Marq Dollentes inspires listeners to keep going in Kaibigan

Marq Dollentes has made his contribution to the thickening narrative about finding one’s inner strength in a challenging situation through a song. Its title is Kaibigan. Marq, the singer-songwriter, encourages listeners to be courageous and inspires them to keep going.

“It was done through the help of Blackbox Records,” said Marq of how his latest single came into being in a virtual one-on-one with The STAR. Kaibigan is his first song from the record label, led by Carlo Alvarez, that Marq will work with for the coming years. “I actually gave them (the people behind the label) probably like seven songs to choose from… and eventually we settled with Kaibigan… Maganda ang message niya.”

Its theme is reflective of the time, the height of the pandemic, when Marq answered to that craving of creating a song about encouraging himself and others to go on despite the uncertainty the global health crisis posted. Even if now that everybody has adjusted to the new normal, Marq’s song remains relevant. Kaibigan is a reminder to all and sundry “that there is that power within us that can turn the greatest challenges into triumphs of the soul,” said Marq in a statement given to this paper.

As for the sound, Marq collaborated with arranger Sean Tuesday. To start off, he sent the lyrics and melody. From there, they would exchange ideas on the creation of the music. He was satisfied with how the final product turned out to be.

Does he believe that songs are shaped by their milieu, (which refers, as one may put it, to trends and events that pervade a society or a particular time)? Marq agreed and shared his sources of inspiration in writing songs, “usually, life lessons and at the same time, what’s going on around me. I’d like to make my music and my message relevant to what’s going on around me. If it’s a political season, may lumalabas din talaga na political songs.”

“It’s seasonal din talaga and what’s going on within you as an artist (also serves an inspiration),” added he with a realization that “as artists, we do stuff that we wanna talk about and we wanna sing.” So, writing songs is a personal endeavor for him.

Marq, whose music genre is “a fusion of R&B, soul, pop, and a bit of rock,” according to his team, released 12 compositions in the 2018 studio album, Kathang Puso. He wrote Kulay Rosas ang Bukas and co-wrote Titindig Ako in the recent elections. Marq had an inspirational song, Dear World, for the Yolanda victims. With that, Marq is really into singing and songwriting.

“It’s (singing is) a calling. I really like to do that,” said he. “It’s one thing I really enjoy doing. I’m always looking for ways to be better… I always find ways not only to improve but to come up with a new sound… I always listen to other people’s music also here and abroad.”

“Sometimes, the inspiration comes to me in the form of words,” Marq gave one a sneak peek  at his creative process. “So I write them (down) and then later on, when I look at (them), I feel may music na kasabay sa pagsulat ko pala. I just sing it and I record (it) myself with the lyrics. Sometimes the melody comes first… Most of the time, it’s really the lyrics that come first.” After that, he looks for the right arranger to collaborate with.

Although he may have a vision of his song idea from the start, Marq is also aware that it can change when two creatives begin to work.

“That’s what happens with collaborating. It’s not a compromise for me. It’s more of, when you collaborate, (you encounter new ideas and) different ideas come up. Sometimes you have an initial plan of what you really wanted (it) to be. But then, eventually (it becomes) something else  and I’m OK with that,” said he.

Aside from creating songs, Marq also works as a creative associate of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon and Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma in conceptualizing and mounting her shows. He has also appeared in independent films such as Coronaphobia, written and directed by Njel de Mesa and produces his own music and videos. Marq belongs to that group of artists, whose creativity crosses over from one artistic expression to another.

With his diverse and related talents, Marq definitely knows his core, that is singing-songwriting. “That is really where my calling is, to sing and write songs,” said he, whose other artistic inclinations also speak of how multi-talented Marq is or who he is an artist.

(Listen to Kaibigan on all streaming platforms. For details, visit Blackbox Records website and subscribe to Marq Dollentes social media channels.)