The reality behind chasing success as an indie artist in PH

By Anthea Rae M. Grape

Vulnerability is often associated with weakness. It has a negative connotation, making society think of it as an abomination more than a strength. Going against the stigma, Carlos de Guia is a rising Filipino independent artist from Las Piñas who courageously embraces his flaws and hones them into musical masterpieces.

The 23-year-old singersongwriter started composing amidst the pandemic, releasing seven breathtaking songs. Few of them are “Ano ba Tayo,” “Hi, Love You,” and “Kaibigan.” Fame also followed after his “Iwas Kilig” featured in a TikTok playlist, hitting 200k streams on Spotify.

In an interview with De Guia, he enthusiastically unraveled his journey as an indie artist in the Philippines and hinted at some challenges that came along with it.

He admitted that his initial intention was only to put his feelings into words and that entering the music industry was never part of his plan. Although, there’s no denying that he also dreams of performing on a big stage.

“I started na magsulat lang, then [I] uploaded it on Youtube and Spotify. But, as in, no plans […] Mas andun ako [sa outlet]. Mas I do it to express lang,” he said.

The young artist is fearless in facing the present and encourages everyone not to shy away from emotions. He firmly believes that feelings exist to be felt, not hidden.

“Kung anong nararamdaman mo ngayon, damhin mo lang siya. ‘Wag mo ibaling atensyon mo. Kung feel mo malungkot ka, umiyak ka,” he continued. Through his art, it is also the same lesson he’s eager to share with his listeners. De Guia’s music compositions fall under the umbrella of romance, but he confessed that the lyrics don’t come from his own experiences and, instead, from the people he interacts with.

One can say that he is a singer with a wellbalanced personality. However, behind his strong facade is a person who is constantly challenged by life.

At such a young age, Carlos is not exempted from the struggles that independent artists must go through in the