For Nobita, music isn’t a numbers game
For young, up-and-coming artists, few things are more exciting than seeing their songs finally move the needle on music platforms.
But while deriving fulfillment from streaming numbers is all well and good, metrics shouldn’t dictate how you behave and what you create, members of the pop-rock group Nobita said. Because the moment you start chasing numbers is the moment you set yourself up for disappointment.
“If you’re seeking numbers or validation from others, you will just end up getting frustrated. So, to those who are just starting out, don’t put that pressure on yourselves … You can get discouraged if it’s the numbers you always look at first,” lead guitarist Sam Aquino told Lifestyle.
If there’s a local band that would know about the thrills of seeing nine-digit figures beside its song titles on Spotify, it’s Nobita, whose biggest hit, “Ikaw Lang” (345 million streams to date), was named the no. 1 most streamed Filipino song on the said platform in 2022. Its second most popular single, meanwhile, is “Unang Sayaw,” with 118 million streams.
No small feat
That achievement was no small feat, especially in today’s saturated music landscape. But the band—also composed of lead vocalist Jaeson Felismino, bassist Mark Quintero, keyboardist Richmond Bancolita, and drummer Jonathan Agbanlog—made sure to maintain a realistic mindset and never lose sight of the band’s reason for being.
“Not every song you put out will get that kind of attention. But if you trust your craft, your time will come eventually—you just have to believe it,” Aquino said.
“First, you have to be happy with what you do. And as long as you find joy in the songs you write and put out, you’re good. That’s what truly matters. We had no idea ‘Ikaw Lang’ or ‘Unang Sayaw’ would make it that big; we were just enjoying ourselves … Everything else was a bonus,” Felismino said.
It’s for this very reason that the band continues to refresh their sound by exploring untapped musical genres. Tempting as it is replicate past successes by sticking to the swoony, kundiman-tinged indie rock sound that they have become known for, Nobita finds the idea stifling. After all, the boys are in no quest for another “Ikaw Lang.”
For instance, Nobita’s latest release, “PNYT” (Sony Music Philippines)—with its sense of fatalism and infectious amalgam of rock, R&B, and hip-hop—is quite a departure from what fans would expect from the band. The song, which “tackles the unpredictable, sometimes devastating nature of love,” is the band’s first collaborative feature, with the hitmaker-rapper Flow G’s smooth flows complementing the dramatic guitar riffs.
“We don’t want to box ourselves in one genre. We won’t grow if we keep on doing one thing. And I hope this new project can serve as a platform for future experimentation,” said Aquino, who also hopes to work with Ebe Dancel and Yeng Constantino if given the opportunity.
The band is no stranger to rock-heavy and harder-edged instrumentation—some of their earlier works are similarly wired—but “PNYT” is its first foray into hip-hop. And they couldn’t have asked for a better artist to collaborate with.
“While there’s a touch of hip-hop, we made sure to put our own stamp on it,” Aquino said. “This is a space we don’t usually go to, but it’s a great feeling to step outside of our comfort zone, especially when you’re working with an artist you admire.”
Enthusiastic response
And for Nobita, there’s no better place to introduce more experimental songs than school shows because students, the group observed, are typically more receptive to sounds that are new to the ears. The band recently embarked on a university tour, and the young crowds’ reception to the new song was nothing short of enthusiastic.
“We enjoy playing for students because they’re more expressive and generous with their emotions. And it’s nice to perform for people like that,” Felismino said. “They’re always full of energy. We know that schoolwork is tiring, but they really make time just so they can watch us. Seeing them all excited also takes me back to the days when I was the one attending the gigs.”
And it’s moments like those—more than the numbers—that keep Nobita marching to the beat of its own drum.
“You can’t overlook the value of surrounding yourself with good people, with people who support you—they will help you go places. And we’re just really proud to be part of such a thriving community,” Aquino said.
