How Maris Racal worked with her idol Rico Blanco

MANILA, Philippines — Maris Racal’s collaboration with one of Original Pilipino Music’s (OPM) finest artists Rico Blanco is definitely one for the books and something to remember in her musical career.

From a simple fangirl, Racal was able to work with Blanco in her latest single “Abot Langit.”

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The 21-year-old singer-actress revealed on Tuesday that the dream project started with a simple engagement via Twitter.

Maris Racal poses for the press and bloggers in a conference held at ELJ Communications Center in Quezon City on May 21, 2019. PHOTO by Krissy Aguilar / INQUIRER.net

“Nag-start ‘tong collaboration na ‘to, siguro very vocal lang ako na sobrang, like sa Twitter, pa-simple lang na ‘Sana ma-meet ko siya.’ Pero alam na ng fans na ganon,” Racal narrated during a press conference.

(This collaboration started on Twitter. Maybe I’m just very vocal. I said I hope to meet him. But the fans know.)

“And then one time nagtweet ako na, looking for someone na makakacollaborate ko when it comes to songwriting and then magcritique sa mga nasulat ko, so ‘yun. Nagtweet ako ng ganun tapos biglang may isang fan na nagtag sa kanya and then bigla siya nag-reply,” she added.

(Then one time I tweeted that I was looking for someone to collaborate with in songwriting and someone who could critique my work. One fan tagged him, and he replied.)

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Racal recalled going to Blanco’s studio to let him listen to the songs she has written: “Pumunta ako sa studio niya and then pinlay ko lahat ng songs ko na nasulat.”

“Yung mga nasulat na finished na and I think medyo proud ako na ipaparinig sa kanya, ‘yun lang ‘yung mga songs na confident ako iparinig sa kanya (I asked him to listen to the songs I finished and which I am proud of),” she added.

It was the first time for Racal to meet Blanco at the time. When asked about the experience, she said she could not remember much.

“Parang blurry ‘yung lahat kasi ako bilang nilolook up ko siya na artist, for me siya ‘yung pinakamagaling, like no offense, like personal opinion lang,” she gushed.

(Everything was blurry because I look up to him as an artist. For me, he is the best. No offense to anyone, but that’s my personal opinion.)

The singer-actress also said she could not put words into her feelings. “Actually after naming tinapos yung song, di ko na alam, tumakbo ako sa kotse ko tapos sumigaw lang, ganun.

(Actually, after he finished listening to the song, I don’t know, maybe I run to the car and shouted),” she added.

Racal also shared a piece of advice Blanco gave her: “Meron din ako pinarinig sa kanya na I’m sure na sa taste niya, magugustuhan niya and then sabi niya, ‘yung advice niya sa’kin sa age ko, ‘Wag ka munang dumiretso doon.”

(I asked him to listen to something that I’m sure was his taste. He liked it but he said that at my age I should not go there yet.)

“Doon ka muna sa sweet, pop, catchy song and then i-maintain mo lang siya until you can do your thing na which is ‘yung artsy kind of songs. So yun yung advice niya sakin,” she added.

(Stay with sweet, pop, catchy songs. Just maintain it until you can do your own thing, which is the artsy kind of songs. That’s his advice.)

“Abot Langit” is Racal’s first single released this year. Her last single was the Himig Handog 2018 entry “Sugarol.” (Editor: Eden Estopace)