The 6-track release is written by syd herself, and produced by constant collaborator Brian Lotho
Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha
addresses her personal battles in life on gabay, her debut EP under Sony
Music Entertainment.
In touch with her own fragilities, syd
hartha digs deeper into her experiences with trauma, heartbreak, pandemic
stress, and healing on an EP that feels more than just a warm balm.
According to the young musician, gabay is crucial in reclaiming her identity as it helps her confront emotional truths in a way that is freeing and empowering. The folk-pop act explains, "My new EP is a compilation of different stories from my adventures and misadventures as a young woman. It mainly talks about healing and taking control over your own destiny; letting go of the past, and getting to know yourself again.”
Produced by Brian Lotho, gabay
features an esteemed list of collaborators and guests, including Pat Sarabia on
drums, Raisa Racelis on bass, and Bea Fabros for the lead guitar parts in
"kung nag-aatubili.” Incorporating delicate melodies and deceptively
simple arrangements with her folk-pop sound, syd hartha leaves listeners
mesmerized on gabay, a record that recognizes the importance of
asserting creative agency while inviting meaningful collaborations into the
fold.
The 6-track EP was originally intended
for an earlier release, but due to circumstances beyond her control, syd had to
start from scratch and rethink things through. “My band and I were already
scheduled for the recording of the whole EP in March 2020,” the paruparo
singer-songwriter shares. “The pandemic happened, and it caused significant
disruption to our plans. But everything happens for a reason. It gave me room
to explore and grow at my own pace.”
syd hartha’s gabay spins tales
from a confessional standpoint, moving into gloomier territory when needed and finding
light and hope amidst the arduous process.
The 22-year-old artist reveals, "pakay,
kung nag-aatubili, and 3:15 are songs I wrote years ago when I
was in a dark place,” she said. "gabay and lipad were
written during the pandemic, a time where we were all stuck inside four
corners, seeing ourselves every day. I reached a point where I saw myself in
the mirror and realized I didn’t recognize her anymore. I knew I was sick of
treating and talking negatively to myself and started to decide I wanted to create
a new life for myself. I realized that I had to zoom out of my little box of
self-loathing and see things through from a different perspective. During those
moments, I realized that I wouldn’t even be alive forever, I might as well just
have fun in this whole life thing, right?”
syd hartha’s debut EP, gabay is out now on all digital
music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.
About Sony Music Entertainment
At Sony Music Entertainment, we honor the creative journey. Our creators
shape movements, culture, communities, even history. And we’ve played a
pioneering role in music history, from establishing the first-ever music label
to inventing the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic
artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time.
Today, we work in more than 100 countries, supporting a diverse and distinctive
roster of talented creators at every level and on every stage. Situated at the
intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and
expertise to emerging products and platforms, embrace new business models, and
employ breakthrough tools—all to support the creative community’s
experimentation, risk-taking, and growth. And we form deep, trusted,
cause-based partnerships to uplift and empower communities around the world. Sony
Music Entertainment is part of the global Sony family. Learn more about our
creators and labels here.
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