If we come up with a special list of artists truly deserving of whatever title they've been christened with, lady singer Sitti will be high on the list considering how she has kept her stronghold of the music niche she's associated with. Bossa Nova Queen is a title firmly right for her. In Tagalog lingo, sakto. 

That's the title of her new single, too, being dropped Friday (August 25) by Icons Music, a division of Widescope Entertainment.

Sitti said, "The thing about singing a very niche genre is that it taught me not to have expectations, but to just be grateful that I still get to sing and perform my kind of bossa nova." 

"Sakto," a song co-written by Itchyworms drummer and main songwriter Jazz Nicolas, and Wally Acalola, is something she found to be "so cute and beguiling and innocent" that she hopes it “grows on people and becomes a favorite," perhaps in the same vein as her signature hit "Para Sa Akin." 

One of the most important Filipino acts to come out during the first decade of the 21st century, Sitti has always been thankful of how well her career has panned out. She tries her best to give back by staying true to her calling and her image. "With every song I am blessed to perform," she noted, "I try my best to approach and infuse it with my truth. Sometimes in the course of recording, I do depart from how it is usually sung in the demo, but with ‘Sakto,’ I think the vocal arrangement was super on point already there was no need for me to embellish. I just enjoyed the recording ride and the playfulness of the lyrics."

The smooth ride is partly due to a group of no-nonsense gentlemen backing her up, namely, Widescope executive producer Vic de Vera, producer Neil Gregorio, A&R Ebe Dancel, vocal recording supervisor Arnie Mendaros, and mixing engineer Dante Tanedo.

"Sakto" features the talents of instrumentalists Erskine Basilio (semi-hollow guitar) who also arranged the song, Gian Vergel (drums), Gerald Flores (bass), Francis Etorma (keyboard), Archie Lacorte (ax), and Diego Martinez (percussions).

Sitti expressed, "I am so grateful for the whole Widescope and creative team. I rely on their ears so much and I trust their judgments with my whole heart. That being said, in the course of recording I appreciate it when they allow me to re-record some parts I am not confident or satisfied with. I am thankful that the recording spirit shared by all in the booth is truly collaborative and friendly."

An "advance screening" of “Sakto” had taken place at FM station 103.5 K-Lite in Mandaluyong City.  To stream and download the track, here’s the link: https://orcd.co/sakto 

Asked about her take on the matter about what era must be truly considered as OPM's golden age, Sitti chose not to name one, which is sort of saying she remains upbeat about the music scene, as always. "I think there is not one golden OPM era," she said, then pointed out, "We had the Manila Sound before, the legends Mr. C, Rey Valera, George Canseco, the bands of the 90's, and now we have the likes of Zack Tabudlo, Moira and Dilaw holding their own in the charts alongside Taylor Swift and K-Pop groups. It just gives me so much hope for the Philippine music scene, that our creativity and courage to raise our flag will never die."

She further stressed, "I'm just here still singing bossa nova and it is amazing watching all of these mostly young Filipino artists just releasing original material here and there. What a time to be alive to witness it."