Between 9-to-5 jobs and late-night recording sessions, married couple Liz Alvarez and JJ De Guzman have carved out a space in Dubai’s music scene for their shared vision: raw, emotionally-charged music that explores mental health, migration, and the unseen tolls of life as an overseas Filipino. As espervene, they’ve emerged as a voice for the broken and the unspoken, offering a sound that is equal parts industrial grit and post-rock tenderness—unapologetically introspective and beautifully human.
How they became espervene
The journey of espervene began in 2018 when Liz Alvarez won a local contest that gave her the opportunity to produce her original track, Found Me, at Mango Jam Studios. “After that, the song went live on streaming platforms and the support was really heartwarming,” Liz recalled. Inspired by the response, she decided to bring the song to life onstage with a full band. She recruited her then-boyfriend, now husband, JJ De Guzman on bass, along with Tentoy Prado on drums, and guitarists RJ Javier and Micoy Perez.
For a while, the group thrived, writing five songs and performing across Dubai’s indie circuit. But life overseas often changes course. Members eventually moved back to the Philippines or faced conflicting schedules, pushing Liz and JJ to recalibrate. “We decided to keep going as a duo. It just made sense—we were already creating together at home,” JJ said.
With Liz taking over vocals, synths, and drum machines, and JJ layering in guitar work and melodic textures, the two found a new rhythm. The result was a tighter, more defined sound. One that leaned into electronic beats, haunting vocals, and guitar riffs that stretch like emotional threads across every track.
This newly refined identity culminated in the release of their debut album, Concrete Delusions, launched on May 23, 2025 at The Fridge Warehouse in Alserkal Avenue. The seven-track record is a sonic memoir, reflecting the duo’s seven-year journey as expatriate workers in the UAE—an exploration of sacrifice, emotional fatigue, perseverance, and small victories.
A marriage that shapes the music
More than just collaborators, Liz and JJ’s personal relationship plays a huge role in their creative synergy. “There’s trust, so it’s easier to experiment and challenge each other’s ideas,” Liz shared. Usually, she begins the process by building a melody or beat from scratch. JJ then steps in with guitar ideas—sometimes hopeful, sometimes dissonant—depending on the mood. “Liz is more collaborative. I tend to express myself more through riffs and melodies,” JJ explained. “But when we come together, it always feels balanced.”
Their creative push-and-pull dynamic leads to tracks that straddle two worlds—light and dark, electronic and organic. Songs like Found Me, Hope, and Enough reflect this duality. “Enough was especially personal for both of us,” JJ admitted. “It captures that feeling of being at the edge, when you’re just too tired to even care anymore. It’s a quiet scream for help, but also a whisper of resilience.”
For Liz, the message behind their music is simple: “Let it loose.” She explained, “We want people to acknowledge their emotions—even the ugly ones. If you feel something, it’s real. And that’s beautiful.”
Finding their voice in Dubai
Liz and JJ both credit their roots in the Philippines for shaping their musical tastes. Liz grew up in a musical household, taking piano lessons at eight and later playing bass in a church band. Her college years introduced her to various genres—metal, hardcore, jazz fusion—that expanded her artistic palette. But it wasn’t until she moved to Dubai for work as an architect that she found herself drawn to darker, more introspective music like Nine Inch Nails, HEALTH, and How to Destroy Angels.
JJ’s early influences came from video game music, with composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Mitsuda sparking his interest. As a teenager in Olongapo, he played emo and pop-punk in underground gigs, jamming to bands like Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy. His move to Dubai and his partnership with Liz pushed him into new sonic territories—particularly exploring how sound can be a form of therapy.
Still, making original music in Dubai hasn’t been easy. “The scene here is vibrant, but there’s not much space for artists who write their own material—especially if it’s not in the pop or cover genre,” Liz said. To address this gap, the couple helped form a creative collective called The Halo-Halo Experiment, organizing events to showcase original electronic acts.
Through these platforms, espervene has become a niche voice for those grappling with isolation, burnout, or silent despair—common themes among migrant communities. Their performances aren’t just gigs; they’re release valves, both for the artists and the audience.
Embracing the struggle, sharing the light
What sets espervene apart isn’t just their genre-blending sound, but their honesty. They don’t write for radio play or streaming numbers. They write to feel, and to help others feel less alone.
“If there’s one thing we hope people take away from our music, it’s this: not everything you think is true, but everything you feel is valid,” Liz said. It’s even printed on their merch. “Sometimes, emotions lie. But the fact that we feel them means they’re worth acknowledging. That’s how healing begins.”
