Following the love and praise he received for his brilliant EP 'The Magic Conch' earlier this year, Filipino-American artist Rico Loma returns once again to deliver his sweeping new single 'will u love me'.
Honing more of that rich and immersive aesthetic he is known for, 'will u love me' makes for a brilliantly fresh and shimmering listen. With his warm and heartfelt vocals layered across a progressive production throughout, he is continuing to cement himself as one of the more exciting names on the rise with this one.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and influences over the years.
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What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
The first band I recall falling in love with was The Beatles. My dad always played them on car rides, around the house, and pretty much whenever he had the chance. As a kid, I was drawn to the simplicity and the catchiness of their songs. I fell even deeper in love after watching Across The Universe about 100 times. Now as an adult I’m captivated by their lyricism and complexity. It seems like throughout my life, there’s always a Beatles song thematically playing in the background. At this moment, I have “Girl” on repeat. Maybe next week, it will be “Something”.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
When I was younger, my family bought a drum set from a garage sale to complete our collection of instruments. I was too cool for school and didn’t participate when my siblings and cousins performed at parties, but I remember very vividly that it looked like such a blast to be a part of. It wasn’t the greatest that music had to offer and they only performed covers, but I just remember how excited everyone was to perform.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
I think I’ve gotten by just enough in life without proper therapy because of writing music. It’s given me a space to put into words my thoughts. The process of writing a song itself has made me rethink and reevaluate my feelings over and over again. I was able to recalibrate my place in my life and other people’s lives by simply writing what was on my mind. This came with the added benefit of other people feeling the same way and being able to help them understand how they feel too. Sometimes I get the occasional message from a random person telling me how I helped them get through something going on in their life, and let me tell you. That is such an amazing feeling and it inspires me to continue writing.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
One song that I wish I wrote is my favorite song of all time, “American Pie” by Don McLean. Not only does it hold such strong sentimental value to me, it’s also a song that's generally considered as one of the best songs ever written. Don McLean’s songwriting is on full display with this song. It contains what might be the easiest to pick up melody of all time. So easy that a first time listener could sing along halfway through the first chorus. On top of that, the song’s meaning and lyricism is top tier. There’s so much meaning behind the words and it is known to be open to many different interpretations with each one just as valid as the other. It’s rare to see such a layered and lengthy song be so digestible; holding a record for longest song to hit number one for half a century. There’s a reason it's considered as one of the greatest songs in history. If I could write a song that’s 1/10 as good as American Pie, I would be happy with myself as an artist.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
My very first time performing at Hotel Ziggy was very special to me. I was surrounded by the people I loved and was able to put on a good show. Seeing all the love and support was heartwarming. Fortunately, I’ll be able to relive the moment many times because I plan on having many shows soon and I expect them to go to every single one of them or else.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
I would love to share a stage with one of my biggest inspirations, Bruno Mars. I saw Silk Sonic perform and I’ve seen countless videos of his concerts and performances so I already know that energy is gonna be off the charts. To be a part of it would be a dream come true.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
I would love to collaborate with Keshi. I think our styles could mesh pretty well and with our habit of introspection we could really tap into something really heartfelt and emotional, whether it be along the lines of heartbreak or demons.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
I see myself writing in the studio about whoever made my day or broke my heart. And then I see that same song being sang in front of people that have followed me on my journey as a musician and as a person. All in good time.
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Rico Loma's new single 'will u love me' is out now. Check it out below.
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