Ben&Ben and Munimuni Team Up for New Single “Sugat”
In a history-making turn of events, critically adored group
Ben&Ben have finally teamed up with indie-folk outfit Munimuni
on “Sugat,” a heartfelt
ballad that offers moments of solace and healing in a time that badly needs it.
While both award-winning acts have released songs that
explore the pain of loss and the path towards self-care and recovery, “Sugat”
allows space for reflection. The song acknowledges the importance of looking
back and learning from the past, while refusing to be defined by the choices
and mistakes people make.
According to Ben&Ben, the intricately produced
song is percussionist Toni Muñoz’s love letter to herself during a difficult
period in her life, when her confidence is weighed down by self-doubt. “When
Toni first presented the song as it was at the time to the band, Paolo
immediately thought of a chorus section to address and accompany the message of
the verses,” the nine-piece band reveals in a statement. “It was the deeply
personal experiences of both Toni and Paolo that made Sugat such a
powerful song of self-healing and overcoming past wounds.”
With “Sugat,” Ben&Ben and Munimuni let the
arrangement breathe, simmer, and linger around the moment before arriving at
transcendence. The song was produced by Jean Paul Verona and Keifer Cabugao
and, whose vision for the song leans towards that big and deep atmospheric
sound while balancing the sense of intimacy that the instrument and vocals
bring. Cabugao explains that the song requires special attention to which the
music elements would be more evident. “We wanted to include only the right
instrument that the song was asking for and so when we got the ’yes’ from
Munimuni, it only became clearer how we would move forward. Marrying the soul
sounds of Ben&Ben and Munimuni can be described as almost effortless,
meant-to-be, and long overdue.”
Munimuni’s flute texture, in particular, not only
balances the musical motif with soothing calm, but also gives it a freeing,
meditative touch. “When we thought of the flute, it was an instant light bulb
moment for all of us to think of Munimuni,” Ben&Ben disclose in an
interview. “Not only was the flute texture a perfect fit, Munimuni was the
perfect collaborator for such a delicate song about healing, and we couldn't
imagine how we could have pulled it off without them.”
The collaboration came to fruition sometime this year
when Ben&Ben invited Munimuni over to their studio to record “Sugat.” As
longtime fans of their music, Ben&Ben have always wanted to work with
Munimuni, and somehow the opportunity presented itself when Munimuni announced
a comeback from their hiatus a few months ago.
During the recording session, the acclaimed band
behind the hits “Pagtingin,” “Leaves,” and “Lifetime” offered a fairly blank
canvas in which Munimuni infused their brand of introspective musicality. This
resulted into a sonic poetry that is in itself an admission of vulnerability.
“The very first time Adj and Owen sang the chorus, it was so much better than
we could have imagined, and we couldn't believe just how perfect of a fit their
voices were to support and carry the message of the song,” the chart-topping
group recalls. “As for the flute solo, Owen of Munimuni really poured his heart
into it, with several takes all of which we were so blown away by, but he
wanted nothing less than perfection. When it was finished and we heard the
final take, we were floored by the sheer depth and emotion the flute solo had,
and we consider it now to be an integral part of the song.”
Munimuni, likewise, returned the favor by saying that
they’ve learned so much from Ben&Ben and their creative process in making
songs. “We’re grateful that Ben&Ben gave us the freedom to experiment with
sounds and convey the mood of the song on collaborative terms,” the alt-pop
quartet shares. “We also connected with the song on an intimate level, despite
it being written by someone outside of the band. Paolo and Toni’s lyrics are
written beautifully that it touched us, and gave us a new perspective on love
and healing.”
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