Moira Is Now ‘Malaya,’ Deconstructing Her Full-Length Album

She is the future of music. As critics claim her rise to success, Moira dela Torre popularly known as just Moira is not slowing down. In March, she will be releasing her first full-length album called “Malaya.” Composed of 13 tracks, most songs she’s written, and a handful of revivals that she made her own. This includes her infamous “Camp Sawi” OST “Malaya.”

She may be new in the industry. The domain may be dominated by balladeers and belters. It may be hard to be in a world where she is trying to stand out. But she is not stopping anytime soon. Moira is the future of music, and these 13 songs will tell you why.

It is you who makes yourself ‘Malaya,’ not Moira

Malaya

To open an album with your most-famous song is a brave move. Not even pop stars like Taylor Swift or Katy Perry do that. The “formula” to a great album is to start it with something that’s weak. She is is not like most singers. She starts with her strongest and keeps on getting stronger. “Malaya” is a song she wrote about freeing herself from the things that hurt her. Be it from love, friends, or family, she knew that she had to let herself free. This is the extended version. It features a longer instrumental verse with an orchestra playing.

We & Us

Only a few people dedicate something to their mothers. She is one of the few. “We and Us” is a song of thanks for her mother. According to an interview in Magandang Buhay, she thought of her mom while writing the supposed-to-be love song. It talks about how she wants to give back to her mother. It’s a promise to never leaving her side “even if the blue skies turn to grey.” She assures her mother that she will always be there for her.

Before It Sinks In

You save everyone, but who saves you? There are questions you ask yourself when you’re alone. The deafening silence attracts all the negativity you tried to shut out. “Before It Sinks In” is a proof of her vulnerability. The ability to show that you are sometimes needing help is a brave thing to do. After all, we are souls trapped in mortal bodies. We are getting weaker and weaker every day but that’s okay. We need to know who to cling on when the time comes that we have to. That is ourselves.

Langit Lupa ft. Inigo Pascual

Collaborations are rare in the Philippines. Most artists focus on their craft alone. Unlike in western countries where artist collaborate on their music to make hits. Since this album is under Cornerstone, it was easy for her to ask fellow artists to write music with her. Inigo Pascual, son of Piolo Pascual, was one of the few lucky artists to join her “hugot” music. “Langit Lupa” is a metaphor for people trying to be in relationships they can’t be in. The indifference being the higher and lower side of love is the hardest thing to break through. It usually ends in failure even if there is much will to be together. It can’t be.

Sabi-Sabi

Promises are the hardest to gain, but the easiest to break. The battle to forgive someone and forget what they did is lighter than hating on them forever. It is a decision that will either make or break a person. Going back to what happened before making a call will always painful. It never gets easier from there. Because if you forgive a person, you’re not letting yourself heal. If you don’t forgive a person, you’re not setting them free as well. Choose what weighs more, yourself or theirs.

Take Her To The Moon

“Inside Out” is a Disney-Pixar film about human emotions and how they function. In the film, the protagonist, Riley is a pubescent girl who’s going through a lot of changes. She had an imaginary friend named Bong-Bong. As she grew up, she started to forget him. In the film, Bong-Bong was the reason Riley’s “happy” emotion was saved. “Take Her To The Moon” is a song that leads us to freedom. This is “Malaya’s” cousin. Playing the two songs together will be the reason you’ll soon be okay. “I will wish for your happiness, until we meet again.”

Tagu-Taguan

This will remind you of childhood spent in the rural areas of the country. The intro sounds like the folk song “Leron Leron Sinta.” Add the narrative that it’s all about “fun and games.” This is how the street games we played before sound like when we grow up. “Masarap magmahal, ‘pag ‘di ka iniwan.” Reminisce how it was easier back then. Back when there was no playful love affairs. Life was easier, right? It’s not a game of hide and seek. It’s not about who finds and gets found.

Tagpuan

The sweetest thing you can give to your loved one is a song you wrote yourself. It’s not easy to find someone who can understand you. Her boyfriend, Jason Fernandez, was there when she needed a shoulder to rest her head. Her journey wasn’t a walk in the park. She went through unbelievable things she’s gone through. “Tagpuan” is a narrative of how her boyfriend came into the picture. Becoming one of the reasons she’s still here and making music.

You Are My Sunshine

A revival from country icon Johnny Cash, “You Are My Sunshine” is one of the few songs in the album she made her own. From how it sounds like, to how it would resonate to people, it is her you can hear. That is a difficult thing to do since the song is world-famous. Almost everyone knows how it should sound like. She made it a bit upbeat and happier. It’s her take on how people think of other people as important things in their life like sunshine. They are the reason for happiness even if the skies are grey.

Marco’s Theme: Saglit

She’s known for being a “hugot” writer. But she’s also notorious for singing various theme songs for companies. She even did a song cover for a fast food chain’s commercial. But in this case, she is lending her voice to a TV show. The smallest instances are the biggest memories. It may be the shortest times in a person’s life, but it is the most important ones. These are the times you knew something was in your reach. It is that moment you knew you had something. When it’s all over, it’s gone. But you know in your heart that it will stay with you forever.

Sundo

An Imago original, “Sundo” is a song of redemption. It is also a revival done by Moira for a TV show. It’s a well-known song given a new identity. She made sure that when she released this single, people would remember her and not the original artist. She was very critical of how it sounds. She made it her own.

Torete

Another revival song from Moonstar88. “Torete” is the feeling you get when someone you like is around you. It’s those butterflies in your stomach that you can’t tame. It’s those hairs that stand on your arms when you see them. The magic that turns your eyes into hears when they walk into a room. But it’s also the heartache that goes along with daydreaming of being together. All well ends well.

Titibo-tibo

The last song in her album is the song that won the hearts of many. “Titibo-tibo” is a song from Himig Handog. Libertine Amistoso wrote the song about a woman who felt that her sexuality changed because of a man that came into her life. This is one of those few moments where the hit song won the contest as well. This song proved that Moira is not a one-hit-wonder. She can make and translate hits that would sell.

She is the future of music. There is a reason why critics claim her as that. She is a musical genius that the world of OPM produced through years of evolving. Moira dela Torre is a force to be reckoned with. She is a double-bladed sword ready to slash and cut her way in. Moira is now “Malaya” and so should you.