‘DESTINO’: An Exclusive Track-By-Track Guide With ALAMAT

Genuine.

That’s the word that ALAMAT believe is the best you can use to to describe DESTINO – their long-awaited sophomore album. It’s a bold statement that the multicultural P-pop boy group — composed of TANEO, TOMAS, R-JI, ALAS, MO, and JAO – not only deeply believes in but one that the members firmly hold with pride as artists.

For ALAMAT, this full-length record best describes who they are now: more mature, skills sharper, and with the artistic freedom that has given them the power to actualize their creative visions unlike never before. “Iba talaga kapag sa’yo galing ‘yung art; kapag alam mo saan mo siya hinugot (It really is something else when the art comes from you, when you know where you got it from),” says MO.

With this newfound creative freedom in their hands, the members of ALAMAT noticed a number of changes that positively affected not just the creation of DESTINO, but their overall workflow and connection as artists. “Habang ni-re-record namin siya and ‘yung mga choreo pina-practice na, parang iba rin ‘yung epekto ‘nya sa amin (When we were recording the album and practicing the choreography, it’s like the effect on us was something else as well), shares TOMAS, noting how even more passionate they felt about performing the songs.

Meanwhile, for JAO, the time it took for them to finally put the album out is something he sees as a blessing, with any delays that may have happened helping them find the space to further hone their abilities and perfect the songs according to what they envisioned. “It took a while but nagkaroon kami ng realizations throughout this process na okay lang din that it was delayed,” JAO shares, noting how “in the end, it was all worth it.”

Adding on to this, R-JI shares that the tireless effort they put into the album really did help them grow as creatively in ways he never even thought possible. “‘Yung experience ko sa [DESTINO], mas na-develop talaga ‘yung artistry ko at ng buong ALAMAT sa pag-gawa nitong album (In my experience with DESTINO, mine and ALAMAT’s artistry were really developed in making this album.”

With ALAS also serving as a producer of many of the tracks, he admits that there was certain pressure he felt in the beginning, mostly due to the fact that this is the most that he’s produced for any artist so far and that he was unsure of what people will say about his work. However, this was quickly soon replaced by excitement, all thanks to the support and approval of his co-members with his output. “Kung approved ng lahat ng ALAMAT, ibig sabihin maganda siya. Dahil doon, dedma na lang sa sasabihin ng iba, lalo na kung puno lang ng hate (If its approved by all of ALAMAT, that means it’s good. Because of that, I don’t need to mind what other might say, especially if it’s just full of hate),” he states “Sa akin, tiwala na ako sa opinyon nila. ‘Yun ang importante. (For me, I trust their opinion already. That’s what’s important.”

Ultimately, TANEO underscores the importance of the artistic freedom they’ve worked hard to attain for this album, emphasizing how this same freedom should be something that artists should always cherish and fight for. “We’re able to do greater things when we’re given the freedom to express who we truly are as artists, which is something we haven’t been able to do a lot before until now.”

With this, Billboard Philippines sat down with ALAMAT for an exclusive track-by-track guide of DESTINO, with the members going into the songs’ meanings, looking back on their contributions to each track, and even sharing fun memories from bringing the album to life.

“LuzViMinda“

JAO: Itong “LuzViMinda,” grabe talaga ‘to. Kanta siyang amin na amin at kaming kami talaga. Shoutout kay MO, siya talaga ‘yung nagsimula nito.

(“LuzViMinda” is something else. It’s a song that really ours and really us. Shoutout to MO, he’s the one who started all of it.)

MO: Nagsimula ‘yung draft ‘nya mga last year pa. Tapos nung nag-meeting ‘yung ALAMAT isang beses, pinarinig namin sa isa’t isa ‘yung mga gawa namin. Nagustuhan ng lahat tapos doon na kami nag-start. 

(The song’s draft started around last year. Then, when ALAMAT held a meeting one time, we let each other listen to the material we’ve made. Everyone like this and then we started from there.)

‘Yung message nitong “LuzViMinda” ay ‘yung pag-represent kung saan kami galing sa Pilipinas, kung ano ‘yung pinagmulan namin, at ‘yung pagiging proud namin doon. Kaya “LuzViMinda” — Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao.

(The message of “LuzViMinda” is the representation of where we’re from in the Philippines, where we came from, and us being proud of all of it. That’s why it’s “LuzViMinda” — Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.)

“Sinigang“

TANEO: Si MO rin ‘yung nagsimula nitong “Sinigang.” Nag-send siya ng demo, nilagyan ko ng verse, tapos si TOMAS nilagyan ‘nya nung pre-chorus.

Gusto ko siya dahil sa wordplay nung title: “Sinigang,” which stands for “sinisigaw hanggang ngayon.” 

(MO was also the one who first drafted “Sinigang.” He sent in a demo, I added a verse, while TOMAS added the pre-chorus.

I like it because of the wordplay in the title: “Sinigang,” which stands for “still shouting until now.”)

MO: Two years ago ko nasimulan ‘yung chorus and hindi ko siya masundan dati kasi ang ganda ‘nya na for me and natatakot akong may baguhin o idagdag. Tapos ayun, nung nag-decide kami na si ALAS mag-produce, mas dumali na dagdagan at buhayin ‘yung song.

(I started on the chorus two years ago and I couldn’t follow up on it because it was already that good for me and I was scared to change or add anything. But after that, when when decided that ALAS would produce it, it became easier to add to and bring to life the song.)

ALAS: Sa production, binase ko siya sa lyrics ng kanta at sa mga similar na sad love songs na Filipino. So, ginawa kong medyo malungkot ‘yung chord progressions pati na rin ‘yung bridge para sumakto doon.

(With the production, I based it on the lyrics of the song and with similar sad Filipino love songs. So, I made the chord progressions and the bridge a bit sad so that it would fit that.)

JAO: Sobrang heartfelt ‘nya na kanta. Kanta siya na I’m proud of ALAMAT for being able to create and produce. 

(It’s a really heartfelt song. It’s a song that I’m proud of ALAMAT for being able to create and produce.)

“Hapag“

MO: ‘Yung “Hapag” ay tungkol sa pagiging sure mo na sa isang special na tao, na siya na ‘yung gusto mong makasama sa hapag-kainan everyday.

(“Hapag” is about you being sure of a special person, that they’re the one you want to always be with at the dining table everyday.)

TOMAS: Special sa amin ‘to kasi naglagay kami rito ng iba’t ibang instruments. Si R-JI nag-gitara rito. Nag-play din ako ng flute dito and kapag naglalagay ako ng flute [parts] sa isang kanta, usually dinadaan ko lang sa kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman ko kapag narinig ko ‘yung song.

(This is a special one for us because we contributed different instruments to it. R-JI played the guitars here. I played the flute here as well and whenever I would lay down flute parts in a song, I would usually go about it by letting myself be simply led by what I feel when I hear the song.)

R-JI: Sa experience ko naman sa pag-gitara rito, sobrang gandang ganda talaga ako sa instrumentals nito. Kaya nung ginagawa ko na ‘yung guitar parts ko, pinagisipan talaga namin nang matagal kung paano ‘yung magiging atake and maganda naman ‘yung kinalabasan para sa akin.

(In my experience playing the guitar for this, I found the instrumentals to be really beautiful. So when I was making my guitar parts, we really took the time deciding how we should go about it and what resulted was good in my opinion.)

“Pagbigyan (Bad Decisions)“

JAO: We worked with The Kennel for this earlier this year. Ang masasabi ko sa process nito is that it was very collaborative. It was an honor and sobrang na-amaze kami sa skills ng The Kennel. We worked with Josefin (Glenmark Breman) and Bruce (Wiegner). Sobrang galing nila and ang dami naming natutunan. They were even saying that they were amazed at ALAMAT. Sobrang heartwarming ‘nya na experience and helped the members get to know more about each other as artists.

(We worked with The Kennel for this earlier this year. What I can say about the process for this is that it was very collaborative. It was an honor and we were so amazed at the skills of The Kennel. We worked with Josefin Glenmark Breman and Bruce Wiegner. They were so good and we learned a lot. They were even saying that they were amazed at ALAMAT. It was a very heartwarming experience and helped the members get to know more about each other as artists.)

This song, grabe ‘yung melody na nagawa ni Josefin. At the same time, when we first heard the instrumentals, nagsimula na agad kami gumawa ng lyrics. Sobrang collaborative talaga hanggang mabuo ‘yung kanta. 

(This song, the melody Josefin made is something else. At the same time, when we first heard the instrumentals, we immediately started writing the lyrics. It was very collaborative until we finished the song.)

TOMAS: Natapos namin siya actually in one session. Kulang pa ata ng one day. Parang mga 7 o 8 hours. Kasama rin namin si Kylu (Garcia), isang artist at songwriter din nung sinulat namin ‘to.

(We actually finished the song in one session. Maybe less than a day. Around 7 or 8 hours. We were also with Kylu Garcia, another artist and songwriter when we wrote this one).

Favorite ko rito ‘yung adlibs namin sa second verse and sa dulo actually! (My favorites here are our adlibs in the second verse and at the end actually!)

JAO: The song is basically about when you have different sorts of temptations all around you and it may be “bad” but you like them. Parang, it’s so bad, it’s good. 

(The song is basically about when you have different sorts of temptations all around you and it may be “bad” but you like it. Like, it’s so bad, it’s good.)

“Pangako (Sa Puso Mo)“

TANEO: Ginawa rin namin siya with The Kennel! Parang, the day after we made “Pagbigyan (Bad Decisions).” Parang exercise siya talaga ng songwriting. We finished it in one session lang din. 

(We also made it with The Kennel! Like, the day after we made “Pagbigyan (Bad Decisions).” It was really like an exercise in songwriting. We finished it in just one session as well.)

Dito talaga namin na-test kung ano ‘yung kaya naming magawa in the moment kapag nag-collaborate kami.

(It was here where we really tested what we could create in the moment when we collaborated.)

MO: Dito sa “Pangako (Sa Puso Mo)” and sa buong album, iba rin ‘yung naging connection namin creatively. Malakas siya. Parang, kung ano man ‘yung sinulat ng isa, kayang kaya sundan ng kahit sinong member pagkatapos. Nasa punto na na ganun ‘yung songwriting ng ALAMAT ngayon.

(With “Pangako (Sa Puso Mo)” and with the whole album, our connection was something else creatively. It was strong. Like, whatever one member may write, any other member could easily follow up on that after. The songwriting ALAMAT is already at that stage now.)

“Don’t Wanna Dance“

JAO: Sobrang grateful namin kay direk Jason Paul Laxamana and miss Marion Aunor for this song. Katulong rin ulit namin ‘yung The Kennel sa pag-produce nito. Matagal na siya natapos, even before the carrier single. 

(We’re so grateful to director Jason Paul Laxamana and miss Marion Aunor for this song. The Kennel also helped us in producing this song. It was finshed long ago, even before the carrier single.)

Sobrang good vibes ‘nya. Ang gaan din ‘nya sa pakiramdam. Excited na rin kami na makita ng mga tao ‘yung choreography for this one!)

(It has such really good vibes. It feels light as well. We’re also excited for the people to see the choreography for this one!)

“Hiraya“

JAO: It was an amazing experience recording this song. We got to work with the songwriters of this song, Kylu (Garcia) and Matt (Wilson) for the first time.

It’s a song about hope and I believe you can hear that from the sound alone.

TOMAS: Na-excite ako to work on this since si Shad (Shadiel Chan) ‘yung nag-mix nito. At the same time, dahil kakaiba rin ‘yung sound ‘ng song pagdating sa ALAMAT dahil UK garage siya.

(I was excited to work on this since Shadiel Chan was the one who was mixing it. At the same time, because its sound is different when it comes to ALAMAT because it’s UK garage.)

“Sa ’Yo Pa Rin Uuwi“

JAO: We were honored kasi naka-work din namin si miss Marion Aunor dito. Siya ‘yung nagsimula ng kantang ‘to, both sa lyrics and sa sound. 

(We were honored because we also got to work with miss Marion Aunor on this. She was the one who started on this song, both the lyrics and the sound.)

R-JI: Ako nagsulat nung rap part nito sa second verse. Basically, inisip ko ‘yung feeling ng pagiging sobrang in love sa isang tao para masulat siya and masaya ako na bumagay naman siya with the rest of the song.

(I was the one who wrote the rap part of the second verse. Basically, I had to think of the feeling of being so in love with someone in order to write it and I’m happy that it somehow matched the rest of the song.)