SOS Embrace Change With ‘It Was A Moment’ – An Exclusive Track-By-Track Guide

A lot can happen in eight years. Change. Growth. Loss. Love. Life in general. These are things that SOS are more than familiar with, as evidenced by their second album It Was A Moment.

Coming out after more than seven years in the making, It Was A Moment serves as the long-awaited follow-up to their debut full-length effort, 2017’s Whatever That Was. As the esteemed alternative rock band — composed of singer and guitarist Roberto Seña, drummer King Puentespina, guitarist Andrew Panopio, bassist Anjo Silvoza, and keyboardist and synth player Ram Alonzo — welcomes this new era, they offer an introspective look at their personal and artistic journeys in the years between the two albums. What has resulted from the members’ experiences throughout that time is a nostalgic yet exciting bundle of 11 songs, representative of who SOS were, are, and can potentially become.

“It’s a relief that we’re finally done. It took a little bit too long on our end,” Seña tells Billboard Philippines with a laugh, expressing alongside the rest of the band how happy they are and proud of the finished output, noting that it is the best that it can be.

Adding to this, Silvoza shares how “lucky” he feels that they are still able to do what they love doing with music. “Ang tagal na ng (It’s been so long ago since) Whatever That Was and it’s still cool that it’s been eight years since that album and we still get to put out music that we like.”

Meanwhile, Alonzo — who met the others around 12 years ago and regularly sessioned for them — expresses his admiration for his band members, noting that this is his first full body of work with the band since joining around two-plus years ago. He shares how fun it was working on this album with them, noting how diverse and enjoyable the experience was bringing It Was A Moment to life. “Lyrically and thematically, compared to Whatever That Was, this is more mature. It’s about change. It’s about growing up,” he shares. “We made it for us and that’s the most important thing about making this record.”

Seña echoes these sentiments, noting that, despite how “very different” the new album is from the first one, he likes it. “That’s always the point of us making music together — it’s putting out what we like. And if it resonates, that’s great. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. That is life,” he expounds with a chuckle. “But I hope people like it because there’s a lot of heart that went into it.”

Given how widely acclaimed and impactful Whatever That Was was and continues to be, it comes as no surprise why there was much excitement and clamor within the local indie music scene for this new record. Because of this, it begs the question if there was some form of pressure that the band felt releasing this new album after all this time.

“We didn’t make [Whatever That Was] thinking that it would get us as far as it did,” states Seña, noting how it can be “polarizing” to think of how “influential” their full-length debut was and is. “It’s not the biggest release that ever came out in music in the last ten years, but to some people, it’s a very important album. So, of course, it makes us proud; it makes us happy.”

“When people say stuff like we inspire younger bands or other bands, that’s something that I hold with pride hearing. Not everyone gets to experience that,” he continues, noting how he hopes that in some way, the new songs can also do the same. “When people come up to us and they’re like, ‘We started a band because of you’ or ‘I started making music because of you,’ of course, it keeps the heart warm a bit.”

All in all, the band only has one hope for people, both old and new, who will be listening to the record: it’s that they have their own journeys with the songs just as much as the members had their own with each track. “There’s no right or wrong way to interpret these songs,” emphasizes Seña. “It’s the kind of body of work that you decide kung ano ‘yung favorite mo (what’s your favorite track) or what resonates with you.”

“I don’t mean to be narcissistic but I have a good feeling that people will have long relationships with these songs,” declares Panopio, looking back on the times when he listened to the songs’ demos and unfinished mixes in the car rides going home. “They’re easy listening and we worked hard on them and I believe it shows sa (in the) music. So, we can only hope na people have their own varied experiences with each song.”

“I just hope that people get to resonate with it and can relate to it and that it becomes another part of their lives like Whatever That Was was,” adds Silvoza, expressing his hopes that it becomes an introduction to the band and what they have been through. In addition, as Puentespina fondly puts it, it also serves as a nostalgic “snapshot” of their time making the record in their studio in La Union.

“It’s important to me that we’re not sticking to our guns too much,” states Seña when describing the difference of the two albums in relation to their growth as artists. With this, he notes how some of the songs take away from Whatever That Was and some take from newer influences, while others are “a blend of both,” painting a “more solid picture of what [they’re] into.” “I think Whatever That Was or even the EP before that was us with training wheels. I think this album is us with a full grip on the wheel with what we want to make with music.”

And so, with a record eight years in the making (for the band, at least), Billboard Philippines sat down with SOS for an exclusive track-by-track guide of It Was A Moment, where the band looks back on the memorable experiences creating the songs, reveal fun (and not-so fun) facts about each one, and more.

“Amore”

King: “Amore” was a song that was resurrected from the dead. 

Anjo: It was part of Whatever That Was, supposedly. It was supposed to be released in 2017 but we took it out.

Seña: We talked about it with Careless and they wanted to put it out. And then, nag-heel turn si King, Ram, and Anjo sa akin kasi lahat kami before, anti [to “Amore”] (King, Ram, and Anjo did a heel turn on me because before, we were all anti to “Amore”). Tapos, nung meeting, biglang game na sila; ako lang anti (Then, during the meeting, they were suddenly game to record it; I was the only one who as anti). Betrayal!

I said that I wasn’t gonna do it if we had to start from scratch and like, ako ‘yung mag-sa-start mag-re-produce kasi ako ‘yung nag-write (I’ll be the one who will start to re-produce the song because I wrote it). And then, we agreed if we could find someone else to produce it. So that’s when Tim Marquez of One Click Straight produced the song with us, which was fun. Saya ka-trabaho si Tim (It’s fun working with Tim). It’s our first time working with someone out of the band since the first album, since it was produced by Mong Alcaraz of Sandwich. Then, everything after that, kami-kami na ‘yun (It was all us). 

Andrew: There’s also this guy at our gigs who always keeps shouting “Amore” (chuckles).

Anjo: Whoever he is, thank you!

“Roses”

King: Wasn’t [“Roses”] technically the first song [Seña] made in La Union, when [Bavarian Studio] was still a bodega?

Seña: No, sinulat ko ‘yun (I wrote that) when I had COVID for the first time. Na-quarantine kami ni Andrew sa house ko sa La Union (Andrew and I were quarantined in my house in La Union). And then, he was in one room and I was in another room and I was bored.

And then, if you didn’t know, natapos namin ‘yung (we finished the) album because we locked in in La Union for a total of a month. This was a month where we locked in the studio, like, morning to morning. I let them hear the first version of “Roses” then and there and that’s when we started finishing it.

Fun fact — it’s too high for me. And I remember asking, “Do you want to transpose it down a key?” That was the late pandemic or the start of the rebirth of the world (chuckles) so I was much healthier and could sing with confidence at any given moment. And now that we’re back to our bullsh*t, sleeping patterns aren’t always so great, it’s not always the easiest to sing live (laughs). Not because it’s high but because the lowest part of the falsetto is too low for me. If it was a bit higher, kaya (it’s doable)!

May mga successful days naman kapag first kami sa lineup (There are successful days when we’re first on the lineup). Pero kapag mga (But when it’s around) midnight, biglang mawawala na siya sa (it will suddenly disappear from the) set list (laughs).

“I’m Kidding”

Andrew: It’s my favorite song.

Anjo: Same!

King: I remember Seña made me listen to his demo on the way to a party in La Union. And then, I was blown away. I was like, “Dude, this has to be on the album. It’s so good.”

Seña: 2020 ‘yung demo nito — ‘yung grunge demo ‘nya (Its demo was from 2020 — the grunge demo). 

King: I always had a dream that SOS would be a shoegaze band so this is like the intersection of that dream. Like, finally we have a big-wall-of-sound chorus. I feel like that’s the highlight of the song for me. It’s my favorite chorus!

Andrew: Same. I think the chorus is the closest to our old sound.

Seña: Old sound like “Monologue.”

Anjo: Yeah, I think that was what “Monologue” was supposed to sound like.

“It’s History”

Andrew: I remember making that song in the studio. I was just jamming with Seña on a bass guitar. And then, it was just one of those songs where the melody’s just coming out so we built on it and built on it. We tried to keep it as simple as possible, just ‘cause it feels like one of those more laidback kind of songs. 

One of the hooks there, I remember making the melody back in college with a makeshift band with some of my blockmates. Kakasabi ko lang sa isa sa blockmates ko na ‘yun na (I just told one of those blockmates that), “Uy, hintayin mo ‘yung song na ‘yun (Hey, wait for that song). I stole one of our hooks for that.” It’s the “Is it cool? Is it real?”

Andrew: It’s mature-themed, about work, life, and death, which happen to be the theme of a lot of our songs.

Seña: Fun fact — when you get to the end of the song, may (there’s a) faint chant, “It’s history, it’s history.” One of those voices is James Reid. It was just supposed to be me but then, as a safety, nag-record ng (we recorded) gang vocals. James happened to be in the studio and our mix engineer left it in.

“French Exit”

Seña: My favorite. Well, one of them.

A lot of us in the band are in very long-term relationships. Like, two are engaged (Andrew and Anjo), King’s married. Matagal na kami ng mga partners namin ni Ram (Ram and I have been with our partners for a while). So like, when you hear breakup songs in our work, they are obviously not about us.

So, siyempre (of course), I have friends who like to tell me things or their stories. So, “French Exit” is about a breakup between two musicians. It was a friend of mine and nag-breakup sila ng partner nila (and they and their partner broke up) and I wrote about it. 

I think it stands out the most from the album just because it has an R&B element to it. That isn’t exactly our thing but I just wanted to try. “What if SOS was a boyband?” ‘yung (was) the prompt.

Andrew: I actually have this dream that we would make a music video na (that) we’re really just a boyband with matching jumpsuits. And then, parang, nagli-lip sync lang kami (we would be, like, just lip syncing), with these glam shots of our faces. 

“Money”

Seña: I wonder what it’s about? (chuckles)

“Money” was written during the pandemic as well. A good chunk of the songs were done during the pandemic. Actually, this was already done during the pandemic. It was done at King’s old house. And then, it slept for a bit and then we decided to put it in the album.

King: Fun fact — we used actual coins for the percussion. Money!

Seña: ‘Cause we’re artists! (laughs)

King: Parang (Like), I asked everyone, “May barya ba kayo (Do you have any change)?” (laughs)

Seña: Also, if you notice na may (that there’s a) sample sa (at the) start; we used an obscure cartoon sample (laughs).

“Please Lang”

Andrew: I think I had the melody, the demo of it back in college din (as well) but it was in English. I remember singing it to Seña.

Seña: I remember the verses were yours (Andrew’s) and the chorus was mine. Half a demo came from Andrew, half a demo came from me. 

I remember, I think it was Ram, King, and Andrew, and after that one month of [being in the studio] one day and sabi ko (I said), “Gawa nga kayo ng (Go make) something,” tapos nag-nap ako sa couch (then I napped on the couch). Pagkagising ko, ‘yung structure ng song andoon na (When I woke up, the structure of the song was done).

Anjo: Oh yeah! I remember. Kami ata ‘yun ni (I think that was me), Andrew, [and] Ram in the studio. Just trying to make lyrics or whatever.

King: The sort of premise of the song is that someone was having a brutal fight with their partner. It’s a “sisig.”

Seña: May term kami since college na (we have a term since college that), if nag-away kayo ng partner mo (if you and your partner fought), it means may “sisig” ka (you have a “sisig”). “Sinisisig” ka (You’re being sisig-ed). Kasi parang sisig (Because like sisig), when it arrives, masyadong mainit ‘yung plate (the plate’s too hot). You gotta let it cool down first.

“Seryoso”

Seña: Not that it hasn’t been said before but it’s our first Tagalog song. I’m quite fond of “Seryoso,” playing it live and even hearing it now and then. I feel like it’s an underrated SOS song. That’s how I feel about that song (chuckles).

Andrew: I love it live. I think, when I watch Seña perform this live na wala siyang gitara (without a guitar), sobrang frontman ‘nya (he’s such a frontman). Like, this is the most frontman he’s been.

Anjo: Yeah! Sobrang (such a) frontman. Dancing and stuff.

Andrew: Sumasayaw siya (He’s dancing)! Kontrolado ‘nya ‘yung (He has control over the) crowd!

Anjo: Fun fact — when we asked Jericho Rosales to be part of the music video, it was a conversation sa baba ng (downstairs at) El Union kasi nagkakape siya (because he was having coffee). The conversation went like, “May question kami (We have a question). Game ka ba maging part ng (Are you game to be part of a) music video?” Tapos (Then), he jokingly said something like, “Basta ‘wag mo akong pasayawin, ha (As long as you don’t make me dance, okay)?”

Tapos kami parang (Then we were like), “Hmm, actually…”

Seña: Another fun fact, may cartoon sample din doon. The theme of Rugrats is somewhere at the end. 

That song takes a lot of inspiration from Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place.” It plays once sa bridge as a homage to the band.

In planning the music video and conceptualizing it, it was like, “Tara, sayaw tayo sa dulo (Let’s dance at the end).” During the advent of forcing bands to do TikToks and sh*t (laughs). Luckily, when we were all living together, we had a friend who’s a choreographer, JB Estrada. He’s also in the music video. May dalawang extra doon (there are two extras there), they’re both dancers. As in, nag-rehearse talaga kami (we actually rehearsed) for that (laughs).

Andrew: I remember, I had a conversation with one of the prod people for the video and I said, “‘Seryoso’ is the perfect SOS video because we had a stupid idea and just went with it. Like, really leaned into it.” Like, why are they gambling, fighting over fish and guitars? Tapos (Then), “‘Wag na lang tayo mag-away. Sumayaw na lang tayo (Let’s not fight anymore. Let’s just dance).”

“Yumi & The Apocalypse”

Seña: [The title] is something very random. May mga (We had) project files kami sa (on) Ableton and “Yumi” was “You, Me And The Apocalypse.” And I think it was just lost in conversation what the actual title of the song was.

King: It was ‘cause of Andrew’s drawing of a brain. Si Yumi ‘yung brain tapos nasa apocalypse siya (Yumi was the brain and they’re in the apocalypse).

For context, we were just prompting Andrew to draw stuff during the recording and that was one of them. 

Seña: Everyday, we prodded him to draw stuff during that time. 

Andrew: It started with King saying, “Don’t overthink sh*t. Move on.” So, from there, it was like, “Let’s make it a brain who’s, like, serious but with legs.” And then, “the brain is surfing.”

“Love Kept Us Warm”

Ram: “Love Kept Us Warm” bias ko (is my bias)!

Anjo: Such a fun song to play live back in the day. For me, there’s a memory of us being able to perform that. Happy lang ako na (I’m just happy that it’s) part of something now.

King: It was a SVATG (Seña’s solo DJ/producer project) song at first and then the original files were in Seña’s laptop that got stolen. That was like 2014, 2015. 

And then, it became a SOS song. It went through so many revisions. And then, when we finally settled, it had to be as close to the original version, but we made it more SOS.

“It Was A Moment”

Seña: Another favorite of mine from the album.

I was writing it on a King’s keyboard for a long time but I’ve been working on it for a while. I ended up finishing it with Ram. Lalo na ‘yung (Especially the) end part — ‘yung biglang (the sudden) beat switch. It was one of the most fun to produce kasi (because), wala lang (nothing really), fun ‘yung music (the music’s just fun).

As a song, it’s definitely a love letter to our listeners, our fans. It’s remembering simpler times of playing shows — the Route [196] days. That’s how I envisioned the whole song — memories of that time — when things were simpler. Kaya rin may (That’s why there are also) callbacks to the EP and the previous album’s names. It’s coming to terms that things change and things are still changing, but you can always look back to the past.