Spotlight: New Day in August

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NEW DAY IN AUGUST (often stylized as NDiA) is a Filipino-American new wave/alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2003. The band was formerly known as The Binary Project, with Richard del Rosario, Rex Aglibot, and Mike Abad as the core members. Initially a cover band playing alternative music, the trio progressed to writing original material influenced by new wave music. Bassist Don Morales and keyboardist Tolitz Rosel joined the band in 2008 and 2009, respectively to augment their new sound. With this new musical direction, group then came to be known as New Day in August.

The band has been active in the Los Angeles Fim-Al alternative scene for more than ten years, and has co-produced a successful series of free concerts dubbed New Wave Nights. NDiA has also opened for Filipino rock acts such as Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Glenn Jacinto, Kamikazee, Kitchie Nadal, and Glock 9 during the Los Angeles legs of their U.S. tours.

NDiA debuted their first EP, First Flight, on June 30, 2012 at Kapistahan Grill in Los Angeles, CA. Notable singles from the album included Looking Back and Close My Eyes. Their second EP, The Rest of the Day, was released on December 18, 2014. Popular songs from the EP included Jane’s Song and It’s Over. The group is currently working on their long-delayed third EP, with one of their singles Alone debuting as a live performance at Paco’s Place Podcast in 2020.

NDiA’s EPs are available at iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Music and other reputable online stores, and available for streaming at Spotify.

THE MUSICAL STYLE

NDiA’s sound is a distinct blend of new wave/alternative music influenced by bands of the 1980s, most notably The Cure, Joy Division, The Wild Swans, The Pixies and U2 and the more modern post-punk/alternative bands such as Interpol and Bloc Party. The band also lists heavy metal and hard rock bands like Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Van Halen, Smashing Pumpkins as additional influences.

THE HISTORY

The seeds were planted in August 2003 when longtime friends Rex Aglibot (bass, keyboards, voice) and Richie Del Rosario (voice, guitar) met Mike Abad (drums and percussion) during a jam session at a party in Long Beach. The trio continued to hone their sound over the next three years, playing songs spanning a variety of musical genres such as 80’s and 90’s alternative, hard rock, original Pinoy music (OPM) to new wave and Britpop.

After a cameo appearance at the revered Tribal Café in downtown Los Angeles under the name The Binary Project sometime November 2006, the band decided to start writing their own music, creating a distinct sound influenced by the gloomy mood of the Cure, the post-punk backbeats of New Order, Joy Division and Interpol, and the guitar textures of U2, The Wild Swans and The Smashing Pumpkins. Don Morales joined the band in 2008, allowing Rex to transition to guitars full time. Tolitz Rosel joined on keyboards in 2009 to complement the new sound.

With a new lineup and a new sound, the band, now known as New Day in August, set forth with the purpose of “bringing back the sound of yesterday… today.”

Check out an interview with the band at Paco’s Place.

THE BAND

Richard Del Rosario (Richie)

Richie (born in Manila, Philippines) is a singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and founding member for Los Angeles-based new wave/alternative band New Day in August (NDiA). He also provided lead vocals for Organic Anti Beatbox and sessions with other underground Los Angeles bands.

Influences:
Richie listens to an eclectic array of music from classical to heavy metal, from Bach to Led Zeppelin. The sound created for New Day in August is derived from the melodic sound of the 80s and the powerful guitar riffs of the 90s.

Rex Vincent Aglibot (Rex)

Rex Aglibot (born in Las Pinas, Philippines) is a guitarist, backing vocalist, and founding member of NDiA. He also played guitar for sister band Grand Fools Derby.

Influences:
Rex runs the full gamut of influences, being classically trained on the piano and rocking out with heavy metal on the guitar. He listens to everything, from Bach and Beck to Metallica and Zep.

Michael Abad (Mike)

Mike Abad (born in Manila, Philippines) is a drummer and founding member of NDiA. He also played drums for other underground Los Angeles bands like Beowulf, Space Age Love, and Alternative Ego.

Influences: Mike has followed new wave/alternative bands such as The Cure, Depeche Mode, U2, Dishwalla, NewOrder, Joy Division, The Stone Roses, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Police, and Oasis. He credits Larry Mullen Jr. (U2), Boris Williams (The Cure), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Matt Sorum (The Cult/Guns n’ Roses), Pat Torpey (Mr. Big), and Reni (Stone Roses) as huge influences in his drumming.

Adolph John Morales (Don)

Don Morales (born in Pampanga, Philippines) is the bassist and backing vocalist for NDiA. An accomplished musician, he has played for the likes of Bamboo Manalac, Dong Abay, Glenn Jacinto and Arnel Pineda, and is also the bassist for underground Los Angeles bands like Beyond Beowulf, the Glenn Jacinto Band, L.A. Rats and The Brotherhood.

Influences:
Don has a wide range of musical tastes and considers the following as huge influences to his sound and playing style: Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Scott LaFaro, Paul Chambers, Jaco Pastorius, Larry Graham, Michael Manring, Stanley Clarke, Jeff Berlin, Victor Wooten, Bootsy Collins, Cliff Burton, Primus, James Brown, The Meters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, P-Funk All-Stars, George Clinton, U2, Pixies, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Ramones (and the list goes on and on….)

Roselito Rosel (Tolitz)

Tolitz Rosel (born in Cavite, Philippines) is the keyboardist and backing vocalist for NDiA. He also played keys for Grand Fools Derby, Middle of Main and Dominion, as well as lead vocals for Beyond Beowulf and SideChic.

Influences:
Tolitz’s musical interests span the 80s and 90s, and his sound and approach were heavily influenced by The Cure, OMD, Fra Lippo Lippi, a-Ha, Depeche Mode, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, The Human League, REM, U2, Men at Work, and The Doors, as well The Cult, Pearl Jam and Hootie and the Blowfish.

THE MUSIC

 

 

INFORMATION

Website: www.newdayinaugust.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/newdayinaugust
Youtube: www.youtube.com/newdayinaugust