Maki has always been at the heart of the Philippine creative scene, proudly championing local craft with every release, every post, and everything he shares with his loving Zushis (his fanbase). This became especially real in his debut full-length album, Kolorcoaster, which revealed some of his biggest creative movements like “Dilaw,” “Namumula,” and more.
“As an artist, I have the duty to not only please my fans, of course, but to please myself according to what I want to create in this world.” Just as its title suggests, the album is not only colorful in sound and name, but in its very nature. Each hue represented on the Kolorcoaster told a vivid story: one of love and devotion in “Dilaw,” one of mixed signals in “Namumula,” and many more.
“Kolorcoaster is an album that you just listen to. You don’t overthink it, you know, or tell other people how to enjoy it. You can interpret it however you want.”
If anything, the album serves as a testament to his devotion to creativity in itself. “This album really speaks a lot about ‘yung love ko (my love) for arts, love ko for colors, and ‘yung love ko for coming of age films and anime.”
Maki adds, “Para sa akin, creating another world of my own, which was Kolorcoaster, was very important for me because of my sentiment growing up. So a lot of these things that are in the music videos, sa mga (in the) lyrics, and then every other detail na nasa (that are in the) album are very special parts of my life.”
On that note, the chartbreaker revealed that, in the music video of “Dilaw,” the bullying sequences were based on his own personal experiences of being teased for drawing in school. Parts of his heart that he channeled into his work were just as real as the experiences that he, too, had. He then concludes that, not only is the album his own personal diary of experiences, but Kolorcoaster plays the role of “representing the visual arts industry in the Philippines.”
In a day and age of AI-generated content taking over the Internet and overwhelming the art scene, Maki insists that Kolorcoaster stands as a testament to the originality and novelty of human craft. He says, “(When) you create, you get inspired, and you mold your art into your own liking.”
“I hope Kolorcoaster inspires people to be creative. You can reference it. You can do anything you want. You are the primary source. It’s always you who makes it unique.”
Read the full February 2026 Digital Cover here.
Photographed by Alexis Co. Creative & Art Direction Gelo Quijencio. Styling by Aaron Mangsat assisted by Dhea Ondes & Russ Hendrix. Makeup by Aaron Guevarra. Hair by Chino Maniquiz. Production Design by Jagger Studios. Photography assisted by Omar Barroga. Production by Mika Cruz.
Written by Rome Saenz. Billboard Philippines, February 2026.