While some artists need specific experience and inspiration in order to write about certain topics, composer-writer-director Joven Tan is among those who can weave stories and songs out of his own imagination and ideas.
It helps that Joven, grand prize winner of “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2013” for the heartbreaking ballad “Anong Nangyari Sa’ting Dalawa?,” has been in the publishing industry for a long time now.
“Gumagawa ako ng mga comics, may book ako na out sa market. ‘Yun ‘yung trabaho ko eh,” he tells us at the “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2014” press conference. “So kapag sinabi mo sa’kin na gumawa ako ng mga kanta para sa mga drug addict, gagawa ako. Pero hindi ako addict. ‘Pag gumawa ako ng tungkol sa mga patayan… hindi naman ako violent person pero siyempre kung [‘yun] ‘yung hiningi, gagawin ko.”
Refusing to confine himself inside the box became a fuel that drove Joven further towards expanding himself as an artist. It’s no surprise then that his entry for this year’s “Himig Handog” tackles a subject that has not been fully tapped in music: same-sex love.
“’
Pag nakakulong ka kasi sa isang genre,
wala kang masyadong magagawa. Dapat ‘yung mga hindi pa nagagawa, ‘yun ang gawin mo,” he says.
“Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako” may tell a specific story yet it brims with the universal idea that everyone has a right to love and be loved.
“
Inisip ko lang talaga dapat kakaiba, dapat walang tinapakan, dapat pantay, dapat ang pagmamahal kahit sino, kahit anong ano mo sa buhay dapat puwede kang magmahal,” says Joven. “
At kahit hindi suklian, basta nagmahal ka. Kahit hindi bumalik sa’yo, ang importante nagawa mo ‘yung parte mo.”
Joven himself is relatively new in participating at songwriting competitions. “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2013” was the very first one he joined, and he was bent on making it into the cut again.
“
Gawa lang nang gawa. Kahit hindi magustuhan ‘yung gawa mo, gawa lang nang gawa kasi for sure hihigitan at hihigatan mo ‘yung huling gawa mo,” he says as advice to songwriting hopefuls. “
Maniwala ka lang sa sarili mo. Soon, ‘yung iba maniniwala rin sa’yo.”
Check out the music video for “Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako:”
MICHAEL PANGILINAN - Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako (Official Music Video)
Watch Michael Pangilinan as he performs “Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako” at the finals night of “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2014” this Sept. 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For ticket inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-55-55 or log on to
ticketnet.com.ph.
The “Himjg Handog” compilation album is available in physical format at P299. Digital copies can be downloaded at
Star Music and
iTunes.
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