Rini is among contemporary artists flexing their musical muscles in the US and the international scene. They accomplish this by doing a series of tours that literally and figuratively sees them hopping from one city to another. Part of the R&B singer-songwriter’s Past the Naked Eye 2023 Tour is making a stop and headlining a showcase in the country, set on July 19, 7 p.m. at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier.
This makes Rini, who was born in the Philippines and raised in Melbourne, revisit his Filipino roots. At this point in his career, Rini is based in Los Angeles and carries on to make a name for himself in the global recording landscape.
“I started, you know, taking music seriously, I think, it was around I was 16, 17,” said Rini about how he discovered his penchant for music in a recent virtual one-on-one with The STAR. “I grew up in a church in Australia, it’s a Filipino church as well in the community (in which) I was part of the music team. I was playing the guitar.”
It’s safe to say that it led him to appreciate and love music more and eventually express all that through putting videos on YouTube, doing song covers and playing music in the street.
“Busking, for me, was like such a big step, (getting) out of my comfort zone because obviously I (was) gonna be out in the street, singing to everybody,” he said. “I’d say that really helped me build confidence (in) my music and you know, my voice. After that, I got inspired to write these songs. I didn’t expect anything (from) it. I was just like ‘I’m gonna put it out because you know I just wanna see what people think.’ Yeah, I did and people loved it.”
That’s how it all started for Rini, and genre-wise, he has found R&B as his homebase or core, as one may put it.
“I would say I’m definitely, like R&B as that’s like my main thing, but I also could like an alternative music. Right now, actually I’m working on a completely different sound and it’s gonna be a lot more rock ‘n roll, you know like (the) Psychedelic (era) stuff, like sonically. I don’t think I can put a label on what my music sounds like.”
His music is evolving and not limited to one genre. With that, the artist in Rini offers something new to listeners and music enthusiasts.
As for his sources of inspiration for the narratives and sounds of tunes like My Favourite Clothes, After the Sun and Meet Me in Amsterdam, Rini has banked on his personal experiences. Another proof to that is the Constellations album, which is “basically about my relationship with my girlfriend now,” said he. “That was just me telling the story from the beginning to where I was at that time.”
Aside from that, his friends’ stories and situations also serve as the musical muse and drive Rini to set his thoughts in music.
“I feel like everybody’s got something to say about like stuff and like everybody has feelings, they are able to relate to that type of situation,” he said and added that his feeling at the moment plays a part in writing songs.
“A lot of the time, I start with, you know ‘coz my main instrument is my guitar, I always start by playing chords,” Rini said of his creative process. “I think about this stuff that I wanna, you know, talk about in the song and like how can I translate that feeling into a sound, like I try to find that, you know, chord progression.”
From there, he writes down his thoughts, but they don’t have to be necessarily complete. Rini lives with the idea for a bit and reflects on life and events around him. He wants to capture the light bulb moment or the idea on his mind.
Although his way of producing tunes may have clear-cut activities, Rini doesn’t want to be limited by such a system. He could commence and culminate the work anywhere, anytime or in any given activity or circumstance. There are other artistic ways for him to achieve his musical goal.
Aside from performing before his kababayan and meeting his fans in July, Rini looks forward to seeing his relatives again.
“I haven’t seen them in a couple of years,” said he, who spent his childhood years in Castillejos, Zambales. “Obviously, me here being in America, away from my family in Australia, too. I need that time with them, and just to be able to, like ‘freshen up’ the relationship again with my family and also seeing Philippines again. I haven’t been (there) for so long. I don’t know what it’s gonna be like. I still speak Tagalog though. I’m (also) excited for the food.”
As for his show, Rini admitted that he feels a bit nervous for it is a new feeling and experience.
“I feel like whatever happens, it’s gonna be fun for me. Just being in the Philippines, that’s my home. Performance is gonna be fun, I feel like everybody can sing in the crowd,” he said.
The Past the Naked Eye 2023 Tour had a successful run in the US, London, Paris and Amsterdam last year and will have its Asia and Australia leg next month.
“I think it’s important to like really take breaks,” said Rini on keeping himself enthusiastic and on his toes after a tour. “After the tour, I would always set aside, you know, maybe three weeks of me just relaxing, not doing music… just reconnecting with life, doing different things apart from music because I think it’s important to, you know, be still live.”
Striking a balance between one’s personal and professional life is needed. This means, as Rini said, “You just gotta know when to stop, just like take a breath and you know when to work and push.” Even while doing a tour, it matters for him to “take a day, enjoy some food and do other stuff,” he shared.
As an artist, Rini likes the writing and making music aspects and says recording can be tedious “‘coz you have to do so many takes, you have to prepare your vocals. It can take a lot of hours,” said he. “I really enjoy touring and I really love moving around and seeing new places, seeing faces and fans and trying out new things, and that’s a blessing. To be able to do that and do the thing that you love, which is music, it’s a big blessing and I don’t take it for granted.”
The interview concluded with Rini saying, “(I) try not to put like a limit on myself,” and wherever this musical journey brings him to, he will continue to make music. “I just wanna be able to like express myself and make the music that I love making,” he added.
(For ticket inquiries and details, visit SM Tickets and livenation.ph.)