Former Side A frontman/guitarist Pido bounces back into the music scene with his latest single, ‘Hilom.’
Released under the Glass Onion Entertainment label, the upbeat tune speaks of a positive approach to moving on despite a wrenching heartbreak.
For ‘Hilom,’ Pido collaborated with frequent session bassist and good friend Bolichie Suzara.
"He had this storyline in mind, which inspired me to come up with the music, lyrics and arrangement. It was a challenging collaboration, and we hope it appeals to millennial listeners with its 'hugot' angle," he says.
‘Hilom’ was initially slated as an immediate follow-up to ‘Invisible Cages,’ released last May 2021.
"It took a while because we wanted to do a music video for it, but because of some limitations, we just decided to do a lyric video in time for the release," he explains.
With most of the basic tracks recorded at his makeshift home studio, Pido flexed his arranging skills as he painstakingly laid down most of the instrument tracks and vocals, with a live bass track from Bolichie, and the final mix courtesy of Tat Suzara.
As always, Pido's clear, crystalline voice and effortless range shines once more amid a harmonic backdrop that fuses the pop/jazz, RnB and even blues sensibilities he assimilated from his previous band gigs.
Guitar fans will be pleasantly surprised by their guitar hero's tasteful slide-tinged solo, which he admits is a first for him, recording-wise.
"I was aiming for that Derek Trucks vibe, but of course, what came out was my own personal style," he confesses.
Any diehard Pido fan will instantly recognize the telltale stylistic cues that have figured in most of his compositions, which include ‘Misty Glass Window, ‘Panaginip,’ among others.
Defying typical musical stereotypes, Pido has leveled up his compositional genius that never fails to give equal balance to his unique voice and guitaristic prowess.
With a versatile range that can nail Michael McDonald’s signature raspy growl, David Pack’s syrupy bittersweet timbre, and even James Taylor’s folksy ramblings, Pido continues to find his place in the country’s ever-evolving musical maelstrom.
"It's always about the song, and at the back of your mind, you're always thinking of longevity, of something that's not just trendy at the moment, but will still sound fresh ten years from now," he emphasizes.
Speaking of longevity, Pido is still reeling from the smashing success of their Side A Redux reunion gigs—a clear testament to the timelessness, nostalgic appeal and even the renewed surge of interest among their younger fans.
"It's funny how our fan base has exponentially doubled, since most of our new fans are actually kids of our diehard fans," he chuckles.
"The good news is, we're actually having another set of shows this coming September. Called 'Then and Now,' this one features our batch and the current band line-up, and we'll kick off with two shows in Cebu, one in Ilocos Norte, and the very last show at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Sept. 24."
With the plenitude of promising songwriters in the local scene, Pido is opening his gates wide open for collaboration.
"I'm always game for reinvention," Pido admits. "There's so much to learn from the new breed of budding artists out there, and I can't forever rest on my laurels. It's all part of my musical journey. That's why I'm always keeping my radar on full alert for opportunities for creative collaboration."
'Hilom' officially streams on Spotify, iTunes and 20 other digital platforms starting Aug. 12. (Contributed by Tinnie P. Esguerra)