Matt Lozano sings about self-love in Kwarto

MANILA, Philippines — Matt Lozano is the voice behind Kwarto, a song about self-love. The latter is his “personal letter” to listeners, who still find their foothold after a break-up. The grand winner of 2016 Eat, Bulaga’s Spogify ft. Singing Baes reminds everyone that loving oneself is a vital step to start anew after a failed relationship.

“I actually wrote it during this pandemic,” said Matt about the milieu that inspired his most recent tune Kwarto in a media call. “It’s about a failed relationship. Ang Kwarto ay sinulat ko para mamulat ang mga tao na hindi lang sila yung nakakaranas nang mga ganitong bagay (o pakiramdam) na iniwan nang kanilang mga mahal. Lahat ng yun ay nararanasan natin, nasasaktan tayong lahat. (I wrote it as a reminder that at some point of everyone’s life, we have experienced or will experience break-up. All get hurt in the process of loving others.)”

The song narrative provides that hope or epiphany that every lover will discover how to move on.

“I want them to understand that we can (face break-up) and carry on kahit iniiwan tayo,” said Matt. “Ang importante ay mahalin natin yung sarili natin (What’s important is we have to love ourselves)… kahit nasasaktan tayo.”

According to Matt, the song was inspired by experiences of people close to him. “I did interview friends,” shared he. “When I was writing the song, I just stayed in my room. Kaya ko naisip na wala naman akong ginagawa (ngayong) pandemic, bakit hindi ako magsulat ng kanta about love. Originally, this song was a love song. If you will listen to its first verse, para akong kinikilig, pero pagdating ng chorus biglang, ah, hindi pala, kasi iniwan ako. That’s my song, that’s Kwarto.”

The young artist has done more than 10 songs thus far. But Kwarto is the first one which has been released for the public’s enjoyment. Matt hoped to share another song before the year ends.

“Sana ma-pick up nang mga tao (I hope people will pick it up and enjoy it),” said he. “I’m really excited to showcase my songwriting and talent. I can say that my genre is pop. Originally, my main genre, however, was blues and soul.” The artist in Matt will beautifully mix those genres in his music to encompass what both musicians and listeners like.

As for his creative process and collaboration with other artists, he said, “Binibigyan nila (my producers) ako nang freedom to (explore) my being musician-artist… I’m so happy because they are giving me this kind of opportunity to present myself.”

Aside from his music, Matt is also busy preparing for his Big Bert Armstrong role in the upcoming GMA series, Voltes V: Legacy.

“Right now, they (some cast members and crew) are currently in a lock-in taping,” Matt gave a quick update on the live-action adaptation of the iconic Japanese anime TV series. “I’m doing my personal training for my stunts and weapon (handling) with Ysabel Ortega and Miguel Tanfelix. What we want to happen is, we’re already ready (for the work ahead of us once we’re on the bubble set)… Ayoko namang mangyari yun na pagdating namin duon, duon palang kami magsisimula. That’s why we’ve begun training now.”

The series will see Miguel and Ysabel play the roles of Steve Armstrong and Jamie Robinson, respectively. Radson Flores and Raphael Landicho, as Mark Gordon and Little Jon, are also part of the main cast.

In a TV interview, Matt described Big Bert as a very happy person. “But at the back of his mind, there’s the feeling of sadness. As the fans know it, the Armstrong brothers are sad dahil sa pagkawala ng daddy nila. Pareho kami na kahit nalulungkot, gumagawa pa rin ng way para mapasaya (ang) lahat, hindi lang yung sarili ko pati yung mga nakapaligid sa akin,” said he. The Kapuso talent added that his character is not only a martial artist but also a military man. Prior to the audition, Matt asked the help of an arnis grandmaster to teach him the proper use of the long stick, Big Bert’s favorite weapon.

Voltes V: Legacy is not Matt’s first foray into acting. He played as the younger brother of KC Concepcion’s character in the movie When I Met U, which also starred Richard Gutierrez. Matt also got signed up with another network. As you recall, he won the Singing Baes contest.

On top of all this, one can also find in Matt’s resume that he is also a plus-size model.

“I just love myself, sobrang i-na-accept ko kung ano ako,” said he. “Before payat naman ako. I would work out a lot. But nung lumaki yung weight ko, dun ako medyo nawala sa showbiz, I stopped doing (show business), I think, for four years din ata.”

His hiatus from show business provided Matt the time to give music as a creative endeavor a try. From there, he started to play in bars and got regular gigs.

“I’m happy because when I was performing, I felt that maybe walang pakialam yung tao sa weight ko (people didn’t mind my weight) because tinutugtugan ko sila, and that’s what matters (to me), when people enjoy it. Dun ako actually nagkaroon nang confidence (That was actually when I gained back my confidence from my weight issue) and I always give my best when it comes to performing.”

For Matt, his love for music has always been there since he was young. And now that he has renewed his ties with it, Matt is bound to do one thing: “This is the time that I make music.” Kwarto is another step for him to discover more of his potential as a singer-songwriter.

(Check out Kwarto on YouTube under Spotlight Music Sessions.)