PhilPop, the country’s
premier songwriting competition, returns with an eclectic set of new releases
from the finalists of the Visayas cluster.
The sophomore batch takes
regional pride to unprecedented heights with its sterling showcase of
contemporary pop songs representing authentic Visayan expressions through
language, culture, and experience.
Distributed by Warner Music Philippines, the homegrown tracks are available today, October 30 (Friday) on all digital and streaming platforms worldwide. The entries include “Suyo,” composed and interpreted by Noah Alejandre and Reanne Borela also know as the duo reon; "Hinungdan," composed by Michael Catarina and interpreted by James Gulles; and “Ayaw Na Lang,” composed by Jerika Teodorico and interpreted by Lourdes Maglinte.
Suyo:
Love beyond cultural differences
Breaking cultural barriers,
“Suyo” tells the story of quarreling lovers from the opposite sides of the
country. Over the course of the intricately produced jam, composers Noah
Alejandre and Reanne Borela exchange sweet banters to win each other back in
Bisaya and Tagalog, respectively.
“This song breaks the norms
of OPM songs having only one language and giving emphasis on couples who are
from different parts of the country,” Alejandre explains the inspiration behinf
the new tune. “Both of us never really experienced being in a relationship, yet
we made the song as if we were in one and took inspiration from our
imaginations. Reanne took inspiration from her friends who were in
relationships and have witnessed how they would fight about the simplest things
and get back together right after. They took this as an opportunity to create a
playful song that resulted into the song.”
With its understated charm
and infectious pop songwriting, “Suyo” stands out for putting a new spin on the
classic love song template. It seamlessly blends the charm and tension points
of two different languages, showcasing a pure kind of love that goes beyond
cultural and geographical differences.
Hinungdan:
Subtlety done right
Weaving folk-pop instrumentation
with striking vulnerability, “Hinungdan” brings back earnestness and subtlety
at the forefront of the songwriting process, allowing words and melodies to
wander into the open space and take off.
Cebu-based composer Michael
Catarina cites British singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran, Passenger, and James Bay
as major influences in writing “Hinungdan”—a song about “a person who is having
a hard time telling his feelings for someone.”
Catarino relates to the
universal appeal of the self-penned composition, sharing how he felt the same
at some point in his life: “I can't deny but I have personally experienced this
as well. Way back then, when I wrote this song, I was just embracing the moment
of being frustrated by writing the things that I couldn't say.”
Ayaw
Na Lang: Sultry jam for the lovelorn
According to PhilPop
finalist Jerika Teodorico, “Ayaw Na Lang” is a Bisaya phrase that
translates to “never mind” in English. “The lyrics are from the perspective of
a lovelorn person slowly acknowledging and accepting the fact that although her
love interest seems to return even a fourth of the feeling, a romance between
them just won't do,” the Cebuana composer and songwriter reflects. “It's a very
confusing feeling to deal with, and as a songwriter and a person who has a hard
time processing my thoughts and emotions, I felt compelled to make a monument
out of that half-joyous, half-torturous moment. It was also me trying to assure
my love interest that it was fine, and there were no hard feelings after that
night.”
From a musical standpoint,
there’s nothing over-the-top about “Ayaw Na Lang” in terms of production and
arrangement, but its charm lies on the gritty, throwback vibe that arranger and
co-producer Anjelo Calinawan brought to the mix, making it sound like an ‘old-meets-new’
kind of jam. The overall product is something that Amy Winehouse or Duffy
wouldn’t mind singing their hearts out, but in the entry’s case, it’s
songstress Lourdes Maglinte filling in the shoes to interpret this smoky,
jazz-pop original with both sass and soul.
“Suyo,” “Hinungdan,” and
“Ayaw Na Lang” are now available on streaming and digital platforms worldwide
via PhilPop and Warner Music Philippines.
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