EZRA Band: The Untold Story

We can identify them now as the band that made a strike in the talent search Pilipinas Got Talent. We know John, the beat box master; Jester, the guitar idol; Nor, the keyboard wonder; and Kaye, the voice of souls. We know them, or at least we think so. Most people do know these people and the band just by the moment they stepped on the stage. But as they say, the real story is behind it. So why don’t take a look at these individuals before the spotlight shone on them?

By the year 2008, each member of the group had their own lives to manage. Jester, John and Kaye were busy with their band- the KC’s Crib. Nor had his own too. He had a church band that played for Sunday worships. December of the year, as he was driven by faith and the desire to inspire people, Nor didn’t have second thoughts when a church mate asked him to play the keyboard in a breakfast for a cause organized by a cancer foundation. Witnessing how he gave a lift on the children’s souls, his church mate suddenly encouraged him to create a band that would pursue the advocacy. Nor then, started seeking for people who were exceptionally inclined in music, found them at the course of the year and named the group EZRA Band- the name his church mate offered to him taken from his company’s name EZRA Consultancy.

Rehearsals were then in, and by September of 2009 the band formally started with ten original members who were then connected with a tie of music in them though they came from different churches. And believe it or not, they loved to jam at one of SM’s music store. Why not? One of them was a staff there, so jam was for free- just bare piece of luck. But this certain spot in whole wide Davao was where the Keyboardist met the Guitarist. October of the same year, Nor met the man born with a guitar on his hands playing with the strings of his instrument- Jester. Just a simple beginning: he saw him; he was startled with his talent; they became friends then he asked this man if he wanted to be part of his band. And luck once again, moved by destiny, the Guitarist said yes. Two members in, two more to go.

When people talk of music, we might be talking of rhythm and when we talk of EZRA band’s rhythm, we might be talking of the beat and definitely, John. Elvis Presley once said “Rhythm is something you either have or don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over.” He got it straight and perfect then. EZRA band would not be possible without John who Nor met through Jester.

“I’m not quite impressed at first kasi nga super mahiyain siya. Di nya pinapalabas ang tunay niyang galing,” Nor revealed in a chat interview.

“So 1 tym dinala ko xa sa church nmin with jes. 3 kmi nag jam, doon ko napatunayan na magaling nga tlga c john,” he concluded.

There came John and what followed were rehearsals because the band was planned to be launched on February of 2010. Then there rouse the sun of November 29, 2009 when Nor was informed about the audition in Pilipinas Got Talent the following day and on the 1^st day of December. If the original plan was chosen, Nor would have performed solo in the audition but he preferred to call the others since, as he said, he wanted to be an inspiration worldwide. And bad luck came to bad lucks, the original members of the band were not available to join the audition. This was the time he thought of Jester and John- and they were free, very much available and willing to perform. Rehearsal was next on the scene. Sticking with plan A, they practiced the instrumental for the exhibition when suddenly,

“sbi ni jes sa akin., paRANG KULANG, we need a vocalist,” Nor said.

“and there he mentioned about Kaye.”

Rush came to rush at the time, he called Kaye during the rehearsal who arrived as expected. Wondering about Nor’s initial reaction on Kaye’s voice?

            “nabigla ako, sabi ko, babae kb tlga?”

How about how Kaye’s response on Nor’s reaction?

            “sabi nya yes with a very male gender voice”

           

            We had them all in at this point. Rehearsal was over. November 30 was up. Audition was on- going. They were about to meet at the church for the polishing of their audition piece. Then, Jester was late- their audition was almost postponed. How late Kuya Nor?

            “Sumakit ulo ko sa kanya. Late xa mga 3 hrs…kc usapan nmin 10am kmi magkikita, pumunta xa ng 1pm”

            Naughty Jes…But there should be no room for blames or the band was over. And besides, they made it to the audition at the Auditorium where they passed the screening and were told to wait for two weeks for the results. Days passed, then weeks, and then months. No call came. During this time waiting, their friendship got eve stronger as well as their career as a band. But nothing could be compared to when Nor received a call informing them that they made it to the next screening of Pilipinas Got Talent. If fate meant it or not, the biggest struggle bubbled in as they celebrated the good news.

             “Sabi ng taga pgt u hv to prepare 4 ur own fare, accomodations and fud allowance kc hindi nmin cater.. and d venue s super layo sa cagayan de oro city. hindi kmi nagworry kc dba, may manager kmi?” He stated referring to his church mate who became their manager.

             “sabi ng manager nmin, xa ang bahala sa lahat, ol u hv 2do is rehearse. So no worries tlga kmi. We luk 4 r costumes.”

            Then two days before the audition, their manager backed out.