Born and raised in Oman, Jason Dhakal grew up listening to the OPM classics.

This is evident in the R&B/soul singer-songwriter’s discography, decorated with an array of Filipino staples that ooze with the artist’s signature suave. He accomplished this once more with his recent cover of the MYMP’s 2005 hit, “Kailan,” which he released last December 6. There’s a certain charm he brings to these revived songs, which he slows down to his beat, giving them an R&B/soul kind of flair. With covers of “Para Sa Akin,” “Manila,” “Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko,” and more under his arsenal, the artist has taken his distinctive upbringing and makes it his own.

Apart from his covers, Dhakal’s original work paints a serene soundscape, perfect for any time you’d want to wind down. In these downbeat anthems, he pours out his full heart into his lyricism — he doesn’t shy away from being unapologetically himself. This year, as well, his original work featured collaborations with DENȲ, Jess Connelly, and LUSTBASS, melting in his soulful vocals with these collaborators.

On this note, Billboard Philippines held an exclusive interview with Dhakal, discussing his roots and inspirations in light of his unique OPM covers.

Billboard Philippines: Congratulations on the recent release of your cover single, “Kailan.” You’ve done a number of covers of classic OPM songs, like “Para Sa Akin,” “Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko,” and more. What drew you, this time, to “Kailan” by MYMP? Is there any particular connection you have to the song?

Dhakal: I’m from Oman in the Middle East, so it’s just a song that I grew up listening to. All of these songs, really. When I started making “Kailan,” it was actually at the same time I was made “Awitin Mo (Isasayaw Ko),” so it was all in one studio session. I don’t know, since “Para Sa Akin,” I just wanted to try and make a bit more covers — but not just covers.

When you put your own R&B/soul spin on classic OPM songs, what aspects do you look for in a classic OPM song to release your own rendition of these?

I think for me it’s really just the feeling and how the song makes me feel. I’m not really singing them verbatim, like how the song naturally is. But I love working with LUSTBASS and if you know RJ Pineda, he’s a pianist, and I just love being in a studio with them. Because sometimes when we start, like with “Awitin Mo (Isasayaw Ko),” all I had in my mind was, “I wanted it to be slower, and I wanted it to be like a Sunday morning type of feeling.” Usually, I just give very vague, general ideas and they make it way better. 

From there, you also worked on “Kailan” so I’m guessing the studio is a really creative space for you?

Most of the time, when I’m put in a studio, I’m just like, “What else am I gonna do in here?” So, I just make as much music as I can, and usually I just try to pack up a studio day with five songs, six songs — we just make a lot.

You’re very well-known for your signature soul and R&B sound, but are there any other genres you’d like to experiment with?

More recently, I’m more into jazz music and bossa nova. Honestly, specifically Brazilian music, I really just love hearing Portuguese words. But most of the time, I want to get into more of an easy listening-type of songs, where it’s not too loud. I just love, right now, just like serenity, nothing too complicated and just, really simple. That’s where I’m trying to be at, right now.

We’d love to hear a bossa nova track from you; your voice would really suit it!

So soon, so soon. Next year, I’ll probably be releasing some things like that.

You’ve talked a lot in the past about taking inspiration from your favorite artists — Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, and the like. Where do you think this inspiration manifests in revamping our local classics into your own vibe?

Inspiration-wise, definitely still from the people I’m very influenced by. It’s always gonna have an R&B-like, soul basis. I feel like that’s very much who I am, and that’s what I love doing. It just naturally happens, when we’re there. Like, “I wanna make ‘Para Sa Akin,’” or usually, “Para Sa Akin,” when I made that, I made my own rendition of it six years ago, before I even really released “Para Sa Akin.” I don’t know, I’ve always just had an idea. Songs I can always just hear what it’s gonna sound like in my head, then I just try to conceptualize it or execute the concept.

Your original music, I would say, is really you at your most raw — you’re very unapologetically yourself in your songwriting and production. How do you think this translates to your cover work?

I think sonically naman, they’re both very… my original tracks and my covers, they belong in the same world, musically-wise. I’m not like the fastest-song-sounding-artist; my songs are always like 70 BPM, 80, or 90. I think it’ll always sound R&B, I’ve always just been making R&B music. I don’t think I’ll ever get out of that. So, it’ll always show in my covers or my originals.

We’ve also seen a number of collaborations from you this year, like “Favorite Song” with DENŸ and “thru2u” with Jess Connelly, to name some. Are there any artists, veteran or fresh to the scene, local or international, that you’ve been wanting to work with?

My dream collaborators, I don’t even know where to start. You know, someone I’d actually like to work with… would you know Jake Zyrus?

Oh yeah! Of course.

It’s actually really interesting because recently, he’s been making more R&B-sounding type music. We don’t have to collaborate, but if they wanna, or if he needs a songwriter for a song or anything, I’m down. ‘Cause he’s been trying to make more R&B-type music, and I do like it, so…

And it really suits his register.

Yeah! And also, he deserves so much better in life so I wanna be able to do what I can.

Are there any upcoming projects your fans can look forward to in the coming year?

Definitely, definitely. There’s gonna be an album coming out by next year. That’s my job, so I have to release an album. I’m gonna release an album, there’s gonna be some more singles, there’s gonna be some collabs, and I’m really excited for it. 

Any hints or sneak peeks as to what you’re gonna be working on?

There’s gonna be some singles that’re gonna be released, and some of them are gonna be collaborations with artists from the Philippines and some are international artists. So, it’s gonna be a good mix, I’m really excited. I don’t wanna say everything ‘cause you’ll see it through time.

Listen to Jason Dhakal’s rendition of “Kailan” here: