Filipino singer-songwriter Gab Cabangon has released his first solo single, “Pieces,” which is an inspiring message for those experiencing grief, uncertainty, and depression. The acoustic indie pop track, “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay,” encourages listeners to embrace vulnerability and hope for healing and brighter days ahead. Cabangon’s song serves as a warm embrace in difficult times.
“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 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.”
Penned initially 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 music into the studio and share it with a broader 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 with whom I wanted to collaborate to bring my song to life, both from a musical and 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 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 finally allowed him to pursue recording as a solo artist.
Cabangon explains, “For the longest time, I hesitated 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 release music as ‘Gab Cabangon finally’.”
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” introduces the themes 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 writing 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 following my music journey to find out more.”
Gab Cabangon’s “Pieces” is available worldwide on all digital music platforms.
