Honesty is at the heart of Pepe Herrera’s artistry

“You can ask me anything,” actor and musician Pepe Herrera said as he welcomed the CREATEPhilippines team to the Monostery recording studio in Marikina. The space is where he and his band, Pepe + The Pillars, hang out, jam, and make music, such as the single “Pause Muna,” released last February. 

Currently, he and his collaborators, which include Music Monks’ Isagani “Gani” Palabyab, are preparing for Herrera’s birthday concert Pepe Shows: Pepe Herrera with Amazing Guests, to be held on April 21 at the PETA Theater Center. “I’ll be going back to my second home, where everything started,” he shared, referring to his star-making turn as Tolits in the theater company’s premier run of the award-winning Rak of Aegis in 2014. “That opened all the other doors for me as a performing artist.” What followed was a decade of non-stop work in television and films, plus some notable acting nominations and awards. Now that he’s coming back full circle, Herrera also wants Pepe Shows to be about everything and everyone he advocates for. Aside from some special guests joining him onstage, Herrera wants his first-ever solo show to feel like a mini-festival where people can find sustainably made local products and discover eco-conscious independent businesses. “It will be a gathering of the people I admire and respect, so I hope a lot of folks join us.”

After 10 years in the entertainment business, Herrera remains refreshingly open and reflective. He has been honest with the public about needing a break from work and social media to tend to his health, and he doesn’t shy away from saying difficult things—such as, “I need help.” “Artists must express their needs, especially when their bodies are already telling them something,” he said. “Whether it’s the working hours or other unfair contract details, we should address those from the start to negotiate for better terms.” For him, transparency is a form of respecting and honoring one’s colleagues and their work. “Hearing each other’s sides lets us arrive at an agreeable compromise.”

Music was your first love, but it got sidelined by acting. So, how has it been, returning to it? 

It feels so good, like I'm coming back home. Like I’m an overseas Filipino worker feeling, “Ay, I can finally lie down on my own bed, surrounded by my smell.” I’ve come back to my blueprint. 

What do you bring to music now after working in showbiz? 

All of my original songs are based on my experiences, both the light and heavy ones. Gani and I have a clear vision for our band, but it’s still evolving. Every day, we’re in the studio, performing or experimenting. That’s what I love about creating music. 

I’m involved in all aspects of making music, plus how to market it. Everything is aligned with my character. I love the warm, vintage vibe of the ‘90s aesthetic, and when it comes to the sound, my roots are in rock. But thanks to my wife (Sam Mallari) and Gani, I’ve also been immersed in hip-hop. Now, my sound is a fusion. Our band’s music is basically like chop suey, and we love it that way. 

What emotions do you want your music to evoke? 

I want every song to be relatable to anyone from any social sector. “Pause Muna,” for example, features conscious rapping, but the chorus melody can be sung by anyone, even those who sing off-key. That’s the common thing among our songs: The choruses have a universal quality to them. 

Was it scary to enter a totally new industry and basically make a bet on yourself? 

Yeah. I’m fully aware of the risks involved. Even though I’ve been a musician since I was a kid, I feel like a prodigal son. I’ve been out of the music scene for a decade or so, so I’m rediscovering my roots, and it’s very humbling. Acting was my bread and butter for so long, and I’m grateful for the financial blessings it afforded me. Now, I’m back to being frugal. We spend money to make and promote our music, but I see it as a long-term investment—my favorite one, actually. That’s why I’m all in. Is it scary? Yeah, about 0.7%.

Are there things in the music industry you’re hoping to change, just by how you practice your artistry? 

Yes. That’s why I chose Music Monks to go with in this journey. Most of them have wide-reaching experiences in the industry, both good and bad, and they’re applying what they’ve learned. As one of their artists, I see our arrangement as very humane, very agreeable for both parties. I hope that’s one of the effects of our collaboration, that more people in the industry get influenced to work toward forging win-win agreements. That we don’t sign a contract unless it’s agreeable for all parties involved. At the end of the day, we’re all co-creators here, so we might as well ensure we’re all happy. 

Did you receive that kind of respect and support when you were still active in showbiz, especially from the decision-makers on top?

Well, I had to learn the hard way and be fully accountable. It was easy to play the blame game before, but I’ve learned how all problems can be solved with good communication. It was hard to be expressive at first, though. I didn’t know how to be frank without being offensive, plus I was a people pleaser. Eventually, I saw that, although I inevitably offended others in the beginning, being more vocal helped both parties have respect for each other. Relationships deepened. 

Here at Music Monks, we call each other out. The other day, Gani told me I was being too involved. I can get very hands-on, so he reminded me, “Bro, let us handle the technical details; you focus on writing and preparing for your performance.” It’s good to have that kind of relationship. It’s the best when you can have that very honest communication line.

For creatives, taking a break can mean financial issues and getting replaced by another talent. How did the people you were professionally accountable to react when you expressed needing a break? Were they supportive? 

Yeah, definitely, although I have a feeling that maybe for some, it wasn’t easy to accept. I took a break from Your Face Sounds Familiar, then two weeks later, I accepted a role in Sampung Utos Kay Josh, a comedy movie with my good friend Jerald Napoles. That’s because I had a reality check: If I took a break for a month, there’d be no money coming in. I’m a breadwinner, so having no acting projects would only make me more anxious. I had to balance things, so I consulted my wife, my family, and my manager. 

Sampung Utos was a pleasure to work on. I’m grateful I accepted it. We laughed a lot on set, and the whole production was very respectful of my physical limitations. We didn’t shoot every day, and there was a cutoff time for shoots. Plus, I was with my good friends.

I also expressed the desire to go back to Your Face Sounds Familiar after a few months. Although that didn’t happen, they did invite me to be part of the show finale as a special guest. I got to reunite with the production team and join the cast party, so I think all is well with us.

So taking that risk is worth it for artists, that things are going to be all right.

Yes. It wasn’t an easy decision, because to be blunt, I don’t like borrowing money. But I had to swallow my pride; it was either that or my survival. Even though I’m a breadwinner, I needed to take a break because of burnout. My body was—it wasn’t whispering, it was screaming at me to take a break. 

I’m just grateful to have guardian angels in the form of my closest friends and family. When I asked for help, they didn’t just step up. They also said, “Tell us what else you need.” That broke me down. Learning that I wasn’t alone felt like being embraced with grace. There’s no shame in expressing you need help. So, artists, ask for what you need, and you’ll find people—even strangers—who are willing to help. 

You recently unplugged a bit from social media, too. What role does that kind of break add to your creativity? 

It’s one of our greatest struggles now, this war for our attention. I’m an advocate of taking a social media detox, but I also find it difficult since I use my phone to message people and promote music. The algorithm just pulls you into different channels to keep you scrolling. Recently, I would turn off my phone once I realize I’ve been scrolling endlessly already. There’s some discomfort right after, like a withdrawal symptom, because basically, I’ve been hooked. “Teka, I need to check my phone.” But once I move past those few minutes, the pleasure of thinking up lyrics, of having all these creative ideas, comes rushing back to me. 

As someone who took the risk of being vulnerable and honest about what they need, what would you advise to younger creatives who find it scary to do the same? 

Listen to what Rick Rubin, one of the most successful music producers of our generation, says: Just be yourself. What’s important is that you like the message you’re spreading through our work; other people resonating with it is just a bonus. Just do your art, and you’ll find your people. 

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Photos by Camille Dellosa.

Catch Pepe Shows: Pepe Herrera with Amazing Guests on April 21 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. For tickets, visit Ticket2Me. To learn more about Pepe Herrera’s creative projects, follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

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