Bamboo, ibinunyag ang tunay na dahilan ng 11-taong pahinga sa musika

• Bamboo Mañalac is making his musical comeback after 11 years without releasing an album
• The singer explained that he prioritized spending meaningful time with his wife and children
• His comeback single, “Alon,” was written by composer and keyboardist Ria Osorio
• Bamboo hopes the song will connect with listeners experiencing anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty

After 11 years without releasing a new album, OPM rock icon Bamboo Mañalac is stepping back into the music scene with a new single, revealing that his extended break was largely influenced by his decision to prioritize his family.

In an interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the singer explained that taking a step back from his professional commitments allowed him to spend more time with his wife and children. Rather than rushing to release new material, he wanted to experience important family moments that he knew would not come around again.

“It’s just 11 years passed because it’s just about my life, right? I had priorities with my family. It told me that I have to sort of slow things down and focus on that. Because with having a family, you only get to live these moments once, right? I didn’t want to miss these moments. I thought they were crucial for me,” he said.

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Bamboo also expressed hope that the time away from his usual work routine helped him grow personally.

“And so that made me, I hope, a better person, right? Giving that pause away from work and whatever, and just finding the time to be back,” he added.

Now marking his return is “Alon,” a song written by composer and keyboardist Ria Osorio. Released under PolyEast Records' new sub-label filtered music, the track reportedly took several years to develop before Bamboo decided it was finally ready for listeners.

During his conversation with the media, the singer explained that his decision to release the song was not driven by industry expectations or pressure to make a comeback. Instead, he followed his instincts and chose a track that reflected his personal emotions.

“I’m not going out, I’m not touring, I’m not doing this. It gave me a little footing again, right? And ‘Alon’ just came about because it was the right song at the right time. It felt right for me. And to be honest, I wasn’t joking when my manager was saying, ‘Why, after all these years? Why put out something like this?’ He questioned it,” he shared.

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For Bamboo, creating music is more about expressing something meaningful than keeping up with what is popular.

“Sinasabi ko, it’s not about that. It’s about an emotion, what I feel. For me, it’s about riding your own wave, right? There’s a certain wave, a landscape people are going through now, so we’re not following something. It’s about creating something that means something to me. And it’s a kickoff to what’s going to happen next year,” he explained.

Despite the lengthy gap between album releases, the singer emphasized that his passion for exploring music never disappeared. He continues to challenge himself as an artist and remains interested in discovering what else he can accomplish.

“It’s finding meaning in that purpose, right? So it was never a question. I always moved forward, always did my thing, and it’s just the constant curiosity of being an artist. How far can I push myself? What are my own limits? That’s what’s important,” he said.

He further explained that the song resonated with his personal experiences, particularly the difficult emotions that come with navigating uncertain circumstances.

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“Because it spoke to me, basically. It speaks of a time, what’s happening. It’s what I felt day to day, right? That anxiety, that frustration, whatever happens, it spoke to me. And because I’m the kind of guy who listens to something and rolls with the wave, I’ll keep that emotion until the end,” he shared.

The singer also highlighted the importance of finding the strength to recover after experiencing difficult moments.

“And sometimes when you hit the bottom, you pick yourself up, you dust yourself off, and that’s when you can lift yourself up,” he added.

Beyond expressing his own experiences, Bamboo hopes “Alon” will provide comfort to people going through their respective struggles. He wants listeners to recognize that even when their circumstances differ, they can still relate to one another through shared emotions.

“So I’m hoping this song finds that emotional tie with people. That they can find that they’re not alone in this, right? Even though our circumstances are different, our lives are different, we share the same values of what we want for our people, right?” he said.

He also described the release as his way of responding to the challenges and uncertainty surrounding the world today. While he hopes to create more uplifting music, he believes there are important things that need attention before that happens.

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“I always say the world as humanity, all these things going on, right? The chaos going on. I just want to start thinking about happy songs again, right? To get back to that status quo. But when there are so many things going on, you have to prioritize. Before I can do this, I gotta figure this out now. So I’m putting this out as my calling card. Okay, we gotta bring it back. We gotta do something,” he said.

Francisco Gaudencio Lope Belardo Mañalac, popularly known simply as Bamboo, is a Filipino-American musician and singer-songwriter recognized as a prominent rock icon in the Philippines. He rose to fame as the original frontman of the rock bands Rivermaya and Bamboo, and later established a successful solo career alongside serving as a coach on The Voice of the Philippines.

In another report, Moira Dela Torre’s solo concert, originally scheduled for October 4, has been postponed to next year. Ovation Productions has yet to announce the new concert date and did not disclose the reason for the postponement.

Meanwhile, Juan Karlos “JK” Labajo celebrated his partner Dia Mate’s birthday with a sweet Instagram post featuring candid photos of the beauty queen. The carousel included snapshots of their dinner dates, playful moments over spicy food, and cozy selfies together.

Source: KAMI.com.gh