Iñigo Pascual finally finds his sound
After two years in the making, Iñigo Pascual has finally released his sophomore album Options under ABS-CBN Music’s Tarsier Records. And it records many firsts for the 23-year-old performer.
Options is his first internationally promoted album. The whole creative process allowed him (for the first time!) to collaborate with global music producers like Bernard “HARV” Harvey, Common Kings and DJ Flict; get international airplay such as in the “biggest radio station in America” KIIS FM; and perform singles in overseas venues even before the full album was released.
“With this album, there were a lot of things that I was able to do. I was able to perform at Staples Center, Times Square and London Barrio Fiesta, and all of those different places I never thought I’d be able to perform in. Grammy award parties, napuntahan ko,” Iñigo recently told The STAR in an exclusive virtual interview. “I guess (my biggest discovery) was to never shortchange your dreams, your passion. Don’t be scared to try new things and don’t be scared of pandemics. I mean, of course, be careful. But don’t be scared na mawala lahat because of the pandemic.”
Tarsier Records founder and label head Chris Lopez a.k.a. Moophs said, “He’s our flagship. I always tell him, he’s the tip of the spear, he’s the one doing it first, and if he does it, it will open the way for other people.”
Of course, had the pandemic not happened, there could have been more firsts for Iñigo. Finishing Options amid lockdowns and all was a miracle in itself, according to Moophs. Despite delays and difficulties, quitting the project was never an option for Iñigo. “It’s a blessing to work with an artist like that,” the Filipino-American DJ/producer said.
Options is aimed at showcasing Original Pilipino Music (OPM) to music fans worldwide. It has a running theme about self-discovery — the story of Iñigo’s life. “It’s about all the things you go through, especially as a young adult, with certain decisions and options that you have to consider,” the singer said.
It’s more mature in sound than his 2016 debut record as he got to explore various genres — from dance-pop, island pop, dancehall, R&B, reggae to acoustic — to discover his own brand of pop. “I really feel like I found my sound through this album.”
Options is a mix of 12 solo acts and collaborations, including Danger, his collab with the Grammy-nominated Common Kings and DJ Flict, and the album’s keystone release Neverland, a pop-R&B track produced by Justin Bieber’s frequent collaborator HARV.
The album also features Iñigo’s collabs with Moophs such as his hit 2019 single Catching Feelings, Lost and one of Apple Music’s Top 100 Songs of 2020, Always.
The Kapamilya star hopes to perform Options, which is now out on major streaming platforms, before a live audience. “I wanna do a concert in person. Gusto ko na makita lahat. Feeling ko iiyak talaga ako ‘pag dumating na yung time na may audience na ulit kasi parang nakakapanibago. Parang first time ulit na mag-perform na may sumisigaw. And I miss that!”
Besides the making of Options, Iñigo also discussed his other music dreams during the one-on-one with STAR.
On finding his sound with Options:
“When we did this album, I was honestly so scared because we didn’t know how to go about it. I didn’t know what kind of sound I was supposed to make or what genre. Coming from Dahil Sa ‘Yo (the hit single from his self-titled) first album, I didn’t know how to make myself different, but at the same time sticking to what I felt like was me.
“With this album, I felt I was able to find my sound. I feel like while we were making the album, dun ko nahanap yung sound na gusto kong i-pursue. I wanted to elevate my sound and create something with a purpose to showcase Filipino music or what Filipino music can sound like.”
On overcoming production challenges:
“Sobra, madami (challenges)! Siempre yung nangyari yung lockdown and nung shutdown ng ABS-CBN, a lot of things na sabi ko, saan na ako pupunta, saan na ba tayo pupunta? And I had this album that we had been working on, are we going to continue on this album? So, there were a lot of moments that I felt anxious about my career and even life in general.
“With this album in particular, we were supposed to be on tour in the UK just weeks before the quarantine started and I couldn’t continue on with it. Madaming times na na-sad talaga ako. But every time we had a meeting for the album, na-excite pa rin ako, ‘Uy mag-release pa rin tayo.’ We didn’t want to limit ourselves just because of the situation; we kept dreaming big.”
On writing his own songs:
“I have three songs that I wrote, Catching Feelings, Ride and Lost, even before the album was planned out. I already had those three songs and Chris helped me develop them into something beautiful. There are also two songs that I co-wrote, Options and Neverland. I was very hands-on with this album, each track and the way it was produced. I was very picky. I became more aware of how I want my sounds to sound like.
“Catching Feelings is one song that I’ve had for a long time. To see it become a song that’s just well-produced and every time I get to perform it and hear people sing the chorus, I still get amazed with that. It’s about being in that place in your life wherein you still keep chasing after something that you know will hurt you... It also relates to temptation. Some of the things that are dangerous for us, are the things that we look for.
“Ride is a carefree song of just being in love and spending the night together, driving and walking around. It’s like having no rules in a relationship but just being in love with each other. Lost is being so in love that you just get lost in each other. Yes, most of my songs are about love, and mas related to heartbreak. Siguro, para sa akin, mas na-enjoy ko magsulat ng love songs because I’m a hopeless romantic and I love the thought of falling in love.
“Right now, I’m not currently in love with someone. I’m in love with what I’m doing. I’ve been saying that and people are probably starting to get tired of my answers, but that’s the reality of it. We’re going through this pandemic, so much has been going on, ang hirap mag-start ng something.”
On having family as his biggest fan and critic:
“My biggest fan would have to be my lolo. He literally doesn’t listen to anything else but my music and it surprises me every time. There was a time when I used to live in my mom’s house, I would wake up and it was just my songs playing so loud around the house. It’s always my lolo. And even in the States, kotse niya, sasakay kami, it’s my album playing. He actually made a TikTok with me. Very supportive si lolo from the very beginning. Nagte-theater pa ako sa school, nagsko-school choir, siya nagdadala sa akin sa mga events ko, siya yung nagsusundo sa akin sa school, so I would say he’s my biggest fan.
“My dad (actor Piolo Pascual) is my biggest critic for sure, and my mom as well. But my dad is more… Hinihimay niya ang bawat kanta. Everytime he gets to listen to it, he really delves into the lyrics. Even the sound. And he would tell me, ‘I don’t really think this fits you’ or ‘I like that you’re sticking to this sound, keep going with it.’ Even with my performances, he really watches them. He really tells me what I should do better, what I shouldn’t do and what I should keep doing.”
On dreaming of a career on the international stage:
“Definitely, it’s part of my goals. Siempre may mga times, na mawawala yung love mo for what you’re doing because of things that are going on. But for me, I always try to go back to my whys, bakit ko ba sinimulan ‘to, bakit ba ako bumalik ng Pilipinas (after living in the States for 10 years) and why I wanted to start a career here.
“I’ve met so many of my supporters who have changed my perspective on what my job is and what my purpose is, and I try to go back to that. I try to go back to those people who gave me the meaning of what it truly means to be an artist, and it’s to touch people’s hearts. It surprises me sometimes that someone I’ve never met, I mean so much to them, that they know so much about me, that they listen to me or my songs 24/7 and support whatever I do.
“Yun talaga ang nagiging meaning para sakin sa pagiging artista, to bring that happiness to them and be that person who inspires them to study, to work harder and to not be afraid to dream.”
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