Tunesmith Ted Reyes -- A ‘Free Soul’ in America
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Ted Reyes
Asked why they didn't continue despite the remaining talent and a minor hit called Shindig, one player simply said, "Wala na yung puso ng banda, eh." (The band's heart is no longer around.)
The Freesouls
That heart (and soul) is Ted Reyes, the band's lead singer, chief songwriter, and de facto ring leader.
A chapter in Ted's life closed the moment he flew to New York, starting his run in "the land of milk and honey." Well, he actually flew with his honey named Sheryl, his soulmate. They’ve remained together and in love since he wrote The Freesouls’ Sheryl Mae. His search for a dream life has to be with his dream girl.
Ted Reyes with his soulmate Sheryl Mae
"I've always wanted to pursue a creative life, and New York was the best place to give that dream a go. Leaving your comfort zone and trying something new is always challenging because there is no such thing as overnight success," says the multitalented Reyes, who may have sacrificed fame in the Philippines for an uncertain life in America. It was a calculated risk.
Peaceniks
The Freesouls, distinctive for their ‘60s-style sound and fashion, recorded and released a full-length album and toured alongside some of the popular Pinoy bands in the ‘90s, including Eraserheads, Rivermaya, and Parokya Ni Edgar.
They were the antithesis of streetwise alternative rock as they wore turtlenecks, presented themselves as happy-go-lucky fellows with a touch of childhood innocence and zero angst, and sang about flowers and peace.
However, radio killed their rise. Their follow-up to Shindig called Yatehan was banned by FM radio stations for allegedly containing lewd lyrics, and they lost some momentum. Pushing on, they recorded a sophomore album they would eventually shelve. Ted's take on the matter reflects his optimistic approach to things that didn't go as planned.
"I've heard songs that are overtly sexual but got significant airplay. But that is OK. I moved on and embraced that part of my musical journey. It wasn't for us, and that is totally cool," Ted says.
Another album, Flowers for the Soul, arguably a better one as they graduated from being playground-loving college boys to reflective young professionals, was released on digital platforms some 15 years later.
By that time, Ted was already an established New Yorker.
Gift of a Song
Shindig, which Ted wrote, may be the song that best captures The Freesouls’ spirit. But one song he wrote settled any doubt about his ability to write a good song with timeless appeal. He entered Bye Bye Na in ABS-CBN's Himig Handog Songwriting contest in 2003, on Sheryl’s advice. It reached the Finals, interpreted by with Rico Blanco, then frontman of Rivermaya. It was a legit hit.
"I wrote Bye Bye Na in 2000, a few months before I migrated to the U.S.," Ted recalls, "It's a song about somebody going abroad and wondering if the romantic relationship that will be left behind will survive a long-distance setup. I thought this must be what most people face when they migrate to a foreign land to start a new life."
Some of the best songs ever written come in a flash of brilliance. As Ted shares, "This song came to me quickly and almost entirely. It's one of those things that the universe gives you when you tune in to the proper channel. The idea, the melody, chords, and structures were already there. All I needed was to stop whatever I was doing and rush towards our trusty old family Weinstein upright piano in our house in Kamuning, armed with a pen, a notebook, and a tape recorder."
The Freesouls did play Bye Bye Na once at a Mendiola rally when actor-turned-president Joseph Estrada was still in office. In New York, Ted had it recorded by his new band, Bleud, and much later, it appeared on a collection of demos he called Made In Kamuning, which he recorded using his old Tascam Portastudio.
Another of Ted's Tagalog compositions, Tayo Na Sa Ulan, written in 2009 in the city that never sleeps, also made it to the finals of a FILSCAP songwriting contest where some of most talented names competed. He’s quite proud of it.
Solo Sail
Ted's songwriting has gone a long way from Kamuning to New York. He’s one musician who loves being in a band even if he has what it takes to go solo. He relishes the experience of sharing the stage with others. He'd be in The Beatles taking his portion of the pie rather than be Elvis surrounded by a bunch of yes-men.
It’s no surprise that he co-formed a couple of bands after settling in New York. Two years after the success of Bye Bye Na, he spearheaded Bleud's album Musings of a Caffeine Addict, where their version of the now-Himig Handog classic was included. Another album track Hello My Friends, Hello also graced an all-indie band compilation called Silver Shiny Jeepney, interestingly bannered by a track recorded by Eraserheads sans Ely Buendia.
Ted's other New York-based band The Happy Analogues is more ambitious and prolific. The group has so far produced four albums, including the thematic School Tales. They are intact and released a Christmas-themed song, Sama Sama sa Pasko, last year.
The Happy Analogues
He happily explains, "I love being in bands. I will jump into a band as soon as there's an opportunity to do it. Playing live with a group of great musicians is one of the greatest joys in life."
As is always the case, an artist with so much talent and stuff in his tank has to sail by himself at some point because he can and deserves it. Besides, individual prowess may have to step out of a circle of collaboration to meet full its potential. Ted admits that "you can't always get what you want" in a group set-up.
It was just a matter of time for a free soul to go on a solo venture. Thus, for the past six years, the name Ted Reyes can be found on Spotify and other popular streaming sites, with three albums and a growing number of digital singles under his belt. Last year, he came out with four singles, all released during the -ber months.
He says, "The experience of releasing materials as a solo artist is fascinating and rewarding, but you lose the cover offered by being with a group. If a Happy Analogues song sucks, there are four people to blame. You don't have that as a solo artist. You are out there by yourself dodging and taking bullets."
No worries. Hardly anything that Ted musically creates sucks. It's listeners who miss out on hearing his or his bands' music that need to take a second look, like that station manager, or whatever that person was, who thought it was cute to ban Yatehan a long, long time ago.
Nomadic Adventures
Revenge travel was the name of the game after the Covid-19 lockdown loosened up.
Ted and Sheryl further raised the bar and embarked on a nomadic adventure from late 2021 to early 2023. They lived in 20 countries in a memorable two-year span, covering most of Europe and parts of Southeast Asia, including their home sod, the Philippines. They went to exquisite sites in Mexico and Japan.
That colorful, inspiring series of sojourns led to a fresh flow of creative juices and to the couple opening a new chapter in their lives. Ted deliberately did not bring a guitar or anything that resembles an instrument.
"During our travels, I brought no musical gear except my laptop and a mini MIDI keyboard controller,” Ted says. “I deliberately put music aside to take the experience and live in every moment. Of course, some songs came, but with no equipment, I could only do melody sketches."
But music, like with Bye Bye Na, still landed on his lap seemingly ready-made.
His first single after touring the world was Sobrang Init Naman, inspired by hot weather in the city-state of Singapore and cities like Bangkok, and, of course, Manila.
Fate may have dropped an important message while they toured the planet. Ted was offered a job at a music company based in Hollywood. He and Sheryl returned to the United States and settled on the west coast after being on the east side for the longest time.
“Ted's songwriting has gone a long way from Kamuning to New York. He’s one musician who loves being in a band even if he has what it takes to go solo.”
California Dreaming
Over the past year, happily settled in Los Angeles, Ted has been working -- in Sheryl's words -- "at the biggest music library in the world." A couple of his songs got featured on a TV show and a movie, too.
His independent music company NSFU (New Sounds From Underground), which he established in 2017, is now blooming, representing a number of the best, yet underrated, Filipino artists and composers, some of them Fil-Ams, others Philippines-based.
Ted is also gigging around L.A. and neighboring cities. On weekends last January, he performed at Noypitz, Kubo Restaurant, and The Virgil on the famed Santa Monica Boulevard. He poignantly sang Shindig with just an acoustic guitar accompanying his evocative voice.
His piece of advice to people wanting to realize the American Dream or wherever their dream life: "We all have to start somewhere, and I did. I initially took odd jobs to save up for musical instruments and recording equipment and stayed focused on what I wanted to do – day by day. Things will be difficult, but that is fine. Life is exactly like that. Embrace it and let go."
“Shindig” by The Freesouls
“Uwian Na” by The Happy Analogues
“Bye Bye Na” by Ted Reyes
Yugel Losorata, a writer-musician from the Philippines, now lives in the USA. His byline has appeared in daily broadsheets Manila Standard, Philippine Star, Manila Times, Business Mirror, and Manila Bulletin, as well as in online sites Yahoo Southeast Asia and Philippine Entertainment Portal. He has authored four books, the novel The Lust Regime and a short story collection Rhythm & Bruise, with Foreword by Boy Abunda. He is a recording artist, singer-songwriter, and instrumentalist and a member of FAPCCA (Filipino American Press Club of California). For inquiries: readyugel77@gmail.com.
