Bamboo Finds A New Sound In “Alon,” His First New Single In 11 Years
The haunting new track marks the artist’s return to PolyEast Records and finds the singer exploring a more minimalist electronic sound shaped by personal reflection and creative reinvention.
Bamboo. Photo courtesy of filtered music.
Bamboo
Bamboo had already recorded “Alon” with a full band when he realized something about the song was not quite right. Its arrangement and textures did not capture the sound he wanted, prompting him to revisit the track and start again from the original demo by its composer, keyboardist Ria Osorio.
It was a decision that extended the song’s journey by several years, but gave the seasoned artist and singer room to explore a musical direction that felt closer to his own instincts. The result is a stripped-down and minimalist electronic arrangement layered with textured guitars, shaped by Bamboo, Osorio, and guitarist Ardie de Guzman.
At the song’s media launch on October 26 at the PolyEast Records office in Quezon City, Bamboo recalled asking Osorio for one last opportunity to work on the track after she suggested releasing it as it was.
“Give me one last crack at this. Let’s just go back to the genesis of the song, which was generally Ria’s demo,” he narrates. “So from that point, we pushed ahead. I said, ‘This is what we want. This is the sound I listen to when I’m home and I’m chilling by myself.’ This is the kind of stuff I like. So my question was, ‘How come I’m not playing stuff like this,’ right? ‘How come I’m not sounding like that?’”
That willingness to keep experimenting ultimately shaped “Alon,” Bamboo’s first new single in 11 years. Released through filtered music, the sub-label of PolyEast Records, the track marks his return to recording and a renewed partnership with the label that released his solo albums No Water, No Moon (2011) and Bless This Mess (2015).
For Bamboo, the time between releases was shaped by the demands and priorities of life outside the recording studio. He continued performing, collaborating with fellow artists, and touring across the Philippines and abroad, while taking time to reflect on what he wanted from his work.
“It’s about time, I thought, to release something new,” he says. “The reason why there’s a little bit of space is because there’s a life to cover. There are certain things in life that you have to prioritize. In the helter-skelter pace of working in music, you have to deliberately keep hitting that pause button, ask yourself what’s real and reflect on purpose.”
Photo courtesy of filtered music.
That perspective is present in the song’s emotional center. Written by Osorio, “Alon” carries a haunting quality as it explores pain, resilience, and the possibility of starting again. Bamboo, however, does not hear it as an entirely sad song. He approaches its emotional weight as an act of resistance, acknowledging difficult feelings while choosing not to be consumed by them.
“When Ria first gave me the song, she had said that she had me in mind when she had written it,” he explains. “I feel the pain of the song, the emotion, pero (but) I don’t accept it as a sad song. I accept it as a song as if I’m resisting sadness.”
The sentiment reflects where Bamboo finds himself today. He speaks of choosing joy, spending time with people he values, and appreciating the opportunity to make music with friends. That outlook has also shaped how he approaches his career at this point, giving himself the freedom to follow a sound that feels right rather than work toward a predetermined direction.
“I choose to live with a lot of joy these days. I choose to be with people who I like to be with,” he adds. “It’s the best job in the world because I get to play with friends.”
The song’s live performance video extends its open-ended approach through visuals inspired by an art installation. Built around people, movement, and individual interpretation, it leaves viewers room to connect with the performance through their own experiences rather than offering a literal retelling of the lyrics. Bamboo hopes the song can similarly encourage younger listeners to recognize difficult emotions as part of life and use them as opportunities for self-understanding.
The release also marks a new phase in Bamboo’s relationship with PolyEast Records, which began in 2004. The partnership was formalized anew through a contract signing on October 26, paving the way for further creative possibilities under filtered music.
After taking the time to find the right sound for “Alon,” Bamboo is approaching what comes next with a sense of openness. He has no fixed blueprint for where his music will go, and seems comfortable with the possibilities that come with starting over.
“This is just the beginning again,” he affirms. “A blank slate, and we’ll see again. Di ko rin alam, eh (I don’t know, either), which I love.”
Listen to “Alon,” Bamboo’s first new track in 11 years, below:
Frequently Asked Questions
“Alon” is Bamboo’s first new single in 11 years, released through filtered music, the sub-label of PolyEast Records. The song launched at a media event on October 26 at the PolyEast Records office in Quezon City, marking Bamboo’s return to recording.
“Alon” was written and composed by keyboardist Ria Osorio, who said she had Bamboo in mind while writing it. Bamboo reworked the track’s arrangement with Osorio and guitarist Ardie de Guzman after an initial full-band version did not capture the sound he wanted.
Bamboo said the gap reflected life priorities outside music, including touring, collaborations, and personal reflection. He described deliberately pausing to assess what mattered before releasing new material rather than working toward a predetermined release schedule.
“Alon” was released through filtered music, PolyEast Records’ sub-label. The release also marked a renewed contract between Bamboo and PolyEast, formalized on October 26, extending a relationship with the label dating back to 2004.
Written by Ria Osorio, “Alon” explores pain, resilience, and starting again. Bamboo described the song as an act of resistance against sadness rather than a purely sad song, reflecting his current outlook of choosing joy and renewal.
