The conversation happened two weeks ago… maybe less.

Ely: “Hey you’re playing guitar on the ‘20/20’ video launch okay?”

Me: “I am? Nobody told me.”

Ely: “Well I’m telling you now.”

I did a wee bit of guitar work on that song, and it happened roughly the same way. Niña asked permission to shoot Pupil while they were recording what became “Limiters Of the Infinity Pool” in Louie Talan’s Wombworks studios.The sessions were almost over but she was fortunate enough  to land a day when Ely was doing vocals. i just accompanied her and wanted to hang out. 

Ely: “Anong ginagawa ni Kiko?”

Nins: “Wala, tumatambay lang.”

A minute later…

Ely: “Anong ginagawa mo?”

Me: “Wala, tumatambay lang.”

Ely: “Gitara ka kaya.”

Me: “Aaaa…i don’t know the song. at ala akong dala e…”

Ely: “May mga gitara dito. Sige na, la ka namang ginagawa e.”

Me: “Errrrr… s-sige…”

So, i went in, tried to make musical sense, used a screwdriver to replace the missing whammy bar on Pat Tirano’s beautiful pawnshop guitar, and forgot about it. The song is gorgeously romantic… shit, i can’t mess it up. Ely would go, “I like that phrase…hmmm no not that one, try something else.” the session was fun, Wendell cracking jokes. It was one of those ‘play for the moment’ situations.

I don’t remember ANY of the bits i played, except for the whammy surf chords because i tried a pencil before finding the screwdriver.

When Ely asked me to play on the video launch, i figured, “I guess they kept a couple of phrases i did… but which ones?” I still couldn’t figure out which of the guitar parts were Yani’s or mine… not that it matters because ultimately, the parts worked together for the song. I guess i did the right guitar parts… but which ones?

The ‘20/20’ video is fantastic (watch out for it on MYX). I’m deeply honoured to have contributed to a gorgeous song… a Pupil single no less! :) It feels really good to be part of something special, and all because i happened to be there.

It’s actually great that i couldn’t remember or recognize what i did. i didn’t play solos or fancy chords or ambient stuff or distorted chords… things i’m comfortable with.

What i did play… is music. and sometimes, when we play what we remember, it is exactly what we should forget. If that makes sense…

Thank you Pupil for giving me that moment :)