True Faith (band)

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True Faith started in 1992, and since then, has become one of the Philippines' most popular, most accomplished bands.

This OctoArts-EMI label band has 10 best-selling albums under their belt . Their music is best described as a blend of jazz, folk, pop, and rock. Through the distinct powerful voice of its lead singer and founder, Medwin Marfil, they were able to amass numerous music awards and nominations highlighted in summer of 2000 by an MTV Asia award for Best Video Award for the video 'Awit Para Sa Kanya' (Song For Her). Since then, they've become a favorite contender in every respectable award-giving organization.

As they tour the Philippines through colleges, club circuits, and radio stations, they continue to build a strong following. "Faithfools," the monicker the fans called themselves, look upon the group to hear songs they have popularized like, "Perfect," "Sumasarap ang Gising," and "Deadma".

Truefaith has played alongside famous artists like The Dawn, the late Ric Segreto, Kuh Ledesma, Kulay and many more. They are slated to perform in the US in the fall of 2005.

True Faith is a band that is newly formed. They are mostly popular for singing the theme song for "Sa Piling Mo".

Nevertheless, for many observers, True Faith's nomination was a welcome boost to a rollercoaster career that dates back to their 1993 monster hit, "Perfect," which started life as a demo that spent countless weeks as the no. 1 song on the competitive 99.5 RT Top 40 chart. After riding high as one of the country's top pop bands, True Faith peaked with their 1995 album "Build", which spawned several hit singles such as "Alaala" and "Kundi Rin Lang Ikaw."

Build was followed by a messy episode that involved a court case between co-founder and lead singer Medwin Marfil and three founding band members over the use of the band name. An out of court settlement ensued, with Medwin winning full rights to the name. He reformed the band with some old and new members and recorded two more studio albums for the Octoarts-EMI label. But the band hadn't quite regained its stride until recently, when a top-selling greatest hits album and the nomination of the band's video (by award winning video director Robert Quebral) put them back on the A-List.

We talked to the band at an MTV event announcing their VMA nomination last month at the Hard Rock Cafe in Makati. That same evening, True Faith also unveiled a new twist in their sound with the inclusion of a three-piece horn section composed of seasoned members of leading big band Ugoy Ugoy. The result is a more organic soul-based sound that veers away from the electronica splashes added by co-producer (and in-demand remixer) Brian Cua in their last studio outing.

We walked in to the band rehearsing and heard "Angel of Harlem" (last heard on U2's Rattle and Hum album) and re-arranged versions of old True Faith hits executed with breathtaking horn lines. The band has since debuted the new sound at live gigs kicking off with a series of special shows at Republic of Malate.

Here are some excerpts from our conversation with Medwin Marfil, rhythm guitarist Eugene Marfil, and drummer Jun Dizon, where we touched on their video, the band's new soul sound, and plans for a new album.

The Filipino band Truefaith took its name from New Order's 1987 hit single "True Faith," revealing the group's new wave origins. At first, Truefaith mined mid-'80s new wave sounds for its breezy pop formula, but the group eventually ventured further into the Philippine mainstream, firmly embracing MOR radio. In 1993, a demo tape of the band's song "Perfect" -- a romantic ballad with jangling guitars and longing vocals à la the Railway Children and the Lotus Eaters -- hit number one on Manila Top 40 radio station DWRT. The accessibility of "Perfect" opened the doors to the masses, a much larger crowd than the cult of fans who watched them perform new wave covers in small clubs. Signed to OctoArts/EMI in the Philippines, Truefaith's 1995 album, Build, was the group's first big smash, elevating it to superstar status in its native land. However, Build was greeted with controversy, as three of the band's founding members fought with vocalist Medwin Marfil over the use of the group's name in court. Marfil won and re-created the band with new and old members. In 2000, the group was nominated for the Asian Viewer's Choice award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Although Truefaith didn't win, the nomination brought the band back into the public spotlight. Memories Are Cheap: The Best of Truefaith, 1993-2000 was also released that year, a hugely successful overview of Truefaith's success and a look at how the group evolved from its new wave roots to becoming an easy listening icon.