Shanne Dandan is one of the best singers of her generation. It’s just that not everybody knows it, at least not yet anyway. 

But since her debut, one thing has been sure: her trajectory as an artist is on a constant upward path, so it would be safe to say that a hit is imminent for Shanne Dandan.

The proof is in the singles. A run through of songs starting with her 2018 debut, the art-rock inflected “Nag-Iisa” showed that she’s no cookie-cutter act. Which eclectic “Umaga” (2019) and alt-rock flavored  “Sandali Lang” (2021) confirmed. Ditto her excellent original “Hanggang Sa Langit” that blended retro-pop sounds with atypical love-song lyrics. Shanne also showed her chanteuse personality with her cover of the classic song “Himig Ng Pag-Ibig” and the recent hit “Pagsamo.” And throughout, her individualistic style shone through. 

Imagine this: though petite in stature, Shanne is a vocal powerhouse. Her voice is like an adeptly handled instrument. As her full-length 2024 album “Kung Iyong Mamarapatin” attests, there’s little or nothing that Shanne can’t do as a singer. 

So it’s no surprise she aced her reimagining of the Ogie Alcasid song “Mahal Kita, Walang Iba” for the “SWABE” album. 

“I first heard an Ogie Alcasid song on my lola’s Sunday radio–those slow mornings,” said Shanne. “My mom and lola raised me on classic OPM, and because of them, I fell in love with it. There’s something about those songs that feel like home.” Shanne goes on to say she also loves “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka” saying, “the lyrics and melody feel like a vow, like telling someone, ‘I’m choosing you, always.’ It makes you believe in forever, so, so beautiful.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8atIiaklxmw

Shanne brought this reverence in her take of “Mahal Kita, Walang Iba”-- but ditching the original arrangement and opting instead for a jazz-pop tinged sound with interesting touches of brass somewhat reminiscent of Manila Sound, which also recall her splendid takes of “T.L. Ako Sa’Yo,” and “Boy, I Love You.” 

Talking about “SWABE,” Shanne shares, “For this song, we wanted to shift the energy, from the original’s aching, longing tone to something softer, more assured. Like a love that already found its home.” She said translating it to her style “felt like second nature.” “I’ve always poured my heart into every song I sing, and this one just slipped right in, like it was always meant to find me. ‘M.K.W.I.’ isn’t mine originally, but the moment I sang it, It felt like a love letter I could’ve written in another lifetime.” 

“My favorite part was watching the song bloom into something new. Getting to work with people I admire was already special, but hearing the track slowly come to life, like watching a feeling turn into sound – that was pure magic.” 

“Hands down, my favorite lyric: ‘Mahal kita, walang iba, paniwalaan mo sana ko sinta.’ It feels like a soft promise, like looking someone in the eyes and saying: “you’re the only one, and you’re safe here.” It’s the kind of love that doesn’t need to be loud. It just holds you steady.” 

And her method for enhancing this cover? “I just let myself be in the song, parang kinakantahan ko yung mga mahal ko sa buhay.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqkk4dMjbLA

Spoken like a music artist’s artist. This is to say that Shanne is a star, waiting for her rocket to come. 

Shanne Dandan is part of the “SWABE” album from Viva Music Publishing, Inc., Vicor Music, Viva Records, and Ivory Music. Shanne Dandan’s solo album is also on all music platforms.