Former X Factor UK contender Alisah Bonaobra added another feather in her cap after she successfully released her first composition entitled "Walang Iwanan" recently.
“I was amazed how this song came to my mind with both melody and lyrics at the same time, it felt surreal. I composed 'Walang Iwanan' in 2020, the year when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, the same year that my family, unfortunately, lost our grandfather. I wrote the song while I was trying to sleep. I was really anxious at that time, so I started to hum some music in my mind and also thought of the lyrics as well. I was encouraging myself to never lose hope because God will always be by my side. I recorded it using my phone’s voice recorder, that’s what I do when I can’t sleep, and usually, I will just save it for myself," said Alisah, during an exclusive Zoom interview.
Alisah, a talent of RJA Productions, is passionate about continuously improving her craft. Even with her string of achievements, among them being The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 first runner-up, a top contender in X Factor UK 2017, Eat Bulaga’s Just Duet top 5 grand finalist, getting the lead role (alternate) in PETA’s original hit musical Rak of Aegis V.5.0, Alisah never rests on her laurels. She continues to undergo music training, currently she is taking up Bachelor of Music, Major in Music Theater at the University of Sto. Tomas.
She humbly admits that she is proactive when it comes to improving her talents and skills by learning everything and anything about music. Alisah’s passion to improve as a singer led her to explore another facet of music – songwriting, which enabled her to create an original composition titled, “Walang Iwanan”.
“It’s so inspiring that my manager, Tita Rosabella (Jao-Arribas), encourages me to believe in my capabilities as an artist. Honestly, being trusted with someone else’s song and letting me interpret it, is a really great opportunity, but singing my own composition gives a different kind of fulfillment. I’m going to look for more inspirations for my future song compositions, I will seek the advice of other composers, and trust the learning process," she added.
Watch the official music video:
Here's a portion of our interview with Alisah:
Manila Bulletin Entertainment: When I first learned about your song, I thought it was a ballad. But 'Walang Iwanan' came out as upbeat.
Alisah: "When I wrote the song, kasagsagan po siya ng pandemic. So hindi po ako nuon makatulog. Ang ginagawa ko po nuon, kapag hindi ako nakakatulog, nakikinig po ako mga melody. Ang original po talaga nun is ballad po. Ang nasa isip ko nun is sobrang bagal n'ya. Then hindi ko pa nun tinapos yung song. Kasi po kapag nagsusulat ako ng song, gusto ko tahimik. And then mabilis po talaga ako ma-distract kapag nagsusulat ng song. And then nasa notes ko lang po siya ng cellphone. Tapos hindi ko na po siya natatapos. And nagulat na lamang po ako sa isang virtual meeting namin ni tita Rosabella, she told us to try and compose our songs. Then doon ko na open up sa kanya na may naisip ako noong isang gabi lang. Then pinarinig ko po sa kanya, nagawan ko na sya ng melody, pati lyrics natapos ko na po. Then si tita, nagdecide na gawing upbeat na lamang sya. Yung areglo is tatlong beses siyang nabago. And I'm so thankful na nabigyan siya ng Ariana Grande vibe. Medyo kinabahan ako kasi pag sinabing upbeat, andyan yung kalakip na sasayaw ka. Hindi po talaga ako sumasayaw ng hip-hop but I can do freestyle. Yung parang pang-gig lang po."
Manila Bulletin Entertainment: What's the best part about writing songs?
Alisah: "Sa mga compositions ko, nasanay na po ako na kapag nagsusulat ako ng kanta, nag-iisip na rin po ako ng melody. Sabay ko na po silang iniisip. When I compose songs, gusto ko ng tahimik. Gusto ko kasing makuha yung perfect line sa isang song. Ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam na nakatapos ka ng isang composition. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam. Sa pagsulat uli ng song, hindi malayo na sundan ko ang 'Walang Iwanan.' Yung adrenalin, sobrang kakaiba po talaga. Nakakatuwa na nakakapagshare ka ng thoughts and messages lalo na sa mga family, friends and supporters mo. Kung ano yung gusto mong sabihin, nadadaan mo lang sa kanta. Sabi nga eh kapag malungkot tayo, idaan na lang sa kanta. Noong ginawa ko po itong kanta, gusto ko na mararamdaman talaga nila yung vibe na walang iwanan or hindi ka nag-iisa. Yun po talaga ang gusto kong mangyari na kakantahin nila ang song ko at makarelate sila."
Manila Bulletin Entertainment: Tell us about the other songs you've composed?
Alisahh: "Parang isang baul pa lang. I was 18 when I started writing songs. Hindi naman ako nagsusulat palagi. Parang kung kelan lang ma-tripan. Na-activate na lang po siya noong nagkaroon ng pandemic kasi ang daming time para gawing busy ang sarili. So yung po yung mga ginawa ko during that time. Yung first stanza ng 'Walang Iwanan,' kung mapapansin sila, iniisip ko parang ako lang po yung nakikinig. Kumbaga, kung ako ang makakarinig, ano ang mararamdaman ko? Parang nasa sampu pa lang yung composition ko. Iba't ibang message po. Minsan pag down ako, ginagamit ko yung emotions ko to compose songs. Yung ibang composer po nagbibigay din ng advice sa akin. When you are in the middlle of something like masaya ka, or malungkot, puwede ka magsulat ng kanta. I'm so thankful talaga na marinig ng buong mundo ang composition ko."
Manila Bulletin Entertainment: What are the songs you want to write?
Alisah: "Ang 'in' talaga ngayon mga hugot songs or pang-Pasko. Mga songs na hindi pinagsasawaan at hindi nawawala sa playlist ng mga Pinoy. Yun ang mga gusto ko sanang ma-compose."
Manila Bulletin Entertainment: Given the chance, who would you like to sing your own compositions?
Alisah: "Kung makakagawa ako ng song, gusto kong gawan ng kanta si Jordin Sparks, yung kumanta ng 'This Is My Now.' Hindi ako makapaniwala na sinasabi ko ito (laughing). Sa local hindi na po ako lalayo. Gusto ko pong sulatan ng kanta ang isang co-RJA talent ko po na mahilig sa hugot songs, si Myko."
To know more about Alisah Bonaobra, visit her social media channels. For more information on RJA Productions, LLC visit https://www.facebook.com/rjaproductions/