Interview with Polymerase

Hello guys, nice to have you on Volatile Weekly! What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music, what would you be doing today?

• Hi! I am Vincent, Nice to meet you! I play guitars and do vox for polymerase. I think I got into music when I was in my pre-teens. I studied piano before playing the guitar. And my first lesson for my piano tutorials happened in a church. Hahaha! I know this will sound weird but the fascination for guitar-driven music that got me hooked was a riff from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Haha! And until that, I have explored different kinds of music from classical music to blues to metal. I think if I were not doing what I’m doing now I would be working in a hospital, and that’s what I’ve been doing now.  

What do you like to do when you are not playing music, and how does that influence your creativity?

• I usually listen to other artists’ material and be inspired by what they do, and if I’m not working, I’m probably playing my PlayStation or doing some exercise, and sometimes drinking with friends. By playing games, it helps me explore the idea of the game, the soundtrack, and the flow of it. I think it helps my creative process by diverting my creative juices and put it on hold for a while, then if a moment will spark, I will eventually record it and expound it more. By exercising, It helps my mind be clear for a while and not think about stuff. It also helps the blood flow more into the brain and it helps me relax a bit. By drinking, I get to hang out with the troops and got to hear about the latest happening in music and in life. With a little bit of that, I get to create something from experience and let it pour into the music of polymerase.

How long has your band been around?

•  The band started with my brother and I, way back in 2014. We made Tool-inspired tracks with a little bit of our flavor of our own, but back then  I was in med-school and I was not to be able to focus more and other than that, the pc that we saved the files got corrupted.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

• We are based in the Philippines. We started the band in Quezon City. The city that we lived caters a lot of independent artists. The city has a good access to areas that are suitable for artists that shares their music.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• The name Polymerase came when I was still in med school and the name got my interest during the discussion in genetics. It is and enzyme that is responsible for creating/replication the DNA and RNA inside our cells. Without accurate direction of the enzyme, our cell will eventually create dysfunctional proteins and will lead us into decay. With that idea, I think Without the creation of Polymerase’s music, for me my life would decay faster.  

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• I think the most memorable show we had was last Dec. It was the first time for so long that I had to play in a live audience. The feeling is awesome because it is also after the surge of the pandemic after we get to play outside. We get to see faces we have not seen in years and they are there to support us.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• As long as there would be events that would invite us play, I think it would be an honor for us to share our brand of music. Locally, we would like to be part of big events here such as the summer festival called Pulp summer slam. Or internationally, desert fest would be great.

If you could play any show with any line-up, who would be on the ticket?

• I think if it would be awesome to play with big bands such as uncle acids and the deadbeats, corrosion of conformity, down, sleep, or black sabbath that would be awesome.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• Probably enjoy what you’re doing and just practice more if your sound sucks.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• I think… I would tell my younger self to not be too hard on myself and just to do things to your likings.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• I love every song we made, but I think that would be the sage or Zodiac Queen. If it is about becoming and understanding the things introspectively as myself that would be: The sage, but as a song structure I think Zodiac queen. I just love how the song flows with that track.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• Like what I have said earlier, I love every song we made and we try to play it most for our set.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• Dreams and Realities happened or come into fruition during the latter part of the surge of pandemic after Polymerase created the EP: Unostentatious. The inspiration comes from observing the things happening around us and coming up with ideas synonymous in making a clay figurine in music. And sometimes during drinking sessions with friends, ideas pop out to create our brand of music.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• Every one of us suffer and in our every misery we can create something beautiful.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

• I think if we ever have disagreements with the band in regards of music, we try to check the suggestion and if sounds ok we put it in the mix if it sound bland we discard it.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• We are organizing a gig here and hopefully could do a leg tour to promote the album. I’ll be in the US by midpart of this year and if the boat sails well, we could think of something there and hopefully get to gig there as well.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• We have our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/polymerasepilipinas and our Bandcamp page: polymerase.bandcamp.com. and they can check us out on Spotify, iTunes, apple music, Deezer and other streaming platforms as well. Thanks