10 Underrated OPM Artists That Debuted In 2020
I'm sure we all have listened to so much music the past year due to quarantine, especially me. So I have made a list of great OPM artist that haven't really gotten the attention they deserve. Some with great musicality and some with boundary breaking music in the OPM industry.
1. reon
"reon" (麗音 in Kanji) meaning "麗" is beautiful, "音" is sound, is a Filipino indie music duo formed in 2020 which focuses mainly on making bedroom pop music. The band consists of Noah Alejandre (singer-songwriter, producer) and Reanne Julia Borela (singer-songwriter).
I first found them in a Spotify playlist and was intrigued by their name. The first song I heard from them was their song called "Suyo" and I was impressed by the musicality but personally it just wasn't my cup of tea in terms of style of the music. I dove deep into their discography and listened to their song "A Song Without You" and it caught my attention even more because of it's pop electronic sound with a mix of a raw style of song writing.
I'd recommend listening to their slower songs as well like "better off without you" and "Dreams" but if you are looking for an indie pop kinda sound, they recently released a song called "Got Nothin' To Do".
2. YNISH
"YNISH", Singer-songwriter, music producer from Sorsogon, that has a pop, indie, contemporary r&b type of music.
I discovered her song "Let Go" from the recommended section in Spotify. I instantly got hooked from the intro and throughout the song because of it's chill electronic r&b vibe it had. I began to listen to her other songs and it had the same high quality production her first release had. I believe her unique pop vocals needs to be heard more in the OPM industry.
3. Michael Pacquiao
"Michael Pacquiao" is a Filipino rapper with a unique r&b bedroom hiphop type of sound, also known as the son of famous boxer "Manny Pacquiao".
I actually knew him for the hate he receives from his music. I got curious with the type of music he makes and why people think he's not a good rapper but to my surprise he was very creative and unique especially to the OPM sound.
His song "Maxine" intrigued me the most because of how catchy the song was together with a mix of chill r&b elements to it. He actually has a decent amount of people who know him but I added him to this list because I'd personally say he deserves more support as he breaks a lot of the Filipino standards that not most can appreciate.
4. Butterfly den
"Butterfly Den" is an alternative rock band from Rizal, formed in November of 2019. The band consists of Ryan Cachuela on Vocals/Guitar, Martin Cruz on Guitar and Kern Faminialagao on Drums. They take inspiration from the decades before us, combining it with a new modern take.
I discovered them through mutual friends of mine and they caught my attention to one of their song "Tukso". They mix their classy rock sound together with modern musical progressions. Although going out on road trips nowadays aren't recommended, you'd pretty much feel like you are on one when listening to their music. They recently released a song called "The Simp Song" and to no surprise, it doesn't disappoint.
5. Wuji Wuji
"Wuji Wuji", 19 & 20 year old Manila based kids with a City Pop/Jazz/Funk inspired sound. Livin' the 2014 zombie virus dream.
I've known them personally before they even started music and the growth I've witnessed in them is pretty crazy. They have this crazy experimental indie jazzy pop sound that makes them unique not only to the OPM industry but throughout the world. There's nothing much like their music that captures much emotion and yet makes you bop your head. They recently released "St. (feat. aunt robert)" and it definitely have shown another side to them musically and mostly lyrically.
I personally look up to how unique they present themselves to the industry and I definitely believe they deserve so much support internationally.
6. aunt robert
"aunt robert", an indie bedroom rock singer-songwriter.
Also known as No Rome's sister, she taps into an entirely fresh bedroom rock sound. Her strong vocals, unique song writing, and musicality is what shines most in her music. It's personally hard to pick a favourite track in her EP "Congratulations, I'm Still Here" because all the tracks tap into certain late night emotions good to listen to on bed.
Definitely deserves more love for her music.
7. Samantha Baltazar
"Samantha Baltazar", an indie 17 year old singer-songwriter.
Around our circle of friends, Her vocals known for needing no auto-tune, Samantha has a different way of expressing herself through her song writing. She taps into a more dark gritty pop sound with her soothing vocals. Her song "All That Remains" makes the standard of a of indie pop music so much higher in the OPM industry.
She definitely deserves more support for her music and you can support her through her YouTube channel "Samantha Baltazar" as she constantly comes out with song covers.
8. Carsian
"Carsian", Filipino artist, animator, and electronic music producer. In love with the ocean.
His music truly an inspiration to many bedroom producers out there. Not just in the OPM industry but internationally, he breaks a lot of the norm when it comes to "indie music". His soulful music not just captures his love for the ocean but also expresses the true beauty of it as well. But music isn't all he does. His animations really support the audio visual experience that his music offers.
With the quality of production and music he offers, he deserves much more.
9. Mish
With a very refreshing raw acoustic sound, her very soft vocals, and poetic lyrics easily captures your heart first listen. Her EP "Inspired by:" has a tracks to sooth you to sleep. I personally love the song "Age of in Between" as it captures the sad reality of growing older especially in the awkward in between that is being a young adult.
The OPM industry definitely needs more of her music.
https://open.spotify.com/album/78Rf4kizrIjMGB002v6nJt?si=HknchssyT4-SDfGHld-aCA
https://open.spotify.com/album/78Rf4kizrIjMGB002v6nJt?si=HknchssyT4-SDfGHld-aCA
10. jr. aori
"jr. aori" is a solo project by singer/songwriter Ivan Emperador. He made his debut with 'I Still Think Of You' during quarantine and plans to venture into various music genres in the near future.
He breaks a few norms in the OPM industry by writing his debut song "I Still Think Of You (feat. Wuji Wuji)" in Korean and English. He doesn't just produce his own music but was the Director, Director of Photography, and Editor of his music videos.
He hopes for everyone to look forward to an upcoming release.
Author: Ivan E.
something tells me jr. aori is behind this post
ReplyDeletehere is my constructive criticism:
Delete– top tier list, very good recommendations
– high chance that readers will end up checking out the music
– has relevant/basic info, well-researched on and not too draggy
– Author included personal thoughts as to why they enjoyed listening to the mentioned artists, making it easier for readers to relate to.
– I think the only thing I'd suggest, (but not necessary) is to create a playlist for the reader's convenience. I feel as though it could make the entire thing more effective because the reader will actually be able to add the songs without having to search them one by one.
– Links to the respective artists may also be helpful.
Overall great work!
Ivan!! Reading your post was surely informative and very enjoyable! Discovering new artists and sharing their music to those around you is always great, and your list of artists did not disappoint. I appreciate how you added links for each artist, as it’s more convenient for readers when searching about them or listening to their tracks. Additionally, your post was straight to the point and wasn’t too long. There are a few grammatical errors regarding tenses and pronunciation marks which I think you could improve on, but it would definitely be an easy fix with a few adjustments and some rereading. Despite this, reading your thoughts and opinions as to why you chose these artists were great and very helpful, since it gives the reader an idea on what their music sounds like and what its meaning is in others’ perspective. Overall, you did a great job on this post and on using your platform to spread the wonders and variety of music that people have yet to see and listen to!
ReplyDeleteThis was such an informative post! I appreciate how it didn't drag, instead it was very concise. The list was also well curated. I appreciate that about this because unlike other blogs with a topic like this, the artists that you featured on your post are truly underrated. There are some errors in spelling and grammar here and there, but nothing a few edits can't fix. Overall, your blog makes me want to check out these artists' music! Great job!
ReplyDeleteFantastic showcase of artists. Your writing style is convincing and personalized, allowing readers like me to get invested and hear you out 'til the end of the post. Seems your write-up was a success! I am very interested in listening to every single one of these artists, and the way you presented your list gives the impression that you have a very well-seasoned and respectable music taste.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the kind words ! It was such a pleasant surprise.
It’s obvious your goal here was to promote more OPM artists, and I must say: Fair play man, it worked. I don’t really listen to much OPM, but after reading through your blog, I ended up checking out some of the stuff that was recommended. Additionally, if my experience when reading your blog is anything to go by, readers are very likely to listen to the music you recommended cuz it surely worked for me. I really gotta hand it to ya, every word that I read kept my eyes latched onto the screen. You were very persuasive which made me want to read everything you had to say. Good job!
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt this post is very well written. with just the right amount of spacing in between sections. Without a doubt this post flows like butter on bread, it is simply easy to digest and has the right amount of detail construed along the way. This post was the most fun to read and simply works. The ending is simply beautiful and closes the post like beautiful top 10 list with just the right amount of sauce. This post without a doubt is well done like that one youtube video that everyone looks for before eating their meals.
ReplyDeleteI love this blog so so much!! I will definitely be checking out your recommendations (like 100% honest, no lie, I actually will). It was easy and fun to read, straight to the point, flattering for the artists, and included the perfect amount of description, backstory, and media. I especially love how you included both their photos and links to their work. Great great job !!:)
ReplyDelete