Filipino singer-songwriter Gab Cabangon steps into the spotlight with the release of “Pieces,” his first official single as a solo artist.
The acoustic indie pop track delivers an inspiring message for anyone going through the process of grief, uncertainty, and depression. Cabangon describes it as his “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” song: an invitation for listeners to embrace vulnerability while holding on to the hope of healing and brighter days ahead.
“I want this song to be the soundtrack for people to allow themselves to go through the process of sadness and grief without feeling judged and without feeling alone,” Cabangon shares. “Part of the journey to fixing what may be broken is acknowledging the sadness and frustration that some things aren’t okay, but also knowing there will always be someone or something to help you stand up again.”
Originally penned as an anniversary gift to his then-girlfriend (now wife) during the pandemic, “Pieces” quickly evolved beyond a personal dedication. When Cabangon began performing it during livestreams and gigs, the song resonated deeply with audiences, often moving listeners to tears. The experience affirmed his decision to bring the song into the studio and share it with a wider audience.
“It also helps that I’m in a place right now where I could really invest in my music and do it at a certain level that I can be proud of,” Gab adds. “I also found friends and people who I wanted to collaborate with to bring my song to life both from a music standpoint and a visual standpoint. They helped me achieve the vision for the song, and they helped me be a better artist and collaborator during the process.”
The song is produced in collaboration with long-time friend and music director David Lina, who brought warmth and tender instrumental work to the arrangements, and mixed and mastered by Shadiel “Shad” Chan and Jan Fuertez, whose sonic touches complemented the poignant feel of the material. With lush acoustic textures and poignant storytelling, the song also reflects Cabangon’s vision of creating music that could easily belong to a film soundtrack.
“Pieces” marks a turning point in Cabangon’s career. After years of performing live (both solo and as the frontman of K.E.) and advocating for OPM, he admits that a shift in mindset allowed him to finally pursue recording as a solo artist.
Cabangon explains, “For the longest time, I was very hesitant to release new music as a solo artist. At first, I thought I would be content just being a gigging artist. But the hunger and desire to record and release new music never left me. So late last year, I made the conscious decision that I wanted to finally release music as ‘Gab Cabangon’.”
With “Pieces,” the budding artist offers a soundtrack to listeners’ life stories, exploring themes of love, healing, and resilience in a remarkably relatable way. As stated in his press statement, “Pieces” serves as an introduction to the themes that he will be writing as a recording artist.
“Not to give away too much, but I’d like to think that it’s the opening song to a letter that I’m writing for the people who are trying to learn to love again,” he adds. ‘People are definitely going to expect more music from me moving forward, and they’ll just have to keep on following my music journey to find out more.”
Gab Cabangon’s “Pieces” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide.
