DEMI Enters Her Emotionally Mature Era With “Sinasabi Ng Iba”

Growth can be as much about looking back as it is about moving forward. This can come in different forms. For DEMI, it can be as simple as looking back at old lyrics with a fresh set of eyes.

This was, in fact, what happened when the singer-songwriterSinger-SongwriterA musician who writes and performs their own songs, typically accompanied by guitar or piano. Valued for personal storytelling and authenticity, singer-songwriters form a major part of the Filipino musicGo to Singer-Songwriter Glossary was working on her newest single, “Sinasabi Ng Iba,” a deeply personal R&B track about an unwavering devotion to one’s significant other. Like her previous releases, the song pairs the singer’s sultry voice with a kaleidoscopic backing track by her producer, Plumberboi.

Unlike her previous songs, however, “Sinasabi Ng Iba” conveys a deeper maturity, one which even contrasts with some of the singer’s previous thoughts on love and relationships. For DEMI, the single marks the beginning of her more emotionally mature era.

In this exclusive interview with Billboard Philippines, DEMI shares her current insights on love, music, and entering a new period of her life.

Billboard Philippines: Your newest single, “Sinasabi Ng Iba,” talks about staying by someone’s side no matter what the world thinks. What inspired you to write it?

DEMI: Nag-start kasi ‘yung song [in] 2023, sobrang busy ko noon. Tapos, wala talaga sa main ko mag-to get into a relationship. So, dumadating sa time na may mga nagta-try, na parang di sila naniniwala na nagsereyoso ako. Dun nanggaling ‘yung parang urge to prove myself to people na totoo naman ako.

(I started writing the song in 2023. I was very busy then. And it wasn’t really my main agenda to get into a relationship. So, there came a time when I decided to try, and they didn’t believe I was serious. That’s where I got the urge to prove to people that I was being real.)

Billboard Philippines: In the track, you talk about trust and loyalty. What advice would you give listeners who struggle with trust and can’t quite give themselves up to someone the way your song describes?

DEMI: Stay true to your identity lang. Dapat matibay ka lang sa paniniwala mo. Kahit maraming opinions na lumabas from anywhere, like from people, or kahit saan na hindi naman involved dapat sa relationship niyo or in your life, alam mo kung ano ‘yung paniniwala, alamin kung hindi.

(Just stay true to your identity. You should just be firm in your beliefs. Even if opinions come at you from anywhere, like from people, or anywhere that isn’t involved in your relationship or in your life, you should know what your beliefs are and what they aren’t.)

Billboard Philippines: You mentioned that you wrote the lyrics to “Sinasabi Ng Iba” way back in 2023. Would you say you already had these insights then? Do they resonate more strongly today?

DEMI: Actually, ‘yung writing ng 2023 was incomplete pa. So, nung nahanap ko siya ng 2025, nagdagdag pa ako ng verseVerseA section of a song that advances its story or message, typically sharing the same melody with different lyrics each time. Verses set up the emotional and narrative context forGo to Verse Glossary. Pero I also knew I wasn’t in the same place na from when I wrote the song, pero alam ko akong ako’y nagsulat nung pa rin; like, it’s still me. Pero nadagdagan ko pa rin ng something na, kung ano naramdaman ko currently ng 2025, so alam kong parang mix siya ng 2023 at 2025 me.

(Actually, what I wrote in 2023 was still incomplete. So, when I found it in 2025, I added a verseVerseA section of a song that advances its story or message, typically sharing the same melody with different lyrics each time. Verses set up the emotional and narrative context forGo to Verse Glossary. But I also knew I wasn’t in the same place in 2025 from when I wrote the song, but I knew it was me writing it; like, it’s still me. But I also still added something from what I was feeling in 2025, so I know it’s like a mix of 2023 and 2025 me.)

Billboard Philippines: You mentioned that listening to Leon Thomas inspired the track’s sonic identity. What about his music resonated with you strongly?

DEMI: Mostly, I liked his musicality, kung paano siya nag-arrange ng songs niya. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka nagustuhan ko sa kanya: ‘yung mga melodies niya, ‘yung mga harmonies niya. Basta musicality niya in general. Bonus na rin ‘yung writings nung mga kanta niya.

(Mostly, I liked his musicality, how he arranged his songs. That’s what I liked most about him: his melodies, his harmonies. Just his musicality in general. His songwriting is also a bonus.)

Billboard Philippines: Are there other artists who’ve been inspiring you?

DEMI: Halo-halo kasi, like, I’m really a mixed kid. I listen to pop, to R&B, to rock, to rap. So parang wala na pinaka=strong na nag-inspire kasi. If anything binababad ko sarili ko sa OPM lately. Like ‘yung mga album ni Janine Berdin, tapos biglang ang album ni Yuridope. So, like, halo-halo talaga.

(It’s a mix, like, I’m really a mixed kid. I listen to pop, to R&B, to rock, to rap. So it seems like there’s nothing specific that really inspired me. If anything, I’ve been immersing myself in OPMOPMShort for Original Pilipino Music, the body of songs created by Filipino artists, spanning genres from ballads and rock to hip-hop and pop. OPM expresses Filipino identity and heritage, andGo to OPM Glossary lately. Like Janine Berdin’s albums, then suddenly Yuridope’s album. So, like, it’s really a mix.)

Billboard Philippines: Could you tell us more about what made you want to revisit your old lyrics?

DEMI: Ganito kasi ‘yan. Nawala ‘yung [Google] drive ko last last year. So, wala na akong parang bank ng mga old demos ko. So, the only way na nakikita ko ‘yung demos ko was when I revisit old conversations [with] friends. Like, kunyari sa iMessage, sa Telegram, sa Messenger. And then, in 2025, I happened to stumble upon the demo of “Sinasabi Ng Iba.” And then, nung pinankinggan ko, parang nakalimutan ko na nag-exist ‘yung kantang ‘yun na parang, “Hala, may ganito pala ako.“

(This is how it went. I lost my Google drive last, last year. So, the bank of my old demos got lost. So, the only way I could see my demos was when I revisited old conversations with friends. Like for example on iMessage, on Telegram, on Messenger. And then, in 2025, I happened to stumble upon the demo of “Sinasabi Ng Iba.” And then, when I listened to it, it was like I forgot that the song existed, and it was like, “Hey, I have something like this.”)

And then, binigay ko nalang sa producerProducerThe person who guides the creative and technical process of making a recording, shaping its sound, arrangement, and overall quality. Producers can write, compose, engineer, and direct performances, and aGo to Producer Glossary ko, kay Plumberboi, ‘yung demo nang “Sinasabi Ng Iba.” And then, siya ‘yung nag-apply nung influence ni Leon Thomas dun sa melodies ng instrumental ng “Sinasabi Ng Iba.” Kasi back then, hindi ko alam ko ang ‘yung gusto ko ng direction nung “Sinasabi Ng Iba,” maliban sa writing and existing melody ng kanta. Sa instrumentals, wala kong alam. And pinabayaan ko na si Plumberboi, kung paanong gawin yun.

(And then, I just gave the demo of “Sinasabi Ng Iba” to my producerProducerThe person who guides the creative and technical process of making a recording, shaping its sound, arrangement, and overall quality. Producers can write, compose, engineer, and direct performances, and aGo to Producer Glossary, Plumberboi. And he was the one who applied Leon Thomas’ influence to the instrumental melodies of “Sinasabi Ng Iba.” Because back then, I didn’t know what direction I wanted “Sinasabi Ng Iba” to go, except for the writing and existing melody of the song. On the instrumentals, I didn’t know anything. And I left it all to Plumberboi to figure it out.)

Billboard Philippines: What was the creative process of writing, rewriting, and making the melody of “Sinasabi Ng Iba?”

DEMI: In 2023, ang meron lang ako noon was chord progressions. I remember I was in my friend’s condo. Parang gagawa kasi kami na group project. Tapos, sakto na naging hintay kami ng groupmates namin. And then, ayun lang, meron lang chord progressions and my feelings. So, sinulat ko muna. Tapos, ang una ko pang nasulat nun was ‘yung chorus. So, tinuloy ko siya pag-uwi. And then, I let it sit sa demo bank ko that time. And sinend ko sa friends ko, nang hihingi ng ideas, hangga’t sa nawala yung [Google] drive. Tapos, nahanap ko ulit last year, in 2025. May isa pang kulang na verse. So, I consulted my producer, si Plumberboi, kung anong mas maganda: kung i-solo ko ba siya, or maghanap kami ng artist na babagay dun sa kanta. And then, we decided na i-solo ko na lang. Kaya may isang verse na very 2025 naman of me ‘yan.

(In 2023, all I had then was chord progressions. I remember I was in my friend’s condo. I think we were about to do a group project. Then we were waiting for our groupmates. And then, there I just had the chord progressions and my feelings. So, I wrote it first. Then, the first thing I wrote was the chorus. So, I continued it at home. And then, I let it sit in my demo bank at that time. And I sent it to my friends, asking for ideas, until I lost the [Google] drive. Then, I found it again last year, in 2025. There was a missing verseVerseA section of a song that advances its story or message, typically sharing the same melody with different lyrics each time. Verses set up the emotional and narrative context forGo to Verse Glossary. So, I consulted my producer, Plumberboi, on what would be better: if I did it solo, or if we’d find an artist who’d fit the song. And then, we decided that I should just do it solo. That’s why there’s a verse that’s very 2025 of me.)

Billboard Philippines: You are entering this more emotionally mature era, not just as an artist but also as a person. What’s been influencing you towards this direction lately?

DEMI: Because I’m aging. (laughs) I just turned 25. So, like, parang nagkakaroon ako na realization (it’s like I’m having a realization). I mean, who’s gonna believe that I’m still a player when I’m almost pushing 30, you know? Alam ko 25 pa rin ako, pero ‘yun lang naisip ko (I know I’m still 25, but those are my thoughts). And at the end of the day, I really wanted to be very responsible with how I influence people, especially younger people that listen to me.

Billboard Philippines: As a more emotionally mature person and artist, is there anything in your previous work that you reconsider or even disagree with, whether it be lyrics or sound?

DEMI: Yeah. I had a song named “Silent Treatment,” parang sobrang tapang ko doon na parang… ‘di na sobrang tapang, parang very, petty (I was so bold… not very bold, more like very petty). So I kind of don’t agree with that anymore. 

Plus, I had a song named “She Knows” where ayaw kong nalaman ng tao na I wrote a song like that, kasi parang you’re competing with another girl, na parang hindi ako nag-agree sa self ko nung sinulat ko ‘to.

(Plus, I had a song called “She Knows,” where now I don’t want people to know that I wrote a song like that, because it was about competing with another girl, like I didn’t agree with myself when I wrote it.)

Billboard Philippines: Do you see yourself performing or reworking these songs?

DEMI: I see myself performing one of those songs [“She Knows”], kasi minsan ‘yun ‘yung hinahanap nila. Pero reworking, I feel like no. Kasi I believe ‘yung old songs or demos ko, it’s like a museum of who I was. Nagkaroon ako na phase na ganyan. Like, ‘di na para i-rework.

(I see myself performing one of those songs, because sometimes that’s what they’re looking for. But reworking, I feel like no. Because I believe that with my old songs or demos, it’s like a museum of who I was. I had a phase where I was like that. It’s not for reworking.)

Billboard Philippines: Where do you see your music and artistic identity heading toward in the future?

DEMI: Actually, towards becoming mature din — ewan ko ba, like a song that kids can listen to. Alam mo ‘yung kunyari nag-drive ng kotse, tapos magpapatugtog ‘yung teenager, ‘yung hindi na sila mahihiya na andun ‘yung parents nila sa likod. Hindi ko lang kung gaano ka-worth it, pero ‘yun ‘yung gusto ko.

(Actually, towards becoming mature too — I don’t know, like a song that kids can listen to. You know, when they’re driving the car, then the teenager starts to play a song, and they’re not ashamed that their parents are behind them. That’s it. I don’t know if it’s worth it, but that’s what I like.)

Kasi nai-inspire ako sa growth ng katulad ni Ariana [Grande]. The songs she used to release ng mga bata-bata pa siya, na parang dangerous woman, ganyan, until ‘yung next album niya after that. Naglalabas siya ng “34+35.” Very mature ‘di ba? Ay, very mature in a way na medyo nag-express ng sexuality na hanggang sa ‘yung album na ‘yun parang tinackle niya ‘yung married life niya, divorced life niya. Like, gusto ko mag-grow old pa rin ‘yung mga tracks ko or art ko as I grow old.

(Because I’m inspired by the growth of people like Ariana [Grande]. The songs she used to release when she was young, she seemed like a very dangerous woman until her album after that. She released “34+35.” Very mature, right? I mean, very mature in a way that she kind of expressed her sexuality until that album, where she discussed her married life, her divorced life. Like, I still want my tracks and my art to grow old as I grow old.)