The Man with the plan to save our music

Ely Buendia—Artist, Musician, And Now Co-Founder Of New Label Offshore Music. While He Doesn’t Strive For World Domination (Although He Will Sell Pinoy Music To The World), Ely Has A Few Ideas On How To Bring Back Value To The Product, Beginning With Getting You To Buy An Album Again

- Lou Albano

“DO WE WANT MORE?”

Ely Buendia eggs the crowd after Apartel, the two-month-old band that he co-fronts with another music veteran, Jay Ortega, finished its scheduled one-song encore. “Do we want more?!” He repeats, clearly feeling good.When he heard the response he was looking for, the band launched into the night’s second encore, which included a fun rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You.” The usually stoic, poker-faced front man even did a mean moonwalk to introduce the song.

As it would turn out, Ely Buendia and company wanted so much more. That Saturday night, Apartel performed not just two, but three encores. And by the way, the gig we are referring to, the one at Craft Rock‘n’ Grill at The Fort Strip in Bonifacio Global City, is the third party the soul band has thrown to launch its debut single— and just its single —“Is it Hip?” That night, Ely was especially having fun. He danced, belted out his famous falsetto, danced, interacted with the crowd, and danced, bringing out the kind of energy people don’t particularly attach to his name.