Yael Yuzon on Sponge Cola gigs: “No two shows are the same.”

After more than two decades in the music industry, OPM band Sponge Cola never fails to enjoy performing on stage.

Sponge Cola is comprised of Yael (vocals), Erwin Armovit (guitar), Ted Mark Cruz (drums), and Gosh Dilay (bass).

Some of their hits are “Jeepney, “Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay,” “Tuliro,” and “Gemini.”

Speaking to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), frontman Yael Yuzon says every performance is unique, not just because of the location or the new set of fans they encounter but more so with the discipline that the band puts into their craft.

“Every day is a gift. Outside looking in, we’ve indeed been doing it for a while, but every day is new, so nothing is repetitive from our end,” he underlines.

Their four-member band, he says, is commited to offer something different to their listeners.

SPONGE COLA RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO OF “LNP”

It’s much like how they did a fresh take on the 2022 song “Laman Ng Panaginip,” with the 2025 version titled as “LNP.”

From the previous ballad, it has become more upbeat despite the melancholic message of the song.

“In a way ‘LNP’ is a song in reverse,” Yael explains.

“Most artists release songs and then play them live. ‘LNP’ was played live and transformed into this recorded frenzy.

“It’s a lot of fun to play live and I think we were able to capture that.

“The faster tempo makes it feel more like a group sentiment as opposed to a personal melancholic release.”

To complement this new arrangement to the song, Sponge Cola has recently dropped a music video showcasing a montage of their concerts in different parts of the country.

How does it feel seeing that their full-house performances?

Reflecting on how the band attracts new generation of fans, Yael elaborates: “It’s a great feeling, playing these massive shows.

“Being a band for two decades, it’s always cool to be discovered by young people as a new act.

“Every performance feels like a rundown of our discography plus some additional lore.

“Keeps us young, I guess. Haha!”

SPONGE COLA new song “LIWANAG”

The band also introduces their new single “Liwanag,” a pop-rock song that evokes road trips and summer fun.

Asked what inspired him to come up with it, he explains, “My wife and I were talking about Sponge Cola not having songs that depict or allude to tropical island life, so I decided to write one that captures that beach vacation feeling.

“We’re always writing sad love songs or sports anthems, so voila, beach life.”

Yael’s referring to wife Karylle with whom he discussed the making of “Liwanag.”

How would he describe his process from writing a song to bringing all the elements together into a finished track? How much has changed compared to when they were just starting as a band?

Yael replies, “It’s pretty much the same. We are committed to providing a track with everything it needs for its truth.

“I think we’ve grown to be more technically proficient compared to our college days, so it’s easier, in a way.”

SOLID BAND EVEN AFTER two DECADEs

Talking about their relationship as bandmates, Yael says they “have always been pretty close.”

He adds, “We’ve been doing this together since we were teens. This is probably as close as we’ll ever get!”

As for handling creative differences, Yael points out that what keeps them together is the way they treat their work.

“It’s never personal. We serve the song. Nothing is about the individual.”

Who is the life of the party? The joker? The mediator? The serious one?

“We’re the Ninja Turtles,” Yael responds, referring to the characters from the popular ’80s media franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. “I’m Leonardo. Armo is Raph. Gosh is Donatello and Ted is Michaelangelo.”

At the end of the interview, Yael describes how the band has adapted to the changes in the music scene today.

“It’s the strongest it has ever been, and we’ve always been big picture thinkers,” he simply says.

What’s next for the band?

“Working with Gigi. New song coming soon,” Yael concludes.