This folk pop fusion duo from the north, the pride of Tuguegarao, Cagayan calling themselves Letrang Norte, may actually be headed for the big time.
After winning the Kanto Canta songwriting contest initiated by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the tandem of Ruth Lee Resuello and Louie Kem Anthony Babaran comes out with an interesting new song they composed called “Kalma.” It’s available in digital music stores by October 22.
The track, which fuses R&B and bossa nova in easy listening beauty, is co-produced by the group and music icon Ebe Dancel, and distributed by Widescope Entertainment.
“Kalma’ boasts an unforgettable chorus melody presented with very few words and sung in timely fashion. It’s even a stronger cut than “Tahanan” which bagged the grand prize last June when Kanto Canta executives declared the winners from a pool of 15 song-act finalists promoting the Filipino language and its indigenous instruments.
“Kalma is a song about unspoken love,” shared Louie, “It is a story of two people secretly in love with each other, but covertly show their feelings.”
It is a track Letrang Norte arranged, engineered, mixed, and mastered. They recorded at Northern Root Records studio which Ruth Lee runs. The Widescope tag team of Vic de Vera and Neil Gregorio sat as executive and supervising producers.
“We like to mix and experiment with different genres and unusual chord progressions as we infuse creative melodies and phrasing,” expressed the lady singer whose vocal style is well-showcased in the new single.
Ruth Lee by herself is a force to reckon with, having established her presence in the digital realm with several recording releases under her name. Louie, too, is far from being just the other fellow, and holds his ground tight as the singing male counterpart.
Both of them are multi-instrumentalists and recording engineers, with Ruth Lee being able to play drums apart from playing guitar, while Louie handles piano and bass guitar parts, as well as glockenspiel.
Incidentally, Ruth Lee is a registered pharmacist while Louie a registered nurse. Call it coincidence but being healthcare workers make them a musically gifted front-lining duo facing the challenges of the new normal on a good note.
Back in 2018, after finishing her Pharmacy degree with distinction, the girl with a calming voice decided to open a music tutorial arm she dubbed Northern Root. She spearheaded training hundreds of kids marked by seven triumphant recitals.
At first she was just in her bedroom toiling with melodies. But then she started getting serious about music production so she had training abroad. She was finally able to achieve the sound and style she likes.
As for Louie, while working as a nurse, he would do birthday and wedding gigs with his band Sunset Sessions.
They found each other on social media and realized being on the same page, so together they recorded a song called “2020.”
This year turned out to be their come-out party.