The Sundown, a band from Cebu’s burgeoning music scene, is gaining a reputation for their musical  prowess on stage and off, and there is no better way to demonstrate their abilities than this fresh take on a classic pop form. “Last Dance” is a power ballad that evokes those slow dances at prom night, the moment when a love song comes on and a couple takes to the floor. In fact, Aaron, the band’s lead singer, tells us that this song is so true to this experience that some of the lines were actually uttered by  one of them! 

Listeners might wonder if “Last Dance” does remind them of an era where the power ballad reigned supreme on the pop charts (and we may add, on Philippine FM radio at that time). The 1980s were a  potent time for this form, with soaring vocals and memorable melodies giving voice to potent emotional themes. The Sundown says that their inspirations indeed drew from prominent acts of that era who were masters of the form, including Phil Collins, U2, Roxette, and Berlin. 

In “Last Dance,” the Sundown takes on a very emotional experience that fits the song’s sound. “For us,  it's an extreme moment emotionally, because you are living [on borrowed time] with someone,” Vincent says, “It's your last chance, and you don't know if you'll see each other again or not.” Gino Rosales, the band’s guitarist adds that the song illustrates the reality of heartbreak. “It doesn’t have to be a  romantic relationship,” he says, “It can be any kind of relationship.” He concludes by saying that the  song says that it is fine to be vulnerable. 

While “Last Dance” is the sort of song that will indeed find a place on the dance floor on prom night, Gino offers an alternative location where one could hear it: “a rainy Saturday afternoon in the  mountains.” For that matter, if this song appears on a road trip playlist, it is the sort of song that one can  sing along to with abandon. After all, good pop songs like this work that way. 

“Last Dance” by the Sundown is now out on all major streaming platforms under Island Records  Philippines. 

ABOUT THE SUNDOWN

The Sundown is a Cebu-based band made up of Vincent James Eco and Gino Rosales on guitars, Alden  Panes on drums, Luigi Balazo on bass, and Aaron Domingo on vocals. The band came together because  of a tweet from Vincent where he echoed his want for people to play music with. Incidentally, all  members of the band have been working on their music for years, each member a fan of the other’s  work, and it was (digital) fate that brought their talents together. 

They call themselves The Sundown because the music they make together is a fitting soundtrack of the  setting sun. Their sound can be described as anthemic, strangely familiar, and nostalgic, enveloped  within a rousing mix of new wave and indie-pop that’s enough to make one stand up, dance, shout, and  feel elated. 

In March 2020, they released their first single, UwU. 

FOLLOW THE SUNDOWN

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Stream “Last Dance” out now on all music streaming platforms!

https://TheSundown.lnk.to/LastDance