The ERock Phenomenon: Is Red Santiago’s New Genre Really Necessary?

In the ever-changing world of music, artists are always seeking to break new ground and create something unique that will set them apart from their peers. John Red Santiago, a Gen Z Filipino rock musician, is no exception to this rule. However, his recent attempt to coin a new genre called “ERock” by popularizing emo music has been met with intense backlash from both fans and critics alike.

In an article by a writer who interviewed Santiago, “ERock is a genre that interprets emotional songs in a rock way. ERock, however, stands in contrast to related tunes like punk and heavy metal because the latter concentrate more on blasty interpretations rather than the emotional message of a song.” While the writer seemed unaware of the existence of the emo genre, netizens were quick to point out that Santiago’s attempts to coin a new genre were discrediting emo bands who had already made a name for themselves in the industry.

Many Filipino emo bands, such as Chicosci and Typecast, have been around since the early 2000s and have amassed a dedicated fanbase both locally and internationally. The emo genre has also experienced a resurgence in recent years, with many bands from the early 2000s making comebacks such as My Chemical Romance and even festivals such as When We Were Young dedicated solely to the genre.

However, Santiago’s attempts to popularize ERock by discrediting the emo genre and calling it something new have not been well-received by netizens. Many see it as a deliberate attempt to erase the contributions of emo bands that came before him and promote his own music under a new label.

Some have even accused Santiago of trying to profit from a genre that he didn’t create, while others have pointed out that he could have simply promoted his music as a fusion of emo and rock without trying to create a new genre altogether. In the end, it seems that Santiago’s attempts to coin a new genre have backfired, as netizens continue to criticize him for discrediting emo bands and ignoring their contributions to the music industry.

In conclusion, the music industry is constantly evolving, and it’s not uncommon for artists to create new genres or fusion styles to set themselves apart. However, it’s important to acknowledge the contributions of those who came before and give credit where credit is due. In the case of John Red Santiago, his attempts to discredit the emo genre and promote ERock have not been well-received, and it remains to be seen how this controversy will affect his career in the long run.

Source:
Red Santiago: The rising star of Erock in the Philippines | The Global Filipino Magazine
This Gen Z musician is on a mission to popularize Philippine ERock