We have always known Asch as a producer and artist traversing the paths of RnB, hip-hop, jazz, and soul with such success, so hearing about his new project with long-time friend and singer, Jaren, we got excited even more to have them in this episode. With Asch’s impeccable flow and musicality, it’s intriguing to hear how it will flawlessly blend with Jaren’s soulful voice. The duo goes by Tomcat, a laid-back take on creating songs but with methodical and discerning musical production — although lyrics and direction are made for casual listeners it can’t deny the fact of how rooted their music is to deeper musical tastes and knowledge.
They performed their track “Are We” on Sound Fiesta to showcase what they can offer. While the idea of the song is as ordinary and mundane as “not being on the same level while dating — one assumed it was a date, while the other is not on the same page.” their music brings it up a bit to sophistication.
Can you share to us the people behind Tomcat and how did the band came about?
Me (Asch) and Jaren are the ones handling the whole thing. I rap, and produce the beats, while Jaren writes the melodies, and the hooks. I met our bandmates through a Facebook post, “looking for sessionists.” They also play for a lot of other bands but I really think they love us the most. The band we have is for the shows and it’s really a different vibe from the ones we (me and Jaren) make. And I thank God we have them as bandmates because whenever we rehearse we keep bouncing ideas off of each other which makes it interesting all the time.
How would you describe your music?
Emotional Hip-hop, it’s a combination of really smooth beats but with bitter/cheesy lyrics. We want to write about contemporary relationships — something almost everyone in this age can relate to.
Who influences the band?
Noname, Jordan Rakei, Hiatus Kaiyote, J Dilla. You can name it, but it’s basically R&B, Soul, and Hip-hop
How important is expressing your influences and tastes in the music you are pursuing and creating?
Not that much, it’s more of us just wanting to enjoy showing what we have to everyone. And if our audience can vibe with us, then that would be a win-win.
We’re curious, how is it pursuing a music career nowadays, moreover, as a band?
Hard, especially if the only people backing you is yourself and your bandmates. We really need funds to be able to produce everything; rehearsals, content, etc., you name it. But we look at this as an investment and an outlet so it’s really laid back if you put it in that perspective.
What are your goals for Tomcat?
Global! We aim to reach everyone in the world with our music. I mean it might not be for everyone but hopefully it can get to that point since what we have isn’t that complicated.
Any upcoming projects our readers should expect from you guys this 2020?
We are releasing our first Extended Playlist (EP) this coming month of March. You’ll also be seeing us around performing a lot this year so please catch us and support local Filipino Music!
Sound Fiesta is in collaboration with Playhouse Studio for video production and Kindred Productions for audio management. This video is shot in XX:XX, Makati City.
