OPM Is Not Dead But Evolving, Artists To Check Out

Original Pilipino Music (OPM) is certainly not dead but evolving. Artists like Reese Lansangan, Ben & Ben, IV of Spades, Kiana Valenciano, Ourselves the Elves, and BP Valenzuela are just some of the artists you should check out now.

Music is a part of life. It has been, and always will be. In the Philippines, we call our music OPM. It is short for Original Pilipino Music. Launched after the collapse of Manila Sound in the 70’s, OPM is usually stereotyped under ballads. Accompanied by a piano, OPM sounds like heartbreak and pain. But in the new wave of OPM, the “dead” genre is being revived. It now sounds like the future we all wanted to hear about.

OPM and 6 artists you need to hear now

Reese Lansangan

“Many things [she] can’t compromise.” Reese Lansangan is a singer-songwriter who happens to love Taylor Swift. Her lyrics tell the story of people around her. But she is nothing like the stereotypical OPM. She doesn’t write about love and heartbreak. That’s the least of her concerns. She’d rather write about things that people struggle on. That includes stalking, the English grammar, even the planets of the solar system.

Ben&Ben

Philippine folk music started to sound different. Folk-pop band Ben&Ben opens our ears to the eargasm we’ve all asked for. They play their instruments like The Civil Wars. The extra ethnic notes that they play add to the uniqueness that they already have in them. Although new in the business, Ben&Ben garnered their audience through a series of hits.

IV of Spades

The Beatles would run for their money if they co-existed with IV of Spades in their lifetime. Consisted of four members, IV of Spades has produced music since 2014. You can say that the colorful world of the 70’s inspired their work. Retro, disco, classic rock, and hip-hop all merged into an IV of Spades single.

Kiana Valenciano

She’s the daughter of Mr. Pure Energy, Gary V. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Kiana Valenciano released her first single in 2016. She still continues to produce music up to this day. Her music revolves in the electronic pop domain; a genre no one in the industry has explored before. Her latest EP “Grey” is now out for you to check out.

Ourselves the Elves

Their style makes you reminisce about the things you shouldn’t. That nostalgia and mood they set is something between making you better or worse. Ourselves the Elves is a three-member band bending the folk genre. Peterson Vargas featured their music on two of his films, “Geography Lessons” and “2 Cool 2 Be Forgotten.” it’s because their music brings back people to situations that they have been before. Some place they wanted to forget but can’t.

BP Valenzuela

No one has mastered indie pop in the Philippines like she did. BP Valenzuela is a 22-year-old musician from Manila. She started her career at 18 years old during her college years in Ateneo. BP Valenzuela has become a talk in social media due to her tasteful comments on issues that matter. She has currently two albums you can listen to. Crydancer released in 2017, and The Neon Hour released in 2015.