Viva Records acquires Up Dharma Down’s recorded works

Viva Records continues to make strides in expanding its catalog coverage with its recent acquisition of popular alternative pop rock group Up Dharma Down's original sound recordings (OSR).

With the said acquisition, Viva Records now officially owns the master recordings of Up Dharma Down. This includes the four albums Up Dharma Down released with Toti Dalmacion's Terno Recordings — “Fragmented,” “Bipolar,” “Capacities,” and the self-titled, “UDD.” Said albums have established Up Dharma Down as one of the most influential bands of the mid-to-late aughts and onward.

Toti Dalmacion, head of Terno Recordings, said that the deal with Viva Records was a natural one.

“The Viva deal happened smoothly because of my long association with Boss Vic. There was the 'Hotdog' connection [Dalmacion is related to the Garcia brothers of said band] and I've also worked with Viva before.

“And there's also the trust — I trust that Viva will know what to do with original sound recordings that Up Dharma Down has built through the years.”

Up Dharma Down, a.k.a. UDD, was the leading indie pop rock band of its time.

The group — with lead singer-keyboardist Armi Millare, lead guitarist Carlos Tanada, drummer Ean Mayor and bassist Paul Yap — established themselves as darlings of the alternative pop scene with memorable hits such as “Unti Unti,” “Sana,” and “Indak.”

But it is with “Tadhana” and “Oo” that UDD solidified itself as a major creative unit — from being just an alternative rock band to being an influential music artist whose works have influenced its generation and beyond.

Viva Records' top man, “Boss” Vic Del Rosario, said that the UDD acquisition “is in line with Viva's thrust in expanding its catalog and in making sure that great music, like that of UDD, will be heard by a new generation of listeners.”

Del Rosario mentioned that he plans to use the music of UDD on “appropriately themed films on our growing streaming service Vivamax, as supporting music.”

“The Up Dharma Down catalog is a treasure trove of great music,” he said. “I'm sure that we can rediscover a new hit or two in there.”

Speaking of new hits, Dalmacion is also excited at what Up Dharma Down can offer its legion of listeners in the future. Here he shares that the band has “also reached a two album deal with Viva Records,” ensuring that there will be new music from the band in the foreseeable future.

The Up Dharma Down catalog now joins those of Sarah Geronimo, Arthur Nery, This Band, Bandang Lapis (to name a few) and the still growing list of recordings under Viva Records.

****

Cebu-based band The Sundown is set to heat up everyone's playlists with their new single under Island Records Philippines entitled “Last Dance.” The power ballad evokes those slow dances at prom night, the moment when a love song comes on and a couple takes to the floor.

Composed of vocalist Aaron Domingo, guitarists Gino Rosales and Vincent James Eco, drummer Alden Panes, and bassist Luigi Balazo, their band name comes from their belief that their songs are the perfect soundtrack for the setting sun.

“We were looking for band names kung saan babagay yung mga songs namin. We decided na bagay kami sa sunsets. Tapos medyo common na yung term na sunset so I just said The Sundown. And the guys agreed,” Domingo said in a Zoom interview with Music Geek.

The band came together because of a tweet from Vincent where he echoed his want for people to play music with. Incidentally, all members of the band have been working on their music for years, each member a fan of the other's work, and it was (digital) fate that brought their talents together.

They describe their sound as anthemic and strangely familiar, wrapped up in a rousing mix of indie pop and new wave that will make anyone want to get up, dance, and shout.

“When you listen to our songs, you really feel it. Even if you're jumping up and down or singing to it, we wanted it heartfelt. It is nostalgic, energetic, and anthemic,” Rosales said.