AUDIOJUNKIE: Jin Chan, songwriter, makes good on his own, new Kushin, The Juans and The 12/21


Composite photo clockwise from top left: Jin Chan Kapeng Malamig; The 12 21 Larawan; Di Mo Na Ako Kailangan; The Juans, and Kushin Walang Gana official ecard

Young pop R&B songwriter has written “Dati Dati” by Sarah Geronimo and co-wrote “Say You Love Me” by ALAMAT even before it was his name’s turn to be on the artist billing.

But now it’s Jin Chan’s turn with his own music with the release of his debut single titled “Kapeng Malamig”: This mid-tempo, R&B flavored track is a sampling of Jin Chan’s leanings into moody R&B pop. The song is quite different from what he’s done with the Sarah G’s club-disco infused song and ALAMAT’s R&B-tinged ballad track, and that’s a good thing. It means that Jin Chan is not afraid of mixing it up as far as music styles are concerned. According to J. Chan, he has been “always an artist and a songwriter” for himself. Churning out songs, only because it is inside of him and it wants out. Initially, the label that signed him up liked his songs well enough to suggest that he write for other acts as well, hence Jin making his official debut as a songwriter first. “Writing songs for other artists is my biggest breakthrough in the music industry.”

The 26-year-old Jin Chan not only writes songs, but is skilled enough to produce them. “I also produce some of my own songs, and I think that stems from years of being formally taught music—especially with the guitar. So that’s my entry to creating and writing songs—through guitar and everything followed.”

Besides being a guitarist, Jin Chan also knows how to do some DJ work. “From DJ-ing na curious ako how they make their own tracks, so I discovered production and all came together.”

Don’t be fooled by the title “Kapeng Malamig” as it actually has racy inspirations. “The story of the song goes, I contacted this lovely young woman, then she told me to go visit her in her apartment and offered to make me coffee. But as the events of said visit went, we both forgot about the coffee and did more  interesting things than said coffeed, hence ‘Kapeng Malamig.”  

Jin Chan assures that the sexy and vibe-y song “Kapeng Malamig” is just going to be the first of many songs that he’ll put out under the WAYBETTR record label. We look forward to more stimulating music from him as well.

Hood 047’s Kushin (aka Richard Olamit) drops a new song with fellow rap artist Gico (aka Gico De Guia) in the surging new bop titled “Walang Gana.” Rap artist and singer Kushin (Olamit) questions why sometimes friendships go awry. It’s a good thing he’s got his music to channel all this negative energy the result of which is this surging number as an outlet for all those bad vibes.

The Juans return from their successful “LIWANAG” album with a new single titled “‘Di Mo Na Ako Kailangan.” Moody and emotive, “‘Di Mo Na Ako Kailangan” finds The Juans into heavy atmospherics. Lingering sonics hang in the air as do their sentiments  about the “realization and awareness that sometimes people stay not because they want to, but at times their love and presence depend on our ability to fulfill their wants and needs.” Lead singers Japs Mendoza and Carl Guevarra share vocal duties on this mid-tempoed, Carl Guevarra-song of heartbreak and regret.

Rock band The 12/21 and their new single “Larawan” dabbles in pop punk sounds with this surging number about “meeting someone and falling in love with them unexpectedly.” The 12/21 siblings Roman (vocals/guitar), Rico (bass/vocals)  and Roque (drums/vocals) Maceda writes, performs and produces this track with Blacksheep Records’ Jaworski Garcia with Mayonaisse’s Monty Macalino on mastering duties.