Marion Talavera Drops Debut Album ‘PAMANA’

Filipino singer/songwriter Marion Talavera has released his 10-track debut album entitled “PAMANA” today, April 5, 2024. PAMANA is a concept album that tells a story of a man, a recollection of his life after the opening song “jump”. Marion wanted to write an album that not only talks about love, but also provides perspective on how men deal with mental health issues, familial abandonment, and body ideals.

As an independent artist, his music was featured on the following editorial playlists:

Spotify: Pinoy Indie Mix, OPM Rising, Philippines Viral Top 50, Men of OPM, New Music Friday

Apple Music: Absolute OPM, Breaking Original Pilipino Music

The album’s opening song “jump” sets the theme of the album as the track tells the story of a broken man who is looking for a way out, a topic rarely sung about in the OPM scene. â€œI really let myself be vulnerable while making this album. It took every ounce of strength to fight off doubts and anxiety to finish this record.”

Drawn to writing melancholic pop songs, PAMANA was influenced by different genres including synth-pop, alt-rock and pop-punk. The song “alfonso” is a satire on familial abandonment and generational trauma.

On “final boy / am i?”, Marion explores the unsung expectation of society on men’s vulnerabilities and beauty standards.

“When the noise in my head would get too loud and I’d be crippled by anxiety, sometimes I would picture what it would feel like to stand on the ledge of a bridge. To look down but see peace instead of water. To take the leap but fly instead of fall. The album PAMANA truly was born from those thoughts.”

Some of the album highlights include:

• jump â€“ the opening song (genre: alt-pop) which sets the album’s theme and what kickstarted the whole project
• takipsilim â€“ the 3^rd song (genre: synth-pop) which narrates an unrequited love
• summer rain â€“ a dream pop song that closes the 1^st act of the album, a farewell to innocence and teenage years
• alfonso â€“ a pop punk anthem which Marion would describe as the “heart” of the album and one of his most personal songs
• final boy / am i? â€“ a two-part record (genre: alt-rock), the song that navigates a man’s survival and identity in society

In 2021, Marion Talavera saw the completion of his EP “Pines Street”, which Marion describes as a collection of short stories about realizations and letting go. Pines Street has since reached 4M+ cumulative streams on Spotify.