We’ve all been there. Sometimes, our feelings seem so bottled up that the tiniest slight to our egos would be enough to send us into a ballistic mode. My thoughts raged over a perceived insult to my person that led to me retorting with my fists. It's all happening in my head, of course. But when I find myself doing that, I say stop! 

I tell myself, take a breather, man! 

So, I tinker with something like grabbing my guitar or listening to music. Usually, it’s the latter as it's just an app swipe away on your cell. Because as the adage goes, music soothes the savage beast.  In us all, I might add.

So that got me whipping out my phone and Bluetooth earbuds with the intent of diving into the music. Anybody’s as in, ‘Hello, Siri, please open Spotify, do random.’

And who does it play? Why, the new song from Martin Nievera! Sir Martin released his latest single, “Leaves,” and Pinoy pop listeners would recognize the song as a Ben & Ben tune. It is, in fact, one of the band’s biggest. Sir Martin’s version of “Leaves” retains the piano ballad arrangement. Still, as Martin Nievera's covers go, he always puts his spin on it and turns this song about inevitable change and regret into a romantic ballad of acceptance. Quite timely, too, as themes go with “Leaves” dropping just in time for the fall season.’ See what I did there?

Forty-two years on, Sir Martin’s vocal game is still strong. Listen to any vintage Martin Nievera and then “Leaves,” and you’ll find little to no difference in the vocal quality. Martin’s golden pipes give new meaning to the word ‘lossless.’ And in his four decades in the music biz, it’s rumored that ‘ol big mouth’ (a moniker from one of his albums) is preparing something big to commemorate the occasion. Is a concert in the works? For sure. How about a whole album? Even better if it happens! And if “Leaves” is any indication, I’m betting what’s coming is good! 

Mentioning Ben&Ben, the band released a new song. Not your usual Ben&Ben track, “Triumph” is instead designed to be an anthemic song to rouse and inspire. Perhaps the Guico bros were inspired by the recent Pinoy wins in the Olympics, or maybe it's something personal. Whatever it is, the sentiment is on point: “Every trial makes you stronger / through the failures, you’re a fighter / don’t hang up, ‘cause any moment now...” cue song title here. 

Ely Buendia is gearing up for an album release slated next month. But “Tagpi-Tapging Piraso” is upon us though, and as advance tracks go, it’s a doozy. Nothing extravagant on the outside, but the almost simplistic, organic build-up is what makes it special: the synth-pop flavors, the catchiest melody, the surging alt-rock current underneath, themes of old love torn apart, the deadpan delivery, the lyrics (‘buhay ay napakagulo, nasira ng misyonaryo’) are highlights of what could be Ely’s best in years. Whatever the upcoming “Method Adaptor” be, “Tagpi-Tagping Piraso” will add to Ely’s growing cool mythos as Pinoy alternative rock’s sage. 

Special mentions: “Kulimlim” by Angela Ken, “Mirasol” by James Reid, “OYAYI” by Alisson Shore, Arthur Nery, Keene Leonor, “Pagsamo” by Jona, “Sa Huli” by KJWAN, “Alitan” by 12th Street. 

So next time you catch yourself wanting to clap back or want to burst, stop! Take a music chill pill instead.