Indayo is a five-piece Indie-Alternative/Pop band. The band’s name came from the Tagalog word “Indayog", meaning "rhythm". “We just decided to remove the "g" because we thought it sounded cooler.” The members are Lia Alfonso as both vocalist and bassist, Cha Umali as the lead guitarist, Melissa Ramos as the violinist, Cita Alfonso as the drummer, and Mela Roque as the cellist. The all-female band is a mix of loud, quirky, and passionate individuals. Melissa notes that their status as an all-girl indie-alternative pop band gives them an edge since it is not common in the music industry. They have released two original singles on Soundcloud, namely “Tug of War” and “Elude”. They are a band who “writes songs about everyone's personal experiences.” Their songs are anthems of self-love and hope.
Indayo is the first band to perform after Ashley's Kryptonite. They are introduced as a “freshie band.” They start their set with their original song “Decisions”, followed by a cover of “Arbitrary” by Over October. Their original songs are written in English. They play two more originals: “Under My Skin” and “Tug of War.” Before they play the song, Lia explains that their original, “Tug of War”, is about “believing in yourself and trusting yourself in whatever you’ll do.” Their sound is reminiscent of The Ransom Collective; with a colorful clash of instruments. They end their set with a cover of “Bukang Liwayway” by Munimuni. When asked about musical influences, the band names both international and local artists: Coldplay, John Mayer, Paramore, Up Dharma Down, and Munimuni.
AMP asks the band about their history, music style, and future plans:
How did you guys meet?
We all came from the same high school, St. Paul College Pasig, and we were all part of the same music organization in that school called MAC-I. From there, we just clicked and decided why not form a band.
How would you describe your music style?
Our music style is a mix of alternative pop but sometimes we incorporate funk to add some groove. Normally, we like to experiment around those genres and then try to mix it to make a new sound.
What are your plans for the future? (EP/Album/Gigs/Etc.)
Right now, we are already planning our release of our first single. Hopefully by January, we get to release it. [On] 2018 we'll focus on recording an EP and again, hopefully, release it on May! For gigs, we'll post upcoming dates in our Facebook page.
On an interview with Gouache Bags, Melissa notes the band’s dreams are “to create music that is personally and socially relevant” and “[to] give a voice to those who can’t seem to transform their thoughts into words through the music we make.” Indayo is off to a good start, who knows how far they will go in their career.