ALMOST 14 years ago, I met Sam Concepcion. He was then a lanky teenager who just bagged the Little Big Star singing competition.
While everyone fawned over his singing and dancing skills, what stuck with me was that he was always smiling. As in. Sam would always have this huge smile whether I saw him in the hallways of ABS-CBN or straight after a theater performance when he would always spend some time to meet and greet his admirers.
Even that one time I saw him at a club in Resorts World Manila years ago in the wee hours of the morning! I reprimanded him and shouted, “What are you doing here?! Aren’t you too young for this?!” I don’t actually remember what he said (I was wasted at the time) but to this day, I remember that huge smile despite me acting like some deranged woman. Thank God he didn’t call the police on me.
Now, that smile I know Sam for is there for more reason as he continues to enjoy his life and career. First, he now is more involved with big and mature decisions and he’s enjoying it. He revealed once to the press that there was a time when he thought his life was just a routine and was even close to burning out, but now Sam is charting his own direction. “I became more clear with what I wanted to do and where I wanted my music to go and the projects I wanted to create,” he explained at the time. “I really became more hands-on than I ever was in my entire career.” His management team even encouraged him to be more involved so that he can evolve even more as a person and as an artist.
Another reason Sam is smiling is his involvement with “Rise,” a project by Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Eric Bellinger with fellow pop star Inigo Pascual, Manila-based producer Moophs, Malaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi, and BTS’s “Black Swan” composer Vince Nantes. “Rise” is a cross-cultural single about prevailing over today’s tides and facing a new world together.
Produced under Philippine-based label Tarsier Records, the inspiring track was released worldwide just recently on Spotify and other music streaming platforms.
“Doing a project this big and this important is definitely a dream come true for me. I think with the artists that we have from different parts of the world, and the unifying message it has, this song could be heard everywhere across the globe,” Sam revealed.
“Life is really the main story that inspired writing ‘Rise,’” expressed Vince who penned the song. “From the pandemic to protests, political differences, unfair treatment of one another as human beings…it’s a lot for all of us to digest, and I wanted to give people something they can enjoy, emotionally connect to and believe in,” disclosed the US-based songwriter.
Song producer Moophs shared that “Rise” is the biggest release Tarsier Records has undertaken thus far to “give listeners a multicultural example of coming together to rise above adversity.”
He said, “This song is my answer to 2020. If we look past borders, politics and skin color, and resolve not to be divided, we can overcome anything this year throws at us.”
“Bitter Heart” singer Zee Avi described the new track as “hopeful, uplifting song.” She said, “‘Rise’ is such a simple word, yet it’s something that we need to keep reminding ourselves.”
Two music videos for “Rise” was released: an animated video straight out of a comic book where the artists play superheroes battling what they call “the 2020 monster,” and inspiring stories of humanity and messages of hope from influencers worldwide.
In the virtual presscon for “Rise,” it was obvious Sam is now energized and has that added zest in life, despite the hard circumstances brought about by the pandemic. This energy and focus has certainly been put into good use in “Rise.”
To Sam and everyone involved, continue to rise for the world.