Watching The Ransom Collective play live was a big revelation for me. Not only for its brand of music, but also the extent of talent within the band. These millennials are proof that Filipino music is already at the stage where it's at par with foreign acts. Bands like UDD and Urbandub are not alone in pushing the sound of OPM. Traces, the first studio album of the six-member indie folk band, was officially launched last May 20, 2017, at The Palace Pool Club. The big launch came four years after the band's inception.
Before this album, The Ransom Collective's single "Fools" from its self-titled EP was already popular on Spotify. The launch was co-presented with Mazda Philippines, who provided the band with two Mazda CX-3s to use. The compact crossover also had a cameo in the music video for "Open Road," which was shot in Pililla, Rizal. The CX-3 is a good match for the video's road trip vibe.
The Ransom Collective consists of band members Kian Ransom (vocals, guitar), Lily Gonzales (keyboard), Muriel Gonzales (violin), Jermaine Choa Peck (percussion), Leah Halili (bass), and Redd Claudio (drums). Check out the photos here from the official launch of Traces to relive what was truly an epic night.
