Maki, ibinunyag ang hindi inaasahang karanasan sa kumpanya ni James Reid

• Maki revealed that he once messaged Careless, hoping to become one of its artists, but never received a reply
• The singer shared the story with James Reid while promoting their new collaboration, "Luck"
• Maki said the setback became part of his journey of discovering himself as both an artist and a person
• Reid praised Maki's creativity and admitted he wished he had written "Luck" after first hearing the song

Singer-songwriter Maki looked back on an unexpected chapter in his career, revealing that he once tried to join James Reid's talent management company, Careless, years before eventually collaborating with the actor-singer on their latest single, "Luck."

During the press conference for the song in Quezon City on Wednesday, Maki shared that he had personally reached out to Careless in hopes of becoming one of its artists. However, his message never received a response.

"Nag chat ako sa Careless dati— way before. I was trying to sell myself. ‘Hi, I am an artist I want to be an artist sa Careless.’ Tapos hindi ako nireplyan. I told James that. He said ‘What?! Sayang!’ It was a fun moment for us."

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Instead of dwelling on the missed opportunity, Maki said the experience became part of the journey that shaped him into the artist he is today. He believes the challenges he encountered ultimately led him toward finding his own identity.

"But I had to go through a lot of circumstances in my life to discover myself as an artist and person."

The admiration between the two artists turned out to be mutual. Reid disclosed that he had already been following Maki's music before they officially worked together, adding that Maki's song "Marisol" was partly inspired by his own track, "Saan?"

Reid was particularly impressed by the creative universe Maki has built around his music, saying its depth and attention to detail stood out immediately.

"What stood out to me was the world he created. It is so intricate and intentional. It is so impressive to come up with these. He has a great team but a lot of it comes from Maki himself. It is so cool."

Their collaboration came together after Maki shared "Luck" with Reid while they were touring in Canada. Reid said he instantly recognized the song's potential and felt it could resonate with listeners beyond the Philippines.

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"It sounds so international. The song sounded like it would transcend borders, and it felt so fresh. I was like ‘Maki is this really you?’ It sounds so different."

Reid also admitted that he was envious after hearing the track because of how much he admired it.

"When I heard it I was so jealous I wish I wrote it. Thankful to be in it."

"Luck" marks the continuation of Maki's "pink era," expanding the colorful musical universe he introduced through "habangbuhay pansamantala" while bringing together two artists whose paths unexpectedly crossed years after an unanswered message.

Ralph William "Maki" King is a rising Filipino singer-songwriter best known for his viral hit singles "Sining" and "Dilaw," the latter of which became the first OPM track to top the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart. Signed under Tarsier Records, he has established himself as one of the defining voices of modern OPM through his signature blend of soulful vocals and relatable, emotionally charged pop lyrics.

In another report, Maki opened up about the deeply personal meaning behind his song Habangbuhay Pansamantala, revealing that it was inspired by his long-standing feeling of being only a temporary presence in other people's lives. He explained that the title combines two opposing ideas to capture the emotional contradiction he often experiences in love. According to the singer-songwriter, the track reflects his fear of eventually being replaced, even during moments that seem lasting, genuine, and filled with deep emotional connection.

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Meanwhile, James Reid shared that genuine wealth should not be measured solely by money or material possessions but by a person's capacity to give and build meaningful relationships. The actor referenced a long-running Harvard study, saying strong human connections contribute the most to happiness and a longer life. James revealed that this realization inspired him while writing his song Richest Man Alive, which was shaped by the love and fulfillment he has experienced. He is also set to star with Kathryn Bernardo in the upcoming ABS-CBN series Someone, Someday.

Source: KAMI.com.gh