Philippine music scene stalwarts, Gracenote, just released their most personal and powerful work to date with the release of their new album, “Walang Makakapigil”, celebrating over 15 years in the music industry.
The album is a vibrant collection of songs that delves into universal human experiences, focusing on love, resilience, and bravery in every person’s story. With “Walang Makakapigil,” Gracenote—composed of Eunice Jorge (vocals, keyboards, guitars, violin), EJ Pichay (drums), Jazz Jorge (bass), and Tatsi Jamnague (guitars)—reaffirms their position as one of the most dynamic and relatable alternative rock acts in OPM.
Known for their energetic blend of alternative rock, pop rock, and electropop, the band has consistently evolved its sound while maintaining a genuine connection with its audience, notably with hits like “Summer Song,” “Minsan Lang Naman,” and their cover of “When I Dream About You.”
The new record marks a comfortable yet powerful return to their alt-rock core, a journey that bassist Jazz Jorge encapsulates, “May iba’t iba kaming pinagdaanan na genre pero ngayon naturally, ang lumalabas samin talaga as a collective, ‘yung combination of alt-rock. Kung sino kami ngayon is a combination of what we did before and ito (yung album) yung pinaka comfortable and natural sa amin.”
The sound is a natural culmination of their past experimentation, blending synth-rock and electro-pop into a truly seasoned and authentic style. The album further showcases this depth through special collaborations with fellow OPM giants: Yael Yuzon of Spongecola and Zel Bautista of December Avenue, and their producer & manager, Darwin Hernandez, promising a powerful listening experience for fans of Filipino rock.
The journey to complete the album, ironically, embodied the theme of “Walang Makakapigil.” The band faced numerous creative and logistical hurdles, including last-minute song changes, challenging arrangements, and multiple revisions.
Drummer EJ Pichay noted the difficulty even in the initial stages, recalling, “Natandaan ko yung pagpili ng album title. Minsan mayroon pang song na may last minute changes.”
Bassist Jazz Jorge elaborated on the intense process, “May mga plannings na naiiba kasi mare-realize namin na mas mag a-align na ‘ito nalang yung decision na gawin natin,’ ‘let’s go to this path.’
The title track itself, “Walang Makakapigil,” proved to be the toughest hurdle. Vocalist Eunice Jorge shared, “Yung song na yun (Walang Makakapigil) sobrang chinallege kami kasi nagkaroon ata siya ng apat na versions halos… Pero yun naman yung beauty ng song, kasi kahit anong gawin mo sakanya- okay siya, okay yung flow.”
The album’s core message of unwavering determination is perhaps best articulated by lead vocalist Eunice Jorge, who views the project as a deeply personal journey. She stated, “The story of the album, ‘Walang Makakapigil,’ is a journey. It’s about different experiences; it’s something we want to share about how life teaches us as individuals as well. So, hindi lang sa pangarap, kung meron kang gustong abutin, walang makakapigil sayo. ‘Yun yung gusto kong maramdaman ng listeners at somehow, it would inspire them to keep going sa kung ano mang circumstances ang harapin nila sa buhay.”
Echoing this call for perseverance, guitarist Tatsi Jamnague encouraged a complete listen, urging fans to hear the entire album from start to finish to truly grasp the complete set of lessons and the full message the band intended to share. Drummer EJ Pichay further emphasized embracing life’s totality, noting that since life has many seasons—including joy, loss, and challenges—listeners must accept them all to form their unique and meaningful story.
Finally, bassist Jazz Jorge reinforced the title’s meaning, asserting that if a person truly wants to achieve something, whether big or small, they should just pursue it, even if they fail, because, as he confidently stated, “Walang makakapigil sayo kung gusto mong gawin yan basta masaya ka.” This powerful collection of individual sentiments reinforces the album’s central theme: that “Walang Makakapigil” is a compelling soundtrack for perseverance, urging listeners to find the bravery and strength within their own stories.
Listen to the full Walang Makakapigil Album here: https://gracenote.lnk.to/WalangMakakapigil
