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Interview with The Thinkers: From Manila out into the rock scene
Hi and welcome to Lila's interview!
When talking about the Filipino music scene, many people first think of pop, maybe even K-pop influences. But what if I told you that the Philippines should also be known for its rock music? That's where The Thinkers come in: a duo with a lot of heart and their own identity, because they have the courage to swim against the mainstream.
I spoke to Troy and Anthony, who have reinvented their band during the pandemic and are now launching it with a mix of 90s nostalgia, classic rock and a good dash of philosophy. In conversation, it quickly became clear that it's about more than just the music, but about attitude; about moving on when the going gets tough, and about the joy of inspiring the world with their sound.
(You can find the English original in the translation at the bottom right. We have translated the interview into German).
Special Thanks to: Axis, Troy & Anthony. You guys are amazing!
Lila:For our immortals, who are discovering you for the first; me, please introduce yourself and tell us anything our readers - or "Thinkers" - should know?
Troy:Hi, we are The ThinkersA rock duo from Manila, Philippines. I’m Troy, the band’s singer,
songwriter, and guitarist. Although we officially launched in October 2022, the story really goes
back to 2017 when my previous band broke up. I went solo for a while, but whenever I played
live, it occurred to me that I needed a backing band. That’s how Troy Alcala & The Thinkersfirst came to life. Anthony was already part of that backing band.
Then the pandemic hit in 2020 and everything came to a halt. That pause made me rethink things—I didn’t just want a “backup” band anymore. I wanted a real band, with its own identity, new repertoire, and a fresh look. Fortunately, Anthony was on board right away. That’s when The Thinkers truly took shape.
Anthony:Hey, I’m Anthony — or Tonyo, whichever you prefer. I’m the drummer, and I’ve been behind the kit since I was in 2nd grade, so that’s over 30 years of drumming under my belt. I first met Troy back in 2014, and by 2016 I was already playing with him as a session drummer for his former band. The Thinkers is the first official band we’ve built together.
Lila:Your newest single "Hey! Wait!" brings a refreshing and distinctive take on rock music. The energy, the attitude; all there. What was the creative process like, and what message would you like to bring across?
Troy:It started with a riff, and I just put words that aligned with the theme of the song—heavy and upbeat. During the pandemic, I also came across Stoicism and read several books about it, which became part of my songwriting. "Hey! Wait!" is one of the songs that draws from that study. Our creative process is very straightforward: I usually write the whole song on an acoustic guitar, complete with melody and lyrics, then pass it to Anthony so he can work on his drum parts. Once we meet in the studio, we arrange everything together and fine-tune until it really hits the right note.
Anthony:Like our other songs, it is a collaborative effort. Troy comes up with the riff and lyrics, I listen to it and pretty much stitch the song together in the studio. The song shouts positivity and pushing forward despite hardships.
Lila:Is there a central theme, you want listeners to focus on in “Hey! Wait!”
Troy:They can focus on the energy of the song. Lyrically, it’s kind of a motivational track—something they can lean on to feel better on a rough day.
Anthony:Yeah, exactly. Like I said earlier, the song really highlights the positive side of life. Nothing too deep or complicated—it’s simply a reminder to keep moving forward.
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Lila:You’re currently working on your debut album, which is exciting news! How has the process been so far? Are there particular moments or challenges in the studio that have stood out?
Troy:We record our songs on analog tape. It’s a tough nut to crack, but it’s a lot of fun too. It really makes us feel like professional musicians because we do everything live — and if we slip up, well, it’s back to square one. That’s why every song feels extra special; we put our heart and soul into every single take. And once we finally nail it, it’s like music to our ears — super fulfilling once we get the best take.
Anthony:It’s been great — we really love cooking up new songs. The last four we worked on turned out solid, and right now we’re just putting the finishing touches on them before hitting record. The biggest hurdle for me as a drummer is not having a bassist. A lot of my grooves really come alive when there’s bass backing them up. But since we’re a rock duo, Troy and I roll up our sleeves and work together — he spends extra time helping me lock in the beats, and that teamwork keeps things tight.
Lila:Many artists use their first album to introduce not only their sound, but their identity. To what extent do you feel this record captures who you are and what can listeners look forward to on it?
Troy:That’s true. Your very first album is critical because, as they say, first impressions last. With this record, we’re staying true to who we are—a straight-up rock band. no unnecessary complications. Just songs written as honestly as possible, recorded as honestly as possible. We want people to hear it the way it’s meant to be heard. No overthinking, just enjoying a good, old-fashioned rock album.
Anthony:We’re hoping our upcoming album will leave a mark and create a distinct sound for our listeners—something that will make it easy for them to identify our band whenever a new song comes out. If they love rock with a touch of 90’s flavor, they’re in for a treat.
Lila:Imagine your album is out and people are streaming it, sharing it, buying it, loving it. What are your hopes and goals after the release?
Troy:That would be awesome! We just want our album to reach as many people as possible, and hopefully, it’ll be our ticket to playing around the world. Lately, our music has been picking up some nice buzz from different parts of the globe, so we’re hopeful we’ll get the chance to perform live in those places too.
Anthony:One of our biggest hopes is that this first album will be our foot in the door to play outside the Philippines. If things go well, that’ll just light a fire under us to keep cranking out more songs—and hopefully full albums down the line.
Lila:Here in Germany, we have a thriving rock, punk and metal scene, including a large and connected underground base. As representatives of your own local scene, how would you describe the rock scene in the Philippines? What makes it unique?
Troy:The rock scene in the Philippines is diverse. I don’t know if that makes us unique, but one thing’s for sure—Filipinos can adapt to just about anything, even in music. Right now, the spotlights on pop, K-pop, ballads, and rap, so rock tends to take a back seat. These days, it’s more about crossovers and collaborations between genres. Still, we’re hopeful that rock will make a comeback like it used to. That’s one reason we decided to go against the grain. I’ve wanted to write rock music ever since I was a kid—sure, I can write pop too—but with The Thinkers, I finally get to do it and carve out our own path.
Anthony:Rock music here really peaked in the 90s and early 2000s. These days, not so much—the airwaves are packed with pop, ballads, and K-pop. But the indie scene? That’s where you’ll find some of the best rock bands the country has to offer. What makes it unique is how OPM rock has evolved by blending with other genres. And honestly, I think there’s still a chance for rock to rise and dominate again.
Lila:If there were one element or spirit from your scene that you’d love to introduce to the German rock scene, what would it be and is there something you would love to experience here in Germany yourself?
Troy:Filipinos have this natural affinity for music—it just runs in our veins. Honestly, it feels like seven out of ten people here can sing or play an instrument. That’s the spirit we’d love to share anywhere in the world. We’re adaptable—we can pick up any style, any dialect, and just make music out of it.
Anthony:As for us, we carry the spirit of the 90s. We’d love to give Deutschland that nostalgic kick with our music. On a personal note, I’ve always dreamed of experiencing the real Oktoberfest in Germany—hopefully one day we’ll make that happen.
Lila:Alright, let’s talk about dream collaborations: if you could collaborate with any artist or band, past or present, who would it be and why?
Troy:Of course, as huge Beatles fans, we’d love nothing more than to collaborate with Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr. That would be the ultimate reward for Beatle freaks like us. But beyond that, we’d also love the chance to work with the Gallagher brothers from Oasis, Thom Yorke from Radiohead, or Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins.
Anthony:My biggest influences are Travis and the Dave Matthews Band. I’ve been a fan since high school, and a lot of my beats are inspired by them.
Lila:Finally, what is something about your band (a fun fact, an inside joke or philosophy) that your fans don't know yet, but should?
Troy:Our followers—present and future—should know that at the end of the day, we’re just good guys. Haha! The Thinkers may have over two decades of experience between us, but we still know how to have fun while making music. We love eating together, hanging out, and when we’re not on stage or in the studio, we’re honestly just homebodies. Simple guys doing what we love.
Anthony:And here’s a little fun fact for our listeners—our fans don’t all know this yet, but we call our female fans the Thinkerbelles, and as for the guys, it’s the Peter Fans.
Lila:Thank you so much for the interview! Is there anything you would like to add?
Troy:You’re very welcome! And thank you for having us again—it really means a lot. Everyone can follow us on all our social media platforms. We love connecting with people, so don’t be shy—slide into our DMs and say hi anytime. And of course, we’re really hoping to see audiences in Germany soon. We’ve heard there are a lot of amazing gigs over there. Maraming salamat!
Maraming salamat! The Thinkers stand for new beginnings and for a kind of passion that keeps rock music alive again and again. And perhaps that is precisely their greatest strength: honest, direct and uncompromising, just the way rock is.
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Photocredit: Arvis Lois Nadura / @arvivisuals
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