Tower of Doom

03/08/2025

FACT CHECK: THE RIDLEYS Edition! 🎸 7 Things To Know

1. The band name came from Benny's crush on Daisy Ridley from Star Wars Episode 7! Last-minute decision para sa deadline ng UST Battle of the Bands submission in March 2016 - originally meant to be a one-time thing pero almost a decade later, yun pa rin! Benny actually tried sliding into Daisy Ridley's DMs but never got a reply! 🌟

2. Benny writes tons of songs but only cherry-picks the best for The Ridleys! His filtering process? He plays new songs mid-rehearsal during their usual set list practice and watches the band's reaction - if they really love it, "it's a Ridley song!" May hidden gems pa tayong hindi naririnig! ✨

3. Their post-gig ritual? Eating dimsum together! This Chinese food tradition has bonded them for almost a decade now. They always look forward to hitting up dimsum places with the bros after gigs. Real friends eat dumplings together! 🥟

4. All four members started playing music in church during high school, practicing almost every week! This church background shaped their collaborative "serve the song" mindset, focusing on adding to the music rather than individual showboating. Their weekly church practice sessions built the strong band dynamics we see today! 🎵

5. Bryant and Benny have been best friends since grade school, making music together on SoundCloud! Benny started writing songs around 2012, and their long-standing friendship keeps the band grounded and authentic! 👯‍♂️

6. Jason Mraz is one of their biggest musical influences! Benny loves Mraz's variety of topics and ability to put experiences into words that are very unique yet relatable. Bryant appreciates how Mraz's instruments help tell stories - which directly influences how he approaches drumming for Benny's songs. Both cite Mraz as teaching them how to make music that's both personal and universally connecting! 🎤

7. The band has said that Jan is secretly the most talented musician in the group but always stays super humble! He plays multiple instruments but remains their "man of few words" who won't brag about his skills! 🎵

Drop a "🥟" if you learned something new today! Tag a Ridleys fan and share kung may nalaman kang bago!

31/07/2025

Watch The Ridleys perform "Vines" in this week's Tower Sessions! 🌿🎶 Grabe, ang ganda ng vibe ng kantang 'to! Don't miss this heartfelt performance. 💚

30/07/2025

TOWER FAM! 🌙
Salamat sa suporta niyo for Hale! 🙌
Pero... may bagong episode na naman bukas! Ready na ba kayo? 🎵
Drop your guesses sa comments! 🔍 See you TOMORROW!

27/07/2025

FACT CHECK: HALE Edition! 🎸 7 Things To Know

1. Hale formed in Manila noong mid-2004 with Champ, Roll, Sheldon, and Omnie. Their journey started with a bang when they signed with EMI Philippines just months later in November 2004! Less than a year after signing, they were already touring with major acts at the time like Bamboo and Sugarfree! 🚀

2. "The Day You Said Goodnight" became an iconic OPM classic, marking the first steps of Hale's massive success to the mainstream and bringing them fame across Southeast Asia! The song was nominated multiple times as OPM Song of the Year and when they released their critically-acclaimed debut album under EMI (now PolyEast Records) in 2005, it sold thousands of copies and earned them the prestigious Awit Award's Group of the Year. Their sophomore album "Twilight" (2006) was also certified Gold within just one week. They reunited with EMI (now under UMG Philippines) in February 2024, coming full circle to their original record label. Their recent releases "Klaro" and "Panatag" have finally ended a 5-year album drought! 📀

3. Champ Lui Pio announced a solo career in 2010, leading to Hale's official disbandment on August 6, 2010. The band had a unique "disbandment clause" in their EMI contract that required solo albums if they disbanded. This clause was exercised when Hale went on hiatus, leading to several of Champ's collaborations featuring Chito Miranda, Gloc-9, and other notable artists! 🎤

4. Hale eventually reunited in January 2015 after 4 years apart. The band's creative process is collaborative - Champ writes demos and sends them to his bandmates who handle all the arrangements. Roll and Chino are both producers, while Champ focuses on songwriting. The band's philosophy has evolved beautifully - they're now focused on longevity and playing until their 60s-70s, prioritizing health and looking out for each other over chasing trends after 20 years in the industry! 🎯

5. Manila Sound royalty runs in the family! Champ's father was one of the architects of the Manila Sound with his band WADAB from Davao, and owned a massive vinyl and CD collection. Champ grew up visiting Green Hills Sound studio for analog recordings, giving him early exposure to the music industry! 🎵

6. Paolo Santiago from Join the Club replaced original drummer Omnie Saroca in 2008. Champ considers Paolo part of the "original lineup" despite joining later. In 2017, former Silent Sanctuary violinist Chino David also joined Hale, who's also a producer and musical director. He now handles the band's enhanced audio-visual experience during live shows, synchronizing visuals per song and bringing a whole new dimension to their performances! 🎻

7. Champ is now a successful resort entrepreneur with Alpas properties in both Siargao and La Union! His brother (former VJ and sports caster) moved to Siargao to manage operations, while the La Union resort features a beachfront amphitheater where Hale performs quarterly shows. 🏖️

Drop a "💔" if you learned something new today! Tag a Hale fan and share kung may nalaman kang bago!

27/07/2025

Terrible news to share with you all today...

Jodan Manata of Tubero and Surevibe passed away last night, doing what he loved.

All of us here at Tower of Doom are shocked at his passing. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Jodan's friends and loved ones and to the whole Tubero family. RIP 💔

24/07/2025

Watch Hale perform their classic hit "The Day You Said Goodnight" in a brand new rendition on Tower Sessions! 🎶✨ Strings led by Chino! Don't miss this unforgettable performance!

23/07/2025

TOWER FAM! ✨
Overwhelmed kami sa love na binigay niyo sa Lola Amour episode! Salamat sa inyo! 💖
Pero may bagong upload na naman tayo bukas! Ready na ba lahat?
I-share ang hula niyo sa comments! 🤔 See you TOMORROW!

22/07/2025

Enrie Estevez of Arcadia joins Australian band Kastiell for their new single “From Behind These Walls”! 🔥 Watch their official lyric video now! https://youtu.be/K_w2wBlIacA?si=Nv14aIQD-Q4aVM5X

Kastiell – “From Behind These Walls” (ft. Enrie Estevez of Arcadia)🎧 Stream/Download and Follow us: https://linktr.ee/Kastiell_officialKastiell teams up wit...

20/07/2025

FACT CHECK: LOLA AMOUR Edition! 🎸 7 Things To Know

1. Lola Amour's name comes from the grandmother of brothers Pio and Manu - "Lola Amor" had the most beautiful name among all their grandmothers! 💖

2. The brass section started when Pio's high school band "Sinigang Na Baboy" merged with rival band "Decaf" for a school event - they asked their friends to join with trumpet and sax just to try something new and this eventually became Lola Amour's signature sound! The two rival bands decided to officially merge after performing at their senior graduation ball! 🎺

3. Their music starts with melodies first! Pio hums incomplete phrases for hours before struggling to put words into them. Some of his biggest musical influences are Bruno Mars, John Mayer, Bob Marley, and Balance And The Traveling Sounds! ✨

4. After years of spending more on transpo than what they could earn as a band, they knew they had finally "made it" when they could provide HMO budget for their touring staff after more than half of their career operating at a loss! 💪

5. Chris Martin invited them on stage during Coldplay's concert at Philippine Arena to perform "Raining in Manila" in front of 50,000 people - it was a mix of disbelief and excitement for the band! 🌟

6. Lola Amour had a chance to collaborate with comedy legend Michael V on a parody of their song and performed it with him on stage! According to the band, he was incredibly talented as an artist and super kind to them backstage too! 🎭

7. Beyond music, Zoe used to be an FX trader for a bank before becoming a full-time musician, while Manu continues working as a Data Analyst alongside the band! 🏦

Drop a "🎸" if you learned something new today! Tag a Lola Amour fan and share kung may nalaman kang bago!

17/07/2025

Watch Lola Amour perform their latest single "Misbehave" on this week's Tower Sessions! 🎸✨ Feel the groove and let loose with us!