Purok Nuebe: ALAMAT’s Alas On Carving His Own Path In P-pop With “Don’t Play”

ALAMAT’s Alas is carving his own path.

After officially debuting with the up-and-coming P-pop boy group back in 2021, the rapper-singer is finally ready to introduce his very own artistry to the world, starting with his solo debut single “Don’t Play.” A one-man DIY effort from start to finish, the upbeat hip-hop track sees Alas channel his musical influences, while also harnessing the multicultural and multilingual identity shared by him and his brothers in ALAMAT.

With “Don’t Play,” Alas intends to make a bold first impression on both long-time followers and curious new listeners alike, showcasing years of training come to fruition. At the same time, it’s him letting everyone get a first look into his evolving musical identity as an artist, making it known that he has more than one ace up his sleeve.

With this, Billboard Philippines caught up with Alas fortakes us behind preparing for his solo career, creating his debut single, what else he has planned as a solo artist, and more.

Billboard Philippines: Congratulations on the release of your first single “Don’t Play.” How does it feel to be debuting and releasing your first song as a solo artist?

Alas: Happy ako kasi ito ‘yung first [single] ko at ako ‘yung first sa ALAMAT [to debut solo]! Happy din ako kasi sobrang supportive ‘yung mga bro ko sa ALAMAT, kasi sila naman din ‘yung nag-push sa akin na i-release na ‘to!

(I’m happy because this is my first single and I’m the first in ALAMAT to debut solo! I’m also happy because my brothers in ALAMAT are so supportive, because they’re also the ones who pushed me to finally release this!)

It’s nice to hear you had so much support coming from them! With that, tell us about what it was like preparing for your solo debut. How was “Don’t Play” made?  Who helped you write and record it? 

‘Yung “Don’t Play,” sinimulan ko siya 2021 or 2022. Ganun katagal na! Kasi meron pa kasi kaming ALAMAT na inaasikaso so, sa akin, mas priority ko ‘yung group. For sure kasi, [the other members] naman din may mga solo songs pero mas priority lang talaga namin ‘yung group. 

(I started on “Don’t Play” back in 2021 or 2022. It’s been that long! It’s because we had ALAMAT to attend to so, for me, the group was my first priority. For sure, the other members have solo songs as well but we’re just prioritizing the group.)

Sinimulan ko siya [“Don’t Play”] tapos pinaparanig ko na sa ALAMAT ‘yung kanta tapos agree naman sila na maganda. Habang dumadaan ‘yung panahon, nag-cha-change ‘yung “Don’t Play.” Dati, hindi ko pa siya masyadong gusto pero habang tumatagal, na-i-improve ko siya until, ako, kami [ALAMAT] ay nag-decide na i-release ko na ‘yung song.

(I began working on “Don’t Play” and I let the rest of ALAMAT listen to the song and they agreed that it was good. As time passed, “Don’t Play” kept changing. Before, I didn’t like it as much but as time went on, I improved until I, the rest of ALAMAT, decided to finally release the song.)

‘Yung process kung paano siya ginawa, actually, ako lang talaga lahat ‘to e! From [the] songwriting, sa pag-produce ng music, sa pag-mix and master. Ako rin sarili mismo nag-engineer sa bahay ko lang mismo! 

(As for the process how it was made, actually, it was all me. From the songwriting, to producing the music, the mixing and mastering. It was also just me, myself, who engineered it at home!)

In relation to that, do you happen to remember how long it took you to finish the final version of “Don’t Play”? 

Hindi siya tuloy-tuloy kasi may changes din kasi ako, like, sa lyrics. Then last year, doon ako nag-decide, dahil may concert ulit kami, na tapusin at i-finalize lahat para ma-perform ko na siya. Kasi inisip ko rin that time, “Once pinerform ko ito, ito na ‘yun e! Hindi ko na ‘to mababago” (laughs). So, nakapag-decide ako na ito na talaga ‘yun. Wala nang changes.

(It wasn’t continuous because I also made changes to it like, with the lyrics. Then last year, that’s when I decided, because we had another concert, to finish and finalize everything so I could finally perform it. Because I thought that time,”Once I perform this, this is it! I won’t be able to change it.” So, I was able to decide that this was going to be it. No more changes.)

Were there any specific songs or artists that inspired you during its creation? 

Actually, marami! Experimental kasi kami as ALAMAT, so ang ginawa ko rito is nag-experiment din ako. Kinuha ko ‘yung element ng ALAMAT ng pagiging multilingual, so this song has a mix ng Tagalog, English, at Bisaya lyrics, tapos dinagdag ko rin ‘yung style ko as Alas – ‘yung kahit masakit ‘yung lyrics, upbeat pa rin at groovy (laughs).

(Actually, a lot! We’re experimental as Alamat, so what I did here I also experimented. I took the element of ALAMAT where we’re multilingual, so this so this song has a mix ng Tagalog, English, and Bisaya lyrics, then I added my style as Alas – where even if the lyrics are painful, it’s still upbeat and groovy.)

For musical inspiration, first of all, si sir Gloc-9. Tapos may touch din siya ng Latin, so si Bad Bunny at J Balvin!

(For musical inspiration, first of all, sir Gloc-9. Then it also has touch of Latin so Bad Bunny and J Balvin!

In relation to the last question, you just mentioned that “Don’t Play” has a mix of Tagalog, English, and Bisaya lyrics. Was this a decision you made before making the song or did it just come naturally while you were already writing and recording?

May livestream ako kasi before na sinabi ko, “Kung ako ang gagawa ng music ng ALAMAT, for sure may touch talaga ‘yan ng pagiging Filipino.” So, automatic na sa akin ‘yung pagiging multilingual [with my music.]

(I had a livestream before where I said, “If I were the one to make the music of ALAMAT, for sure it would definitely have a Filipino touch.” So, it’s automatic for me to be multinlingual with my music.)

With “Don’t Play” being your debut single, it serves as the introduction of listeners, both old and new, to the unique identity of your solo career that you’re building.

What sort of first impression do you want “Don’t Play” to leave on these people that, when they listen to the song, it’s what they will immediately think of when they think of you as a solo artist?

Itong song na ‘to ay, like, pinapakita kung saan talaga ako nagsimula: sa ALAMAT – kung saan ko napag-aralan ang lahat, like ‘yung singing kasi hindi naman talaga ako singer at ‘yung pag-improve ko sa dancing. So, una sa lahat, para sa mga fans namin, para sa mga Magiliw, dito ko maipapakita na ito ‘yung pinaghandaan namin before. Meron ditong dancing kasi groovy ‘yung song. May rap, of course, kasi ‘yun ‘yung forte ko and may konting singing din with high notes pa! Para ‘to sa mga Magiliw. Ito ‘yung result ng training ko. 

(This song is like showing where I started: in ALAMAT – where I learned everything , like singing because I wasn’t really a singer and me improving my dancing. So, first of all, for our fans, for the Magiliw, this is where I’ll be able to show that this is what we prepared for before. This has dancing because the song is groovy. There’s rap, of course, because that’s my forte and there’s a bit of singing with high notes! This is for the Magiliw. This is the result of my training.

Para naman sa mga new listeners na hindi pa ako kilala, ito ‘yung maipapakita ko. Na, as an artist, ‘yung mga songs ko ay colorful, groovy, at masakit at the same time (laughs).

(As for the new listeners who don’t know me yet, this what I’m able to showcase. That, as an artist, my songs are colorful, groovy, and painful at the same time.)

Tell us about your vision for your solo career. Where do you see it going after the release of “Don’t Play”? Is there a specific sound or style of music that you specifically want to explore as a solo artist?

To be honest, bago ko i-decide na i-release ‘yung “Don’t Play,” napagisipan ko rin na ayaw kong mag-stick sa isang genre. Mas common sa akin ang hip-hop kasi ‘yun ang forte ko pero gusto ko maging multi-genre kasi meron din akong mga songs na like, rock, alternative, at R&B. Gusto ko i-explore lahat! Parang ‘yung ginagawa lang namin sa ALAMAT.

(To be honest, before I decided to release “Don’t Play,” I had in mind that I didn’t want to stick to one genre. Hip-hop’s more common for me because that’s my forte but I want to become multi-genre because I also have songs that are like, rock, alternative, and R&B. I want to explore everything! Just like what we do in ALAMAT.)

In relation to the last question, undeniably, there’s a lot of excitement that surrounds your solo debut. With that, what else can we expect from Alas as a solo artist this 2025? Is there more music on the way?

Yeah! Ang initial plan ko talaga kasi is album or EP. Pero this year, of course, priority ko pa rin ‘yung ALAMAT. So, ang plan ko siguro is one song every one or two months until matapos ‘yung taon. Feeling ko kasi hindi ako gaanong ma-pre-pressure masyado kapag ganun. 

(Yeah! The initial plan I actually had was an album or EP. But this year, of course, my priority is still ALAMAT. So, my plan is maybe one song every one or two months until the year ends. I have a feeling that I won’t as pressured if that’s the case.)

That’s true! You’ll be able to easily balance it with your duties as a member of ALAMAT as well!

Oo, kasi, kumbaga, kung may isa akong song na aayusin ko pa para sa next next month, hindi ako ma-pre-pressure kasi may oras pa. Bale, after ng release ng “Don’t Play,” focus lang ako sa promotions then next song na! 

(Yes, because, you can say that, if I have one song na I need to work on for the next next month, I won’t be pressured to do so because there’s still time. So, after the release of “Don’t Play,” I will just focus on the promotions then it’s onto the next song!)

Your fans definitely have a lot to look forward to from you then!

For sure! Kasi ito rin ‘yung hinihintay kasi nila sa amin [ALAMAT] — ‘yung mag-solo [career] kami — kasi dito namin mailalabas talaga ‘yung artistry namin, ‘yung gusto talaga namin na mga genre.

(For sure! It’s because this is what they’re waiting for from us in ALAMAT — to have our solo careers — because this is where we can really showcase our artistry, the genres the we really like.)

That brings us back to your two solo concerts where all the members got their own solo stages, showcasing the music you love the most.

Yeah! Doon pa lang, makikita mo na paano kami hinuhubog ng panahon talaga pero nakikita mo rin ‘yung gusto ng bawat isa sa amin.

(Yeah! Even with just that, you can see how time shapes us but you can also see what we like individually.)

Finally, what message do you want to give your followers, Purok Nuebe, and the rest of the Alamat fandom who are looking forward to your career as a solo artist?

Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga Magiliw, especially sa purok (district) ko, sa Purok Nuebe, kasi nakikita ko ‘yung mga posts kung paano nila pinaghandaan ‘yung promotions ng [“Don’t Play”]. Alam ko na kahit wala pa ‘yung song, ready na sila e! Hindi ko man sila masabihan directly sa harap-harapan para mag-thank you pero nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa kanila.

(I just want to thank all the Magiliw, especially my purok, Purok Nuebe, because I see all the posts how they’re preparing for the promotions of “Don’t Play.” I know that even when the song wasn’t out yet, they were ready! Even if I can’t tell them, “Thank you,” directly face-to-face, I am very grateful to them.)

Listen to Alas’ “Don’t Play” below: