Tag Archives: Ace Banzuelo

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Ace Banzuelo explores grief and romantic disintegration on his new song “Kulang”

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2022 has been a stellar year for Filipino singer-songwriter/producer Ace Banzuelo with his emotional single “Muli” breaking through the mainstream pop consciousness two years after it was released—thanks to its relatable lyrics and vibey, electro-ballad sound. After trending significantly on TikTok, the song launched Banzuelo into the spotlight, unmovable at the top of the Spotify Philippines and YouTube Philippines Trending charts for an extended period of time.

Fast forward to November 2022: Banzuelo continues to build on the success of “Muli” with the release of “Kulang,” an unabashedly vulnerable track with trap, R&B, and bedroom pop influences. Decked in retro-futurist synthesizers and laid-back, hip-hop beats, “Kulang” finds the 22-year-old multi-hyphenate aimlessly writhing over heartbreak in his quiet, subdued time, wallowing in loss or lack of personal direction.

According to the Himala artist, “Kulang” examines a stage of grief where you find out that you have been wronged but still try to make things work. He goes on to say, “The story is inspired by a time in my life when I was questioning myself about where I went wrong, and where I lacked. Whatever I’d do, it was just the same thing all over again. You’re aware that you’re in this drama, and you keep coming back to it, but you just want it to stop.”

In true Banzuelo songwriting style, “Kulang” belongs to the crop of tunes that depict heartbreak, grief, and relationship fallout in their most vulnerable state, be it confessional or observational. “I’m here to talk about things most people are afraid to let out,” the young hitmaker adds. “I’m not often sad, it’s just the mood of my music right now, and I think the beat and production style speak for themselves.”

He also recorded, produced, performed, and engineered the entirety of “Kulang,” but what distinguishes it is Banzuelo’s effortless ability to wrap melancholy in incredibly catchy packaging. To make it special, he also adds a rap verse in the middle of the song. “I kind of collaborated with that side of me. Being a hip-hop head myself, I’ve always wanted to experiment with performing songs in a certain way. I’m not a rapper yet, but this is a much-welcomed reprieve from the usual.”

Ace Banzuelo’s “Kulang” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Listen to the song here.

Music

Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin star in the music video of Ace Banzuelo’s streaming hit “Muli”

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ABS-CBN stars Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin reunite onscreen for the music video of Ace Banzuelo’s chart-topping electronic ballad “Muli.”
The visual narrative captures the disintegration of what used to be a promising relationship, with ‘FranSeth’ struggling to process their pain.


Going the abstract route, the MV depicts an imagery of a home on the verge of breaking apart: burning couches, dying lights, and a smashed piano. Ace Banzuelo himself, makes a significant appearance as the ‘inner emotions’ of Seth.


“Everything was heavy on symbolism, but still reflects the intensity of the song,” says Chapters’ very own Jake Soriano, who directed the music video of “Muli.”


Soriano has worked with both Francine and Seth in the past, but according to him, this project was the first time that he witnessed the loveteam deliver a nuanced performance and showcase their range as dramatic thespians. “They’re easy to work with, because aside from being good actors, they’re also very kind and professional, and both are super funny. We always get a good laugh during shoots.”


For his part, Ace was very much involved in the brainstorming and creative process of the music video, and was very open in collaborating with Francine and Seth.


“At first, I was okay to do the music video alone with what I had, and then we started to get tweets, comments, and messages from multiple fans that they wanted to see me collaborate with local actors,” shares the young singer-songwriter and producer. “Our team reached out to the loveteam, and we were so happy that they were game! Working with Seth and Francine was super fun, I’m proud that we were able to capture the vision of song, and present it through the long-awaited video.”
Few hours before the premiere of the music video, FRANSETHxACE MULI MV immediately topped Twitter Philippines trending list at No. 1, with fans expressing their excitement on the teamup.


“Muli” has been the most streamed OPM song on Spotify and Apple Music for more than a month now. It continues to make an impact on several music charts worldwide, reaching No. 1 on Apple Music Viral Hits – Philippines, No. 2 on Spotify Top 50 – Philippines and Spotify Viral 50 – Philippines, No. 3 on Apple Music Top 100: Philippines, and No. 6 on Spotify Viral 50 – Global. “Muli” has also landed on Spotify Viral 50 charts in four other territories: UAE, Singapore, Canada, and New Zealand, making it one of the biggest crossover hits that came out in the country this year.


Ace Banzuelo’s “Muli” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Music

Ace Banzuelo kicks off International Women’s Month with captivating serenade “Babae”

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Filipino singer-songwriter/producer Ace Banzuelo continues to carve out a new lane in pop music with the release of “Babae,” an ‘80s inspired track steeped in warm, analog-sounding synths and romantic lyrics.


The retro-infused jam serves as the official anthem for #BabaeAko, an International Women’s Month campaign by Sony Music Philippines which aims to put a spotlight on women and female artists under the label’s roster through several online and promotional activities this March 2022.


According to the Alive hitmaker, it’s an honor to lend his platform to an important cause that empowers women in creatives who have long been deprived of equal opportunities.


“Babae was already finished months ahead and it was set to be released earlier than the target date,” says the 21-year-old artist. “When the team approached me about the possibility of using my song as part of a women-focused campaign, I immediately said yes. I’ve worked with many talented women all my life, and it’s about time that we recognize their legacy and how they have contributed significantly in pushing the culture forward. They are as great or even as better than their counterparts if truth be told.”


The music video of “Babae” is in fact, helmed by Katrina Arciaga, a budding female director who has worked with Ace on several projects before. “We’ve worked on small projects as independent creatives before, but this time without a doubt I knew we could pull off my vision and bring it to life.”


The visuals tell a story of a person earning someone’s trust. In Ace’s words, it’s a “sweet, magical and mysterious” metaphor on the various stages of liking someone, including the challenges that come with it.
“I came up with the playful concept last minute actually,” the eclectic pop phenom shares in a statement.


Aside from its interesting music video concept, Ace also takes pride of writing a multilingual song that highlights the poetic beauty of Tagalog and Cebuano, with a generous sprinkling of English, Japanese and Spanish.


To make this possible, the talented newcomer asked help from friends and family in taking into account preciseness and proper word usage when it comes to writing the lyrics of the song. “I always felt that adding those little language twists would add an interesting layer to the track.”


“Babae” is Ace Banzuelo’s follow-up to the sparkly bop “Alive,” which kicks of his new era with genres that range from K-Pop to city pop, ‘70s disco to dance music. To date, Ace has racked up more than 12 million streams on Spotify alone, and is slated to release his full-length debut album this year.


“Babae” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide.


The song is part of Sony Music Philippines’ multiple activities planned out for the International Women’s Month, which kicks off with a curated playlist that highlights Sony Music’s local and international female artists, and a series of videos/online performances from the label’s roster of acts from March 17-29. Check out the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter of Sony Music Philippines for details.