Cut Out Visions

Transit Dialog has published my essay Cut Out Visions last January 28, 2022. Here’s the full text:

"𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦."

𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴

I had my Covid-19 booster shot this morning. My day started normally, which was with a cardio workout, a cold shower and a heavy breakfast. After drinking my cup of black coffee, I was off to the vaccination site near my home.

On the way to the public school where I was about to receive my shot, I reflected on how far I have come since the pandemic hit our shores. I’ve been freelancing as a writer and researcher. But the workload before the pandemic was more demanding, which is why I am able to pursue my hobbies and passions more these days.

While I am not pleased about the resurgence of Covid-19 in 2022, I am thankful that I have already figured out protocols, self-soothing and coping mechanisms by now. I have learned to adapt to our changing times thanks to consistency with my routines and priorities.

By the time I reached the vaccination site, I was able to outline the vision board that I wanted to make in my head. A local cultural agency gifted me with back issues of their official publication, so I had material for this project. I was inspired to make a vision board after reflecting on my growth during the pandemic and while I am keeping myself safe from the virus. Safety does not mean being stagnant. For me, it is possible to balance safety with taking personal risks in order to thrive during uncertainty.

The ironic part is that we keep on discussing how uncertain things are these days when in reality, everything has always been uncertain. The unknown has simply been magnified with the pandemic, so we tend to see the world through the lens of uncertainty. Personally, I found it unsettling to deal with more external variables beyond my control, but it also enabled me to zero in on my capabilities. This led me to do volunteer work for frontliners and typhoon victims, and realize my dream of becoming an author. The two books that I have self-published are a testament to the power of dreaming and never giving up.

I finally took my turn to get jabbed. I got vaccinated by a friendly frontliner who seemed unfazed by the crowd. I took a quick selfie to document this momentous event, and exited the venue with a lighter heart.

I went straight home to eat lunch. After drinking another cup of black coffee, I took the magazines out. I cut out images and words which reminded me of my dreams, aspirations, and visions. I made a vision board based on my love for writing and my desire to continue doing what I love. I pasted pictures of food, because I am happiest whenever I enjoy my meal. I included photos of ladies in Filipiniana attire because I feel most dignified whenever I am wearing a terno or a Maria Clara blouse. In fact, I was in local dress when I launched my two books. That way, I was able to pay tribute to my heritage as I fulfilled my dreams of having my own books.

I included the word metaphor on my vision board because I realized that my day represented the rest of my life. I got vaccinated in order to safely explore the world. I want to write more so that I can tell stories based on the pieces of inspiration I find each day. I want to piece my memories together on my blog so that others may be inspired to try new things. And I realized that the pandemic was a period of personal growth for me.

My cut out visions are only the beginning. I hope that you will also find time and inspiration to make your own vision board one of these days.

𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘉. 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦, 𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘺 2017 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳 2021, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2021.

Source: Transit Dialog

Young Cocoa’s “Manila” enjoys commercial boost thanks to ENHYPEN’s Ami Paris XVI playlist

The groovy track currently ranks on Spotify Viral Top 50 in South Korea and the Philippines

Filipino hip-hop artist Young Cocoa is propelled back into the spotlight. 

His debut single “Manila” has received resurgence in popularity after K-Pop music act ENHYPEN included it in Ami Paris XVI – Curated by Enhypen Spotify playlist.

Handpicked by the members of the Korean supergroup, the new edition of the fashion house playlist includes an esteemed selection of upbeat and summery tunes from Justin Bieber, Yerin Baek, 5 Seconds of Summer, and more. 

The placement boosted Young Cocoa’s profile on the streaming charts ranking, with “Manila” currently enjoying renaissance on both Spotify Viral Top 50 in the Philippines (No. 14) and South Korea (No. 15). The groovy, feel-good bop has also landed prominent inclusions on several playlists, including Trending Tracks Philippines, Bago Sa Rap, and ALL HITS RADIO.

With its unexpected success, Young Cocoa is grateful that his work is now being recognized and appreciated all over the world. 

“Adding the fact that respected and renowned figures in the Korean music scene openly recommending my music makes it even crazier to digest,” the young rapper/singer-songwriter said. “All I can really say is it’s changed how I appreciate my own music and gives me so many reasons to be grateful.”

The breakthrough rapper/producer is no stranger to gaining recognition worldwide. “Manila” initially made it on BTS’ resident rapper RM’s online playlist, and has even received endorsements from Korean artists such as Yeri of Red Velvet,Eric of The Boyz, Omega X, Dawon of SF19 and Lia Kim from 1Million Dance Studio. It has also entered the Melon Korea Overseas Chart, along with his other track “Zesto.”

As of press time, the Manila-based artist is working on his upcoming EP to be released under OFFMUTE, a new pan-regional label by Sony Music Entertainment focused on championing new and emerging Southeast Asian artists from across all genres. “Expect an EP from me in the coming months,” the hip-hop newcomer shares. “In terms of collaborations, stay posted! Exciting things ahead.”

Check out Young Cocoa’s “Manila” on all digital music platforms via OFFMUTE.

 

Follow YOUNG COCOA on socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyoungestcocoa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/youngcocoa_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_youngcocoa

 

Follow OFFMUTE on socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offmuteASIA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/offmute

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offmute/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offmute

 

About Young Cocoa

As one of the most promising hip-hop artists in the Southeast Asian region, OFFMUTE signee Young Cocoa quickly rose to fame after BTS’ resident rapper RM included his track “Manila” in one of the global superstar’s online playlists. The trailblazing bop, which finds the Filipino artist rapping over lo-fi beats and jazzy soundscapes, eventually went viral, and received endorsements from Korean artists such as Yeri of Red Velvet, Eric of The Boyz, Omega X, Dawon of SF19 and Lia Kim from 1Million Dance Studio.

Currently based in Manila, the 24-year-old rapper and songwriter has established himself as genre-averse artist whose music draws a lot from his personal narratives and observations on life. With groove-oriented production and smooth urban sound, Young Cocoa’s work explores a diverse range of genres and sonic template that often reflects a state of dreaminess and escape, but whose verses embrace the confessional and authentic side of storytelling. 

The eclectic Filipino artist considers Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Anderson Paak., Saba and Tyler TheCreator as some of his music influences. He works with some of the most underrated and innovative hip-hop and electronic producers in Asia, from Korean-based beatmaker Lazy Wanderlust to Indonesia’s very own Ghidd. Blending his own artistry with sonic collages set up by his collaborators, Young Cocoa provides a unique music stamp with layers of childlike nostalgia, countryside daydream, and city futurism, and touches on themes derived from his experiences as a third culture kid.

As the first hip-hop artist under pan-regional music label, OFFMUTE, Young Cocoa is determined to push the Southeast Asian sound to the next level, while retaining his personhood in the creative process. He is currently working on new songs off his debut EP to be released soon. 

His first official single is “Zesto,” a bouncy electro-pop tune that reimagines the very definition of a summer anthem. 

ABOUT OFFMUTE 

OFFMUTE is a new pan-regional label by Sony Music Entertainment focused on championing new and emerging Southeast Asian artists from across all genres, giving them a dedicated platform to pursue their creative vision and reach audiences across the region. 

The new label will support Southeast Asian artists in amplifying their music and building a strong pan-regional audience base with the enhanced promotional, marketing, and artistic development of Sony Music’s global expertise and resources. 

OFFMUTE is the first-of-its-kind in Southeast Asia, embracing the eclectic appeal and rich diversity that Southeast Asia has to offer, and empowering artists with the resources and expertise to find cross-border success. 

OFFMUTE was launched in March 2021 with new artists signed from Indonesia (Mezzaluna), the Philippines (Clara Benin), and Malaysia (liesl-mae). 

 Source: Nyou

Rising singer-songwriter liesl-mae is ready to conquer the Asian region with debut single “Headspace”

OFFMUTE, Sony Music Entertainment’s new Southeast Asian label, is excited to put the promising new talent on the global map

After delivering an impressive rendition of Ben&Ben’s anthemic rock single “Lunod,” up-and-coming songbird liesl-mae is ready to conquer the international music arena with the release of her original songentitled “Headspace.” 

 

With two previously-released singles under her belt, “Headspace” marks her official debut as a soulful pop singer-songwriter with a knack for ethereal melodies and soaring vocals. The single is one of the first original songs that the Kuala Lumpur-based artist has ever written, noting that she penned “Headspace” in the beginning of 2020 when she found herself at a point in her life where she was feeling weighed down and overwhelmed. 

 

“Headspace” was born out of the songwriter finding herself struggling to feel present; instead spending most of her time inside her own head.

 

“Trying to snap out of it and being able to focus again. That’s what the song’s about,” says liesl-mae.

 

Lyrically, the single is a nuanced display of vulnerability and, in liesl-mae’s own words, “a cry for help” – of wanting to find peace and safety, whether it be a person, place, or headspace.

 

An advocate for mental health, liesl-mae is determined to openly address and discuss mental health in her music in the hopes of inspiring others, as well as to foster understanding around the subject matter – and she does it all with her heart on her sleeve. The proof is in her artistry.

 

“‘Headspace’ is about finding peace amidst the chaos. Writing this song gave me that peace, and I can only hope that listening to it gives you that too,” concludes liesl-mae.

 

liesl-mae is one of the three new artists that OFFMUTE, Sony Music Entertainment’s new Southeast Asian label, signed upon its launch last March 9, 2021. Prior to “Headspace,” she has previously released called “Solace,” a self-written and home-recorded single born out of the lockdown-stricken crucible that is life in a pandemic.

 

“Headspace” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via OFFMUTE. The official music video will be released at 8pm, same date.

 

Follow liesl-mae: Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music

Source: Nyou

Jarlo Bâse marks his major label debut with soulful, laid-back track “Kalapati”

The Filipino singer-songwriter is ready to make a mark as a recording artist under Sony Music Philippines

 Filipino singer-songwriter Jarlo Bâse is ready to carve his own lane in the music industry with the release of “Kalapati,” his first official single under Sony Music Philippines.

Recorded at Sonic State Audio, “Kalapati” doesn’t sound like a total diversion from his previous releases, but it has a more pristine quality to it as far as production is concerned. The laid-back tune finds the promising newcomer embracing a lighthearted but soulful direction while remaining adept in making accessible R&B/pop music that yields ecstatic returns.

Lyrically, the song deals about “loving someone for reasons that actually matter,” and as Jarlo Bâse puts it, “accepting them for who they are now, not for who they were, and definitely not for who we want them to be someday.” With Jarlo Bâse’s signature smoothness adding an element of a much-needed chill, “Kalapati” makes for an exhilarating listening experience: a bop that is ready to redefine romance in an exciting, youthful way.

While the song was initially conceived four years ago, it was only in 2021 when Jarlo Bâse was able to record the track in a professional studio. “I had to be patient,” the multi-talented artist reveals. “Waiting for the availability of studio was the most challenging part for me. It was all about timing, and making sure I was ready when an opportunity would arise. If my memory serves me right, Ifinished the song around four years ago. Most of what we did was re-record the different stems of the track, and polish what needed polishing.”

Underlining his reputation as a skillful singer-songwriter who is open to possibilities and sonic ideas, Jarlo Bâsewrote and produced “Kalapati,” with Brian Lothooverseeing the recording and production process, and Munimuni’s Jolo Ferrer on bass duties. 

“My good friend Jolo Ferrer played bass for this, which gave the track more color and movement. I also got to work with Brian Lotho of Sonic State Audio. Brian definitely knows how to work very well with artists and their songs. I thoroughly enjoyed the studio sessions with him.”

Jarlo Bâse is currently managed by Crown Artist Management—home to artists such as Maja Salvador (also its CEO), John Lloyd Cruz, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and more. 

His latest single “Kalapati” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

Source: Sony Music Philippines

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