For Maki, love is like a bright summer day
The second I hear the sunny first notes of Dilaw by singer-songwriter Maki, I instantly feel my blood pressure diminish. It seems the rest of the country feels the same: It’s the second-most streamed local song in the Philippines according to Spotify Wrapped, garnering over 187 million plays since it was released in May.
Maki skyrocketed to the charts with last year’s Saan? in which he wishes to see an elusive ex-lover on the streets of Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City. In Dilaw, he is on the cusp of a great new love, one that feels light and warm.
While the music video—a cinematic masterpiece, by the way—sees Maki paired up with BINI’s Maloi, the singer admits the song is actually about himself and feeling at peace with the kind of person he has grown into. Young STAR caught up with the chart-topper to look back on the sunny success of Dilaw.
YOUNG STAR: What did Dilaw look like in its early stages? Can you tell us about the process of writing it?
MAKI: It was an April afternoon. It was the first time I wrote a song in the middle of the day. I usually write at midnight. Maybe that's why the song seems so bright and sunny when you listen to it. But, as much as people label it as a very upbeat and happy song, it is also a sentimental song that holds a lot of memories of all the things I’ve been through in order to get where I am now.
I wrote the (line), “‘Pag nakatingin sa’yong mata, ang mundo ay kalma” first. Dramatic ‘tong part na ‘to kasi I remember looking at myself in the mirror while the sun was peeping through the window very calmly, and for some reason, it was so simple yet so comforting; almost like a kilig feeling that, “Finally, (I’m) here.” I smiled and (thought to) myself, “I’m finally okay.” Tears came running down my face. Right then and there, I grabbed my notebook and pencil and wrote the pre-chorus, verse, to chorus.
What’s your favorite thing about the song?
The second verse is my favorite! It summed up everything I wanted to say: “‘Di akalain mararamdaman ko muli ang yakap ng panahon habang kumakalabit ang init at sinag ng araw, sa lilim ng ulap.”
You said previously that Dilaw is the first song you wrote about yourself—this makes its themes of joy and unconditional love all the more meaningful. Can you tell more about the journey you took to get to that place, where you can feel that way towards yourself?
I wasn’t a normal kid. I detested the way I spoke, sang, dressed and looked. If there’s an ocean of all the insecurities in the world, you’ll find me in the middle of it. I couldn’t save myself from myself. I depended on people and searched for validation from everyone. But it came to a point na I realized everyone leaves, along with the validation I get from them. I needed to be there for myself.
Why do you think Filipino listeners resonated with the song so much?
A lot of them, for sure, love the kilig vibes ng song. But maybe a lot of us also are trying to love ourselves day by day. We love to love but for some reason, it can be hard kapag para sa sarili na siya.
Music is somehow our ticket travel into a different world, and as an artist, even if three minutes lang ‘yung Dilaw, I’m glad that people get to experience it as something na nagbibigay sa kanila ng euphoria.
Is there a fan interaction or story that stuck with you after you released the song?
Everything! Especially ‘yung mga visual artist na nafeel nila nawalan na sila ng spark for arts, and then after Dilaw, ang daming gumawa ulit ng art about the song.
Earlier this year, you were part of Spotify Radar, which champions rising talent. Now your song Dilaw is the second-most-streamed song on the platform this year. How do you feel? How do you think this year changed you?
I have no words. All I can say is that I make music for the sake of conveying a message. Bonus na lang lahat ng achievements.
What can fans expect from you in 2025?
Colorful year!
As 2024 comes to a close, ano ang naging “dilaw” mo this year?
My (fans), Zushis.
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Discover your top songs, artists, and podcasts this year on Spotify Wrapped. Keep up with Maki on Instagram.
