Welcome To Maki’s World: An Inner Look At The Creative Universe Of ‘Kolorcoaster’

Rarely are there multidisciplinary artists in the music scene who utilize every medium for creativity and self-expression.

We’ve seen it happen with fashion moguls like Pharrell and Tyler, the Creator, and even creative entrepreneurs like Rihanna and Victoria Beckham. However, if we look into our local sonic landscape, we rarely see musicians channel their art into mediums other than sound — and this is where Maki comes in.

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). With each of his musical eras, whether it be through his Tanong EP or debut album Kolorcoaster, the artist has long been established as one who links his visual identities with sonic movements. This same philosophy has birthed hits like “Dilaw,” “Kahel na Langit,” “Namumula,” and more.

But Maki hasn’t always been a pop star — in fact, he admitted to me that this February issue would mark his first-ever solo magazine cover. When I gasped in response, he affirmed, “Yes, my first-ever cover. It’s super exciting!” You could imagine that this came as a surprise to me, as the artist has long been a part of the mainstream, topping the Billboard Philippines charts since their inception. Not only this, but Maki has grown a reputation as a style connoisseur, so picturing him on the cover of a magazine wasn’t too far-fetched an idea.

Explaining his relationship with fashion, Maki says, “You know, growing up, I loved clothes. These pictures (in magazines), they represent how we express ourselves. So, as an OPM artist, I’m really glad that I got to do this.”

But this wouldn’t be Maki’s first appearance on the cover of Billboard Philippines, as he has previously starred on the cover with fellow hitmakers like Moira, Hev Abi, and Ben&Ben, of a special insert celebrating Spotify’s 10th anniversary in October 2024.  When asked about how it feels comparing that past experience to now, he mentions, “Well, I think personally, the first time I entered this building, this studio, I felt a little nervous.”

He adds, “I felt like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s so sophisticated here and stuff!’ But I’ve always been a fan of fashion. While doing my love for music, I’m also doing my love for fashion and for photos as well. So, every time I go here, I’m super happy.”

Marrying Sound And Sight

“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,” says Maki when describing the creative process behind his debut album, Kolorcoaster. 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.”

He 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 had. He then concludes that not only is the album his own personal diary of experiences, but Kolorcoaster also 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.”

On Fandom And Connection

Maybe it’s because of the raw honesty in his work, or maybe it’s because of those who connect with him for his devotion to the arts, but it’s sufficient to say that Maki has grown a devoted following throughout his years of music-making. Some have stuck with him throughout his many years of hit-making, some have newly joined the fandom, but if one thing’s for sure, Maki’s grown a close connection with these fans.

“My fans are very mature. They don’t really fight back very often. They fight according to the depth of the situation,” he explains. Delving deeper, he shares that he’s found comfort in the fact that he’s met his target audience, all neatly packing into one niche. “Some artists don’t talk to their fans, but I really love talking to my fans. They’re very mature,” he emphasizes.

However, growing into a comfortable dynamic with one’s fandom, especially in the day and age of social media and parasocial relationships, takes learning. Maki and his Zushis are certainly no exception to this phenomenon. “Siguro may mga nangyari kasing (There have been some) situations [that weren’t great]; this was way, way back. What I can say, for sure, is that now, as a group, they’re very mature, and they know how to handle things.”

Being that these individuals are also creatives themselves, Maki notes that the dynamics between him and his fandom have been well-defined, and boundaries have been placed.“May one time, in the comments in a live [stream], sabi ng isang fan, ‘Maki, ‘wag kang magjojowa ha!’ Sabi ko, ‘Eh ‘di wala kayong kanta kung wala kong jowa!’” 

(There was this one time, in the comments in a live broadcast, a fan said, “Maki, don’t get a partner!” I replied, “Well, you won’t get any songs if I don’t have a partner!”)

A World of Color Unraveled

If anything’s for sure, it’s the fact that Maki’s legacy as an artist is one carved out in authenticity. “Whatever happens in my life, it will reflect in my music,” the artist confirms. As an honest reflection of his life, Maki tells Billboard Philippines that his music captures all the ups and downs, experimentation, and color that he experiences firsthand.

His upcoming second run of ‘Kolorcoaster: The Concert’ demonstrates the same philosophy, as he refuses to try the same tricks twice. In preparation for the show, he switched gears, bleaching his hair for the very first time and trying out a new set of star-studded nails. Although it came with the risk of becoming a bit more, in his phrasing, “self-conscious,” it’s a change that he has now brought himself to accept. He notes that the common perception surrounding change can be scary, but he emphasizes that change, in its simple nature, is inevitable.

“Whenever I get the chance to do something again, I make it more special. I’m very intricate and very into (the idea of) improvement, as a person,” Maki shares. Therefore, when explaining his upcoming second run of ‘Kolorcoaster: The Concert,’ he says, “The concept of the whole album is still here. But, we’ll gain more answers (about the story) from this one.”

At the end of the day, in spite of the many intricacies that come with his multidisciplinary practices as an artist, Maki’s intent behind his work is simple — he shares what he loves with his fans.

(Whatever happens, even if my appearance changes, even if my music changes, even when my concepts change, one thing that will not change is my heart for my fans.)

With that, he looks forward to developing this new era of music that Kolorcoaster originally started. He hints that the story behind this new development shows that the original timeline behind the album isn’t linear, and we’ll find new connections between stories told in the past and narratives he’ll share in the future. Truly, it may just be the beginning of Maki’s renaissance as a torchbearer for the Filipino creative community, but what we can say for now is that the modern Filipino pop landscape is Maki’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

_{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.}