Dubai’s Xalbaje are breaking their silence and bringing the noise

It's taken months of hard work and sacrifice, but the Filipino band Xalbaje are finally ready to release their debut album.

The Dubai-based Filipino band Xalbaje are releasing a new album on Wednesday, November 5. Courtesy Jruzz Merca
Powered by automated translation

The Dubai-based Filipino rockers Xalbaje, who will release their debut album on Wednesday, November 5, are masters of the art of ­multitasking.

For this interview, for example, the drummer Tziz Cortes has to juggle his time between answering questions about the band and responding to queries from customers looking for surfing equipment at the shop where he works as a sales manager.

“That’s actually the hardest part – to still find time to create music and carry on as a band despite our respective day jobs,” says the bassist Zandro Aquino.

Officially founded in 2013, the band – with Liza Uraning on vocals, and Joven Peralta on guitar alongside Aquino and Cortes – the band went through a few name changes before settling on Xalbaje, a playful twist on the Tagalog word “salbahe”, meaning “mischievous”. The group started out as a cover band but decided to start writing their own songs to beef up their repertoire. It was a natural progression, says Uraning, as their personal experiences inspired their writing.

“Our music is a combination of various influences, from classic to contemporary Filipino and foreign artists,” explains Peralta. “Lyrics-wise, there’s a conscious effort to write mostly in Tagalog to make it relatable to the Filipino audience and listeners here.”

No one knows who came up with the idea to release an album. Everyone wanted to record the songs, but initially it was intended for their ears only. The thought of releasing an album seemed far-fetched. “We just wanted to record the songs so that we wouldn’t forget the arrangements,” says Cortes. “But somehow, we decided to really record the songs in great quality so that we could compile everything on one disc and release it as an album.”

The result is the debut album, Breaking the Silence, which contains eight original songs. What makes the album even more special is the fact that it was completed without the backing of a major label. The production was an arduous process as the band members had to pool their resources to finance it. "A lot of our friends actually helped us to put together the album," says Uraning. This is made evident by the music video for the album's title track, which was directed by the Dubai-based director and videographer, Jruzz Merca. Like the album, the video was produced on a shoestring budget and with DIY aesthetics – to great result.

“I wanted to capture the band’s spirit and translate it to the video,” says Merca. “We only had a small team for this video but we were able to pull it off. I’m very happy with the outcome.”

Aside from sharing their brand of music, Xalbaje hope to serve as an inspiration to fellow bands and artists to pursue their ­passion.

“This album is actually not about making a sale or profit,” says Aquino. “The album is a testament and a documentation of our goal and hard work.

“This might be a first and last shot for all we know – but at least we were able to fulfil our dream. It is a story worth retelling to our grandkids in the future.”

Breaking the Silence by Xalbaje's is available at Surf House Dubai (Umm Suqeim 2, Jumeirah Beach Road) or call 052 645 2238. The band will officially launch the album on Wednesday, November 5 at the Music Room, Majestic Hotel Tower in Mankhool Road, Bur Dubai

artslife@thenational.ae