The Beat Manila’s Up-And-Coming: Singer-Songwriter Kylu
The Beat Manila’s Up and Coming is a series where we feature rising talented artists from the Philippines, giving them a platform to share what they’re passionate about and to promote the music they (and us too!) would love for the world to hear. Do you want or know someone who wants to be featured? Email us at [email protected] or slide through our DMs on Facebook or Instagram!
Despite being musically gifted, Kylu’s first dream hadn’t been to pen songs that would rack up millions of streams or perform in front of thousands of people. In fact, he wanted to stand on a different stage, specifically on a basketball court.
“My first love is basketball, and it was the one thing I really wanted to pursue,” he told The Beat Asia. “But because of the pandemic, I couldn’t go out to play. I realized then that basketball might not be for me.”
Kylu had been passionate about the game for as long as he could remember, but when the whole world went on lockdown, he discovered a new hobby which eventually turned into a passionate pursuit. Let’s just say that in true Troy Bolton fashion, Kylu went from game player to songwriter.
“It really started in the pandemic. I was just at home and didn’t have anything to do when I came across an app on the App Store that can record songs. I just tried it out and enjoyed the process, which led me to write my first song. I recorded a short song about education because I didn’t feel like the online classes were effective for me.”
What started out as curiosity became a hobby as the artist realized how enjoyable it is to record and experiment with different mixes, which eventually made up his unique sound. He’s called “chefkylu” on his social media channels because he’s always cooking up new sounds, which are usually a combination of multiple genres and styles.
“I’m not sure if that’s just me, but [my music] sounds different from other artists, and I can’t really name an artist with a similar sound. I think my sound is whatever comes out from my head or what I’m feeling at the moment. I just go with the flow of the melodies I create,” he explained. “Kung ano lang po 'yung feel ko na melody sa moment na 'yun, I just base it there. Siguro halo-halo narin po ng styles ng pinapakingan ko through the years (Whatever I feel at the moment, I just base the song from there. I suppose my genre is a mix of styles and sounds I’ve listened to through the years).”
However, Kylu mentioned rising Filipino rapper Kiyo as the one who inspired his melodic raps that can usually be found in his songs.
On Songwriting and Channeling Emotions
Kylu began posting original songs on his YouTube channel back in 2020, which gained the attention of music labels and fans alike, as they were drawn to his chill Hip-Hop and alternative R&B sound. He signed with Viva Records in 2023 before moving to Ivory Records just last year. Kylu broke into the mainstream music scene with the single “dito ka lang,” which became his most popular track to date with over 4.5 million streams as of writing. It also topped several Spotify Philippines playlists and ranked on Spotify’s and Apple Music’s Viral hits charts.
His follow-up single “OTW,” which he collaborated with Yamada, also gained significant traction thanks to popular TikTok AU (alternative universe) fiction writer, storiesfromace, who used the song for a story. Kylu told us about how he got into reading AU because of this, using the short fiction pieces as inspiration for new songs and to master his songwriting skills in general. He was created a sad version of the song for the story!
We asked the singer about his songwriting process, which he described almost as if it were as easy as baking a cake, proving his talent and commitment to the craft. “Usually, it’s beat or chords first, then I’ll create a melody. If it clicks, then I’ll start thinking about the lyrics. I usually start with the chorus and write around it.”
As a songwriter, Kylu has a knack for expressing the things people often find hard to communicate or put into words. In his latest single, “Panandalian,” he addresses the so-called “red flag enjoyers,” or those who are well aware of their partner’s behavior but still stick around for the thrill. The song tackles this kind of craving, and how some people would grab that short-lived opportunity and deal with moving on later.
When asked about what made him write the track, Kylu explained that it was inspired by the experiences he observed among his friends in high school who fell in love with — well, the “problematic” choice for the plot — or their fondness for character development.
When asked how he channels the emotions surrounding an experience he only observed from the outside looking in, Kylu replied, “I look at the picture and try my best to put myself in their shoes, their eyes, or hearts to understand how they see a certain situation. Back in high school, I was very open with my friends, and in return, they also opened up about their problems to me, and I suppose that’s how I was able to channel those emotions — sa mga pag-kwento nila at pakikining ko (from their stories and confessions and how I listened to them).”
We also asked if it was harder to write something based on someone else’s experience, to which he responded, “It’s harder. I try my best to put myself in their shoes, but it would be easier if it’s from personal experience.”
Speaking of writing outside of his personal experiences, Kylu had also produced songs for other artists. His most popular track is ALAMAT’s “Hiraya” which he penned with fellow rising artist Matt Wilson. We asked the artist about the experience and how it differed from producing his own music.
“When I write my own songs, kung ano lang maisip ko, 'yun na, 'di ko na masyado kailangan i-overthink (I usually go with whatever I come up with and that’s enough. I don’t have to overthink it). When I wrote for ALAMAT, they gave us a prompt, and we would submit a demo every two or three days, and Direk (director) would comment on it. It’s challenging because I have to fit the song to the artist, but it’s a good experience!”
“I would still prefer writing for myself since I’m more comfortable then, but I’m up for the challenge and I do enjoy it!” He added. “My favorite part about collaborating is our differing ideas, like with Matt, he would think about something that’s completely far from what I would’ve thought or envisioned. But by the end of the day, we’re able to connect those ideas and blend them into one song.”
Having only started a few years ago, Kylu has already achieved what many musicians dream of, and he’s only getting started. When asked about his goals and aspirations, he answered humbly about his desire to move people and bring about change.
“I can’t really say I’ve experienced it yet, but I’ve always envisioned my music to inspire people to become better persons. 'Yung gumawa ng tama, mabuhay nang tama, at pumili ng mga tamang desisyon (For them to do right, live right, and make the right decisions).”
As for what he enjoys most about his career so far, the producer expressed how he’s always grateful to listeners and fans who would message him and thank him for writing a song or tell him how his music had comforted them. “I like knowing my songs have made an impact.”
He also mentioned being able to perform at the UP Fair last year was one of the most rewarding moments of his career, as he was given to chance to perform for a huge crowd and share the stage with local artists whom he listened to and looked up to.
“I want to achieve millions of listeners and streams, but in terms of impact, I want to be able to influence people to do good, and to inspire them to reach for their dreams — to let them know that it can be achieved as long as you do right and work hard for it.”
As for what we can look forward to, he hinted that he has a bunch of songs hidden in his folders and that he can’t wait to share them with everyone. He even announced — and you heard it here first — that he would be releasing two new songs this year, plus more performances, visualizers, and music videos to come soon!
Stay tuned for Kylu’s new song releases and upcoming performances by following him on Facebook, TikTok, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram, and by subscribing to his YouTube channel.
Get the latest curated content with The Beat Asia's newsletters. Sign up now for a weekly dose of the best stories, events, and deals delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out! Click here to subscribe.
