I Belong to the Zoo

I Belong to the Zoo is a Filipino indie pop rock band. I Belong to the Zoo started as a solo folk project by Argee Guerrero.[1] After the success of their debut studio album, Guerrero expended the project into a band with Simon Clariza and Lee De Veyra on guitars, Kristoff Medina on bass, and Ow Owyong on drums. The band has more than three hundred million total Spotify streams, averaging 1.2 million monthly listeners.[2]

I Belong to the Zoo
I Belong to the Zoo at Binangonan, Rizal on April 1, 2023
I Belong to the Zoo at Binangonan, Rizal on April 1, 2023
Background information
OriginQuezon City, Philippines
Genres
Years active2014–present
LabelsYellow Room Music Philippines
Members
  • Argee Guerrero
  • Simon Clariza
  • Lee De Veyra
  • Kristoff Medina
  • Ow Owyong

Associated acts of the band include Mayonnaise, Reese Lansangan, Moira Dela Torre,[2] Gabba Santiago, Clara Benin, Paolo Tabuena of Runway Crimes,[3] and Tonight We Sleep. Tabuena is a frequent collaborator of the band, and has directed the music video of their song "Paumanhin".[4] Guerrero is also the vocalist and guitarist of the band Tonight We Sleep.[5]

History

Performing solo, 2002–2007

As a grade 7 student, Guerrero was exposed to live rock performances, which inspired him to pursue a career in music.[6]

Guerrero began performing solo acoustic shows and using his own name, but found it challenging as he perceived the use of his own name as boastful. He then performed under the stage name Fireplace Letters.[7]

By 2007, Guerrero stopped performing solo and went on to form the band Tonight We Sleep.

Tonight We Sleep, 2007–present

Guerrero, Ton Vergel de Dios (guitar), Rex Ferriols (bass) and Paolo Owyong (drums) formed the band Tonight We Sleep in 2007.[5] Guerrero and Owyong served as songwriters for the band.[8] They were managed by Mary Moon Productions.[5]

I Belong to the Zoo, the solo project, 2014–2018

In 2014, Guerrero started a solo musical career as he felt that some of the songs that he wrote are too mellow and emotional for Tonight We Sleep. Guerrero said that he incorporates his personal experience in the songs for I Belong to the Zoo, which is not the case for the songs he wrote for Tonight We Sleep.[7]

The name I Belong to the Zoo came from a parody of Happy Birthday to You with the lyrics, “Happy birthday to you, I belong to the zoo” which Guerrero used to serenade his then-girlfriend.[6] Guerrero further explained that the phrase described himself in a nutshell saying, "The name kind of just stuck [...] As a kid, I was teased for the way I look. ‘I belong to the zoo’ was my way of owning it.”[9]

In 2017, I Belong to the Zoo released its self-titled debut album.[10]

I Belong to the Zoo, the band, 2018–present

After the success of the first album, I Belong to the Zoo then expanded to a five-member band which is now composed of Guerrero (vocals and guitar), Owyong (drums) , Simon Clariza (guitar), Lee De Veyra (guitar), and Kristoff Medina (bass).[10]

After testing positive for COVID-19 in August 2020, Guerrero advised his fans to stay home and wear masks properly.[11] He was able to recover within the same month.[3] Along with the news of his recovery, he released a cover of Taking Back Sunday's "MakeDamnSure" with Tabuena and Paolo Owyong.[3]

In 2021, the band released its second studio album, Kapiling.

Musical style and influences

I Belong to the Zoo's music has been described as folk,[1] indie rock,[4] and currently, pop rock.[10] It was described as in the same musical territory of Keaton Henson, William Fitzsimmons, Dallas Green, and Damien Rice.[1] Guerrero further explained that he listened to lots of Rice's music which became the main influence for I Belong to the Zoo.[6] However, according to Guerrero, his music influences are mostly OPM rock bands such as Greyhoundz, Slapshock, and Quezo.[6]

When it comes to songwriting, Guerrero cites Dashboard Confessional as a key influence, particularly how the vocalist Chris Carraba performed in their MTV Unplugged 2.0 live album.[10]

Band members
  • Argee Guerrero – lead vocals, guitars
  • Simon Clariza – guitars
  • Lee De Veyra – guitars
  • Kristoff Medina – bass
  • Paolo "Ow" Owyong – drums

Discography

Albums
  • I Belong to the Zoo (Self-released, 2017)
  • Kapiling (Self-released, 2021)

As lead artist
Title Year Album
"Never Me" 2014 I Belong to the Zoo
"Sana" 2018 Kapiling
"Balang Araw"
"Patawad, Paalam"
(Moira Dela Torre & I Belong to the Zoo)		 2019 Non-album single
"Kapit" 2020 Kapiling
"Paumanhin"
"Para kay Catriona" Non-album single
"Oras" 2021 Kapiling
"Maybe" Non-album singles
"Hands to Heaven" 2022
"Aalis Ka Ba?"
"Tama Nga Sila" 2023
Title Year Album
"Pahirapan"
(Mayonnaise featuring I Belong to the Zoo)		 2020 Friends & Family
"Hindi Masaya"
(CHNDTR featuring I Belong to the Zoo)		 Non-album single

In other media

In 2017, the songs "Porter", "Ruin" (with Reese Lansangan), and "Pity Party" appeared in the TV5 series, Forever Sucks.[2]

In 2019, "Sana" appeared in the film Open.[12]

In 2021, the WeTV series Pasabuy used "Balang Araw", "In an Instant"[note 1], and "Pansamantala".

Awards and nominations
Award Ceremony Year Category Nominee(s)/work(s) Result
14th Myx Music Awards[13] 2019 New Artist of the Year I Belong to the Zoo Won
Performance of the Year Won
4th Wish 107.5 Music Awards[14] Ballad Performance of the Year I Belong to the Zoo – “Sana” Nominated
Ballad Song of the Year “Balang Araw” – I Belong To The Zoo Won
Promising Artist of the Year I Belong To The Zoo Nominated
Himig Handog Best Song “Ingat” (Composer: Ferdinand Aragon; Interpreter: I Belong to the Zoo) Top 12 Finalist
MOR Pinoy Music Awards[15] Digital Artist of the Year I Belong To The Zoo for “Sana” Nominated
15th Myx Music Awards 2020 Collaboration of the Year “Patawad, Paalam” – Moira Dela Torre and I Belong to the Zoo Nominated
5th Wish 107.5 Music Awards[16] Nominated
11th PMPC Star Awards for Music[17] Song of the Year “Sana” – I Belong to the Zoo (Yellow Room Music Philippines) Nominated
16th Myx Music Awards 2021 Rock Video of the Year “Pahirapan” – Mayonnaise ft. I Belong To The Zoo (Director: Juancho Pancho) Nominated
6th Wish 107.5 Music Awards Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year I Belong to the Zoo – “Balita” Nominated
Mayonnaise (ft. I Belong to the Zoo) – “Pahirapan” Nominated
12th PMPC Star Awards for Music[18] Song of the Year “Patawad, Paalam” – Moira Dela Torre and I Belong to the Zoo Nominated
7th Wish 107.5 Music Awards[19] 2022 Rock/Alternative Song of the Year “Wala Lang” – I Belong To The Zoo Nominated
13th PMPC Star Awards for Music[20] Music Video of the Year “A Trilogy: Patawad Paalam, Paalam and Patawad" – Moira Dela Torre feat. I Belong To The Zoo and Ben&Ben (Star Music) Nominated

Notes
  1. "In an Instant" is unreleased and only appears in Pasabuy.

References
  1. "I Belong to the Zoo". I Belong to the Zoo. Archived from the original on 2022-03-27. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  2. "Cornerstone Entertainment". Cornerstone Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  3. "Argee Guerrero of I Belong to the Zoo reminds fans to "stay home," tests positive for COVID-19". Argee Guerrero of I Belong to the Zoo reminds fans to "stay home," tests positive for COVID-19 | Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. 2020-08-10. Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  4. "I Belong to the Zoo tugs at your heartstrings with new 'Paumanhin' music video – watch". Bandwagon. 2021-08-09. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  5. "Tonight We Sleep biography". Last.fm. Archived from the original on 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  6. Ledesma, NeP-C. (2020-03-02). "Getting to Know I Belong to the Zoo". The Pop Blog. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  7. "ENCORE FEATURE: The Story Behind Indie Music Artist I Belong To The Zoo". uDOu PH. 2018-07-09. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  8. "Tonight We Sleep's Argee Guerrero talks about how it works with his solo project I Belong To The Zoo". OneMusicPH. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  9. "'I Belong to the Zoo': Weird album title but with 1.8M listeners on Spotify". Inquirer Lifestyle. 2019-03-01. Archived from the original on 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  10. Sy, Stan (2021-10-25). "I Belong To The Zoo on new album 'Kapiling': "I put those emotions I can't verbalise into my music"". NME. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  11. "I Belong to the Zoo singer tests positive for COVID-19". Manila Bulletin. 2020-08-10. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  12. "Argee Guerrero". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  13. "Nadine Lustre, Moira, I Belong to the Zoo win big at MYX Music Awards 2019". OneMusicPH. May 16, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  14. "4th Wish 107.5 Music Awards: Complete List of Winners". Wish FM 107.5. 2019-01-15. Archived from the original on 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  15. "LIST: MOR Pinoy Music Awards 2019 nominees". OneMusicPH. Apr 29, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  16. "5th Wish 107.5 Music Awards: Complete List of Winners". Wish FM 107.5. 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  17. "Nominees for 11th Star Awards for Music bared". PEP.ph. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  18. "Star Music bags over 60 nominations in 2021 PMPC Star Awards for Music". ABS-CBN. June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  19. "7th Wish Music Awards: Complete List of Winners". Wish FM 107.5. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  20. Monde, Jeel (2022-06-02). "PMPC Star Awards for Music 2022 - Full List Of Nominees". Philippine News. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
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