YouTube star Benedict Cua now a recording artist

YouTube star Benedict Cua is officially a recording artist after recently releasing his debut single ‘Di Namalayan under the music label PolyEast Records.

‘Di Namalayan is out now on digital stores. “It’s a story of a guy who has developed a profound affection towards someone who he often sees during commute. I’m sure there was a time before na nakasabay niyo yung isang tao at eventually naging crush niyo,” he said in a statement.

Benedict currently has 1.3 million YouTube subscribers and over 2 million TikTok followers. After his success online, the vlogger has set his sights on other areas of the creative industry such as music.

“I’ve always set a goal for myself to produce music. But I didn’t expect it would turn out this way. Akala ko nga ako lang gagawa nun. Because I don’t have any idea how to write and arrange music, blessing talaga that PolyEast approached me and signed me up, and they made everything easy and possible,” he told The STAR in a Zoom interview.

“I just really love music, I love singing in general. It has been a huge part of my life. Every time I have a certain emotion parang di dapat mawala sa akin yung earphones ko and my playlist,” said Benedict who is largely influenced by the music of Ed Sheeran.

Here’s the rest of The STAR’s one-on-one virtual interview with Benedict.

How did the partnership with PolyEast Records come about?

“They found my other covers on YouTube and for some reason, they believed that I could produce a single. I think (the making) lasted around one to two months from signing (in February) to discussing it and conceptualizing the single. But the recording itself is fast, less than a week only.

“And I’m very thankful because I never imagined I could produce a song, especially this year which is super complicated, and we made it possible. Hopefully (it will become) a full-length album because that’s the goal of everyone who’s releasing a song. Parang pangarap makapag-perform and sabihin, ‘Okay, my next song is…’ Hahaha!”

How was it working with fellow PolyEast artist TJ Monterde who wrote your song?

“I’m very fortunate that TJ has never written for anybody, I’m the first. First time I heard it, I fell in love with the song. He just observed paano ako sa videos, how I am with viewers and he saw my other content. I had one content he really liked — (a vlog) about the UV express.

“And I think, at some point of our lives, we’ve always had that unexpected moment of falling in love and dun siya kumuha ng idea. If you listen to the song, ma-fa-flashback kayo to that first time na di niyo inexpect na na-in-love kayo.”

How long have you been a vlogger now, and has it always been your plan to make a career out of it?

“It’s been two years and I’ve never imagined it. My background is corporate for three years, and family business for two years. Sobrang layo ng job simula nung nag-wo-work ako, nag-a-acting lessons ako on weekends, dun nagkaroon ng konting improvement sa entertainment industry. And I enjoyed it but very different talaga. Walang-wala sa course ko nung college (Business Management at DLSU), no trace at all. This is just my personality, in general.”

In one of your vlogs, you said you sold slippers as a child in Balintawak.

“Eight years old palang ako pero di ko naiintindihan yung ginagawa. Alam ko nagbebenta kami sa kalsada, wala kaming space. Yung tatay ko naghahawak ng isang box, puro tsinelas, tapos may plastic kami ng kapatid ko sa kamay. Kami nagbabalot ng tsinelas. And siguro kaya matipid din ako dahil yun nga, alam ko gaano kahirap mag-earn ng money.

“Childhood for me was different. Different in the sense that we were given love, but luho (luxuries) no. And understandable, wala akong ever hugot na, ‘Di niyo ko ever binigyan ng ganito.’ And it’s a good story to tell my future kids. Those moments, ayoko na siyang gawing drama in my vlogs because it’s a good lesson. Sinasabi Chinese, mayaman, but hindi talaga eh. Ang sarap sabihin na lumaki sa hirap. Mas naiintindihan mo yung mundo.”

What have you learned so far these past two years in your chosen career?

“My key learning is you can make anything happen, you can turn your dream into a reality if you’re aggressive in doing it. If you don’t try, if it remains in your thoughts — someday I will do this, someday I will learn how to do this, or someday someone will teach me how to do this — it will never happen because they’re all maybes. But if you try it, even when you’re at home, shoot ka lang sa bahay, magagawa mo siya eventually, that is already developing a skill na di mo namamalayan dahil nga pinaghirapan mo.

“And you can also influence the lives of other people. Yun talaga ang di ko in-expect na wow, people really listen to me, to my content and in some way, I affect their lives.

“And my goal (in my vlogs) is just to be myself, not to change myself, so masaya, minsan ma-drama OK lang, as long as I’m there, it’s me. Because once you lose yourself because you want to please someone, it’s a dead-end. I think that’s what people like, you being you and vlogs being authentic. If you’re someone who wants to venture into vlogging, be yourself, as cliché as it sounds. Pag hindi ikaw yan, makikita ng tao yan.”

What’s next for you?

“Hopefully, short films, music videos. Right now, I’m acting because I want to gather more knowledge. I’m part of Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday on GMA. I enjoy it. Although I was very nervous when I first got to the set because there were around 16 people there and I’m used to just doing things by myself. But it was a good experience.”