Cover OPM Band, Kahel performs at the University of the Philippines Diliman during the We Play Here School Tour (Photo: Warner Music)
OPM Band, Kahel performs at the University of the Philippines Diliman during the We Play Here School Tour (Photo: Warner Music)
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Looking for a new indie band to add to your OPM playlist? Kahel tells nostalgic, relatable Filipino stories against the backdrop of rock
“We want our listeners to visit a different world when they hear our songs… Something that takes you away from your surroundings—it’s just you and your emotions,” says Marko Abenoja, vocalist of Kahel.
In today’s fast-paced landscape of OPM, only a few bands and soloists have managed to capture the attention of thousands as quickly and authentically as Kahel. Formed in 2023, this five-man indie group has been carving out a place for themselves in the music scene with soulful tunes and resonant lyrics.
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Each member of Kahel has an intimate relationship with their respective craft. Marko Abenoja, the band’s vocalist, was exposed in the music scene as his father is none other than Rey Abenoja, Aegis’ guitarist. The same went for Mark Galang, their bassist, who took after his family and got into jamming with different bands when he was a teenager. Rhodie Sanjuan, Kahel’s guitarist, was inspired by his father, who was also adept with the instrument and received an acoustic Lumanog guitar from his older brother. Stephen Hermias, the pianist, recalls the times when he would cut class in high school to practice his craft. Finally, Isaiah Bolo, Kahel’s drummer, started by performing in their local church ministry’s band, where he played for a decade. The band also had bassist Erol Manalo who recently left to pursue a professional career after graduating cum laude.
The band’s name, directly translating to ‘orange’ in English, stems from the popular notion that nothing rhymes with the word. “We want our band to sound like no other,” quips Abenoja.
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Free of a niche, Kahel’s music explores the many facets of life—from petty childhood arguments with Beh Buti Nga to crushing on someone with Diwata and being the sole breadwinner of your family with Tinapay. “We want our songs to tell stories, not just love songs. As a songwriter, you’re not always in love; there are times when you’re annoyed with someone or struggling to get out of bed… But of course, to get known in the Philippines, you need to make love songs,” says Abenoja.
The band’s creative process evolved from Abenoja writing the lyrics alone to the whole band pouring out their raw emotions onto a page. For instance, their latest single, Tinapay had Sanjuan write the verse, Hermias with the pre-chorus and refrain and Abenoja with the chorus and bridge—all without even discussing it. When they met up with what they have, they put it together and it worked.
As with any musician, Kahel’s biggest challenge is on the financial side of things. With all of the members committed to the band full-time, they’re banking on Kahel’s success out of passion.
To fuel the fire, Hermias mentioned that some of them partake in side hustles so they can keep producing songs and continue performing on stage. “Back when I had a motorcycle, I would sell chicharon and deliver food for extra money. Mark has a milk tea business, and Isaiah would often work for JoyRide as a rider,” he shares.
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The band has built an astounding reputation online among listeners they have playfully come to call ‘Kaheliens’. Every day, they post videos—ranging from performances to funny skits—on their TikTok account to spread their music, and each of them keeps a close eye on their notifications to engage with fans.
“As long as someone’s up, we make sure to reply to every comment on our TikTok. We’re never too busy for them. It honestly starts to look like we have an AI moderator because of how fast we reply. We all get the notifications too, so sometimes our account would reply to one comment twice or we’d end up unliking a comment,” says Sanjuan with a laugh.
As for the legacy they wish to build, Kahel aims to be in the upper echelons of OPM—to live up to their namesake and be recognised for who they are in a flash. “The colour orange is something you’ll immediately notice when you see it in the street. It stands out and gives off a joyous vibe,” says Abenoja. When they do reach that goal, they tell their future selves to stay grounded and to remember to give back to the music scene. “We won’t be there if it weren’t for them. Their efforts deserve to be recognised just as ours were,” says Sanjuan.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
