On the 10th of May, OPM singer-songwriter Arthur Miguel released his second EP ‘Malabong Ugnayan’ with four songs in the tracklist, Isaoras, GHINOST, Dati, Maling Panahon, and Malabong Ugnayan as the title album. Arthur gained most of his popularity with the release of his song covers during the pandemic where views on his YouTube account made him what he is now as a solo artist under Warner Music Philippines.
To celebrate the EP’s one-month success on music streaming sites, Arthur decided to host an open M.U. EP Party at Ark Studio, produced by Amplified Entertainment, featuring guest performers Jikamarie and Sugarcane. His fans, known as Miggies, were invited to join the event, filling the studio with their presence and support.
Now, under Warner Music Philippines, Arthur Miguel explores the uncertainties of love with his latest EP release. According to Arthur Miguel, “Malabong Ugnayan” is a song that reflects the unclear nature of a relationship, where two individuals are trying to figure out where they stand. The struggles and messy reality of being in a situationship are central themes of the EP, inspired by Arthur’s personal experiences with romance and heartbreak.
During the interview, Arthur Miguel expressed his pride in the release of the music video for “Maling Panahon,” especially since he was one of the directors involved and was delighted with its successful outcome. He shared the story behind the music video, describing how he and his team portrayed him trapped in five dreams, each representing one of the EP’s songs, as a journey of self-realization about loving at the wrong time.
To kick off the live performances, Jikamarie, accompanied by Putin, began with her song ‘Lito,’ followed by ‘Iisa’ and ‘Hinahanap-hanap.’ She concluded her set with her debut song, ‘Lutang.’
Following Jikamarie’s performance, Ark Studio resonated with the powerful instrumentals of musical band Sugarcane. They started with their heartfelt song ‘Paruparo’ and captivated the audience. They later invited Jikamarie back on stage for a collaboration on ‘Maria Clara,’ a song they had not previously performed live since its release. Sugarcane continued to impress, serenading fans with an OPM medley after their soulful performances.
After the successful performances of Jikamarie and Sugarcane, Arthur Miguel took the stage to perform all five songs from his EP, “Malabong Usapan.” Arthur shared with his fans, the Miggies, the struggles he faced while writing his favorite song on the EP, “Maling Panahon,” drawing from personal experiences of loving at the wrong time. He revealed that by the time he was writing the chorus, he had already begun to move on.
During his set, Arthur invited his close friend Dwata to accompany him in performing his popular song ‘Lihim,’ originally planned as a duet with Janine Teñoso, who unfortunately couldn’t attend the EP party.
For the singer-songwriter, “Malabong Ugnayan” represents his exploration of the complexities of modern relationships, where uncertainties persist.
With this, he invites us to reflect on the complexities of human connections, reminding us that despite the uncertainties, love remains a powerful force worth exploring time and again.
The event was made possible by Warner Music Philippines.
