Freestyle | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, soul |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Viva Records, independent, Press Pause Media Productions, Inc. (present) |
| Members | Top Suzara IJ Garcia Ian Tan Francis Manalo Lerod Cailao |
| Past members | Jinky Vidal Joshua Desiderio Mike Luis Tat Suzara Gerald Banzon Ava Santos Rommel dela Cruz Bobby Velasco Joel Guarin Gino Aguas Nikki Cabardo Carlo Tapia Obet Luzon Tzuki Garcia Jun Masamayor |
Freestyle is a pop/R&B band formed in Davao City, Philippines in 1996 currently fronted by Top Suzara since 2022, who returned seventeen years after he initially left in 2005. The band was formed in 1996 and hit the mainstream in 1998, and is popular for the songs "Before I Let You Go", "So Slow", "This Time", "Till I Found You", "Para Sa 'Yo", "Once in a Lifetime", and their rendition of "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?" with Pops Fernandez.
The band was originally founded by former guitarist Tat Suzara in Davao City. Notable members of the classic lineup include vocalists Jinky Vidal and Top Suzara, the band's primary songwriter, who left the band in 2011 and 2005 respectively and went on to have solo careers. Post-Freestyle, Vidal and Top Suzara had a reunion concert together in 2013. Other notable members were vocalists Joshua Desiderio, Mike Luis, Ava Santos, and drummer Gerald Banzon who were with the band until Top Suzara returned and took over in 2022.
In mid-2022, after the pre-"Top Suzara-comeback" lineup disbanded, Top Suzara took over and continued the "Freestyle" brand accompanied by his own session musicians. Suzara had his first comeback performance as Freestyle at 19 East in October 2022 in a sold-out gig. Suzara also trademarked "Freestyle" in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) solely under his name. The IPO ruled that "Freestyle" is synonymous with the name Top Suzara and is deemed the rightful owner.[1]