Up Dharma Down vocalist Armi Millare parts ways with band after 17 years
The singer and songwriter Armi Millare has parted ways with UDD as she pursues a solo music career.
Up Dharma Down (rebranded to UDD) announced on social media Millare’s departure on Dec. 26.
“Hi everyone. We wanted to let you know that Armi has left UDD. We thank her for sharing her talent and artistry in the songs we created together,” wrote the band known for its genre-redefining unique sound and eclectic music.
The band, composed of Millare, drummer Ean Mayor, lead guitarist Carlos Tañada and bassist Paul Yap, was formed in 2004 and has since released four albums with songs that made a mark in OPM, including Oo, Pag-Agos, Tadhana, Sana and Sigurado.
In its statement, UDD reminisced on the time they were just starting in the gig circuit, playing sets in Saguijo, where they became a staple in the early 2000s.
Nevertheless, the remaining members, who said they will continue to make music under independent record label Terno Recordings, have nothing but the best for Millare.
“Although we're sad to see her leave the band, we wish her all the best as she embarks on her solo career. And we hope you can all support her future projects as well,” said the band, who also thanked the listeners for their support over the years.
“We would like to thank you, our fans and listeners, for being with us in this journey—17 years, 4 albums, and thousands of gigs. We are so grateful. We really wouldn’t have made it this far without all of you. Please keep supporting OPM,” UDD concluded.
For her part, Millare also posted on social media explaining her departure from the band.
“Last June, I decided to sever ties with Terno Recordings, its mother company MTME and as consequence of this, my band, UDD. For the last 17 years, I have experienced and learned so much in the company of my bandmates along with every person we have had the pleasure of interacting with,” she wrote.
Millare said she would have preferred to keep things private but believes that she owes the announcement to her and the band’s supporters and listeners of their music, saying that their “patronage and love of the band gave me the experience of a lifetime.”
She added, “UDD has remained my longest relationship one that I've tried to keep sacred and tried to preserve with the principles I have upheld from the moment I learned that I had a dream: that one day I would be in that one band I would dedicate my life to. I see that there was more progress than perfection during our time together and I'm willing to let it end where it has. We had a good run.”
Millare hopes people will look at the situation as a beginning for each of the members of the band, whether they continue to pursue their music career or not in the future. “I wish everyone in the group, our crew, and cohorts the best with all my heart.”
She concluded her message, “There is nothing more I fear than the unknown, but I would rather be fighting my fears than letting it hold me down while I seek peace like I always have.”
Millare recently released Run for Cover, a collaboration with D’Sound, which will reportedly be included in the Norwegian band’s album that will be launched in January 2022. Their other collaborations include tracks Lykkelig in 2018 and Somewhere in Between in 2019.
Millare also previously released a solo project with song Kapit from the movie Alone/Together in 2019.