OI! BAWAL UMIHI DITO!

B.U.D. formed in Davao City in 2005. The full name of the band is “Bawal Umihi Dito,” but is better known as B.U.D. (pronounced as if being spelled, i.e. “Bee-You-Dee”). They perform post-punk and garage rock. Members of the band are Mevin Dacono (drums and vocals), Jasper Nacilla (lead guitar and back-up vocals), Nikki Gutierrez (bass and back-up vocals), and Uno Ayala (rhythm guitar and lead vocals).

The band started in 2005 when they were classmates in high school at Ateneo de Davao. At the beginning, B.U.D. was merely recreational, but when a music-studio owner noticed them, expressed his impression and offered to manage them, the band declined, but decided to take music seriously. As for personal backgrounds, Mevin and Jasper are both self-taught in their instruments. Jasper is also an accomplished dancer and banduria player. Nikki and Uno were both previously enrolled in Conpinco Music School, with Nikki learning under the instruction of Paolo Sisi, one of Davao’s best music teachers. Nikki belongs to a family immersed in music, as all his siblings were previously enrolled in Conpinco. Uno, who is of Filipino, Chinese and Norwegian descent, also belongs to a musically inclined family, being related to the likes of Mike Ayala (7th Heaven), Jim Paredes (Apo Hiking Society), Joey Ayala and Cynthia Alexander. His parents are also well versed in the arts; his mother, Lani Ayala, sings and plays the piano, and his father, Ian Albert, a U.S. National, is a guitarist and painter. Furthermore, Uno’s father and paternal grandparents are connected to notable foreign folk artists such as Jorma Kaukonen and Janis Joplin.


CONTACT DETAILS: Tel. 09104065243
(Chris Valenzona)
E-mail: [email protected]
Network: http://www.myspace.com/bawalumihidito
Site:http://bawalumihiditomusic.weebly.com

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B.U.D. began performing seriously in 2006, mostly doing covers in Ateneo High School’s events, such as the battle of the bands, and 2007 Prom night. Notable gigs after high school include a small intimate island-gig with Jim Paredes (who subsequently praised the band’s potential and gave them tips on their music) among the audience, their very own EP Launch at Kanto Bar, Matina Town Square in May 2008, a couple of shows where they were invited to perform at NCCC mall of Davao, and numerous indie productions around the city. During this period, “Kabit,” the first single off their E.P. debuted at the number three spot in Davao’s indie top 20, and would peak at number one for several weeks. Their second single “Emo Kid,” debuted at number seven and also peaked at number one. Both songs are some of the few that made it out of the indie charts and into “regular” radio programming. At present, they continue to receive regular airtime on local radio.

The band has released one E.P. of all original music and is at work producing more songs, specifically for a full-length album in the near future. In late 2008, Uno co-founded Sounds of Smalltown, a production team focused on highlighting the independent music of Davao City; of course, B.U.D. participates in most of the events organized by Sounds of Smalltown. The band is also set to take its first steps into Manila’s music scene in June 2009, which will be the start of regular trips and gigs in the capital, as well as the band’s expansion of activity outside their base of operations, Davao City.