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Six years after its original release, Filipino alternative rock band Calein, known for songs such as “Umaasa” and “Someone,” is giving “Oras” new life with a remastered version that preserves its original emotion while bringing greater clarity and fullness to its sound.
Originally released in March 2020, “Oras” arrived just as Calein was gaining momentum. The band celebrated its release with an intimate launch at Social House in Makati, where fellow artists including Unique Salonga, Arthur Nery, and One Click Straight also performed. Blaster and other musicians were among the supporters who came out to celebrate with the band that night. For vocalist and songwriter John Dale “JD” Mustacho, the memory remains vivid. “I was surprised that so many people came to support us,” he recalls.
Days later, the pandemic brought live events and much of the music industry to a halt. “Everybody was shocked and we all had to adjust,” JD shares. “We didn’t really get to promote it properly, so most of what we did became online content.” Drummer Benjo Criste adds, “The fire was there, but when the pandemic happened, everything was cut short.”
