Asian Music Review | Asian voices matter

Catchy, relatable, and truly captivating!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Welcome to Asian Music Review! Tell us a little bit about you and your music.

Diane de Mesa is a Filipino-American multi-awarded singer/songwriter, independent music and multimedia artist from Bay Area, California. Born in the Philippines, she migrated to the United States with her family in the late 90’s. Diane discovered her talent for writing songs at the age of 7. She can easily create melodies in her head, and has written over 1,000 songs.

Diane is working on her sixth album, which contains all her original song compositions. By profession, Diane is a registered nurse (RN) but continues to pursue her passion and love for music.

Kravh (Kris Garcia) is a Filipino independent singer-songwriter born in Muntinlupa City, Philippines, and now resides in the US working for a post office. Kravh started her craft by writing poems and songs during high school and resumed it last June, 2022 treating her work as diaries of expressions of her emotions and bouts with anxiety and depression.

She released an album, “Asuncion,” with four cuts—Dito Ka Lang, Take Me Home, Remedyo, and Magkaramay. Fortunately, this album was acquired by Mr. Jan Ilacad for Monkey Radio.

Initial guestings and exposure to the indie music scene included those with NewVibe Ph, 14.5 Sky Music FM Online Radio, DDM Studio Live, the Fil-AM Radyo Show by RainierAvenueRadio.World and Soundfyr, where her song was voted top of the charts, that made her receive seven nominations even to Indie Musicians Music Awards (IMMA) in different categories.

Congrats on the release! What was your inspiration when you were writing this project?

Released February 28, 2023 “Ako Muli” was based on my personal experience of heartbreak. The song is about wanting to let go, but you keep on seeing your ex together with someone else. But how can you move on if you still wish that you still want him back? That you still get hurt every time. It is emotionally tiring and draining to feel this way all the time.

What is vision for this song?

“Ako Muli” is a special collaboration between me (Diane de Mesa) and Kravh Garcia. When I first wrote this song, my idea for the demo only had it for a solo version. When I kept listening to it, I realized that it could fit to have a “hook” or a “slow rap” in the verses. Sure enough, it worked so well and Kravh laid out beautiful rap parts for the song.

What is your favorite part of this body of work?

What I like about this song is the R&B genre with a slow rap. It’s different from all the other songs I’ve done before. It’s fresh, modern, and has a catchy vibe! Kravh wrote the rap verses straight from the heart as well.

Jayson Dolotina arranged the song in just a few hours. I’m happy to record, mix, and produce this song in less than a day! We worked this song out virtually even though we’re from different parts of the globe. Thanks to online technology.