Calein Breathe New Life Into “Oras” With Remastered Version — Listen
The “Umaasa” hitmakers hark back to one of their earlier tracks, six years after its release.
Courtesy of Calein
Courtesy of Calein
Filipino alternative rock band Calein gives “Oras” new life with a remastered version, six years after its original release.
Originally released in March 2020, the band held an intimate launch at Social House in Makati, which featured fellow 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 artists like Unique Salonga, Arthur Nery, and ONE CLICK STRAIGHT as performers.
Looking back on this moment, the band’s vocalist and songwriter John Dale “JD” Mustacho recalls, saying, “I was surprised that so many people came to support us.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the local music industry was greatly affected, especially the live events front. “Everybody was shocked, and we all had to adjust,” Mustacho adds. “We didn’t really get to promote it properly, so most of what we did became online content.”
Meanwhile, drummer Benjo Criste adds, “The fire was there, but when the pandemic happened, everything was cut short.”
Now, years later, the band breathes new life into “Oras” with the remaster. “I wanted to give the song new life and give the band a clear path this time,” Mustacho says. Bassist Oliver Salaysay agrees, saying, “Because the promotion was stopped before, this feels like the perfect time to reintroduce the song.”
Remastered by Jan Aries Agadier Fuertez, the new version of “Oras” preserves the original recording and arrangement while delivering “greater clarity, width, and overall sonic depth,” according to the press release.
“We didn’t change anything about the song because we wanted to keep its identity and emotions,” Mustacho explains, while Salaysay adds that “the vocals are crisper, the sound is wider. It feels clearer.”
“Oras” talks about unspoken love, with the song written by Mustacho and inspired by inviting a crush to one of their gigs and hoping to confess his feelings. However, the moment took a hit when the person arrived with her boyfriend.
As time went on, the song took on a different meaning. For Mustacho, it now represents a hidden love for himself, while for Criste, it brings him back to his younger years.
Alongside the track’s refreshed sound, Calein has also evolved as a band. The current trio reflects a more mature version of the group. “We have a clearer path now. But the sound, the heart, and the identity are still there,” Mustacho explains.
It also falls at a perfect time for listeners who may have missed the original release at the time. “It’s perfect timing for those who haven’t heard Calein’s music yet,” Salaysay shares.
“I hope they remember how they felt the first time they heard it, and see how far they’ve come,” Criste adds. “It doesn’t matter if it’s happiness or longing. As long as they feel something, that’s already the reward for us,” Mustacho says.
Listen to the remastered version “Oras” below:
Frequently Asked Questions
“Oras” is about unspoken love. Calein vocalist and songwriter John Dale “JD” Mustacho wrote it after inviting a crush to a gig, hoping to confess, only for her to arrive with her boyfriend. Mustacho now says it represents a hidden love for himself.
“Oras” was originally released in March 2020, with an intimate launch at Social House in Makati. Fellow OPM acts Unique Salonga, Arthur Nery, and ONE CLICK STRAIGHT performed at the event. The COVID-19 pandemic soon disrupted live events, so the band could not promote the song properly.
The remaster preserves the original recording and arrangement while improving clarity, width, and sonic depth. Jan Aries Agadier Fuertez handled the remastering. Calein says the song’s identity and emotions stayed intact, while vocals are crisper and the sound wider than the 2020 release.
Calein is a Filipino alternative rock band. Its current lineup is a trio made up of vocalist and songwriter John Dale “JD” Mustacho, drummer Benjo Criste, and bassist Oliver Salaysay. Mustacho says the band has a clearer path now while keeping its sound, heart, and identity.
Calein remastered “Oras” because pandemic-era disruptions cut short its original promotion. Mustacho wanted to give the song new life and the band a clear path, while bassist Oliver Salaysay calls it the right time to reintroduce the track to listeners new to Calein.
