Unique Salonga, Opm's Enfant Terrible

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In the 2008 film Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, which was based on a novel of the same name by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, a character named Thom (played by Aaron Yoo) suggests a theory about why The Beatles are so successful. Other bands, he says, make songs about sex or pain. But not the Fab Four.

“They had it all figured out," says Thom. "'I Want to Hold Your Hand', the first single. That’s what everybody wants. They don’t want a 24-hour hump sesh. They don’t want to be married to you for a hundred years. They just want to hold your hand.”

Perhaps that's what was on Unique Salonga’s mind when he came out with “Midnight Sky” last July. It was the singer-songwriter’s first single after having divorced from his band, IV of Spades, of which he was the lead singer. "Midnight Sky" is simple and sappy—steeped in that saccharine sentiment of yearning for love and verbalizing it into the cosmos. In the chorus, he even takes a page out of the Lennon-McCartney songbook: “And I will hold your ha-a-a-and / Hold my ha-a-a-and…”

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The song has almost 3.2 million views on YouTube and 4.2 million streams on Spotify as of early September. Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at in the landscape of local indie music, which never lacks in talent but doesn’t always generate bona fide superstars who cross over to the mainstream. With a loyal fanbase and his critically acclaimed solo debut album Grandma, Salonga—or simply UNIQUE, as he styles himself—is showing signs of that superstardom at just all of 18 years old.

“Isang beses pinakinig sa 'kin ng tatay ko 'yung Beatles. Paulit-ulit ko na siyang pinapakinggan. Tapos tumatawa ako mag-isa sa kwarto kasi tuwang-tuwa ako. Tapos ayun na.”

Boy Wonder

When Grandma was released on streaming platforms in early August, the response was overwhelming. It was met with near-universal acclaim. Former Rivermaya vocalist Rico Blanco—who knows a thing or two about saying goodbye to a band—called it “brilliant.” Quest called Unique a “once-in-a-generation” artist. BP Valenzuela said the album was “really good,” and Reese Lansangan said one of the songs in the album, “Ozone,” gave her goosebumps.

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The album itself is a technical and creative achievement—one that seems even more remarkable when you consider that the mind and heart from which it sprung was brought into this world in the year of our Lord 2000. But Unique will tell you himself he’s had enough of people's shock and disbelief.

“Ang weird lang, kasi parang ageist masyado,” says Unique. “Porke bata hindi na pwede maging magaling? So ‘pag matanda dapat magaling ka na?"

His manager, 31-year-old Kean Cipriano, says he knew there was something special about Unique immediately. Cipriano owns the indie label O/C Records, which produced and released Grandma. He also happens to be the vocalist and frontman of Callalily and a 13-year veteran of the local music business. He says he knows talent when he sees it.

“May kagat yung bata. Umpisa pa lang," says Cipriano. "He knows what he’s doing. That’s very rare. And at the age of 18, he knows what he wants to do and what he wants to hear.”

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PHOTO: Joseph Pascual

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Unique is wearing a black, long-sleeved pullover and a newsboy cap, which he tosses to one side when it’s time to pose for the camera. At first, he seems eager to talk, but in actual conversation, he is soft-spoken; his words thoughtful and measured.

“This feels awkward,” he says. He isn't comfortable with this part of being a celebrity—the interviews and the dealing-with-the-press. “Hindi ako sanay sa mga tao. Hindi rin ako sanay makipag-usap."

But he's had a few years with IV of Spades to acclimatize to the fame—surely he knows the drill by now? “Hindi pa rin talaga ako nasasanay,” he says. “Marunong naman pero hindi ko maiwasang hindi... Kinakabahan ako.”

To put him at ease, we talk about his childhood, which, when you think about it, really isn't very long ago. Unique is his given name, and he grew up around music. His parents exposed him to The Beatles early on, and like millions of others, he found himself jamming to songs like “Twist and Shout” and “And I Love Her”, as early as six years old.

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“Isang beses pinakinig sa 'kin ng tatay ko 'yung Beatles,” he says. “Paulit-ulit ko na siyang pinapakinggan. Tapos tumatawa ako mag-isa sa kwarto kasi tuwang-tuwa ako. Tapos ayun na.”

Later, Unique would join forces with three other musicians to unleash a brand of '60s and '70s-tinged pop music to an entirely new generation of music fans. They called themselves IV of Spades, and by now, their saga is well-documented.

What’s less clear are the circumstances behind Unique's abrupt decision to leave the band last May. I knew better than to ask. He obviously has his reasons. But he does, for a while, look back at those days. “Masaya kasi nagka-panahon ako na makasama sila. Naging parte ako ng Spades kahit papaano. Tapos ngayon, mas nagagawa ko 'yung gusto ko."

Your Grandmother's Music

Barely three months after calling it quits, Unique came out with Grandma. Some may say it was too soon, but he couldn't help that he had a ton of material pre-written and ready to go.

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“Akala nila mabilis 'yung proseso, pero siguro mga nasa 30 percent ng album, dati pang kanta,” he says.

The remaining 70 percent of Grandma was either easy or difficult, depending on whether or not the gods of inspiration came a-knocking. Some songs were finished in one sitting, while others tested his patience. He had to force himself to complete some songs, while others practically wrote themselves.

“Mas madalas ako (mag-start) sa melody,” he says. That is, with the exception of “Ozone,” a retelling of the horrific disco tragedy of 1996, set to finger-snapping mid-tempo music. “Sinulat ko talaga siya na istorya, hanggang sa mabawasan siya, naging tula, tapos naging lyrics, tapos nagkaroon siya ng melody.”

While Cipriano co-produced the album with the help of a creative team of engineers and musicians, the Unique himself maintained creative vision. “Nagbabatuhan kami," he says. "Pero nasa akin 'yung huling decision.”

PHOTO: Joseph Pascual

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"That’s very rare. At the age of 18, he knows what he wants to do and what he wants to hear."

Cipriano says he was immediately impressed with his ward’s songwriting skills. But because Unique is a solo artist, the manager brought in familiar names like Wendell Garcia and Rommel Dela Cruz to help complete the sound for the album.

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“We made a demo, here in the office, of every song—except for the ones na nasa Soundcloud,” he says. “For ‘Cha-Ching,’ for example, three drummers entered the recording studio, because we just couldn’t get what we wanted. We were very particular about the ‘sound’ that we were looking for in each and every track.”

The result speaks for itself. To listen to Grandma is to experience the work of a mature and accomplished musician hitting his creative stride. Songs like “Jules” and “I’ll Break Your Little Heart” are Beatles-esque, and clear about Unique’s '60s and '70s influences. (And yes, he confirms, "Jules" is based on a real person). “Cha-Ching” is, as the name implies, about money—and that’s all he'll say about it.

Meanwhile, “Sino,” can be interpreted two ways. “It’s a love story. Tungkol siya sa isang lalaking hindi alam kung sino 'yung pipiliin niya. Pwede rin tungkol sa isang lalaki na…parang bato. Hindi niya nakikita 'yung mga tao sa paligid niya na nandiyan lang para sa kanya. Pwede ring ganun.”

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“Midnight Sky”—his “I Want to Hold You Hand” song—was written one night outside his house. The arrangement is sparse and no-nonsense—just a tender love song by a guy strumming his electric guitar.

Flying Solo

It might be too soon to declare Grandma as the defining album of 2018, but with widespread praise for it from industry players and OPM fans, it’s on its way. And while Unique still has his naysayers, he says he understands and appreciates them.

“Okay lang sa akin. Kasi doon ako natututo, sa ibang boses ng tao. Doon din ako kumukuha ng ibang idea kung okay ba 'yung ginawa ko. So 'pag gumawa ulit ako ng ibang kanta, alam ko nang gagawin ko. Pero hindi ako naka base sa kanila. Parang may nakikita lang ako na, ‘Uy, tama to.’ Hindi naman ako parang cynical na, ‘Uy hindi, artist ako e.’"

PHOTO: Joseph Pascual

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On September 29, Unique will take the stage at the Kia Theater for his first-ever solo show, which also serves as the grand launch of Grandma. Cipriano promises a memorable show, but Unique just hopes people will like it. “Sana matuwa sila. 'Yun lang.”

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Looking at him now, Unique appears to be a teenager goofing around and having the time of his life. But that youth belies a struggle of adjusting to fame and striking out on his own.

“Okay naman ako,” he says. “Stressed lang, kasi ang hirap mag-adjust. Parang nanggaling ka sa dating banda na may kasama, tapos naging ganito ka, mag-isa ka nalang. Lahat binabato sa 'yo. Parang wala ka nang kasama.”

But his manager will be there to guide him through the growing pains. “I just want him to do whatever he wants,” says Cipriano. “Dish out his art. I’d definitely help him get the music out there. I want him to be able to tell his stories through his live performances.”

PHOTO: Joseph Pascual

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Unique has no regrets. Where he is now is the result of where he’s been and what he’s done. He says he’s learned a lot from fronting IV of Spades, and that he’s just grateful for his time with the band. But now, there are more songs to make—music to call forth from his mind, from his heart, from his soul. He'll share them with the world soon enough.

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