Clem Castro

It's funny how much of my life these days revolves around things that have very little to do with writing songs.

Let instinct be my compass, and convention be damned.

I used to think growing older meant having more answers. As it turns out, I’ve simply become better at laughing at the questions.

Still feels surreal seeing this map laid out. From the songs we wrote in small rooms to stages across Europe. Grateful to carry our music a little farther this year. If you’re anywhere along this route, come through and say hi. See you out there.

In case you haven’t heard it yet. open.spotify.com/track/3pjvH…

Still on tour with Orange & Lemons in Southern Leyte, taking a moment to thank everyone who already streamed “Too Young To Be old”. We hope you like it.

From Dublin to Paris!

Tried working out like a real adult today. Did 3 sets of pretending the dumbbells were vintage compressors. Still waiting for my muscles to sound warmer and more analog.

YOU ARE ALL INVITED. Experience “Too Young To Be Old” LIVE and hear the Stereo Master before release during a one and a half hour show. April 16 • Teatrino 🎟️ Tickets: tinyurl.com/

I’m not a virtuoso. I just try to make the guitar feel what I’m feeling. My fingers don’t race. They wander. And sometimes they find something beautiful.

ANGELES CITY, I’ll be doing an acoustic set at Tita Aida's Kusina Grill and Restobar on the 16th. See you! 🧡

After my successful solo tour in UK last May, it’s time to bring the whole band. See you again London! 🧡

ON COVER BANDS: We have seen the rise of cover bands and artists to stardom, even commanding a vast audience and hefty talent fees. It’s a strange phenomenon, and I have no qualms about it. This is their time, and I understand the hard work involved in achieving the kind of success they are getting. They work full time, embracing technology, understanding the evolving audience preferences on social media, and finding new ways to share their music and connect. In the 90s and 2000s, being a cover band translated to a working band. The term “puwesto” refers to a place where they play regularly in bars or clubs professionally for a living. For others, it’s a way to hone their skills as musician, be tight as a band, and emulate their favorite artists. Before Orange & Lemons came into the picture, I was in a cover band playing New Wave and Beatles repertoire. It was a full-time endeavor, which eventually led to songwriting. When O&L formed, we were still playing mostly covers, eventually injecting our originals to test them live. When the originals started sounding better than the covers, that is when we decided to become recording artists. It wasn’t easy back then. Studios are not cheap, and getting a record deal is a pain in the ass. It took us 7 years to get a break. Nowadays, everything is easy because of technology. Cover bands have more platforms to showcase their live performances and renditions. From social media to the big stage of festivals (which are often streamed live), where they are discovered instantly for their versions, showmanship, and even their antics. As their following grows, so does the demand, reaching a point where they can charge more for their performances, even higher than seasoned original artists or OGs. They get to tour all over the country and abroad. Sounds like a tipping point for musicians. Many seasoned original artists and songwriters do not find this amusing. Especially when their own songs are involved, and the cover band fails to obtain a proper license to record a cover for release to digital store providers. Sadly, this has been a trend. I found some of my songs on Spotify, released as a cover without a proper license. One can freely perform a cover song live, but releasing it on independent platforms like Distrokid, CD Baby, or Tunecore, which are not that strict on metadata and cover licensing, will pose a huge problem and a dubious trend. But for those who are responsible enough to do their research and acquire a proper license, that is commendable. The way I see it, cover bands are here to stay. For OGs, instead of frowning upon the success of a new generation of musicians and their output, which does not align with our preferences, ideals, or sensibilities, we must learn from them. For sure, there is hard work involved. Let us take it as a challenge to veer away from our comfort zones and continue to CREATE. It doesn’t have to be competitive. For as long as it is authentic, and you allow listeners to DISCOVER your next masterpiece, then maybe you can influence CHANGE too, in our own little way. Cover artists may amass fame and money, but there is one thing that will be hard for them to achieve — a lasting LEGACY that is wholly based on original works. Every time you cover a song, you add to the legacy of that songwriter. There lies the difference.

I consider myself old school, but as the music industry landscape continue to change, I must accept the fact that we must learn to improvise, adapt, and overcome. That if we cannot change our minds about the emerging trends, we cannot change anything to improve ourselves and our status in the ever-complicated music business. Success does not get better with chance, it gets better with change.

26 years and counting. Happy Anniversary O&L 🧡

During a Father’s Day gig at Ayala Malls Vermosa. #orangeandlemons #clemcastro #eraserheads

Arrived safely in Toronto. Catch Orange & Lemons live at Annabel's Music Hall on May 30.