Rising Fil-Aussie Artist Grentperez Swoons Filipino Fans in Eastwood City

The past week in Manila was a chaotic mix of rainstorms, earthquakes, and unbearable traffic jams, but Grentperez was the breath of fresh air we all needed.

Sporting a head-turning ensemble of a green shirt, baggy jeans, black loafers, and a New York Yankees cap, the 21-year-old Filipino-Australian artist opened his first live show in Asia with his 2020 track, “Confusing Girl.” With its upbeat melodies and catchy hooks, it’s definitely a song to kick off the night, especially with lyrics that go, “And I just can’t bring myself to let you go.”

The crowd, mostly teens under 20, erupted in cheers and screams and sang along throughout the entire performance. Feeding off the excitement, Grentperez delivered a heartwarming number of “Old With You,” a song that beautifully captures the essence of love and conquering life’s hurdles together.

It followed with a performance of “Silver Lining,” which he described as “the most complex” in terms of lyrics. “[It’s] my favorite song from the EP,” Grentperez told The Beat Asia in a backstage interview, an hour before he set foot on stage.

Released earlier this month, his EP “When We Were Younger” is a collection of seven indie pop songs centered around “love, loss, families, and friendship.” “[I realized that] because of my career, things are not gonna be the same anymore. I’m not gonna have as much time with my friends and my family. So it’s really important for me to connect back to how things were when we were younger,” he revealed.

Grentperez infused his own artistic flair into every track on the EP “to inspire and help people be themselves,” drawing inspiration from music icons such as The Beatles. “All the good elements [from their songs], I tried to incorporate them into my music,” he said.

Among the highlights of the evening was Grentperez’s heartfelt rendition of Juan Karlos’ “Buwan,” which showed his dedication to embracing his Filipino heritage. When asked backstage about the possibility of writing a full-on Filipino song, he shared to The Beat Asia, “I would love to! I’m learning Tagalog pa.” (I would love to! I’m still learning Tagalog.)

Ending the show on a high note, the rising star sang “Cherry Wine” – his most streamed song with more than 100 million plays on Spotify – as a way of thanking his Filipino fans who had eagerly awaited his live performance since 2021.

“It feels surreal. I didn’t think my music would take me out here,” he beamed into the mic after his final song. “Mahal kita!” (I love you!)

In total, the show spanned approximately an hour, with Grentperez showcasing that he’s not just a mere internet sensation but a real music artist to keep a close eye on in the coming years.

Grentperez’s first Manila tour was made possible by Eastwood Central Plaza and Fast Friends.