Filipinos, at their core, are hopeless romantics. What cannot be expressed in cheesy hugot lines or words of affection, we leave to music. Mainstream pop led the way, with OPM offerings that deal with love found, lost, butterflies in our stomachs, and will they/won’t they moments.
But a recent evolution has seen R&B and soul artists like Because try their hand in interpreting our lovesick tendencies. With a more intimate lyricism, the 21-year-old shot to fame with graphic imageries in “BMW,” “Sandali,” and the “Heartbreak SZN” albums. Physical intimacy and carnal urges are a recurring theme, sprinkled with bouts of infatuation to resist going overboard.
Because’s music certainly raises eyebrows in a country that’s still mostly seen as conservative. But with nearly two million monthly listeners and hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, the rising artist represents the maturing mindset of a younger generation more open to capturing the realities of love beyond fairytale romances.
Complex Philippnes talks with Because on the inspiration behind his music, its recurring themes, and the future of Filipino R&B and soul.
My music is the type you [play in] cars and long drives. Something na hindi siya [Something that’s not] right in your face, pero [but] when you feel it, you feel it. My inspirations are Bryson Tiller, Kanye West, mostly Drake. If you dig those kinds of music, you’d feel my influence.
My name is derived from my real name, BJ Castillano.
Not really, if it’s romance specifically. I use romance as the backdrop of a certain subject. For example, in “BMW,” the car is the subject, and romance is the vehicle.
Even with my other singles, “Marlboro Black,” “Sandali,” it doesn’t directly mention “love,” but you feel the romance once you solve it. [My music] is more experience driven. I like puzzles, so I like people to solve the puzzle first and not put answers right infront of their face.
I want to be remembered as someone who thought of the architecture of music. I also produce, so it would be delightful if someday people would break down [my] lyrics and the production. I want to be remembered as an innovator.
Oh, and also as a smart, sleek lover boy with cherry on top (laughs).
I think it’s less about me and more about them. Like how they correlate their music in their lives. “Heartbreak SZN 1” hit a lot of people because I was speaking the language of senior high school students or teenagers when it was released.
I like my music to be really specific and personal, speaking the lingo of the people and rooted in their story.
I think around the 2010s was also the rise of hip-hop into the mainstream. It’s a genre with pop elements. Filipinos are also one of the more updated listeners when it comes to global music. So I feel like it was just the right time for my colleagues and me to come in. There’s hip-hop happening in the world, so we looked for a way to put a twist on that.
It’s just more innovation every year. I’m just so happy with how Filipino artists work. I’ve been to a couple of countries in the past few months, and we’ve always been envied on how Filipinos are into supporting each other.
I think we’re gonna reach more international audiences, and acceptance in Hollywood. I just feel it. Jo Koy is up. Manila Grey is up. It makes me happy how Filipinos are more culturally involved.
[Going global] is where we’re headed. Just look at Complex in the Philippines. They’re here right now, and soon, everywhere.
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Photography Borgy Angeles
Art and Art Direction Alexandra Lara and James Francisco
Interview and Story Gelo Lasin and Xavi Bautista
Styling Assist Jana Silao assisted by Val Silao
Makeup Nadynne Esguerra
Hair Patrick John
Production Complex Philippines
Location Bulb Studios
COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.
© Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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