RISING OPM band Cup of Joe has just released its first extended play Patutunguhan, which the members hope to serve as a “light” to fans during dark times. 

The young pop-alternative band from Baguio met its supporters during its first-ever intimate fan gathering Patutunguhan Live in Manila, held at Viva Cafe in Quezon City on Friday. 

The event was also in celebration of the band’s six-track EP that it released in June this year.

The EP is a combination of the band’s new songs Tingin, Patutunguhan, and Wag Na lang, and old songs Tataya, Estranghero, and Mananatili. 

Tingin is the band’s collaboration with singer-songwriter Janine Teñoso.

In an interview before the fan gathering, keyboardist Xen Gareza told republicasia that the whole EP was based on the new track Patutunguhan.

“We envision [it] as somewhat of a lighthouse na for example nasa dilim ka, tapos biglang may ilaw na makikita tapos susundan mo, ‘yun yung Patutunguhan,” Gareza said.

Cup of Joe’s first EP also serves as the “first phase of our band.” It is “a milestone” for the band, Gareza added.

It would also show listeners how the band has evolved to become what it is today, he said. 

“Dito sa EP na ‘to makikita niyo talaga yung  maturity namin hindi lang sa production, pati rin sa songwriting,” he said.

“Yung recording pa lang niya, yung production niya is very different and mas mature compared sa last songs namin,” he continued.

Favorite song 

If there is one song from the album that the band members are always excited to perform, it would be Estranghero, said bassist Raphaell Severino.

Estranghero is one of the band’s earlier songs, which was released in June 2022. The song is about the estrangement of romantic partners, about people slowly falling out of love.

Severino said that the band did not expect the song to become popular among their listeners. 

“It was a blessing of Christ and it is truly one of our favorite songs on our EP and we really love playing it live,” he said.

Vocalist Gian Bernardino said that the band always looks forward to hearing their fans, collectively known as Joewahs, sing along to Estranghero whenever the members perform it live.

“Every time na may live performance kami, it has become a thing with our fans na mas malakas nilang isisigaw yung lyrics kaysa sa amin,” he said.

Estranghero has logged over 25 million streams on Spotify.

The intimate fan gathering was filled with performances not just from the band, but from their supporters as well. 

Two Joewahs did song covers on stage. There were also special stages from Viva artists Keanna Mag and Rhodessa.

Cup of Joe ended the event with performances of their latest songs.

Why do fans love Cup of Joe?

Cup of Joe was formed in 2018 and dropped its first single Nag-Iisang Muli in 2019. In the same year, the band signed under Viva Records and released the acoustic song Sinderela. 

It was through Estranghero that 19-year-old fan Heaven Santos discovered the young band. She shared with republicasia that she tried listening to the song after she saw its lyrics on a Facebook post.

“Nagustuhan ko yung tunog nila and from there pinakinggan ko na ng pinakinggan yung songs nila,” Santos said.

She also found the band’s songs relatable.

“[Gusto ko yung] pagiging genuine ng songs nila and super nakaka-relate ako. And they’re able to express what I feel through their songs,” she said.

Deiniel Catibog, meanwhile, discovered Cup of Joe through its songs Alas Dose in 2020. 

The 21-year-old fan feels that Cup of Joe takes its listeners to an imaginary world that it paints through its songs.

“I like their song because parang nagpe-paint sila ng image, then kapag napapakinggan mo sila, parang nai-imagine mo yung sarili mo sa image na yon,” Catibog said.

“That maybe someone or yung mga gusto mong situations, nailalagay mo yung sarili mo doon. So parang nafe-feed niya yung delusions ko,” he added.

Aside from the relatable songs, Ruby-Ann Cruz said Cup of Joe brings her comfort.

She described the members as her “Sagada.”

“[What] I like [the most is] yung most of their songs may meaning po na medyo hopeful,” she said.

She also likes how the members are “appreciative” of their fans and are “interactive” with them.