“Twang! Kaching! Darumdumdum!”
Those were the sounds ‘Ado’ hears on stage whenever he interprets a song. But offstage, as a listener, you would hear his voice float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. As if seeing the colors of music.
Meet Fernando Bantula, vocalist of the band “Kulukati”. When I first saw and heard Ado perform a few years back in Cavite City via fundraising gig, I thought I have seen it all. Ado gave me an experience like no other. His raspy and high pitched voice captured my imagination as a listener and left me in awe.
He was with another band that time. “Up to now, I still am with that band, and so is with Kulukati”, explains Ado. It’s a sort of a nondescript nonstandard standard nowadays to maintain at the very least a couple of band. But he have four!
“I also have other bands that I sing for. D' Jango Project Band, Diablong Buang Brothers and Holypass. Mas maraming banda means marami kang kaibigan at maraming raket. Overexposure? That doesn't bother me. Kanya-kanya naman silang trip, di naman nagkakabanggaan sa pondo ng kanta”,declares the self-taught vocalist.
Born and raised in San Andres Bukid, Malate in Manila, he honed his vocal prowess during drinking sessions and would receive accolade from his peers. A graduate of the University of the East, as a Business Administration in Accounting Major, he saw himself employed for a time but seemed not fit into the corporate world. “I am just a simple singer who also dabbles in a guitar when no one is around. Actually, I got my musical influence from my Dad and Mom”, reveals Ado.
Coined by their drummer, Kulukati was a remnant of Ado’s erstwhile band ‘Claybone’ last 2002. With Erick Reyes on Bass, Lloyd Gonzal on Drums, Kit Mendoza on Guitars and Ado on vocals, the group just racked up 10 original compositions where he is usually the main lyricist. “With the music, nag start mostly sa guitar riff, minsan bass line, minsan drum beats. From there, babble ako ng lyrics kahit anong lumbas sa bibig ko. Then we polish it after we lay down the tracks to make it coherent”, adds Ado.
They plan to have their song "Mahalin Mo Ako" as their carrier single. Gerry Diwa of Sound Weavers in Makati produced and recorded their songs. “Konting mix na lang at gigs and we'll let everything loose”, exclaims Ado. Last 2006, Kulukati was part of a blues compilation album, BLUESKRIEG. It was the brainchild of both Mr. Diwa and Joric Maglanque. “We contributed three songs: Taga mo sa Bato, Sa Gabi sa Umaga at Selda Katorse. Kasama namin sa album ang Plug, Firebottle, Dahon at Snakecharmer – all blues band that matter”, prides Ado. Also last 2010, they were included on a compilation CD of songs featuring the 12 string bass called OVERKILL IS JUST ENOUGH. The album - and their song, "Kalungkutan" - is still available on Spotify.
At 54 years old, music and singing keeps him on his toes and is as important as his life itself. Ado is very grateful to his affiliation to other bands that molded his being as a musician. “Siyempre makakapakumpleto sa akin bilang musikero ay ang mga originals namin ng Kulukati na, sa wakas, mailalabas na. Sana tangkilikin ng marami. The band is on Facebook: Kulukati. Like the page and say hi. Rock and Roll and Peace”, finishes Ado.
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