When asked about being referred to as a rock icon of the Philippines, OPM singer-songwriter and vocalist of the band Eraserheads Ely Buendia responded humorously.

Yes, I am proud to be regarded as a rock icon. Sometimes it’s difficult to rock. However, someone must do it, Buendia said on “Showtime Online U” on Tuesday.

Buendia opened “It’s Showtime” and appeared on “Showtime Online U” to promote his most recent single, “Kandarapa,” which is currently available on streaming platforms.

The music video for “Kandarapa,” which Buendia recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2024, was released last month.

“It was a great experience to be inside that studio kasi sobrang fan ako ng Beatles and they recorded almost all of their albums there. So parang naging turista ako at customer ng Abbey Road at the same time, so it was fun,” Buendia stated.

“Kandarapa” is the third song from Buendia’s album “Method Adaptor,” which he claims delves into themes of love, time passing, and “super adulting.”

“A lot of stuff I’ve learned and stuff I still want to find out about I express sa mga songs dito,” Buendia said.

When asked how he makes music, Buendia replied: “Well I really want to put it simply lang para maintindihan ng iba. First I decide on what to write about, what I feel, mostly ‘yung mga na-experience ko sa buhay na parang I want to sing about, then look for nice title and match that with a good melody na masu-sustain niya or mae-express niya ‘yung ibig kong sabihin through the notes.”

The smash hit Ang Huling El Bimbo was the fastest song he ever wrote. In less than five minutes, he composed the tune and the words.

Despite everything that had transpired between them, Ely, Marcus, Buddy, and Raimund recognized this was all greater than them when the four members of the Eraserheads appeared on stage during the much awaited reunion concert in 2008 and the crowd went crazy.