The year 2017 is a milestone year for Gloc 9, as he celebrates his 20th year in the music industry both as a singer and songwriter. Born Aristotle Pollisco on October 18 1977, the decorated rapper and eloquent wordsmith returns to Universal Records for a new EP album Rotonda. “Parang paikot-ikot kasi ’yung work experience ko for the past 20 years, nauulit lang,” he quipped.
Gloc 9 is notably one of the few artists in the Philippine music scene who has practically won an award in every album he created. But he said it was never easy to stay for 20 years, come up with albums and be recognized.
“Those 20 years were never planned. I also went through a lot of hardships, and I never thought to last this long. Talagang kayod din ’yung dalawang dekada,” he added.
Rotonda is the ninth album of Gloc 9, his third under Universal Records. “I wrote five songs, I did the album for almost two months. The song ‘Ice Tubig’ features veteran singer Mike Luis. Metaphorically speaking, ‘Ice Tubig’ is about love na nanlalamig,” he said.
“Another song is ‘Norem’ (spelled backward for Meron). This is about the society’s drugs. Featured artist here is Shanti Dope, a very good rapper/songwriter at early age of 16,” Gloc 9 added.
Gloc 9 said his inspiration as rapper and songwriter is still the same as before: He’s telling stories of different people and his own experience, as well. So, “mahilig akong magkwento siguro dahil likas akong tsismoso.” He said his love for his craft also serves as his inspiration through the years. “Hangang masaya ako dito [sa] larangan ng pagsusulat, tuloy pa rin ako sa [paglikha] ng kanta.”
“So, I’m 40 this October, I don’t deny that I’m starting to think about leaving this career…kaya nakikipag-collaborate din ako sa mga bata, parang training na rin [nila ito],” he said.
Catch him on November 18 at the Eastwood Central Plaza for Rotonda EP launch.