It takes a good amount of hardwork and perseverance, not just talent, says ALAMAT
The members of ALAMAT are happy and grateful for how their lives have changed since joining a P-Pop group.
ALAMAT is a P-pop group managed by VIVA Records. It’s members are Taneo, Jao, Alas, Mo, R-Ji, and Tomas. All of them are proud of how P-Pop has been making noise not only in the Philippines but in the world.
In an exclusive interview with FreebieMNL for Spotify’s RADAR Program, the group members zero in on how P-Pop continues to become big with the support of Filipinos.
Photography by Wilmark Jolindon
P-Pop in and out of the Philippines
Taneo, who grew up in another country, just can’t help but take pride whenever hearing how people in and out of the Philippines admire OPM, especially P-Pop.
He says, “Specifically, I grew up half of my life in another country, sa U.S., and for me to hear just as part of the Asian community, for me to hear Asian music or hear anyone from the Asian industry being acknowledged in the U.S. makes me really proud. Now, when I hear Filipinos being acknowledged in another country, you can imagine how proud I am as a Filipino. Siyempre, I take that pride with me everywhere I go. Sobrang natutuwa kami every time we hear na our music is being listened by other people not just in our country but also in another country. Sobrang grateful kami that OPM is getting such a big big recognition.”
ALAMAT’s continuous improvement
Mo believes that being part of ALAMAT has also truly improved their craft and becoming even better artists that continue to help P-Pop become the phenomenon that it is today.
On a personal point of view, he explains, “Sa akin, mas naging better artist ako and nakapa ko talaga and nag-explore talaga ako hindi lang sa isang genre, lahat kami ganun. Kasi ako, dati akong sa underground tapos noong nag-start pa lang ako, kinuha na ako ni Direk Jason Paul Laxamana para maging part ng ALAMAT. So, sabi ko, why not give it a shot and hindi ko in-expect na magtatagal ako. Sobrang nakakatuwa kasi ayun nga, yung kaming magkakapatid, hindi kami na-box sa iisang idea when it comes to, for example, making music.”
Mo is happy that their improvement is being appreciated and recognized by fans.
“Yung skills namin, sasabihin ko, hindi naman ganun kahinog pero kung ikukumpara dati, mas nag-improve talaga kami and yung P-pop, ako, personally iniisip ko noon na may potensyal talaga kasi the fact na maraming international fans na nakaka-appreciate ng music ng P-Pop, hindi malabong magbu-boom talaga kung hindi man sa ngayon, hindi bukas, hindi sa isang linggo, nagsisimula na.”
Now that they are part of Spotify’s RADAR program, the group is confident that they will be able to help champion original Filipino music, particularly the P-Pop genre, to the world stage and even in the Philippines alone.
Jao says of this, “Through Spotify’s global network, mas mari-reach pa po namin yung mga music fans who may not be familiar with P-pop yet, specifically to ALAMAT. We are not only able to promote our music to the global stage but also to our culture.”
Spotify’s RADAR program, which is now in its third year, is the app’s global program that supports emerging artists by helping them reach new audiences.
Photography Wilmark Jolindon
Talented Filipinos
But of course, nothing comes easy. For ALAMAT, it takes a good amount of hardwork and perseverance before fans from other countries can take notice of Filipino talent.
Alas tells FreebieMNL: “Siguro, para sa akin, proud ako kasi napaka-hardworking ng mga Pilipino, e. And para sa akin, ipinanganak kasi tayo ng may good musicality katulad ng mga Pilipino na sumasalang internationally, like Bruno Mars, Jake Zyrus, Arnel Pineda. Para sa akin, hindi sapat yung talented ka lang. Kailangan talaga sabayan natin ng sipag at tiyaga kasi yun talaga yung combination sa lahat ng bagay. Kung wala yun, wala talaga.”
Adding to that is Filipinos’ passion for music, says Tomas. He expounds, “Yung Filipinos, nakikita ko na love talaga nila yung music. Kaya, ayun, malapit talaga ang Pinoy sa music. Kapag may nararamdaman sila, magpapatugtog. Kaya hindi nalalayo na talagang yung music is part na ng buhay talaga ng Pinoy.”
Photography Wilmark Jolindon
Banner Art Paulo Correa
Production Spotify and FreebieMNL
