Foiled release more a blessing than a setback for Eric Ejercito’s sophomore single

Eric Ejercito

Just when Eric Ejercito was all set to drop his sophomore single, “Fool,” the COVID-19 pandemic happened. But while he had to postpone the release for almost three years, he doesn’t necessarily see it as a setback.

With the P-pop scene steadily gaining ground, Eric, who draws musical and visual inspiration from Korean, Japanese and Western pop, feels that now is a better time to showcase his work.

“I don’t think the delay was unfortunate. It’s actually a good time now because of the boom of P-pop in the local industry,” Eric said in a recent online press launch for “Fool” (Viva Records). “If I had released it then, the production would have been very different.”

The eldest of actor-politician ER Ejercito’s six children, Eric first discovered K-pop after some people told him the way he looks or styles himself resembles the typical Korean idol aesthetic. Before long, he found himself “bitten by the (K-pop) bug.”

“I’m heavily inspired by K-pop … But while there are influences of that in my sound, my music is still about me exploring pop. I’m also influenced by other forms of the genre, whether from soloists or groups,” related Eric, whose “super idol” is Jackson Wong— a Chinese singer who gained international recognition as part of the South Korean boy band Got7.

Eric also once dreamed of being part of a pop group. But now, he sees the advantages of going solo. “I grew up listening to N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys. And when I was just starting, I was trying to contact other Viva artists [for a potential group]. It was during a time when boy bands weren’t as many as they are now,” he said.

“But the good thing about being a solo artist is that you can do things at your own pace. Hawak ko ang oras ko when it comes to organizing my schedule. I like everything in place,” Eric added. “And when you’re producing, writing and codirecting all your work, everything the people see in your final output is your own vision.”

Does he think it would be a challenge to penetrate the P-pop scene, now that new groups and acts are sprouting left and right? “I feel happy that there’s a community now. It’s fantastic that there are support systems or conventions for the genre. The industry may be harder to penetrate, but that’s a good thing, because then everyone will have to do his or her best,” he said.

Exuberant electropop

“Fool,” an exuberant electropop-tinged dance ditty, was inspired by a past heartbreak that had him reevaluating his self-worth. “It was based on a personal experience, like all my songs. Everyone has been a fool at one point in his or her life, I’m sure. So was I. I didn’t realize my self-worth. I knew I deserved better, but I still settled for that person. But you have to go through experiences like that because they make you a better person,” he related.

The song’s upcoming music video, which Eric codirected, will be a convergence of sorts of his love for “filmmaking, dance, music and art design.” If there’s one thing he has learned from K-pop, it’s the attention to aesthetic and detail. “It’s one of K-pop’s edge. The song shouldn’t only sound good; it also has to have appealing visuals … music videos with smooth cuts and editing,” he said.

Given the chance, Eric said he would also like to do more acting projects. But for now, music remains the top priority. “ I want to be known as a versatile artist … I’m managing to give it my all every day. It’s tough producing and performing at the same time. But I’m very grateful to the people who have helped me along the way,” Eric said. INQ