Queen of Emotions
by Gillian Agan
Filipinos are naturally emotional. Most people would relate how a movie or a song would give them the “feels,” or the sentimentality or tenderness felt when triggered by something that moved him or her. Proof of this are the Jollibee commercials advertised for every special public occasion, local films that we can’t get enough of like “One More Chance,” “A Very Special Love,” “Four Sisters and a Wedding,” and the recently successful blockbuster film starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards – “Hello Love, Goodbye.” But there is no better proof of our being emotional than in the hugot songs we hear and sing along to on the radio. The local music industry has witnessed a new roster of talented Filipino artists and songwriters, one of which is Moira dela Torre. From her breakout song, “Malaya,” to her hit duet with December Avenue “Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw,” Moira has surely tugged at the heartstrings of her listeners with her soothing, melodic voice, sentimental melodies and relatable lyrics. Business Mirror has dubbed her the “Queen of Emotions,” describing her as “a gem [whose] songs have the power to pierce through your heart and embrace your being; [she] is able to put a smile back on your face and help you have a good cry when you need one.” But how exactly did she evolve as an artist? And what is the story behind her lyrics?
Moira, born Moira Rachelle Bustamante Cruzado Dela Torre, had a family of musicians, thereby allowing her to quickly pick up songwriting and arrangement. At the age of 12, she had written her first song “After Your Heart,” a song she dedicates to people who want to understand their purpose and calling in life rather than just going with the flow. She was originally a voice artist working on jingles for brands like Mcdonald’s “Hooray for Today,” Surf’s “Pinalaki,” and Johnson & Johnsons’ “Signature of Love.” She then auditioned to the first season of The Voice of the Philippines, performing her own rendition of “Hallelujah” of Bamboo Manalac, a singer and judge on the show. Although she became part of apl.de.ap’s team, unfortunately, she did not advance into the competition after performing ‘One Night Only,” where she was bested by fellow contestant Penelope Matanguihan. Her career continued post-competition, and she released her first single titled “Love Me Instead” through her debut album titled “Moira.” Her breakthrough occurred through the films “Camp Sawi” and “Love You to the Stars and Back,” where she performed their official soundtracks “Malaya” and “Tagpuan” respectively. Her rise as an OPM artist was beginning to gain momentum as she emerged as the grand winner for her interpretation of the song “Titibo-tibo” in the finals of the songwriting and music video competition Himig Handog. Her first concert in 2018 sold out in four days, and in December 2018, she became Spotify’s most streamed artist in the Philippines.
In an interview with Billboard, Moira relates that she was not entirely aware of how her listeners felt. But she attributed the relatability of her songs to how she feels empathy for those around her; she recounted a childhood story where she found her mom crying and immediately felt her pain even in the absence of words. She further explains that it eventually became natural for her to feel other people’s pain, which helped her in relating to real life experiences of individuals in her songwriting. While others can relate to her songs, some “mirror” her empathy and feel the pain even without having experienced the same situation before. Also, her strong Christian faith has been valuable in her songwriting abilities; she narrates to Billboard that she has been writing her prayers on her journals since she was 7 years making it easier for her to start writing songs. In an article in the Inquirer’s Preen section, she shared that her hit song “Tagpuan” released in early 2018 was a result of the realization that :“Waiting was never a bad thing…there is so much hope when you persevere and when you brave through life, trusting that the Lord can make beautiful things out of all the mess we’ve made and/or experienced.” But besides her faith, Moira has turned to songwriting in order to deal with her battle with anorexia, a result of her being bullied during her teen years: “When you realize that there are more people who also go through what you also go through, and who feel rather voiceless, you’ll feel the need to let them know that they don’t have to go through it alone.”
Indeed, with her legion of fans and avid listeners, we can say that Moira has succeeded in empathizing with others; their pain and their joy in their dealings with everyday life. But more than just touching people’s hearts, she makes them feel through her songs that they are not alone in whatever they are going through. Music, as her tool, allows people to have a companion – a friend who simply listens and understands how they feel.
GillsThoughts 