EXCLUSIVE: OPM band Calein aims to reach more listeners with ‘Oras (remastered)’
Filipino alternative rock band Calein is hoping to reach more listeners with the remastered version of its hit song “Oras,” giving the track a new opportunity to connect with audiences six years after its original release.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the band shared why they felt it was the right time to revisit the song, which first came out in 2020.
“We felt that this was the right time to revisit ‘Oras’ and introduce it to more listeners. When we first released the song in 2020, the pandemic happened, and a lot of things changed, both in the world and within the band. We didn’t really get the chance to share the song with people the way we wanted to,” the band said.
Through the remastered version, Calein hopes to give the song another chance to reach listeners who may have missed it the first time around.
“Now, through this remastered version, we hope to give ‘Oras’ a fresh start, reach more people, and let the song find its way to the ears and hearts of those who connect with it. We want to give it another chance to reach people, wherever they may be, and let the song speak for itself,” they added.
While the new version offers a fuller sound, the band made sure to preserve the emotions and meaning behind the original track.
“With the help of Jan Aries Fuertuez, who remastered the song, we were able to give ‘Oras’ more clarity and a wider, fuller sound while keeping the emotions that made us love the song in the first place. We didn’t want to change what ‘Oras’ meant to us; we just wanted people to experience it in a new way,” they said.
As revealed in a press release, “Oras” was inspired by an experience of unspoken love involving vocalist and songwriter JD Mustacho.
JD wrote the song after inviting someone he had a crush on to one of Calein’s gigs, intending to confess his feelings. However, his plans took an unexpected turn when she arrived with her boyfriend.
Six years later, the song has taken on a different meaning for the band, reflecting not only the experiences that inspired it but also how much they have grown as individuals.
“Before, it was about someone else,” JD expressed. “Now, it feels more like a hidden love for myself.”
For drummer Benjo Criste, listening to “Oras” brings him back to his younger years, allowing him to reflect on the person he was when the song was first released: “When you listen to it and close your eyes, the music takes you back. It reminds you of your younger self.”
The remastered release also marks a new chapter for Calein, which currently consists of JD on vocals and guitar, Oliver Salaysay on bass, and Benjo on drums.