Blue Ketchup is a Filipino pop band. It is one of the newest and hottest bands of the country. They were added in the rooster of bands trying to break the mainstream with their fresh, sincere and unabashed pop. Their compositions of unrequited love, reciprocating affections with light humor were blended with their signature style that bordered between pop and its own rhythm and blues.
The band was formed on July 2002. It was the nagging desire of Emil Miras who wanted to establish his own band. This pushed him to seek help with Darwin Hernandez who happened to be the cousin of the band manager. However, Darwin left Emil when his own band 6Cyclemind started to get off the ground. Through his friends and other connections, he met Gomer Sumilhig, a guitarist and vocalist who already had a collection of songs in his pocket.
After four years, Blue Ketchup became a proper band, solidifying its line up. Emil Miras as the lead vocalist, Gomer Sumilhig played the rhythm guitars at the same time also a vocalist, Pax Alcantara is the lead guitarist, Bombie Almendrala played the bass, Ronald Dizon on keyboards and Anthony Valderama on drums and percussions. The band was added in the roster of Darwin Hernandez under “Soupstar Entertainment” together with famous bands like 6Cyclemind, Imago and Sandwich.
They were able to break into the mainstream through their debut album entitled Kwento Pop. The album was released under the label of ”Viva Records”. Blue Ketchup has added a new ingredient to the Philippine mainstream music recipe. The carrier single of the album was titled Bro. It is a story of a guy who is in love with a girl who likewise fell in love with another man. It is a simple song but engaging and was done in a bossa nova genre which is quite fanciful for listeners nowadays.
