The songwriter returns
Ogie Alcasid releases new album, embraces change in music scene
When OPM icon Ogie Alcasid transferred to ABS-CBN earlier this year, he had a full slate of projects lined up for him.
One of these is an album with Star Music. After hitting the studio with producer Jonathan Manalo and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, Ogie now proudly presents “NakakaLokal.” Not only is it his first as a Kapamilya, it also marks the first time the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra led by Gerard Salonga collaborated with a solo artist.
“A song sounds better when you play it with an orchestra because there are some things you can do with an orchestra that you can’t do on software like GarageBand or ProTools,” Ogie explained. “It’s been a dream of mine to work with Gerard and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, so I feel very blessed and glad they said yes to this project.”
Ogie’s wife, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, also lent her vocals to “NakakaLokal” singing “Hanggang Ngayon,” “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” and “Pangako” with her husband. She also sang backup on some of the other tracks.
“Nu’ng sinabi ko sa wife ko that I was doing this, may halong inggit sa part niya,” Ogie joked. “But seriously, she’s very happy for me. I know she’ll agree with me when I say that I believe this album came at the right time, and that it’s an incredible honor for me to have done something like it at this point in my career.”
“NakakaLokal” features 10 songs. Aside from the title track and the OgieRegine medley of duets, it also has six new songs, all of which Ogie wrote namely “Akala Ko,” “‘Di Ka Pababayaan,” “‘Di Na Muli,” “Do You Wanna Dance With Me,” and the soaring yet sweet ballad titled “Ikaw Ang Tanging Pag-ibig Ko.”
Ogie has been in the business for 29 years. In that time, he has established himself as one of OPM’s most prolific songwriters. He reveals he channels everything he’s been through over the years – the highs and the lows – when writing songs for himself and other artists.
“Every songwriter, especially those who have had difficult romantic relationships, relationships that didn’t work out or inasam-asam pero ‘di nangyari, they are able to write songs because certain feelings are really real to them. So I have to admit that every song I’ve written happened to me. Is that a gift? I don’t know. It’s probably a curse,” he laughed. “I’m a songwriter and songwriters tell stories. That’s all we do.”
When pressed to talk about the stories behind some of his songs, he said, “Hindi ko na maalala ’yung iba because they were written so long ago. I’ll talk about my new songs na lang. There’s one on the album called ‘‘Di Na Muli.’ I have to admit that was an invented story of mine because ang sakit ng lyrics nu’n and I’m too happy in my life now to write sad songs. So nilagay ko na lang ’yung sarili ko sa mindset ng isang taong sawi sa pag-ibig, which is also how I was able to write ‘Akala Ko.’ But there is a song on ‘NakakaLokal’ that I wrote for my wife, at ’yun ’yung Pag-ibig Ko.’” ‘Ikaw Ang Tanging Ogie is fairly confident the young crowd will enjoy his new album. “’Yung ‘Nakakalokal,’ which will be the theme song of the upcoming Himig Handog PPop Love Songs songwriting competition, has a certain effect on people. Kanina it was played on the radio and may nag-text sa akin, sabi niya even ’yung mga younger officemates niya sinusundan na nila ’yung song, so I think it has a bit of a positive effect sa mga millenials. At the same time, ‘NakakaLokal’ is also my way of introducing to them the songs I wrote for Star Cinema movies 15 years ago. Siguro ’yung iba doon, like ’yung mga kanta na kasama sa medley namin ni Regine, hindi na nila inabot. But siguro naman magugustuhan din nila.” Jonathan, who helped produce the album, added, “Ang millenials kasi mahilig sa hugot. Kapag narinig na nila ’yung lyrics ng mga kantang kasama sa album na ito, lalo na ’yung newer ones, I’m sure makakarelate sila kay Sir Ogie.” His producer’s vote of confidence aside, Ogie has another reason to believe millennials will embrace his music with open arms – his 19-year-old daughter Leila, who is also working on an album of her own under Star Music. (Leila is Ogie’s eldest daughter with Miss Universe Australia 1994 Michelle van Eimeren.) “My daughter loves it, even if our tastes in music are so different,” he says of Leila’s reaction to “NakakaLokal.” “’Yung mga bata kasi ngayon, ang music nila chill lang. ’Yung generation ko mahilig sa mga power chorus, ‘di ba? Sila ngayon iba na. Steady lang ’yung mga pinapakinggan nila. Pero my daughter was able to connect to my new songs naman.” Asked if he will also produce Leila’s album, Ogie shared, “When I talked to Jonathan and Roxy Liquigan of Star Music, we all agreed that Leila should have another producer, someone who’s much younger than me, kaya they put her together with Marion Aunor. Leila and Marion talk the same, they have the same sentiments, kaya match sila. Kasi kung ako ’yung magiging producer ng anak ko, or even if I just write a song for her, it won’t sound like it’s coming from her,” Ogie explained.
That said, the singer has given Leila some useful advice.
“I told her that if she writes her own songs, she should write from her heart, kasi a lot of young kids today want something positive and my daughter has a lot of positive energy. So ’yun lang ang nasabi ko sa kanya. I advised her to take her energy and release it, use it in her songwriting. She really loves to write – she has a blog also – so I just told her to take her incredible writing skill, wonderful heart and put it into her music.”
When Ogie was coming up in the industry, music was being released in physical form – cassette tapes, CDs and vinyl records. But these days, he has embraced the digital revolution. Not only is “NakakaLokal” available for streaming on digital music platforms like Spotify, but Ogie professes to be a Spotify addict.
“I use it all the time,” he revealed. “I use it when my son is about to go to bed kasi may playlist doon that will induce sleep; I use it for work, and even when I exercise. Spotify is really a great product. Napakasaya niyang gamitin if you really love music. Actually, dahil sa Spotify, parang bumabalik tayo sa time na naglalabas ng singles sa plaka, except now it’s just in digital form and you can have it anytime, anywhere. Saka maganda ang quality ng sound sa Spotify, which I like.”
Ogie is of the mind that rather than hindering the growth of OPM, streaming actually helps keep it alive. He also recognizes that because listeners are consuming music differently these days, artists like him should be willing to embrace the change as well.
“May nagtatanong sa akin kung ano na ba ang estado ng OPM today, and sinagot ko were transitioning into that platform, which is streaming and downloading. OK ako doon.”
Ogie will support “NakakaLokal” with a series of mall shows and an upcoming birthday show.