Even if the pandemic has made it hard for artists to put themselves and their work out there, Top EDM artist Jace Roque has beaten the odds. The music video for his latest single “Forever” has earned over 1 million views.
“It feels surreal, to be honest,” he says of his latest achievement. “After working so hard to keep my single afloat and revelant during these trying times, I never really expected it to reach this milestone. I hoped that it would do well and yet it exceeded my expectations.”
“Forever” dropped on March 27, 2020—exactly two weeks after Metro Manila was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, Jace wasn’t able to promote the song properly. He also had to postpone the music video shoot.
The song debuted at No. 20 on iTunes Philippines, but he wasn’t satisfied because he knew it could do better. When he was finally able to shoot a video, he pulled out all the stops, which included choosing the perfect location: a Korean-owned venue called SilverMoon Studio.
“Mr. Moon, the owner, was supportive of my vision from the very beginning. From the moment I first sat down with him, he was already on board and impressed. I’m glad that I managed to repay his support with the success of my music video,” Jace says.
SilverMoon Studio is a photography studio located in the heart of Cubao, Quezon City. Many happy couples have had their prenuptial photo shoots there. Jace believes the studio’s romantic vibe matched the message of his song, making it the perfect backdrop for the music video.
The music video breathed new life into “Forever.” After it dropped, Jace was able to appear on It’s Showtime Online Universe, iWant ASAP, MYX, and Wish Connect.
“Doing guestings during these trying times is so different from what I’m used to. Hindi na kami pumupunta sa mga studio. Artists film themselves performing at home or wherever, tapos they edit and send their videos to the production staff. Buti na lang may background ako in film, so hindi mahirap para sa akin gawin yun. Pero I still want things to go back to the way they were. I miss performing on stage, in front of a live audience. I hope our situation will get better this year,” Jace says.
Thanks to his appearances and the support of the entertainment press, “Forever” stayed on the charts despite the state of the industry. What’s more, its music video is now Jace’s most-viewed one to date.
“I want to thank the members of the media who wrote about ‘Forever,’ and the shows na nagbigay ng time sa akin. Without their support, I don’t think I would’ve been able to reach this milestone, lalo na ngayong may pandemic. I’m very grateful,” he says.
Now that the “Forever” era is drawing to a close, Jace is already thinking about what his next single should be. He already has some songs in the running, both of which bear his trademark: introspective lyrics and an EDM meets P-Pop sound. He doesn’t know when he’ll release it, but he knows he’d rather do so under a major label.
Jace has achieved things other independent artists can only dream of achieving. Still, he admits that a contract with a major label is something he’s been working towards for years.
“I’ve always dreamed of being signed to one of the majors,” he says. “At this point in my career, I want to be under a label that truly understands my artistry.”
If he does end up signing with a major label, Jace will be a credit to them. After all, he already has a number of hit singles and a viral video under his belt. Imagine how much higher he can soar with the support of a major label!