The GUIDON

Interview questions: King Puentespina

1. How did you start making music? Can you talk us through a history of your careerfrom your
involvement with Shes Only Sixteen to the creation of CRWN?
I started making music ever since I had my Blink 182 cover band back in grade school
(totally worth it). Then, I started recording my own music ever since I had my hands on Garageband in
high school. In terms of joining SOS, their old drummer Kevin Santos had to leave for the U.S. and they
needed a new guy, so Sea, Andrew, and Anjo talked about it and called me up. I was well acquainted with
the band back in high school, and hopefully because I was a good drummer, they got me. And that was it.
Ive been really good friends with everyone for the past few years and Ive been enjoying myself playing
with the band. We have our anniversary show this weekend and Im psyched its coming through.
Actually, CRWN came out of nowhere. I wanted to write more songs close to home, and
there it was. A cool new project for King Puentespina.
2. When and why did you decide to go solo as CRWN?
Some time last year chanced upon this event called Bakunawa (formerly in Arts In The
City). It was a monthly show done by the Buwan Buwan Collective and they would just showcase the
sickest beats ranging from hip-hop to spacey atmospheric rnb using SP404s and their own personal midi
controllers. I literally freaked out the first time I watched Bakunawa. It was cool. It was new and original.
I was just blown anyway with the originality of their music and the intimacy of the show. I just wasnt
prepared to have an experience like that, that night (it used to have Buy-The Bucket nachos, and this
majestic tempura stand by the door too). I was like, I have to do this. Or at least try. After going to more
of their shows, watching Boiler Room videos, and heavily listening to more hip hop and similar collectives
from around the world, I took some time trying to master Ableton for a few months (still trying to do that)
and started releasing songs on my Soundcloud. I got a lot of positive feedback from people from school,
from Buwan Buwan, my collective (Logiclub), and my closest friends so told myself that maybe I can start
doing CRWN for real, and so I did.
3. Which musicians have held the most influence over you? In what ways?
Growing up, my mom would usually play 90s- early 2000s hip hop and rnb during road
trips out of town, and I would try familiarize myself to those days. Im listening to a lot of Soulection right
now, and Ive been digging non-stop for new sounds and fresh beats on Soundcloud.
Influences would include Ta-ku, Mr. Carmack, Kanye, Jay-Z, a lot of
collectives/producers/beatmakers from LA, New York and Australia, local beatmakers (SimilarObjects,
LikeAnimals, BIN5, Ize, SOUL_BRK, After School Special etc.) and it just goes on.


These artists have helped me crafting a sound that Im aiming for still. For me CRWN is still
struggling for an distinct individual sound, and Im happy with that. Maybe I dont want to settle for one
yet or maybe it has one already? Im not too sure.
4. How would you describe the music of CRWN?
Something of a celebration and glory and good days.
5. How familiar are you with OPM? How would you define it?
Very familiar. Really good local music is coming out of nowhere these days. I think local
music is going for a huge comeback. The 2006 kind.
6. Do you think theres a difference between OPM and the music being produced by local artists
today?
No, not really. Its more on how its called rather than the art/production itself.
7. What are your thoughts on the whole OPM is dead debate?
I dont think anything died. We wouldve smelled something funky if it did. Its just that
OPM isnt a genre people mistake it to be. We need to tag local music with genres and not the genre OPM.
Like, CRWN is emo-punk or something.
8. Do you think that the popularity of local music within the mainstream has declined since its
supposed golden age in the 90s?
It definitely hid for some time. Good mainstream local music is a Snorlax always sleeping
and waking up when it wants to. Remember 2004-2008? I considered that my golden age of local music. I
guess well never know when we can tame that Snorlax but we can always try you know? Poke-flutes wake
Snorlaxs up permanently. The Philipppines needs that Poke-flute.
9. Do you see any trends in local music today?
Yeah, artists like releasing EPs and singles rather than full length albums now. Local
bands and producers have their own unique followings now too. I think its more fun because you put
more work into showing who you are with just 3 -4 songs, and people get a taste of the artist before they
follow them. But albums will always be cooler.
10. Do you see a trend in the way you and Sea have branched out into different acts that sound so
different from SOS?
Not really. Sea and I just did this for ourselves. And it never gets in the way of the band
and how our sound is. Plus, when Sea and I are broke, we (almost) always find a way home.


11. Theres a noticeable difference between Shes Only Sixteens first EP and your newer songs. Can
you talk a little bit about how the sound of Shes Only Sixteen has evolved in the past six years?
How involved have you been in its evolution?
A friend of ours also noticed that our songs are more mature now. Its just really a part of
growing as a band. The bands ears have just been exposed to so much more music now. Weve been
listening to all kinds different music that we apply in the band. Also, playing in these music
festivals/shows have made it easier for us to know what we want the band to sound like. Were still Shes
Only Sixteen but older (Shes Only Twenty-Two?).
Personally, Ive written At Your Door and I plan on writing more songs for the band. We
dont have an album yet so theres a good chance I can write some before it comes out.
12. How would you describe the local music scene today, in terms of where its going?
Its on its way to glory again. Its grown into something bigger than it was twenty years
ago. Were all just waiting to catch that big wave.
13. What are some specific hopes you have for local music in the future?
Im hoping that it finds a permanent spot in our industry. Its harder to stay in the game
than to start it.
14. What are some specific plans you have for CRWN?
I want a yacht and all them beaches.