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| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-07-10 10:24:40
SEOUL, July 10 (Yonhap) -- “I was grateful that the audience clapped and sang along in a relaxed atmosphere while I was performing. It was my first time performing in front of a Korean audience, and it was a special experience -- The reaction to my falsetto vocal techniques was particularly positive," said Filipino pop and R&B star Zack Tabudlo during an Yonhap interview in Seoul on the 9th.
Born in 2001, Zack Tabudlo is a Filipino singer with 6.22 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His debut album Episode, released in October 2021, has garnered over 2.6 billion global streams, and his hit song “Binibini” was the most-streamed song in the Philippines in 2021.
Tabudlo’s representative song “Give Me Your Forever” has been well-known among Korean music fans as it was recommended or covered by famous K-pop stars like BTS’s Jungkook and ENHYPEN’s Heeseung.
On the 7th, Tabudlo performed at the music festival “2024 Round in Korea” held at KBS Hall in Busan, meeting Korean fans for the first time. He said, “Starting from Korea, I am creating a global trend with my songs in my native language. This trend shows that there are no longer any language barriers in music, and we can communicate through music.”
He also mentioned that Girls' Generation’s Yoona covered his song “Pano” during her performance in the Philippines. He said, “I used to think of Girls' Generation and Yoona as legends of K-pop, so it was an honor to have her sing my song on stage. Although ‘Pano’ is in Filipino and could be challenging to pronounce, Yoona did a perfect job.”
When asked which Korean artist he would like to collaborate with, Tabudlo immediately answered Sam Kim without any hesitation. He revealed that he is a huge fan of Sam Kim’s music, having found comfort in it during a breakup with an ex-girlfriend. He met Sam Kim on the evening of the 8th, splitting his busy schedule to talk with him, and he had a bright smile on his face as he recalled the meeting.
Tabudlo said, “About 3-4 years ago, I became a huge fan of Sam Kim after listening to his ‘Goblin’ OST. I love the edgy R&B and hip-hop vibes that he brings. His vocals are amazing, and he has always been an artist I admire.”
He added, “It was meaningful and fun to meet him in person. I thought he was cool and stylish, but meeting him made me realize he’s also sweet and humble.”
Reflecting on his early career, Tabudlo recounted how he spent years in obscurity before his official debut. Encouraged by his father, he learned guitar on YouTube and built his skills by covering other artists’ songs.
He said, “My father was in a band during college, and my mother was a vocalist at a music lounge, so music has always been a part of my family. I can play various instruments, and the sounds you hear in my music are all played by me. My favorite instrument is still the guitar, which I learned first.”
Tabudlo believes that his early years in obscurity were a key part of his success. “When fans come to me saying they want to succeed in music like I did, I always advise them to start making music regardless of the situation or lack of equipment.”
Tabudlo is preparing to enter the U.S. music market, a core global music market. He expressed confidence, saying, “I believe that the way I create music is my unique strength.”
He added, “Prejudices and discrimination against Asian musicians? You can only create a trend through your music and see how others respond to it. But no one can stop my passion, creativity, or talent.”
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]