Crib breaks all-male lineup with addition of former MYMP vocalist Mela Ravanilla

After more than two decades of performing together, the formerly all-male band, Crib, added its first female member, Mela Ravanilla, who used to be with MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud).

“She was the former vocalist of MYMP,” bassist Mark Decena told ABS-CBN News. “She iss the newest addition to the band.”

“We started as musicians for other artists doing studio work and we did back up,” added Decena. “Then we decided to do frontline and became known as Crib.”

With Edward Enriquez on guitars, Ravanilla was convinced to join Crib by her friend and drummer Bogs Bautista, who was a session musician with MYMP. 

“Everything became okay when I joined Crib,” said Ravanilla. “Everything aligned. It’s different here because they guide me as an artist.”

Bautista attested the vibe became different when Ravanilla joined Crib. “Iba ‘yung nakasanayan namin when we were still all boys,” he said. “Iba pag may kasama kang babae. ‘Yung pagiging brusko mo, hindi uobra. You will still give her the title to be a girl. You will give her the respect. If there is something that you will not agree to, dapat diplomatic ka sa kanya. Kaming mga lalake, we will just tap each other’s shoulders.”

“We treat her as princes,” said Decena. “She’s our frontman/woman. You have to treat her with respect. She was a new addition to our family. There was no major adjustment needed. Mela coming in did not need a major adjustment for us.”

The band started two decades ago without original materials. “We simply wanted to infiltrate the live band scene,” disclosed keyboardist and vocalist Mike Caleda. “We started simply playing and doing covers, mostly our personal favorites – from the late ’70s to the music of the ’80s – Christopher Cross, the music of Toto.

“At the time when those songs came out, most of us were still babies. We were still in our cribs. That’s the reason we were called Crib. Nag back track kami in the songs that we preferred. At the time we were still in our cribs.”

Bobby Velasco on keyboards also came from another band and joined Crib during the pandemic. He is the musical director of such artists as Jed Madela, Ogie Alcasid, Sitti Navarro, and Joey Generoso.

The band got the much-needed rest during the pandemic. Then, they restarted again when the coast became clear and performed onstage with new members. When Ravanilla came in, she gave a different sound to Crib.

“For the longest time, we were known to be an all-male band,” said Decena. “We’ve been singing together and doing it as an all-male band for quite some time. But when Mela came in, Bobby was also there. We used to watch him when we were still starting. He is senior to us and we look up to him. We realized Bobby will be there to also guide us.

“It was really a perfect fit for us when Bobby and Mela joined. Our first rehearsal with them, the chemistry was different but it was better. We’ve been together for so many years. We’ve been doing music for so many years. I remember, our first rehearsal, I was still in my school uniform. That was 20 years ago. When Mela and Bobby came, we started performing differently.”

Crib transitioned from doing covers to eventually singing originals. “Everything happened,” Decena said. “We got excited, we got nervous, we got thrilled and we found it difficult to perform the new songs. A combination of everything.”

Caleda added, “When we were doing cover, we used to play other people’s music. But when we decided to write and release originals, that became OC [obsessive-compulsive] for us. When you release your own songs, it’s not just your originals. You arrange that, play that.

“The arrangement is formulated and complete already. That’s a different responsibility. Nilakasan na lang namin ang loob namin. Basta kung ano lang ang natural na lumabas sa puso mo, just pour it out and see what happens.”

In 2018, the all-male Crib released an eight-track, self-titled album with eight original tracks. The new, six-member group is planning to come out with a new album next year.

“When Mela and Bobby arrived, we got to produce six new songs,” said Decena. “Plus the re-imagined version of Ella Mae Sayson’s ‘Till My Heartaches End.’ We got the rights for that song. She was even on video and acknowledged out take on that song. The song is now out on all streaming platforms.”

Ravanilla did not find it a tall order to work with five other male singers onstage. “I am an only girl in the family,” she said. “I have two brothers. So the environment was the same. Walang pinagka-iba. Ang dami kong natututunan at napupulot from them, including life lessons. Okay naman. Lahat kami parang pamilya na.”

Velasco shared, “In time, marami din akong natutunan with the band. Collectively, we experienced different scenarios and what to do with those things. Until now, we are still learning from our experience.

“Pero iba na ngayon. Before, you would only play and go home. Ngayon, iba na. Challenging na because there are a lot of new artists. Kami lalong mas nag-thrive to make performing better.”

Crib is constantly surprised at how OPM has evolved through the years. “From the time of Side A, Freestyle, South Border, OPM continues to thrive,” maintained Decena. “Iba ang nakasanayan naman, but we are happy that musicians are getting younger these days. We get constantly surprised how OPM evolved.”

Crib will hold a major concert, “On the Move,” December 4 at the Music Museum. At the helm is Calvin Murphy Neria, who also gave the title of the concert. 

“This is our first time to hold a major concert together,” said Decena. “We’ve been doing concerts for other artists. We performed with big names, but this is our first time to perform as a group. Lagi kaming nasa likod ng tabing. This concert is a celebration of us doing this together.”

Crib will render their viral hits, new songs and first-time covers onstage. Special guests are Ogie Alcasid, Joey Generoso, Sitti Navarro and young singer-songwriter Isha Ponti.

Next year, the band is looking forward to tour and even perform abroad.