A new wave of acoustics is being brought to HCMC via Caravelle Saigon Hotel by Pilipino band, The Juram. The front man, Juram Batapa – Gavero, talk about his band, their music and plans for the future.

Juram, would you like to introduce your band to our readers?

The band is composed of four individuals, each person, in my opinion, has a lot of experience in music and our individual style allows us to become a unique band.

Juram is my name, which I think is unique and is a good name for a band, and I’ve been playing around town for years in some of the top bars in the city, and my name is quite established.

When and how did you form the band?

We’ve been playing together for six months now. It started when these guys gave me a call, and I’m the type of person who is always willing to help, so we kind of started from there.

Why do you play acoustic sets?

I don’t only play acoustic but it’s a part of the music that I’m playing with my band

Acoustic music is not really new to city but not many people enjoy it, do you know why?

I think it’s quite new in the city. Tne reason why is when I play acoustic it is to introduce it to people and let them understand and appreciate the real roots of music.

Can you make a prediction for the next step in music? Will any genre reign alone this year?

Genre that will reign this year will be rock and revival just an opinion.

Why did you come to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) to work?

I was playing around Asia and this guy who owned Modestos Vietnam was willing to sponsor us to come and play for his bar. We were housed in the Caravelle.

What do you think about Vietnamese audiences?

Vietnamese crowds nowadays, and especially the younger generation, are more open to foreign music and starting to embrace it.

Many local singers are using the same way to raise their reputation: cover a worldwide popular song without buying the license from foreign composers.

The music scene is the same everywhere. It’s not only in Asia that cover songs can gain popularity easily and also makes the artiste saleable. Doing your own compositions in front of a crowd, that is not only expecting what they want to hear and is not familiar with your music, is a big risk.

People always believe that the singers on a big stage can earn much more than singers at the bar. So why did you choose to perform at the bar and small events?

The sentiment that you get while performing on big stages is different from playing for parties and events for friends, also with my regular gigs it’s more intimate when I am with them, the relationship that you are able to connect with you audience is what keeps me going and loving what I do.

Do you have any plans for a big debut CD here or even a debut live show?

I am getting there, I’m starting to record my compositions now and planning to do live recordings as well.

VietNamNet/SGGP