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Engineer Grace Cristobal, one of the executives behind Blvck Music, shared her candid thoughts on the label’s approach to nurturing talent during a recent media launch for three new acts: bands Padayon and Sentidrama, and rapper Yhanzy.

She emphasized that joining a production company doesn’t guarantee instant success. “Hindi porket pumasok tayo sa isang production company or talent management company or label… pagpasok natin ayan na kaagad,” she said. (Joining a production company or talent management company doesn’t mean success comes instantly.)

Engr.Grace also explained that every artist must go through a process. “Kami, as management, sa totoo lang, management lang naman talaga dapat e, di ba? Pero ano yung ima-manage namin kung hindi naman kayo sikat,” she pointed out. (We, as management, are really just supposed to manage, right? But what is there to manage if you’re not famous yet?)

According to her, Blvck Music steps in as a production company to help their talents build a name in the industry.

The executive passionately stressed the importance of effort and collaboration between the artists and their management.

Kahit gumawa kami ng napakaraming promotion… kung hindi n’yo tutulungan ang sarili n’yo na sumikat at galingan… wala din mangyayari,” she asserted. (Even if we pour in so much promotion, if you don’t help yourself to become successful and do your best, nothing will happen.)

“Kumbaga sa parang anak ko kayo e. Kahit i-enroll pa kita sa pinakamahal na eskuwelahan, kung hindi mo aayusin ang pag-aaral mo… hindi ko kayang bayaran ang school para grumadweyt ka.” (It’s like you’re all my child. Even if I enroll you in the most expensive school, if you don’t take your studies seriously, I can’t pay the school to let you graduate.)

“Naririnig namin: kung susugalan daw namin ang mga artist, sugal na kung sugal. Okay, hindi tayo gano’n, ha? Hindi tayo ‘come what may’ lang. Hindi. Kailangan gamitan ng utak,” she said firmly. (We’ve heard people say we should take a gamble on artists. Let me tell you, we’re not like that. We don’t just gamble on a whim. You need to use your brain.)

She urged the artists to approach their craft thoughtfully, focusing on creating music that resonates with a broader audience rather than just pleasing themselves.

“Ngayon, ang pinakaimportante sa lahat, pagbutihan n’yo yung ginagawa n’yo… magtiwala lang kayo sa aming mga magulang n’yo dito sa industry na ito,” she said. (Now, the most important thing is to excel in what you’re doing and trust us as your mentors in this industry.)

Get to know more about the fresh lineup of artists, each bringing unique energy and style to the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene.

Padayon

Padayon, a band of talented musicians from Leyte, lives up to its name, which means “to carry on” or “to persevere” in Filipino. The group draws inspiration from its journey of overcoming challenges to pursue their dream. The members—Caloy Sablawon (vocals), Roberto Jazz Repulda (lead guitar), Xilon Daep (2nd guitar), Robs Renomeron (drums), and Trix Rubenecia (bass)—have a rich history in OPM, with some of their original music dating back to 2012.

Their upcoming self-titled digital album, set to release this December, features tracks that promise to touch hearts. The carrier single, Kahit Na Sandali, expresses a longing for a lost loved one, reflecting themes of love and closure. Other tracks include Sa Aking Alaala, Dinggin Mo Sana, Ligaw Tingin, and Hadlang.

Padayon’s Kahit Na Sandali music video, directed by Edrex Sanchez, is now available on Blvck Entertainment’s YouTube channel, bringing the band’s heartfelt melodies to life.

Sentidrama

Hailing from Tarlac, Sentidrama is a band that specializes in sentimental and dramatic songs, as their name suggests. The group—Mac Concepcion (vocals), Paul Tagarro (bass), John Ramil (guitar), Jake Puno (drums), and Lenogz Espelico (2nd guitar)—has deep roots in the Tarlac local music scene. Formed from a shared passion for music, the band has made its mark with emotionally charged tracks.

Their self-titled digital album, already available on streaming platforms, features the carrier single Pagtingin, which tells the story of longing for the attention of a love interest. The album also includes tracks like Ulap, Dating Ikaw, Sa Aking Tabi, Sana Ika’y Bumalik, Humawak Ka Lang, Kahapong Nagdaan, Labis, and Pighati.

Sentidrama’s music video for Pagtingin, also directed by Edrex Sanchez, showcases the band’s ability to connect deeply with its audience.

Yhanzy

Blvck Music adds to its OPM Hip-Hop roster with Yhanzy, the promising rapper, singer, and songwriter behind the new digital album Something Yhanzy. Known offstage as John Syrone Elesterio, Yhanzy is a native of Sucat, Parañaque, an area known for its vibrant Hip-Hop community.

Inspired by his father’s love for music and mentorship from Jerome Paycana, Yhanzy honed his craft over the years. His early success includes hits with his former group, Musikalye, such as Napagod Na, Takot Na Ang Puso, and Sana Ako Parin. As a solo artist, Yhanzy gained recognition through It’s Showtime’s “HypeBest” segment in 2018, where he emerged as a semi-finalist.

This year, Yhanzy introduces his album with the carrier single Liwanag ng Buwan, a romantic track about professing love to a future partner. Other tracks include Comebvck, Feb 13 (featuring Kritiko), Aasa Ba?, Mahal Ako, and Tears Trap. Each song reflects his journey and aims to inspire young listeners to pursue their dreams with hard work and faith.

The music video for Liwanag ng Buwan, directed by Edrex Sanchez, is now available on Blvck Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

Through Padayon, Sentidrama, and Yhanzy, Blvck Music showcases its commitment to nurturing diverse talent. With Engineers Grace and Louie Cristobal’s leadership and the artists’ hard work, the label is poised to leave a fresh mark on the Philippine music scene.