Inner Play is the debut studio album by the Filipino soul and R&B supergroup Apartel, released on July 10, 2016, through Offshore Music.
| Inner Play | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 10, 2016 | |||
| Studio | The Bunker | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 55:27 | |||
| Label | Offshore Music | |||
| Producer |
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| Apartel chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Inner Play | ||||
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Background
editEraserheads and Pupil vocalist Ely Buendia formed Apartel in early 2016 with Gnash and DRT frontman Jay Ortega.[2] Buendia had wanted to incorporate a big band sound to his live repertoire, adding a horn section to his recent solo concert to reinterpret Eraserheads songs with the big band sound. “I wanted to put a twist on the old songs,” he explained. “I finally was able to afford these musicians like the horn players. I’m pretty proud of the production because there’s nothing like it in the mainstream. And I’m proud of the arrangements of the old songs.”[3] Many of the band members had listened to soul music at their early age from artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and VST & Company.[1]
Release
editInner Play was first released through Buendia's record label Offshore Music in July. A music video for the lead single “Is It Hip?” directed by Marie Jamora premiered in September.[4] The video was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2017 MYX Music Awards.[5] The album was later released on vinyl in November.[6]
In January 2017, the band announced that Ortega had left the group to focus on his solo career.[7] The band released their second single “Sala sa Init” in April, with a giallo-inspired music video directed by drummer Pat Sarabia and Buendia's partner Audry Dionisio.[8] They also directed the music video for the third single “Guijo St. (Makes You Wonder)”, released in November.[9]
An EP featuring remixes of songs from Inner Play by Tandem 91, Tarsius, BP Valenzuela, Lustbass, and Couchlab was released to streaming services in November 2017. It was previously released as the second disc of the album's deluxe CD version.[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Is It Hip?" |
| 5:08 |
| 2. | "Attraction" | Ortega | 6:16 |
| 3. | "Better off" | Buendia | 3:43 |
| 4. | "Sinta" | Ortega | 3:49 |
| 5. | "Sala Sa Init" | Buendia | 5:00 |
| 6. | "Ako Na Lang Sana" | Ortega | 4:01 |
| 7. | "Guijo St. (Makes You Wonder)" | Buendia | 5:00 |
| 8. | "Foolin’ Around" | Ortega | 4:09 |
| 9. | "Designated Driver" | Buendia | 3:43 |
| 10. | "WTF" |
| 3:53 |
| 11. | "Careless Love" | Buendia | 3:49 |
| 12. | "On the Other Side" | Ortega | 6:56 |
| Total length: | 55:27 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Overture" | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Better Off" (Tandems 91 Remix) | 4:09 |
| 3. | "Designated Driver" (Tarsius Remix) | 6:30 |
| 4. | "Is It Hip?" (Pasta Groove's Lowdown Dirty Remix) | 2:59 |
| 5. | "Careless Love" (Sleepypasta Remix) | 3:46 |
| 6. | "Sala Sa Init" (Lustbass Remix) | 3:46 |
| 7. | "Guijo Street" (Couchlab Remix) | 5:21 |
- Note: “Overture” was track 1 on the first disc of the CD release. It was later assigned as track 1 for the streaming release of the second disc.
Personnel
edit|
Apartel
with
Additional musicians
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Production
Design
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References
edit- ^ a b Magsanoc, Mica. "For Apartel, what we need today is a little more soul". Scout Magazine. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Apartel "Is it Hip?" Music Video Launch: One of the Most Elaborate Music Videos Ever Shot in the Country". When in Manila. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Man in a hurry: Ely Buendia's unflagging heart". Rappler.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "LOOK: Ely Buendia's New Band, Apartel, Launches First Single". When in Manila. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "FULL LIST: Winners, Myx Music Awards 2017". Rappler.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ Matias, Izzy. "Independent record label Offshore Music focuses on vinyl releases". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Jay Ortega leaves supergroup Apartel to pursue solo career". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ Mata, Beatrice. "WATCH: Apartel releases giallo-inspired music video for "Sala sa Init"". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Members of The Ransom Collective and Cheats star in new Apartel music video, Guijo St". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Apartel release Inner Play (Remixes) on Spotify - listen". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 26, 2024.