Late last year, Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree announced that he will be doing an album of his own, and has signed a record deal with Warner Music. Not long after, in the first week of 2011, he officially announced to the fans of Sugarfree that he is leaving the band to embark on a purely solo career. Thus ends 11 years of the pop-rock band as we know it, and heralding a new era of original music from both the remaining members of the band and Ebe but on separate paths. “This is not a decision made lightly” as Ebe insists. As much as he would like to stay in Sugarfree while doing his solo pursuits, Ebe knew that his time with Sugarfree was up. “I guess it’s fatigue—all these years of playing together. We’ve had our share of differences, but right now, we—the band—are handling the situation very well.” The fans are on the topmost of their considerations as the three of them together talk about their next steps.
“When I posted my announcement (on January 7) on Twitter, I purposely did not check the internet. My brother was home from Vietnam for a few weeks so I wanted to spend some time with him. Then I checked the next day, I was in tears, and I have never felt so much love in all my years with Sugarfree,” Ebe shares about the overwhelming fan response. “It was never my intention to hurt anyone. The thing I like about our fans is it’s a real relationship. They treat me as a friend. I’ve apologized for breaking their hearts and letting them down. It’s just that this is something that I had to do. How can I make people happy if I’m not perfectly comfortable where I am now?”
Ebe apologizes if this next statement may sound too cliché, but he goes on, “My bandmates are all nice people, and we’re still good friends. This is probably one of the few breakups that the members of the band don’t end up hating each other.”
Ebe is currently recording his solo album under Warner Music, and everything is on fast track. One of his songs “Hanggang Sa Dulo,” that is going to be part of his new album, has been handpicked for a new “telegrande” entitled “8 Kingdom”, a Chinese epic to be launched by TV5 on January 24.
Ebe confesses to a creative shot of energy in this new chapter that has opened up for him. As the lyrics go, “Patuloy ang daloy…” Life moves forward to new horizons.
