Star Powerhouse

Indie pop quartet Orange & Lemons marks the season of romance with a fresh take on The Carpenters ’ timeless classic “ Close To You .” Released just in time for Valentine’s Day, the band’s cover brings a modern twist to the iconic track while preserving the original’s emotional essence. The remake of “Close To You” features subtle upgrades and embellishments from their usual live version. Clem Castro , the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band, recalls the origins of the cover, which dates back to 1999 when the Bulacan-based band was preparing the material for their debut album, Love In the Land of Rubber Shoes & Dirty Ice Cream . He explains, “I was inspired to create a cover version for live gigs and challenged ourselves to integrate our own sound. It has been a staple since then on our set list. On top of that, I am a huge fan of Burt Bacharach.” According to Clem, one of the major distinctions from the original version is the absence of the transposition, which sets this...

  Filipino alternative pop outfit Orange & Lemons has finally dropped the iconic music video of “ La Bulaqueña ,” featuring fellow Bulakenya and Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo . Conceptualized and directed by constant collaborators Everywhere We Shoot , the MV showcases the parallel storylines of O&L and Manalo and how they were deeply connected together by a turn-of-the-century portraiture called Una Bulaqueña in terms of geographic affinity and influence. The said masterpiece, which was helmed by Juan Luna y Novicio, carries an unassuming naturalness that depicts a Filipina from an elite countryside background, one who is assumed to be from Bulacan. “The symbolic repetition of the painting deepens the narrative and signifies the theme,” Clem Castro, the lead vocalist and guitarist of seminal alternative rock outfit, Orange & Lemons, explains.  An unexpected collaboration During her Miss Universe Philippines campaign, Chelsea Manalo’s team used ...

  Filipino pop-rock band Orange & Lemons are staging a one-night concert to commemorate their 25 years of unforgettable musical journey.  The hitmakers behind the generation-defining anthems “ Hanggang Kailan ,” “ Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown) ” and “ Just A Splendid Love Song ” will perform the greatest hits of their career in a three-hour concert happening at the Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City on October 18, 2024, from 7 p.m. onwards. Dubbed “ Now & Then: Orange & Lemons 25 th Anniversary Concert ,” the special show serves as an important milestone for the four-piece band as they continue to grace the local music industry with captivating releases and memorable performances, albeit going through lineup changes through the years.  “Reaching this quarter-century milestone feels like a dream come true, and it’s a testament to the incredible community that surrounds us,” shares Clem Castro, the lead vocalist and guitarist of seminal alternativ...