Of bonds and bands: Ben&Ben on their beginnings and how they stay in the game

Eight years is a significant milestone in the industry, but Ben&Ben continues to grow like a resilient tree—shedding its leaves now and then but standing tall and strong. They remain relevant by embracing their authenticity and evolving with time.

Each member believes that true relevance stems from staying authentic and creating music that mirrors their personal growth and experiences, as evident in hits like Kathang Isip, Leaves, and Araw-Araw. Recently, their discography was featured in the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s rendition of One More Chance, underscoring their versatility.

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“The beauty of the music industry’s ever-changing nature is that the concept of relevance can sometimes become irrelevant,” they say.

With the listener base constantly evolving and everyone’s lives—including their own—changing rapidly, what matters most to them is creating genuine, meaningful music. “As artists, we go through many changes in our lives, and we find that our best work comes when we create from within.”

One of the biggest challenges the group faced so far, along with the entire music industry, was the COVID-19 pandemic. With live events cancelled, artists lost major revenue streams. Streaming numbers initially surged but did not compensate for the loss of live performance income. Independent artists were particularly hit hard, with fewer opportunities for exposure and collaboration. On a global scale, reports indicated that the live music sector’s revenue plummeted by over 75 per cent in 2020. In the Philippines, local musicians like Morissette turned to online concerts and digital content creation to survive, though the financial impact was still considerable. 

“With no clear timeline for assurance and no obvious way forward, we struggled, like everyone else, to make sense of things—how to keep working while staying alive and safe, how to best use our music and platform to help those around us, and how to realistically sustain everything until the eventual end of the pandemic, which at the time seemed so distant,” they say.

Beyond this larger issue, each member had their own personal battles—caring for loved ones and grappling with existential crises. “There was so much happening that it was always difficult to focus on what needed the most attention and effort at any given moment.”

Despite these challenges, the band, along with the entire industry, showed resilience.

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Ben&Ben’s dream for the local music scene is for everyone to have a space where they are welcomed and celebrated for who they are.

“We believe in the incredible heights we can reach when we lift each other up and support every effort and endeavour,” they say. “Collaboration is truly the way of the future, and we always look forward to opportunities to work and grow with our fellow artists and audiences.”

In a previous interview with Tatler, de Pano also expressed a strong desire for increased government support for artists, emphasising the need for associations that protect the rights of emerging talent and ensure their earnings are secure. “We need to call out schemes that are predatory and take advantage of the fact that real talent is abundant in our country. I know there are already some of these measures in place, but I just hope that moving forward, it becomes the norm rather than the exception.”

As they continue to evolve, their need and desire to create music from the heart and their vision for a more inclusive, supportive local music industry remain at the core of their identity. Despite the challenges they’ve faced—both as individuals and as a band—they’ve stood tall, growing stronger together.