Making the most out of the success of his music across Asia, Christian Bautista's latest album, Outbound, is a collaboration between the singer and the musicians he met and worked with from Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia.
"It's the first time that we want to try and attempt to do more outside the country. Yes, I'm very proud of this album," remarks Christian at the launch of the international album on October 25 at the Cocoon Hotel along Timog Avenue.
Outbound contains 8 songs which is a good mix of slow and upbeat ballads. One of the singles, "All That's Left," presents a different side to the romantic balladeer's kind of music. While the song leaves one with a fuzzy, warm feeling the way most love songs do, "All That's Left" has a quicker tempo and a feel-good, danceable beat.
"Slowly nag-build up because of The Kitchen Musical. Parang binigyan ako ng confidence to try something na kakaiba, na mas current na contemporary." Christian's acting and singing stint in Singapore for four months has introduced him to music that is unique to him.
Working under The Kitchen Musical production has inspired Christian to experiment and add a touch of what he learned from it to his own music.
"Surrounded po kami ng mga international cast and artists. Ang dami naming natututunan sa kanila," relays Christian about his experience. "Talaga po kami ni Karylle, even si Thou [Reyes], ang dami naming natutunan sa kanila kaya pati kami ang dami naming baon.
"Hopefully we can start something sa Pilipinas... i-adapt din [yung] working style para mas gumanda pa yung ginagawa natin ngayon. Maganda na siya, baka puwede pang mas gumanda to the point na mas magiging international level po yung mga trabaho natin dito sa Pilipinas."
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS.
Among the pride of the album is Christian's team-up with music producer-arranger Tat Tong who is responsible for chart topping hits in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.
Christian tells, "Si Tat Tong po kaibigan ni Kewei [Tay]. Si Kewei po ka-duet ko sa Please Be Careful With My Heart in Singapore and pinakilala ako ni Kewei kay Tat.
"Through e-mail nagtanong ako sa kanya, 'Hey I'm coming up with a new album, do you have songs?'
"So he gave us one [and] we liked it. [So I told him,], 'Okay, make 3 more!'" Christian narrates with a laugh.
Half of the songs in Outbound is a product of Christian's close collaboration with Tat. The singer himself co-wrote "All That's Left" and "What Can I Do," meanwhile Tat contributed the "Unphotographable" and likewise arranged Christian's solo number from The Kitchen Musical- a George Michael original, "Faith."
Outbound likewise features songs "Never Far Away" by multi-platinum pianist Jim Brickman; the elating single "I'm Aleady King" which Christian co-wrote with Indonesian songwriter Satrio; likewise "Sakura," a duet, which features Japan's Baby M.
MUSIC VIDEO WITH ALODIA GOSIENGFIAO
Christian Bautista's music videos are known for featuring the most beautiful faces in the entertainment scene: Anne Curtis, Georgina Wilson, Solenn Heusaff, and Angel Locsin (in "Beautiful Girl"); Paula Taylor (in "Tell Me Your Name"); also, Angelica Panganiban (in "Nakaraang Pasko").
In "All That's Left," Christian is paired with CosPlay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao.
"She's beautiful, she's talented, she stayed up with us [from] 8 PM to 8 AM. Sa Intramuros sumasayaw kami [hanggang] 3 AM," remarks Christian when asked why they chose Alodia whose sweet face fits the buoyant and romantic feel of the song.
FOREVER BALLADEER
While Outbound has "dragged him out of his comfort zone," as Christian notes in his album, singing and dancing to songs with faster rhythm does not mean he will cease to be a balladeer.
"Medyo half-half. Half experimental, half-medyo ballad pa rin naman siya, e.
"Easy listening pa rin naman siya, e. Pero am I dropping the ballads? No.
"Meron pa ring ballads dito sa album na ito. Yung single lang na ni-release namin, medyo upbeat.
"And forever, siyempre, nagsimula ako sa ballads, dun talaga ako magaling at kumportable. Hindi ko puwede iwan talaga yun."
Outbound is now available in record bars nationwide
TRACKLISTING:
1. All That's Left
2. Unphotographable
3. Faith
4. I'm Already King
5. What Can I do
6. Never Far Away
7. Wrong Number
8. Sakura