Marching forward with Generation Zild
Falling in love today follows no linear path. It involves second-guessing, breaking down personal boundaries, and overthinking galore. Zild perfectly captures this dizzying experience in Segurista, his latest single released last June.
It’s a song that doesn’t take itself too seriously. “Paktay ka diha!” Zild sings as the protagonist hesitant to fall in love. “Ang mga nangyayari sa buhay (natin), kino-cope natin with humor,” the singer explains. The self-deprecation lends an air of authenticity.
Zild has become a trailblazer for Gen-Z in the indie OPM scene. Aside from a relatable discography, he built a space for his fans, the paniki kids, to share precious memories with people they’ve connected with through music.
Zild describes live music as a communal, almost church-like experience, and he curates shows that fans will never forget. “Bumiyahe sila, gumastos sila ng pamasahe, nag-ipon, at nagpaalam sa magulang. Ayoko na wala silang mababaon pauwi (mula) sa experience na ‘yon.”
The paniki kids, clad in all-black attire reminiscent of ‘90s punk wave, have formed a subculture, growing a world of their own rooted in Zild’s concert grounds.
As not just an artist but a fan himself, Zild enjoys the gig scene as it’s a place for artists to bare their craft before the world. “Dito lumalabas ‘yung bagong artists na hindi pa masyadong napapansin, and most of the time, ito ‘yung artists na mas gustom and ‘di pa complacent. Mas nakaka-excite siya panoorin.”
Through simply witnessing these performances, he becomes inspired to create, or simply live. Zild muses that one’s art is a reflection of what they do when they’re not making art.
He tries to replicate the euphoria he experiences at gigs for his listeners. Maybe someday, he hopes, an audience member will remember the energy of his show and try to replicate it, whether for a performance at school or just with friends.
May istorya kang ikaw lang makakakwento. So why bother to be the best? Just tell your story.
After all, Zild understands that his connection with the paniki is drawn not necessarily from identical experiences but from similar emotions— and music, according to the singer, is the most direct art form in commanding emotion. “Ang photography, film, o painting, ini-interpret muna, ina-analyze. Ang music, may marinig ka lang na sad piano, may nafefeel ka na agad.”
He leans towards this type of self-expression, where no extra explanations or frets are necessary. He enjoys songs that become grounds for people to mold their imaginations. Whether it’s seeing ourselves traversing around Quezon City in Kyusi, yearning for someone we’ve lost in Dasal/Kasal, or being up in arms about falling for someone yet again in Segurista, we see ourselves in Zild’s music.
Being a defining face for Gen-Z OPM, Zild battles between the liberty of his creativity and the scrutiny of the public eye. Of his songwriting process, he says, “(May) frustrations, mga insecurities paminsan-minsan. ‘Di ka sure kung magugustuhan ‘to ng fans mo; may ine-expect sila sa’yo na darker sound or something.” Even so, he journeys into the unknown. “Mas nagiging creative ako ‘pag may fear onti, ‘pag hindi tayo sure sa result.”
Nevertheless, when our time passes and Gen-Z are no longer the up-and-coming artists, Zild would like his music to play a role in connecting generations. Picturing a world in which his influence has long gone quiet, he imagines kids (“Mom, can I get the aux cord?”) bonding with their parents over his music (“Oh, I know this guy, this is Zild!”).
With hope for the upcoming generation of musicians, Zild shares some advice: keep creating, and be kind. “Anyone can be more talented than you and that is normal. You don’t have to be the most talented. May istorya kang ikaw lang makakakwento. So why bother to be the best? Just tell your story.”
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Zild’s new album Superpower will be out on Aug. 9 via Island Records Philippines.
