HONNE radiates positivity in Cebu concert

When Western artists include the Philippines in their tour stops, Manila is usually their only stop. Sometimes, they would include a second city, rarely adding a third. This is why HONNE’s “May 2023 Asia Tour” was one to watch out for as they had Cebu and Davao, apart from Manila, in their itinerary – which speaks volumes of their popularity among the Gen Z crowd in the country.

For the British electronic/R&B duo’s last Philippine leg on May 14, they performed at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Just take a peek at HONNE’s most-streamed songs on Spotify such as “Day 1” and “no song without you” and it’s easy to see why these resonate with today’s young Filipinos. Their music adds to the ever-growing “hugot” culture where listeners deeply relate with their lyrics, backed by a sentimental tone heard in HONNE’s melodies and compositions. It’s not the language that contributes to this phenomenon, but rather, the vibes.

“If you listen to all of their songs, it circles on love. Filipinos are accepting of songs that are very sincere, genuine, and warm. That’s the emotion that resonated with Filipinos so that’s why HONNE has a lot of fans here,” a fan named Ellah told The FREEMAN post-concert.

“Their songs are vulnerable in such a way that we can all identify with them, especially when it comes to unconditional love. It’s not just about our [romantic] partners, but also generally about family and friends, how they can be with you during tough times, your highs and lows. That’s why their songs resonated with us,” added another fan, Kate, who took solace in their music

during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can feel this sentiment from their fans was mutual with Andy Clutterbuck and James Hatcher, the men behind HONNE, along with their touring band that included fellow English artist BEKA as their opening act and featured vocalist.

Their two-hour set included “IDGAF ABOUT PAIN”, “COMING HOME”, “HEARTSONG” and “BACK ON TOP” from their 2022 album “LET’S JUT SAY THE WORLD ENDED A WEEK FROM NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?”, as well as “306” and “Location Unknown” from their popular 2018 album “Love Me / Love Me Not”.

Most of the crowd stood up throughout the whole set, only taking a seat when the performers had a story to share or when they were playing a slower song. “I love how all of you are sitting down. It’s like storytime, children!”, Hatcher humored the crowd before sharing how he had half of his finger cut off while drunkenly playing a children’s game with his mates. Clutterbuck also shared that he has been married to his high school sweetheart for 15 years before playing “by my side”, which he dedicates to his wife.

There was not a second where the concert felt melancholic even when they were playing their slower songs. HONNE and the fans fed off each other’s positive energy, which increased as the show was nearing its end. It helps that HONNE said that their Filipino fans are the best singers they ever heard.

It didn’t take long for the duo to return for their encore, singing “no song without you” from their 2020 mixtape of the same name and “Day 1”, before completely capping the show with a video outro called “smile more smile more smile more”. Here, they told fans to reflect on their lives and think of the positive things they can do not just to themselves but to those around them –demonstrating why fans adore them in the first place.

It’s surreal that HONNE took the effort to perform in a major city per island in the country. Thankfully, they didn’t need a fancy stage to give out a great show. All they need was their songs, their instruments, and a white screen where they can project the visuals. Their fans will follow suit and vibe with them nonetheless.