Awit Awards nod a confidence booster for P-pop artist Jace Roque

Jace Roque on the cover of his latest EP

Awards nights were something Jace Roque used to just watch on television growing up. Last November, the P-pop artist finally got to experience walking the red carpet of a prestigious body—the 35th Awit Awards—as one of the nominees in the favorite male artist category.

And while he didn’t go home with the trophy (Darren Espanto did), the nomination itself was already a win, he said, because it gave him validation and a much-needed confidence boost.

“I feel grateful. I have always hoped for my body of work to be recognized. Attending the awards night was surreal. I used to see it only on television—now I got to be part of it. I enjoyed walking the red carpet. But more than the glitz and the glamor, I loved the feeling of being surrounded by so many talented people,” he told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

Win for all

Being immersed in such a creative atmosphere, he said, inspired him to work even harder or pursue loftier goals. “Even if I didn’t win, I still felt really happy. Either way, it’s the fans and the music industry that win… I enjoyed cheering for my fellow artists. I will continue cheering for them until—hopefully—I get my turn to go up onstage,” he said.

Asked if he puts more importance on critical acclaim than commercial success, the singer-songwriter said: “It’s a balance of the two. You need commercial success, you need to earn so you can continue what you’re doing. But of course every artist wants to leave a mark.”

Jace, who’s behind electronic pop bops “Sober” and “Day and Night,” recently dropped his new EP “Inferno,” which features the singles “Be Someone” and “Back to the Beginning,” which both charted on iTunes Philippines and amassed over a million views on Facebook.

Song inspiration

The EP, whose title was inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy,” focuses on personal pains and hardships Jace endured in the past couple of years. “I was truthful and unapologetic in the way I described the pain I went through,” he said. “The EP touches on romantic relationships, family and career.”

“I felt the title was a fitting word to describe my emotions back then, because I felt like I was burning inside. I lost my drive and almost gave up on my music career. But now, I think it was a crucial phase that helped me realize that I still have a lot to live for,” said Jace, who described the creative process behind “Inferno” as therapeutic.

“Writing about my pain helped me move on and let go of the things I had been keeping inside me,” he added. “And now I feel like my recent nomination and this new EP are my rewards after everything that happened. It’s time to be happy now.”