Onarsé is back with a brand new EP, "15 / 10," a release that signs a brand new chapter in the career of this talented artist!

Intense, powerful, and unique, Onarsé is one of those artists that know how to stand out from the crowd. Alternative R&B, Soul music, and much more in his latest project, a release you cannot miss!

Today, at Planet Singer, we have the great pleasure of discovering more about this talented artist with an exclusive interview!

Hi Onarsé, it is such a pleasure having you with us today at Planet Singer! Your latest release talks a lot about you, and we are thrilled to know more about your artistic journey. So, let’s start from the beginning. How did you discover your passion for music?

My passion for music began before I was even born. Trust me; I probably started singing ever since I was in the womb. But all jokes aside, growing up in a Filipino family has really influenced me simply because we Filipinos love karaoke machines and singing. However, my true love for music didn’t flourish into what it is today until I began writing music since I was ten years old. There’s just something about writing music that I’ve never felt before, and believe me, it feels that way each time. But what I can say for sure is that my journey is just beginning.

Can you tell us more about your EP “15 / 10?”

My EP “15/10” is essentially a journey. I know, it sounds very cliché, but hear me out. The first song, “Never Be Enough”, is the song which provides the overall narrative for the EP. Not being good enough for someone. Moving on to the next song, “Euphoria”, is an introduction to the fluttery and subliminal feelings someone gets when they fall in love with someone. “Young Love” is a song about the carefree attitude young people have when falling in love, often not caring about what other people think in order to just live their lives the way they want to. “Pretty Baby” is the final song in the 3 song lover’s trilogy within the EP. It’s a song about expressing how perfect the person someone’s fallen in love with and how blissful love can be. Then we get to “Late Night Thoughts,” a song which drastically changes the mood from a lovey, upbeat song like “Pretty Baby”. “Late Night Thoughts” is a song where an individual begins to feel uncertainty within themselves due to how their life is currently progressing. It’s a song which gently reminds someone about the reality that no matter how good life goes, there will come a time where you will eventually just fade away and become a hint of memory in someone’s life. And finally, “Last Summer, 2019”. A song which dramatically changes the narrative and the tone of the EP. This song puts the pieces all together and connects the first song, “Never Be Enough”. Simply put, “Last Summer, 2019” is a song about a gay man falling in love with a ‘straight man,’ without knowing he’s been spending time with another girl. If you listen to the EP on repeat, you’ll notice that the next song after “Last Summer, 2019” is “Never Be Enough,” which then becomes a story loop.

What inspires you?

What inspires me is seeing my LGBTQ and Asian community succeed. It’s such an empowering feeling seeing my people are being represented, especially in an industry where we are often left in the shadows.

You have a very warm and rich voice, and your style is truly unique. How important is it for you to find the right approach to a song when it comes to interpretation?

Finding the right approach when singing a song inevitably comes down to the artist. Everyone is unique! Some songs may work for one, some songs may not work for another. It comes down to exploring what works for you and what feels right. Another thing to remember is that a song is like telling a story. Making sure to have some dynamics and variation when performing and / or writing a song.

Have you ever studied with a professional vocal coach, or are you a natural talent?

My mom actually did encourage me (well, more like force me) to take vocal lessons when I was young. I remember she told me that when I first got my hands on a microphone at the age of 4 and first sang a Filipino song called “dadalhin”, she was surprised at how well I sang the song just from listening to her (my mom) sing it. But anyway, my vocal lessons went on for nearly three years, I believe. Then I just stopped because I found what worked for me and kept going from there.

“Never Be Enough” is such a great song; can you tell us more about it? Is there any specific reason why you put it as the opening track of the EP?

“Never Be Enough” is the opening track for the EP because it creates the start of a story loop. I mean, you can listen to the EP backward and still have a story loop, but with somewhat alternate endings. One is the ending of ‘killing’ the man who cheated and another is the ending of ‘killing’ yourself due to being unable to bear the fact that you will never be enough for the man you love (watch the “Never Be Enough” Music Video on YouTube to see what I mean). That’s just how I’ve constructed this EP and I hope people see it that way too.

If you could collaborate with an artist that influenced your artistic path, who would you like to share a song with?

Oh Jesus. Frank Ocean. No doubt. That man has influenced my sound and lyricism so much. I would probably die from a heart attack if he ever said he wanted to collab with me, and I would tell him “thank you” if he did.

Can you reveal what your creative process is? How do your songs come to life?

My creative process is simply just living life. Songs I write are songs about a collective experience of my own and my friends. I never like to directly write songs about my own life because I want my music to be up for interpretation. I want people to relate to them whichever way they’re able to most. Hence as to why I like to listen to my friend’s stories of how their lives are going and combine different perspectives of the same story to write one song.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future are to be successful, represent my people and be an influence to the younger generation. Period.

Onarsé, it was such a pleasure having you with us today. We can’t wait for your next release. Is there anything you would like to say to our readers?

It was a pleasure to be interviewed by you guys. Thank you so much. All I do want to announce is my new single, “Wonderer,” comes out on August 13, 2021.