The Oktaves

Lore & Background

The Oktaves formed after a series of collaborations between Ely Buendia and members of Hilera. Buendia had worked with Hilera on the 2010 album In Love and War, a collaboration with rapper Francis M. In 2011, Buendia and Nitoy Adriano collaborated on the song 'Bungo sa Bangin' for the Rock Rizal project commemorating Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. Buendia and Hilera also contributed a Tagalog rendition of 'La Paloma' as the theme song for the 2011 film Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.

The group first performed together as The Oktaves at the inaugural ball of the Philippine edition of Esquire magazine in 2012, playing covers of Eraserheads, the Beatles, the Smiths, Elvis, and Bob Dylan. They signed a recording contract with MCA Music in October of that year. In 2013, they released their self-titled album, which included the lead single 'K.U.P.A.L.' and a re-recorded version of 'Bungo sa Bangin'.

Reader's Guide

The Oktaves represent a notable collaboration among established figures in the Filipino rock scene, bringing together members of Eraserheads, Pupil, The Jerks, and Hilera. Their formation in 2011 and subsequent album in 2013 highlight a period of cross-band projects in Philippine music. The group's live debut at the Esquire magazine ball and their signing with MCA Music underscore their commercial viability. Their self-titled album, featuring the single 'K.U.P.A.L.' and a re-recorded 'Bungo sa Bangin', serves as their primary recorded output. While the band did not release further albums, their existence illustrates the interconnectedness of Filipino rock musicians and the trend of supergroups in the early 2010s. Their legacy is tied to the individual careers of its members, particularly Buendia’s prominence in Eraserheads and Pupil.

Did You Know?

• The Oktaves first performed together at the inaugural ball of the Philippine edition of Esquire magazine in 2012.
• Their lead single 'K.U.P.A.L.' was included on their 2013 self-titled album.
• The band included a re-recorded version of 'Bungo sa Bangin', a song originally written for the Rock Rizal project.
• Ely Buendia had previously collaborated with Hilera on the 2010 album In Love and War with rapper Francis M.

Formation & Supergroup Lineup

The Oktaves stands as a one-of-a-kind Filipino rock supergroup, uniting musicians from some of the country's most beloved bands. The roster brings together Ely Buendia, known for his work with both Eraserheads and Pupil, alongside Nitoy Adriano, the guitarist from The Jerks. Rounding out the lineup are three members of Hilera: Chris Padilla handling vocals and guitars, Bobby Padilla on drums, and Ivan Garcia on bass. This configuration creates a rich, layered sound with two dedicated vocalists, two guitarists, and a solid rhythm section. The group's sole studio album, self-titled The Oktaves, was released on February 22, 2013, through MCA Music, cementing their brief but notable existence in the Filipino rock landscape.

Pre-History & Collaborative Roots

The Oktaves did not emerge from a vacuum. Ely Buendia had already crossed paths with Hilera on the 2010 album In Love and War, a project that also featured the late rapper Francis M. The following year, Buendia and Nitoy Adriano joined forces on "Bungo sa Bangin," a track commissioned for Rock Rizal, a music initiative by Rock Ed Philippines marking Jose Rizal's 150th birth anniversary. Buendia and Hilera additionally lent their voices to a Tagalog version of "La Paloma," which served as the theme song for the 2011 film Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story. These overlapping collaborations laid the groundwork for what would become The Oktaves, demonstrating that the chemistry between these musicians was already well established before they ever shared a stage as a unified group.

Debut, Signing & Album Launch

The Oktaves first performed as a complete unit at the inaugural ball of the Philippine edition of Esquire magazine in 2012, a high-profile debut that signaled their intentions to the wider music scene. By October of that year, the group had secured a recording contract with MCA Music, setting the stage for their sole album. The self-titled record arrived on February 22, 2013, and its launch was marked by a mall show where the album was sold as a bundle alongside a limited-edition T-shirt and a poster. Purchasers of the bundle were granted a meet-and-greet with the band members, turning the release into an intimate fan experience. The album's production was led by Ely Buendia alongside Robert Javier, giving the record a cohesive sonic identity that reflected Buendia's long-standing role as a creative force in Filipino rock.

"Ikot" & Lasting Footprint

Long after the album's 2013 release, The Oktaves continued to generate visual content that kept the project in the public eye. The music video for "Ikot," a track performed by Chris Padilla, was directed by Ely Buendia himself and saw the light of day in October 2014. The video features actress Ellen Adarna performing a lap dance on Padilla, adding a bold and provocative visual layer to the song's presentation. This late-2014 release underscores that the group's creative output extended well beyond the initial album drop, even though no further studio recordings ever materialized. The Oktaves ultimately remains a singular chapter in Filipino rock history—a supergroup that assembled some of the era's most recognized names across multiple beloved bands, delivered one polished record, and left behind a compact but memorable body of work that fans continue to revisit and celebrate.