Hope, Among Other Things

A look back at my greatest musical discovery of 2023 and how it’s going, featuring FELIP.

Spotify’s smart shuffle feature either breaks or makes a good listening experience. True enough, it was through this that FELIP’s ’CRIMINAL’ was recommended to me a year ago. Little did I know, it was just the tip of the iceberg and my ticket down the Superior rabbit hole. And man, was it an experience!

Initially, I did not think it was a Filipino artist singing, until the Bisaya lines came on. It was a moment of genuine surprise and curiosity, having never heard a song like it in OPM. It was fresh to the ears, ambiguous, compelling. The pitched-up singing style reminded me of Childish Gambino’s ‘Redbone’, a song which my band mates and I would jam to a lot in college. Interesting how it wired me back to a not-so-distant memory (the beauty in art, preserving experiences through reminiscence). Then I went to YouTube, as it is a habit of mine to look up a live performance of every good piece of music I find, and was presented with ‘Superior Sessions Live’. That was it, no-brainer. I was left with no choice but to stan.

FELIP’s music easily found a home in my playlists. ‘COM•PLEX’ EP has been an everyday essential (CRIMINAL had to top my 2023 Spotify Wrapped, of course); ‘Palayo’ was the Bisaya-English R&B track I didn’t know I needed; and ‘Bulan’, well, an anthem. And as his discography expands, so does my adoration.

It was mainly his voice that piqued my interest. But in watching him perform, there was this undeniable sense of intrigue around him. “I have to know more about this artist.” Through his interviews, I started seeing him in a different light—as an artist and as a person. The way he would brave vulnerability, his open mind and humility, and unbridled love for his roots made him even more admirable. It was then revealed to me that he is also a member of SB19. I was only familiar with the group through their song ‘Mapa’. A few months later, I decided to create an X account mainly to connect and further express my support as the release of their Pagtatag! EP introduced Ken Suson to me.

Now, looking back at a whole year since Spotify’s recommendation, it’s safe to say that it was not only music I discovered. For a time, I was a bug stuck in a venus flytrap (art block is another thief of joy). Everything evolves, as FELIP would say. And if you really want to, you can always choose to be superior over your weaknesses—embody that rocksta mentality. Creatives like him are catalysts for growth; the kind of people filled with passion to the brim that it pours out in everything they put their mind to, bringing people along with them.

To FELIP, if you ever read this, please know that you have been such a positive influence to me; inspiring me to look at life in a more meaningful lens. Your story is synonymous with hope, among other things (self-love). For the added motivation to continue embracing my own art whims and life pursuits—I have you to thank for. With that, I shall not tire of rooting for and supporting you in ways I know how.