Inigo Pascual goes through Stages of heartbreak in Trilogy

MANILA, Philippines — Inigo Pascual broadens his musical horizons with the release of Trilogy. The latter comprises three songs, Basta’t Alam Kong Tayo, Kahit Di Mo Ko Nakikita, and OK Lang Ako. It reminds everyone that there’s Inigo, the singer-songwriter aside from Inigo, the actor. He gave an impressive performance in the US TV series, “Monarch.”

Acting and music will always be part and parcel of who he is.

“They are three songs about heartbreak. If you’ll notice the title of the songs, each has a number, which refers to the phase of the breakup,” said Inigo in an exclusive virtual interview with The STAR. Basta’t Alam Kong Tayo is marked as #1, while Kahit Di Mo Ko Nakikita and OK Lang Ako are known as #2 and #3, respectively. The Heartbreak Trilogy is presented by Republic Records and Cornerstone Entertainment.

The first one, theme-wise, pictures a relationship that holds up because of assurance and reassurance. The second depicts an affair that loses its strength because one is no longer visible or engaged in it. The third sees a lover trying to feel OK after the love has gone.

In Trilogy, Inigo shares thoughts and truths about heartbreak.

“When I wrote them, it wasn’t intentional that they would be connected,” added Inigo. “When we — my team and my label — listened to them, we realized they seemed to be like phases of breakup.”

Inigo is thrilled that everyone is going to hear them all, and listeners can now connect one song to another. “When you put all the titles together, you form a sentence, Basta’t Alam Kong Tayo, Kahit Di Mo Ko, Nakikita OK Lang Ako (for as long as I know we’re still together, even if you don’t see me, I’m just OK),” said he.

“It wasn’t intentional (initially for the songs to be a trilogy). It was a beautiful accident, actually, that it somehow fits (as tracks number) one, two and three,” continued he. “Parang naging storytelling yung naging proseso nung mga bawat kanta po.”

Inigo clarified that he was in a good place at the time when the muse to tinker and toy with the ideas of coming up with the heartbreak-themed songs came to him. In fact, he was on the set of “Monarch” in Atlanta, sometime in November of 2022, when he endeavored such a musical activity. It took him two days to commence and complete all the tunes.

“Na-miss ko din ang Philippines at that time, kaya puro Tagalog siya (I missed the Philippines at that time, that’s why I wrote all Tagalog songs),” Inigo said.

Asked what his creative process like was, he shared, “The way I write my songs (is), I’m a melodic writer. So, what comes first to me is the melody of the song. Then, I put lyrics to it… Ako, inuuna ko po yung melody, yung magiging takbo ng kanta (I work on the melody first and the way the song will go).”

The musical theme may also appear in his head at any time. So, wherever Inigo may be, he needs to capture it by recording the melodic idea on his phone, said he, who will send it to a music producer and share his vision from sounds to vibe.

“When I’m in that zone, in that headspace, kailangan dire-diretso (I need to continuously work on it). When I’m out of it, I find it challenging to go back again,” shared he.

For Inigo, one could easily describe a heartbreak when one is no longer heartbroken. This is true because a person can step back and convey everything objectively. Emotions are no longer heightened.

“‘Pag pinipilit mong magsulat tungkol sa pinagdadaanan mo, anything that’s about challenges and heartbreaks, parang minsan hindi mo ma-describe ng maayos yung gusto mong masulat. Parang hindi ito ang nararamdaman ko (when you try yourself hard to write about what you’re going through, sometimes you cannot describe it properly. You tend to feel it’s not what you have in mind),” said he. “Nung nasulat ko yung tatlo, I was in a very good place.”

Trilogy, by the way, has also allowed Inigo to work again with Gabriel Tagadtad as the music producer. The latter wrote the rap part of Inigo’s Dahil Sa’Yo.

“It’s like a reunion project for us,” said the artist. “Kuhang-kuha niya po kasi yung kung saan direksyon na kapag pinakinggan ko yung kantang ito parang pinlay ko yung buong relationship ko (he understood the direction I wanted for the song, like, when one listens to it, one feels that an entire relationship is also being played). So, he got the vibe and put some elements, like in OK Lang Ako, there’s this cassette tape-like element on it.”

This also sat well with Inigo, as it evoked memories and the idea of looking back on a relationship.

As for his source of inspiration for the three songs, Inigo said it’s a mix of reflections of his and his friends’ experiences and stories.

“Actually, when you listen to the lyrics of the songs, ano siya, sobrang blunt (you may find them blunt). It’s nothing poetic, it’s very straightforward,” said he.

“Perhaps it’s one of the (things) I’ve learned through the years. I was always scared to make my lyrics straight to the point. I always felt it (took) away the artistry ‘pag masyadong literal (when the words are literal or straightforward). But there’s also art in being simple, being literal in (writing) lyrics. In these three songs, there’s nothing poetic, but simply real experiences.”

It also speaks about the appeal and charm of a song when the listener gets the message clearly.

And music to Inigo’s ears is when people approach him and tell him that his song became their first dance at their wedding or helped someone nurse his or her broken heart.

“It’s in (one of those instances) that I’ve realized that, as a songwriter, you’re not just writing for yourself. Sinusulat mo rin siya dun para sa mga taong gamit ang kantang yun (you’re also writing it for others who may use it),” shared he.

“So, with these three songs, I wanted the people, who needed to hear (any of them), to be able to hear (them). Makarating sa kanila (the songs will reach them)… but I do want these three songs to get to the people that need (them), that need to heal, (and the songs will hopefully) help them get through a hard situation or a tough time.”

At the end of the day, artists like Inigo want anyone to get inspired and move forward to love again.