It’s taken five years, but recording artist Luke Mejares is back with a new album.
The award-winning Boholano singer, who began his promising career with South Border before eventually going onto find more success as a solo artist, has already released three albums: Stop Luke Listen (2004), Pangako (2007) and Kasayaw (2012).
Pangako and Stop Luke Listen have earned him countless accolades in the music industry, including Male R&B Artist of the Year at the first Philippine Hip-Hop Awards in 2005, Best R&B Male Artist at the Radio Music Awards in 2009, and R&B Artist of the Year at the 5th PMPC Star Awards in 2013.
Mejares, 41, is making a big comeback to the music scene with Blackbird five years after his last.
Blackbird is an all-original album, which features a number of outstanding collaborations from top and elite songwriters, such as Marcus Davis, Keith Martin, Top Suzara, Jude Gitamondoc, Vehnee Saturno and Arnie Mendaros.
The hauntingly ballad “Aaminin Ko Sa’Yo,” is the album’s carrier single, written by hitmaker Arnie Mendaros, who is also behind Kyla’s signature hit single “Hanggang Ngayon.”
The album also boosts notable duets from the Philippines’ King of RnB Jay-R with “Pa’no Ang Gabi” and Top Suzara with “Maybe Forever With You.”
The versatile singer explained the story behind the cover artwork and concept for his new album. The album cover shows a bearded image of him beneath the wings of a black bird.
“Actually, it all started as a joke. ‘Di ba, I’m an ‘egoy’ (colloquial term for “negro”)? So my friends coined a moniker for me, hence, Blackbird. I thought it was cool. (So) Kung merong Asia’s Songbird (Regine Velasquez) at merong Asia’s Nightingale (Lani Misalucha), ako naman si Blackbird.”
Rekindled Flame
With the release of Blackbird, Mejares admitted his passion and fire for music has been renewed.
“Right now, with this album, para akong nasindihan ulit. (And) Feeling ko, up and coming ulit ako,” he beamed with excitement.
He also shared what he aims to achieve for his new album. “I dream of having a hit single by my own. I will always be associated with the songs that became a hit when I was still with South Border. I feel like and I hope that I would be able to make a song that I can own as Luke.”
Right now, the talented singer is not only busy promoting the album but he also juggles his schedules as one of the newly-appointed board members of the MTRCB.
“We’re only required to report eight days a month plus attend the board meetings. Ang ginagawa ko, I exceed the required attendance,” Luke said. “At first, I thought it was an easy job pero hindi pala, kailangan bawat materyal, local or foreign, bawat eksena du’n, dapat tututukan mo.”
Mejares recently joined Jay-R’s roster of artists under HomeWorkz Music, which also include Kris Lawrence, Paolo Onesa, Aicelle Santos, Glaiza de Castro, among others.
Blackbird is now available for purchase on all Astroplus and AstroVision record bars nationwide and can be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify, Deezer and all digital music platforms worldwide.
