Celebrated Filipino singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra is set to release his first all-original album, “I AM ICE,” this June. This significant milestone follows his 2022 major concert, “BECOMING ICE,” which marked his return to the stage after a decade and celebrated his 35-year journey in the Philippine entertainment industry.
A Journey of Authenticity and Artistry
From his early days as a charming child star in “Eat Bulaga!” to becoming a respected musician, Seguerra’s career has been a testament to versatility and resilience. In 2014, he publicly embraced his identity as a transgender man, a courageous step that has profoundly influenced his artistic direction. Reflecting on this journey, Seguerra shared:
“It was my first time to use ICE SEGUERRA in a concert, and I admit it was a big risk because, for 35 years, my fans have known me as Aiza. While I’ve come to a point where I don’t mind being called Aiza, it feels good to fully embrace my identity as a transman and know that even as Ice, they’re still there for me. That’s why I gained the courage to work on my first all-original album. Imagine, I’ve been in the industry this long, and only now am I releasing all-original songs.”
From Becoming to Being: Liza Diño’s Perspective
Liza Diño, Ice’s wife and the CEO of Fire and Ice Music, shared her thoughts on Ice’s artistic journey and newfound confidence in songwriting: “From BECOMING into BEING. I am so proud to witness Ice really embracing who he is, not just as a person but as an artist, musician, and songwriter. He has always been insecure about his songwriting, but it’s such a big part of him. I’ve seen times when he proposed original songs for his albums, but labels were accustomed to him singing others’ songs because he brought new interpretations to them. It’s a gift to not only do justice to existing songs, at times even make them better. That’s Ice, and that’s been his signature. But in this era of singer-songwriters, where artists release all-original tracks and feature one or two covers, I believe the timing is perfect.”
The I AM ICE Album
The upcoming album includes 10 original tracks, mostly written by Ice, with collaborations from both emerging and seasoned songwriters. He also collaborated with multi-awarded producer Jonathan Manalo, known for his extensive work in the Filipino music industry, the project promises a fresh and authentic sound. Manalo, who was recently recognized as Spotify’s most-streamed Filipino producer with 1.4 billion streams in 2024 expressed his enthusiasm:
“It feels good to be working with Ice again and to be entrusted to co-produce this first all-original album. I’ve been lucky to witness Ice’s growth and maturity as an artist through the years, having worked with him on his earlier albums. Being part of this milestone and witnessing his evolution not just as a singer but as a songwriter is something I deeply treasure.”
Manalo’s involvement adds prestige to the album, given his track record of hits and his long history with Ice’s music. Their reunion in the studio after many years brings a sense of nostalgia and renewed creative energy to the project.
The album is produced by Fire and Ice Music, a production company under Fire and Ice Entertainment, founded by Seguerra and his wife, Liza Diño. The company has been instrumental in producing notable works such as “Wag Kang Aalis,” a collaboration between Seguerra and Diño, and “Oh Divine Diva” by the drag group Divine Divas — Precious Paula Nicole, Brigiding and Viñas Deluxe.
A Collaborative and Personal Recording Process
During the first recording sessions for I AM ICE, Ice Seguerra felt a deep sense of maturity and collaboration with his band (often known as “The Pogi Boys”). He described the creative process with excitement, emphasizing how the music-making reflected his authentic self:
“Sobrang ramdam ko yung maturity namin as a band. Ang sarap ng hingahan namin. I’m not the kind of artist who records with a click track, so it’s important to me that they know my style when I sing. Ang saya kanina kasi, collaboration talaga. And the feeling that hindi lang lyrics but pati yung mismong music mismo reflects who I am in every song.” – Ice Seguerra
Ice’s studio approach was very organic. He recorded live with the band, allowing them to experiment with arrangements that would best suit each song. This required the band to be in sync with his unique singing style. As Ice describes, this resulted in a genuinely collaborative atmosphere in which the lyrics and music of each song resonated with his personality and experiences.
Sneak Peek: “Shelter of the Broken”
One of the tracks on the album, “Shelter of the Broken,” has already been previewed to some fans. Ice performed this song during an exclusive segment of the Love, Sessionistas concert on February 8. That performance, although not part of the official release, gave the audience a taste of the heartfelt songwriting Ice has poured into this album.
The Love, Sessionistas concert — a reunion of Ice and fellow acoustic artists — was so well-received that a second night has been added for April 4. This encore show is building even more anticipation for I AM ICE.
Upcoming Concert: I AM ICE: The Concert Experience
To complement the album release, Seguerra will headline “I AM ICE: The Concert Experience” in September 2025. This concert aims to provide fans with an immersive journey through his musical evolution, featuring live performances of the new tracks alongside his classic hits. The event is poised to be a celebration of authenticity, resilience, and artistic growth.
A New Era in Ice Seguerra’s Artistry
With a career spanning over thirty years, Ice Seguerra has continually reinvented himself—from a child star in the 1980s to a multi-platinum OPM singer in the 2000s and now a seasoned artist confident in his songwriting. I AM ICE signifies the start of a new era in his journey, in which he presents himself wholly and unapologetically as the artist he has become.
Industry insiders and fans alike are eagerly awaiting this album’s release. Given the personal significance of the project and the team behind it, I AM ICE is poised to be one of the defining works of Ice Seguerra’s career. It promises to deliver the familiar sincerity and soul in Ice’s music and a fresh, creative voice — Ice’s own voice — shining through every track. The countdown to June has begun, and OPM listeners are excited to finally experience the music that Ice Seguerra was always meant to make.
I AM ICE is slated for release in June 2025.
