HUNGRY LIKE WOLVES
The Hungry Young Poets on the Desire to Play Music That Matters
By Lionel Zivan S. Valdellon

printed in COSMOPOLITAN PHILS. 1998

They’ve been the hot young band on everyone’s lips for some time now. Ever since the release of their self-titled debut album and the airplay of hit songs like “Torpe” (“Ayoko ng torpe/…pero gusto kita”) and “Firewoman” (“I’m gonna be your firewoman/ I’ll water down your desire/ Cause I know this love is a killer/ I wanna put out your fire”), their seamless brand of pop, rock and folk has found its way into the hearts of the intelligentsia everywhere. But the desire to bring their music to wider audiences leaves them passionate about playing live gigs whenever and wherever they can.

Not bad for a group that’s been playing---oh, only about nine months, and who have their own album under Sony Music. Sonically reminiscent of the Police (being a trio), alt-rockers Moonpools & Caterpillars, and lyrically approaching the levels of the Indigo Girls, the Hungry Young Poets are one of the few bands around who have the raw materials necessary to raise the public’s musical tastes. They have, after all, catchy original tunes that people love to sing (music that’s always elegant even when heading into the well-worn vistas of rock), a charming female lead singer whom people love to see, and a unique stripped-down but powerful live show that people love coming back for. No wonder then they’re still hungry to share their passion for music and life with more people.

Lead singer/ chief songwriter/ guitarist Barbie Almalbis, bassist/ album producer Ricci Gurango and drummer Franklin take time out between their fully-packed Tuesday night gig at Tipsy’s to sit down for a talk on music and sacrifice.

COSMO: How hard has it been, playing gigs and making the album?
HYP: There’ve been a lot of bitter sacrifices, but in the long run, it’s what we love to do. Besides personal stuff, everything came in easy for us --- compared to other bands, I mean. I guess we just had perfect timing and met the right people. We didn’t have to pay our dues. We’re pretty lucky.
We (Ricci and Barbie) used to play every Monday at Freedom Bar for 8 months. Franklin joined us only after the album was done. Anyway, some recording companies saw us at Freedom Bar. That’s really where everything started. Then we opened for the bar tour of Triaxis--- who are signed under Sony Music, and that’s where the Sony people saw us.
COSMO: What are the sacrifices you’ve had to make?
HYP: Social life. And school (for Barbie) she had to cut down on classes. Barbie gets sick a lot because of the schedules and schooling.
COSMO: How hectic is your schedule?
HYP: Well right now, during weekdays we have one gig, but weekends, sometimes we play two gigs a day: one in the afternoon, one at night.
COSMO: What does it take to make it in the music business?
HYP: It takes a lot. You have to have a good product first, then a good recording company. And a market. If any of those flop, then you can forget the whole thing.
With our gigs, people follow us now. They’re here (at Tipsy’s) every Tuesday and they know the lyrics to our songs. But we had to build our market. When we started, it was just the two of us (Ricci and Barbie). We recorded, but after the album we had no vision. Even Sony was asking “What’s your image?” And we had no idea. All we know is we play music, we’re good at it and we believe in our music. And what you see now while we’re playing is who we are. We don’t dress differently We just want to be as sincere as our music. What’s the point of getting your music out if you’re fake?
COSMO: Any difficulties with provincial tours and the like?
HYP: Yeah. You really can’t please everyone. You travel so far, then they don’t know who you are, they say our name wrong. One time we were in Malabon and they introduced us as the Hungry Young Poets Dead Society! We’ve been to Cebu, Laoag. Even China--- at a yearly music festival where they gather all the Asian talents. And it’s been really fun.
COSMO: And what are your biggest dreams?
HYP: Na tumagal kami. Makapunta sa New York to see the Statue of Liberty! To get more albums out and widen our market to include Asia, but keep the current ones.

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