A year after launching the OPM collective “KAIBIGAN,” music director Troy Laureta continues to shine a light on Filipino music in his new album, “GILIW: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 2” featuring All-4-One, Deborah Cox and “American Idol” season 2 winner Ruben Studdard.
The 13-track album includes a “Magkasuyo Buong Gabi” duet by Deborah and Ruben and a reimagined version of “Laging Tapat” by Skylar Stecker. Also part of the collective is All-4-One for the song “Paano Ang Puso Ko.”
Classical singer Fernando Varela joins the album with his rendition of “You Are My Song,” while singer-songwriter Shoshana Bean renders “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.” “Never Enough” singer Loren Allred is featured in a track with her rendition of “Araw Gabi.”
On the local front, Boy Abunda appears via “Interlude: Pag-ibig” while Jona sings her version of “Someone to Love Me.” “GILIW” also features the “Kaibigan” intro by former “The Voice Kids Philippines” contestant Adah.
Joining Troy anew is his sibling Cheesa for the remake of the late ‘90s hit “Kaba.” This time, Nicole Scherzinger has a duet with Regine Velasquez for the reimagined version of “Nandito Ako.” Jake Zyrus is likewise back for “Maghintay Ka Lamang” as well as for the album’s “Outro: “Kung Kita’y Kapiling.”
An initiative of Troy in collaboration with ABS-CBN Music International, “GILIW” follows the “KAIBIGAN” OPM collective, which was released to breathe new life into local classics with fresh interpretations by Filipino and non-Filipino collaborators to promote OPM masterpieces on the international stage. (Story/Photos by: Kane Choa)