*MOVING CLOSER*

When you smile, everything���s in place
I���ve waited so long, can make no mistake
All I am reaching out to you
I can���t be scared, got to make a move
While we���re young, come away with me
Keep me close and don���t let go

Inch by inch we���re moving closer
Feels like a fairytale ending
Take my heart this is the moment
I���m moving closer to you
I���m moving closer to you

Who���d have thought that I breathe the air
Spinning around your atmosphere
I���ll hold my breath falling into you
Break my fall and don���t let go

Inch by inch we���re moving closer
Feels like a fairytale ending
Take my heart this is the moment
I���m moving closer to you

Inch by inch we���re moving closer
Feels like a fairytale ending
Take my heart this is the moment
I���m moving closer to you

Moving closer, closer to you
Moving closer, I���m moving closer to you

Meet NEVER THE STRANGER – the new band being groomed by Warner Music Philippines that will soon be no stranger to us. Their debut single, ���Alive��� , is nothing you���ve heard before from a local band—and it does not register immediately. It is, all at once familiar yet new. It is a fond nod to the ���80s new wave���s keyboard-driven music, wrapped in an alternative beat of the ���90s. There is a sense of youthful energy and joyful exuberance that the band throws into its music that is like a breath of fresh air in the local music industry.

Never the Strangers, after all, as the band members explained their name, comes from their love for music, how it is a common thread that brings people—even strangers—together. This unabashed idealism shows the age of its members, who are all still in college at Ateneo de Manila University.

Never the Strangers is composed of Ace Libre (lead vocals and keyboards), PJ LaViña (drums and percussion), Francis Victa (bassist), and JP del Mundo (guitars).

When asked how they define their music, each member throws in: ���New Wave synth rock,��� also ���keyboard-driven rock,��� but they have songs that are guitar driven too—but they all agree that rock music is their main foundation, influenced by New Wave, alternative and synth.

With their album done, they confessed that they never thought they would hear their song being played on the radio. They were happy enough with people LSS-ing (Last Song Syndrome) to ���Alive��� from hearing it at their gigs. Now, they are signed by Warner Music Philippines Artist Management (along with Rico Blanco, Ebe Dancel, and General Luna), and more people are hearing and singing to their song.

The album���s line-up is made up of 11 original songs plus a bonus track. All songs are written by Ace Libre, co-arranged by Never the Strangers. The album includes ���Everything,��� the oldest song in the album with heart-burning lyrics; ���Everything you are and who you wanna be tonight, ignite your soul and I am happy as long as you are. It seems too hard to find the words that say ���I���ll miss you��� in a very happy way, I���ve held your hand, now things are gonna change, ���Cause letting go just takes it all away but you���re everything to me��� Ace wrote and recorded the demo for this track when he was just 17 and ���in the thick of teenage hormonal drama.���

At the other end of the spectrum is ���Ikaw Na,��� ���It was the last and quickest song recorded in the album.��� Ace said, ���Not bad for a rushed affair.��� Another Filipino track ���Bago Mahuli Ang Lahat,��� was conceived during one boring summer afternoon in one of Ace���s class. A song that speaks of following your heart to pursue the one you love, before it���s too late. As the song goes ���. Ang hindi mo masabi, kalilimutan mo rin Kung ���di rin mauulit, wala nang mararating..Bago mahuli ang lahat, sa bilang ng tatlo o apat, Sundan mo, sundan mo, puntahan mo na siya, Bago mahuli ang lahat���.

One of the most captivating tracks in the album is ���Davenport��� with magnetic lines- ���You���re gone and you���re leaving, would you take my heart with you? Now, you���re gone and you���re leaving, don���t you break my heart in two. This goes for every sunset that we���ll never have, and every sweet word that will just fade out.��� And the band���s breaker single ���Alive��� is fused with 80s new wave and Ace���s passion for epic-sounding soundtracks (eg. ���ZAIA��� by Cirque du Soleil) and this was the end-product. He was quite surprised and pleased to discover that people found the song catchy.

Now, that their sessions at the studio are done, the band can go back to doing live gigs again, injecting their brand of infectious youthful energy into the local band scene. And now that they���re with Warner Music, it���s safe to say that Never the Strangers is one act to watch for as it ushers in a new era of all-original, honest-to-goodness rock music in the days, months and years to come.