Time & Pace: OPM band flu’s Journey Through Love, Life, and Rhythm
Oct 7, 2024 • Ina Louise Manto
Oct 7, 2024 • Ina Louise Manto
flu’s latest album, Time & Pace, offers a glimpse of their musical and personal journey. Known for blending Motown, neo-soul, funk, and disco, flu is here to infect listeners with their guaranteed contagious debut album. Each track has gone through its own rhythm of creation–some songs have been reimagined from earlier releases, while others are completely brand new. As the music developed, so did the band members, navigating milestones in their lives; new jobs, families, and transitions—all of which fed into the album’s groove.
The band describes creating Time & Pace as running a funky uphill marathon. Balancing rhythm, patience, and purpose, they pushed through challenges like runners hitting “the wall.” They learned that the key to infectious tunes is pacing—move too fast, and you miss the magic; move too slow, and you miss opportunities to let the groove flow. The album embodies this balance, exploring fresh perspectives while embracing the changes that shaped their sound over time. The goal has always been to craft sounds that felt timeless but still had that modern edge—music that would hit as hard on today’s dance floors as it would under a disco ball decades ago.
Time & Pace by flu is an album divided into two halves—Day and Night—each reflecting different emotional journeys.
The Day Side opens with “93,” a lively soul tune that captures the thrill and excitement of a new romance, where spontaneity reigns—though tomorrow remains uncertain. “Ain’t Hidin” follows, a Motown-inspired anthem about confessing your love and surrendering to the moment. It’s about letting your emotions take over, with all the joy and hesitation that comes with it. “Manila Bay” takes listeners back to simpler times, evoking memories of a love that couldn’t last but lingers sweetly. The reflective “Fine Day” offers a groove with contrasting feelings of inner peace with moments of solitude and melancholy. “No Use” rounds out the first half, a ballad about the pain of a one-sided romance, where what you get isn’t always what you want.
As the album transitions into Night, the “Interlude” serves as a breather, pairing smooth grooves with lyrics tinged with hopelessness, setting the stage for the second act. “What I Gotta Do” brings playful frustration into the mix, a back-and-forth soul tune about the confusing dance of unrequited love. “Is This The Love That I Need” slows things down with a classic R&B jam, reflecting on the blurry line between love and mere infatuation. “Disco Miscommunication” brings the funk back to the forefront, telling the story of trying to find real connection amidst uncertainty—whether it’s the start of something new or just a fleeting moment. The album closes with “Get Down,” an irresistible invitation to cut loose, whether you’re unwinding after a long week or gearing up for an all-night adventure with your crew.
Through Time & Pace, flu navigates the highs and lows of love and life, day and night, all while maintaining their funky grooves and signature sound.
There’s a line in one of the songs, ‘anticipation leads me up into a new love.’ And after five years, flu is proud to say that the wait was well worth it—now it’s time to take it to the dance floor.
Listen to flu’s debut album, Time & Pace, here.
This is a press release. Minor edits have been made by the 8List.ph editorial team.
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When she’s not writing, Ina’s busy curating playlists that will save her when words don’t work, reading, annoying her cat, or thinking of her next meal.
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1 comment
Manila Bay” takes listeners back to simpler times, evoking memories of a love that couldn’t last but lingers sweetly.