SUGARKING won the Battle of the Bands at the 77th Liberation Day Carnival grounds in Garapan on Saturday evening.
“We put a lot of work into it,” said Edward Diaz, the band’s guitarist.
Sugarking, which also took home the People’s Choice Award, impressed judges with their original song, “Resiliency Rising.”
Sugarking received $1,000 in cash and their song will be featured in all advertisements leading up to Liberation Day 2024.
Nadine Deleon Guerrero, chair of the 77th Liberation Day Committee, said the contestants were judged on lyrical content, melody, stage presence, responsiveness, and performance ability.
Don Castro, Sugarking’s lead singer, told Variety that the band was at the right place at the right time.
“When the opportunity came about we were trying to do originals,” Castro said. “We saw something on social media about the battle of the bands, got more information, and sat down for collaborative efforts with the band members.”
He said the competition was an opportunity to make a “personal” song out of the band’s collective experience of Super Typhoon Soudelor, Super Typhoon Yutu, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Typhoon Mawar.
During the question and answer portion of the competition, one of the judges, Perry Inos Jr., commended the band for their stage presence, and “bright” melody.
“Right off that first beat, you’re like ‘wow that’s a good song,’” Inos said. “Off that first beat we were looking across at each other and we said, ‘yeah that’s good.’”
He added, “[The song started] bright, right in the middle, all the way to the chorus and your hook. I appreciated the song. I could follow it easy. I could hear some people in the background clapping along.”
Inos said he also “loved the comedy” in the song, adding that he and fellow judges JJ Concepcion and radio personality Big Mama chuckled at references in the lyrics to face masks.
The other acts that took part in the Battle of the Bands were rapper Josh “Zengzung” Castro, The Legends, and Da Kine.
“One of the things that’s important in a group is gelling, and that [involves] practice, practice, practice,” Diaz said of Sugarking’s ability to command the stage. “We come from different musical backgrounds, but whenever we get together we practice. What’s really unique about our group is that all our personalities complement each other.”
Castro said following the competition, expect big things from the band.
“Stay tuned CNMI,” Castro said. “We got some great things ahead of us, and we want to take this to a whole different level, and hopefully be the band to showcase what this island is all about.”
Sugarking are the overall and People’s Choice winners of the 2023 Battle of the Bands.
Da Kine on stage at the 77th Liberation Day carnival grounds.
Competition judge Big Mama asks a question during the Battle of the Bands. The other judges are JJ Concepcion and Perry Inos Jr.
As overall winners, Sugarking received $1,000 in cash and their original song “Reseliency Rising” will be featured in all advertisements leading up to Liberation Day 2024
Josh “Zengzung” Castro performs at the Battle of the Bands.
It was “gera” time for former Rep. LJ Castro, the emcee on Saturday night.
Sugarking and Zengzung Castro pose for a behind the scenes photo. Edward Diaz is second from left, while Donovan Castro is third from left.
The Legends took the stage during the Battle of the Bands, which was presented by Napu Brewing/Tapped Out.
Right before rocking the stage, Da Kine said what’s up to Variety.
