Page 4 - MIdWeek Kauai - May 26, 2021

4 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK MAY 26, 2021
Musical director and producer Troy Laureta bridges the gap between his Filipino culture and Western music with his newest album, Kaibigan.
Last summer, in the middle of the pandemic, Laureta took the time to turn that dream into a reality.
Songs on the album
Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta OPM Collec- tive Volume 1 show- case notable artists from the U.S., Philip- pines and beyond.
1. Intro: Harana
2. Kahit Isang Saglit (featuring Ailee)
3. Bakit Pa Ba (featur- ing Matt Bloyd)
4. Bakit Pa (featuring Cheesa)
5. Pangako (featuring Nicole Scherzinger) 6. Kailangan Kita (featuring Pia Tos- cano)
7. Usahay (featuring Jake Zyrus)
8. Patuloy Ng Pangarap (featuring Sheléa)
9. Outro: Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan (featuring Regine Velasquez)
Story by
NICOLE MONTON
Photo by
ABEL RODRIGUEZ
here’s nothing like memories of home to spark a little bit of inspiration, but for international
On a whim while talking story, Laureta pitched the idea for his Filipi- no language music album, and it was a hit. With everyone on board, he was able to put the album together in just a few months.
T
musical director/producer and local boy Troy Laureta, the muse for his latest al- bum sent sparks flying around the world.
“All live music was canceled,” he re- calls. “I called my friends, and everyone was itching to make music.”
“When I got to LA, I got to play with so many good musicians,” he recalls. “I started daydreaming about how cool it would be if these bands or artists I work with would sing Filipino music, the songs I grew up listening to.”
Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta OPM Col- lective Volume 1 — OPM standing for “original Pilipino music,” according to Laureta — hit No. 2 in the Philippines and charted in the U.S. and Taiwan upon its release. The goal was to celebrate
Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Volume 1
hit No. 2 in the Philippines and charted worldwide.
PHOTO COURTESY TROY LAURETA