There is no denying that Filipinos are just born to be amazing singers. From belting out high notes in pop songs to hitting those heart-wrenching ballads, we always bring our A-game. But, one genre has been flying under the radar for too long: Filipino R&B.
This genre has been hiding in plain sight for too long, and it's about time we shine a spotlight on it. Think smooth and soulful beats with lyrics that tug at your heartstrings - that's what Filipino R&B is all about. And let me tell you, it's a hidden gem that's just waiting to be discovered. Need proof? just listen to DENȲ.
DENȲ is pretty maangas. With music that gets more than 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, she is bringing contemporary Pinoy R&B to greater heights. Bops after bops, we’re convinced that just like the macron on her name, she is here to stay.
In a conversation with DENȲ for Metroscene Profile, she takes us on her journey to stardom—from discovering her passion for music at a young age, joining her label WAYBETTR, and even the dreams she wishes to build with her career.
The Heart and Soul of Her Music
DENȲ has always loved music ever since she was able to understand its concept. Thanks to her family’s influence, especially her father, music runs deep in her blood. “I’m very fortunate that from the beginning I knew that [music] is what I’m made for,” she tells us.
Although she initially didn’t entertain the thought of writing her own songs and even considered working behind the scenes, her career in songwriting and performing her own songs has taken a huge step forward in mainstream popularity. When she first started to dabble in her artistry, she shares that she only did what her father taught her. “I used to sing tons of ballads and pop,” she says.
However, after the unfortunate passing of her father, she was forced to find her own voice. Without anyone to depend on, she searched for what type of an artist she will be. Although never forgetting the influence of her father, she’s now a different artist from when she started.
“[How] I present myself now is rooted in years of practicing, contemplating, and deciding what type of influence I want to impart on my audience. Until now, I still have my papa’s lessons with me and that’ll never go away, but those roots have grown into branches and flowers I’ve watered and nurtured, which I’ll continue to do so as long as I call myself an artist,” she powerfully shares with us.
The rest was history.
“I know I’m independent but I think I need ya, kayang mag-isa pero mas gusto with ya,” were the first lines that came to DENȲ when she started to write her hit song “Gusto With Ya”. Amassing more than 6 million plays on Spotify, the song radiates with her fun-loving personality that we also got to experience in our email correspondence.
Just like the first lyrics, the rest of the song came to her so easily that she “practically didn’t have to think about what came next.” But her ingenuity as an artist is not only reflected in the final work that we are seeing, but also in how she managed to write a song with zero knowledge on beat production.
With just the need to create, almost a compulsion, and a laptop that her sister lent her, she tinkered a bit and wrote the first version of “Gusto With Ya”. “At that time, I wanted to convey what I believe about love and affection.” She admits that the song needed more work, but it was enough to turn the heads of local label, WAYBETTR.
“When quarantine ended, I became part of my team WAYBETTR. [I] let them listen to my demo and despite its quality, they knew the potential of the writing and the idea.” After elevating the song, they reproduced the track to the success that it is today, and as she puts it: “the rest was history.”
Pretty Maangas
As a female performer, she tells us that there are certain challenges that comes with being a woman. In our conversation, she shared with us that it requires more effort and creativity to be respected, much less accepted by the masses.
“Making your mark as an artist in this industry is difficult in itself, but making your mark as a female artist in a male-dominated industry is a whole different challenge,” she says. She points this out by looking back at the charts and gig line-ups, and top musicians, where the majority are still male artists.
She reflects on the apparent delineation between female and male artists that are deeply embedded in Filipino culture. “I aim to contribute [in] the blurring of this line. For the longest time, an artist’s gender in the Philippines automatically locks them in a certain trajectory or a box that restricts their art to acceptable parameters,” she remarks with conviction.
This point of view on the industry she’s in gives her platform a lot more meaning and gravity because she recognizes her role in affecting much-needed change, not just in the music industry, but in our society as a whole. According to her, this is not to belittle the success of her colleagues, but rather an important reminder to look into the complex societal struggles that women are still facing in their day-to-day lives.
Making it go boom!
For DENȲ, being an artist is not only about pursuing personal goals, it is a responsibility that one should not take lightly. She acknowledges the role that artists have in our collective betterment, and she advises aspiring artists to get to know themselves, what type of influence they want to be, and what legacy they’d like to leave.
“I’m about to spout something cliché, but if you truly believe you have something relevant to say, keep getting better and never stop creating. One way or another, you’ll find your audience,” she says.
Although she’s still a young, up-and-coming artist, DENȲ has already reached a lot of milestones in her career. She’ll soon release the official music video for her song “Alam Ko Na” which features Just Hush and Third Flo’. But, there’s still a lot she wants to do, and one of them is to showcase her dancing skills more. “I’ve only had one single with choreography, which was “Like Me”, and I’d like to challenge myself by incorporating more dance in my future releases!”
However, her ultimate dream is to be able to support her loved ones and herself, by doing what she loves most, which is music. She wishes to pursue her dreams while being loved, acknowledged, and respected.
With her skills and raw talent, and love for learning, there is no doubt that her future is going to be bright and fruitful.
Written By : Michael Roy Brosas
Photos by: Alexis Dave Co
