
• “Taguan” - Jal's ode to APO
• “Unang Araw” -  Probably the saddest song I’ve ever written
• “Mariposa” - I was in the motel shooting an indie film when I wrote “ayoko nang mag-isa”
• “Telepono” - Remember landlines? No? Didn’t think so
• “Tummyache” - I honestly don’t know what this song is about
• “Los Baños” - Home. Peace. Freedom.
• “Insomya” - My favorite from this album
• “The Allan Song - Wrote this in college. Allan was my first manager

You've been quoted as saying that "Sa Wakas" changed your life forever. How so?
Music has given me a very blessed and comfortable life. If it weren’t for this album, I wouldn’t be playing anymore. I know I’m my own person, but I also know where I came from and I respect that. I had no idea "Sa Wakas" would have such a lasting impact on people and I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I’m taking it.

Why was it important for you to do a show to mark its 15th anniversary?
I need to keep going back so I know where I want to go. I think I’m nearing the finish line now. I love music but I’m getting tired more often and I get homesick easily. By celebrating this album, it will perhaps give me a sense of direction as to how I want to end things, maybe.

More importantly, though, this show is for Sugarfree fans. I might never be able to give them a reunion, so this is the closest I can offer them. I'm still here because of them, and this is a small way of saying thank you for their never-ending love. I'm sure I speak for the whole band when I say we love them back and we miss them, too. Fifteen years later, I realized I’m done moping. It's time to celebrate life. — LA, GMA News

Sa Wakas: The 15th Anniversary gig: 12 Monkeys Music Hall, El Pueblo, Ortigas Center, Pasig, 10pm, Tuesday, January 16, 2018. For inquiries: +639175703222

Paul John Caña is a writer and live music geek. Check out his blog manontheotherside.blogspot.com. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana