Interview with Boy Band Same Same

Same Same up close
By : Rianne Hill Soriano | YEHEY! Contributors
13 June 2006 | 8:19 AM


From Moffatts to Same Same. Bob and Clint, two of the triplets of one of the most successful pop/rock bands of the 90’s are back – and they are now hitting the airwaves as the new band Same Same. They are presently here in Manila to promote their debut album “The Meaning of Happy” with their latest single “Love Isn’t.” And in a press conference last June 10, 2006 at Red Box Karaoke, Greenbelt 3, the 22-year old Bob and Clint reveal the what’s, why’s and how’s of their personal and professional lives as young adults and as Same Same.

Along with their brothers Dave and Scott, Bob and Clint practically grew up in a family of music lovers. The brothers started with a professional country music act in 1994 until they got the biggest break as performers when they signed to a major label recording contract in 1995 as the Moffatts. Indeed, they have come a long way. And now that they are exploring their own careers more independently, let us get up close and personal with Bob and Clint, now collectively known as Same Same.

During the interview, they revealed how they and their other brothers are still very much hooked up into playing video games. But ironically, Bob and Clint confess how sentimental and melodramatic they are when it comes to the music they listen to – they really love to listen and sing to the tunes of the likes of Chicago, the Beatles, Bryan Adams and Queen. And somehow, these have influenced the kind of music they have made as Same Same.

According to Bob and Clint, when they’re together, they would always say “same same” – a sort of expression that really got into them. And later on, they took the said expression for the launch of their new career as a duo. Well, their new name matches them anyway… they are twins… they practically look the same… and they both love wearing Diesel clothes… and they are proud to admit they love free stuff and they really love their sponsors… But it’s easy to figure out who’s who since Clint grew some beard and mustache while Bob has blonde hair now.

How are the guys now? This is an excerpt from the interview:

What are your inspirations for your album together as Same Same?

I think just being back together and just trying to be creative together again, you know. Everytime we spend time together with our brothers in Canada in the past few years, we never really wrote songs together. We just hang out, play video games. We really just chilled out. And I think that’s what made us closer because when we traveled together as the Moffatts, we were around each other playing for 24 hours a day. We took each other for granted. And now we know, everytime we see each other we just hang out, and it’s cool. But getting back together (as Same Same) is something we haven’t done for a long time, and we’re really having a creative time.

After working as part of the Moffatts for more than a decade, how do you work together now as Same Same?

We really listen to a lot of music together and this is what actually influences us. When we sit down together we are really able to hash the spirit. Now based in Thailand, it is something different for us really ‘coz there are lots of different musical styles there. We keep our hands pretty much on everything, the whole process. We listen to different styles. It was a great working environment – very influential to us. Making the album and playing the music by ear, we feel the great chemistry. Great experiences… a lot of fun!

Besides here in Southeast Asia, are you going to release it in a broader scale, internationally?

I think we’ll just play it by ear, we just know that we made this record over here, at this time of the year, we’ll see what happens… If we go somewhere, if it goes somewhere else, we’ll go there. But we’ll spend more time here for now.

You said you are more “hands on” to the making of your album now. When it comes to the making of your music videos, how involved are you in the process?

We try to be a part of the creative process but overall we leave it up to our director. Like we worked with this Thai movie director… he treated the music video like a film, 1 shot in 10 different angles…it was really interesting, lots of fun. But we try to… as far as like the idea, it has to kinda work with us as well.

Do you consider making a music video for one of your songs here in the Philippines some time soon?

There are no plans yet right now but it would be nice! (To Same Same: Maybe you can consider that…) Absolutely! And we’re not too far away! That would be nice.

How was it working with a Filipino artist?

Lovi (Poe)? She’s great, she’s been a great collaboration for us. The first time we met her we’re in Indonesia. When she came over to shoot the video, she was totally a professional. We were having a lot of fun. She’s a very talented artist, great singer, and does her own writing as well.

Based from your recent performances, how did you find the Filipino audience now?

It was great! It was pretty awesome, kinda the first thing we did here… There was a very warm response from our fans. They are much more energetic to those audiences throughout Asia – coz a lot of them are very calm and shy…

How can you compare the experience before as Moffatts and now as Same Same?

Well, it’s a little more quiet… ‘coz it takes time, you know. I mean, with the Moffatts, we’re together for 19 years, very long process before that sort of thing happened. So we’re just having a lot of fun, what ever happens happens… But yesterday (their show at SM Mall of Asia), it was very nice!

We all know that your passion is really music, but are you considering acting too – as how a number of music artists are getting into as well?

(Response from Clint) Yeah, actually before we got into Thailand I was actually doing that. It was one of the things I wanted to do, a sort of change of pace, just try it out. But there’s too many people doing that in LA, and you really don’t get anywhere, you just keep on talking to the same people all the time on the same stuff… I rather learn in other places if there’s an offer on the table. But if you ask, it is kinda hardly now, I’m focused on this part, but acting is always something that I wanted to do.

Are there any plans of a second album already?

Absolutely! We had so much fun making this one and I think there is so much more we can do in the future and start growing with and better at.

Will there be a chance that you can perform with your brothers again?

Right now probably not because we all have the little things we’re doing. Scott is still working on a solo project for the last year in LA… Dave is just separately handled with his solo project… And if those things are all planned out, then maybe in a few years time we can go back…

Aside from writing their own songs, Same Same co-produced the album which also features the catchy singles “Supermodel,” “Stay,” “Tell Me,” “City lights,” “It Can't Get Any Worse,” "Strange Lover” and the title track “The Meaning Of Happy.” Their debut album “The Meaning Of Happy” is now out in CDs at only P355 under Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Same Same "The Meaning of Happy” Philippine Promo Tour is brought to you by PLDT My Music, official media partners ABS-CBN and MYX. Special thanks to Studio 23, ABS-CBN.com, WRR 101.9, Cinema One, Beverly Hills, Red Box, Yehey.com and Crowne Plaza the official residence of Same Same in Manila.