Quezon City-based singer-songwriter Owen Vilches is back with a new single released earlier this month, a retro-pop love song called “Please Lang”. 

He has released it along with a music video that he has directed himself, with visuals reminiscent of the ’80s that complement the single’s familiar and upbeat sound. 

Prior to this release, Owen Vilches celebrated a successful launch of his five-song EP Light under Corrgtd Records. The album features tracks about self-love and confidence and is currently running with over 860,000 streams combined. 

What is “Please Lang” about?

“Please Lang” is a retro-pop song mainly about unrequited love. I believe that everyone deserves to love and be loved. This means it’s time to let go of that affection that doesn’t return the favor so that you can get back out there and experience mutual love. I want people to realize that knowing your worth is really important, especially in romantic relationships.

How did the creation of the song come about? What’s your songwriting process like?

Love can endure anger, pain, and grief. I remember when I wrote this song, I was alone and cried my eyes out. My heart ached with pain, but I found strength and moved on. This track helped me feel better. It was important for me to be able to put it down on paper and tell myself what I needed to hear. I feel like, during the whole process of creating this song, I went through so many different chapters of my life. “Please Lang” made me realize a lot of things. I learned so much about myself and my worth.

When it comes to my songwriting, I am very particular about the intention of my work. I always want it to be in that specific moment in my life where I felt so much emotion and power. By doing this, I can capture real and raw moments. I also have notes on my phone for melodies or phrases that I’ve randomly recorded so that when I hit the studio, I can go back to those catchy melodies and use that as foundation in creating a song.

What or who influences you as an artist?

I’ve always admired artists like Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and even BTS. I am really inspired by their humble beginnings. I admire their work ethic that helped me get out of my comfort zone and not be afraid to express what’s inside my heart. The dedication and passion they pour into their art help me to be able to accept myself and know my purpose as an artist. I am making music not just for myself but at the same time, to be able to make people feel good about themselves so that they will feel accepted and represented. I always want to promote love in every era of music whether it’s about self-love, romantic love, universal love, and unconditional love.

Love is a common topic that pop songs, in particular, tend to be about. Do you think love songs will ever go out of style?

Writing a love song in general shows sincerity, specificity, and universality. It means that you can’t outsmart the heart. Love happens to everyone. We all experience many forms of love. Through music, it can help us feel better or worse at the same time. But after all, it’s the experience we wanna remember. Love songs will always be timely and classic. We experience pain and trials almost every day. Just like with my songwriting, I always want to see a vision of love in my mind and if it can take me on a journey. Being able to go back to my real-life stories from time to time makes me appreciate love even more.

What do you think is Filipino pop music’s edge over western/foreign pop music?

Filipino musicians are the edge of Filipino Pop music. Why? Because Filipino musicians are known as some of the best performers in the world. We are curious and open at the same time. We can create any kind of music. We can write meaningful lyrics and produce catchy beats that Filipino or foreign listeners can enjoy.

Can you offer any advice for anyone who wants to pursue music?

It has never been easy pursuing an artistic career because many people doubted and even rejected me. I’ve got friends who laughed at me and people who are waiting for me to go down. But it never stopped me from pursuing it. In 2020, I released my first ever EP called Light. It was really life-changing because making music is really my way of survival. It made me a better person. It taught me to be kinder to myself and be more empathetic to other people.

My advice to anyone who wants to pursue music is to really know what you need. As you can see, my story has been like a rollercoaster ride but it’s all worth it. Just always remember that music is all about you and the people that you will inspire. Just always show your authenticity, story, purpose, and your goal. I know you got this. Be ready for the crazy ride.

What is next for Owen Vilches?

Creating music really has been my way of expressing my creativity. Through this, I created a world focusing on the different elements of the earth like water, air, light, and fire, so each of my albums will have an element as its theme, just like my first EP titled Light which is mainly about self-love. I really like surprising my supporters and my first surprise this year is my second EP. This time, I want to highlight the idea of romantic love that can break or heal our hearts. It will be an era with stories of heartache, pain, trauma, and moving on. It will focus on the fire element which symbolizes love and passion. My goal is to keep creating art and making magic.

“Please Lang” is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and all digital streaming platforms. Watch the music video below!