Loved BINI’s Coachella set? You have these music arrangers to thank

When you’re given a short time frame of 45 minutes to showcase just how iconic Filipino music can be on a major platform like Coachella, what do you do? 

For the members of BINI, the answer was simple: perform the songs that introduced them to many of the listeners they have now, throw in newer tracks that serve as evidence to their versatility as artists, and add several twists that’ll truly make people remember them. 

If you tuned in to their Coachella debut last April 11, you would have noticed the seamless addition of ethnic instruments in some songs and other surprise elements throughout their set. These were hard to miss, and they were among the things that made the P-pop girl group’s performance so memorable. 

Meet Choi Padilla, Nikko Rivera, Errol Apacible, and Rey Cantong — the music arrangers who brought BINI’s historic Coachella set to life. 

To elevate but stay true to the original

For homegrown music acts like BINI, Coachella is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not just to reach more listeners but to raise the Philippine flag, too. That’s why every little detail of their performance had to be as impactful and intentional as possible, and that includes the arrangement of their music. 

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It was a grueling process for both the arrangers and BINI’s team. Rivera, who first worked with BINI as a music director in 2021, shared that there wasn’t a solid vision for the arrangement yet in the beginning. But as the festival inched closer, it became clear what needed to be done.

“[Their team] was saying that a lot of people won’t be familiar with their music, so there was this instruction that we had to stay true to the original arrangement as much as possible, but enhance it, make it mas live na feel (feel more live). It’s easier said than done. We had to balance it out and everything,” Rivera told Rappler. 

Then came the BINI team’s idea to add hints of ethnic instruments to the arrangement, which stood out in the dance breaks.

“The only way na I think ma-i-incorporate ko ‘yung mga ganong classic sound is ‘pag maglagay ako ng extra part, which is what we call a dance break. Sobrang nagbagay siya dun sa ‘Salamin, Salamin’ at sa ‘Pantropiko’ kasi not only na it sounded pang-summer, but ‘yun talaga ‘yung arrangement and orchestration din ng kanta,” shared Padilla. 

(The only way I thought we could incorporate classic sounds like that was to add an extra part, which is what we call a dance break. It fit well for “Salamin, Salamin” and “Pantropiko” because not only did they sound summery, but that’s what the arrangement and orchestration of the songs really are.) 

Rivera had actually already completed the first dance break he worked on when the idea of adding ethnic instruments came up. He started experimenting further, added a mix of both modern and ethnic sounds, and the girls of BINI were on board with it. 

“It was a big chance for people to hear these indigenous Filipino instruments on the world stage,” Rivera said about his arrangement of “Salamin, Salamin,” which featured the kubing (bamboo jaw harp) and the kulintang (small knobbed gongs). 

Making the ‘Pantropiko’ dance break happen

Meanwhile, in his production of “Pantropiko,” Apacible used the kulintang and an Asian-sounding flute. 

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“It was very hard to look for a specific Pinoy wind instrument that was sampled, unless mag-hire kami ng sessionist talaga na may instrument na ganoon. Pero ang ginawa namin, naghanap lang kami sa internet ng sample,” said Apacible, who first worked with BINI along with Padilla for an old commercial shoot. 

(It was very hard to look for a specific Pinoy wind instrument that was sampled, unless we’d hire a sessionist who actually had that instrument. But what we ended up doing was looking for a sample on the internet.) 

But the work didn’t end after the long search for a Filipino wind instrument sample. Most of the samples on the web already had an existing melody, so Apacible had to cut it up per note. 

“From there, kinuha ko na lang and then ina-assign ko na lang sa controller keyboard ko. And then, doon na lang ako nag-play. I created my own melody at the same time. I played kung ano ‘yung hint ng ‘Pantropiko,’” explained Apacible. 

(From there, I just got the notes and assigned them on my controller keyboard, and then I played it there. I created my own melody at the same time. I played the hint you hear in “Pantropiko.”) 

Apacible ended up working on a total of three dance breaks in the whole arrangement for both Coachella weekends. His background as a former dancer would unknowingly come in handy when it came to determining how the ethnic instruments would fit cohesively into the songs. 

“I have witnessed so many dance videos, events, [so] I guess I kind of know how it works. I also researched how BINI does their dance breaks, so I worked on it from there,” he told Rappler in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Pride and gratitude

As soon as BINI finished their Coachella set last April 11, longtime BLOOMs and new fans alike had all stood in awe of the arrangement. Praise had poured in left and right, and Padilla, Rivera, and Apacible remain overwhelmed by all the positive reception — and continue to feel a mix of pride and gratitude for it all. 

“Hindi kami sanay sa ganyang attention,” Padilla confessed. “Nakakatuwa because it also shines the light on the people behind the scenes, so I think ‘yun ‘yung nag-stand out sa akin sa experience na ‘to. Ang saya na hindi lang [BINI] ‘yung nakikita but na-appreciate ‘yung dancers, stylists, ‘yung visuals, ilaw, everything. Not just the music but everything na nagtahi doon sa set, and the team behind BINI also. We’re really grateful na nagkaroon kami ng ganitong opportunity para magpakita sa buong mundo ‘yung kayang gawin ng mga Pinoy.“

(We aren’t used to that kind of attention. I’m overjoyed because it also shines a light on the people behind the scenes, so I think that’s what stood out for me in this experience. It’s nice that it’s not just BINI that’s seen, but also the dancers, stylists, the visuals, the lights, everything. Not just the music, but everything that pulled the whole set together, and the team behind BINI also. We’re really grateful to have been given the opportunity to show the whole world what Filipinos can do.) 

“It’s an honor, actually. The initial thought of when they got me to do the arrangements for Coachella was, ‘Uy, maririnig ‘to ng buong mundo (Hey, the whole world is going to hear this)?’ And that doesn’t often happen to arrangers, to us. Most of the time, we’re limited locally,” Rivera added. “It was a crazy feeling with all these comments from BINI’s fans, fellow arrangers, and other musicians. It’s humbling. We’re just grateful for that opportunity. And we will continue to bring out good music as much as we can. Hopefully, we get another opportunity like this or even something bigger.”

And as early as now, it already seems like BINI’s Coachella debut will open even bigger doors for Filipino music and the people who make it happen. – Rappler.com