Laean Angeles

Calligraphy by David Paddit

BY ROBERTO A. OROSA

THE MUSICAL journey of Laean Angeles (4 AB COM) started earlier in life than it did for most: She knew the tune to Sarah Geronimo’s Forever’s Not Enough (2004) before she could even talk. From then on, music was an integral part of her childhood—and it was only a matter of time before it became a lifelong passion.

From humble beginnings

At the ripe age of eight, Laean picked up her first baby guitar and wrote songs about puppy love. In these moments, she discovered music as a means of self-expression. “I didn’t even know back then that songwriting was a thing,” she explains. “I just [thought]: ‘Oh, here’s a melody [on] hand, and here are words that I want to see.’”

The tunes about puppy love eventually matured into full-length compositions. Music became Laean’s outlet to understand her emotions. As her songs grew in shape and depth, she realized that she wanted to share her journey with others. In her first year of college, Laean joined the Ateneo Musician’s Pool (AMP) and surrounded herself with a community of musicians. There, she honed her songwriting with the help of others’ perspectives.

Laean’s musical projects were given life through the org. Among these was K/L, an acoustic duo inspired by late 2000s rock, with songs that boast catchy vocal progressions. Although this project was short-lived, during her third year in college, she and her friends formed Morobe, a six-piece band dishing out funk, soul, and R&B—they play gigs around the metro to this very day. These all helped Laean further refine her brand of music. for her vocal prowess, and the band Snarky Puppy for their out-of-this-world song arrangements. However, to say her music is only as good as that of her idols would be an understatement.

More than a tune

Laean’s songs are not made for the sake of simply writing or releasing music. For her, creation is a grueling, highly personal process. “I like to critique myself a lot…[Whenever] I’d make a song and look at [its] lyrics, if [it’s] even the slightest bit corny or [something] I’ve said before, I’m going to change it,” she explains.

Her artistry also shines in each song’s structure. Shifts in keys, distorted timing, and complicated arrangements are all second nature to her. “[It’s] like exploring a different realm, and in that sense, not only do my lyrics tell the story, but so does my music,” Laean adds. This mastery manifests in one of her personal favorites, Manhid (2019). Delving into the insensitivities of a would-be lover, the song is a clear-cut example of her skill. “It was the first song I wrote wherein I explored the different characteristics one chord can bring, just so that the chords themselves would display the feeling of frustration,” she explains.

Aside from romance and friendships, Laean manages to incorporate music into another important aspect of her life: Faith. Apart from Morobe and AMP, she is also an active member of her Christian church, Victory Worship. Laean helps write and perform songs for the congregation. This kind of songwriting brings a different kind of fulfillment, as Laean writes to inspire fellow church members, lead them to God, and uplift their spirits. in an honest confession, she admits that she hasn’t written songs for quite some time. “[After graduating], I want to just rest for a while and allow myself to do what I really wanna do—which is to eat popcorn,” she says.

As much as it is fulfilling for Laean, songwriting can also be draining, especially since she pours her heart into every bit of it. While these periods of rest are important for Laean, casual listenin—to music and the ideas they bring—helps her stay inspired: “That’s when you can explore these things [that] have been buzzing in your mind.”

Laean’s mantra then boils down to being patient with oneself and the process: No one becomes a prodigy overnight, and beating yourself up for it would only be counterproductive. “We expect to be the best at our craft, when really we need to go through that experience,” she explains. “We need to go through the simpler things before we become really excellent at everything.” With all the growth and experience that comes with college, Laean has clearly become an artist who owns her craft anywhere—whether she’s sharing her sounds from home, a gig, her church, or any place where music lives. Laean