Best known for their single called Hawak Bitaw, LaLuna is an independent, four-piece bluesy alternative rock band from Manila, Philippines. The band consists of members Reason Fortun on lead vocals and rhythm guitars, Joshua Docena on drums and percussions, Joshua Angeles on bass guitars, and Enzo Zavalla on lead guitars and secondary vocals.
Since its release on YouTube in February 2017, Hawak Bitaw has gained 3,000,000 views. It was unexpected and surprising as the band relied much on organic viewership and nothing more. Due to popular demand, Hawak Bitaw was released on Spotify on May 31, 2019. Not long enough, the song reached #12 on Spotify Viral 50 Philippines charts, and later earned a spot in Spotify playlists, Trending Tracks and Pinoy Alt Rock. This was followed by a significant amount of old and new listeners doing covers of the song and uploading their renditions on their personal channels and pages.
Written by the band’s vocalist, Reason Fortun, Hawak Bitaw is a song dedicated to failing relationships we continue to risk. The song talks about a person’s point-of-view on their dead end, pointless relationship, and knowing well that it will no longer lead to any good. “Tungkol sa mga relasyon na walang patutunguhan” as LaLuna’s frontman would normally introduce the song at their gigs.
Written and directed by Reason Fortun and film producer Camille Aragona, starring independent film actress Iana Bernardez (best known for her work in Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus and most recently, LSS)—the music video is said to be given a picturesque treatment by the directors.
Currently, Hawak Bitaw sits at 3,204,000 views on YouTube and 619,000 streams on Spotify.
Hawak Bitaw: The Music Video is expected to screen on November 9, 2019 at SaGuijo Bar, Makati during Hawak Bitaw: The Music Video Launch, hosted by LaLuna. Carousel Casualties, Banna Harbera, Ysanygo, Sasaya and Where’s Ramona? are also performing with LaLuna on the same night.
With Smirnoff Mule as a major sponsor, and with Indie Manila, Raccoon Productions, Jam 88.3, UP Silakbo, UDOU, AfterParty, and WhenInManila.com as media partners—the band sees this launch as an opportunity to promote the song and the band further. Hawak Bitaw: The Music Video Launch is expected to house 150 to 200 guests.
