You used to be in a pop-punk band! While your previous solo songs have not been very pop-punk, as you yourself pointed out, “Parallel” has a bit of that pop-punk edge!
I love the strong percussion throughout the song, like that broody keyboard in the chorus. What inspired you to explore a different sound in this song?
Labit: Haha yes I used to be! That pop-punk side comes out a little bit in “PARALLEL” for sure. That’s something that happened subconsciously while making the song with producer Travis Heidelman and songwriter Gabriella Mejias. I just knew that I wanted to make something more upbeat, light, and fun compared to my previous releases.
Could you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the lyrics of “PARALLEL”?
Labit: To me, it’s about finding romance in unexpected places. I have always loved the idea of using parallel lines as a metaphor for two people. Sometimes we have so much tunnel vision expecting things to go certain ways that we forget to be present and cognizant of what’s around you. That’s the inspiration of this song
The music video is fantastic. The concept you’ve gone with is really fun. Could you explain in more detail what the team was going for with this MV?
Labit: Thank you! My good friends/collaborators/filmmaking duo hazart and their team were the ones behind the video. I shared some early demos of my upcoming album, SOL, with them and they really connected with PARALLEL. The idea started after they had been in a NYC cab listening to some great music.
We wanted to expand on that universal, parallel feeling of joy you get when you’re vibing out like that. So we were able to get 12 different groups of people (and our dogs) traveling in different places but listening and feeling the same thing. It’s an alternative take on the song from what I had originally written about which makes the song feel larger. I thought it was perfect.
The cherry on top was being able to find/use the old ‘98 Buick LaSabre car that my Grandma Sol used to drive me around in. I named this upcoming album after her.
You’ve mentioned (in another interview) that your upcoming album, Sol, will have references to your upbringing as a Filipino-American.
What was it like growing up Filipino in a mostly white area in the US?
Labit: Honestly, I didn’t realize the effect it had on me until I started writing about my childhood. I moved to a predominantly white neighborhood in San Diego, CA when I was 8 and stayed there throughout high school. I realized that I had spent a lot of my time acclimating to every other culture except for my own.
Like I tried to fit in more rather than stick out. And that part really bothers me now. If I could go back and relive it again, that’s the part I would change. I’d tell myself to give less of a f*** to how others perceived me and give more of a f*** in being in tune with my culture. Because it really messed with my self-confidence as a teen.
I guess some of this upcoming album is my way of making up for those years.
Do you speak any Philippine languages? Might you want to create music in any Philippine languages someday?
Labit: I don’t unfortunately… both of my parents don’t even speak Tagalog. I think the mindset of my grandparents was more focused on having them acclimate to American culture back in the day and that carried over to me and my sister.
It’s going to be harder now, but I do want to learn! Making music in Tagalog is definitely a bucket list type of thing for me.
“Parallel” teases a somewhat different sound for you. What else can we expect from the album?
Labit: There’s a whole lot of everything on this album. I wanted to make an album that would be fun to play live, so there’s a ton of upbeat songs on there. And the other more slow, feel-sy songs have more depth. I just wanted to challenge myself and push everything a step further than I would normally do.
Who are your musical influences and why?
Labit: Frank Ocean’s artistry, John Mayer’s feel, Blink 182’s brashness, The Beatles’ sensibility. There are so many more that influence me depending on what I’m feeling, but those are the core four if I really think about it.
In three to five words, describe your music to those who haven’t heard it yet.
Labit: That’s a scary question haha. I’m gonna go with authentic, eclectic, and LOVE. Just like that.
“PARALLEL” is out now. You can follow Labit on Instagram.