It was a deeply personal view on love that inspired OPM singer and songwriter Maki to bridge his hit song “Dilaw” with his latest release, “Habangbuhay Pansamantala.”
In an intimate media conference, Maki told PUSH ABS-CBN that he had always intended to create a song that would parallel the world of “Dilaw,” whose music video ended with an open-ended storyline.
“Para sa akin kasi yellow and pink, ito yung pinaka intense na love na na-experience ko so I chose na ipagtapat sila and same din yung date ng release date ng ‘Dilaw’ and “Habangbuhay Pansamantala’ kasi it connects to the idea na I want to put out na which is for some reasons sa music videos ko, hindi nagkakatuluyan, hindi masyadong happy ending, laging may tanong,” Maki said.
The singer explained that he wanted to connect the storylines he created, beginning with the yellow-themed world of “Dilaw” and continuing with the pink-inspired narrative of his newest track.
“Hindi ko alam din na why siya nagresonate sa akin pero I directed the four music videos, but for some reason laging may ending kung nasaan na siya and about nangyari. Pinagtagpi-tagpi ko yung first idea na naisip ko from ‘Dilaw’ pa lang kasi naisip ko dapat na may katapat itong song na ito,” he expressed.
Maki revealed that the concept had been with him long before it was released: “Hindi ko alam na pupunta siya two years after. Naisulat ko na siya way before may nangyari na dystopian (part from the MV). Minanifest ko lang siguro… Nag-reflect lang talaga kung ano yung nasa heart and mind ko and ano yung pinu-put out ko.”
Beyond the interconnected storyline, Maki also explained why he chose his friends, BINI’s Maloi Ricalde and SB19’s Justin De Dios, to star in the music videos for “Dilaw” and “Habangbuhay Pansamantala,” respectively.
“I’m a big fan of P-pop talaga and siguro I can consider myself now as a P-pop also and a part of me is I want to support my friends and I see a vision na malaki ang potential ng P-pop din as a whole kasi OPM is rising talaga and I feel like P-pop also is malaki ang part sa pagrise na iyon,” Maki explained.
The singer-songwriter recalled that Maloi had actually been his first choice for an earlier project before eventually becoming part of “Dilaw” at a time when both of their careers were gaining momentum in the local music scene.
“I remember, I chose Maloi way before sa ‘Dilaw.’ Sa ‘Saan?’ dapat doon siya pero I don’t have pa the (means) to choose. When we cast Maloi, sobrang sakto noon kasi noong time din na iyon paakyat ang ‘Pantropiko’ so parang ang ganda na we supported each other that way,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maki said Justin was a natural choice for “Habangbuhay Pansamantala” because of their shared creative vision.
“Justin is a very, very intelligent creative. Marami kaming (similarities) and gets na gets namin ang isa’t isa. Noong sinabi ko yung ideas ko sa kaniya, sobra siyang game. Sobrang gaan katrabaho ni Justin. Hindi kami nahirapan sa kaniya and sobra niyang professional. Ang galing niya mag-acting and director din kasi siya and actor,” Maki said.
For Maki, surrounding himself with like-minded creatives continues to fuel his artistic passion.
“I surround myself with the people who are creative also, who can understand my baliw mind when it comes to creativity kasi sometimes the greatest ideas hindi lumalabas kasi you are not with the right people that’s why I surrounded myself with Maloi sa ‘Dlilaw’ and Justin sa pink sa ‘Habangbuhay Pansamantala,'” he expressed.
“Happy ako na lahat ng pinili namin to be part of the music videos, game sila.”
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While working with his friends, Maki also expressed his hope to bring them together and celebrated the colorful journey he had through his songs and music videos.
“Sana mag-align yung universe kasi I would love to celebrate din with the both of them and with other people na nakasama ko rin sa MVs like sina Kyler, Zeke Abella, and Alexei Claire, Jannah. Sana magkita kita rin kami na malay niyo may music video na magkita kami sabay-sabay lahat,” he said.