UAE-based alt-rock band The Deer Hum is gearing up for their latest EP release next week. The fivesome, hailing from the Philippines, India and Colombia, will perform at The Fridge on May 7, supported by fellow indie rockers Vandalye. Get to know the guys — Andrei Ramos, Yohaan Samuel, Alvin Ramos, Manuel Nivia and Jerome ‘JJ’ Deligero — ahead of the show, as Gulf News tabloid! catches up with Ramos over email. Plus, find out how their name was inspired by money.
For those who have yet to hear you, how would you describe your sound?
We’re an indie alternative band with hints of everything.
How and when did the band form?
We initially formed back in November 2013 in an effort to keep our lead singer distracted from a birthday surprise at his place later that day. We wrote our first song in the process — that was our beginning. We would not have called ourselves a ‘band’, per se, because we were friends already and just happened to enjoy each other’s company, music being one of our common joys. It was after we did our first gig that it dawned on us that we were a group.
Tell us about the EP you’re launching at The Fridge: what is it called, and how many tracks are on it?
The EP is titled Take Time and we’re going to have five of our original tracks on it.
What can people expect from the EP, musically and lyrically? Is there an underlying theme?
Expect something familiar, expect snapshots of life in Dubai. Like a lot of musicians and songwriters out there, we’ve crafted [songs out of] where some of us were as individuals at that time. A lot of the stories on the EP are close to home for us. We’re excited to put out our sound.
Are you excited to be revealing the EP at the Fridge?
We can’t wait. We’re looking forward to having everyone join us for the evening. It’s been a blast crafting the live show.
Who are your inspirations as a band?
We consume music by a lot of different artists; we all have enjoyed Ben Howard, Michael Jackson, Tom Misch and John Mayer.
Tell us about your name, The Deer Hum. How did that come to be?
The Deer Hum was our second name. We started out with the name Hermano. If you appreciate puns every now and then, you’ll know the currency of this country [the UAE]...
What’s next for The Deer Hum, after this EP launch?
Hopefully more stories to tell in new songs!
