4 weeks ago
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Jerry Donato - The Philippine Star
February 18, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — After giving musical theater another shot via “Rent” as a struggling musician and rock star, Anthony Rosaldo has returned to the recording scene with the release of Batubalani. It’s a follow-up to his 2021 single, Tama Na.
In the upbeat and romantic Batubalani, the GMA Playlist artist takes on the voice of someone who gets captivated or magnetized by a woman’s allure, beauty and presence.
“Being a singer, kailangan may kanta ka. So, talagang naglabas po ako (ng bagong kanta). (You need to have songs and I had to release a new one),” said Anthony in a recent interview with the press for Batubalani.
“When I wrote it, the key of the song was higher. It was like one whole step higher. Initially, my aim was to make a rock ballad. That was what I wanted to do, like, with a full band and a guitar,” added he.
Then, he sent the demo tape to the people of GMA Playlist who liked the song right away, recalled Anthony, who received two arrangements samples later. He chose the upbeat one and found it very refreshing and new to him and to his listeners.
Since most are also into TikTok these days, he also looked at the possibility that the song would have its own dance challenge on the said platform.
“I like the arrangement, it’s very fresh at sabi ko, nung kinakanta ko nga, parang tunog, parang bumata yung tunog ko. It’s a song that everybody can sing it. It has a recall and LSS (last song syndrome) factor,” said Anthony.
“If you, guys, listen to its lyrics, it’s about the love of a person, who can’t be separated from a loved one. The person looks for any chance to get closer to that person. It revolves around that (idea),” added the singer-theater actor of the song’s theme.
Batubalani is a welcome addition to his collection of previously released tunes.
“(The year) 2022 was my transition to theater,” said Anthony why it took him about four years to release another song. “Nag-start akong mag-rehearse ng ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo, the musical’ 2022 na po (I started rehearsing for my role in ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo’ that same year). So, as you all know, when you’re doing theater, you focus solely on that and parang nawala na po yung attention ko sa paglabas ng kanta (it seemed like that diverted my attention from releasing a new song). Pero yun nga po dahil hinahanap ko po ulit yung feeling na merong bagong kanta at para meron pang ma-touch na maraming tao with my song (but since I was yearning for that feeling of having a new song and touching more people through it), I came out with a new single. I thought 2025 was the perfect time since it was a long time since I released one, at tsaka marami ring naghahanap (many are also asking for a new composition from me).”
His love for music and talent for singing, on the other hand, will also be displayed in the upcoming musical “Liwanag sa Dilim.”
At this point, Anthony could not give everybody full details about it, but shared some that he was privy to. “It revolves around my character. I’m an orphan and it encompasses my character’s story and journey,” said he about the musical. “He’s finding the truth about himself and also within that story is the story about fighting for one’s rights, principles and beliefs. I think a lot of Filipinos can relate to it.”
Anthony added that his project is “a Rico Blanco musical” which features 23 of the singer-songwriter’s songs from the time when he was in the band Rivermaya.
“So, those are the songs we will use in the musical. Dun pa lang feeling ko kapit na kapit na agad ang mga manonood sa amin (with that, I think the audience will hold on to it),” shared he.
As for the joy he gets from doing musical theater, Anthony said, “It’s a different fulfillment, I mean when you’re (doing) theater, it requires a lot of hard work, patience and also being genuine to your (co-actors) and also being accepting to what could possibly be fed (and given to you as you play the role).”
Part of the sense of fulfillment is being able to memorize lines and choreograph in a particular span of time, said he.
“You are able to give feelings na hindi mo basta-basta nabibigay (that you don’t normally get to experience) on a normal day… You make people believe that you’re the character and they are with (your character’s) journey,” concluded he.
Give Anthony’s Batubalani a listen on digital music platforms.
