Toronto-native Ali Gatie wrote his latest song, "Welcome Back," before the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. He has since released it, believing the current situation the world is facing makes it more relevant than ever.
He explained: "It's because, I think like everyone, I mean, most people who are affected by the pandemic are missing something, you know. For me, it was the times before the pandemic, my family, my nephews and so, I think, with everyone kind of feeling that, everyone wants to welcome back something. And so, I hope they can use the song to kind of feel a little bit better."
As destructive as it is, he believes the pandemic also united the world in that it made everyone feel the same feeling.
"The thing about this pandemic is that, for once, we're all kind of going through something together. Sure, there are more cases in the States than in the Philippines but it's all the same, you know? Like not being able to see your grandfather at the hospital. it is the same feeling in the Philippines, in America, in Canada and the Middle East. And so that's kind of why I thought it was important to show in the video different scenarios of different people. Because this is a song for the world," he related.
"Welcome Back" is a lot more pop than his usual but he believes makes it more accessible to people from different regions, including the Philippines.
"I know in the Philippines that they love those slow love songs," he related.
But he had his apprehensions prior.
"Actually, I was a little scared about this because I'm like, 'Damn, this is a lot more pop!' It's not, you know, my typical style, but I think it's important for me as an artist to kind of show the fans that I don't only make one type of music and then I can make songs that make you want to maybe dance and make you want to cry and I kind of give you everything and so I just think it's cool to release."
Indeed, more than anything, “Welcome Back” is like an optimistic sign of things returning to normalcy.
And it highlights one of the 23-year old's most charming qualities as songwriter: Finding hope in heartache.
Note, "welcome Back" is his first-ever collaboration with alt-pop dynamo Alessia Cara.
Ali extended his gratitude to the latter for joining in on the effort despite the scare brought about by the health crisis.
The two met for the first time only during the video shoot.
"I'm thankful that Alessia came because obviously not everyone is willing to do videos and stuff like that right now but it was really cool. That was my first time meeting her in person. So it was nice. And she was very humble and sweet. And yeah, it was really fun for me because when there's someone else in the video, it takes some pressure away from me, because I'm not in the scenes all the time, right? So it was easier for me because sometimes I could take a nap while she's doing her part. So that was fun."
So, what's next for him, we asked.
"I think my number one goal, which I'm doing right now, and I want to continue doing is just to make timeless music," he declared. "So I think, you know, it's cool to have the biggest Song of the Year, #1 one album -- all these things. I hope I can get them but if I don't, I just hope that you know in 10 years people will listen to "It's You" or "Welcome Back" and still feel something and still think they're great songs. Even if the trends change, or the popular genre changes. I just want to make music that's timeless, you know, like The Beatles and Celine Dion and Adele artists like that."
Ali has surpassed three billion streams with earworms like “What If I Told You That I Love You,” “Say To You," and “Moonlight.”
He released his debut EP "You," in 2019, earning RIAA platinum status for his breakout smash “It’s You” (which spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100).