Every artist has a story waiting to be told, and for this edition of City Stories, we sit down with one of the rising names in the local alternative music scene—Violets and Daffodils.
Known for their heartfelt songwriting, energetic performances, and tracks such as Palayain, Cindy, and The Invite, the band continues to carve out its own identity through music that resonates with listeners from all walks of life.
In this written interview, we explore their journey as a band, the inspiration behind their music, the stories hidden within their songs, the challenges they’ve faced, and what’s next as they continue to grow. Join us as we get to know the people behind the music and discover the stories that shaped Violets and Daffodils
For readers discovering Violets and Daffodils for the first time, can you introduce the band and tell us how it all began?
Funny story: the band’s name before was actually Nocturnal Vibes.
Chafia, our current vocalist, wasn’t even a member at first. After some circumstances, our original singer had to leave, so we started searching for a new one. That’s when we found her, and she became part of Nocturnal Vibes.
She started by covering our songs, but the sound didn’t really fit our new dynamic. So we slowly began experimenting with different styles. Eventually, one of our guitarists and our drummer had to leave for personal reasons. We then recruited Pate, an old friend of Ely (guitar) and Nico (bass). Chafia also reached out to Seifer, a drummer from one of her previous bands, to jam with us.
We scheduled a jamming session, and it went great—but it sounded completely different from Nocturnal Vibes. That’s when we realized it was time to start fresh and build a new identity.
That’s how we became “Violets and Daffodils”.
How did the name “Violets and Daffodils” come about, and what does it mean to the band?
Honestly, we were just brainstorming in our group chat about what our new band name should be. There were some funny suggestions that we’re all glad we didn’t choose, like “Lazy Bones,” “Alone Together,” “Bittersweet,” and “Silent Rhymes.”
Then Chafia told the band she wanted something with the word “Violet” in it since it’s her favorite color and it resonates with her a lot. Ely then suggested using violets as the flower instead of just the color. But Violets alone felt a little too common.
That’s when we came across daffodils and learned what they symbolize:
“Daffodils symbolize rebirth, new beginnings, hope, joy, and good luck. Much of this symbolism comes from the fact that daffodils emerge each spring to brighten barren landscapes with their cheerful yellow, orange, and white flowers.”
It perfectly reflected our new identity and new beginning as a band. We also wanted to bring that same sense of hope, joy, and positivity to everyone who listens to our music.
Looking back, we don’t think any other name could’ve suited us better than Violets and Daffodils.
Can you tell us about the members of the band and the role each person plays in your music?
We have five members in the band.
Drummer (Seifer Albacete) – Aside from being the one who sets the groove and helps us stay in time, our drummer is also in charge of producing and mixing our songs. He’s our youngest member, but he fits right in with the vibe of the whole band. He’s also basically our sound tech, so whenever there’s anything technical going on, we’re all hands off!
Bassist (Nico Bisonaya) – As our bassist, he’s the backbone of the band. He locks in with our drummer and keeps the band sounding tight. He’s also the one who mostly handles posting and managing our page, so if you message us, it’s probably him you’re talking to!
Guitarists (Osborne “Pate” Orteza & Ely Manucom) – They both have very different styles, but somehow they fit together perfectly. Both of them write their own guitar solos and parts, taking turns between rhythm and lead. They also often meet in the middle to create some really cool harmonies. Osborne, often called “Pate,” is the quietest member of the band, but don’t be fooled—he comes up with some of the best guitar riffs and tones thanks to his exposure to a wide variety of music. Meanwhile, Ely contributes a lot to the songwriting process, helping develop great melodies and song ideas.
Vocalist (Chara Sophia) – The band’s vocalist is also the main songwriter and keyboardist for our studio recordings. She often composes songs and creates demos before bringing them to the band to further develop and refine. She also helps lead the band’s direction and plans for what’s next. During live performances, she captures the audience’s attention with her stage presence and witty, funny remarks.
What inspired you to pursue music as a band rather than as individual artists?
I’m the vocalist of VAD, and honestly, I still keep my solo project on the side since there are some songs that I write purely for self-expression, and not every song is meant to be played with a full band. But I still prioritize my band because playing alone is one thing, but performing as a group and being able to share those moments with a random group of people who share the same music taste as you? It’s really something else.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
J-Rock sound with OPM writing! If you want to pretend you’re in an anime opening—where the lyrics make you want to cry, but the music makes you want to dance—then we’re your go-to! Want to confuse your mind and body with happy movements but sad emotions? We’ve got you covered.
J-Rock sound with OPM writing! If you want to pretend you’re in an anime opening—where the lyrics make you want to cry, but the music makes you want to dance—then we’re your go-to! Want to confuse your mind and body with happy movements but sad emotions? We’ve got you covered.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both locally and internationally?
Drummer (Seifer) – IV of Spades, Dream Theater, Nirvana
Bassist (Nico) – Yosha, Company of Thieves, Dirty Loops
Guitarist (Ely) – Eraserheads, DEPAPEPE
Guitarist (Pate) – Wolfgang, Pink Floyd
Vocalist (Chafia) – Against the Current, Lawrence, and various J-rock bands
Your songs carry distinct emotions and stories. What usually comes first during songwriting—the lyrics, melody, or a specific feeling?
(Chafia): I’m the vocalist and writer of VAD. Usually, for me, the emotions come first, which then create melodies that resonate with them. Pretty quickly after that, the words just start flowing, along with the arrangement of the song.
Some songs start from deep emotions, to the point where they’re difficult to write and process. Others begin with just a funny thought, while some are inspired by a unique or cool phrase or melody idea.
I believe every song is unique and beautiful in its own way. That’s why I love writing so much. It’s like telling a story and giving people the chance to be a part of it.
Can you walk us through your creative process when developing a new song?
Chafia often writes the main core of our songs, but since she’s an acoustic artist, the songs still need to go through the band to really bring them to life. Sometimes, the band suggests good changes or requests adjustments to the chords, but the core of the song always stays the same.
From there, we add all the other instruments and textures that make the songs feel and sound complete—until everyone is happy with the final result!
Although, sometimes we just hang out and suddenly feel like making a song on the spot. That’s actually how “The Invite” came to life. That’s why it sounds so fun and chill, because that’s exactly how we were feeling at the time!
Among your releases so far, is there a song that holds a particularly special meaning for the band? Why?
Among the songs we already have on streaming platforms, the one that holds the most meaning for the band would be “Palayain.” Not necessarily because the lyrics apply to us, but because it was the first song we ever worked on as a band. It’s also the song that really shaped the sound of Violets and Daffodils.
We always have so much fun playing it, whether during rehearsals or in front of a live audience. There’s a stop in the song that never gets old—it always catches our audience, and even ourselves, off guard! So go check it out if you want to know what we’re talking about!
Songs like “Cindy,” “Palayain,” and “The Invite” each have their own identity. What stories or inspirations were behind these tracks?
CINDY – It actually started as a title, since Chafia thought it was pretty cool that “Cindy” is a woman’s name, but it also sounds like “sindi,” as in to light something up. She found a way to relate it to her own personal experiences by hiding behind the character “Cindy” in the song. It talks about how smoking relates to her heartbreak, in the sense that the love she’s experiencing is addicting but bad for her, just like smoking.
PALAYAIN – Palayain actually started as a melody. The intro and chorus melody came from an idea by our guitarist, Ely. Then one of our previous members started humming, “Nananana puso kong napagod.” The vocalist thought about what she could do with that phrase, and luckily, at that moment, she was experiencing difficulty letting go of a past relationship. That’s how the title Palayain, which means “to let go,” came about. Although it’s a song about heartbreak, we decided to make it sound upbeat, and Chafie added some funny remarks to the lyrics so it wouldn’t feel too serious.
THE INVITE – Honestly, “The Invite” didn’t really have a real-life basis. It was just a fun, cheeky song we wanted to write. It’s about a girl inviting someone over through playful flirting and telling that person what they’d be missing if they didn’t come over to her place. It’s probably our most unserious song, honestly.
What challenges have you encountered as an independent band, and how have you overcome them?
I think one of the most difficult challenges that a lot of bands face—even us—is consistency. In our adult lives, many of us are already busy with work, other careers, our families, and other priorities. So finding the right time to rehearse or schedule gigs can be really difficult. But since we’re doing what we love, each member tries their best to fit it into their busy schedules.
Another thing we still struggle with to this day is finding our audience. We know there are people out there who would love our music and relate to it, but finding them is the tough part.
How has the local music scene influenced your growth as artists?
Experience! The local scene has taught us so much. It has helped us stay humble and understand that there are so many talented artists out there, and that being able to perform alongside them and play for people is such a privilege.
It has also taught us how to project ourselves and carry ourselves on stage, which we believe is a very important skill as artists.
Lastly, it taught us to take every performance seriously, no matter how many or how few people are in the audience, while never forgetting to have fun and enjoy the process!
What has been the most memorable reaction or feedback you’ve received from listeners?
A cool one would be that our song “Palayain” makes people want to jump into a mosh pit—lol!
We’ve also received some personal messages from listeners telling us that our music helped them get through difficult times, and that really means so much to our band.
How do you balance staying true to your artistic vision while reaching new audiences?
Something we admire about our band is how we stay true to our vision and the kind of music we genuinely enjoy playing.
Trends come and go, so we don’t think changing your style just to fit in is the way to go. We believe that if we keep making music that feels authentic to us, the people who vibe with it and relate to it will eventually find us.
I guess we don’t make music for approval—we play it because it makes us feel alive. But for those who do make music for that reason, that’s okay too!
Are there any themes or topics you find yourselves returning to in your music?
We don’t really like to box ourselves into labels when it comes to the themes or topics we write about. Lately, though, a lot of our songs have been about broken relationships.
That said, we have some new tracks in the works that you should definitely look forward to! These upcoming songs might stray from our usual style of writing, so we’re really excited to share them with everyone.
What have you learned about yourselves through the process of creating and releasing
We wouldn’t say we learned it from scratch, but it reminded us of how much we truly love music and the art of creating something new out of nothing.
It’s like revealing different parts of ourselves and putting them together into a song. We think that’s really beautiful—not just the final output, but the creative process itself.
We’ve also learned that making music helps us release so much built-up tension and emotion. When you’re creating music, it feels like nothing else matters except that moment.
How does performing live compare to recording in the studio for you?
When recording in the studio, most of our band members are perfectionists, so we really take our time, doing take after take until we get the one we’re truly happy with. Sometimes, a song even sits in the project for a while before we come back to it and fix any mistakes we may have missed. So I’d say we take the final output of our songs very seriously.
Live performances are a different story, though. Of course, we still make sure we perform well, but not to the point of chasing perfection. When a band performs live, the audience can feel your vibe, your emotions, and your overall energy. We don’t want to be stiff or too focused on our instruments or vocals.
Instead, we’d rather engage with the crowd, jump around, and hype everyone up. If people wanted to hear the exact studio version, they could just listen online. They came to the show for the experience, and that’s what we want to give them.
What goals do you hope to achieve as Violets and Daffodils in the coming years?
We hope to inspire more people to put themselves out there and share their art with the world.
Of course, we also hope that one day we’ll be able to quit our day jobs and become full-time musicians. It’s a dream shared by so many people, including us—to make a living doing what we’re passionate about and to be sustained by our talents.
But more than that, we want to grow even closer as a band and continue becoming tighter, more connected musicians as we move forward together on this journey.
Are there any upcoming projects, releases, or performances that fans should look forward to?
We have some upcoming music releases that we’re really excited for you all to hear! So be sure to keep an eye on our posts and updates so you can catch them as soon as they drop.
We’ve been experimenting with a slightly different sound that we’re all really loving so far, and we hope you will too!
We’re also releasing some live covers, along with our own renditions of classic songs. On top of that, we’ll be sharing a stripped-down, more heartfelt version of “Palayain,” so definitely stay tuned for all of that!
Finally, what message would you like to share with everyone who has supported Violets and Daffodils and those who are just discovering your music?
Thank you all so much for the love and support!
Local bands like us wouldn’t be able to keep going without people like you who genuinely appreciate and support the arts. Your support means more than you know.
If you have dreams of your own, keep pushing forward and continue doing what you love. It won’t always be easy, but it’ll always be worth it.
And to everyone who’s just discovered us and our music, we hope you’ll stick with us for the long run and watch us grow as artists. One day, when we finally get the recognition we’re working toward, we promise we won’t forget the people who believed in us from the very beginning.
From new music and live performances to exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes moments, make sure you’re following their official social media accounts.
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