Beyond Transcendence: Vedas’ Genesynthesis

In the ever-evolving landscape of Cebu’s music scene, few bands have captured both critical acclaim and audience wonder quite like Vedas. The trio, known for their cosmic soundscapes (otherworldly or otherwise) and exhilarating aura on stage, approached their debut album offering, Genesynthesis, with fervored gusto and clear artistic vision: to amalgamate emotions and ethos into songs and release it into the world as one transcendental experience. Much like the album’s very title suggests, Genesynthesis is a temporal synthesis of genes, ideas, and sonic exploration. And further taking the human physique metaphor down the road, Genesynthesis walked and roamed Cebu’s music landscape on two legs in a span of one month.

The first album release leg was held at Loudhouse Cebu located at Kasambagan, Cebu. This happened at the beginning of the month (March 1, 2025). The event was held as a free show so as expected, a throng of people flocked the venue and gathered together to celebrate the album. The show started with a world-music inspired DJ set from Libya Montes. Followed by the duo Balagopal Das and RG, collectively known as Celestial Garuda, with their raga-inspired acoustic set. Dim Memory Trails (dmt) graced the stage with their exquisite covers of Arc de Soleil, Glass Beams and Khruangbin. A wild and racuous set by folk cowboys, Hollywood Folk Hogan followed. Around this time, audiences were already spilling out from the narrow corridors of the venue. Then finally Vedas, the celebratory main act, went on stage, and with no delay played the tracks on Genesynthesis sequentially and in its entirety. Unfortunately, since it was held at a semi-outdoor venue on a residential neighborhood, noise complains during their set was received. A couple more tracks before they can wrap up their set, the noise patrol came in and ask us to stop the event, leaving both the band and crowd clamoring for a second chance at the proverbial redemption stage.

So it was apropos how the second leg of the album release celebration was also held at the last Saturday of the month. It was held at Cebu Making Space at Mango Square Cebu on March 29, 2025, completing the album release’s full cyclic return. The event — co-presented with John Bottles, Tunecore Philippines and Makers of Midtown — was graced by a varied mix bag of performances from our own musical acts: Kubra Commander, Karma, Sad Day Assistance, Highway Seven Circus and of course, Vedas. Truly embodying the spirit of the band’s ethos in fostering camaraderie and collaboration between individuals.

Beyond the music itself, the release of  Genesynthesis meant something larger: a celebration of artistic (r)evolution and a pivotal point in Cebu’s music scene. Vedas demonstrated that songs outside of pop music’s peripheries can be both treated as an entertaining experience and offer a thoughtful insight into the human psyche, as well. That auditory pleasure and emotional connection are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary forces. The success of the Genesynthesis launch has solidified Vedas’ place on our local music scene, inspiring both fans and fellow artists to continue pushing the boundaries of their own creative expression.

As the echoes of the album continue to ripple through the music world, one thing is certain—Genesynthesis is more than just an album. It is an invitation to explore the limitless potential of sound, a bold declaration that the future of music lies in fearless experimentation and heartfelt storytelling. Vedas has not only synthesized genes of their musical heritage but have spliced them into a new, living organism that will undoubtedly influence the genre for years to come.

 

To purchase a physical CD copy of the album, please CLICK HERE.

Photo credits: John Bottles, Redd Layne Odilao and Vedas (via FB)