Gloc-9 has more tales to tell

MANILA, Philippines - If you think Gloc-9, born Aristotle Pollisco, has already run out of songs as affecting and realistic as Sirena, then  you haven’t heard the latest yet. The rapper-songwriter has once again poured out his thoughts and emotions into his latest album under Universal Records. Titled Liham at Lihim, it consists of 12 tracks that speak of various facets of life. One of them is the single Magda, featuring Rico Blanco.

 According to the press release, the storyteller in Magda is not the rapper but another persona Ernesto, who has found a girl he had lost in Magda. He finds the latter as an adult woman, working nightly on a stage with only her shoes on.

Magda is so affecting that when its music video was presented to the entertainment press during the album launch, everyone expressed admiration for Gloc-9’s ability to tell a heartfelt story through a song. Jennylyn Mercado gives life to Magda in the music video while Alex Medina plays her true love Ernesto. The single instantly landed in MYX Daily Top 10 a day after the music video’s premiere.

Gloc-9 said he personally chose Jennylyn for the role. “Jennylyn is so beautiful and the longer (time) you look at her, the more she gets beautiful. There is also a certain pain in her eyes which is just perfect for the role.”

He, too, is not shy to admit that Freddie Aguilar’s Magdalena served as an inspiration for him to compose Magda. “I really admire Freddie’s Magdalena that when I heard it again playing on the radio while I was driving, it gave me the idea to write my own version pero di ko maatim na Magdalena din ang title so my wife Thea suggested the name Magda.”

But did he really intend to present Magda in a more dramatic approach?

“With regards to the story, I always see it as a blessing whenever I come up with a song kasi kada matatapos yung isang kanta na kahit ako natutuwa na pumunta sa ganun ‘yung story line at mahilig din po kasi ako mag-kwento at frustrated writer din siguro talaga ako,” he replied.

Gloc-9 added that he exerted equal effort for every song in the album line-up. In fact, it took him about six to seven months to complete Liham At Lihim because aside from other commitments, “I could no longer come up with something good; nahirapan na talaga ako for my third song that’s why this album had been so challenging. But I never gave up. Perhaps, there’s no need for me to prove my dedication towards work anymore dahil literal pong naubos ang buhok ko.”

Gloc-9 is suffering from hair loss or Alopecia, a reason why he decided to shave the sides of his head. “At least, my new look still suits my style.”

Asked if he devoted more time composing Magda than Sirena, he replied, “I didn’t think about Sirena during those times because just like what Jett Pangan told me, ‘Every time you do an album and you want to equal or surpass the previous one, di ka dapat ma-pressure.’ If you do your craft based on your love for your work then, you will come up with something better no matter what.”

Liham At Lihim also features such other artists as Zia Quizon (for Katulad Ng Iba), Quest (Siga), Kamikazee, Biboy Garcia of Queso and Manuel Legarda of Wolfgang (Kunwari ), Sly Kane (Huminahon Ka), Marc Abaya (Tsinelas Sa Putikan), Eunice Jorge of Gracenote (KMT), Denise Barbacena and Regine Velasquez. A former protégé of Gloc-9, Denise performed Hindi Sapat, a song dedicated to all mothers. “I’ve long wanted to write a song for them (mothers) as a way of saying thank you,” he said.

It delighted Gloc-9 no end when he came up with Takip Silim for Regine. He is thankful that the Songbird has agreed to sing his composition. “But I cannot imagine myself coaching her how to sing the song. She listened to it twice and in 30 minutes, she was done with the recording.”

He added, “Nag-request ako na sabayan n’ya yung last line of the first two verses and she asked me, ‘Gusto mo bang backup-an ko?’  Kaya ang back-up singer ko ay si Ms. Reg.”

 Completing the track list are Rap Ka Nga, Kuwento Mo and Itak Ni Andres.

 (Prior to the album’s press launch, Liham at Lihim was formally presented to music fans last Oct. 26 in Eastwood. The album is available in all music outlets nationwide.)