“Together” - For Old Time's Sake
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
There’s something special about bands that grow, take detours, face life’s pauses, and then circle back with music that feels both nostalgic and brand new. Perth-based For Old Time’s Sake is exactly that kind of band. Born in 2007 from the friendship and songwriting chemistry of Darwin D. Dacanay and Whet Crisostomo, their sound has always been steeped in warm folk-pop, Beatles-esque melodies, and heartfelt storytelling. But with their latest single Together — they aren’t just looking back. They’re stepping boldly into a fresh chapter.
The journey here has been long and layered. Early on, FOTS built four DIY albums, recorded and edited at home — a true testament to passion over polish. Then came the big pause, when Whet moved to Australia and the project slipped into dormancy. But in 2013, they reunited across oceans to make Bridging the Gap, an album that literally lived up to its name, with instruments tracked in Perth and Darwin’s vocals recorded back home in the Philippines. It was scrappy, heartfelt, and it kept the spark alive.
Now, over a decade later, Together represents a milestone — the first time FOTS has ever stepped into a proper studio (Vision Studio in Perth). And you can hear it: the sound is richer, cleaner, and more expansive, without losing the intimacy that’s defined them since day one. It feels like they’ve polished the glass without dimming the flame inside it.
Musically, Together wears its Beatles inspiration proudly, but it isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia. There’s a timeless charm in the harmonies, the jangling guitar work, and the gentle optimism of the arrangement. You can tell it’s born from lived experience — Darwin admits the song was written 17 years ago and only now gets its proper release. That delay actually adds to its weight: it’s a song that’s been lived with, carried, and finally given the chance to breathe.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Lyrically, Together is all about connection, endurance, and, fittingly, togetherness. It’s not flashy or overproduced — instead, it feels personal, like something written in the margins of life and polished over years of friendship and memory. The band’s full lineup — Darwin (vocals), Whet (guitar, vocals), Jonathan (guitar), Vanie (bass), and Joel (drums) — brings it to life with a warmth that feels communal.
The significance of this release isn’t just in the track itself but in what it represents: 17 years of persistence, friendships that survived distance and time, and a band finding its way back to the stage with more experience, more clarity, and a sense of unfinished business. Their performances at venues like Milk Bar and Rosemount Hotel have already hinted at this resurgence, but Together feels like a definitive statement: FOTS is back, and this time they’re doing it properly.
At the end of the day, Together is exactly what the title says — a piece of music that binds personal history, artistic growth, and lifelong camaraderie into something timeless. It’s a reminder that sometimes songs take the long road home before they find their moment. For Old Time’s Sake proves that when they finally arrive, they’re worth the wait.
“Together” is available now on all major streaming platforms
