As the boundaries of P-Pop continue to expand, Alamat sets itself apart by using the tropes of Western pop music and Kpop to create a distinct audiovisual brand of music that is heavily influenced by the sights and sounds of the Philippines, both modern and ancient.
As one of the hottest Pinoy pop boybands in the scene right now, Alamat stands out for its use of iconic Filipino symbolisms and themes as its stylistic take-off point. Similarly, the group’s modern pop sound is lyrically peppered with rootsy Pinoy motifs.
And its effort to raise the Philippine flag on the global stage, the group – composed of Taneo, Mo, Jao, Tomas, R-Ji, Valfer, Gami, and Alas – has been lauded for championing Pinoy roots and culture through their music. There were several nods, too, including Best P-pop Group with nominations at the 2022 Awit Awards and several pop culture media outlets.
Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment during the launch of Pasulong, the group’s debut EP, Alamat members talked about how they stay grounded and true to their core.
“As Alamat, it always keeps us grounded when we acknowledge our roots as Filipinos. From the very start we always say na huwag nating hubarin yung sariling atin. Part of our mission is to introduce our culture to the youth through music because it helps us explore and learn how rich our culture is,” the group said.
The Extended Play launch held at the Tektite Auditorium on October 28 also served as the group’s “showcase.” The boys performed their songs “Aswang,” “Maharani,” and “Hala” together with P-Pop Generation.
For the EP’s carrier single, the boys naturally draw inspiration from local lore as they do on the R&B-flavored dance track “Aswang.” The track is produced by Swedish music producers but is given a distinct Pinoy flavor through its theme and lyrics. Ninuno Media head and director Jason Paul Laxamana wrote the Tagalog lyrics for “Aswang.”
Then there’s the funky-sounding dance-club track “Gayuma” which ups the party atmosphere of “Pasulong” as Alamat sonically fleshes out this Curseboxx-arranged track.
Also giving Pasulong more music heft is ace songwriter Thyro Alfaro who writes and produces the equal parts R&B-inflected bop and love song track titled “Maharani.”
A highlight on the six-track EP is the festive and rousing new original titled “Hala.” Funky and surging, this song weaves traditional folk melodies and march cadences with electrifying modern dance-pop. This original is a collaborative effort between Alas, Jao, Taneo, R Ji, Mo and Tomas, and Laxamana.
Completing the EP are previously released singles “ILY ILY” featuring Lyca Gairanod and the NEXXFRIDAY produced, Jin Chan-written tune “Say You Love Me.”
“Our worries have turned into excitement after completing our first EP,” Tomas said. “Naalala ko pa datiyung checklist ni Direk Jason (that we needed to accomplish), sabi ko saisip ko ‘kaya baitong matapos sa ganito kaikli na time?’ Natapos din at kaya naman pala basta may tiwala at nagtutulungankaming Alamat and with (the support of our fandom) Magiliws.”
“Every song is memorable. But I can say that the actual recording is something I won’t forget. We were given the freedom to add to our harmonies and napaglaruan namin yung mga ideas, especially on ‘Maharani’ which we added a lot of harmonies,” Tomas noted.
To which Taneo agrees. “I would say ‘Maharani’ resonates with me the most since it’s a song that greatly represents what our sound is like, which is a fusion of the traditional Filipino and the modern. It’s a unique sound and a song that I personally enjoy.”
For Jao, a high point in their creative journey in Pasulong was when “Taneo and I were given an opportunity to choreograph one of the songs (“Gayuma”) which was written by Mo, Taneo, and Alas. That and being involved in songwriting for some of the songs is a fun experience. We are also happy to be executing ideas with our creative director and being involved overall with the artistry in Alamat.”
For inspiration, R Ji cited, “Our families even though we’re away from them. Everything that we do, we do for them to make them proud. That’s why we always give our best when it comes to our craft. Since we’re here, we’re going to push ourselves to the limit to become the best versions of ourselves. And that includes being the best performers that we can be.”
“I found brotherhood and a different kind of brotherly love in this group. Not to mention our one common denominator, love for music,” states Mo. “It brought us closer, that even if we have different tastes, we have one goal — to leave a mark on people from all walks of life when it comes to genre, style, and sound. And of course, we also aim to spread all regional languages in the mainstream. In addition, I believe that our love for music has made this group stronger because music was, and still is, a big influence and importance in our lives.”
And what’s the message that Alamat wants to put across with Pasulong?
“If there’s one thing, it’s that we never give up on something we believe in,” Alas said, adding that it’s not the group’s style to take things for granted. “We know success is very difficult (to achieve). You need to sacrifice everything for it, but it’s more difficult to regret when the opportunities (that come our way) are gone.”
“In this EP, we are encouraging our audience to broaden their minds and appreciate the different genres and sounds we made an offer,” Mo chipped in.
“We also want to inspire those who aspire to be like us the same way they inspire us,” R Ji concludes. “(It’s about) hard work and we want to show everyone, that you can be proud of your hometown origins. We’re proudly ‘Tatak Pinoy’ and that’s what being in Alamat is all about.”