Jong Madaliday, runner-up of the reality singing contest “The Clash,” cultivated his passion for music by listening to his favorite songs on the radio while growing up in his hometown in Cotabato province.
That’s why he couldn’t help but get emotional the first time he heard his first original single, “Ano Ba,” playing on the radio. “It’s a big honor for me, because this is something I used to just imagine. It feels heartening; like something out of a dream,” he said at a press conference.
The newbie singer, who leans toward R&B music, said his song reflects his upbeat and bubbly personality.
“It’s about someone confused about how he stands in a relationship. Is he starting to actually fall in love, or is he simply having fun?,” he said of his song, which was released by GMA Music on various streaming services like Spotify.
“Being able to share a part of yourself through your own music is a great feeling,” added Jong, who also writes his own material. “It has been a habit of mine to write about my experiences. I have one about heartbreak, and I gave a copy of it to our label. Hopefully, it’s good enough [for release].”
Like Jong, his fellow “Clashers” Garrett Bolden and Anthony Rosaldo, have also released their debut singles, which have gotten the same kind of promotion from GMA Music.
For Garrett, who hails from Pampanga, the warm reception his single, “Lilipad Na,” received from his listeners has inspired him to work even harder.
“Knowing that many people appreciate the song is overwhelming. And I’m motivated to write new and original songs,” related Garrett, whose smooth vocals lends itself well to “Lilipad Na,” a soulful love ballad reminiscent of 1990s R&B jams.
“The song tells us that if you love someone or plan to be with him or her, then go for it,” he said. “It’s about taking chances and keeping a positive mindset about it.”
Anthony’s “Larawan Mo,” meanwhile, is a power ballad that references his own experiences. “It’s about a past heartbreak—I fell in love with a girl who was already taken,” related the singer, who had joined other contests like “Spogify Singing Bae” in “Eat Bulaga!” and “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in “It’s Showtime” prior to “The Clash.”
“Your heart can’t choose who to fall in love with. Some stories aren’t meant to have a happy ending, but you always have the option to choose the right thing to do,” he added.
Not everyone gets to have his own single, Anthony stressed, so he made sure to pour himself to it.
“This is a privilege for me. In a way, this is an opportunity for us to show what we’re capable of. This is one of the steps toward our goals,” said Anthony, a big Gary Valenciano fan. “My dream is to become someone like my idols, and to have an extensive catalogue of songs.”