One Click Straight tells stories with soul

One sunny afternoon in October, the alternative rock band One Click Straight shows Young STAR their magic: crafting art with unique sounds and storylines so rooted in Filipino culture and life experiences. 

It’s impossible not to think they have what it takes to become the next big thing in the Philippines. That they are the cover of Spotify Philippines’ “alt.ph” playlist in September for their single Siga, and the only Filipino act who landed on the International Albums of 2023 list by Thai publication The Cosmos, are already testaments that they are on their way to stardom. 

The members are singer-guitarist (turned vlogger) Sam Marquez, guitarist Joel Cartera, bassist-keyboardist Toffer Marquez, and singer-drummer (now also a shadow boxer) Tim Marquez. They have been together for 15 years. Sam and Tim sat down with Young STAR to share stories about their music, “making it,” and pursuing arts in the country. 

Their latest single Siga, which came out in August, was created when the band was still bursting with ideas after their self-titled album last year.

It is an infectiously upbeat, dance-worthy track, but its lyrics tell a sobering story. “It became a song about realizing life isn’t on your side. Life is a bully, maybe it’s not your friend, (but) you have to deal with it,” shares Tim. 

“Ang hirap ng buhay, pero medyo nakakatawa kasi tuloy-tuloy lang,” Sam adds.  

The brothers compare the song to driving in EDSA: You’re happy because you have a car, but it starts to overheat and the air conditioner stops working. You’re also stuck in traffic, but you don’t mind because you’re glad to be with your friends.

It’s a culmination of our “it is what it is” moments, Tim says. “Ang buhay ay sadyang ganyan, hanggang sa huli, palaging nang uuto,” they belt in Siga’s first verse.

It’s fascinating how Siga fits the band’s current dilemmas. Finding their footing in the industry took time, and when they finally did, they faced more hurdles. “Currently we’re drowning in logistics,” Tim says about marketing their music. They jokingly call themselves “content creators who know how to play musical instruments.” 

On their social media, they often share behind-the-scenes looks into how they make music, song covers, live performances, and other fun snackable content all to promote their work.

Right now, artists not only have to make and perform music, but also market themselves online. “Hindi na nga kami in denial of it,” Sam shares. “Hindi (ka) na lang gagawa ng music then (it’s) done.”

The band believes that music is meant to be shared and celebrated communally—something that, Sam adds, can be difficult to market when social media is designed to be consumed individually.

They try not to think too much about the business side when making music. It’s more fulfilling to create songs they deeply resonate and feel satisfied with. “I think business should be separated. The best artists are the authentic artists,” Tim argues. Prioritizing numbers will pull in the charts, and maybe it works for others, “but there’s no soul.” 

There’s one more thing that One Click Straight finds soul from: performing their music live at gigs. So when the pandemic hit, the band felt they had lost something that gave them joy.

“Live shows can never be replicated online,” Sam says. “It’s like, hindi mo mama-match ang hug ng friend or a family member kahit na (mag-send ka ng) 10,000 hug emojis. Wala siyang kapareho.”

“The way we connect with (fans), I think that’s priceless and the most magical thing out there,” echos Tim. 

During the pandemic, they found ways to make do with what they had. “(We did) D.I.Y. recording and that was fun. It was also healthy for us writers, parang nag-explore kami ng ibang way of doing things. As much as hassle siya, vibes lang!” 

They also confess that the pandemic was a “bleep in the system,” because prior to it, the band weren’t sharing as much of themselves on social media. “We like holding back who we are,” Sam says. Putting themselves out there online had them thinking, “Am I being less authentic?” 

But they have since digressed from this. “You have to treat whatever (it is) as your own canvas, (so) it still feels like your own piece of art even if it's on social media.”

One Click Straight persists because they know what they can offer to the music and art industries in the country. 

“If you’re an artist, kayo ‘yung doorkeepers of culture. For me that’s a very important role in humanity, lalo sa ating country,” says Sam. “We may be struggling, but I think we’re still doing what we were supposed to do.” 

When asked what they wish for the local music scene, Tim dreams of “more artists that are brave enough to be themselves.” 

“That’s my dream. Artists that don’t compromise. That’s it.”

Towards the end of the interview, they tell me about their upcoming release Telepono. “I think it’s going to be the love song of the century (for) the modern human being,” Sam excitedly shares.

It’s true that life can be a bully, that you can make it to what you’ve always dreamed of only to be slapped with struggles you never anticipated. But one thing is certain: Fortune favors those who are siga and bold enough to veer away from the norm, and those who willingly share pieces of themselves into the art that they do.