Songs act as tracks, much like footprints, documenting an artist’s musical progression and direction. Nonetheless, these melodies often mark a pivotal moment or significant milestone in their artistic evolution.
For the group YARA, which includes members Kim, Gelou, Christa, and Rocher, their most recent release titled “Sabi Ko Na” signifies their transition into the R&B and hip-hop genres. According to details provided to this publication, this move aims at reviving interest in these artists while they delve into fresh musical territories moving forward.
“In a way, this is a reintroduction along our musical journey,” Gelou stated during a virtual interview with The STAR. “It feels as though we have been delving into music since our debut single was launched in 2023.”
I believe throughout our journey, we discovered the genre where we feel most at ease,” she said, adding that she was accompanied by fellow singer-performers Kim, Christa, and Rocher during the discussion. “I think it’s ideal to engage in what brings joy as well. Moving forward, this will be our music, our distinctive sound.
The Sony Music group mentioned the first single “ADDA,” titled “Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat,” which came out in 2023, under the R&B-hip-hop category.
This stands in sharp contrast to the musical styles of YARA’s earlier tracks like ADDA penned by Kim; Bakit Papa, their version of the iconic song from the SexBomb Girls; Eksena; and Katawan Flow.
From their responses, it seems their music was categorized as modern pop, hip-hop, heavily rap-oriented, and dance-infused R&B.
At this stage of their careers, the YARA girls are committed to concentrating on hip-hop and R&B as they work on rebuilding their presence.
Kim mentioned that they feel comfortable with the genre, and it aligns well with their vocal range.
According to Gelou, what they appreciate about the genre, specifically R&B, is that it encapsulates “kung sino ka (who you are as an artist).” She added, “(In) rhythm and blues, the emotions are more genuine (raw),” and noted that this style allows for greater freedom and acceptance (“mas free, mas accepting”).
In her contribution, Christa stated, “Reflecting on our personalities, we gravitated towards R&B and hip-hop (these genres resonate better with us).”
The song “Sabi Ko Na” enabled YARA to join forces with notable figures in the local hip-hop community. These include acclaimed producer, recording artist, and songwriter JRoa, along with artist Yung Bawal.
According to Rocher, they were surprised upon learning that JRoa wrote the song and came up with a demo for their appreciation.
“Lumaki kaming pinapakinggan yung songs niya (we all grew up listening to his tunes),” said she. So, we couldn’t (believe and) imagine that we would be working with him… So, at first, it was exciting, but when we were in the process of (studying and recording the song), we felt a bit pressured.”
That emotion stemmed from the task and anticipation of living up to the standards of the song.
“When we first listened to the demo, it seemed like it could be released right away,” she stated.
As the demo version seemed comprehensive to them, the YARA girls needed to stay true to it interpretatively and perform the piece as effectively as possible.
All of this makes performing “Sabi Ko Na” a cherished ambition for them, effectively checking something off their wishlist.
In addition to expressing gratitude towards their record label, YARA also recognized the significant role played by Nick Hernandez, the A&R for Urban at Sony Music Philippines, in bringing this music project to life. He was regarded as “the mastermind” behind it all. With his deep understanding of the Filipino hip-hop scene and extensive connections within the industry—knowing exactly which creative talents or key figures to involve—Nick proved instrumental in executing this endeavor.
Rocher remembered that the label executive first inquired about subjects they wished to delve into for their upcoming track. Later, they were provided with a demo of a song to review. In this project, JRoa handles the composition, whereas Yung Bawal takes care of production duties.
Regarding the song’s theme, YARA’s promotional team mentioned that it revolves around “love, deceit, and the unwanted complications that come along with it.”
“We used to steer clear of love-related topics because we genuinely didn’t have any experience with them,” explained Gelou.
Gelou and Christa mentioned that themes of hope, empowerment, and chasing dreams dominated their thoughts at that time.
The time has arrived for us to “step out of our shells and attempt to converse with others about different topics,” Gelou further stated.
Following the launch of “Sabi Ko Na,” which is now accessible globally through various digital music services thanks to Sony Music Entertainment, what exciting projects does YARA have in store for their audience and supporters?
The latter’s kind response was a remixed version of the song, including a rapper.
In addition to listening to the song, make sure to check out Sabi Ko Na’s lyrics and music videos on the band’s official YouTube channel.