Maki 

MANILA -- Singer-songwriter and exclusive Tarsier Records talent Maki reminisced his journey before becoming one of the country’s hitmakers of today.

The "Dilaw" singer admitted that he has encountered numerous rejections.

“Like singing competitions, like here sa ABS, sa 'The Voice' nag-audition po ako, 'The Voice Teens' first batch, iba ibang auditions from different companies. Unfortunately that time lagi po ako na-rereject” recalled Maki.

“May isa pong audition na sobra akong discouraged. 'Yung pagkatao ko po na-disrespect, 'yung talent ko na-disrespect, nung time na 'yun, I was 15, sobra po akong na-overwhelm. Tapos sabi ko kung dito pa lang hindi ko na kaya paano pa kaya 'yung buong industry?”

He struggled throughout high school, trying to figure out how to become a singer. He then realized maybe singing was not for him, so he thought he’d just focus and pursue college.

“Yung mga taong nagpa-feel sa 'kin na hindi para sa akin ito, 'yung mga taong nagsasabi na lagi akong kulang, bakit ko sila bibigyan ng control sa kung ano 'yung gusto kong mangyari sa buhay ko? Ito 'yung feeling ko na mapra-proud sa akin ang mama at papa ko, so bakit hindi ko siya ipaglalaban?” he said.

When he was about to graduate college, a friend got hold of his demo tape, which found its way to the A&R guy of Tarsier Records.

That’s when Tarsier noticed Maki. Initially it was just to help him and his music get out there as an indie artist, but he was eventually signed by the label.

But the challenges didn’t stop there. Maki found himself facing a wall, having less to zero tractions and interactions with his music, even though he already had a recording label to help him out. No one was noticing his music.

That was until he wrote "Saan," which became a massive hit back in 2023 and has now amassed 80 million streams on Spotify.

His follow-up single ‘Dilaw’, with a music video together with BINI member Maloi, sits comfortably at the No. 2 spot in Spotify Philippines Top 50 songs and has reached the No. 1 Trending Music Video spot in YouTube.

“Para po akong lumulutang kasi hindi po ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari. Ang nararamdaman ko lang po ngayon is punong-puno po ang puso ko ng pagmamahal sa ginagawa ko,” he said.