Fuseboxx: Alt-pop-rock Christmas music out of the boxx 

A Christmas song isn’t a Christmas song without the signature chimes, bells, electric pianos, sweeping string arrangements, and soulful vocals.
 

This year, a local progressive rock band has decided to add some Chapman stick and designer synth sounds to the growing sonic palette of Filipino music specifically designed for the season.
 

Fuseboxx, known in the independent music circuit for their odd meters, use of new instruments as well as modern synthesis (creation of new sounds through the electronic manipulation of a sine wave), has released “Sa Sabsaban,” an alt-pop-rock tune that gently introduces the chimes-and electric-piano-drenched ears of the Filipino audience to the exciting new musical possibilities of the Christmas carol. 
 

“Sa Sabsaban” features the vocals of industry veteran Noel Cabangon and Anima Choir, formerly of the San Miguel Master Chorale led by maestro Ryan Cayabyab. 
 

“’Sa Sabsaban’ is our contribution to original Filipino music,” shares Eric Tubon, who composed the track with Chapman stick expert Abby Clutario and does synth and keyboard duties for the band. “Ito ay pag-aalay naming sa Panginoon, sa mga Pinoy sa buong mundo at sa Sining at Kultura natin.” 

 

What makes “Sa Sabsaban” unique from other projects is its ambition. It’s an original Filipino composition unlike any other you’ll hear this season (here have a listen—loved the fluttery synth work and the odd-time choruses); it’s fresh, adventurous but still accessible, thanks to the now very familiar vocals of Cabangon; and more importantly, its production has brought communities of artists, music professionals and music lovers ever closer together.
 

It is the band’s first collaboration with Cabangon. “He was very professional. Kami pa nga ‘yung wala sa comfort zone,” recalls Tubon. “Biruin mo nagtatapikan pa kami ni Abby for him to do another take para may safety take.” The band considers it a real blessing to have worked with him.
 

Fuseboxx recorded the song at Wild Grass Studio (formerly known as Pink Noise), the only studio in the country with a Solid State Logic (SSL) 4000 mixing desk, “the mixer behind more platinum-selling albums than all other consoles combined” according to its manufacturer.  

Platinum or none, many musicians, including myself, consider the studio a world-class recording laboratory, in an industry where home recording is increasingly becoming the norm. In fact, Wild Grass is one of only two music studios in Quezon City that have a baby grand piano. Think heavy, vault-type, double steel doors that open to acoustically-treated rooms and booths. Its new owner, Korean national Junny Lim, has added more lights in the main studio and converted the receiving area into a mini-gallery that feature artworks from his pianist wife. He has opened up the space even more to accommodate special musical events. 

 

Lim, who came to the Philippines eight years ago, partnered with Fuseboxx as recording and sound engineer of “Sa Sabsaban,” which features real instrumental recording instead of MIDI or computer music. He mixed almost sixty tracks all in all, running them through the famous SSL board and an Allen & Heath iLive digital mixer that busses out to the industry-standard ProTools 10 and back again.

Instead of a single microphone, Lim used individual microphones to record Anima Choir and twelve microphones to record the drum set. He also recorded Cabangon using an AKG Tube microphone (tube microphones are known to bring out the low-end warmth of a male voice or a female alto). What these technical decisions mean for us listeners is that the resulting sounds are huge and multi-dimensional, and it still makes all the difference even in our tiny earphones. 

 

With the song written in Filipino, Lim had to ask for an English translation. “Lyrics are important when mixing songs. For it is not just about delivering the music. It is also conveying the message of the song to the people and the heart of the composer through the lyrics which the sound engineer has to catch to bring about a beautiful piece of music.”

 

For the first time in his career, Lim has recorded the sound of the Chapman stick, played on the track by Clutario. “The Chapman sounded very good. I realize it has less bass frequency than an ordinary four or five-stringed bass guitar, so during the mixing I used BBE 862 sonic maximiser to extend to low end.” 

 

Lim loves working with Filipinos. “Filipinos are kind and friendly and it helps create a better atmosphere in the studio. They are also flexible and freewheeling.”
 

For Tubon, the feeling is mutual. “During our sessions (Junny) would always say ‘I don't understand it but I love it.’ Music is indeed a universal language," he shares. — VC, GMA News

 

 

Fuseboxx are Eric Tubon, Abby Clutario, Mico Ong and Anthony Dio. Their Christmas single “Sa Sabsaban,” is now available on CD Baby, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and other digital distribution outlets. Visit the band at their website, Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram Official accounts: @fuseboxx.