Gloc-9 has outdone himself in Liham at Lihim

Last year, Gloc-9 scored big when he released his single Sirena (featuring Ebe Dancel) became a phenomenal hit and a critics’ favorite. Sirena, which tackles the life of gays in a different and inspiring light, also became the favorite collaboration song among the biggest live concert artists like Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Noel Cabangon, among others.

The album Mga Kuwento Ng Makata, which scored a Gold Record award for its outstanding sales, also included the hits Bakit Hindi (with Billy Crawford), Hindi Mo Nadinig (with Jay Durias), among others. The said album was named Album of the Year in the recently-concluded Star Awards for Music.

Gloc-9’s outstanding feat last year is hard to top, but for the rapper’s latest release Liham at Lihim, it is easy to say that indeed the wordsmith has outdone himself in his latest release. In the album, Gloc-9 plays with other possible ways of telling timely stories, but never really talked about.

Magda, the first single to be released from Liham at Lihim and a collaboration with OPM young icon Rico Blanco, is the perfect example of this experimentation, where the storyteller is not the rapper, as it is another persona Ernesto, who has found the girl he had lost in Magda. That he finds the latter as an adult woman, working nights on a stage, with only her shoes on, is all that we know about what Magda does. And while she might be the star of this song, it is Ernesto who speaks for and about her, and Magda's silence is what fills the rest of the song.

The music video of Magda, featuring Jennylyn Mercado and Alex Medina, instantly entered the MYX Daily only a day after its premiere.

Proof of Gloc-9’s success as a storyteller and recording artist is the phenomenal outpouring of support during Liham at Lihim’s album launch last Saturday, October 26 at the Eastwood Central Plaza, where thousands of fans attended and celebrated the album’s little secrets and letters.


Magda and the rest of Liham at Lihim will prove that songwriting and creativity still make for the songs that are relevant not just because these sound contemporary, but because these engage nation in intelligent conversation.


 Tracklist:

Huminahon Ka (featuring Sly Kane)
Takip Silim (featuring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid)
KMT (featuring Eunice Jorge of Gracenote)
Magda (featuring of Rico Blanco)
Rap Ka Nga
Kuwento Mo
Tsinelas sa Putikan (featuring Marc Abaya)
Siga (featuring Quest)
Hindi Sapat (featuring Denise Barbacena)
Katulad Ng Iba (featuring Zia Quizon)
Kunwari (featuring Kamikazee, Biboy Garcia of Queso and Manuel Legarda of Wolfgang)
Itak Ni Andres


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Gloc-9 rises with “Magda” from Liham at Lihim

We might say that Pinoy rap is going through a revival. What we must know is how different Gloc-9's kind of rap remains, regardless.

At the heart of Gloc-9's icon is the fact of his creativity. This is a rapper who dares writes songs from nation, trailing an eye on the things we fail to see, listening to words no one else hears.

If the first single off his new album Liham at Lihim is any indication, then Gloc-9 has again raised the bar for songwriting in general, Pinoy rap in particular.

A collaboration with rock icon Rico Blanco, “Magda” is Gloc-9's storytelling at its best. For one thing, he doesn't take on the persona of Magda; instead he speaks as Ernesto, telling the story of Magda – the little of it that he knows. For another, Magda's story doesn't unfold easily, where many things are left unsaid, and much of what is truth happens in a letter. This is also why Gloc-9 thinks “Magda” the best choice for a carrier single, given the CD's title.

But Magda's complexity, as Liham at Lihim suggests, is borne of the fact that she is trapped in what she does, and we cannot understand why. Gloc-9 doesn't insist that we understand it, but through Ernesto we are being made to see the sadness in this situation, the nostalgia for the past, the longing for better.

Talking about the inspiration for the song, Gloc-9 says: “I was thinking of reasons why a daughter who was most precious to her father, could end up living the life of a prostitute. One line from the chorus goes “Magdalena, anong problema? / Alam naman natin na dati kang Nena / at sa ‘yong ama, ikaw ay prinsesa.”

That chorus is sung by Blanco, something that Gloc-9 is grateful for. “Rico is one of the most talented singers we have right now, and even though I wrote the song, Rico is the only one who can sing the chorus the way he does and bring to the song his own uniqueness. Sobrang galing,” he says.

“Magda” reminds us that there are many difficult stories to tell, and very few who dare tell it the way Gloc-9 and Rico Blanco do. This song reminds us that there are no judgements, as there are questions. And there is no right and wrong, as there is need and love. If not hope.

Without a doubt, Pinoy rap's going through a revival. With “Magda” and all of Liham at Lihim, Gloc-9 proves he is in a class all his own.

Liham at Lihim will be released in October 2013. This is Gloc-9's second album with Universal Records after 2012's Mga Kwento ng Makata and the critically-acclaimed hit single “Sirena.” Liham at Lihim features Gloc-9 collaborations with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Quest, Marc Abaya, Zia Quizon, Kamikazee, Eunice of Gracenote, Denise Barbacena, and Sly Kane.

ALBUM PREVIEW

One More Try and other teleserye theme songs in compilation album

Universal Records has gathered some of the most memorable teleserye theme songs in their album One More Try: Favorite Teleserye Love Song and other OPM Hits.

The album’s carrier single One More Try, performed by Kuh Ledesma, is the theme of the phenomenal GMA TV series My Husband’s Lover. The series’ lead star Carla Abellana’s debut single Kung Alam Ko Lang is also included in the album.

One More Try: Favorite Teleserye Love Song and other OPM Hits also includes One More Try (Kuh Ledesma), Ngiti and Maghihintay Sa’yo (Christian Bautista), Haplos (Alden Richards), Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin (Jed Madela), among others.

One More Try: Favorite Teleserye Love Song and other OPM Hits is available at all record bars nationwide.

Tracklist:

1.  ONE MORE TRY - Kuh Ledesma
     From the teleserye “My Husband’s Lover”
2.  NGITI - Christian Bautista
     From the teleserye “With A Smile”
3.  BUKAS NA LANG KITA MAMAHALIN - Jed Madela
4.  HAPLOS - Alden Richards
     From the teleserye “Mundo Mo’y Akin”
5.  KUNG ALAM KO LANG - Carla Abellana
6.  MAGHIHINTAY SA ‘YO - Christian Bautista
     From the teleserye “Maghihintay Pa Rin”
7.   I’D RATHER LEAVE WHILE I’M IN LOVE - Regine Velasquez
8.  SOMEONE THAT I USED TO LOVE - Lani Misalucha
9.  MAKING LOVE - Jaya
10.  TRULY - Richard Poon
11.  DI NA MABABAWI - Alden Richards
        From the teleserye “My Daughter, Seoyoung”
12.  SA AKING TABI - Alden Richards
        From the teleserye “With A Smile”

Sam Concepcion evolves via new album Infinite

Singer-dancer-actor Sam Concepcion chose to shed his boy-next-door, squeaky clean image via the release of his latest album Infinite, under Universal Records. The album showcases the young singer’s growth, evolution into being one of the finest singers in the land, perhaps the best in his batch.

“You’ll get to know Sam the performer in the album,” says Sam. “This album is ME, NOW. It says many things about who I am at present.”

The album’s single No Limitations, a collaboration between Sam, Billy Crawford, Kris Lawrence and Marcus Davis, exhibits Sam’s desire to be taken as a more serious performer. Its modern, edgy video, featuring Solenn Heussaf, gives one an idea where Sam would want to go as a recording artist.

Luckily, fans of the young singer seem to appreciate the “new” Sam as his first music video off the album is currently number one on the Pinoy Myx Countdown, and is receiving favorable airplay from radio stations. The single also remained on top of the mymusicstore charts for six weeks.

He adds that he is also thankful that he was given the chance to collaborate with the most prolific recording artists in the country – Billy Crawford, Christian Bautista, JayR, among others.

Christian penned the song Love, Love, Love for Sam. Sam and Christian were both discovered STAGES when they worked together 10 years ago in the musical The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Rescue You, previously recorded as a Christian-Sam duet, is now a solo song rendered by Sam.  

JayR and Sam performed a duet in the album – I’m The One, where both of them showcased their R&B influences.

Sam also records his version of Mahal Na Mahal Kita, an OPM ditty given a more contemporary feel.

Singapore-based composed Tat Tong contributed There’s No Me (Without You).

Sam gives a welcome surprise in the inclusion of modern-anthemic song Di Ka Nag-iisa, a collaboration with up and coming band Runmanila and rapper Dello.

Infinite also includes bonus tracks Panalangin and Kontrabida – both songs are lifted from Sam’s landmark projects last year (the movie IdoBidooBidoo and the 2012 PhilPop, where Sam’s entry won 2nd place).



Infinite Tracklist:

1.    No Limitations
2.    I'm The One
3.    She Drives Me Crazy
4.    Mahal Na Mahal
5.    Di Ka Nag-iisa
6.    Rescue You
7.    There's No Me (Without You)
8.    Love, Love, Love
9.    Panalangin
10.  Kontrabida


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