Sica’s music manages to both captivate and calm, with its dreamlike layers and hazy rhythm. Take, for instance, his single Dark Out. At once atmospheric and melancholy, it evokes the smoky, dazed ambiance of a late night foray into Manila’s nightlife. But far from the bluster of a fun night out, Dark Out carries a subtle, emotional gravitas more akin to a lone stroll after the sun sets.
But how does he manage to package these emotions into his music? We talked to Sica about what inspires him, his creative process, and what we can expect from his music in the future.
What got you into the world of music in the first place?
I always had a thing for music, whether it be hiphop, pop, rock, alternative—you name it. Growing up I listened to a lot of heavy metal stuff; it was my first love. My favorite bands are Slipknot and Avenged Sevenfold.
I had a band, but it was nothing serious. My bandmates were my childhood friends. We used to jam a lot, and we would always rent a studio when we had free time. We just played our shit the whole day. I fell in love with it.
When we were in our first year of high school we decided to join a battle of the bands that was about to be held in our school, to see if we were really good at this shit. Unfortunately we didn’t win, but I think that was my calling. After that day I never pictured myself doing anything but music—music is my lifeline; it’s what keeps my soul young.
Who do you think are your greatest influences when it comes to music?
There’s so much stuff I listen to nowadays so I can’t really point it out for people because it’s a pretty huge catalog. I can’t even describe myself as a musician because there’s so much stuff I want to do with my music that I can’t really specify what type of genre my music is.
All I know is that I love all types of music; I even listen to K-Pop from time to time. If something catches my ear, I listen to it and get inspired by it.
What was the inspiration behind creating Dark Out?
Dark Out is my self-therapy song, so there’s really no inspiration behind it. I just had to let that shit out because it was eating me inside. My music is my outlet: I write and say what I feel.
My fans always tell me that my music saves them. What they don’t know is that it also saves me as well.
What made you decide to go with this type of beat for this track?
If you read or listen closely to the lyrics of Dark Out, it doesn’t really fit the whole vibe of the song. The song has an uplifting beat, but lyrics are dark, depressing, sad, etc. Just like in life—we tend to ignore the things we carry ‘til it eventually it eats us alive. Basically that’s the whole concept of the song: you should never judge a book by its cover.
Could you run us through your creative process while creating the song? Where do you usually start when conceptualizing a track?
When I write, I like to be alone. I would just sit in a corner; I don’t like to be bothered. Most of the time I can finish a song in one sitting if I’m really in my zen. What I like to do is visualize the shit that I’m writing, kinda like making a music video for it in my head. When I was in college my professor told me that writing is like drawing: the beat is your paper and your words are the crayons. Enjoy it, be a child, make a mess, do something beautiful; a little bit of color won’t hurt. I carry that saying to this day.
Your recent songs tend to have a dreamy quality to the backing tracks. What inspired you to approach it this way, particularly with this one?
I never intended it to be that way. It just comes out naturally, I guess. Or maybe because I found myself in that sound, I stayed with it. Like I said, I write what I feel, so maybe to an extent that particular sound just gravitates towards me.
If Dark Out is any indication, what can audiences expect from your music moving forward?
For me, Dark Out is the end to my chapter in hip-hop. Don’t get me wrong, I will forever be a fan of this genre. But as I move forward in life, I’d like to explore new things. I think my job as a rapper is done—I’m fulfilled, so it’s time for me to move on and create something more magical. Something I’ve always wanted to do, something that will refresh my soul and ignite my passion even more.
Sound Fiesta is in collaboration with Playhouse Studio for video production and Kindred Productions for audio management. This video was shot in The Astbury, Makati City.
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