Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha addresses her personal battles in life on "gabay," her debut project under Sony Music Entertainment. In touch with her own fragilities, the rising artist digs deeper into her experiences with trauma, heartbreak, pandemic stress, and healing on an EP that feels more than just a warm balm.
According to syd hartha, gabay is crucial in reclaiming her identity as it helps her confront emotional truths in a way that is freeing and empowering. The folk-pop act explains: "My new EP is a compilation of different stories from my adventures and misadventures as a young woman. It mainly talks about healing and taking control over your own destiny; letting go
of the past, and getting to know yourself again.”
The six-track EP was originally scheduled to be recorded with syd hartha's band and producer in March 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic. “My band and I were already scheduled for the recording of the whole EP in March 2020,” she explained. “The pandemic happened, and it caused significant disruption to our plans. But everything happens for a reason. It gave me room to explore and grow at my own pace.”
Stream "gabay" below!
News dropped earlier this week that powerhouse diva KZ Tandingan is taking part in a big way for Disney's latest animated film, Raya and The Last Dragon. She released the song, Gabay today in time for the film's release. KZ shares that Gabay is the first Disney track in Filipino. This is a huge stepping stone for Filipinos and will for sure break open more doors for representation. Make sure to listen to the song everywhere and let us know what you think below:
Raya and The Last Dragon is a film that gives us Disney's first Southeast Asian Princess. Raya means "celebration" and this film and the representation it provides is something to celebrate about.
The story takes place in the fictional realm of Kumandra. It is inspired by Southeast Asian countries' cultures and mythology. It's up to Raya and Sisu to stop the threat to her land and save the world.
MYX Global host Nico Blitz chats with Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina to talk about the film and what it means for the community. Kelly Marie Tran says it's awesome to see the positive change on having more representation in mainstream media. It's a step forward in bringing Asian American stories to the spotlight and sharing our experiences.
ABOUT Disney's Raya and The Last Dragon:
The film premiers in theaters & on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5th. The film features a predominantly Asian American cast, including the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as the titular Raya & Awkwafina as Sisu, the titular dragon. Also part of the cast are Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, Izaac Wang, Thalia Tran, and Alan Tudyk.
Cover Photo Credit: KZ Tandingan Official Facebook
