MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Blaster has grown to be one of the most respected and collaborative musicians of this generation. With the release of his new single “Nararararamdaman” that is already out on all music streaming platforms, he demonstrated why he is one of the reasons local music is in good hands. Composed by Silonga, the song is a co-production with his band, the Celestial Klownz, which has been performing with him since live gigs resumed recently.
Blaster shared, “[Nararararamdaman]” is about the fear of growing old and missing out.” He added that he was inspired by a scene featuring actors Ronaldo Valdez and Gina Parreno from the Filipino romantic comedy Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang? (1998). He added that in making the song, he wanted to capture what he calls the “paranoia of Frustrated Musicians,” or those find it hard to pursue their art because of how they were living.
Blaster’s music has been known for its inspiration from the Manila Sound movement of the 1970s, the earliest attempt to make distinctly Filipino popular music. However, “Nararararamdaman” draws its inspiration from a more recent band that has made its own mark on OPM starting in the early 21st century. Blaster says that he was listening to the Itchyworms, known for hits such as “Akin Ka Na Lang” and “Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay,” when he was composing his song. In celebrating OPM’s recent past, Blaster’s new single is a reminder that the talent and craft of his generation of musicians are what keeps local music going into the future.
Accompanying the release of BLASTER’s new single is a music video, directed by Daniel Aguilar, which premiered at an event held on August 19, at 5:00PM in Imajin: Arts and Music, Marikina City. The event featured a first look at the new video and performances from Halina, Hey June!, Lory, Blaster, and the Celestial Klownz and Lolo Roger. The event was presented by Island Records Philippines.
