MANILA, Philippines — Breaking away from the sad and melancholic sound she has been known for, Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin embraces a more hopeful and optimistic take on love in “really got me thinking,” her six-track EP and latest release under Sony Music Philippines.
“I think I just really wanted to challenge myself as a songwriter because I’ve been writing all these sad songs for so many years now, and yeah, I wanted to challenge myself. And also, I’ve been so inspired by love the past few years and I wanted to take that inspiration and turn it into songs,” the indie folk-acoustic performer mused.
“I wouldn’t say it was risky. I feel like they (fans) were kind of waiting. They’ve been waiting for me to write love songs, especially the Tagalog love song. I think my listeners were really happy about that,” she continued.
The first track from “really got me thinking” is hmmm, a short instrumental intro to the EP, followed by the one to blame, the first single off the record.
“It’s a song about being with someone who makes you feel lighter and softer and braver, and they just make life more fun when they’re beside you,” Clara told The STAR.
Tahanan, meanwhile, is “about finally finding someone who feels like home.”
Fun fact: tahanan is only the second Tagalog song Clara has ever finished writing.
“And I don’t know, there’s something about Tagalog love songs, I think. There are things that you can’t quite express in English but they just sound a lot deeper and more meaningful in Tagalog. So I wanted to include a Tagalog song in the EP.”
Echoing the core message of tahanan is cinnamon coffee, the second single from the record.
“I mean, the message of the song is just finally finding home and coming home to your favorite person,” she briefly explained.
The next ditty is wings, Clara’s “personal favorite.”
“Although maybe my answer might change tomorrow but it’s my favorite today, wings. I feel like it has a very different message compared to the other songs.
“The other songs are all like they’re all about how love is very comforting and it makes you feel safe but wings kind of shows a different side of love, which is like more than just comfort, love inspires you to grow, to become a better version of yourself and it inspires you to dream big and to actually go for those dreams.”
The final track, you around, was written by Clara as an expression of her love language: quality time.
“I love it when someone tells me that, ‘Oh, thank you for being here,’ or like when someone says, ‘I’m so happy that we spent time together.’ So I wanted to write a song around that like being with someone. I wanted to write a song about how it’s like another way of saying, ‘I love you’ to a person, ‘I like having you around.’”
The young musician will mount her “really got me thinking” EP live show tonight at Teatrino, Greenhills, with special guests The Ridleys. The show has already sold out.
“I feel like my music is something I want my listeners to really listen to, reflect on. So I want everyone to come to the concert na alam na nila yung songs… It’s gonna be a very immersive and intimate show. Everyone’s just gonna be seated down and it’s very chill and laid back, like all my shows, I guess,” she told this paper.
“I think what makes this show really special is we’re not gonna be playing with backing tracks, which is what I usually do. Everything’s gonna be live. I’m gonna have a backup singer. I’m going to have a pianist for the first time on stage. So I’m excited for that and hopefully, it turns out well.”
Clara is the daughter of Joey Benin of Side A. Born and raised in Manila, she spent her high school years in Bacolod before earning a bachelor’s degree in Music Business Management from MINT College.
“Siguro yung favorite advice from him (Joey) was just to follow my gut. And just drown out the noise and just really follow my heart and stay true to myself and to my core,” Clara said.
