MATÉO On Finally Embracing Life As A Musician After 10 Years: “It’s part of being myself.”

When I first met Matthew Ong, it was a long time before he’d become the artist known as MATÉO.

For years, he has made his name quietly making waves behind the curtain of the music industry –– recognized for his A&R expertise and involvement in the corporate side of entertainment, building a career around understanding artists. He has shaped strategies, produced shows (even here at Billboard Philippines), and has amplified other people’s music through his expertise of the industry. Yet as of late, he steps into the spotlight not as the man behind the scenes, but as MATÉO – a Kundiman-inspired balladeer whose deeply emotional songwriting and minimalist style are reawakening a nostalgic genre for a new generation.

MATÉO’s path to this point was no linear journey, nor was it ever part of his plan from the beginning. What began as a casual outlet for his songwriting quickly evolved into something more serious following the positive reception to his debut single “Lalim“, soon becoming a series of quiet reflections of lived experience that are each filled with longing, nostalgia, and reverence for the OPM ballads of generations past.

Now signed under one of Korea’s ABYSS Company, MATÉO remains grounded in his intent, which is to keep his artistry true to its roots while letting it grow organically. Whether performing on intimate stages or quietly going viral online, he has found himself pulled back into the world of artistry by the same passion that first drew him to music over a decade ago. And in many ways, his career reflects that ethos: an artist shaped by industry insight, but still never compromised by it.

In this exclusive interview with Billboard Philippines, MATÉO opens up about the long-winded journey that allowed him to (finally) embrace his path as a musician, what led him to ABYSS Company, and how his experiences working in the A&R side of the industry have affected his debut as an artist.

Billboard Philippines: So Matt, congratulations on signing with ABYSS Company! How did that partnership come about?

MATÉO: I think it’s been out there for a while. It was honestly like a sideline to all the corporate stuff points until we ended up here. ABYSS first reached out to have me collaborate on something. And then, I guess they saw the process of how I write.

Long story short, I was really independent to begin with. They reached out for collaboration. And I took note of how everything was done. Because Korea has this huge track record of success with how they manage artists and how they manage the ins and outs of the the industry. And to be part of it and to see it come to life, especially with ABYSS, diyan siya nangaling eh [that’s where it came from]. I’d love to learn how they do it, and I’m excited to see how things are done here, considering their [ABYSS’] track record.

What was your initial reaction when they asked you to sign on as a full-fledged artist? 

Actually, I had a lot of reservations. I didn’t plan on doing the live thing, and I definitely didn’t plan on making it a full-time artist. I was just putting my music out there for fun because I’ve always been in the music business side of the industry.

But syempre [of course], one day, I wondered, why not put my music out? Because somehow, I’ve been doing it for others, so why not do it for myself? And it became a persona of sorts once MATÉO was out there. The deal was also something that was really okay, and it feels good to do [this music thing] full time after some time. So, sabi ko sarili ko, pwede na ako mag put ng more focus into it. [So I told myself, I can put more focus into it.] Because again, these opportunities don’t come often for artists, and I really didn’t want to take it for granted. 

It’s actually a big deal too, because you’re one of the first Filipino acts to be signing on to ABYSS, which is a renowned Korean company –– making it a milestone for Filipino talent in the music industry. Do you feel any responsibility or weight being put on you given the level of visibility that you’re working with? 

Honestly, even though natanong rin siya sakin ng mga ibang artists [it was asked by other OPM artists]. I haven’t thought about it because at the end of the day, all of this has been a passion project [for me]. I’m just really happy to do it, and I didn’t really think about the results, because as I said, it’s something that I’ve been doing for fun. As cliché as it sounds, I didn’t want to keep my heart in some limbo. It’s something that still fuels me, and I guess it’s just more serious now.

And ako [for me], being tied to certain artists with ABYSS, I also think that nakakahiya [it’s embarrassing] to mess up and fumble or something. I guess it’s just my mindset, but as long as I stay true to what I’m doing on the music side, I think the personality itself will speak for the music and for me. Doon ako bumabawi [That’s how I can make up for it.]. I’m not trying to do anything for somebody. It’s just whoever I bring along with us. So, I guess I just need to trust myself or trust what I’m doing.

Even if it started off as a passion project for you, I think the public reception to it has been so impressive, even at the time when you were still faceless. But now you’ve released a new song, “Bato Sa Buhangin”, which is a cover of Cinderella’s classic from 1976. What inspired you to cover that as your fourth release? 

To put it plain and simple, it has been my favorite OPM song for the longest time, ever since I heard it. I’ve been so attached to that song, and it’s been in my playlists ever since. So, to somehow be a part of the composition of a new rendition, of course, is something I’m grateful they approved. It’s a classic, so there wasn’t much to do with it [for me], and I just wanted to do it simply because it’s a dream. 

Given that it’s one of your favorite OPM songs of all time, what was your approach when you reinterpreted the song while still honoring its emotional and cultural legacy within the scene? 

When it comes to that, I try to stick to what I did, but then somehow just change the instrumentation. Like, that’s it. Even the way I sang it, I didn’t want to change the chords or the structure. It’s mostly the same as the original.

I guess it’s just me singing the song with the instrumentation that I usually do. But then, wala akong iniba talaga kasi [I didn’t change much because] I have a huge respect for the song and the composition itself –– to the point that I don’t think it needs any change.

It’s already a great work of art. So what I’m doing with this cover, it’s just from another perspective. Wala akong pinalitan masyado, kasi yung song itself [I really didn’t have to tweak much because of the song itself], I don’t think it needs any change. It’s just putting the song into the instrumentation that I needed, which I hope worked out well. *laughs*

It’s just the latest step in your journey as an artist. It’s your first release under ABYSS. But going back to yung debut single mo, “Lalim”, ang lakas ng impression niya talaga [it made such a strong impression] with the public and with so many listeners nationwide. And the team is so proud of you, Matt.

During those times na magkasama tayo sa Billboard din and sa corporate, parang doon din naman siya, nag break na maraming things going on and there are other things that fuel us. Doon din nabuo rin yung MATÉO. [During those times we were together in Billboard and even in corporate, I think that’s where it broke to me that there were so many things going on, and there are also other things that fuel us. And that’s where MATÉO came to be.]

So I’m grateful na parang, nalampas ko siya [that I was able to get through that]. Because doing and producing the shows ng Billboard, [narealize ko na] angas yun eh –– parang [I realized just how cool it was], how everything is [in the industry]. Syempre [Of course], we had fun producing the shows, but then at the same time, it’s amazing to see na a lot of different types of music can fit on that stage.

So especially nung napanood ko si [when I got to watch] Sir Johnoy Danao when we produced his episodes, it made me realize na parang ang saya [it looked so inspiring] to perform as an artist because maraming [there are a lot of] platforms for all types of genres and musicians. 

Wala ka nang kailangan gawin eh [You don’t really need to do much anymore]. But to just be yourself, and be an artist in your craft, which is cool to have. Kaya [That’s why], I guess I’m happy to be doing this as an artist now.

Yet with “Lalim”, what did its early success teach you about embracing that new life as a fully-fledged artist? 

Actually, “Lalim” made me realize a lot of things when it comes to the music business mismo [itself].

Given na nag-AM rin ako [that I was an AM before] around the scene, it affirmed my thoughts na I’ve always believed that the business works around artists, you don’t try to do business your way to being an artist. That was my mindset before pa, na kahit sa ibang artist, hindi kami mag-a-adjust. Sabihin mo yung gusto mo. Sabihin mo kung sino ka. Tapos, kami [yung mga AMs] mag-a-adjust. Kami maghanap ng way para yung market ka. 

[That was my mindset ever since, that even with other artists, it’s not up to us to adjust. You have to say what you want, who you are, and from there, the AMs will be the ones to adjust for you. Because the AMs will be the ones to find a way to market whoever you are as an artist.]

Syempre, ito, being a passion project, wala akong gustong gawin na ayaw ko.  So parang, oo, medyo na-fuel lang din yung paniniwala ako. Okay, kung ano siya, yun lang talaga siya. We don’t try to go beyond what I’m doing as an artist. Mag-aadjust yung marketing teams sa strategies nila. Kasi, ang hirap naman na mag-aadjust yung artist sa logistics.

[Of course, this, being a passion project, I don’t want to do anything I’m not comfortable with. So it’s like it’s fueling the beliefs I already have in my head. Okay, so whatever it is, that’s all there really is to it. We don’t try to go beyond what I’m doing as an artist. The marketing teams will be the ones to adjust in their strategies, because it would be difficult for an artist to adjust to their logistics.]

Yun yung number one learning ko. Talagang mauuna talaga yung artistry before anything else, because it’s the core. [That’s my number one learning. Artistry will really come before anything else, because it’s the core of your work.]

Ang laki talaga ng help ng experiences mo both as a producer and an A&R [Your experiences as both a producer and an A&R is such a big help to your work]. Kasi [Because], it’s influenced a lot of yung marketing and business strategies mo as an independent artist in the beginning. Now, you’re a full-fledged recording artist signed to this big company. But what would you say is the defining moment that pushed you to step into the spotlight?

Honestly, the fact lang na [that] ABYSS opened the doors for me to remain true to what I’m doing. Wala akong ibahin. [I wouldn’t change anything.]

Sabi nila [They said], let’s just do what you’re doing, and then we’ll just help you, and whatever you have, it’s just going to be elevated further. Although the business tries to change to what they think would work, I’m just trying to do my best and find something that works for me if I were going to sign with a label.

And I guess that’s what ABYSS did for me. That’s how they opened the door to this whole movement, this whole dance. So, it’s just chill and just me doing the same thing, but just making it more elevated.  I truly think I wouldn’t be doing this if wala yung passion ko [I didn’t have the passion for it.] Kasi sabi ko nga [Because as I said,], it’s a passion project and I wouldn’t want anything to ruin it.

Given that you’ve always had this passion for music, because before, you were also part of a boy band. Do you think that experience kind of shaped you as an artist to kind of choose na ito yung gagawin mo [this is what you wanted to do]? 

Nakalimutan ko na yun [I’ve already forgotten about that]. (laughs) That was exactly 10 years ago. It was for this network that was building this boy band. And I guess that’s where I naturally started my interest in the music business. After that whole band thing, kahit hindi ko na siya tinuloy [even though I didn’t push through with it], that’s where I went into the music business side of things.

Ever since then, I never performed. So doing my recent media launch and live thing, it was tagal na [a long time] since I last performed in front of people. Parang medyo rusty ako, pero sige, nilaban ko na lang sarili ko [I felt like I was a bit rusty, but I told myself fine, I’ll just fight for myself to do it well.] It was just for fun anyway, and I guess naging stepping stone siya [it became a stepping stone] for me into doing music.

The whole experience helped me a lot, not as an artist, but also as a guide to get into the business side. Kasi dun ako medyo nagka-crisis. Parang sinabihan ko talaga sarili ko, is music for me? Parang saan ako? [Because that’s when I felt like I got into a personal crisis. I questioned myself, is music for me? And where was I at?]

\Kasi [Because], I love music, but I don’t know where I’m going as an artist. So I just wanted to stay on the business side. And 10 years later, I found the drive to get back into this as a passion project, and I’m now here walking back into the industry’s artist side.

Since you mentioned your live gig recently, how was performing in front of a massive audience for you, especially after such a long time?

Yun yung challenge [That was the challenge] for me. Like, how do I do this? Ten years di ako nag peperform, [Ten years have passed since I last performed] and I was singing a bunch of pop songs with a bunch of guys for a competition. I also used to sing with groups for the longest time, because of Kundirana [his high school choir]. 

But it was the same genre naman [anyways], Kundiman songs, only now lang it’s also humanizing the whole MATÉO thing. Kinabahan rin ako dati [I used to get nervous before] because I didn’t want to do gigs. I thought I had such slow songs, and ang bagal ng lahat. Sabi ko, as a person who likes watching gigs, I’m used to seeing people perform with such high energy, which really kept the crowd excited and involved.

So I thought di bagay mag live, kasi parang akala ko pang earphones siya or pang vibe lang yung music ko. [It wasn’t fitting to perform live, because I assumed that my music was only good for being listened to on earphones or just for the vibes.]

But when ABYSS came into the picture, napaisip ako [I got to think more about] how it was a good type of challenge to treat my music in the live setting. Kahit kinabahan ako ng solid, naitawid naman. And tinatawid ko siya habang naglilive shows pa ako [Even though I got very nervous, I was able to make it through. And it’s something I’m still going through as I continue to do more live shows], but my thing is I’m just trying to translate what the masters did to a live setup. That’s what I plan and am still trying to do. 

When you see the crowd, especially after the recent gig that you had, how have the reactions of the fans and the listeners shaped your growth as a musician so far? Have you noticed any unexpected reactions that made you realize how your music affects people?

I realized that TikTok is a different type of base for music. Of course, for me, whatever happened with my music was always reliant on my online presence. So seeing people from different places come to my gig made me think that, oh, they’re reaching out from social media to here, which really shows the effect of those platforms.

But also, it made me realize that Filipinos have such a soft spot for love songs. I don’t think it’s just about my music or anyone else’s music, but it’s really about the nature of love songs. Talagang di siya nawawala [It really doesn’t go away], because every generation of OPM has love songs. I’m just grateful to be a part of it.

There’s a very candid nature to all the songs that you write that is very rooted in authenticity. How would you say you approach your songwriting for that?

Honestly, it’s hard to write a song kung hindi mo siya na experience [if you haven’t experienced it] . It’s hard to build a story around it. For example, sa “Tungo”, it has always been a chord progression in just the first line. And then I never knew how to progress with it. I guess may memory lang na bumalik [there’s a specific memory that comes back], and then that specific memory, inikutan ko lang siya [I just went around it]. And then ganun lang yung lyrics niya. Kasi parang hirap rin ako magsulat. Hindi ko siya maisip. Kaya ko naman, but then it comes out more generic for me. [And then that’s how its lyrics came to be. Because there are points where it’s difficult to write. It’s hard to think of what to say. Though I know I could do it, it comes out more generic for me.]

Pag magsulat ako ng hindi ko nang experience, parang mas casual yung writing eh. Pero yung mga narelease ko , they’re based on real people and real emotions. Which makes it easy to get lost in the experience, if it happens. Because, as cliché as it sounds, minsan depende rin kung ano lang din yung lumabas. 

[If I try to write something that I haven’t experienced, the writing comes out a lot more casual. But everything I’ve released, they’re based on real people and real emotions. Which makes it easy to get lost in the experience, if it happens. Because, as cliché as it sounds, it also depends on what’s going to come out of my work.]

But then I admit a lot of the music experiences, the music business side, and meeting a lot of people –– it all shaped how I approach making music and making productions in general. I don’t think that 10 years ago I would be able to write something like what I’ve done, because I don’t think it would be as fluid as how I do in the composition of my songs today. 

Given that this marks a new chapter for you, would you say you have an album in the works, or perhaps an EP?

I’d say I’m taking it step by step. I already have a bunch of materials readily available, actually, so I could compile an EP or I could put together an album. But syempre ako [of course for me], I’d like to do it step by step lang din. Para at least hindi rin mambigla [Just so that I don’t shock or overwhelm myself], and at the same time it’s focusing on the passion of the project through these singles I’ve been releasing. 

I’d love to do something bigger, siguro [perhaps], upon polishing the whole idea of an EP or album. I would love to sit on that idea for like a month ––  just locked with the project, I mean I’m willing to do that. Though right now, we’ll see. *laughs* 

How would you describe the essence of you, MATÉO, as the artist, versus Matthew Ong, the guy in the music business? Those are two very parts of two different parts of yourself. 

I’ve always thought of it in the way that they’re two separate things that I have to consider when it comes to working in the industry. Right now, I think of it as the MATÉO thing. I always say ‘thing’ because even from an A&R perspective, it’s more of a persona that I could have fun with. I guess that’s how I settled it, instead of thinking about it too much. 

I somehow tried to invent and marry the ideas of bridging my perspective, particularly of the music business, and also the creative side. So I’d like to think that I’m marrying and complementing the two sides of myself, so to speak. May distinction lang siya [There is surely a distinction], but then the distinction is just a way to compartmentalize yung work ko –– so yung MATÉO thing, creative, then si Matthew Ong, business POV. 

Even though I try to compartmentalize, it’s still me either way. It’s part of being myself, and at the same time, I just want to better my craft on both sides.

It’s interesting, because there are not a lot of OPM artists who get to do both sides. While most of the time they’re on the creative side, you have another lens to kind of help and guide you in your career. 

Yeah, because even if I have ideas of what to do, I need as much help as I can get somehow. So it’s part of the process that I get to learn from everyone I work with. I tell everyone in the team to share if they have inputs, and I would love to think that I have to do some more challenging things outside of my comfort zone. 

So, as MATÉO, in what ways do you hope that your music contributes to the ever-evolving story of modern OPM? 

That’s a bit deep. Di ko pa naisip yun [I haven’t really thought about it], actually.

Sobrang far fetched yung idea yun [The idea is really far-fetched] for me, but I do hope it comes. And I guess it emphasizes how important it is na OPM is really changing, whether it’s the business of it, or even its overall sound, but there is also going to be certain things that are timeless –– like yung [that of] Kundiman music. 

I’m just someone who is very passionate about it, and it’s also important to stay true to who you are. It’s possible, but difficult to business your way into the industry, but it really helps if you have the heart and drive for it. Yun yung [That is the] biggest takeaway for me.

Now for my final question, I just want to ask that looking forward in your career as MATÉO, how would you define your success, whether it’s artistically, personally, or even globally?

For me, honestly, I won’t be too righteous, but I think my metric for success with this whole thing is if, at the end of the day, the MATÉO thing still fuels me the same way it did when I first started. I think dun ako mangagaling [that’s where I’ll be basing it on]. If it’s toxic to my mindset, I should recalibrate what I’m doing. I don’t have my passion. If I end up doing the MATÉO thing the same way that I started it, I’d be happy to keep it going.

Since it’s a passion project, I don’t want to be a cliché. But as long as I get to do it in a bar, in front of other people, or even online, whatever it is, as long as I’m happy with it for the same reasons why I started doing it –– I think that’s what I consider my definition of being successful.

As we anticipate what lies ahead for MATÉO, listen to his latest single “Bato Sa Buhangin” below:

This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.