Monday, July 1, 2013

Welcome to Thoughts And Notions New Home



It's been awhile since I last updated our old home (www.thoughtsandnotions.multiply.com) and looking back I left a promising statement that the band would return as soon as I could figure out a way to revive it. Well, until today, there's still no news of revival or something of that sort. Because my life has took me in another turn. But for that period in my life, Thoughts And Notions was a very special thing. I was at my lowest point when I decided to start writing songs. The songs became my outlet to express a Love that is so pure, bereft of any doubts, bereft of any uncertainties, bereft of any expectations. A kind of love that not just any person could give. I came to know God's love for us. And that love became my inspiration. I approached Wilbert Tan (a church mate and a very underrated musical maestro) to help me bring a distinguished sound to my lyrics. Thrina Dimaano to give the songs a voice. And as our humble beginnings is told, the project was only intended for our church's youth group as a fund-raising project. But there was a clamor to have it made available at a national level. We tried our luck, a record label took us under their wing, one thing led to another, until we became a full-pledged band that dared to soldier our Christian inspired songs to the mainstream public which at that time we don't know if they were even ready to listen to our songs.

Music at that time was not as accessible as it is now, but there were already music sites where you could upload your songs. For a band hailing from far flung Mindanao in the City of Cagayan de Oro, dreaming of having your music heard all over the country was a big thing. And creating songs that glorified God without sounding too preachy all the more made those dreams matter. The combination of our dreams and God's blessings took our music outside Cagayan de Oro to the consciousness of the Christian Music listening public in the country.


One of the greatest achievement of the band was gaining the respect of the mainstream audience. Because with God's help, our music broke the barriers of Christian Music and Mainstream music. We got to play in non-christian events with our Christian inspired songs. We got nominated to music awards that are not Christian in Nature and in category. Our songs were on the music charts and playlists of mainstream radios. God's love was heard not only for those who are already willing to listen, but also to those who never thought that they would be attracted to Christian Music. Or to be more correct, those who never even thought that God loves them. A lot of lives were changed for the better, our songs in their own little ways touched a number of people, comforting them with God's love. In five years time, we have achieved our mission with God's grace. Though our existence had to come to an abrupt end, looking back I can proudly say that our shelf life as a band had reached it's peak. And just when I started the band as a broken person, the band's existence ended when I became whole again. The time when I finally had my own family. I now realized that this band was as personal as it could be for me.   

I'm starting this blog not as a sign that Thoughts And Notions is returning. This blog is a personal tribute to the band. Despite not being able to resuscitate the band, I am determined to keep the memory of the band alive. Our old home will be closing down soon. I will be importing the stories, the wonderful journey of the band in this new home. 2004 seemed like yesterday when we first wrote the very first words and notes for the song Savior. I don't know what's in store for 2013. But maybe if I could keep the songs and memories alive long enough, someone would be inspired by our story. Someone might decide to pick up a guitar and write a song that would share God's love anew. It doesn't matter if you live so far away from the country's capital. If God blesses you, you will be heard. I can rest Thoughts And Notions to it's place in Cagayan de Oro's music. At this point it would be hard to make a come back (since I'm already based in Metro Manila). But if someone is interested to share my vision of sharing God's love thru music, maybe one day Thoughts And Notions will be back.