Why Pastel Sky’s songs need to be on your next road trip playlist

The Dagupan indie band Pastel Sky is gaining buzz with its dreamy “late-night drive” sound and growing OPM following.

In a local music scene dominated by heavy metal riffs, driving rap beats, and classic showbands, Pastel Sky offers a refreshing, melodic twist. Proudly coming from Dagupan City, this indie group is creating their own unique sound—one that feels more like a late-night drive into the horizon than a mosh pit.

The birth of a late-night soundtrack

The origins of Pastel Sky are rooted in travel and texture. Frontman Em Tandoc explains that the band’s name and overall identity came together during long, repetitive bus rides between the province and Manila. “I used to take the bus ride from the province to Manila back and forth a lot and all I could think of was the sky from the window and how it kept changing its color tapos background music ko at the time was all Kenmochi Hidefumi and Michael Franks songs,” Em remembers. When early listeners heard their first demos, the feedback was immediate. Em shares that “most of them would say na ‘parang road trip sa gabi ‘yong vibe.'”

This distinct vibe sets them apart from other local artists. While Dagupan has a thriving community of musicians, Em notes that “our identity as a band is very different from what the Pangasinan music scene is, in general.” While the local scene proudly features “a huge community of bands who all rock on to Pantera, Rage Against The Machine, Slapshock, and the like,” alongside rap artists, djs, and showbands, Pastel Sky’s members united over a shared desire to write original music and create something truly refreshing. As Em puts it, “Somehow siguro, nagkakilala kaming mga members kasi we all wanted to write our own songs and sound something refreshing.”

Two years ago, they performed their song “Parirala” at The Cozy Cove, the same stage that featured hit makers like Dionela, Cup of Joe, Adie, and more. Recently, they were the opening act at Cozy Cove for Lola Amour, Over October, Angela Ken, and Jan Roberts. Their presence is also growing online, with the music video for “Hanap” becoming their most popular release to date, gaining 877k views.

A chaotic, but beautiful mix of influences

To understand Pastel Sky’s music, you need to look at the beautifully chaotic mix of their influences. They don’t just blend genres; they connect different generations and subcultures. Em draws from the rich city-pop and jazz sounds, listing “Kenmochi Hidefumi, Joe Hisaishi, Michael Franks, wave to earth, Prep, Chet Baker, Hall and Oates.” Nix Tandoc brings a different energy, admitting, “Recently aespa, NMIXX, itzy, pero kasama na din ‘yong classic sounds ng De Barge, Styxx. Boy Pablo and Dayglow. Halo-halo e.” 

Meanwhile, Nate “N8” Clave keeps things simple and heavy, with a clear nod to thrash metal legends, citing just “Slayer.” When asked to describe their signature sound in a few words, the band’s responses show this diverse identity. Em calls it “dreamy, viby, spacey.” Nix describes it as “modern New Wave,” while N8 sums it up as “chordy.”

From the melodic start to sessions in Baguio

Bringing these diverse influences together requires a collaborative songwriting process. “I usually start the idea from a melody, then Nix would arrange the structure,” Em explains. Since members Jed Alaman and N8 are producers, they help refine the details. The magic then moves to the studio to finalize the demo before the band travels to Baguio City. There, they record with producer Shad Chan, who “adds that extra spice to the sound.”

Connecting with the OPM indie community

Despite their unique musical direction, Pastel Sky stays closely connected to the local scene. They often support fellow OPM indie artists, with Em highlighting “Figvres, they’re nice to hang out with, actually they often visit us sa cafe dito sa Pangasinan.” Em also expresses a strong desire to team up with other regional talents, mentioning “Frisbee music from Bicol; they’re so cool. I’d love to work with them” as well as “Koreen Abliter, malupit much.” N8 also shares interest in working with Mika Salamanca.

New music and the road ahead

Looking ahead, Pastel Sky has no plans to slow down. Fans can expect plenty of new material on the horizon. The band has just released a new song titled “Puwang.” Em continues, “We’re also on our way to record two more songs, one of which is a collaboration from such a personality in social media who does guitar content.” With more gigs outside of Pangasinan on the way, Em adds, “As for the gigs, we hope to do more in the coming months.” The band is ready to share their late-night road trip vibe with audiences nationwide.

To the fans who have supported them since their first demo, the band is extremely thankful. “Sobrang thanks and it really means a lot,” Em expresses. Nix shows deep appreciation for everyone who discovers and helps spread their music, saying, “Thank you sa lahat ng naka discover samin at nag papalaganap ng music namin. Sobrang na appreciate namin kayo.” As they look to the future, N8 promises to see everyone out on the road, leaving the community with a simple: “See you on the road!”

READ: