If you’re like me, and every other Filipino who’s lived long enough to fall in love, then you probably have a go-to OPM artist whose music describes your love life to a tee. Our parents and grandparents grew up with classics by Ogie Alcasid and APO Hiking Society. Our batang ‘90s friends know Rivermaya and the Eraserheads by heart.
Now, Gen Z has found a relatable navigator of modern-day romance in singer-songwriter Maki. Since 2021, the rising OPM star has created a unique body of work that has evolved alongside his artistic career. Maki’s vivid imagery, warm tones, and emotionally rich lyrics that tug at listeners’ heartstrings have been his trusted guides to making music for people with love and yearning in their DNA.
Photo: Maki, Alan Segui/X
From his viral breakthrough single, “Saan?” in 2023, to his debut album, Kolorcoaster, set to drop on September 19, 2025, Maki has dedicated his craft to nurturing creative spaces where art unconditionally thrives and music continues to flourish. With portrayals of love that range from light and heartfelt to moody and sentimental, Maki’s radiant discography so far proves that dreams never die, they simply evolve—especially when shared with someone special whose passion and zest for life match yours.
No matter what status you put on your relationship, there’s a Maki original that best resonates with you and the name etched in your heart.
“Saan?” – When every place reminds you of them
Simplicity will take you places. Literally. Maki penned a feel-good love story that traversed the archipelago, and it became a smash hit that the public took to and played everywhere. “Sa QC, sa UP, sa kalsada ng BGC,” and beyond!
While Filipinos enjoy a heavy-hitting birit track from time to time, there’s an air of sincerity to “Saan?” that doesn’t force any sweetness or affection down your throat. The song is straightforward yet easy-going—an upbeat display of lingering feelings that also makes it an addictive road trip playlist staple.
“Kailan?” – When time isn’t in your favor
“Kailan?” sees Maki in one of his most heartbreaking numbers yet. Writers, singers, and pop culture enthusiasts toss the saying, “right person, wrong time,” around a lot in light of their favorite romantic tropes. “Kailan?” depicts the common premise through a relationship that went south and ended without proper closure. The burning question still runs in circles like a broken record in Maki’s head: “Kailan mo naramdaman na ‘di mo na ako mahal?”
Instead of parting ways with a hopeful heart, “Kailan?” only poses more confusion and open endings between the song’s narrator and his ex-lover. The music videos for “Saan?” and “Kailan?,” starring Gen Z actress Karina Bautista, detail a two-part love story that shifts between priceless kilig moments and the uncertainty of letting go without warning.
“Dilaw” – When they light up your world like nobody else
In moments of loneliness and bleak everyday routines, Maki reminds us that we don’t have to carry the weight of the world alone. “Dilaw,” his first single on Kolorcoaster, captures two soulmates crossing paths to bring warmth into their otherwise lifeless surroundings. Spoken like a true ray of sunshine, Maki sings, “‘Di na maghahanap ng kung anong sagot sa mga tanong, dahil ikaw ang katiyakan ko.”
“Dilaw” is one of Maki’s most purposeful showcases of art and lyricism. In a music video with one of his best friends, Maloi of BINI, the two singers bond over drawing, painting, and going on adventures to their hearts’ content. Like the color yellow, the song encourages listeners to hold on to the people who brighten their days and believe in them when it seems like the rest of the world doesn’t.
“Namumula” – When they’re a red flag, but you’re colorblind
We can’t help who we fall for, and when Cupid’s arrows strike, they pierce right through our hearts. “Namumula” takes us on a rollercoaster of love’s pushes and pulls. It endearingly describes the emotional turmoil of seeing past your crush’s undesirable qualities solely because you’re head over heels.
“Kupido, seryosohin mo nga ako.” You know a relationship is in shambles when Maki asks the god of love himself for advice on it. In the “Namumula” music video, we even witness Maki go the extra mile for the girl he admires (like sacrificing his projects to finish hers), yet still fall short of the assurance he needs.
We’ve all been there, going great lengths for someone who isn’t ready yet, or is bound to lead us on. Our “talking stages” may be landmines of red flags, but they still offer slivers of truth we can look back on—character development and pursuits “for the plot” be damned.
“Bughaw” – When friendships first taught you about love
“Bughaw” is the fruit of Maki’s newfound friendships with fellow new-generation OPM artists. The song attests to how he places these connections at the center of his goals and aspirations, hoping they’ll all come together with no one left behind.
The “Bughaw” music video is straight out of a coming-of-age movie, with Maki and his friends playing carefree high school students seizing the day before the sun sets. He shares the spotlight with Kyler of HORI7ON and former YGIG member Alexei, as well as R&B singer and content creator Zeke Abella. No dreams are too ambitious for this unbreakable bunch. “Hahabulin nating sabay ang araw hanggang ating matanaw, dulo ng ating bughaw,” Maki sings fondly about the fruitful futures they wrote in the sky.
“Kahel Na Langit” – When life stretches you too thin
Maki’s latest single, “Kahel Na Langit,” knows the warmth of longing and daydreaming from the back of its head. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but that won’t stop two lovers from thinking about each other 24/7. Whether they live across the street or continents away, their memories fill the air with the same vibrant hues as our favorite sunsets.
“Kahel Na Langit” is also for that one person we can run to whenever survival mode gets the best of us. The song embodies the solace of spending time with someone who constantly reminds us to actually live, not just exist until we burn out. Maki opens the song with, “Minsan, gusto kong magsumbong sa’yo kahit pagod na pagod na ako.” He had listeners bolting to their comfort people for a much-needed recharge after seemingly endless days on survival mode.
Six colorful original songs will accompany “Dilaw,” “Namumula,” “Bughaw,” and “Kahel Na Langit” on Kolorcoaster. We can’t wait for the kaleidoscope of emotions that Maki has in store for us in his upcoming debut album.
ALSO READ: Maki to Release Debut Album “Kolorcoaster”
What’s your favorite song by Maki? Are you excited for his debut album? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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